OpinionMay 9, 2005
Speak Out 5/9/05
Laura for president; Medicaid and voting; Thanks, Mike; Behind closed doors...
Laura for president
After the comeuppance roast of her husband at the correspondent's dinner, I say that the next Republican president should be Laura Bush.
Medicaid and voting
MEDICAID RECIPIENTS surely vote more for Democrats than Republicans. By cutting out coverage for wheelchairs and crutches, the Republicans make it more difficult to vote for those who need wheelchairs or crutches to get to the polls. Thus I predict the next move the Republican-controlled state legislative and executive branches do will be to abolish the absentee ballot.
Thanks, Mike
MIKE DUMEY is a blessing to our school system, and I am thankful for everything that he does for our children and our community.
Behind closed doors
The state needs to audit Cape Girardeau County instead of Perry County. Cape Girardeau County does not conduct all of its business according to the open-meetings law. Otherwise we would know what went on behind closed doors during talks with the city of Jackson.
Call to the police
I am very disappointed in the Cape Girardeau Police Department. I am from a local small town and witnessed a car with a dangerous problem in Cape. I called the police department to inform them of the vehicle. Before I was even asked what was wrong I was put on hold twice, transferred twice and then hung up on. Thank God I wasn't witnessing a murder or something.
Truth about Iraq
THIS IS in response to the caller who said the president is in denial about Iraq and needs to be giving the soldiers in Iraq his attention. If you have served in Iraq since February 2002, then you can speak with some sense of authority about the situation there. But since you're basing your comments on the media's interpretation, then I must say that you're blowing hot air. I served in Iraq for more than a year, and I still maintain contact with people on the ground there. What you see on the news is nowhere near the truth. Additionally, I'm glad our president is concerned with both foreign and domestic affairs.
Nonsmokers' rights
WHAT ABOUT my rights to not have to smell or walk through smoke that is harmful to me? If you want to kill yourself slowly, that is fine, but do it in your own home. I am shocked smokers continue to smoke when they know what it does to their bodies. Smoking is not a right. It is a habit! You don't have the right to kill others.
Prom policy
I WOULD like to make a comment about Central High School's policy that you "cannot take a same-sex guest to prom." My daughter wants to go with a bunch of friends to prom and she wants to take her best friend, a girl who dropped out last year, got her GED and is now in college. This girl would have been a senior this year, and my daughter thought it would be nice to let her experience prom. So she tried to buy a ticket for her to go to the prom and was told she could not take a same-sex date. It is not a date, just a friend going with a friend, but Central said no. Central should have a lot more to concern themselves about than a policy that wouldn't allow friends to attend prom together.
Hope attacks work
I AGREE with Glenn Reeves that the attacks on proposed U.N. ambassador John Bolton are reminiscent of those on Clarence Thomas. I hope that the attacks, which failed to prevent Thomas from getting approval for his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, succeed in preventing Bolton from being approved as U.N. ambassador.
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
Why not?
WHY NOT make Water Street one-way northbound?
Historic Jackson
I REALLY look forward to all the changes in uptown Jackson. There's a lot to remember from those old days, when there was a bakery that had a screen door and you could always smell the baked goods. Take the famous canvas awnings of old uptown -- time was that every merchant had those awnings, some in solid colors others great bold stripes, you knew you were uptown when you saw those awnings -- and the merchants were there to roll them out when the sun shown hard or when rains fell down. Only a native Jacksonian would remember these things -- not some newcomer trying to change everything to match their own tastes as they're doing with the so-called historic district. Seems like there would be a few community meetings to discuss the historic district, rather than just charge ahead with it. It does take some time to become a Jackson native.
Progressive peeks
YES, PROVIDING Internet access for parents to take frequent peeks at their child's grade is expensive. However, it's high tech, visually pleasing and considered very cool. The keeping-up-with-the-Joneses effect is in full swing because different school districts are paying astronomical prices so as to be perceived as progressive.
Thanks for the relay
Thank you so much to all those that participated in Relay For Life. As a cancer survivor, the first lap is always emotional and special. But this year, I felt like we should have been cheering and clapping for all those who had worked so tirelessly raising money and showed up in the rain. They were prepared to stay all night in those miserable conditions and were so inspiring with their cheerful smiles and waves of encouragement. Yes, cancer diagnosis and treatment is not easy. But I do not fault the relay staff members that sent everyone home. The hard work was over: the fund-raising and support of the opening lap. Thanks again to all those who participated in some way and we'll pray for better weather next year.
Allergic to smoke
SMOKE IS smoke, and millions are allergic to it. When people burn yard waste, we suffer. When a car spews out black exhaust, we choke. We can't hang around campfires or barbecues. Cigarettes just happen to produce a smoke containing hundreds of extra chemicals, particles and pollutants, making it by far the hardest for our bodies to tolerate. So no, there's nothing odd about allergy sufferers complaining about cigarette smoke.
Beautiful concrete
In an article about the Broadway widening and the improvements on the SEMO campus, someone said that Houck Stadium is an ugly, ugly building. Well, it's a concrete building and I think concrete is beautiful, especially when it's left in a natural, exposed state. The so-called improvement would be to cover all the walls with a "stucco-like" finish. That material they are talking about is known as EIFS (exterior insulating finishing system) -- and it is really ugly. The decision-makers at SEMO should know that you can't slather ugly onto something already considered being ugly and get a beautiful product. Houck will still be a plain-looking structure. Let the historic beauty of Houck and its original concrete alone. It can still serve as a grand gateway to the college campus. Remember the Indian mascot that once stood there? It was really impressive.
Educated bet
THAT WAS a glowing and well deserved editorial tribute to educator Russell Grammer. Based on his eye-opening accomplishments and well deserved awards, I'll bet big money Mr. Grammer took no college or university classes in education.
Foreign students
So the university is bringing foreign students who will be given credit from SEMO for their work at schools in China and pay in-state tuition as well as instructors who will teach here instead of American instructors. Students from schools here, such as Metro Business College, find that their credits don't transfer to SEMO, and they and/or their parents struggle to pay ever-increasing fees that provide fewer opportunities, benefits and programs. These same students and parents are citizens who pay taxes to support the university. Frequently, the impact of the uiversity on the community is not positive with increased noise, traffic and parking problems in our park and surrounding neighborhoods, trash, vandalism and so on creating even more expenses to be spent from city funds. Don't expect praise and support from this citizen for your most recent slight to residents right here SEMO.
Dangerous spot
I WANT to thank whoever is responsible for putting up the other stop sign at Wedekind and Old Cape Road. Now if you could just train people to stop at these three signs. My wife and I sat there the other day and watched two trailer trucks , a van and a red pickup all go through one of the intersection's old signs, and none of them even slowed down, much less stopped. Someone is going to get hurt real bad.
Story Tags
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
Related
OpinionDec. 12
Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
