Speak Out 3/11/09

True charity

REGARDING charitable giving: It is not charitable giving unless it comes from the heart. Expecting to get a return on your giving through a tax deduction is certainly not what God expects from us as Christians. Read in the Bible what Jesus had to say about the widow who gave all she had and the rich who gave only a small portion of their wealth. Also, a lesson can be learned from Scripture where we are instructed not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing regarding giving. How can we practice these principles and report our charity on our tax returns expecting to be rewarded with a bonus?

Sanitary greeting

A knuckle bump is fist to fist. It has replaced the handshake because many do not wash their hands.

Pray for success

WHAT'S all this fuss about Rush Limbaugh? I thought he was just for our amusement. They say he has this huge fan base, but do his fans take him seriously? It can't be women who listen to him, because he's so degrading to females. It can't be people of faith, because he spreads so much negativity and hate. It's sad to me that a grown man would pray that President Obama's plan for America will fail. Why would he want that for our country? It's unfortunate that a man with such toxic thoughts has access to a microphone. Instead of praying for our country and people to fail, we need to put some positive energy into our prayer for America.

Let teachers teach

I read the article about overcrowding in classrooms. Give me a break. Those classes are overcrowded because of the junk in those rooms. I have had children in the public schools for a long time, and it is the same thing all the time: too much junk. They don't need computers in the classrooms. Heaven forbid we should have an electrical shutdown; the Cape Girardeau school system would freak. There are some great teachers. Why not use the skills they went to school for? Turn off the computers and teach. Spend some time with these children.

Wrong leadership

I find it almost impossible to believe that anyone thinks what is happening in America today as a result of President Obama's leadership is good. Every article I read, every event that happens in Congress and every news report I hear indicates the most unprecedented expansion of government control in the history of the United States. Folks, if you think it won't affect you, you are dead wrong. Obama's policies are exactly what America does not need right now. The land of opportunity for the upright, hard-working, honest, decent person is coming to an end right before our eyes.

Taxing donations

I don't see how someone could be upset when they donate $10,000 they would be taxed $750. If I could afford to donate that much money, I wouldn't complain.

Tax-break charity

I appreciate the honesty of the comment from the person who makes charitable contributions exclusively because of the tax deductions. It helps prove my thesis that most charitable givers are not motivated by altruism but by the bottom-line tax bill.

Phenomenal concert

"A Lincoln Portrait" at the River Campus the other evening was phenomenal.

Affordable giving

I am so tired of people complaining about money. You don't have to have much of it to be happy. Perhaps these people need to be humbled. No offense, but if you have $10,000 extra to hand out to charities, then $700 in taxes doesn't really ring to me as breaking your bank account. Sorry, I don't feel sorry for you. I also don't feel sorry for the people complaining that they "did everything right" and everyone else should just go away because they don't deserve any help — despite the fact that a lot of people have lost their jobs unexpectedly and can't pay their bills and mortgages. The economy stunk way before President Obama got in office. Or have we chosen to silently ignore that factor and only focus in on the present? That seems a tad delusional to me.

Immature audience

"THE Vagina Monologues" was great. The show was eye-opening and performed well. To those five guys who left after the second monologue yelling cuss words: Grow up. What did you expect?

Good, good, bad

SO far, the best take on the Rush Limbaugh flap comes from conservative David Frum, who says that the controversy is good for Limbaugh, good for President Obama and bad for the Republican Party.

Satisfaction soaring

THE percentage of people who are satisfied with the direction (it's rising) this country is going seems directly proportional to the degree Rush Limbaugh demonizes the Obama administration. Keep it up.

More roundabouts

CAN we have more roundabouts? Studies have shown they are safer because drivers have to pay attention. This would make laws outlawing cell phones and other distractions useless. Give the responsibility of safety back to the driver, and we will arrive at our destinations safe and faster.

Republican answers?

THE Republicans and Rush Limbaugh have all the answers? They were the ones who got us in this mess. It is going to be hard to get our country back in shape after all the damage they have done.

Cause for sadness

JAMES Riley Jr.'s tribute to Southeast Missouri State University's Lincoln Day symphony performance was heartwarming and true. It was beautiful. That makes it extraordinarily sad that the party of Lincoln, the Republican Party, has become such an embarrassment and abject failure. I know in my heart that Honest Abe would be appalled.

They're afraid

YOU have to wonder why, when the Democrats are attacking Rush Limbaugh, they don't use facts to dispute his opinions and comments. They are good at making nasty remarks about Limbaugh but are never able to prove him wrong. Could it be he is right? To criticize without presenting facts to prove him wrong is only gossip. The Democrats are trying hard to shut him up. You have to wonder what they fear. Perhaps it's the truth that scares them. I also wonder how many of his critics have donated millions to military charities as Limbaugh has done.

Look what's happening

I would just like to take this opportunity to apologize to the greatest generation ever. I'm sad they are seeing what is happening to our country after the sacrifice they made and the sacrifice their families went through.

Get ready

I read Speak Out nearly every day. I see complaining. People need to stop complaining and be thankful for the blessings they have. The need to get out and help somebody else. We are in the end times. You should get ready.

Trying to help

THANK goodness Rush Limbaugh is taking a stand against all this ridiculousness that is taking place with our new president. Our president says we need to buy stocks. Thank you, Rush, for trying to help us. I wish you luck, because we need it. God bless you. Carry on the good work.

Paying the sitter

I love my sitter, and I thank the Lord every day that I have her. She loves my children as if they were her own. I too have to pay ahead and have no problem with that. The reason for those policies is because there are parents who won't pay at the end of week. If our sitter takes a personal day, we don't pay for that. If something happens she gives us credit at the end of the week for the next week.