Speak Out 07/24/04

Art is a blessing

IT IS really a shame that people in Scott City don't understand what true art is. Art is not something that has to be understood. It is something that expresses an emotion or feeling from the artist. Just because the art on the side of the building in Old Illmo is not Monet, Van Gogh or Picasso doesn't mean it is not art. What Paul Schock is bringing to Old Illmo is a blessing.

High respect for all

I LIVE in Scott City. I know Robert Grant very well. He has treated me with a lot of respect. I am very close to his family too. He would never have just stabbed someone without defending himself. He has never hurt anyone in his life. I have known him since he was 17 years old. He has high respect for everyone.

Defending himself

I AM 11 years old. I know Robbie Grant. I think Robbie is a good man. And I think he is innocent of what they are accusing him of. He was only defending himself.

Students come first

ONCE AGAIN the Cape Girardeau School Board is putting material issues ahead of student education. Someone must have known that the high utility bills were occurring and there was a problem. Why are they just now surfacing before the board decides whether to raise the tax levy? I am not opposed to the raise if it is to help retain teachers, but I am if it's to undo a mistake that someone has obviously made.

It was self-defense

I HAVE known Robert Grant for seven or eight years. I know that he would never intentionally harm a person. I am appalled that the police arrested him for simply defending himself.

Winners and losers

I'M TIRED of all this concern about Indians. They lost. Why is irrelevant. The winners write the history books and make the rules. There are no group rights, only individual ones. Let all these minorities make their individual mark on society. Every group has its winners and losers. Winners build a community. Losers destroy one.

Need protection

I THINK that if those Scott City police officers are so afraid to defend their citizens, they need to give up their badges. It is so crazy to hear an officer tell you he cannot go to a house where there is a party with about 60 underaged drinkers because he is by himself and "those boys look like they want to fight."

Ruining our schools

MAP TESTS are malevolent tools that retard real learning. They are ruining public schools as those who advocate them well know and favor.

Afraid of youths

I BELIEVE the Scott City police are afraid of these troubled underaged drinkers the police have been called about so many times. The police get behind them knowing the youths are drinking and driving underage and are afraid to pull them over. But I know a man who went to jail for DWI a few weeks ago on a lawn mower. The police knew he would not put up a fight.

Proud to be Indians

LISTEN UP, people. Just because Southeast Missouri State University decided to change its mascot, what makes you think Jackson should change its mascot? And why should Jackson change its name to North Cape? Leave the town names what they are. People are always trying to change history, and it just causes a bunch of rigmarole. Leave history alone, and leave us alone here in Jackson. We like our name. We are proud to be Indians.

Jackson pride

TO THE person who said Jackson should change its name to the Jackson Bulldogs or North Notre Dame: If we became the Notre Dame of the North, we'd have to drop our outstanding football program, tremendous wrestling program and high academic standards. To the person who suggested we change our name to North Cape: You've got to be kidding. Cape Girardeau has long been concealed in the dominant shadow of Jackson. Jackson should be proud of our city's heritage and our school mascot. Go, Indians!