Speak Out

Protesting rights

IF THE Olympic torch were coming through Cape Girardeau, as it did years ago, I wonder if all of Cape's conservatives who wax so eloquently about fundamental human rights would publicly protest the abject failure of the Chinese government to allow political freedom to the Chinese citizenry in general and Tibetans specifically.

No restitution

Six years ago thieves broke into my son's car, stole his stereo, ransacked the car and tore it up, doing over $800 of damage. The thieves were caught, prosecuted and made to pay restitution. That was six years ago. I have never received one penny. Where did my money go? Are we supposed to forget this?

Ready for blue skies

IN HOT, dry summers, farmers and all of us pray for rain. Let's join together and pray for it to stop raining for a while.

Festival suggestions

I MUST second the suggestion that next year's storytelling festival offer one-day passes or even passes for one specific session. I would have liked to attend as my schedule permitted but wouldn't have been able to catch enough of the festival to justify the $20 ticket. May I also suggest a family pass for those with small children?

Diversity, tolerance

I AGREE that Chaffee, Delta and Oran are "what America is all about," as a Speak Out caller proudly proclaimed. I think this is in large part true because these communities believe in, practice and promote an amazing degree of multicultural diversity and tolerance.

Work together

WALT WILDMAN needs to brush up on Machiavelli. Any political entity (like Sikeston's push for highway funding) will ultimately act in what it considers its own best interest. Appeals to past agreements, pledges, honor and integrity will fall on deaf ears if it is not currently in Sikeston's best interest to support some highway project it may have supported in days gone by. Of course, Cape Girardeau cannot constitutionally invade Sikeston (it might lose) to try to force its will on the community. Thus, the only solution is to reason together and try to reach some kind of rapprochement resulting in a shared Cape Girardeau-Sikeston interest concerning the highway situation. Realism is the operative word, not idealism.

Illusory objective

ANYONE WHO flies even occasionally knows that delayed flights are always reported in 20-minute increments, even when there is no sign of the arriving flight and it's clear 20 minutes is a ridiculous underestimate. In Iraq, the Bush-McCain strategy is the same. They keep arguing for just another six months, just a few more American lives and just a few billion dollars more in order to allow some illusory objective to be achieved that will allow troop withdrawal. It's all a crock.

Being a single mom

THE MARRIED mother who wants everyone to stop talking about how hard it is to be a single mother is cold and callous. Several years ago my husband died, leaving me with two small children. I was a single mom in an area of the state where I knew no one. It was hard. I was single for over five years before marrying a wonderful man. It truly makes me appreciate how much better married people have it -- having someone to help with chores and pick up kids is great. I agree that people shouldn't give up on marriages, but not every single mom is single for that reason. And sometimes, truly, married people can't find a way to make it work.