Speak Out 12/23/03

Lock him up

I BELIEVE Saddam Hussein should be tried in an international court or even the United States. The worse thing that could happen is Saddam gets the death penalty because that would make him a martyr to other radicals. I think imprisonment would be a good thing for Saddam.

Wasting our money

IT REALLY ticks me off the way the city has been wasting money. Over $700,000 for a walkway that will be flooded at least once a year on the other side of the floodwall, but city officials can't afford to buy new fire engines. The city spent $40,000 for an asinine slogan, but city officials can't afford to paint the curbs for no parking areas.

Talented young students

I WOULD like to thank the very nice and talented young men and women of the Jackson High School Honor Society and Student Council for the great dinner and entertainment for the senior citizens of Jackson. It was very greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas to all of you.

Don't change parking

I WOULD make a plea to the Jackson Board of Aldermen and Jackson mayor to leave the parking in uptown Jackson just the way it is. Changes are not worth five new parking places. Please think about this seriously.

Charge for extras

REGARDING THE funding for school districts: How would it be if the parents chip in some money for education besides the tax money? Go ahead and charge for extracurricular activities. That would alleviate all financial problems.

Trying to enjoy

I THINK it would be wonderful if a couple of hours could be set aside at night so you could ride around town with your children and show them the beautiful homes that are decorated without somebody behind you champing at the bit trying to get around you or some guy honking his horn because you're driving slow. It sure would be nice to enjoy the beautiful decorations in peace.

Wonderful articles

I'VE JUST finished reading the Dec. 18 Opinion page, and there are two fine articles in here. The Santa Claus article from the boys in Iraq is so moving. And the article by Levi Ham, "U.S. founded on solid religious bedrock," should be required reading in schools. Both articles were wonderful.

Not taking care of us

I JUST don't get it. Our politicians give themselves a raise when we are in this recession. The government can have our servicemen bomb and then rebuild Iraq and find the money to do it but not find the money for our public schools. I would not want my children to give their lives for our country, because our priorities are wrong. We are the ones paying the taxes. Senior citizens should not be struggling to pay for their medicine. Our government is taking our hard-earned money and providing for everyone else in this world but us.

Total agreement

I TOTALLY agree with the article, "U.S. founded on solid religious bedrock," written by Levi Ham. In God we trust. God bless America.

Trash near bridge

THE NEW bridge is great and beautiful, but doesn't anybody ever notice all the trash on both sides, Illinois and Missouri, around the bridge site that nobody bothers to pick up?

Poor system

THE MISSOURI law mandating real estate reassessment every two years guarantees Missouri public schools an ongoing increasing revenue base. The money flows into the school systems whether it is needed or not. This type of revenue system breeds waste and will be spent by the school administrators. Hiring people is the best way to spend the most money and to look good to the public. It is a poor system.

Fewer abortions

I WOULD like to Speak Out on the issue of the decline in the abortion rate. Surely this is a good thing. Nobody wants abortions to happen, but some approaches are more successful at lowering the abortion rate than others are. For example, the reason for the decline in the abortion rate is the increasing availability and use of effective means of contraception. Abortion opponents who also oppose contraceptive information and use should be ashamed of themselves

Ritual lynching

THERE IS a slowly accelerating drumbeat of white folk as they prepare for the ritual lynching of the black president of the University of Missouri. It is well-represented in Speak Out. Whites who have complained about criticism of those few whites who, at long last, have been forced to pay a public penalty for their lifelong streams of racist slurs now feel they can get even with one uppity black man because that black man's wife made one bitter statement. And the fact that the statement addressed the primal fear of some white men -- that black men might have sex with white women -- only serves to underscore the mythical nature of this ugly matter. Sometimes I despair that we will not be able to drag Cape Girardeau kicking and screaming into the 20th century any time before the 21st century is over.

Carts and horses

HOW ABOUT renaming the local college team to the SEMO Carts Before Their Horses? That way the nickname would accurately reflect the way the upper administration does things.

Grandstanding on ban

I AM sad to see state representatives Jason Crowell and Rod Jetton grandstanding with taxpayers' money to pursue the gay marriage ban that has no basis other than religious grounds. In particular, Jetton's comments show his unrealistic understanding of the issue. Their proposed ban has U.S. Supreme Court written all over it, where it will not survive because it persecutes a particular group of Americans that has an unalienable right to believe what they want. With crumbling roads, a weakened education system, people being destroyed with drugs and a war on terror at home and abroad, it is a shame to see that this issue has been deemed so relevant. Be careful, or Crowell and Jetton or may find themselves irrelevant.