Speak Out 12/3/09

Shirt issue

NO, the administration at Central High School did not make a mountain out of a molehill with respect to the "king" shirts. The students did. The longer the day went on, the more the students got riled up. It became the in thing to be mad about the shirts. As a teacher at Central who was trying to maintain order, teach and prepare our future leaders of society, I got sick of hearing about it all day. The shirts were not allowed because they were not approved by school policy, plain and simple. The students need to learn to follow policy and rules. Our society needs to learn to follow policy and rules. Parents need to learn to follow policy and rules. There are reasons for rules. Can you imagine what we might have if group shirts didn't have to be approved? We live in such a liberal society that many think they can just do whatever they please. That is not the case. Central is a public high school paid for by tax dollars. It is not a democracy. They do not have the right to wear whatever they please. The students have a right to a free public education if they follow the rules and conform to certain policies. I am appalled at the mockery we have made of our Forefathers' idea of constitutional rights.

Parade advice

THANKS to all of the Christmas Parade of Lights entries this year. You made the parade an outstanding event again. For the future parades, please find out where the judges are located and perform for them. And mark your floats as to who you are.

Local bands

THIS was my first Parade of Lights. It was a great experience since I come from a small town. But I am left wondering why Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University didn't have bands in the parade.

Extra deployments

EVEN during the Vietnam War, the number of deployments was no more than one and lasted no longer than a year. With the coming troop increase in Afghanistan, the number of soldiers who have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three, four or five times will continue to grow. This is a national disgrace. If it takes bringing back the draft, then so be it.

Government spending

DAVID Limbaugh opined that all of our financial problems are debt related, as if cutting the debt and deficit during the financial crisis would have pulled us out of the recession sooner. Even if true, one wonders where Limbaugh was during the Bush years when the debt and deficit grew astronomically. In order to lessen its impact, it is absolutely necessary for the government to spend during a recession since no one else is spending. If Limbaugh had his way, our world would soon look like the postapocalyptic one portrayed in upcoming movie based on Cormac McCarthy's "The Road."

Thanks for purse

I would like to thank the person who found my purse in a cart in the Country Mart parking lot Nov. 21 and turned it in to the store with all the contents intact. Thank you for your honesty.

Park vandalism

TO the person or persons who have been desecrating Cape Rock Park: I am deeply saddened by the lack of respect for something that others treasure. This is a place of honor for Ensign Girardot, for whom the city is named and various memorials. In the last month a sign has been stolen along with a memorial marker, and the ropes to the flagpoles have been cut off. Although you may never be caught by the authorities, you still know you did it.

Health future

IT appears as though we are headed for a government-run health care system in the United States. In a purely market-based system, demand for health care stimulates supply, which grows to meet the demand. In a government-run system, supply is limited because the government controls costs by limiting treatments and capping doctors' salaries. Why will anyone want to become a doctor? Fewer doctors will mean a smaller pie of health care that must be divided up among those who need it. We have a lot to look forward to.

Thanks for meal

I'D like to thank the couple who paid for our meal at Cracker Barrel on Thanksgiving Day. My fiance and I appreciate this nice gesture. It touched our hearts to know there are such genuine people like you. Thank you, and God bless.