Speak Out 3/4/06

Stick to musicals

REGARDING THE Southeast Missouri State University opera, "The Tender Land": I think the fine arts department should stick to musicals. If the university wants to do highbrow shows, at least get some quality performances. If the River Campus opens, maybe more high-quality performers will attend the college. Whoever picks the shows to perform may want to think about passing that task onto someone else.

Good place to be

I'M CURRENTLY stationed in Japan with the U.S Marines. Every day I check the Missourian's Web site for information on what is going on back home. I always read the Speak Out section. All I ever read is a bunch of complaints about how bad Cape Girardeau is, how bad Jackson is, how bad Oran is, how bad Chaffee is. If you don't like it, leave. It is as simple as that. If you can't leave, then deal with it. I have been away from home for two years. I miss being in Cape. There is no place I'd rather be. You people are taking for granted how good you have it.

School bus safety

IN RESPONSE to the argument that there would be a long wait for students on school buses to put their seat belts on: Who cares about the wait? It would take about five more seconds. Currently, the driver waits until the children are seated before driving again. If the children wore seat belts, it not only would protect them from getting hurt, but it also could cut down on the violence that goes among the children on the bus. I would be willing to wait if it saves a 7-year-old's life.

What's that smell?

THE POLITICAL wagons are starting to be pulled around. The war of words is being shot. Political lives are lost and wounded by such. Let's distort the other party's views and actions and destroy individuals for the party's sake. Election time is nearing, and the stench is in the air.

Unsafe roadblock

I WOULD like to know who authorizes and selects Missouri State Highway Patrol roadblock locations. I was involved in one at the Route Z-OO intersection near Gordonville. When I came over the hill, all I could see was a car parked in the Y impeding traffic from turning south on Route Z. There were no caution lights, flashing lights, warning signs or cones, just an officer standing in the middle of the highway. No orange vest or flag. It is no wonder we have had officers run over on our highways. All I could think of was watching in my mirror for other vehicles approaching from behind me so I could get out of the way if they couldn't stop. When the officer was finished, he told me to have a safe day. If he was so concerned about my safety, he would have found a more appropriate place to set up a roadblock. He put motorists in harm's way by blocking a major traffic lane traveling at highway speed.