OpinionMay 13, 2005
Speak Out 5/13/05
'Corn pone parochialism'; Art critic; Dollar in danger; Give me a break; Speed up; Follow the rules; Enough about Yorkies; Drive-through only; Right and wrong; Once we were Democrats; Gabe fan; Liberal reading; Personal war on litter; Rising and falling; Railroad ties; Sad commentary
'Corn pone parochialism'
SEMO art professor Ronald Clayton recently claimed the new mural commissioned by Southeast Missouri State University "is not a mural at all," and exemplifies "corn pone parochialism." He said his view is universally shared by SEMO's art department. I have a vast general knowledge of art, all the way from paintings appearing in prehistoric caves to postmodern art fashionable in the art community until very recently. I prefer the works of the old masters of the Renaissance and the impressionists. To some extent, I admire the works of Klee, Kandinsky and even the pop art epitomized by the works of Andy Warhol. What stuns me about the arts profs at SEMO is their apparent lack of knowledge of current trends in the art world. If Mr. Clayton reflects the views of the entire art department, these folks just aren't up to speed. The prestigious Encyclopedia of Modern Art devotes four chapters to the most avant-garde and sophisticated movement in the arts -- corn pone parochialism.
Art critic
Ronald V. Clayton's comments concerning Gary Lucy and the commissioned mural are out of line and ridiculous. The only positive comments in Clayton's statements indicate that he is close to retirement. Thank goodness.
Dollar in danger
The question is this: How long can we go with huge deficits, huge trade imbalances, and rising oil costs without a a meltdown of the dollar on the world market?
Give me a break
TO THE lady in Speak Out who is offended because someone had the audacity to complain about people on Medicaid: If you and your husband can't afford health insurance, it's probably because of the bad choices you've made in your life. Try getting a job where they provide insurance. If you're on Medicaid, you're not paying federal income taxes. How many tax credits and child tax credits do you qualify for on your tax return? You're not paying any taxes and the rest of us are footing the bill for you and your family. Please try getting a real job where you can support yourself and your own insurance and medical needs.
Speed up
I WISH people driving vehicles nowadays would realize that these ramps they've made longer are not slow-down ramps when they're coming up to get on the interstate and merge into traffic. They're acceleration ramps. They're supposed to speed up. Keep your speed up and just fall in place.
Follow the rules
I'D LIKE to nicely ask that people who are dropping their kids off at Jackson Junior High and West Lane Elementary go through the parking lot and drop your child off. Don't stop in the street and then make them cross the street and hold up traffic on both sides. We parents who drive our kids to the front door really don't want to wait behind you stopping on the street for your own convenience and dropping your child off there and letting them cross the street and hold up traffic. There's a system for it, and if you're going to be a participant, follow the rules.
Enough about Yorkies
ENOUGH ABOUT the Yorkies on Ridge Road in Jackson. The underlying problem is that Ridge Road, East Main and sections of Bainbridge are heavily traveled roads in residential areas that do not have sidewalks. In addition, Ridge Road and Bainbridge don't even have curbs. The solution to this mess is to install curbs and sidewalks on Ridge Road and Bainbridge, making conditions safer until the Main Street extension is completed, which should then drastically lessen the traffic load on Bainbridge and Ridge Road. I've noticed that Cape Girardeau is doing something similar with Lexington Drive.
Drive-through only
I THINK it's time for that bank that keeps getting robbed over there along Kingshighway to be changed into a drive-through only.
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Right and wrong
I AM very happy for David Landewee and Jim Trickey but ending one life so that another life can live is wrong no matter where on this Earth you go.
Once we were Democrats
I KEEP reading and reading and reading so much about the liberals and the conservatives and how terrible conservatives are and how great the liberals are. I was born in 1929. I grew up very poor in the country. Back then, in the county where I grew up, there was only one party and that was the Democratic Party. If you weren't a Democrat, you couldn't even run for an election because you couldn't get on the ballot. I keep hearing all the liberals brag about the Democrats and how much they think about the middle class. The Democrats put most of the taxes on the people. The Republicans are the only ones that have taken taxes off people. This reminds me of back when Al Spradling was a Democrat and a Missouri senator and switched to become a Republican. We were talking after that, and I made the remark that if you used to believe in what Democrats believed in you'd be a Republican now. And that's the way I feel about it. Their philosophy has changed dramatically.
Gabe fan
I'M LOOKING at today's front page, and Gabe Hartwig's artwork is wonderful. Great illustration.
Liberal reading
I WISH the Southeast Missourian would run Walter Williams' article "Who are the rich?" on the front page in bold type. That's something everybody should read, especially the liberals who're always talking about the rich people and how they're treating the poor people. He's got not only common sense but facts that people are making an effort to ignore.
Personal war on litter
I MOVED to Cape four years ago and have been waging war on litter non-stop on Hanover Street, picking four and five Wal-Mart bags full weekly just on my block. The litter consists of Styrofoam cups, fast-food bags and containers, beer and soda cans and liquor containers. Almost all of it is thrown out on Friday and Saturday night. Can someone help? The problem is just getting worse as time goes by.
Rising and falling
SEEMS LIKE everyone in this country today wants power. Is this a good thing? Why does somebody need power? Is money really power? The cockroach is small and has very little authority but he has seen every civilization under the sun rise and fall since antiquity.
Railroad ties
TODAY'S OPINION page about the Chaffee Centennial says the railroad left Chaffee. Well, I work for the railroad. The railroad has never left, it just changed names. We are now the Burlington North Santa Fe.
Sad commentary
ISN'T IT a sad commentary indeed that while thousands of disabled and elderly Missourians are being stripped of medicines and services vital to their existence by their own lawmakers and all Speak Out callers can think of to comment on is dandelions, litter and band concerts. That's a real lack of public awareness, and it's really shameful.
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