Speak Out 6/21/08

Naming the armory

ONCE AGAIN, I pick up the paper today to find that someone wants the armory named after two of our dead soldiers. I don't feel that's the right thing to do, considering there are so many other soldiers who have lost their lives. I'm sure those are two special people to their families, but so are the other dead soldiers. Unless you're going to have a giant billboard up there with Shank, Smith, Shelton, Jones, Harvey and Rice, you've got to consider how other people feel. This isn't a one-sided thing. I would be devastated as well if my son didn't come back, but I wouldn't expect someone to name a building after him when there are so many other lost souls.

Making a turnaround

A JUDGE sent a 17-year-old child to prison for 10 years. He's going to be OK. I have him in my prayers. The young man had made a turnaround. The young man took on the full responsibility of raising his 6-month-old daughter. He also held on to a full-time job with no problems and attended counseling without having to be ordered by the judge. And he was in the process of getting his GED. God have mercy. This young man is always in my prayers.

Limiting casinos

MISSOURI PUT a moratorium on applications for new casino licenses with the anticipation of limiting casinos to the number already in existence. Maybe we could put a moratorium into effect on payday loan stores, fast-food restaurants and even Wal-Mart stores. Since when have we let state government decide who should or shouldn't be in business? Something stinks here. I wonder why Cape Girardeau has not actively been searching for casino operators.

Reasons for pride

PEOPLE LIKE the Los Angeles Dodger's Blake DeWitt and "America's Got Talent" tenor Neal Boyd illustrate that Sikeston, Mo., is in the middle of a sociocultural renaissance of which all Southeast Missouri residents should be extremely proud.

Changing the culture

THE BELGIAN concern that wants to buy Anheuser-Busch has promised not to change the culture of Anheuser Busch. I was for the buyout until I heard that statement. I wrongly assumed that InBev (the Belgian company) would do the right thing and change the culture of excessive boozing, belching, bar fighting and endless bragging about better left unnamed feats never achieved.

Self-centered town

A RECENT Speak Out comment said, "Why should anyone in Cape Girardeau put up a shelter for the homeless? Who wants homeless people in your city?" I thought this was a Christian community. Sounds like this is a self-centered community to me.

Thanks for help

ON JUNE 13 I was involved in a rollover crash on I-55 and was pinned under my vehicle. I want to thank everyone who helped get me out. If it hadn't been for you I might have been paralyzed or worse. I also want to thank the people who called 911 and the paramedics that worked on my sister, my husband and me. Because of all of you I escaped with only minor injuries. To all: I thank you more than you could ever know.

Homeless shelter

HOMELESSNESS IS not always from bad choices. A lost job due to cutbacks, a medical crisis or many other things can cause a person to be homeless. These people need jobs, and to get a job they need a contact address. If they do not have family or friend, they need that shelter to be there. Just because there is no shelter doesn't mean there are no homeless in our city. It just means we're trying to sweep them under the rug -- out sight, out of mind.