SPEAK OUT

Extenuating factors

THE GRANDMOTHER who called in regards to the 14-year-old girl whose baby was found buried made an excellent point. Unfortunately, in cases of teen pregnancy, the girl is ostracized while the father goes scot-free or in some cases is even treated like a hero. Put yourself in her place: You're 14 and pregnant, afraid to tell your parents, afraid to tell the father because you don't want him to leave you to face this alone, and terrified because you know that you can't care for that child. People don't always think clearly when they are frightened, and I think that needs to be taken into consideration.

It's a local fight

I UNDERSTAND the community's outrage at Michael Prior's refusal to acknowledge the pledge of allegiance. However, the public must understand that this is his right. Pryor, however, must understand that the Taste Lounge is not the only bar or club that has found itself on the wrong side of the city council. His fight is with the council, not the whole country.

It's an invasion

WELL, FOR heaven's sake. I thought the Cold War had ended and we had won. Apparently not. Castro may come to Carbondale. And now Bob Dylan is coming to Cape. What's next? North Korea's communist dictator Kim Jung Il going on a Southeast Missouri farm tour?

Can't write just one

I DEFY David Limbaugh to write one -- just one column -- without mentioning Bill Clinton.

Grades are too easy

"AFTER ALL, if one can't pass a test, how can one succeed in college?" the Southeast Missourian recently editorialized in arguing that there is still a place for the ACT and SAT. I beg to differ. It's quite easy to succeed in a college or university, and for that reason, the ACT and SAT have become irrelevant. The reason? Grade inflation. Whether they pass tests or not, undeserving students get high grades in every college and university in America except the ones my children attended.

Humanitarian gesture

THOSE WHO are criticizing President Bush for his willingness to go along with what some consider unacceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water are incorrect, at least in part. Critics think Bush is doing this to take a shot at the environmental community. I think he is doing it in order to make it easier for his friends with large stock portfolios to have an easier way to do themselves in rather to have to go to all the trouble of jumping out of a window.

Coining a phrase

I HAVE coined a new phrase. I hope the powers that be will consider incorporating it into the English language and that it will soon appear in dictionaries. The phrase refers to the process whereby city officials inexplicably set as the most important goal renewal of liquor licenses for legitimately controversial establishments. The phrase: No. 1 pryority.

Business as usual

IT'S OBVIOUS that Big Business insurance companies, oil companies, HMOs are in the driver's seat, and the rest of us little nothings are being taken for a ride, and a rough one at that. Nothing new about this, however. It's the way the Republican Party believes things should be. Once again, hang on, fellow Americans. It's going to be a rough, bumpy trip. As usual, this is in keeping with the GOP's values which don't include you and me.

Won't get better

IF I read the media correctly, Missouri is seventh in the nation in number of highway miles. Missouri is also 45th in the nation in highway funding. We spend a fraction per mile of what other states spend. Thank God I'm moving out of state this summer, because nothing is going to get any better if this keeps up.

Taxes and students

THIS IS in regard to the person who thinks the growth in Jackson is worth paying more taxes. First of all, the 29 percent growth doesn't mean everyone new in town has a child or children in school. Second, those new people are paying taxes too. When you look at the numbers over the last seven years, the student population only grew 20 percent.

Historic donation

I READ where the Bullock family is asking $700,000 for the Marquette, all the while saying they just want to preserve a historic landmark. If they want to preserve it, they should donate it to the bidder pledging to put the most money into it. $700,000 is way too high to be asking for that building.