Speak Out 11/12/08

Parade patrol

I AGREE with previous comments that the Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming parade was well organized. My children thoroughly enjoyed all of the floats and, of course, the candy. I do believe there could have been better patrolling of the crowd. I sat with my children in the 500 block of Broadway. Around 9:45 a.m. a small group of college students showed up appearing to have had too much to drink. At first, I was not too upset as they seemed to be under control and not disturbing others around them. But, by 10:15 a.m. they were so drunk they could not stand. Of course, this took a lot of explaining to my children. Thankfully there was a car in the parade that had been involved in an accident due to a drunken driver. This helped tremendously in explaining the seriousness of the student's actions. At 10:30 a.m. the students must have realized the disruption they were causing and decided to leave. The problem they faced was walking. This appeared to be a difficult task for them. One of the students fell every couple of steps. To make things worse, she fell about five times in front of a Boy Scout troop that had already walked in the parade. There was a nice couple who decided to assist the last of the group to their apartment (about three blocks away). I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to this couple on behalf of the parade goers and the students, who I hope have learned from this experience.

Making it work

DR. JOHN V. Mackel of Cape Girardeau wrote in part, "Truly universal health care is a nice idea, but it has never worked." Mackel just doesn't get it. President Obama will make it work.

Speeding on Main

I AM pleading to all the fast drivers on Main Street. The speed limit is 30 mph, not 45-plus mph. We do not let our son leave the yard without us because of the irresponsible drivers on North Main Street. There are young children there who are not watched, so please slow down. I ask that the police control this area better.

No respect

I ATTENDED a funeral for a veteran of Vietnam over the weekend and was appalled by motorists in Cape Girardeau. We got cut off, and hardly anyone pulled over. We even had people honking at us to get out of the way. One even got in another lane to pass us. To think, the man we were mourning fought for those individual's rights. I am disappointed at the lack of respect of motorists nowadays.

Beware of Hannity

IF THE best that the Republican Party can do is have Sean Hannity head what he calls the conservative resistance or the conservative underground, then it's all over. Hannity has become a parody of himself. The question is whether or not the few remaining elected members of the party Hannity is helping to destroy will continue to kiss up to him or save themselves by doing some super-fast distancing as well as summoning up the courage to condemn him.

Working together

I CONFESS I had to look back to confirm who wrote Cal Thomas' Saturday column, because it sure didn't sound like the right-wing conservative Thomas I previously read. But good for him. Let's take this same spirit of living the faith we profess. In the coming months, the real test will not be whether Barack Obama can change this country, but whether or not evangelical Republicans can change their vitriolic antagonism and work together for the sake of the country. Rush Limbaugh, are you listening?

Self-inflicted

I AGREE wholeheartedly with K.P.S. Kamath that Rush Limbaugh and his wannabes have played a large role in destroying what wrongly passes as conservatism in the modern-day Republican Party. However, as an Obama supporter, I would resist any effort to reduce or modify Limbaugh's radio rants. Let him and the others ramble on. Unlike Kamath, I favor the Republican Party's extinction, particularly if it results from a self-inflicted wound.

Strong presidency

I ASSUME the proponents of a strong executive branch during the presidency of George W. Bush will support the same executive powers under President Obama.

The Freddie mess

IT DIDN'T take long for Barack Obama to start setting the tone for his new administration. First he picks Rahm Emanuel for his chief of staff. Emanuel's earlier job at Freddie Mac should have condemned him permanently to the unemployment line, but in the Obama world, he's rewarded for his loyalty to his party no matter that the Freddie and Fannie collapse started this economic mess. Secondly, at his news conference, Obama made a gaffe, saying he has spoken to all living presidents. When reporters started laughing, he took a shot at an almost 90-year-old Nancy Reagan. How disappointing that the president-elect should use the occasion of his first news conference to malign an elderly former first lady who graciously served her country with distinction. It was a lack of good judgment in a small matter that should make us question if we can trust this man to exercise the best possible judgment in critical matters. In accord with Dr. Martin Luther King, I will not judge this man by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.