Speak Out 04/20/04

Thank the Optimists

REGARDING THE article about the Optimists paying $60,000 for a skate park in Jackson: I think the Optimists should be thanked. What they are doing is tremendous. If some people do not like it, they do not have to go along with it.

All on same page

WHY NOT call the Southeast Missouri State University teams Pilots to coincide with the Missouri tourism slogan, "Where the rivers run"? We are on the banks of the Mississippi River, and Pilots could emphasize staying on course, steaming ahead and anchoring on achievement. Then the River Campus, downtown Cape Girardeau and the university could all be on the same page and not receive criticism from any ethnic, political or environmental groups.

Meaningless court

GOV. BOB Holden has vowed to veto any bill addressing the Supreme Court's decision on approving concealed weapons. He said he would accept any concealed weapons measure that repealed the law. So the Missouri Supreme Court means nothing to this governor.

Fair tax too radical

THE FAIR Tax Act has been introduced several times in Congress, but you really can't enact it because it would be such a drastic change. The Fair Tax Act stops all income taxes and all payroll taxes and instead replaces it with a national retail sales tax. Companies could hire all the people they wanted, and new businesses could sprout up everywhere. The money saved by businesses not having to pay payroll taxes could make things much cheaper. There also is a provision in it to give a rebate to every family on the first $20,000 of their income so that poor people wouldn't be hurt by this sales tax. What a deal.

Thanks for the help

I'M NEW to the area and want to thank the Cape Girardeau city workers. They were very helpful the other day when I missed getting my things to the curb. They came and helped me. Thank you very much.

Keep the Indians

IT'S NOT our problem Southeast Missouri State University does not use the Indian as a mascot at the sporting events. They ought to be proud of the Indian heritage, not ashamed of it. What's wrong with having a chief or Otahki there? The SEMO administration ought to keep the Indian name.

Bringing honor

WHEN WE named the parks after the Indians, we were honoring them, not degrading them.

Golf for seniors

WHAT THIS area needs is a good nine-hole golf course that the seniors can go play and it won't cost you an arm and a leg to belong to.

Dangerous biking

I CANNOT believe my eyes. On a recent afternoon I turned off Lexington Avenue onto Route W and was shocked to see small children on mini-motorcycles racing down the hill toward Route W. There was a dirt trail that came within a few feet of the road. At that point, they ramped a small ditch and turned to go back up the hill. What parents would allow this? Don't blame the driver of a car when these children get hurt or worse than hurt.

Signing up for duty

I DON'T think family members should complain when loved ones have to stay to fight a war, because that's what you sign up for. As Forrest Gump says, "Life is like a box of chocolates -- you never know what you're going to get." You don't know what you're getting when you sign up, and if our country needs you, you should be willing to do it.

Use common sense

THE ATLANTA Braves, Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Chiefs market their Indian mascots with great success. These professional franchises are controlled by common-sense business people. Southeast Missouri State University sports programs are controlled by politically correct people. I hope the board of regents, which consists of people based in reality, takes this absurd mascot change and flushes it.

Central post office

WE REALLY need the post office centralized. There's plenty of room for all post office operations out on Kell Farm Road. I wish the Cape Girardeau Post Office would show a little class and stop renting old buildings.

Get the message?

NO RIVERBOAT for Cape Girardeau. New commercial on TV: bright lights, fun, bring your money, friends and play. Stay and dine at Tunica, Miss. Tunica is building new roads, hotels, malls, homes, jobs. Need I say more?

Can't find Indian

THIS IS in response to the person who said he doesn't find anything offensive about the Southeast Missouri State University Indian mascot. Obviously, he hasn't been at too many of the athletic functions. As a student who has been here for four years, I have never seen an Indian mascot anywhere.

Honor for Indians

I WAS just wondering if there's any way that the board of regents at Southeast Missouri State University is reading in Speak Out all the great comments about the history of the Indians. There should be no controversy at all on this. It is nothing but an honor for the Indians, and they've been here forever.

Get the dope dealers

WHY DON'T the Jackson police do something about the dope dealers on Tracy and Woodland apartments? Large crowds of kids who don't live there hang out all the time.

A sincere apology

PEOPLE ARE demanding a bogus apology for 9-11 from President Bush. That's what David Limbaugh wrote. Since it is the No. 1 responsibility of government to protect the nation, I would think that those hoping for an apology from the president on behalf of the government are wishing for a sincere, not a phony, apology.