Speak Out 06/20/04

Serving the time

MARRIAGE IS a venerable institution and often carries a life sentence.

Settle on mascot

THERE IS a subtle enthusiasm building throughout Southeast Missouri State University over the prospect of a new mascot. Let's not douse it. How long do we need to drag out this discussion? The past is over. Southeast, lead by example.

No free Internet

AFTER JUNE 30 Southeast Missouri State University will no longer be providing Internet services to students. This does not make sense. How are students taking Web-based courses supposed to continue? The four-week summer session of classes will end July 9, and open computer labs are only open till 9 p.m. For working students that only leaves four hours a day to read the material and complete the homework. I think the university needs to provide more services to those taking Web classes and are suddenly experiencing this inconvenience. Web classes cost more than regular classes. I think Internet should be provided to those enrolled in Web classes.

Money first, then ...

A MOTORIST got a DWI after leaving the drive-up window of a fast-food restaurant in Cape Girardeau. The employees of that establishment called the police and had them waiting across the street. I think it is pretty low of the restaurant employees to take a customer's money for food they know he is not going to eat because he is on his way to jail.

Important issues

IF ABORTION were the only issue in the election, the vote would be easy. But there are other important issues such as veteran benefits, help to the elderly, jobs in this country and education.

Shocked aggression

MY NEIGHBORS have an invisible fence around their yard. I've noticed their two dogs have become vicious and on occasion have crossed into my yard and tried to bite me. I believe the shock dogs receive from the fence turns them very aggressive.

Families slip away

I WORK at school a lot volunteering. I have never seen so many parents bring their child to school late and hungry. In many areas, adults and children live under one roof, but they're not a family. The adults are so unorganized and overwhelmed with parenthood that they run from one crisis to another. God didn't intend for us to have children to raise themselves. Parents are supposed to parent and set the example. If it wasn't for the school to put some kind of organization in these children's lives, there wouldn't be any. I can only imagine what the next generation will bring,.

Time-consuming cleanup

WHAT A discouraging sight I have witnessed during the past two days. The recent high winds caused considerable tree damage across the street from my house. It has taken four men, a pickup truck, a dump truck and a tractor loader all of one day and part of another to clean up what could have been accomplished in six hours using a dump truck and two men. Every time the dump truck is loaded, two or three men just sit until it returns. This takes over 50 percent of their time, which is wasted. They all watch as the backhoe attempts to load the truck. It spills as much as it loads, but very little attempt is made to clean up the debris by hand. This operation has been completed by none other than the Cape Girardeau Street Department.

Missing the point

OBVIOUSLY SOME readers are missing the point. It is not the fact that teachers are more concerned about money. If we were, we would have a different job. With our amount of education, it would make it easy for us to take jobs from those who are not educated. Citizens are not supporting the issue that teachers should be adequately compensated for their jobs. You wouldn't trust a mechanic to work on your brakes if he knew that you were only going to pay him half of what the job is worth. So give teachers some credit.