Speak Out 4/25/08

Slow traffic

I WAS driving on Highway 72 past Pioneer Orchard coming into Jackson. This guy ahead had been doing 40 mph since the Highway 34 split. Cars were backed up, all anxious to pass. The new four-lane starts well before the speed limit sign at the medical center, and people were rushing by the slowpoke. Slow is not always safe. I wish the police would pull people over for obstructing traffic.

Simple rules

HERE ARE some simple rules that apply to everyone: Don't quit. No one in the world can make me quit except the guy in the mirror. You don't have to like it. You have to do it. This is one of life's most difficult lessons to learn. Ignore the distractions. Focus on the mission. Distractions include such things as fatigue, hunger, loneliness and people who say bad things about you, especially when they can't substantiate it in any way.

Feeding the hungry

THE HUNGRY in other countries will never have enough food while depending on other countries to provide food for them. They need to say to themselves: We'll never have enough to eat waiting on others to bring us the food we need. They will have to allow their desire for food to develop into an interest of their own in the food source that feeds them. Then they can act in their own best interest by planting and harvesting their own food. This fact needs to be explained to them. A preacher once said "One sandwich will not feed the hungry" while observing food being handed out in a low-income neighborhood.

Running red lights

I SUPPORT the recent accomplishments of our Cape Girardeau police force. I am glad they are getting rid of drug-infested junkies. But it seems as if they have forgotten the other reasons they are here. There have been two incidents within the past week where I saw cars run red lights in front of squad cars, and nothing was done. In one incident, six cars ran a red light.

Things to do

MY HUSBAND and I, along with other friends and family, often travel to St. Louis for entertainment. There are more kid-friendly places there. The choices of adult entertainment is better as well. I think Cape Girardeau is doing a great thing adding the water park. I would like to see many more things added to this town so people could spend more time closer to home as well as boost Cape's economy.

Proper focus

IF WE as Christians are paying attention to what's going on Sunday mornings, with putting our attention on Christ, we're not paying attention to what other people are wearing. Therefore, what are we doing if we're watching what other people are wearing?

Remember the faithful

DEAR LORD, I am asking you to help our nation. Our gasoline prices are going sky high, which in turn make everything more expensive. There are many people who cannot afford to buy enough food to feed their families. Only you can solve our problem. Am I wrong for thinking that man's greed for money is the problem? Money and Satan are the root of all evil. Don't the rich oil people know that money can't make them happy? Only loving you and accepting your gift of salvation can make them happy. Please help us. I know our nation has turned its back on you. Many people don't accept you as their Lord and Savior, but many people do. Please don't turn your back on us, dear Lord. Please hear and answer the prayers of your faithful.

Travesty in Texas

WE SHOULD all be on our phones calling the governor of Texas, because it is not right what the state is doing to the fundamentalist group in Texas. We're becoming a country without due process. It's even worse than that. These allegations were made without proof, but the government goes ahead and does what it wants. This is not right.

The do-call list

I JUST got a robo-call from Michael Carter who is apparently running for lieutenant governor for Missouri. During this call he suggested that if we would go to his Web site and register a phone number on a do-not-call list just for him, he would not call us anymore during the campaign. That was a good idea, but I think mine is even better. Many people don't have access to the Internet or are not Internet savvy. I suggest that the people who want this candidate to call could just sign up on a do-call list, and all the rest of us will automatically be on the do-not-call list. I guarantee you the do-call list would be a lot shorter. The candidate might even be able to make those calls personally.

Love and sex

BELIEVE IT or not, sex is a very small part of love, at whatever age. Sex is for the moment, driven by hormones. Love is for a lifetime. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Slow down.