Speak Out 1/27/07

Obama too liberal

HEAR, HEAR, Cal Thomas. That was an excellent column about Barack Obama. Several years ago was the first time I ever heard of the man when I saw placards around Southern Illinois when he was running for office. Since then I have learned a little more about him. He scares me to death. When I hear him speak, he speaks to my heart. He says all the right things and, as Thomas says, he looks good. But my goodness, so many of his issues are too far on the liberal side, and I don't know anything about the man. We need to do a lot of searching before we vote for him.

Told you so

IN 2003 I said that going into Iraq was a major mistake, that it would be a debacle not unlike Vietnam. I was called unpatriotic, a skeptic and a bleeding-heart liberal. I also said the outcome would not be justified by the means. Now we know there were no weapons of mass destruction, intelligence was tainted, lies were told to the American public and fear was the most used instrument to bring us around. Look at where we are today and think about if we had only thought something through without letting someone else tell us how to think.

Public preschool

OBVIOUSLY people did not read the article about the proposed Cape Girardeau School District preschool plan thoroughly. This preschool would be a public preschool, meaning parents who don't have the funds to send their children to day care would be able to. Studies show that children who would otherwise be at risk due to socio-economic status succeed and achieve higher when given early intervention, such as preschool. This would be a wonderful thing for Cape and its at-risk population. Since it would be run by the school district, all people of Cape would be able to participate. This is not just for NARS employees.

Divisive columnist

THE AMOUNT of faith placed in pundits like David Limbaugh leaves me awestruck at times. People like him do not have an interest in bringing people together because he gets paid to keep us at each others throats. He misstates items to his advantage.

Caravan tickets

FOR THOSE children who attended the Cardinal Caravan and left with smiling faces, I am happy for you. Unfortunately, because more people were let in than could be accommodated in the time allotted, many children left in tears because they did not get an autograph. Tickets should be numbered or colored so that people who plan ahead can meet a player whether they are children or adults.

Too many variables

PUBLISHED SCHOOL rankings would be worthy if all statistical variables were taken into account. Otherwise, they're misleading and counterproductive to school improvement.

Re-election ploy

THE "PLAN to bolster math and science" headline would have been more accurate had it read "Plan to bolster Gov. Blunt's chances for re-election."

Parents' job

IT IS not the job of the government to tell children to not take drugs. It is the job of the parents.

Unnecessary chases

REGARDING POLICE chases: If an officer is behind you telling you to pull over, stop the car. Why is this so difficult? The driver is responsible for any damages that come from a police chase. I don't want drugged/drunken drivers on the road, and I appreciate the police officers who risk their lives in these unnecessary chases in the effort to get them off the road.

Common decency

I COULDN'T believe my eyes when I saw a well-dressed woman in a store opening every type of lotion, smelling it and testing it. What has happened to common decency and regard for others?

Not a day care

I THINK expanding the library is a wonderful idea. My son participates in the summer reading program each year and enjoys going to the library. I hope he continues to enjoy the library as he gets older. It will be helpful to him when he has research to do. However, I don't think my tax money should go toward providing more computers and having more seating areas for children to hang out with their friends after school because their parents aren't home from work yet. If a child is too young to be home from school by himself, he should be in after-school day care or being watched by a responsible person until the parents get home from work. Why is the library being used as an after-school day-care facility? Even though I want the library to be improved, I will vote no on this tax issue, because I don't believe the library is a substitute for after-school day care.

Library care

I WAS so happy to see that there is a place I can drop off my children and taxpayers can pay for their care. How nice for the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau Public Library are to do this for the community.

Open borders

THUMBS DOWN to those who imply that we are somehow selfish in defending ourselves from overpopulation and other unpleasant social consequences of open borders.

Amazing evening

PLEASE THANK Beth St. John and Kelly Crawford for their hard work on this year's Children of Many Sorrows Chili Supper. The evening was amazing. Their tap number was outstanding, and tears were brought to our eyes when they sang "This Little Light of Mine." I know that the children of Madagascar will be ever grateful of their hard work and fund raising.

No cheerleaders

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Jackson Junior High School eighth-grade boys' basketball team for winning the Jackson tournament. You played well and represented your school superbly. Shame on the administration and cheerleading sponsors for not supporting the boys' team. We were the host school for the tournament and did not have cheerleaders present at any eighth-grade game. The opposing teams all had cheerleaders, and they come from smaller school districts.