Speak Out 10/14/01

Let the world go

I WAS reading Jon Rust's column about life in Uzbekistan. Everything he says is nice, and I'm happy for him that he was able to go there. But if you boil down his message, he's saying that it's good for the United States to give military and economic aid to other countries in the world. That's why we're in a war right now. If we didn't save the Kuwaitis and the Saudis from Saddam Hussein and if we didn't back Israel, then the terrorists wouldn't have attacked us. I think if America would just mind America's business we wouldn't have the problem we have today. The Arabs would just beat up on each other and Israel, like they've done for years. I hope we get Osama bin Laden, because he murdered Americans, but after that, we should stay home and let the world take care of itself.

Value vilification

TED HUNTER'S letter bluntly assailing Roy Blunt for wanting to continue to receive his civilian pay while serving his country was right on target. Allowing such special privilege for Missouri's secretary of state or any other member of the pampered, officeholding political class exhibits a seeming vilification of the non-discriminatory values Blunt and others claim to hold in such high esteem.

Not more control

MORE GUN control? Does the person who wants more control think the average criminal buys his gun at the local gun shop after a waiting period? Wake up.

Face reality

LET'S SAY I am a terrorist. It would be bad news for me if further restrictions were placed on good citizens. I might not qualify to buy my gun at the local sporting goods store. Darn. If I can't buy my gun legally as planned, my plans are certainly foiled. All criminals will have to stop going through the legal process of legally purchasing their much-desired legal .38 to knock off the quickie mart. Horrors, they won't have access to guns. Please note the sarcasm and step into reality.

Disaster's effect

HOW SAD that it took a disaster like the one that happened on Sept. 11 to get people to put God back in their lives again.

Final definition

IN ORDER to save time, can we come to some kind of consensus that the term anti-American or anti-Americanism will here and forever after be defined by David Limbaugh?

Strong support

IT IS true that Jim Drury was not responsible for the construction of the original Southeast Missouri State University, as an apparently irate Speak Out caller asserted. However, Drury and his enterprises have sustained it and are largely responsible for its growth and success. Without the foresight of Drury, SEMO would have long since sunk -- not literally, but fiscally. SEMO started without the support of Drury, but without his backing now, it will surely die.

Frightening idea

WHAT'S THIS? The Department of Home Security? I don't know about you folks, but this scares the devil out of me. I remember World War II-era Germany. They called it the SS. I hate to coin a phrase, but here is one for everyone to think about: We have nothing to fear but fear itself. I pray we don't let the events of Sept. 11 whittle away at our beloved and proven Constitution. Remember: Liberty and justice for all.

Showing our support

THAT IS a very spectacular flag on Princeton Drive the Borens made following the tragedies the United States had endured recently. Congratulations to them, and I hope more citizens will follow. During World War II, the only way we had to show our support was to hang a small banner with stars on it in our windows. The number of stars represented how many husbands, sons, brothers and so forth we had in service in our family. Do some of you senior citizens remember that?