Speak Out 07/31/04

Not to worry

PUBLIC SCHOOL systems are prohibited by state law from deficit spending. The Cape Gir-ardeau School District is not spending more than it is taking in. It is merely reducing the surplus a bit. Quit worrying so much.

Teaching about sex

TEACHING ABOUT sex and relationships isn't teaching the act of sex. There are many facets of relationships that need to be and are taught. One of the first things you should teach a child is not to allow any adult to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. A family friend used to have me sit on his lap and squeeze me. As a child, I had no idea what that was all about, and sex wasn't talked about. I just knew I was very uncomfortable. So when that person would come to our home, I'd make myself scarce. Relationships between an adult and child don't necessarily involve the act of sex, but it is sexual in nature. Think of this as a very broad spectrum of education.

Speaking to teens

HAVING BEEN there, done that and writing about whatever teen issue it might be is great, Sam DeReign. Keep up your writing about teen issues from your perspective and that of teens throughout this part of the world. To be sure you will touch the lives of many more than many parents do. I just hope many teens are reading the newspaper.

It can't be a problem

UNDERAGE DRINKING cannot possibly be a problem in Cape Girardeau. We are a good, conservative city with strong Christian values. Our churches are growing. We have new school buildings. Widespread disobedience of the law cannot possibly be a problem here. Anyone who says so is just trying to undermine our good city.

No more restrictions

I DON'T think people should go to jail or pay a fine just because they don't take good care of their animals. Why people want to impose more restrictions is beyond me. We're so lucky to live in Missouri. If I wanted Chicago, I would live in Chicago. If someone is so concerned about his neighbor's dogs, go over and feed the animals or give them water to drink.

Slinging the mud

WHY CAN'T the candidates run on their own names and stop throwing mud at each other? It makes me want to turn in my voter-registration card. It just doesn't make any sense why they want to throw mud at each other. What makes candidates think I want to vote for them if they're just going to slander each other?

Paying for mistakes

I HAVE a question about the school district's problems with the air conditioning and heating at Central High School. I wonder why the school district should have to pay for somebody else's mistakes. I worked 30-plus years in construction including multimillion-dollar jobs at Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center and the university, plus many smaller jobs all over Cape Girardeau. I don't think the people of Cape should have to pay $248,000 to fix a design or construction mistake. The jobs I worked on had someone check air flow to make sure it was working correctly.

Preaching and politics

IN RESPONSE to the person who says he wants to leave his church because the pastor shows partiality to a certain political party: I certainly agree. I am a leader in my party. However, it never worked for me to bring my party to church. I think religion and politics should be separate. That's just a no-win deal. The minister of the Gospel can have his own priorities, but when he's preaching a sermon, he's supposed to minister to both parties. He should be completely neutral. He's supposed to preach the Gospel and minister to his flock as a minister of the Gospel, not his views on the party.

Illegal dumping

A REMINDER to everyone that it's illegal to dump in other people's trash bins, and it's also illegal to run red lights when you're trying to get away before someone can see you.