Speak Out 5/4/08

Consider the children

I DO not agree with the way the fundamentalist sect members live, and I think something should be done about it. However, I do not feel that it is fair that the children were removed from their mothers. I also read where a child who was in custody gave birth. She was under 18. The article said she would remain with her son until a hearing next month to decide their fate. How dare that state even consider splitting them up? She is a teen mother. There is no automatic hearing for non-sect children who become pregnant.

Help others

WITH THE stimulus checks being sent out, many are thinking about what they will do with the money. I want to challenge everyone to give $20 to help those less fortunate. If everyone donated a small amount to the local food pantries or a charitable organization, it would make a huge impact for so many who desperately need the help. I urge all to help others during these tough economic times.

Public apology

SINCERE THANKS to Sen. John McCain for publicly apologizing because he voted against the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

More to do

I THINK the water park in Cape Girardeau is a great idea. It will be a perfect pastime in the hot summer months for families who live in and around Cape Girardeau. Maybe the city could put in some other fun activities for children and families like a go-cart track, putt-putt golf or a laser-tag arena. Some of those facilities could then stay open during winter months.

Drop in the bucket

I HAVE a comment about the tax-rebate checks: The rebate will help us out a little bit because of the rising gas prices, rising utility costs and rising food costs. But these checks are not going to help the economy. They will help people survive for a month or two, and that's it. Gasoline is $3.60 a gallon now and is going to keep going up. Are we going to get a check every month? That's the only thing that would help us.

Paying for rebates

THANK YOU, government, for the money to give to the big conglomerates for gasoline, which highway robbery. Our grandchildren will pay the cost of the rebates. Does it say "Stupid" on our foreheads?