Speak Out 3/15/06

Psychological pain

THANKS TO Callie Clark Miller for her piece on sensory integration dysfunction. The heretofore little-known affliction causes great pain for those who touch things that would not ordinarily hurt anyone who did not have the dysfunction. I thank the stars I don't have it but still think I experience a similar psychological (as opposed to physical) pain when I peruse the Southeast Missourian's radically right wing-slanted Opinion page.

Using control

THE OLD mantra about women wanting control over their own bodies is worn out. If women want to not have a baby, then that control over their bodies should include using some means of birth control so they do not become pregnant.

Importing criminals

OUR COUNTRY is a big bully. We are forcing Canada to extradite Mark Emery to America so he can serve a life sentence for selling marijuana seeds to Americans. I'm sorry we don't have enough crime here. We can't find the Hollaway girl or Osama bin Laden, but we can arrest a man for selling seed. Do we not have enough people committing crimes without having to go to other countries?

Advice to men

I HAVE a word for the man who thinks women need to be more careful about birth control: condom.

Do-it-yourself cleanup

THE PERSON complaining about trash near Rockview and Chaffee in Scott County after the recent flooding shouldn't expect the Missouri Department of Transportation to drop everything and come pick up the trash. Why not grab some friends and some trash bags and clean up your own community?

Sick at work

TO SAY employees should stay home if they're ill doesn't work in today's world. Employers today want employees at work even if they are ill. Even if they know you're truly sick, it's a mark against you.

Notifying parents

IF PARENTAL notification laws have little effect on the number of abortions, why are so many abortion supporters afraid of them?

Far right's direction

THERE ARE repetitive comments that abortion shouldn't be used as birth control. But keep in mind if the far right has its way, birth control pills will be banned as well. How far is mainstream America willing to let them go and how much control are we willing to cede to the religious right?

Lame Duck

Dubyah doesn't like to say

Goodbye to Dubai.

But the GOP in Congress

With relief doth sigh.

Old people too?

MANY PEOPLE say abortion should be legal so people won't have babies they cannot afford. Should the elderly also be killed because we can't afford them?

City taxi service

I THINK that the taxi company, if bought by anybody, should be bought by Cape Girardeau. That way the city could provide public transportation to the residents of Cape Girardeau instead of the county transit authority. I vote for the city to take over the taxi services.

Death and mayhem

I FIND it hilarious that the Christian anti-abortion crowd decries abortion as murder while the Bible condones slavery, eye-for-an-eye justice, human sacrifice, killing of children and genocide. Read your Bibles.

Breath of life

THERE'S SO much controversy about when life begins. Why? The Bible talks about the "breath of life."

Give city a break

I BELIEVE the only way you're going to get a ticket for littering is if you throw something out of your vehicle that is not biodegradable. Give the city a break. It is doing what it can to improve the city. A little dust on your car is not going to kill you.

Messy streets

THERE IS a small dump on Mechaw Drive off Big Bend Road. And look at the 500 and 600 blocks of Timon Way with the abandoned cars and trash. Then look at Dumais Drive, which is another dump with a car parked next to a house that's not in use. What can be done about this mess?

Look it up

THE WORD "liberal" is thrown around like a curse word. Has anyone taken the time to look up the word? Is Webster's dictionary too liberal? I'm not going to do the work for you. Do yourself a favor and look it up. Then look up the word "conservative." Remember, the brain is a dangerous thing.

Burning alternatives

I JUST read "Cape task force looks at burning rules" and cannot believe a battalion chief stated he did not know what people would do with their yard waste if they couldn't burn it. Has he not heard of yard waste bags you can buy at any grocery store? You fill them up, call the number printed on them, put them out next to the curb and the city picks them up. What could be easier? Tree limbs can be tied together and picked up also. Any other items can be put in your front yard, then call the city for a special pickup at a cost of $5 on your next trash bill. Think of what clean, fresh air we could all breathe, especially those of us with asthma and lung problems. I'll bet travelers on Interstate 55 think we are a hick town when they see all the smoke in this area. That's not good for attracting all the tourists the city wants so badly.