Speak out 10/11/04

Never enough

FOR THE life of me, I just can't figure out why the government doesn't have enough flu vaccine made to cover everybody who wants it. Every year we go through this and there's always some kind of crisis to where we don't have enough and here it is the beginning of the season and we still don't have enough. I just can't understand it. Last year the same thing happened. You think they would have planned better so we'd have enough to go around for everybody. It's ridiculous. The shot should be available to anybody who wants it and the government should do a better job of making it available.

A great day

FIRST THE Cardinals clobbered the Dodgers and then Dick Cheney cleans up on John Edwards. It is a great day to live in Missouri and be an American.

Surprised by shortage

A FLU vaccination shortage. Should we be surprised? Drug companies have been writing their own ticket for four years and charging what they want and crying research and development. I understand that takes a lot of money but where's the money coming from for all the hundreds of advertising plots on TV? Flu vaccination shortage is simple. There's just not enough profit in it. They're putting profit over people.

Taking from others

To the person or people who stole the pumpkins from the field next to the Jaycee Golf Course in Cape Girardeau. My son is 8-years-old and those pumpkins belonged to him. Enjoy them as my son and his dad, who did all the work growing them, cannot! I'm wondering several things. Do you have children and would you like someone stealing what belongs to them? Do you want strangers or thieves trespassing onto property that belongs to you? Think next time before you take something that does not belong to you. You stole from a child!

Highway tolls

MESSAGE TO Kit Bond: As a registered Republican voter, I would have voted for you. However, you, as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, voted to allow tolls on existing interstate highways. Sen. Bond, we have paid for these highways through our state and federal highway fuel taxes, have we not? Why would you want us to pay tolls on roadways that already exist? Tolls, Sen. Bond, are just another form of tax. As you have voted for this tax, I will withhold my vote from you.

Unpatriotic act

YOU KNOW what strikes me as so funny, in a sad way? People who display the Confederate flag, but consider themselves patriotic Americans. Imagine, a group of people who decided to wage war against the U.S. They engaged in warfare and even terrorism in the form of the Tigers and Bushwhackers. This war killed about 620,000 soldiers, not to mention the civilian casualties of Bushwhackers and Tigers and other insurgent groups before and after the "War Between the States." Almost all of them were American citizens. It kind of makes Osama's 2,890 (many of them not American citizens) seem puny by comparison, doesn't it? Why on earth would any American consider himself or herself patriotic, and yet display the flag of such a horrendous enemy of our country?

Helping at home

I would just like to say that the Jackson Fire Department deserves a big pat on the back. I live 10 miles west of town and I feel so safe knowing that if the "big one" happens, Jackson firefighters will be there. Oh, what 10 miles from Jackson? I hope that all of the money they are getting in these grants not only covers Jackson but some of the small towns as well.

Deserved recognition

CONGRATULATIONS TO Truman Smith on his award. He deserves the recognition, even though he never asked to be recognized for his work. He just did it because it made him and others happy. I had the pleasure of watching him transform Jefferson's landscaping. He brought each stone in himself and worked for hours. At first the kids would walk on the flowers but after a few stern warnings and watching the flowers bloom, they have learned to appreciate them. He made the walkway in the back of the school seem like you were stepping into a botanical garden. My kids have since moved on from Jefferson but when we do drive by, we still look at his designs. Each magnolia tree is surrounded by them. Thanks again, Mr. Smith.

Cut the cord

I AM a professor at Southeast and am shocked at the students who are entering college these days. I honestly had several parents call and try to bail their children out of not turning in a report for my class. When will this generation start taking reposiblity for their own actions? Mommy and Daddy need to let Baby grow up! Parents need to cut the cord and let their children feel comfortable on their own two feet. If you're old enough to vote then you are old enough to face your professor when your papers are not turned in on time. Your parents are not taking my class so it is none of their business.

Save the bridge

I THINK that Mayor Knudtson has got the right idea about the old Mississippi River bridge. He is trying to preserve a part of Cape Girardeau's history and I commend him for that. It is great to have a mayor who not only looks to the future of our city, but also tries to preserve the past to help us remember older days. I think that the history of our town is a beautiful one. It is rich in culture and happenings, as can be seen on the mural down by the river. Pieces of our history, especially the arch leading onto the bridge entrance, should not be demolished. They should be saved from the wrecking ball in order to make a scenic overlook complete with viewing stations and pictures of the construction and demolition of the bridge. I understand that this could be costly to renovate the ramp, but there could be another option. In my opinion, it is very possible to only keep the archway if renovating the entire ramp is too costly. That archway holds the history of the bridge.

Training is key

TO THE person that wrote that Rottweilers are the No. 1 killer dog: Any dog can turn on people. Many Rottweilers are trained to be helpers for the blind and deaf. All dogs are as good as their owners trained them to be.