Speak Out 1/20/06

Computer caution

SINGLING OUT the MySpace Web site is ridiculous. It is the Internet itself that is a vehicle used by predators. A child is only in danger on the Internet when a parent stops being a parent. A good-looking 13-year-old girl is in a lot more danger being dropped off by mom and dad at the mall than she would be at home on the computer. I won't even try to explain how dangerous the camera phone is, but there is something else to stew on. It would be better if parents would take responsibility for their children's actions and stop finding things to blame their behavior on.

Not disruptive

THEY COMMENT claiming the kilt worn by the student to a school dance caused "substantial disruption" was incorrect. It did not. That is the key, according to the U.S. Supreme Court, in a decision made long ago. Wearing a Nazi uniform or Ku Klux Klan garb would cause substantial disruption and would be inappropriate. It is not too much to ask that school administrators be sensitive to those who are proud of their heritage and want to wear non-disruptive ethnic attire.

Broken windows

SOMEONE NOTICED trash on I-55 near Fruitland. On my trips to St. Louis, I've noticed windows vandalized in automobiles left on the side of the highway when you're getting close to St. Louis. At least down here we're not vandalizing windows when someone leaves an automobile on the side of the road.

Miners live well

I HAVE two brothers-in-law who are coal miners, and they live pretty well. In this day and age, most wives work. You get a fair pay for being a coal miner. If you don't live in West Virginia, you have a pretty long life expectancy. I don't know why the coal mine accident happened there when Indiana and other states like Illinois manage to keep their miners safe.

A good idea

SELLING REFRIGERATED beer encourages drinking and teenage driving. Drinking and driving may impair your life or the life of others. I have buried a son because someone chose to drink and drive. My house was hit and torn up. Those cold cans of beer all over the yard took away the safety of everyone involved. I would like to send that fifth-grader who has proposed a law banning the sale of refrigerated beer a great big hug and tell him how proud I am of him. We need people in this world to think ahead and do everything possible to save lives. Let us hear more from our young people like this fifth-grader. We need you.

No big deal

I WAS living in a town in central Illinois a little over 20 years ago when a movie was shot entirely in the town. The star was Jamie Lee Curtis, and she came in a couple of weeks early to get acquainted. The rest of the stars, Patrick Swayze and Troy Donahue and some others, were in town for about eight weeks. It was fun, but it was no big deal.

Church politics

SOME FOLKS think politicking in church means the pastor mentioning things the Bible condemns. You can't have it both ways.