Speak Out 10/14/08

Neighborhood policing

IT HAS started again. Somebody on North Ellis Street wants the police to come in and clean up the area. I guarantee you if they do the same residents will be complaining that the police officers are harassing the fine citizens of their neighborhood and targeting them. The police just can't win.

Unbiased Fox

IT AMAZES me when anyone can say with a straight face that Fox News is unbiased. These folks say that are the same ones who scream "Blame the Democrats" when Republicans controlled Congress for 12 years and held the presidency for the last eight years.

Driving advice

THE LEFT lane is for passing, not driving. Please get out of the way. Get off your cell phone. Pay attention.

Outrageous sentencing

THE MARCUS Bowers sentencing is an outrage. He is convicted of killing someone and child molestation. Is there anyone who is a bigger threat to society? But for the killing he gets only four years, and only one year for the child molestation. Plus these are to be served concurrently so essentially the one-year child molestation sentence is a freebie. My guess is he'll be out in less than three years. At least he doesn't live in my neighborhood — or the judge's, I suspect.

Audience participation?

AS A certified country hick, I left the River Campus performance by the dance company Battleworks with nothing more than a "Huh?" reaction to what I had just seen. At least I was more in touch with my thoughts and feelings earlier that evening, because I was certainly able to sense the surreal when there was a pre-performance emergency evacuation of the performing arts center. Could a cultural sophisticate who reads Speak Out and went to the performance tell us whether the evacuation was part of an audience-participation aspect of the show?

Dance music

I PICKED my child up from a school dance at Central High School and asked how it was and what kind of music was played. This was her first dance. I was shocked when she told me some of the music that was allowed at a school dance. Do the administrators not know what these songs are about? Schools want parents to deter their children from sex, violence and drugs, but they support it by allowing music that glorifies these things. Quit sending mixed signals, and stop blaming parents for the moral decay.

Pick up the limbs

FOR EVERYONE complaining about the limbs in Cape Girardeau: Maybe I'm out of touch, but why don't you pick up the limbs yourself? That's how we do it in the country. If the limbs bother you so much, you should pick them up yourself. Are you that dependent on city government?

Being punished

I AM tired of hearing that all Americans must tighten their belts and learn to do without. My husband and I have always worked hard, lived within our means and tried to save money. We bought a house that we could afford, and we drive older cars. We don't use credit cards foolishly, and we have tried to save money for our retirement. We feel that we are being punished for trying to do the right thing. I do not want any more of my tax money to go toward bailing out selfish, corrupt CEOs or lazy, whiny people who have lived beyond their means and brought this on themselves.

Nationalizing banks

I WAS all in favor of a bigger role for the federal government in regulating our banking system, but I never wanted nor believed that a Republican president would take steps to nationalize it.

More trays, less trash

WHILE I applaud the teachers and students of the Cape Girardeau School District for recycling, I am appalled that the district sends hundreds of bags of foam and plastic containers to the landfill each week. Each food item is served to students in a separate container for breakfast and lunch. With eight school buildings serving breakfast and lunch, it is unimaginable how many tons of trash the district accumulates throughout a school year. Would it not be more economical in the long run for the district to purchase reusable trays?

Lower tips

I am a server at a restaurant in Cape Girardeau. This past week I have received the worst tips for this time of year that I have ever received. I understand that the economy is doing bad, but don't go out to eat if you're not planning on tipping your server. This is becoming an issue, and it is not because the service is bad.

Marching Tigers win

Congratulations to the Central High School Marching Tigers for winning first place in both the preliminary and final competitions at the Bi-State Marching Contest in Potosi, Mo. The band received first place in all of this season's contests. Hats off to the band directors, students and supporting parents. How wonderful when hard work get's rewarded. They have a beautiful show, and it is a great example of teamwork. Good luck for the final contest at the St. Louis Dome on Oct. 25.

Go easy on gas

GAS PRICES have fallen dramatically, but we must not go back to our gas-guzzling ways. The price to pay for your guzzling when prices go way down might not show immediately, but do you want your grandchildren to deal with this problem a third time?

Take back south side

AS A child I spent many days and nights on the south side of Cape Girardeau. My grandma lived there. I remember sweet, elderly neighbors and polite young men. I have since moved to a different city, but I find it a shame that the south side has been allowed to go so wrong. The families that live there deserve more support. There are many decent families who are trying to live their American dream. They should feel safe and secure in their homes, live in a clean environment and not worry about the safety of their little ones playing in the yard. I remember a time when the young men of the south side took care of their elderly neighbors and the neighborhood children. It didn't matter the color of your skin. I would like to see a task force of volunteers, a curfew, litter control and a neighborhood watch. I would gladly volunteer. We can, with elbow grease and time take, the southside back.