Speak Out 07/26/04

Ignore PC crowd

TO THE people of Jackson: Now that the politically correct are taking aim at the Indian nickname and even the name of the town, there's one thing you need to do. Ignore them. If you ignore them, they will eventually go away. Pay no attention to what they say. There are many more people who support you than oppose you.

Don't blame police

AFTER READING the article about the murder in Scott City, it disturbs me to read the comments blaming law enforcement. At what point are the parents going to take responsibility for their children's actions? If the parents know these kids are partying, drinking and using drugs, why have they not done anything to stop it? I feel bad for the family and feel bad that another young person had to lose his life, but it's not law enforcement's fault.

Legal constraints

GARY RUST reported differences in insurance rates for doctors in different states in this region. There was nothing in the report about each state's laws regarding rates that can be charged to doctors by insurance companies. The statistics would be more meaningful if that information were part of the report.

Someone will be hurt

I WOULD like to comment on the underage drinking that's been going on in Scott City. Today there was another party. It moved from Mary Street to another house on Oak Street. The cops are aware of every party, including the one still going on at 11:30 p.m. They know there are underage drinkers there and are patrolling the area. The reason given for not putting a stop to tonight's party was "There are 40 or 50 people there, and they look like they're looking for a fight" and "There's only one of us on duty." Then what? Tell the kids to go home? Let them get into their cars drunk and drive home like they usually do? What happens when one of those underage drinkers or the ones supplying the alcohol gets into their car and runs over a kid on a bike?

Matter of perspective

MY CHILDREN are 18 and 20 years old. They watched their friend be lowered into the ground today due to a senseless act of violence. It puts things into perspective for those who have nothing to do but change names of school mascots and others who argue about it. The Indians had a saying: "Today is a good day to die."

Something for youths

SCOTT CITY needs something for youths, not some fancy-smancy art show. We have beatings, stabbing and cold-blooded murder going on. If Paul Schock's idea of art is nailing stuff to the side of a floral shop, then forget it. Start spending money wisely. Do something for the community. Turn the bar into a skating rink or a bowling alley. Build a basketball court.

Heat for the mayor

IT SEEMS that Mayor Jay Knudtson is finally learning that being mayor isn't the same as being a banker. It's too bad that this simple lesson has been learned at the expense of the residents of Cape Girardeau. Much to Knudtson's chagrin, he's finding that being an appeaser isn't the answer. At Monday night's council meeting he castigated a resident who came forth to question some of the recent actions of the city and council. Memo to Mayor Knudtson: We residents have a right to question, comment, criticize and point fingers on every action you, the council and the city takes. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Easy on the ear

I LIKED Gary Rust's quote from Forbes magazine concerning an article about Hartmarx in which the author used the euphemism "reduced employee count" in place of firing workers. It sounds so much less harsh.

Need better argument

IT WOULD be a poor parent who let a kid drown in the lake at the county park or the lagoon at Capaha Park. Opponents of ordinances regarding swimming pools need a new angle to oppose the requirement for a fence around your yard when you have a wading pool.

Intrusive proposal

I AM really interested in the issue of limiting pets in Cape Girardeau. Once again, Mayor Jay Knudtson has missed the boat. He's not listening to taxpayers. He says a silent majority want the new restrictions. If they've been so silent, how does the mayor know there's a majority? From what I've heard, the proposed new ordinance is ridiculous and intrusive. It's interesting to me that six people spoke against the proposal, but nobody spoke in favor of it. I don't care how many dogs or cats my neighbors have, if the animals stay on their property and the neighbors take of them. Mayor Knudtson should worry about getting this city into shape and stop worrying about dogs and cats people have in the privacy of their own home.

Tougher cruelty law

I WISH Cape Girardeau would have an animal-cruelty law like Chicago's. If pet owners don't take care of their animals in Chicago, they go to jail and pay a fine. We've got a neighbor who is cruel to his animals. You ought to see the condition his dogs live in. I've reported it, but nothing is done about it.

For more safety

THE ACLU should be ashamed. If officials want to randomly search people in Boston who are boarding subway trains, this should be something the city does without the ACLU harassing them. I don't care if they check everyone going on the trains if it saves lives. We don't want what happened in Spain to happen here.

No response on drugs

I HAVE a question for law officials: When drug activity is reported, how come nothing's ever done about it? It's been turned in numerous times about different occasions, different locations and different people, and the officials don't seem to care. I'd like to know why.

Later pool hours

I'M GLAD to see I'm not the only person upset about the pools closing at 5 p.m. I had planned on swimming laps this summer after work, but I can't because I work until 5 p.m. I guess the only way I can swim is on the weekends or if I want to get up at 5:30 in the morning. We pay taxes. We should be able to use the pool at least until 6 p.m. Give us a break. Keeping the pool open later even on weekends would help.

Meyer's is missed

I SAW the article about the Jackson Board of Aldermen denying Meyer's Bakery a special-use permit. I can understand the neighborhood's point of view, but there's already a convenience store not very much farther from where the bakery was going to be, and I noticed the sign about a Chinese restaurant. I would have hoped that they could have all worked it out, because Meyer's is sorely needed and is missed.

Red-tailed disaster

THIS IS an interesting note from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It said in Santa Clara, Calif., on July 17 a red-tailed hawk flew into a power line and was electrocuted. It's flaming body fell into the brush, causing a forest fire. Although no houses had been lost, nearly 1,600 homes had evacuated since the fire began.