OpinionOctober 17, 2007
Speak Out 10/17/07
Look in the mirror; No stamp machines; Church fairness; Wonderful organization; Taking the street; Liberal spin; History and politics; Street opposition; And in second place; Paying and paying
Look in the mirror
REGARDING SUBSTITUTE teachers following lesson plans: My child is at Central Junior High School. His teachers have missed a total of 13 days so far, and only one substitute followed the lesson plan. A few days of missing add up. I am keeping track this year of the teachers' absences. Teachers get two personal days plus most of the summer off, three days at Thanksgiving, almost two weeks at Christmas and a spring break. Teachers, quit blaming the students and parents for the school system's failure and take a look in the mirror.
No stamp machines
I HAVE a concern. The U.S. Postal Service is taking stamp machines out of retail places, including the stamp machine at the post office. I don't understand this decision. Unless you go to the post office, you're not going to be able to buy stamps. That's a mistake. It's inconvenient for customers. I don't know where the craziness will end.
Church fairness
AS A Christian and a churchgoer, I'm appalled at what the city is doing and what the residents around Christ Church of the Heartland on Bertling Street have done. I want to know why my church isn't being treated the same as this one. My church is in a residential neighborhood. We have a meal a month at which members are charged for the meal. Are we operating a business? Is it a restaurant? This city needs to start treating everybody fairly and stop picking on people.
Wonderful organization
I THINK it's great that Teen Challenge is dedicating its new buildings. This is a wonderful organization, and it should be more widely known that they have such a high success rate. The whole world should be aware of what can be accomplished with God's help.
Taking the street
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI Hospital wants Lacey Street. Doesn't the hospital have enough to take care of without wanting to be Big Brother over the neighborhood? How much do we want hospitals dictating to us as free citizens?
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Liberal spin
TO THE people who whine about Rush Limbaugh, why listen? Turn your radio to a liberal station where you'll be happy with the liberal spin.
History and politics
IN A recent comment I expressed some concern about teachers allowing their personal feelings or political views to influence their teaching of history. I was berated on several items because I was not clear. I do not fail to acknowledge that there were already people here. The Athabaskans and others had, of course, been here for millennia. There was never a dispute about that. We also believe the Norse had visited here before. Nor do I fail to acknowledge that many things that happened after Europeans came here were wrong. I simply stated that, with respect to the generally held knowledge of the world at that time, the continent of North America was not known in what was then considered to be the "civilized" world. Columbus was an explorer, seeking wealth, nothing more. However, he and his crew, suffering terrible hardship, crossed the Atlantic in ships smaller than some RVs on the road today. In essence, he did discover a new world. It is his voyage of discovery we celebrate. To politicize his efforts and blame him for the things that came after is like blaming the first person ever to smoke tobacco -- first used by American tribes, if memory serves -- for lung cancer. Teach what happened. Leave the political discussions for the political science classes.
Street opposition
IT IS a sad day when an article on hairstyles is read more often than "Hospital asks for Lacey Street." Please, inform yourself. Show up for the public hearings to oppose giving our hard-earned tax dollars away.
And in second place
MOST KNOW by now that Al Gore was the winner of the latest Nobel Peace Prize. Who did this amazing man with his incredible documentary beat out? Who came in second? Who lost? Her name is Irene Sendler, who is 96 years old. During World War II she rescued thousands of children in the Warsaw Ghetto and hid them in orphanages and homes of other brave families. She was arrested by the Gestapo and tortured to tell where they were but did not reveal one. Her only regret: that she could not have saved more. Look it up. Weep.
Paying and paying
WOULDN'T YOU know it? The survivors of the Minnesota bridge collapse want all of their medical, all of their insurance, all of their mortgages, all of their lost wages, all of their mental health counseling taken care of, not just today, but months and years from now. Yes, their medical bills should be paid, lost wages, even perhaps mental counseling. Period. But insisting on getting paid for tragedies over and beyond the actual costs is the American way, right?
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