Speak Out 07/19

Great air festival

I WANT to thank Bruce Loy, the workers and the sponsors for this year's Cape Girardeau air festival. It was obvious a lot of work went into the planning of the air show. I look forward to the air festival every year and enjoy it so much. Thank you.

Positive journalism

I WANTED to tell you how much I enjoyed the sundowner article. It was enjoyable to read. I quite often look to see who the author is, and often it's been Tony Rehagen. I enjoy his style and just wanted to say keep up the good work on positive newspaper journalism. I like keeping in touch with my town. All too often we only are given the bad stuff to read. Good job.

The American resolve

IN RESPONSE to the person who suggested postponement of the November elections in case of a terrorist attack between now and then, there is a good possibility the terrorists will try because it worked with the Spanish when the terrorists blew up a train. The Spaniards changed their government as a result of this. The terrorists would hope to accomplish the same thing with us. But it will not work for Americans. The reverse will happen. Americans will stream to the polls in unprecedented numbers in defiance of the intimidation from these people who are so ignorant about the fighting spirit of Americans. We did not come this far, through war after war and conflict after conflict, in order to tuck tail and run like the Spanish. It's comforting to be underestimated by our enemies.

Try another source

SINCE PRESIDENT Bush's military records were destroyed by accident, why not refer to his income-tax returns for that period?

Go-cart capital

CAPE GIRARDEAU is going to get not one, not two, but three new roundabouts. Why even mess with an obscure city logo like turning a thousand tales. We can now be known as Cape Girardeau: Go-cart Capital of the World.

Christian viewpoint

THE MARRIAGE amendment is nothing more than an attempt to write bigotry into the Constitution. The idea behind the amendment is based on the Christian notion of Biblical marriage, and this notion of marriage is solely religious, Christian institution that writes off the marriage of millions of non-believers and non-Christians in this nation. Should all marriages not performed in a Christian church be null and void? Gays in this country are in the pursuit of happiness and equal rights, ideas outlined in our original, unamended Constitution.

Time for parks cleanup

WHICH PARKS in Cape Girardeau are pervert free? Which parks in Cape have safe restrooms? Which parks in Cape are the perverts' favorites? How often do the police decide it's time for a cleanup?

Political sanctuary

WARNING TO preachers who bring politics to the pulpit: Last month, after Republican workers began soliciting hundreds of friendly congregations in the swing state of Pennsylvania, the Internal Revenue Service sent out a blunt warning to political leaders that they could cost churches their tax-exempt status by enlisting them in transparent partisanship. Churchgoers are entitled to a little sanctuary from politicians.

Laws on the books

I AM a conservative and totally agree with the Speak Out comment about not using the Constitution to ban gay marriage. The Constitution was not intended to define personal relationships. To add such an amendment only cheapens its meaning. Gay marriage is already illegal. All you have to do is enforce the laws already on the books.

Soliciting by phone

I'M NOT sure firefighters and police should be allowed to call one's home trying to get money for various causes. I don't feel comfortable that if I say no they may not help me if I need help. What would happen if you ever got a vengeful police officer or firefighter on the phone? I feel they should ask for donations only by mail, if they find this need. But to intrude on people's homes when it's unwanted and telephone you is so wrong.

Pull a few weeds

PERHAPS THE person who noticed that Jackson City Park needed some work done on it might be willing to pull some weeds. Ask the people of the park department if you can do that if this is something that bothers you. Perhaps everyone who goes by that garden who's bothered by the weeds might pull a few and put them in the garbage. We residents shouldn't be totally dependent on someone doing something for us. We can be proactive and help in areas that the city's lacking.

Public performance

EMILY HENDRICKS has a lot of growing up to do. She's still young, but she shouldn't be bothered by us watching Nancy Reagan at the casket of her late husband, President Ronald Reagan. As she went up to the casket the first time, I noticed she was unsure what she should do, but, being the great actress she was, she gave a good cry and a good performance. It did not bother me because I thought it was an elegant way for the president to go out. If you've lived with Alzheimer's for years, I'm sure a lot of tears have long since dried up. Nancy Reagan was very much a public person, and she wouldn't be bothered by sharing this with the public. So Hendricks shouldn't be bothered.

Keep them separate

THANK GOD for separation of church and state in our country. The thought of President Jerry Falwell just does not have an appealing ring to me.

Defending marriage

THE MARRIAGE amendment is not a waste of time. We must defend marriage. A homosexual marriage is not a marriage, but that's the way our society is going. It will bring our country down if we do not do something and stand up. I encourage everyone in our area to stand up for the amendment in Missouri as well as at the federal level.

Fight to the end

I AM calling in reference to the article about a judge striking down Missouri's law banning certain types of abortion. I am appalled that a federal judge would declare the ban on partial-birth abortion unconstitutional. I want to strongly encourage our attorney general, Jay Nixon, to appeal this decision and to do all in his power to overturn this decision. Let it be known that there is never a reason for partial-birth abortion. There is never a case for partial-birth abortion to protect a woman's health. Partial-birth abortion is an atrocity of evil. It must be stopped in our land.

Nothing in common

AS A youth in the 1960s and 1970s, I can remember when our county officeholders were mostly Democrats. Our governor, Warren Hearnes, was a Democrat. Our state senator, Albert Spradling, was a Democrat. Our state representative in Jackson, Marvin Proffer, was a Democrat and our U.S. representative, Bill Burlison, was a Democrat. The state and federal legislatures had been controlled and dominated by Democrats since before I was born. In the Southern states, Republicans were practically nonexistent. Did voters just wake up one morning and decide to leave the Democratic Party? No, the party left them. Does any normal thinking person actually believe that the average voter has anything in common with Michael Moore, Barbra Streisand or Whoopi Goldberg?

Red Cross interfering

THERE MIGHT be a reason that the U.S. is holding prisoners in undisclosed places, and that would be for the protection of our own soldiers. Terrorists might try to get the prisoners out, further risking our soldiers' lives. I think the Red Cross would do better to tend to helping in tornadoes. It seems it's interfering in government affairs. I wonder if that's what the Red Cross was ever designed to do.

Call to volunteer

TO THE person complaining about the rock garden in Jackson City Park: You may volunteer to work in the park by calling Shane Anderson at 204-8848 at city hall. I bet you won't call, because you're a complainer, not a doer.

Two important issues

THERE IS no discrimination involved whatsoever in the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment. It stands for what the true definition of marriage is and would keep marriage as what it has been for centuries and what it is biblically. Yes, there are many, many important issues besides abortion and gay marriage, but these are two very important issues. If we don't stand up and answer these issues in a godly manner at this time, then the world we give our children and grandchildren will be falling apart.

Where the buck stops

I CERTAINLY believed David Limbaugh when he wrote that President Bush wasn't lying about weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, I am devastated by the president's decision to deviate from President Truman's "The buck stops here" dictum.

Maybe she had help

TO THE people concerned about convenience stores selling cigarettes to minors: I'm 33 years old and get carded for cigarettes all the time. Maybe the mother concerned about her underage daughter buying cigarettes should investigate the people her child is hanging around with. Does she know if they're old enough to buy cigarettes for her? She should try being a parent instead of complaining.