Speak Out 2/20/12

Valentine's Day party

THANK you to Schnucks and your employees for a wonderful Valentine's Day party for couples married 50 years and more at the Arena Building. Congratulations to the couple on being married 73 years. We appreciate it very much.

Religious freedom

EMPLOYEES Of Catholic owned/run businesses should have birth control covered by their medical insurance. Denying birth control coverage is reverse religious discrimination. The Catholic Church is pushing its beliefs down the throats of its employees. Everyone is entitled to religious freedom and beliefs, not just Catholics.

Death to deer

THE resignation of a veterinarian from the urban deer hunting committee tells me the only recommendation ever seriously considered by the committee was death to the deer.

‘Right on'

I deeply appreciate two great articles in the Feb. 8 Southeast Missourian, the column by Michael Jensen, "President's definition of ‘play by the same rules,'" and the letter to the editor by John McMillen, "Rhetoric on taxes and religion." Both are right on.

Some socialism

IF you believe in making society strong by helping the poor, the disabled, the elderly and the weaker people, then you are a socialist. You don't have to go all the way to the other end of the continuum and become a Communist. Some socialism is good, beneficial for all.

Fathers' rights

FATHERS, you don't have any rights in Cape Girardeau. The laws have made that very clear. We don't have equal rights.

Blue-dog viewpoint

I'M a blue-dog Democrat. I believe in individualism just like you Republicans, but I am on the left and I'd like to welcome you to also take the point of view of helping society as well. Do both, not one or the other, but both. You Christians are welcome to come across the aisle too.

Kudos to Jackson

I'D just like to say that my hat is off to those citizens of Jackson who voted against the annexation of Fruitland. I am not a resident of either, but they have helped to restore my faith in the goodness of humanity as opposed to the naked and aggressive power grab that city leaders of Jackson attempted to perpetrate on the people. Clearly a bad deal, illegal at the worst and immoral at best. All I can say is I am very pleased and proud of those citizens who voted to stop that horrible act.

Ammonia solution

A cheap and simple way to keep dogs and critters out of your garbage can: Just slosh the inside of the trash can with ammonia. They won't go anywhere near it. Hope this helps.

Wonderful world

IF everyone paid as much attention to their own lives instead of having all the answers to others, oh, what a wonderful world it would be.

Roundabout traffic

A roundabout at Highway W on Lexington is nonsensical. The reason the one works over at the hospital is it is not so well traveled and it's sort of sometimes hard enough figuring out how to use that when there are enough cars. This is a very heavily traveled road and the last thing it needs is a roundabout on it.

Cheap talk

IF you think Obama has been successful, you should pull your head up out of the sand and look around. He hasn't done anything but talk. Talk is cheap.

Roundabout resources

I was really upset when I read in the paper that the Missouri Department of Transportation was putting a roundabout, among other so-called improvements, at Route W and Lexington Avenue. I drive that way to work every day and the work is not needed, especially when business schedules need to be kept. Why can't work be done where it is really needed, such as city streets that are terribly patched instead of repaving them? Leave well enough alone.

30-hour weeks

THE United States needs to be more like Europe. Do you know all the advantages of cutting the workweek down to 30 hours a week? Fix the economy, give people more time to spend with their family, other people to help society. We need to legalize drugs, too.

Helping Syria

IF I was one of those people in Syria, I would want some good people to help me. I think we should help them, too.