Speak Out 2/21/06

God's coloring book

DID YOU see the moonset at the mornings of Feb. 13 and Feb. 14? I saw the sunrise in my rearview mirror and the moonset in my front window driving on Lexington Avenue. What a beautiful sight. It's God's coloring book. Thank you, Lord.

Following the law

I READ with interest the article on Oran's police department. When did giving a ticket for not wearing seat belts and running stop signs become unheard of? In the city I live in, it is done all the time. It is state law. Business in Oran is not down because of police activity. Go to Cape Girardeau, and you will see where all of Oran's customers are doing their shopping. No one who obeys the laws of Missouri would fear going to Oran or any where else.

Overweight concerns

SOME PEOPLE use criticism as if it were a license to say whatever they think. They excuse themselves by saying others need to hear what they have to say. Destroying a child's self-esteem does not cause anyone to lose weight. Only someone who has never endured weight problems would think so. I have had weight problems since I was young and have yo-yoed with my weight. I am not morbidly obese but have known those who were. Some chose that path. Others did not. Many judge fat people as being medical drains. I know slim individuals who have more medical problems then I do. What I do have a tendency to find is the rising of self-esteem tends to be created by destroying others. If more would reach out a hand and help another instead of striking and beating with words, both would soon find they have accomplished great things.

Money returned

ON BUSY Valentine's Day, like many others I was doing my last-minute shopping at Kmart in Cape Girardeau. I dropped $70 on the ground inside the crowded store, and a wonderful woman stopped me and gave me the money back. She said she thought I was the one who dropped it. Thank you, kind lady.

Homeless decision

THIS IS in response to the cancellation of the "Homeless in the Park" event sponsored by the Alpha Delta Phi and Kappa Alpha Greek organizations at Southeast Missouri State University. Do they think the homeless can cancel living in the park because it snows or is cold outside? If they really wanted to help the homeless they would have been there rain, sleet or snow.

Not Bush's fault

EARTH GOES through climate changes every 2 million or 3 million years. For many thousands of years now, Earth has been warming. In another million years or so it will cool into another ice age. Will this also be the current administration's fault? We are far from being the biggest polluters.

Paducah is cheaper

WE WERE thrilled to see that another connection flight has been added at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. We spend the winter in Florida and the rest of the year in Charleston. We fly several times a year. Every time we check, it is about $100 more to fly into Cape instead of Paducah, Ky. That's strange, since it is the same flight from Orlando to St. Louis, but the commuter flight is always quite a bit cheaper to go to Paducah. We would much rather fly into Cape.

Care for Cairo

CAIRO, ILL., is poorly managed. Maybe under the proper management it could be a successful town again. This should be the first priority for all local preservationists and old-house buffs. Cairo is a town untouched by big box stores and the fast food movement. Cairo could become a great retirement and second home location. With the proper stores the gateway to the South could be helped. Cairo could become a thriving, prosperous, beautiful town once again. Lets all care for Cairo.

Action against bullies

I'M GLAD to see some attention being paid to the bullying problem at school. My daughter was intimidated when she was in school, but no one seemed to want to do anything about it. It was as if I was the problem by complaining. When my daughter got bruised, school officials finally took action. I'm glad to see that times have changed and schools are working together to give strong messages against bullying early and often.

Less trivial topics

I DON'T understand what provokes someone to comment about what people are wearing in the middle of February. Maybe people are looking forward to spring. I prefer to see Speak Out used for less trivial topics.

Other means

IT'S MY opinion that state Rep. Lanie Black participates in public communication all the time but he doesn't do it through newspapers.