Speak Out 03/30/04

Street needs attention

I CAN'T tell you how tired I am of hearing you local yokels moan and groan about the proposed widening of Broadway. I'm a Southeast Missouri State University student, and I live here for now. There's a serious bottleneck at the Broadway-Henderson intersection. Widen the street.

We got postcards

THE POST office mailed postcards to everyone informing them of the new address did they not?

Time to pray, repent

I THINK it is terrible the way President Bush is being persecuted. I don't believe any of it. Because of the president's faith in God, he is strong and looks strong because he reads his Bible and prays every morning. Because of the threats from the terrorists, everyone should be repenting and praying for themselves and our country so that when we are attacked, they can't say "Where was God?" like they did the other time.

Tax-free agenda

I WATCHED the "700 Club" on TV, and I'm outraged at the remarks Pat Robertson made concerning John Kerry and his nomination and how much foreign leaders would like for him to be president. I've always known that Robertson was a Bush man. However, I feel he is using the media to promote his political agenda rather than the Gospel. Perhaps his tax-exempt status should be investigated.

No effect on students

THE PROBLEM with the Missouri MAP test is exquisitely outlined in the article about Jason Bandermann. The article says the outcome of the tests has no impact on the students, but the scores are important to Bandermann and Central Junior High School. Until that test can be made important to the students, it has no significance as far as measuring what the kids learn. Stop testing Bandermann. He doesn't need it. He knows his stuff. And stop testing the schools.

Kill the goose

HIGHWAY 74 should be 55 mph, if not 60. If it was built wrong, we can't help it. It's the goose that laid the golden egg to make the city money. If the police are going to persist in giving tickets, I think the money should go to the state. The city should in no way profit. It is entrapment.

Store searches

STORES CAN post signs saying that concealed weapons are prohibited. Are the stores going to search everyone who comes in to see if they're carrying a concealed weapons?

Dangerous realities

FIGHTING TERRORISM is not a fight for cowards. Only the brave are willing to protect their families and loved ones and their country. Protesters would rather try to negotiate with terrorists, thinking that would save them. History and the attacks on America have taught them nothing, or their political ambitions have blinded them to the realities in our dangerous world.

Speeding on Lexington

THIS IS to the chief of police and city leaders. Revenue is down and you want more money. All you have to do is put a few police officers on Lexington Avenue between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning, because people fly along there. Some of these people have to be going 45 and 50 mph. Talk about revenue from tickets plus the fact that you'd be doing your job.

Get a riverboat

AS OLD Man River rolls down the banks of the river, the voters cry out again, "Where is the riverboat casino we voted for?" It's time our city council gets in gear and tries to get a willing company to locate in our backyard. Keep our money rolling on our riverbank, not our neighbors to the north, south, west or east of us. I would hate to see East Cape Girardeau, Ill., establish a boat on its bank first.

They report to us

COULD ANY Republicans or Democrats explain why Condoleezza Rice refuses to testify before the 9-11 commission? If they don't have anything to hide, I can't imagine why she wouldn't agree to testify. It just seems mind-blowing to me that these people are so arrogant as to think they don't have to report to the people of the United States.