Speak Out 12/29/05

Generous donation

I HAVEN'T read anything in the paper about the VFW post out here giving the Salvation Army about $4,000 worth of food. I happened to be there and thought I'd like to mention it. I would like to thank the VFW for this generous donation. The post does this every year.

Postal kindness

THANK YOU to all the women at the Cape Girardeau Post Office. You were so kind to everyone during the Christmas rush, and I thought the Christmas hats were wonderful. You all did a fantastic job every day. Again, thank you.

Greatest gift

DO CHRISTIANS have to attend church on Christmas Day? No. My family will rise early on Christmas morn and sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus, because we know what Christmas is all about, and we celebrate him. We also exchange gifts, but we know that the greatest gift of all is Jesus and his gift to us: salvation.

Postal positioning

PUTTING A post office branch on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau is a wise and overdue decision. The main post office is not centrally located. It's in the bad part of town, and parking is nonexistent. The main post office should be relocated to the old Sears building.

Natural resources

WHO IS responsible for not allowing oil refineries to build in our country for years? Who hasn't let oil exploration proceed for the demand we need and keeps us relying on the Middle East and elsewhere? It's the liberals, not the conservatives. Everyone wants clean air and water and a clean environment while working with the industrial companies. But we have some environmentalists who go too far. This country was built on natural resources.

Cost of democracy

IT MIGHT be extremely idealistic to assist the Iraqis in developing a democratic republic, but here's the problem. When President Bush petitioned Congress to allow our troops to go to war, he didn't say we were going to develop a democratic republic. He said we were going to protect America from terrorists attacking the U.S. Are any of the 9-11 terrorists Iraqi? No. He said we were going to find weapons of mass destruction. Were any weapons found? No. If he had told Congress we were going to war to spread democracy, it would have said no. We can try to spread democracy in North Korea, China, Libya and dozens of other countries. It's just a matter of how many soldiers and Marines we're willing to lose.

Working hard

THIS IS a response to "No excuse for poverty." The rich help the poor every single day. Who do you think pays for welfare checks, food stamps and every other handout? Rich folks work hard for a living, because we want to have the best for our families.

Human errors

IF THE Oran police chief has the information in his hands and can't copy it correctly, isn't it possible he might misread the radar gun? Being a police officer is not a job that can allow for a lot of human errors.

Steeple light

I WANT to comment on the church being built at Lexington Avenue and Cape Rock Drive. I sometimes go into work before daylight and don't get off until nightfall. The light in the steeple gives out the most heartwarming feeling. Thanks for the beautiful light.

Talking during movies

I DON'T understand why some people talk during movies. We have a family tradition of going to a movie on Christmas, and it was ruined by some senior citizens talking the whole time. Thank goodness a woman sitting near us asked them to shut up. One woman kept asking her husband during the entire movie to explain what was going on. These are the people who gripe if my 4-year-old acts up in a restaurant. Rude is rude, no matter how old you are.

Misleading information

A RECENT Missourian article misled readers by citing a Zogby poll that said 80 percent of Missourians supported cameras at dangerous intersections. The poll actually asked if you would support cameras at a few specific intersections that were identified as the most dangerous in the state. As a Missouri resident, I would support cameras at the three most dangerous intersections in the state. None of these intersections are in Cape Girardeau County. By citing this poll as evidence that the state's residents would support cameras at any intersections around the state was irresponsible.

Basic beliefs

REMEMBER THIS? Think about how far down the wrong road we have traveled. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." -- Preamble to the U.S. Constitution) "We the people." "The blessings of liberty." Do I hear an Amen? I hope so.

Delicious surprise

I, LIKE many others, had to work on Christmas Day. We had a pleasant surprise when some angels from La Croix United Methodist Church stopped by to drop off some delicious Buffalo Wild Wings. On a day when most of us would rather not be at work, it was heartwarming to know someone was thinking of us. Thank you for making our day.

Need monitoring

IF I am a part of an international phone call with a suspected al-Qaida terrorist, I would be disappointed if NSA wasn't monitoring my call. We might only be completing an eBay transaction, but still I would hope it was being monitored.

The Clinton defense

I LAUGH out loud when David Limbaugh is reduced to defending President Bush by arguing that the same thing was done by Bill Clinton.

Religious concerns

I AM opposed to mandatory donation of organs. I don't have a problem with encouraging the donation of organs. Some religions do not accept the donation of organs. Mandatory donation could interfere with the free practice of religion.