Speak Out 09/02/04

Not city's responsibility

IF THE YMCA or YWCA want to come to Cape Girardeau, they should do it on their own. It's not up to the city government to do anything other than offer police and fire protection and build infrastructure. This is America, not some dictatorship where the government runs everything -- though lately it is getting closer to that.

Contradictory statements

MAP TESTS drive everything we do, says a school administrator. Student progress should not be judged by MAP scores alone, says another educator. Seemingly contradictory statements like that leave me scratching my balding head.

Keep Heidi's column

I AM almost 60, and I never plan to grow up. I, like Heidi Hall, find life is too full of wonders to sit and let life happen to us. I don't smoke or drink, and I still have a wonderful life. If you don't understand humor when you read it, then don't read that which is offensive. Heidi, keep up your column. And thanks, Missourian, for continuing to have her as a guest writer.

Supporting citizens

WE ARE Southeast Missouri State University graduates -- one of us a Vietnam veteran -- with two children who have served honorably. We have met many young men and women serving, and to a man or woman there is not one who says we should never have gone into either Iraq or Afghanistan. Do they like it? No. Have they done their jobs? Yes. Will they continue to do so? Yes. If we had not gone into these countries with the understanding that we would no longer tolerate terrorism, then we were just saying, "Here, we'll open our doors and our hearts for more devastation throughout our country." When it comes to terrorism, there should be no political parties, only citizens.

Board responsibility

I WOULD like to comment on the article concerning the school board's decision not to renew the superintendent's contract. It said this was a unanimous decision. I agree with this 100 percent. It should have been done a long time ago. But I want to remind readers that a superintendent cannot do anything without the approval of the board. Only the school board votes on how to run the district and tax issues. So the superintendent is not the only one to blame for the fiasco that's been facing our district for some time. The entire board is responsible.