Speak Out 11/07/03

Proposal is crushed

CENTRAL HIGH School students were shot down in their attempt to rename a portion of Silver Springs Road in honor of their school. The city fathers came up with all kinds of crazy reasons to crush the proposal. And we wonder why youths are turned off by government.

Skate park problems

I TOOK my children to the new skateboard park over the weekend. I think it's a great place for kids to go. I can already see there will be problems, though. You have skaters there to learn more tricks and because they are forbidden to skate anywhere else. While we were there, there were several little kids being allowed to run around like it was a playground. They kept running in front of the skaters, causing some to fall. I can see where someone could get seriously hurt.

Voice of reason

THANKS TO President Bush for signing the partial-birth abortion ban into law. Finally, a voice of reason rings clear. We are so happy a politician finally speaks for those who cannot defend themselves. We are proud to be Americans, President Bush.

Missed the point

THE NEWSPAPER'S slam on SEMO athletics on the front page Thursday missed the point. The issue is not academics versus athletics. There is less room to maneuver and lower opportunity to cut in the athletic department. You guys really missed a chance to explain this issue.

Getting the loot

YOU'VE GOT to be kidding. MoDOT is found to be 5 percent at fault after an accident, but the other parties settle, so MoDOT is left to pay the entire award? Under this logic, any plaintiff should include some government agency in a lawsuit. Get mugged at night? Sue the city for not having bright enough street lamps or the police for not being around. Say those factors amount to 1 percent of the cause. Then settle for nothing with the mugger, and the both of you can split the loot from the government. Lawyers make me sick.

Sensible plan

SOMETIMES A city has to take smart risks to grow. A bond plan for the Prestwick development would contain city risks while leading to significant growth for the city. I didn't support the TIF, because there were too many uncertainties over too long a period. But this bond plan makes sense.

Best for everyone

THANK YOU, Southeast Missourian, for reporting the facts about the SEMO athletic program. Compared to most colleges, SEMO runs its programs on a shoestring budget. How much would it save to eliminate two sports, which would be the maximum cut allowable to remain in Division I? Around $50,000. That doesn't go too far in solving the budget crunch, but it does deny a lot of student athletes an opportunity to participate. And it would lower the number of minority students on campus while diminishing the student quality of life. As for going to Division II, that simply can't be done quickly, and to do so would be devastating to the school's marketing efforts. The university couldn't buy the exposure it gets in area newspapers and TV, especially St. Louis, if it were not Division I. Thank you for your fair and balanced report, but the Faculty Senate only cares about what's in it for them rather than looking at the good of the overall university.

Good teachers

AS A recent product of the Cape Girardeau School District, I am saddened to read some of the recent attacks on teachers and MAP scores. As I near the end of my first semester at a highly selective university, I am proud to say Cape teachers have not only well prepared me for collegiate academics, but the entire realm of college life. Thank you.

Rename the street

THE STUDENTS who pushed for the street to be renamed Tiger Pride Drive will remember us in our old age when they are asked to care for us. What is it going to hurt to rename a section of road? Notre Dame has theirs named to reflect their school spirit. Is Cape less of a supporter of its high school because we won't rename the street? Remember, when our schools sponsor sports events, teacher meetings and other school related functions, they are in effect boosting our economy. Rename the street and get over it.

Standing up for morals

THANK YOU, President Bush. It's about time we had a president with morals and a conscience and who has the courage to stand by those morals. You'll always have my vote.

Complaining won't help

IF EVERYONE complained about their jobs, the paper would have a million Speak Out comments a day. Grow up, America. We all know we have to work to make money. Complaining about it isn't going to make your job any easier or make you more money.

Looking for bargains

HOW MANY times have I gone into the store and picked up something off a "for sale" rack that wasn't for sale? Retailers should start doing their jobs. Make sure there is a place to put clothes that people don't want after trying them on. Make sure the "for sale" racks are being checked. It's not that hard to figure out how to help the problem.