Speak Out 11/17/03

Delineating rights

MORLEY SWINGLE'S column is refreshing in its honesty and good grace. I would note, however, that I was trained that a constitution does not grant rights to the citizenry, but rather delineates those rights which the citizenry has not given up by virtue of its grant of powers to the government through that constitution. I believe that many of the troubling constitutional issues we face today stem from the basic misconception that a government grants rights and thus may ultimately have the power to rescind them.

University payroll

DON DICKERSON'S assertion that faculty salaries are the "major expense" at SEMO is simply incorrect. Perhaps if the board of regents understood SEMO financial statements, we would not be in this mess. According to the Missouri Blue Book, noninstructional salaries make up more than 50 percent of the total payroll.

Skate park in Jackson?

IS JACKSON going to invest in a skate park? I think it should. The kids of Jackson need a place to go. I think a good place for one would be at the city park.

It's not in reverse

I GET so sick and tired of people using the term "reverse discrimination." Give me a break. In order for discrimination to occur, that minority group has to have domination and power over the other groups. Is this the case? I think not. Reverse discrimination just isn't possible.

Cut nonessentials first

IF THE school district cannot meet its financial needs, it needs to cut nonacademic subjects first. The last thing the fabulous teachers of Cape Girardeau need is bigger classes. I think the school district needs to learn a lesson in tough love. When people cannot pay their bills, they cut those things in their life that are not necessities first. I think the school district needs to adopt this idea.

Minority reversal

MINORITY scholarships will forever be considered illegal race discrimination until the minority includes Caucasians.

Getting attention

MARK BOWLES is proving himself to be awfully crafty. What better way to get attention about the plight of school finances than to eject the media from meetings to discuss the issue? Bowles must know that this would gain him front-page headlines underlining the seriousness of the district's predicament. If Bowles keeps the media out too long, thought, he should beware, though that he risks making open government the issue rather than the serious issues his task force is facing.

The pain of loss

WE HONORED the veterans on Veterans Day. My beautiful flag was the only one on the whole block. It has been that way for years. I think about the 48-star flag that covered my 19-year-old brother's burial in Margratin, Holland. He was 19 years old. It was 58 years ago, and I still carry that pain in my heart. My heart goes out to all of those who are losing their loved ones. God bless you all.

Judge has final say

I TAKE issue with Morley Swingle's guest column. He says the Constitution is the highest law of the land. I think he is mistaken. A federal judge is the highest law of the land. It doesn't matter what the Constitution says. It only depends on what the judge says. That's not freedom, and that's not a constitution. That is an individual who's acting almost as a dictator.

Home improvement

I HAVE just finished reading the article about Stan Wicks and his fence. I live just off West End Boulevard about two blocks from Wicks' intersection and probably drive by or turn at that corner several times a day. I have never even noticed that fence. I guess it can't be much of an eyesore. If anyone wants to remodel his dwelling place and improve the neighborhood, I'm for it.

Reading responsibility

IF A child can't read, responsibility goes three ways. The parents have to take the blame, the teachers have to take the blame and, if the child's old enough, he has to take a little responsibility too. A teacher should know if a student is not catching on. It's their responsibility to report to the parents. It's the parents responsibility to check back with the teacher. We used to read out loud at school. That's the best way to identify slow readers.

Sunday sales

RETAIL STORES cut back on working hours and leave the stores short on customer service. Why don't they go back to being closed on Sunday so they can give better service the other six days?

Not a good picture

ONE DAY I read about an older woman who was hassled for nail scissors in her purse as she was going into the federal building. A few days later, I read about the authorities returning a handgun to a convicted domestic abuser. What is wrong with this picture?

Potential students

AT A time when Southeast Missouri State University is crying about making ends meet and cutting programs left and right, I find it funny that a friend and I are being kept from taking classes because of the bureaucracy in the registrar's office. My friend wants to go full-time. I want to go part-time. That's 18 hours worth of tuition and fees that the university's not getting from us. Maybe the university should find out how much money it's losing from prospective students instead of cutting programs.

A right to know

FOR SUPERINTENDENT Mark Bowles to keep the Southeast Missourian reporter out of the task force meeting is absolutely ridiculous. The task force was appointed by him acting as superintendent of the school district. The fact that he couldn't take a few minutes to read something that had bearing on this situation shows a very cavalier attitude. But that's what we've come to expect from Bowles in this community. He's rude to parents. I have heard him shouting at a parent who was asking a very reasonable question. Those things have been shared with school board members, yet he continues to act as our superintendent. His misunderstanding of the Sunshine Law concerns me, but it doesn't surprise me. Anything that has to do with the district's finances we have a right to know.

Outstanding TV

MONDAY EVENING was a great pleasure with the reunion of Andy Griffith and his friends on TV. Give us more of that kind of stuff. That's what makes life worth living.

Rich man's parties

THIS IS about the Republican Party and Democratic party. Neither one is doing its job. They don't know how to manage a country. All they're interested in is the rich man.