Speak Out 2/4/06

Safety in Oran

IT IS time for more people to speak up for the protection of our children and grandchildren that Oran is trying to provide. I have stopped at the school stop sign and have seen vehicles coming from the opposite direction not stopping. When you are stopped behind someone at the sign, that doesn't mean you don't have to stop when you advance to the sign.

Limited testing

I DISAGREE that everyone in the country should have to submit to drug testing. If you are paying your own way, it's nobody's business what you do. When you become a burden to society, then it is warranted. Taxpayers should not have to support some loser's drug habit.

Support for Israel

THE PALESTINIAN election proves there are some people who love violence and will always advocate it regardless of what the rest of the world is trying. The Palestinian voters have spoken. It is time for our country to defend Israel from the destruction that the Palestinians and other terrorist are advocating.

Student's concerns

I'M A Southeast Missouri State University student and will have a boatload of student loans to pay back if I ever graduate. I don't appreciate my money being wasted for unnecessary improvements on campus when I'm paying big bucks to be taught by incompetent instructors. My English teacher is never on time, ends class early and spends a large part of every hour talking about her children, her former husband and her life in general. She brags that she's on Medicaid and gets food stamps and free health insurance while I struggle to have enough money for a parking permit, textbooks and tuition. The board of regents needs to find out what's really going on before they waste money on structures while we get a watered-down, mediocre education by people who don't have a doctorate.

Satellite option

YOU DO have a choice for cable TV. I have a satellite dish and love it. I have never had any problems. It is cheap compared to Charter and has many packages available.

Foreign domination

THE GREAT Depression was partly a result of too few people holding most of the money. There are Americans and some companies that benefit from foreign products, but that money does not stay here. Chinese and Japanese businesses own a large portion of our marketplace and stock market. They are at war with us not using guns and bombs but by buying and controlling more and more of our businesses and markets. Continuing to purchase foreign goods will lead our country to a major stock market crash. We can already look at the oil-market model. Who has made tons of money purchasing foreign oil? Iran, Iraq and Osama bin Laden all benefit from our foreign purchasing.

Looking for concerts

LOOKING AT the scheduled events for the Show Me Center, there are no concerts planned. Where are the concerts we were told we would get? The monster trucks could be held outside at Arena Park. Monster trucks is not an indoor event.

Blame feminists

IF YOU think boys have fallen behind in school, you are mistaken. They were dragged down and stomped on by feminists who duped educators and legislators into thinking female students were being victimized at every turn and male students were their oppressors. Six years ago Christina Hoff Sommers wrote a great book called "The War Against Boys." Everyone would benefit by reading this fantastic book, and it should be required reading for everyone in the education field.

Riverfront trails

REGARDING CITY funds being spent on landscaping I-55: I would have preferred seeing that $78,000 used on more bike and pedestrian trails along the riverfront, something everyone -- young, old, visitors and residents -- could enjoy and feel good about.

Juvenile rehab

REGARDING THE article "Boys among men" on the front page: I favor juvenile rehabilitation. The adult who put these kids up to their dirty work should go to prison, but at age 15 and 16 years old there is hope for those kids. If they go to prison, their lives are over. I hope someone steps forward to help them. I wish I was able to help them, but I'm too old. But I can pray for them, as I hope others will.

Church issues

HOW SOME members of my church get angry if the minister brings up abortion or homosexuality is ridiculous. The Bible speaks of this. Why hide it? Yet a few think political parties and their views shouldn't be mentioned in the church. These aren't side issues. They are important issues for Christians. Some would rather their political party explain the Bible than their own minister. You can't separate good from evil by blaming a preacher.

Distorted reporting

ON TUESDAY President Bush got his second nominee to the Supreme Court confirmed and delivered a wonderful State of the Union message. Wednesday morning the top of the newspaper starts out with "A politically weakened President Bush." Your story didn't tell what Bush said about all his good ideas. He wants to strengthen America, lessen our dependence on foreign oil and make America safer. You story tries to make Bush look bad. Why don't you quit running AP stories and write your own stories that tell the truth about what was said at the State of the Union message?