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OpinionMarch 20, 2007

Scientific approach; Build it up; Focus on sports; Fair reporting; Anything but moral; No profit incentive; Skeptic science; Seeking the best; Paying with coins; Proper checking; Wrong is wrong; Protesting the draft; Heckling hill; Painful commentary; Firing prosecutors; Public drunks; Get the guilty; We need the draft; Inequitable justice

Scientific approach

THANK YOU, Mary Nall, for your marvelously documented article on global warming. It's so nice to see it treated from a scientific rather than the semi-religious Church of the Holy Global Warming perspective.

Build it up

I WOULD like to comment on the recent attacks by anonymous concerned parents regarding the Leopold School District. This is a blatant case of jealousy by those who would rather put effort into destroying something that works rather than put their effort into improving their own schools. Having grown up in Leopold and now living in Colorado, I wish my daughter could attend a school like Leopold. If these concerned parents would concern themselves with improving their own children's schools and grades, with attending their own children's parent-teacher conferences and with their own personal business, they would have better things to do with their time than send anonymous letters trying to tear down a school district that they view with such envy.

Focus on sports

AS A graduate from Jackson High School almost 10 years ago, I was once proud of my school. Now I am disappointed. Jackson in my day was all about academics. Now I fear the focus is on sports alone. I found out that Jackson hired a teacher/coach who has no teaching certificate and is making more than some teachers who have been there for almost five years. How many other teachers are being hired without a teaching degree?

Fair reporting

THE MAJORITY of American voters detect political bias in the mainstream news media, according to a Zogby poll. Eighty-three percent of likely voters think bias is "alive and well." Of that number, 64 percent said the press favors Democrats. It's time to demand that the news media report from a fair and balanced perspective.

Anything but moral

MORALITY ENCOMPASSES much more than sexual indiscretions, in my opinion. That is the reason I view this current administration as anything but moral.

No profit incentive

OUR GOVERNMENT continues to prove that you can do anything you want as long as you do not have to worry about making a profit. If a business wanted to put a workout room in its building or provide benefits to its employees, that business would have to make sure it did not hurt its bottom line or figure out how to pay for it. The government just increases our taxes. If the government was concerned about its expenses, I believe the entire country would be a lot happier.

Skeptic science

I FIND it odd that scientists told our government that chemical weapons were being produced and stored in Iraq by Saddam and the Democrats believed them just like the Republicans did. Now scientists are saying there is something called global warming, and the Democrats are again believing everything they read. But the Republicans are questioning if those scientists are truly accurate before they change the way the world revolves.

Seeking the best

I AM a Leopold alumnus. Wouldn't your readers all want their children to have a private education in a public school setting? I don't blame one parent inside or outside the district for wanting their children to receive a good and safe education. Look at the world we live in. For those of you who believe this is sports related, it's highly unlikely you'll find all 42 of these students to be basketball or volleyball players. What you will find is young families, some who are former Leopold students, wanting to be close to home and their school. I no longer live in Leopold, but I pay for my children to receive a private education so that they may have a safe environment in which to learn. My children also receive the same student-to-teacher ratio of learning that I had. I too searched for those comforts of home, the place I know and love.

Paying with coins

THE STATEMENT that there is no law that says a business has to accept coins or paper money for a debt is wrong. Federal law says businesses have to accept legal tender, which is coin or currency.

Proper checking

RECENTLY WE have seen a rash of arrests of people who are supposed to be protecting and serving us. Are these cities doing a proper background check before hiring them? It doesn't look that way.

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Wrong is wrong

WHEN MEMBERS of the White House staff released Valerie Plame's name for political purposes, it was wrong. How can federal agents do their jobs and feel safe if they have to tiptoe around the administration to avoid being outed? Wrong is wrong no matter what your political stance.

Protesting the draft

THE ONLY reason people want to reinstate the draft is to bring back violent protests of the Vietnam era. The old hippies know that is why they were violent and want current college students to do the same.

Heckling hill

I WAS amused when I read the article on the High Hill Hecklers. I'm glad to see they can heckle and still not be mean-spirited. To hear they research the opposing team players is hilarious. However, I was confused over their name for the hill on which they sit to do their heckling. It has always been known as Cherry Hill.

Painful commentary

DAVID LIMBAUGH'S disingenuous defense of General Pace's comment about homosexuals was painful, particularly coming from a man who takes pride in principle and consistency.

Firing prosecutors

INCOMING PRESIDENTS are known to overhaul the corps of U.S. attorneys installed by prior administrations. Upon taking office, both Bill Clinton and George Bush replaced nearly all of the head prosecutors serving in the Justice Department's 94 districts nationwide. But it is rare for even one U.S. attorney to otherwise be dismissed during a president's term -- and in this case, all those dismissed by Bush were his own appointees.

Public drunks

THE HIGH Hill Hecklers are more about public drunkenness than supporting the university. We enjoyed bringing our children and pets to Southeast Missouri State University baseball games in that area of the park. Constant shouting of curse words and insults at the opposing team without regard to the children was ridiculous, and after nine innings of drinking they got into their vehicles and drove off. The university needs fan support, but these are the wrong fans. The Cape Girardeau Police Department should become Hecklers fans so everyone can enjoy Capaha Park and university games.

No. 1 in education

IT DOESN'T take a rocket scientist to figure out why Leopold is Southeast Missouri's top public school. Most of the students come from stable, two-parent homes with parents who value education, have high expectations and respect the teachers and administration. When asked about discipline problems on the Leopold school bus, a driver indicated that few problems occur because all he has to say is that he will call the students' parents. I would like to congratulate Leopold School District on its No. 1 rating. There is a lesson to be learned here. The powers that be should use this lesson to implement better schools for our children.

Get the guilty

WE HAVE one scandal after another. Everyone says they want transparency in the government -- unless it is your party in power. Why does this matter? Aren't we all Americans? Send a message to Congress that we want all the scandals investigated and the guilty gone from the scene.

We need the draft

BRING BACK the draft. This should be the war cry for all Americans. We are destroying the Army. We are letting the young of the poor fight this fight. We are cowards if we don't take up this call, and we are not patriots if we don't insist on every family pulling its weight. Bring back the draft.

Inequitable justice

THE GRAVEST injustice is the difference between the harsh sentences given to people who are prosecuted for having child pornography on their computers and the unbelievably light sentences given to teachers who are sexually abusing our children in our schools. The sentence for having sex with a child should be 10 times more severe than possessing pictures.

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