speak out 5/14

A front-page hero

THERE ALWAYS seems to be a lot of bad news in Speak Out. I was so happy to see the front-page article on Robert Owens in the Sunday paper. It goes to show the 18-year-old deserved credit where credit is due. This young man should be awarded a gold medal. God bless, Robert. We all love you. You are a hero.

Best entertainment

ENTERTAINMENT AT it's best. That is how I would describe the Cape Girardeau School District's summer concert May 13. The Central High School orchestra, the freshman orchestra and the eighth-grade orchestra each presented a remarkable program. The director, Steve Schafner, is to be commended for his leadership in the music program.

Parental guidance

I FEEL for the person who made the comment that his parents always taught him it's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're stupid rather than to open it and remove all doubt. My parents always treated me like I was special and a gift from God. I thank them for that.

Need trash cans

I JUST read in the paper that Jackson doesn't want us to use trash cans. Why do they make trash cans if they don't want you to put your stuff in them? Old people can't tie bags. We have to have something we can put trash in without tying bags all the time.

A revenue plan

I WOULD like to make a comment about the need for more taxes here in Cape. Why don't we do it like they do it in New York? When you need more revenue, you create more taxes. Let's have a tax here in Cape on people who cause accidents while using their cell phones. These people are more dangerous than drunken drivers.

Gawking on the highway

THE BIGGEST problem at the Diversion Channel construction on I-55 is motorists who slow down to 25 mph and gawk for no good reason. Motorists should drive through that area at 50 mph, which is the speed limit. These people should be given tickets for blocking traffic.

Cost-cutting ideas

I HAVE some suggestions for Cape which might save money and eliminate the need for raising our taxes. I feel like once every two weeks would be sufficient for curbside recycling pickup. The city is furnishing too many cars to too many people to use seven days a week. The only people who should have a city car at home are the fire chief and the chief of police. I know all senior citizens are not rich, and I'm one of them. There has to be a stopping point somewhere on these property taxes. The city needs to think long and hard before it raises property taxes.

Get parents involved

IN REGARD to the caller who blames all of young America's problems on music. The real problem is the lack of guidance by parents. If parents take an active role in their children's lives, a lot of the violence wouldn't happen.

Gravel in creeks

I SAW where Crooked Creek had flooded in Marble Hill, Mo. My husband and I were raised in Bollinger County 50 years ago, and farmers were allowed to take gravel out of the creek to gravel their roads. Now the state won't let them clean the creek of gravel and use it for their roads. As long as that policy is in effect, people will suffer with flooding.

Safer with guns

IT SEEMS the anti-gun crowd cannot or will not quote reliable statistics and continues to use emotional appeals for their arguments against lawful firearm ownership. Thirty-three states allow residents to lawfully carry concealed firearms for protection. In those states crime has fallen faster than in the United States as a whole. Florida passed right-to-carry in 1987. Over the next five years, homicides decreased 23 percent, while the overall U.S. rate increased 9 percent. Gun ownership is at an all-time high, and violent crime is lower than it has been in a generation.

Musical influence

SOMEONE IS blaming music for a guy putting pipe bombs in people's mailboxes. He's blaming all rock 'n' roll music for warping people. What about country music where all you hear is about cheating on your wife or your husband or going to the bar and getting drunk?

In plain sight

WHAT DO you think is going to fend off a potential attacker? The gun out in plain sight where he can see it before he does anything? Or the gun hidden in your glove box he doesn't know about? As soon as that guy sees you making a move for your gun, it's all over. I don't understand the point of concealing weapons for safety.