Speak Out 10/20/04

Running over us

I AM so sick of the atheists and evolutionists who are trying to control the government, the judicial system and the school system. Nobody would have a problem with the Ten Commandments or the Pledge of Allegiance if it were not for them. Then they try to blame the Christians for trying to control everything. It is time that Christians stop letting them run us over.

Burdensome lives

PLEASE REMEMBER that when voting pro-life to spare those 1.4 million innocent lives, you are dooming many of them to living as unwanted children and victims of abuse, neglect and poverty. Make sure if this truly is your choice on Nov. 2 that you are prepared, as a taxpayer, to fund the programs where most of these children will end up: welfare, foster care, justice system. Think about the long-term consequences of an additional 1.4 million unwanted children in our country. I don't think abortion is a great alternative, but maybe for some women (and the men involved) it is the best choice when faced with a very difficult life decision. This country was founded on freedom, and we seem to be moving back to a place where the religious right gets to tell everyone how to live their lives. I am deeply concerned for the future of this country.

Another view

MY GRANDSON just got back from serving his country. He told the family very little in letters and phone calls. Now that he is home, he says we will never have a democracy in Iraq, no matter which man is in office. Those people have been barbaric terrorists all their lives. Their children don't go to school. And they appreciate the military for about 15 minutes when first making contact.

Acting like children

I AM a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. I agree with the recent comment that parents need to let their children stand on their own feet and stop defending them. I was appalled at the behavior of most of the traditional college students. They had no respect for the professors or for the opportunity of getting an education to improve their lives. Many traditional students wore pajamas to class, answered cell phone calls in the middle of the professors' lectures, talked whenever they felt like it, and took every opportunity to cheat on an exam or paper. When the professors would call the students on such behavior, they would be sarcastic and disrespectful. When I was in third grade my classmates didn't act this immature. Parents need to see how their children act -- like children, not adults.

Lies and back-stabbing

WE TEACH our children if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all. We also teach our children to be nice to each other and not to tell lies or spread rumors. We turn on the TV or radio, and all we hear are lies and back-stabbing from the politicians who want us to trust them with our future and our children's future. How are we supposed to teach our children trust and honesty when the adults are the ones who are spreading rumors and lies about their opponents?

Get both sides

IF WE read correctly in a letter to the editor on Bush's ideology, Bush is apparently responsible for the alleged failing economy, the war in Iraq, the lack of sufficient flu vaccine, the alleged loss of jobs and health insurance, the weather, the nonexistent draft, the students who won't study, the never-ending plight of minorities, oil prices, and every other thing in our lives. We didn't know we were in such terrible shape until John Kerry's campaign informed us of all this. Now if we only had a brain, we could reason this all out. Perhaps some of us would do well to forget our political leanings long enough to study both sides of the political news and to assess the actual character of the candidates before Election Day.

Rain is welcome

I KNOW a lot of people don't like rainy days, but the recent rains have really helped. It has been so dry that I was getting worried about a drought.