Speak Out 10/03/04

Voting advice

THANK GOD for the ministers and preachers and others who aren't afraid to hurt some of the flock's feelings by telling the truth about what you should stand for and vote for if you're a Christian. I've seen many squirm in their seats and later say the preacher shouldn't have done that. My friends, it's not whom you should vote for. It's what you should vote for. If only some would have as much love and faith as God's word as they do in their political party, what a servant you would be.

Foreign aid

THE UNITED States has sent unknown amounts of money and food, by the taxpayers, to fund countries in their time of national disaster. Please tell us how much money and food has been sent from foreign countries to the United States in this time of our national disaster.

Setting an example

If school officials are concerned about students being overweight, they need to make sure the teachers and the coaches set good examples. When a teacher or coach can't run up and down the field with the kids, it's not setting a very good example.

Hard-working employees

CONGRATULATIONS TO Southeast Missouri Hospital nurses for that great award. It's quite an honor. But remember, don't forget the other employees who work just as hard.

Draft won't work

I READ the "Return of the draft" column by Howard Dean. If this country tries to implement the draft again, Canada will be full of young people. I hate to say it, but Americans today are not going to be drafted. They're set in their ways. They don't want to spend two or three years defending their country like we did. America's youths are not going to be drafted. If you think they burned draft cards and demonstrated in the 1960s, just try to draft today's youths and you'll see that I'm right.

Ridiculous logic

IT'S OFFICIAL. People in this area can put a religious spin on every news item. Not only are the Floridians and the others affected by the hurricanes being punished by God, but it's because of slavery and the Civil War. If people actually believe this and can attribute every disaster to God's punishment, then I don't know if all of those God-fearing, good people in Florida should even consider going back to church ever again. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that every person living in the hurricane areas actually owned slaves or fought in the Civil War. This is one of the most ridiculous things I have read in Speak Out in a long time.

Ban would be worse

THIS IS to all people who believe abortion needs to be banned: Do you honestly believe that banning abortion will end the practice? For those of you who were around before Roe v. Wade, you can educate the rest of us on back-alley abortions, a practice all too common in those days. All that a ban will do is increase risk to the women who make that choice, while criminalizing both women and doctors involved. If you are pro-life, as I am, than it is your moral duty to support policies that help women in times of difficulty, thus lowering the demand for abortions.

No good plan

NEITHER MAJOR candidate for president has a viable plan for extricating American troops from Iraq that will not plunge Iraq into decades of civil war.

Enlistment goals met

CONTRARY TO Howard Dean's histrionics, the U.S. military is meeting its enlistment goals. The Army and Army Reserves exceeded their recruitment goals for 2004. The Navy, Marines and Air Force have met their goals each year during the Bush presidency. In addition, the military has exceeded its re-enlistment goals in each branch.

Trained to be gentle

TO THE person who said he was afraid of Rottweilers: I own two of them. Yes, this breed can be mean, but they can also be gentle giants. Ours have been trained very well. Maybe you should give your neighbor a chance. I am more afraid of a little Chihuahua that has no control and bites me.