Speak Out 02/25/04

County interference

I SEE that Cape Girardeau County is at it again. County officials can't keep their noses out of our business. This time it's our septic tanks. The county recently dropped the three-acre rule for septic tank installation. Why can't we follow the state guidelines? Everything was working just fine. This is how property owners lose their rights. It may be slow coming, but it's coming. There are already good laws on the books governing the county's concerns, be it state laws or regulations with the Department of Natural Resources. The folks who live in the rural areas know this, but those city slickers who are running the county want to citify everyone. The rural areas of the county shouldn't be run like a metro area or a big city. It isn't just about septic tanks. It's been everything with this county. It's all about these city folks trying to rule over the country folk. God save us all.

Embrace science

THIS IS in response to the "Scientific lunacy" comment. Our Bible tells us God created the heavens and the earth but does not tell us how. Why is it so hard to understand the Big Bang theory" is true and it was how God began to create the heavens and the earth? God does not explain how because we could not understand. If a lay person asked a scientist how to make a nuclear bomb, would the scientist explain in strict detail or simply say "by splitting an atom"? Christians should embrace science. It proves our Bible.

Spending priorities

I WANT to make a comment about the biggest waste of money in the history of Jackson: the big brick clock in front of Jackson Middle School. The PTO raised funds through our children selling items for this outrageous expenditure during a time of budget cuts. I believe all of this money should be returned to our school. These parents should reimburse this money to our school district.

Creation confusion

I WAS surprised to see the Missourian believes the proposed intelligent design bill is not a good idea. I could not agree more. Not only is it not the place of the state to set local curriculum, it is not the place of the state to promote religious curriculum. To include a Christianized version of creation alongside proven science would mean we must include the creation stories of all religions, which would mean telling our students, for instance, the world rests on the back of a turtle, that the oceans were created by a deity crying or that we are merely part of a god's dream. Sounds pretty silly, right?

Outsmarting himself

HE'S TOO smart for me. Now David Limbaugh has found a way to criticize John Kerry for backing legislation supported by President Bush.

Sauce for the goose ...

I FIND it very odd that people are constantly being pulled over by police in Scott City for not using their turn signals, yet I have never seen any of the police officers use their own signals.

Taxed to death

EVERY TIME you turn on the TV or read the paper, the police, firemen or school district needs more money. So the Cape Girardeau City Council wants to raise our taxes. Every family in this town pays taxes, and every year taxes go up. Where does all this tax money go? Someone needs to find out, because we are taxed to death.

Honoring the flag

THE AMERICAN flag is not the property of the U.S. military. It does not commemorate those who have died in the military -- or those who died in the civil rights and peace movements either, for that matter. According to the Pledge of Allegiance, the flag stands for our Republic. To the extent we really do strive for "liberty and justice for all" we honor that flag. Otherwise, we are just a bunch of pompous frauds.