Speak Out 7/1/06

Stop complaining

EVERYONE NEEDS to stop complaining about Bush doing the right thing or the wrong thing. Stop complaining about the Dixie Chicks putting their freedom of speech into action. All we need to worry about is getting our military in Iraq home as soon as possible. They are over there getting killed by the numbers every day. And all we can do is complain and whine here in America.

Draft illegal aliens

IF IMMIGRANTS want to be over here illegally, let it be. When Bush is ready to draft, don't bother American men and women, it's the immigrants' turn. Take them over and let them fight for our freedom also.

Anti-environment?

SOMEONE ACTUALLY accused people who disagree with them of being "anti-environment." Isn't there room for disagreement without accusing people of wanting dirty air, poisoned water and not caring about the well being of themselves and fellow citizens?

Living in cyberspace

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian editorial board remains unimaginative. In these days of growing virtual schooling via the Internet it no longer matters whether or not a student or board member "lives" in a particular school district. Wake up guys. We all live in cyberspace.

Like Leni

SOMEONE SEEMED to say that Ann Coulter's being a right-wing extremist sex goddess was unprecedented. I can think of one who might fit the mold, although she denies she adhered to his political views. Her name is Leni Riefenstahl, and she was the propaganda filmmaker for Adolf Hitler.

SEMO recruiting

SEMO UNIVERSITY needs to spend money recruiting minority students from the Bootheel and St. Louis area before they worry about bringing in students from foreign countries. We need to educate our own and not waste money on people who are going to go back to their country after they get a degree.

Presidential authority

WITH THE latest revelation about the Bush administration's monitoring of millions of financial transactions, it must be said that the expansion of presidential authority under Bush makes FDR and LBJ look like figureheads. I guess Barry Goldwater has been belatedly vindicated with his then-controversial comment that, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice."

Words matter

GOOD POLICY will emanate from clear thinking, and clear thinking will only result from clear communication. Words matter. Like sovereignty, like nation instead of homeland, like legal instead of illegal, like steadfast, honorable and valiant. Words and deeds.

Oozing hatred

SO WHY is it when a liberal makes a comment to Speak Out he/she is accused of "oozing hatred," but when a conservative makes a statement to Speak Out they are considered patriotic and Christian? If I had to make my choice of following the "Christians" of Cape Girardeau, I think I would rather take my chances with God on my own. I pray, pay my taxes, vote, support the troops, believe in a loving God, respect my parents, don't cheat, haven't murdered, don't covet my neighbor's anything, don't lie, don't bear false witness, respect my co-workers, and I am forgiving to those not like me.

Cruel and inhumane

HAS IT occurred to the judges that halt executions that the actions of the killers were crueler and more inhumane than the needles that get stuck in their arm in a nice sterile environment? Cruel and inhumane is to be beaten to death with a club or other instrument. Cruel and inhumane is for a woman to be raped while she is dying. Cruel and inhumane is the judge that stops an execution because it brings a murderer pain.

Sensitivity

I ALMOST fell out of my chair when I read that Mayor Knudtson stated the commissioners should be sensitive to sales growth. I have not seen a county tax proposal put on the ballot in the last 20 to 30 years. Cape Girardeau, however, has put at least five or six tax initiatives, including increased user fees, on the ballot in the last 10 years. It sounds like the commission is being sensitive to the area taxpayers by rolling back the property taxes

Inbred cats

TEN OF the 14 "Free for the taking" ads that appeared in the Sunday Southeast Missourian were for free kittens. Cat owners, please do something about letting your cats out to roam around. And please stop dumping your unwanted cats out in the outskirts of Cape County. We don't want your inbred cats anymore.

Roads are OK

THE COUNTY roads are being adequately maintained. Stop trying to raise our taxes.

More taxes

I AM in favor of the increase in the sales tax for the county roads. Not only the people who live out of the city limits of Cape and Jackson use the county roads. Residents of the cities also use them. We help pay for the cities' services when we shop in Jackson and Cape. At least everyone helps pay on sales taxes -- even those in apartments or trailers.

Clinton and Bush

I WANT to reply to the person who bashed Clinton and praised Bush the other day because a few of the statements were not entirely correct. The media may have referred to a certain time during the Clinton presidency as a recession, but it was by no means as bad as the situation is now when we are paying so much for a gallon for gas. My stock portfolio actually looked good during those years but not now. Also, Bush was in office more than three months when 9-11 happened because he took office in January and the unthinkable happened in September. I checked my calendar and that was more than three months.

Preservationists

WHY DOES SEMO keep trying to convince us they are historic preservationists? They don't try too hard to save certain houses, like the one on North Street last year, but take every opportunity to flaunt the River Campus. Yes, it may have been a historic building, but I have to believe a performance hall could have been built cheaper instead of pouring all this money into the River Campus.

Cruising Main Street

NOTHING RUINS an amazing summer day downtown more than loud motorcycles, car mufflers and blaring music. The downtown atmosphere lends itself to normal traffic, but excessive noise interrupts an enjoyable experience. Please, if you must cruise Main Street, do so in a way that is courteous to those trying to enjoy Cape's great historic area.