Speak Out 10/24/04

Religious rights

I DON'T really care what religion the Founding Fathers were or what Bible verses are etched in stone in some building. The fact is that many Christians in this country want their beliefs, and theirs alone, to rule in schools, legislation and in criminal justice. This is directly contrary to the ideas of freedom of religion they hide behind anytime someone challenges their beliefs. The religious right exists because of constitutional religious freedom, yet it wants to impose its will and belief system on the rest of America. Non-Christians are second-class citizens in this country.

Religious suppression

IN RESPONSE to "Religious Principles": I think you are correct in saying this country was founded on religious principles. However, some people have used their religious principles as an excuse to suppress people of other religions. Not everyone is a Christian. I don't enjoy living in a state where gays and lesbians cannot have access to the legal rights of marriage that heterosexuals enjoy and take advantage of. I know many of you think gay marriage is wrong, but that decision should be left to the churches, not the government.

Political advice

HERE'S TO everyone of all political parties: Join forces to make sure everyone regardless of race, creed, religion, sexual preference and political choice gets to vote. Everyone 18 years and older has the right to register and to vote. To the political candidates: Get your information out to the public. Also stop the negative ads, which make you all look like jerks. Give us positive ads!

Moral support

THIS IS in response to "Parents pay the way": At the age of 18, your children are legally adults. I know you pay the professors' salaries. I'm a college student. However, don't you think an adult should solve his or her own problems? I believe you should be there for moral support for your children, but you need to encourage them to go and talk to the professor.

Observe crosswalks

I AM a student at Southeast Missouri State University. I have no car, and my fastest means of transportation is my bicycle. There are crosswalks across the streets in downtown Cape Girardeau. Some of the drivers on this side of town are not very considerate. I guess they don't realize that there are crosswalks. Please, for the sake of us who walk or ride bicycles, watch out at crosswalks and give us a break.

Blue shoe polish

LISTEN UP, all you stores in town. What's happened to blue shoe polish? We've looked all over town for it. We can't find it anywhere. There are a lot of people with blue shoes. How about stocking some blue shoe polish?

Warding off squirrels

I READ in the paper where somebody was having a problem with squirrels. I read in a book that if you want to keep squirrels away, get a big bottle of hot pepper sauce and sprinkle it around where you don't want the squirrels to be. They will get the pepper sauce on their feet. When they lick it off, they'll be gone and won't come back. It worked on my squirrels.

Not graven images

THE TEN Commandment displays are part of our Founding Fathers' Christian heritage. Christian symbols are everywhere in America: in courtrooms, on our currency, on buildings. These exhibits do not violate separation of church and state because no national religion has been established for our country by the government. If atheists are offended, that's their religious problem. Displaying symbols of Christianity is not violating the Constitution. It's religious freedom that our forefathers fought for in America. To try to stifle religious freedom is a direct threat to our moral culture. These are not graven images.

No need for No. 2

SINCE TWO of our elected county officials have gone on record as saying that the county could operate without the treasurer, let's hope our new treasurer can operate without a deputy treasurer.