Speak Out 5/3/06

Two views, both true

WHEN IT comes to Southeast Missouri State University's controversial "Romeo and Juliet," Bell City and Woodland schools stand as representatives of the otherworldly medieval mentality when the human body was denigrated and most all human foibles were seen as sin. Proponents of allowing youngsters to see the play are more secular-minded, tend to glorify the human body and are most influenced by the European Renaissance of which Shakespeare was the pinnacle in England. In the multicultural world of today, even though the two views may seem at odds, both must be seen as true.

Another campus

HOW ABOUT a new Southeast Missouri State University school across from the gentleman's club in East Cape Girardeau, Ill. Call it the Across-the-River Campus.

Great concert

I ATTENDED a benefit concert for the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence given by a local music group called Restless Spirit. I was literally blown away by the talent of this group and the heart that they have shown for this organization. It was such a worthy cause and one most people choose to ignore. I suggest to everyone to be sure not to miss the next concert given by this group.

Enlightening youths

IT SOUNDS like a local artistic work can't speak for itself. I don't need to hear any more from the enlightened theater instructors at Southeast Missouri State University about how every student around Cape Girardeau should be exposed to their play. I doubt that a SEMO theatrical production is the proper mode for enlightening Cape area youths. It seems like the theater department is more concerned with recruiting future theater majors than local viewer feedback.

Attracting students

IS THE sad person who is upset because tuition is going up at Southeast Missouri State University for science labs saying the science department is more important than the music department? Don't even go there. Have you taken a look at Brandt Music Hall? Its dilapidated condition is what is preventing potential students from coming to Southeast. It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the River Campus will bring in more students and money to the university.

Oil suggestions

IF OIL companies are making 9 cents profit on a gallon of gasoline and the federal government is taking 50 cents a gallon in taxes, which one is doing the gouging? Along with conservation, we should be drilling for oil off the Gulf Coast, California and in Alaska. Reduce the amount of blends the oil companies have to refine, and allow them to build more refineries.

Cut gas taxes

I'VE GOT a great idea that would drop gasoline prices 40 cents overnight -- take off the taxes. Obviously with the conditions of the roads in this county, the revenue from those taxes is not being used appropriately anyway.

Government work

I READ that Tax Freedom Day occurred on April 26. That's 116 days into this year. Every penny every American earns up to that day pays for our government. Taxpayers spent nearly a third of 2006 working for the government before getting a penny to spend on necessities of life for themselves. This is getting out of touch with reality.

Good decision

I COMMEND the Scott City principal who pulled the freshman class out of "Romeo and Juliet." I think it would make a big difference if it was a senior class, but considering it was a freshman, I know my freshman son was pretty innocent at that age. I prefer kids keep their innocence as long as they can in today's world. The controversy is good in the sense it will bring out more of an adult audience. I commend school leaders for the good decisions they're making. That's why we entrust our children to them.

Working for less

I SAW on the television the other day where Mexicans are coming to the United States and working. They're sending enough money back home to build two-story houses. But we have Americans who claim they can't live on minimum wage. I would like to know the difference.

Don't like stadium

I AGREE with TJ Greaney's column. I do not like the new Busch Stadium. I have attended one game and do not intend to go again. The ticket prices and food prices are ridiculous. I will watch the game on TV.

Troop timetable

PRESIDENT BUSH and his administration are having trouble setting a time to reduce the troop numbers in Iraq. I believe I can help. I think about two months before the election in November will be a good time.

Public stripping

WITH THE necklines getting lower and skirts getting shorter, I don't know why anyone would want to spend money at a strip club. Just wait.

Taking a stand

I WOULD like to commend the administrators of the schools who refused to expose their students to the bawdy, lewd and trashy, interpretation of Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." The only way evil will prevail is if good men do nothing.

Wealth goes overseas

TIME HAS come for the country to have a 65-mph speed limit. This will save a lot of gasoline. People don't understand what we're doing. We're transferring our wealth overseas, and we wonder what the other countries are doing coming over here and buying up our port facilities and things like that.

Flawed designs

EVERY TIME I go through the intersection at the corner of Mount Auburn Road and Independence Street -- and I have to move over to go straight and I have to worry about whether the car to my left is going to move over or cut into my lane and hit me because I'm trying to go straight and the design of the intersection is so poor -- it makes me upset. So I called our city manager, Doug Leslie, and asked when the city did the design if he had any input. He said it was done by a consultant, but that the city is going to come back in phrase three of the Mount Auburn project and correct that. Here we go again, just like the roundabout. Let's have a faulty design, let's install it and then let's continuously correct it. Where is the accountability for the flawed design? We need some accountability from the mayor, from the city council and the city manager when we are building some roads improperly and have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix it.

Making a distinction

I WOULD expect anyone at the university level, whether student or faculty, to be able to distinguish between what is bawdy and ribald and what is vulgar and obscene.

Florida's oil

THERE'S OIL and gas off the coast of Florida, but Gov. Jeb Bush didn't want oil removed in his backyard. Trying to blame the Democrats for preventing oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is garbage. The oil in Florida was found, and Bush doesn't want it taken out of the ground because it may possibly damage the beaches on Florida's shore.