Speak Out 12/4/08

Spectacular lights

WE JUST took a tour of the Christmas lights at Cape County Park. It was spectacular. Thanks to all who participated. It was well worth the trip.

Stop the whining

FOR EIGHT years, we have watched as our country became mired in unimaginable debt as the price of gas skyrocketed while the price of groceries and other necessities followed suit. We still had our wages -- those lucky enough to still have jobs, but our incomes in no way equaled the expenses. Some wealthy Americans praised the economy and medical care while we never saw that. Times have changed. We have a new president, and this continuing whining for yesterday sounds like a spoiled child. Use your time to help fix America. You helped to run her down. God bless America.

Abortion, adoption

WE ABORT our unborn babies and travel to foreign countries to bring their babies home to adopt and nurture and love and cherish and raise for our own. Does this make sense?

This is not change

REGARDING BARACK Obama's choices for advisers and Cabinet posts: What happened to the change we heard about leading up to the election? Change is not bringing in Bill Clinton's former advisers. Many of them are responsible for our current financial crisis.

There are alternatives

IF YOU have a pregnant friend considering abortion, ask her to please not kill her baby. There are alternatives she should consider. She could have it and raise it herself or give it up for adoption to a loving home.

Good leaf work

WE WOULD like thank the crew of the leaf department for the city of Cape Girardeau for the wonderful job they have done on Drury Lane. We appreciate the guys for their fine work.

Government agencies

BRIAN BLACKWELL, in discussing the coming economic earthquake, mentioned the fact that the government had taken over the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The government didn't just take them over. They were formed as government agencies. They're not private enterprise. Fannie Mae was set up in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Thanks for purse

I LEFT my purse in a cart at Big Lots on Black Friday. God bless the person who turned my purse in to the counter. God bless the person who found my purse. I would gladly give a reward to the person if I knew who it was. Thank you.

NRA to the rescue

Why doesn't the NRA come to the defense of Plaxico Burress? He is being criminally prosecuted for possessing a gun in New York City. The accidental discharge of the weapon is not part of the criminal case. I think the NRA needs to defend the Second Amendment right to bear arms as it applies to all people.

Poking stereotypes

I must question whether faculty members at Southeast Missouri State University would be so outraged over the censorship of the theater department if, rather than producing a play ridiculing Catholics, it had produced a play poking fun at stereotypes about Muslims or gays. I'm afraid that these same faculty members would be outraged at the intolerance exhibited by the theater students and demanding refunds.

Public smoking

Why is Cape Girardeau still allowing public smoking? My husband and I can't enjoy a nice night out playing darts and pool or dancing. All our nonsmoking friends have to leave early because we don't want our hair and clothes to smell like smoke. And it's unhealthy. Smokers have rights, but not the right to damage someone else's lungs.

Tobacco money

The always cautious scribes at the Southeast Missourian described the lack of Missouri's effort to spend tobacco settlement money on educating the public about the harmful effects of smoking as "less than ambitious." I would describe it as criminal and hold accountable legislators who balanced the budget by indirectly promoting cancer.

Follow the rules

Shopping carts have signs saying no children in basket area. This is for their safety. I have seen children tumble out, receiving serious head injuries. My father told me rules are there for a reason even if it is not apparent. Sometimes it would be convenient for me to drive 80 mph on Kingshighway, but the posted speed limit is 45 mph. I'm sure there is a good reason for that too. I taught my children manners and to obey rules. I wanted them to be good citizens. I was proud of my children and their successes in life.

Defending the faith

Which is worse: Islamic fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism or Zionism? A lot of innocent people have been killed or otherwise dehumanized by those claiming to defend the faith.