Speak Out 2/13/05

Don't waste our time

PARENTS OF Scott City elementary students: If you drive your child to school, please don't wait until you are dropping your child off to check his backpack. Do this before you leave your house. Also, do not make others wait behind you while your child finishes his breakfast. Either feed them at home or pull over to the side so those of us who have gotten up early don't have to waste our time waiting on you.

Bible reading at work

I DON'T think a Bible belongs in the workplace unless it's a Christian bookstore. If you're spending too many hours discussing the Gospel at work, you're stealing from your employer. You have your time off from work, and that should be enough for your Bible reading. It shouldn't be imposed on others in the workplace.

Cut officials' pay

WITH ALL of the cuts the president and governor want in children's programs, I wonder if our elected officials have thought about cutting their own salaries. We have no say in their raises. I would like to see government cutting its wages instead of cutting the poor people's benefits.

Economy dining

MAYBE SOME of those seniors who eat dog food could share with my dog, because I can't afford to buy her any. It's too expensive. Potatoes and beans are much more economical.

Health-conscious church

A SUGGESTION for our churches: Since there is so much sickness and flu at this time, maybe the churches that share a common communion cup would not do so for the time being. And maybe we shouldn't shake hands but just acknowledge each other with a word or two. Maybe these suggestions could help from spreading germs during church services when large groups of people are gathered together.

Teenage advice

SOMEONE SAID teenage girls know how to prevent a pregnancy. The best thing that can happen to a teenage girl is to have Planned Parenthood to speak at school. That planted an important seed for me when I needed it. Daughters of parents who bury their heads in the sand and advocate abstinence only are the girls who need Planned Parenthood the most. At least they're presented with choices.

Biblical prophecy

I THINK our president and secretary of state need to read Bible prophecy, especially in the book of Zacharias. It is wrong to push Israel to give up its land. Zacharias 12:9: "And it shall come to pass in that day that I will seek and destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." Many Christians fail. Keep your hands off of Jerusalem.

Freedom from pain

I WOULD like to complain about the medical care we get in this country, which is supposed to be the strongest in the world. I fell on my rear end in October. Nothing was broken, but I have been in excruciating pain and unable to do much except take care of myself and try to keep myself clean. The doctor can't do anything for me, so he sends me to a therapist, which makes it worse. A neurosurgeon says I have to wait until the middle of February. I have all sorts of pain medication, but that doesn't mean it takes all the pain away. Freedom is highly touted. Just to have decent health would be nice.

Downtown suggestions

THE DOWNTOWN merchants better be careful about closing Water Street north of Broadway. They're about to lose a parking area that is going to be developed. I planted forsythias along the floodwall all the way up past Broadway two different times, but when the weeds were cut, the forsythias were cut down too. They would be very nice and ready to bloom right now if they hadn't been cut down on two different occasions.