SPEAK OUT

True act of charity

I JUST had an experience that I wanted recognized. I was out working in my yard, pulling weeds and trimming shrubs, and I had a man and five young men walk up to me and want to know if they could help me. I explained to them that I couldn't afford to pay anyone to help me, but they said they didn't want any money. They were from Memphis, Tenn., from the Highland Street Church of Christ. The youth minister explained to me that for the past four years he has taken five high school seniors to randomly picked cities. They do anything to help people out. They won't take money. They worked and cleaned my flower beds and mowed my yard and trimmed and put mulch out. I was just in awe. I really felt the need to have their work recognized. We still have a lot of good Christian young people in this world. It really touched me.

Big shoes to fill

I WOULD say to the young, when judging your elders, keep in mind that they have been where you are. You have not yet been where they are. That's why you so often hear older people say, "I certainly wish I had listened to my parents or teachers."

They eat briars

A SPEAK Out caller seems to think mules don't eat briars. Well, mules do eat briars. I was raised in farming country, and I've seen them eat briars.

Help anti-litter effort

CAPE GIRARDEAU isn't the only place with a dirty little secret. It's a countywide epidemic. If education's the answer, I hope all the school districts will step up to the plate and help Marsha Toll make this a Keep America Beautiful county.

Keep columns coming

HATS OFF to Heidi Hall and Tamara Zellars-Buck, who are bucking the system. I really enjoy your columns, and so many people enjoy them. Disregard all the negative feedback you receive. Just remember, while he walked the earth, people found fault with Jesus. I know neither of you are trying to be Jesus, but I really enjoy your columns, and I'd walk a mile for my paper if it isn't lying in my yard every morning. Keep up the good work, both of you.

Bard knows best

THERE IS no shame or disgrace in the GOP? Shakespeare was right: "Oh, what fools we mortals be."

Coaching advice

MESSAGE TO the St. Louis Cardinals: Get rid of Rick Ankiel. Sure, the kid's got skill. Sure, we all feel sorry for him and his problems. But is Tony LaRussa ever going to do anything about it? The Cards have given him too many chances, and it's starting to hurt them. And the idea of putting him in the bullpen to come in to walk batters in the middle of the game instead of at the beginning is absolutely ridiculous. Ankiel's got talent, but until he shows that he can be consistent, I don't want to see him wrecking my team. So, Cardinals, don't let Ankiel ruin your season. Send him to the Memphis Redbirds.

Language lesson

THE PHRASE "mules eating briars" perplexed a Speak Out caller. President Bush used the words when speaking to a fourth-grade class. The caller couldn't figure out what Bush was talking about. Like donkeys, mules are considered symbols of the Democratic Party. As Missourians well know, mules also stand for stubbornness. Bush was using this symbolic language to communicate to these children that if the stubborn Democrats don't support his agenda, they will, in the 2002 elections, be irreparably damaged by having to eat very prickly briars, in politics considered even more damaging and humiliating than eating crow.

Good things going on

I'M JUST calling to say it's wonderful to read about some good news for a change. I was delighted to see all the good things going on in the Cape Girardeau School District and how well the Southeast Missourian reported it in the paper.