Speak Out 5/18/04

THE SCOTT County or Cape Girardeau County sheriff's departments need to watch the county road that runs between County Road 204 and Nash Road. No matter the time of day, drivers consistently run the stop signs and do not yield to oncoming traffic. The speed limit is not posted, and the drivers take advantage of it.

In praise of mud

I LIVE out of state, but I'm originally from Jackson. I just found out that the Jackson Fourth of July mud volleyball tournament was canceled this year. I can't believe it. The Jackson Fourth of July celebration -- mainly the mud volleyball tournament -- brought the whole community together. It's what I immediately think of when someone mentions a Fourth of July celebration. I annually drove up from out of state for it. I really think the turnout is going to be sad this year. The car show will not pull in the same crowd. A true disappointment.

Where is outrage?

THE U.S. Senate viewed the unreleased photos of the Iraq prisoners being abused and promptly ran to the media crying about how disgusting and terrible they were. Where is all this outrage when Americans are shown on Islamic TV and Web sites being beheaded or having their burnt bodies hung from bridges? I guess a picture of a naked Iraqi is more disgusting than a videotape showing an American being beheaded or our people's bodies being hung from bridges. I think the Iraqi prisoners should have gotten a whole lot more than they did.

Provoking violence

THE AMERICAN soldiers who abused the Iraqi prisoners are the present reason and future reason that American soldiers are being killed over there every day. How can they do such things? And who would be stupid enough to videotape it and take pictures? They just set our country up for further violence.

Lack of understanding

IF DAVID Limbaugh really believes the only thing standing in the way of bringing democracy to Iraq is the terrorist threat, then he has a terrible lack of understanding or knowledge of the history of this beleaguered artificial construct of a country we call Iraq.

Mercenaries, not soldiers

JUST TO correct one of many erroneous Speaks Out calls, the people dragged behind the truck in Iraq were mercenaries -- not U.S. soldiers.

Tit for tat

IF IRAQI leader Saddam Hussein was responsible for the prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib when he was in power in Iraq, Bush-Cheney are responsible now.

Betting on fire department

I WONDER if the caller who called the fire department "ambulance chasers" has ever watched his or her home burn to the ground? I wonder if this same caller has ever been mugged, raped, battered or robbed? I bet the answer to both of these questions is no. But I would bet my last dollar that this same person would rely on both the fire and police departments if any of these things happened.

There's still funnel cakes

WHAT A terrible lineup for the SEMO District Fair. Leroy Van Dyke, Sammy Kershaw, David Frizell, Jimmy Fortune, Rex Allen Jr. and 3 Dog Night? This lineup is worse than the opening act at a riverboat casino. Something for everyone? Sammy Kershaw and 3 Dog Night are the only names familiar to those under the age of 65, and who really cares about either one? Good luck meeting your 100,000 people in attendance goal. Believe me, those who go to the fair will be there for the livestock and the funnel cakes, not the entertainment.

What Jesus said

TO ALL of those who feel that the Iraqi prisoners were not abused and we have the right to do what was done: Jesus said "You have heard it said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but I say unto you, love one another even as I have loved you." Anyone can pray for a friend. It takes a disciple to pray for an enemy.

City propaganda

I JUST opened my city water bill and received that fine piece of propaganda the city saw fit to include with the bill. I couldn't help but literally laugh out loud and then become angered. The city spent the money that it tells us it doesn't have for thousands of pieces of literature. If the city can spend money on this garbage, they do not need a tax increase. I had already decided I was voting no. Now my mind is absolutely made up.

Schools' song and dance

I READ that the school systems are getting more tax money than they had been promised. But now the educators are still saying it's not enough. I for one am sick and tired of their song and dance. I suggest they cut some of the fat from the budgets, tighten their belts as we taxpayers do and start educating our children.

Mascot needed

I AM a current student at Southeast, and I was at the Indian nickname forum. At the forum a Southeast alumnus got up and spoke on behalf of the Indian mascot. He told a emotional story of his experiences on campus when Southeast had a mascot. Until that night, I hadn't realized just what I was missing. I wish that I felt the same way as this alumnus does about Southeast. It is unfair that students today do not have the same experience that alumni had. We need a new nickname so we can develop a mascot that will evoke those same emotions. If Southeast gets a new nickname, we won't be taking away any tradition that isn't already gone. Instead, we would be giving something back to students that has been missing for a long time.

Thanking parents

ON BEHALF of the staff at South Elementary in Jackson, I would like to send a big thank you to our wonderful parents. They provided us with meals and prizes for the past three Fridays. We are so lucky to have such great families to work with.

Moral relativists

THOUGH I agree with their view, in writing and saying that abuse and mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners wasn't as bad as that dealt out to ours a lot of moral absolutists have become moral relativists.

Off the MAP

AS EVIDENCED by Speak Out commentary, students excel at school plays and a wide variety of extracurricular activities. However, when it comes to MAP scores, well ...

'Fog of War'

The caller WHO CLAIMED U.S. COMMANDING OFFICERS WOULD NEVER ORDER ABUSE OR ATROCITIES WOULD BE WELL SERVED TO SEE THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FEATURING EX-DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT MCNAMARA, TITLED "THE FOG OF WAR."

Mock shock

To try TO LESSEN THE REPUGNANCE OF THE ABUSE OF PRISONERS (MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED AS THEY HAD NEVER BEEN CHARGED WITH ANY CRIME) BY COMPARING IT TO THE ACTIONS OF FEW OCCUPIED IRAQI INSURGENTS IS IRRESPONSIBLY IMMATURE. THE TORTURE WAS SYSTEMATICALLY CARRIED OUT BY MEMBERS OF AN ARMY. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE MILITARY DISCIPLINE. TO SAY THEY DID IT TOO IS PATHETIC.

Who do we think we are?

We're living A LIE. WE ABUSE OUR CHILDREN, OUR WIVES, OUR ELDERLY, OUR PRISONERS AND OURSELVES. WE'RE ALCOHOLICS AND DRUG USERS. THIS MOCK SHOCK WE EXHIBIT IS WHAT MAKES THE WORLD CHUCKLE. WE ARROGANT AMERICANS, WHO IN THE HECK DO WE THINK WE ARE?

Power of pictures

IN ORDER to get us to cut the Bush administration some slack, inky wretch Paul Greenberg wrote that pictures are worth so much more than words, and that it's not surprising that it took photographs to get the attention of the Bush administration. Odd that such a view comes from a world class wordsmith whom I had thought most believed in the power of words.