Speak Out 05/13/04

Praise for photographer

IN RESPONSE to the article "Halter's determination pays off on hot derby day": I just wanted you to know that I was impressed with the photographer at the Soap Box Derby race. He was professional and excellent at his job.

Thanks for the help

THANK YOU to the helpful employees of Best Buy in Cape Girardeau. I hope they realize how much help they were and how nice it was that they offered their assistance when our car would not start. They were wonderful.

Overreacting to photos

I'M GLAD the truck driver made his escape in Iraq and got to come home. But he went over to make the big money on his own. Our boys were sent over to fight in a war and get very little pay for it. Some of them have been shot and dragged behind cars with no apologies. I think too much is being made of those pictures of the prisoners. I believe an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

War isn't tiddlywinks

WHEN WILL the United States receive an apology for the 3,000 Americans murdered Sept. 11, 2001? These victims were not insurgents but innocent civilians who were viciously slaughtered by terrorists. War is war. It's not tiddlywinks.

Don't blame Rumsfeld

FIRING DONALD Rumsfeld for something a handful of soldiers did in Iraq is like firing the president of the university because one of his professors slept with a student. It makes no sense whatsoever. Donald Rumsfeld didn't do this. If anybody should be held accountable, it should be the commanding officer.

More refineries needed

SINCE THE cause of high gasoline prices is an insufficient number of processing plants, why doesn't our government construct some new plants and lease them to the petroleum industry? I believe our representative in Congress should push this idea.

Sensible column

I COMMEND Cal Thomas on his Sunday column about the Iraqi prisoner situation. Those were the most sensible, honorable comments I have heard yet concerning this situation.

Bloomfield speeding

IN REFERENCE to the speeders at the corner of Koch Avenue and Bloomfield Road, I don't understand why people feel the need to floor the accelerator. One woman said she didn't like to cross the street to get her mail. We don't cross the street period in this section of Bloomfield because people floor the accelerator and go flying down Bloomfield.

Keeping schools cool

I AM an Alma Schrader Elementary School grandparent. I had the lovely opportunity to visit Alma Schrader for Grandparents Day. The building was spotless, and the teachers were doing a wonderful job with my grandchildren. The lessons being taught were great, and the children were so polite and well-behaved. I was proud to be a grandparent that day. But I am very concerned about one thing. The rooms were terribly hot and stuffy, and it was not even hot out that day. I thought I had voted for a tax increase to air condition our schools. Parents and grandparents, you need to stop by your child's school and see how they're doing now that the weather is turning warmer. School board, please turn the air conditioning on. Our children need it.

Fight for your rights

I BELIEVE in going to court and fighting for your rights. But if you're going to plead not guilty and it's a big enough crime, have a jury trial. In no way, shape or form do you go before the judges here, because they're going to believe the police officer. The judge gets paid by the same people as the arresting officer. And, with the city attorney you have really three against one. Get a lawyer if it's a big enough fine, because no way are you going to win this time.

Following orders

THEY'RE ASKING on the news why these women were involved in the Iraqi prison abuse photos. It doesn't take a brain to figure out the humiliation caused to the Iraqis by being stood over by a woman whom they don't have respect for anyway. These women didn't come up with the ideas themselves. Their superiors told them to do it. There's no way a woman would do this on her own.

Favorable tradition

HOORAY FOR the comment by the Jackson Indian fan. I am a Southeast Missouri State University graduate and frankly am a little disheartened by the idea of changing the mascot. As long as the Indian is respected (as the Jackson Indian fan stated), what is the problem? Would anyway dare question the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, the Kansas City Chiefs or the Washington Redskins and ask them to change their mascot and thus change years of tradition? That is what a university is supposed to be built upon: tradition. I would understand if the Indian were seen in an unfavorable light, but that is not the case. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I believe the Indian should stand as the mascot.

Others do it

IF WE'RE reduced to saying Iraqi prisoner abuse was justified because others do it, then the proud tradition of American exceptionalism must be put to rest.

Other city employees

WHY DOES the mayor think the firefighters and police officers are more important than the other city employees? The other employees do 90 percent of the work and get 5 percent of the credit. They are the ones I see picking up the trash, mowing, fixing the streets, plowing snow and everything else. The only thing the fire department does is chase ambulances, and the police are some of the rudest people I've ever seen. I say cut the fire and police pay and give it to the people who really keep the city from falling apart.