Speak Out 10/17/04

Cemetery complaint

MY PET peeve for the day is graveyard attendants who do not know how to read. It is clearly posted on a sign at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson that seasonal flowers will be removed from the graves the first week in October. This year they were removed promptly on Oct. 1. The guidelines are posted and should be followed by the caretakers. Shame on them. . And, not only do I know how to complain, but I'd like to compliment the caretakers on how they do a great job with the keeping the cemetery cleaned up.

Safety of students

IAM a student at Jackson High School. I just wanted the voting public to know that the stories you are reading and hearing about the high school are real. The classrooms are way too small. What if a disaster occurs, such as an earthquake or fire, and your child had to get out along with 400 plus in old A, B, and C buildings. I do believe it would be a huge mess. I hope that the citizens of Jackson and Cape Girardeau County vote yes for this bond Issue for the safety of students present and future.

Desperate measures

IT'S SAD to read where Missourians have a gambling problem in general and that most are retired. However, it's understandable. Since Congress no longer has the courage to take action to preserve and protect senior citizens retirement income and health care needs, old folks have no choice but to take such desperate measures.

Jumping to conclusions

GARY SCHAAF wrote a letter about the computer disk discovered in Iraq with information about U.S. schools. He failed to mention that the person who had this disk was a civil official involved in planning Iraqi schools. There's no indication it had anything to do with terrorism - not only did it include floor plans, it also included things like student conduct rules and how to create learning environments. The FBI is investigating, as they should, just to be on the safe side. To claim this is evidence of planning for an attack on U.S. schools is jumping to conclusions.

Coddling your children

I AGREE with the professor from SEMO, who says that students need to be responsible for their own actions. I am a teacher who has more parents every year trying to make excuses for their children and the mistakes that they make. Parents who smother their children will end up with 30-year-old babies who cannot take care of themselves. Defending your child, when they are wrong, does not make you a good parent. It just proves to the child that they can do bad things and mom and dad will always bail them out.

Do your homework

If all those wringing their hands over the flu vaccine shortage, accusing the government and drug companies of collusion and conspiracy would do their homework and find out exactly why there is a shortage, the average IQ level of the Speak Out community would increase greatly.

Trap the squirrels

For several years we have been reading in speak out about the squirrel problem in this town. Now, we have two power outages within a month due to the little tree rats. They are getting so overpopulated this is just the beginning. They have tried to tear holes in my screen door to get into my house. Put up bird feeders? Forget it! They demolish them. Why doesn't the city trap about half of them and haul them out to the country where they belong?

Religion part of life

Leave religion at home? I can't. I take mine with me everywhere. It's a part of me. It's how I act and treat others. I don't force my Christian values on others, I show them. You show your lack of knowledge on true Christianity and the founding fathers by your statements. The Consititution says that the government will not make a state religion and not prohibit individuals from living their religion while working in the government. Give me truly spirit-filled Godly leaders and you'll have a better enviorment.