SPEAK OUT

Private benevolence

DURING A crisis, I feel a person should give from the heart like a good Christian. Then why do these same people go all over telling what they've done and how much they've given and what it's cost them? To me, this is hypocritical.

Back the officers

TO KFVS-12 and the Southeast Missourian: Please continue to support the "Back the Blue" campaigns and keep us updated on the officers. I pray for these officers -- not just the ones who were hurt, but also the other officers out on the street protecting me so I can be safe. I thank God for our police officers.

Precious metals

WITH INFLATION and deflation and talk of recession, it would be helpful if the paper would publish the market price of gold and silver metals, if not daily, at least once a week, and let the public know what day it's printed. We'd appreciate that.

Starting Tuesday, stocks and TV listings will be published in a new format. The market information will include currency exchange rates as well as precious-metals prices.

Thanks for stamps

THANK YOU, Post Office. I bought two books of 34-cent stamps, walked across the room, put my money away, walked off and left all my stamps. Three days later, I went in and they had them for me when I asked if anybody turned them in. Thank you very much.

Best deodorant

THIS IS just an observation about the three recent news stories: President Clinton's unfolding scandal after the Marc Rich pardon, O.J. SImpson's clowning and mugging after his road-rage arrest and the fawning of overpaid celebrities about letting rapper Eminem parade his "talent" on the Grammys show. One old adage still holds true: Money truly is the best deodorant.

Smaller classes

I WOULD like to make a comment about Jean Carnahan going to Jackson to talk about reducing class sizes. That's not going to be that hard for her to do, because she is going to make sure that more abortions take place. And when you kill the baby, you don't have to teach the kid.

Bush will save us

LINCOLN WAS the first Republican president, and he saved the union and our country. Now our Republican President Bush will save our country from these radicals loose in our country today. Bush will uphold and defend our democracy and our constitutional form of government and our traditional values.

Some control

EVEN MOST of the Democratic politicians know that the president has little to do with the economy, which is driven buy supply, demand and the market. But decency and character the president has control over, and this means nothing to a liberal.

Mixed-up values

CONTRARY TO our politicians' speeches, our country is no longer the base of Christian morals and respect. This is a country where homosexuals are voted into public office and children are aborted every day. We have a country where most couldn't care less about patriotism, decency or values. People are interested in monetary things like their house and their cars. Filth is protected by law. It's a country that accepts degrading TV shows and adult movies and bookstores. The trash of our nation is honored and praised as heroes and role models.

Attracting attention

ABOUT THE Christmas tree in the window. The tree changes with each holiday. Eggs are being put on it. It's had flags on it. It's had witches and pumpkins on it. The building belongs to a tax service nearby. The building is not abandoned. They bought it to keep it empty for the parking spaces they need at this time of the year. Local people watch to see how they decorate the tree each time. It serves its purpose by attracting attention. It did, didn't it?

Plenty of needy

I WOULD like to address this to radio and TV stations in the area. If my husband, who works at a dangerous job right here in Cape Girardeau, is killed on the job, or if I am traveling with my work and get killed in a car accident, are you going to publicly air this incident for weeks and pay for my expenses and raise money for the things I have to pay for? I think we've carried this a little too far. My heart goes out to the officers' families, and my prayers are with them for what they must endure. But I think we've gone too far to take up collections. These people will be paid their salaries. All of their medical expenses will be paid. There are many people in this city and county who need financial help very badly, especially in a situation where there is a death, sickness or accident. I think we need to reconsider where our donations need to be made.