SPEAK OUT

Great holiday show

I JUST want to thank everyone involved in the river fireworks display. It was the best I've seen in years. For the person who said there was no parking or viewing: We arrived 10 minutes before the display began, parked two blocks away and sat at the riverfront with no problems. Thanks again, Cape.

It's not private

I WOULD like to comment about people who call to complain that it's their sex lives and ought to be left alone. Are you married? Are you messing around on your spouse? If you support that, you shouldn't be upset if you catch your spouse messing around. How much is this costing the state for investigations? It is not a private matter now.

He's a Democrat

I WOULD like to know why, on TV news programs and in the newspaper, Gary Condit's political party affiliation is never shown. He's a Democrat.

Give us country music

AFTER SEEING the SEMO District Fair music lineup this year, I wasn't too excited. Why does it have to be country music each year? Because country music is what sells in this area. The other reason I'm glad the fair has country music is that the Show Me Center has quit having country-music concerts. I wish the people at the Show Me Center would read this and realize that country music is what this area loves. Please bring in some good country singers.

Sad, sadder, saddest

WHAT A wonderful record. The Republicans have to go all the way back to Theodore Roosevelt before they can think of one of their presidents who was interested in protecting the environment. Sad. It could be worse, however. Many times they have to go back to the days of Abraham Lincoln before they can recall one of the selling points. Sadder. Just calling oneself a Republican. Saddest.

Capitalization cure

IF THE Southeast Missourian would insist on small-r republican virtue instead of big-R Republican Party support, many of your readers would be more sympathetic to your view. Generally, we're much more favorably disposed to representative democracy than right-wing theocratic plutocracy.

Fair and square

AFTER READING recent news reports, I am more convinced than ever that the Bush presidential campaign stole the Florida election and, as a result, the presidency. However, as Teddy Roosevelt quipped in reference to the Panama Canal, I think it was stolen fair and square.

Spreading epidemic

IF I'M lyin' I'm dyin'. Guess what some people in Clearwater, Fla., have gotten so worked up about that they are being described as enraged. A roundabout.

Memory problems

FLORIDA GOV. Jeb Bush's public pledge that he would not get involved in the still-controversial Florida recount has been challenged by the stunning revelation that his office made 95 phone calls to George W. Bush's campaign headquarters during that period. A number of the calls came from phones primarily used by Jeb Bush. When asked about the purpose of the calls, Governor Bush said he couldn't recall. Where have I heard that before?

New party symbol

THE COMMENT suggesting that the Democrats were following Jesus' teachings was a laugh. Jesus said to obey the commandments, and "Thou shalt not steal" is one of them. However, the Democrats consistently steal from the hard-working and give to the lazy and undeserving. They should change their symbol from a donkey to Al Capone.

Everyone knows

SURELY THE U.S. Supreme Court has more important things to do than to worry about whether or not students grade each others papers in class. It does not matter how much you try to hide it, you know if your classmates are smart or not. It is very evident.

Hey, big spender

IF MISSOURI is in such financial straits, I sure wonder at the actions of Gov. Bob Holden's signing legislation for $60 million for a new basketball arena at Columbia and supporting a $100 million tax commitment, for the millionaires' baseball stadium for the St. Louis Cardinals. It's just another big spending Democrat doing what he does best. So just wait for the tax increase to pay for all the governor's extra spending.

Say no to Olympics

THE ONEROUS awarding of the Olympic Games to Beijing is the most abominable affront to human rights since Nazi Germany hosted the games in 1936. The United States should notify the International Olympic Committee that we will not participate in the games so as to in no way validate the viciousness of their totalitarian regime.

Big money pit

I KEEP hearing things about Southeast Missouri State University. I believe in growth and advancement, but come on. When I started back in 1978 it was like $150 a semester with everything included. Now it's outrageous. SEMO has turned into a money pit for the middle class here in Missouri. Forget about a four-year college. They have fixed it where you can't get a degree in four years. And the teaching program is in itself a real big addition to the money pit. Why the lack of teachers? We have only one thing to blame it on: simple greed all the way from the state legislature to the administration of SEMO. A degree from SEMO and 50 cents may get you a cup of coffee.

Dirty politics

PERSONALLY, I will never vote for Dick Gephardt for president, even though he is from Missouri, because I want some clean politics for a change. Every Democrat I have ever seen fights dirty. All politicians are fighting dirty now. They even play dirty.

Working for themselves

IN RESPONSE to the Republican in Speak Out saying the Republicans are too busy dealing with the country: They are busy doing nothing for the poor and doing everything for the oil companies and insurance companies and upper crust of the country. They work for them very eagerly and diligently. They are busy doing nothing for the poor and working poor.

Let's vote again

THE RIVER Campus should be put before taxpayers again. That is what Jackson does. They put things before taxpayers again and again and get more organized and get more reasons why things are needed, and next thing you know it is passed. Having the River Campus seems like a good idea to me. It is a good way of preserving the old buildings. A growing university moves more and more away from the central campus..

A manly response

IN RESPONSE to the man-hating woman who does not like being called "Honey" or being expected to cook: Please be assured this man won't get within shouting distance of women like this. I have had the displeasure of having to work with women who think like she does. Most of them are single for obvious reasons, and the few who were married always used to hyphenate their last name. Without exception they all thought they were more important than they actually were. I don't think she has to worry about being harassed, because most men won't want to be around her in the first place.

Stadium fairness

I AGREE that the stadium for the Cardinals should be of their own making. The taxpayers should not add one penny. They have plenty of money and make plenty of money. Let's be fair.