Speak Out 08/17/04

Bridge sculpture needed

SINCE THE old Mississippi River bridge is being demolished, Cape Girardeau should commission artists to design and build a sculpture from the ironwork from the bridge. Once completed, the work of art should be displayed permanently on the riverfront. Have artists in this area submit their designs. Make this a contest.

Change more rights

NOW THAT we have succeeded in changing the Missouri Constitution to define marriage, why not address the issues of abortion and death? Let us state that the unborn child has absolute right to life and that other family members have only limited rights: The mother does not have a right to life when her life is threatened by pregnancy, the children of the marriage do not have the right to a mother, the father does not have a right to a wife -- only the right to have children. Regarding death, we could state that no one has the right to death with dignity but only has the right to a vegetable existence. While we have the numbers, seize the day.

Busy day for shoppers

I MAY be in the minority, but I am extremely angry about the tax-free holiday, because it made it impossible for me to walk inside the mall.

The rest of the story

I KNOW that the story of the stabbing in Scott City has seemed to fizzle. However, there is still a young man sitting behind the cold concrete walls in the Scott County Jail. That young man, who took a terrible beating that dreaded July night, is waiting for our justice system to reveal the truth about that awful night that changed so many people's lives. I truly hope the people who were there and involved that night have a conscience. I know by looking at the photos of that young man's face that we have not heard the whole story. I know that I could not live with myself if I sat idly by and didn't speak the truth.

Verbal mincemeat

MICHAEL JENSEN, the H.L. Mencken of the Midwest, has warned us in no uncertain terms that the early voting proposal for Missourians is not a good idea. The volatile Jensen never misses an opportunity to make verbal mincemeat out of any suggestion that may be beneficial to Democrats.

Stewards of our money

SCHOOL BOARD members swear to carefully steward our tax money. With known cost savings being ignored, if one of them votes to raise my taxes one red cent, I swear I'll never forget their name come Election Day.

Untimely construction

WHO IS the mental giant in Jackson who planned for every major street and highway in town to be under construction during Homecomers and at the start of school?