SPEAK OUT

Love one another

AS A Catholic Christian, I was deeply saddened to hear that there were people handing out anti-Catholic material during the Parade of Lights. This type of behavior is certainly not pleasing to our Lord, although I am certain it is making Satan very happy. Let me just say to those who are responsible: love you as a brother or sister in Christ. Let us strive to work toward our common goal of sharing Christ rather than trying to divide and tear apart. Thank you, Mr. Simmons, for your concern and your thoughtful letter. Let us all celebrate the true meaning of this wonderful season. The greatest gift God has ever given to us all is his son, our savior Jesus Christ.

Illogical reasoning

ALAN JOURNET recently wrote a letter saying that Al Gore was right to demand that all the votes be counted yet another time in Florida. The votes have been counted, recounted and then hand counted. And in each instance George W. Bush won. Journet's opinion, quite frankly, is illogical. Why does Gore not want the overseas military ballots to be counted? Why does Gore seek to throw out thousands of absentee ballots in Seminole County when only about 200 were altered by Republican operatives well before the balloting was done?

Party of the feminists?

THE DEMOCRATIC Party, the party which is supposedly for women's rights, when confronted with Secretary of State Katherine Harris' decision in Florida to certify the election chose to go on the offensive by criticizing Harris's appearance. Would they have done this if Harris were an African American? Would they have criticized her if she were a Jew? Would they have criticized her if she were a Native American? This Democratic party should be ashamed of itself, and all real feminists should disavow themselves of the Clinton-Gore administration.

Ignorance no excuse

THE DEC. 3 editorial of the Southeast Missourian sure phrases this election perfectly. When it said a Gore presidency would be a government of the trial lawyers, by the trial lawyers and for the trial lawyers, never a truer phrase was ever written. Those voters in some Florida counties need to be educated and attend voter classes before they try to vote next election. Ignorance is no excuse. Try telling this alibi of ignorance to a traffic cop. You think that officer is going to say if you didn't know the speed limit he won't ticket you? No way. Ignorance is no excuse for speeders or voters.

Manipulating the vote

ANYONE WITH a sense of fairness should agree with Sunday's editorial. Yes, Bush has won three or four times. How can Gore still pursue that presidency? He will manipulate until he wins regardless of fairness or common decency. Do we want a man of that caliber for a president? I think not.

Subjective primer

IF THE Southeast Missourian wants to publish Republican propaganda on the editorial page, that is its prerogative. Everyone knows that freedom of the press exists primarily for those who own newspapers. However please don't insult your readers by couching half-page GOP propaganda pieces with misleading titles like "Making sense of the mess: A primer on election litigation" by David Limbaugh and Mark Levin. That monstrosity was so mangled with subjectivity it makes "Mein Kampf" seem unbiased in comparison.

Where the money goes

I WAS glad to see the article on the lottery and the money going to the schools. I think it is the best-kept secret in Missouri of what happens to the money. I hope school or county officials follow up and see where the money goes.