Speak Out 10/13/04

Patrol presence

YES, THE problems do demand attention if the momentum of a revitalization effort is going to continue in downtown Cape Girardeau. Citizens will need reassurance that they can enjoy downtown Cape without fear of being mugged or their cars being damaged. Vandalism will have to be brought under control and stopped. There would have to be constant police presence for safety.

No reason to complain

I'M CALLING in response to the person who complained about too many police downtown at the festival. I can only think of one reason why somebody would complain about the presence of the police and that would they would have something illegal in mind.

Focus on loyal leaders

THE TERRORISTS are getting plenty of encouragement from these self-obsessed Johns who are running for the White House. These Johns could care less about our war on terrorism. They are out for power and control to rule America. America is focused on moral, loyal leaders and we have the best in President Bush, who took action after America was attacked. These beheading, savage terrorists will be eliminated. President Bush is our leader and our loyal leader all the way through 2008.

Better training needed

I JUST read in this morning's paper where another Cape patrolman was assaulted. I'm just wondering why they get assaulted so much. The sheriff's department and Jackson police don't seem to have that problem. Maybe we should take a closer look at what's going on in the department. Maybe their training procedures are just not up to what they should be.

Use volunteers

I KNOW pictures can be deceiving, but as I was looking at the Cape fire department's yearly picture in the Southeast Missourian, I see no minorities. Also, I don't think we can justify that many employees in a town this size. My house insurance keeps going up and I haven't filed a claim. We could lay off about 10 firefighters and use volunteers. Volunteers are the true guardians. They don't get paid for what they do and most of us good citizens would save our fellow man, no matter what.

Speaking without fear

CENTENNIAL congratulations to Gary Rust, his family and the Southeast Missourian. Speak Out anonymity enables people to speak their true feelings without politically correct rhetoric or fancy, dressed-up nonsense. It allows people to vent their opinions, positive as well as adverse ones. That is why Speak Out is so popular. People can speak out without fear. Thank you, Gary Rust, for Speak Out.

Rude behavior

SMOKING IN PUBLIC is rude, obnoxious and inconsiderate to other people and patrons. We all have certain rights, this is true. They should not have the right to smoke in a public place and offend the people around them.

Keeping a bit of history

I THINK the entrance to the old bridge should be an overlook. That way, the city will have a piece of the history of the old Mississippi bridge.

A different place

WHAT IF? What if we never invaded Iraq? What if Saddam Hussein was still in power? What if Saddam continued to pay $25,000 to the families of suicide bombers? What if he continued to work for WMDs? What if he continued to threaten his neighbors and his own people? What if he continued to threaten the U.S. with unknown capability? What if his henchmen drove trucks full of WMD materials into the desert, took a GPS reading, and buried them in the sand? What if the U.S. waited for an attack? What if the U.S. acted on the most obvious threat? It's time people acknowledged that the world is a very different place now, and that terrorists do not use diplomacy.