Speak Out 7/12/05

Freedom isn't free

RECENTLY A Speak Out caller mocked a general's call for young people to serve their country. The caller hoped that young people had the horse sense, in essence, not to serve. Finally the caller asked the question, what is our way of life? Thankfully this country's history is one of brave men and women serving and sacrificing to preserve our freedom. The service and sacrifice of these patriots, including the mocked general, is what preserved the caller's freedom to express his anti-Iraq views in Speak Out. It's unfortunate that the caller does not have the horse sense to know that preserving our freedom is our way of life.

Dumping ground?

I'M WONDERING if the city has decided to let the corner of Big Bend Road and Emerald Street become a dumping ground for old appliances. I notice they're kind of stacking up over there.

Ticket target

I WOULD like to comment on the Jackson Police Department. I got a speeding ticket the other day, and there was nobody around me in clear area. Then I was in uptown Jackson where the speed limit is 20 mph, and there was an officer right behind me with some people coming the other way doing 30 or 35 mph. How come I always get a ticket for speeding, but nobody else does?

Tell the truth

I'M CALLING in about the disturbance on South Hanover Street. Please give us a break. I want to know why the news media will not verify the facts before broadcasting or printing things that are not true. I'm all for the police department patrolling our area to keep the drugs out of our neighborhood. But some of the things told in the news media this past week just aren't true. I dispute the remarks made by the mayor. If you do not believe me, drive down South Hanover from Bloomfield to Jefferson and see how many houses and yards you find with mattresses and clutter in their yards. I've lived in this block for 25 years or more, and it's just not true what they're saying about the 300 and 400 blocks of South Hanover. I would like to thank the police department for their patrolling our area, but I would also like for them to admit when they make a mistake.

Out of our control

THIS IS for the people that have never worked for the public or haven't worked for the public in a long time. Please don't call a business and chew out the first person who answers the phone. Most of the time the situation is out of that person's control.

Ungentle Bin

London buses blown apart.

Terror strikes a blow.

Evil lurks in mankind's heart.

How low can it go?

Still better than most

THOUGH GENE Lyons is indeed a progressive, he is a token one. Having said that, Lyons puts to shame the rest of the right-wing columnists whose words we are deluged with daily.

Colorful attire

YELLOW SEEMS to be a very beautiful color these days. I see people decked out in it and wearing it proudly. They seem to have no problem with it either. Problem is, it isn't becoming at all. I'll continue to drape myself in the red, white and blue and wear it proudly.

Still in slavery

I JUST read where 86 children were taken to the United Arab Emirates and held as slaves to be used as camel jockeys, among other things. Selling people into slavery is a common practice among poverty -ridden countries. We have people in this country who still play the race card and bring up slavery as if they were held as a slave. I am not saying it wasn't a bad time when this occurred. It was. What I am saying is if you feel that strongly about what happened many years ago, why don't you try to help those who are currently in slavery?

Evil terrorism

PRESIDENT BUSH has condemned terrorists who kill innocent people as evil. The president is being too careful. Terrorists who are supported by their religious leaders are evil. If part of Islam promotes killing innocent lives, then that part of Islam is evil. We have to find a way to give Christian love to these people and more love to their intended victims.

Southern heritage

CLINT LACY has the right to fly a Confederate flag on his property at any time he chooses, as does anyone of Southern heritage. Gov. Matt Blunt's decision to let the Confederate flag fly at Higginsville for one particular day, Confederate Memorial Day, has nothing to do with Lacy personally. Not long ago a poll done by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed overwhelming support in favor of the Confederate flag flying at Higginsville. There are many of us, not just Lacy, who feel the flag should fly. Tell us we have an obsession, but we won't be offended. We are proud of our Southern heritage, pure and simple.

A good example

JACKSON'S FOURTH of July celebration at the park used to be something to look forward to. This year, signs proclaimed "No dogs, no alcohol and no fireworks." Mud volleyball, which was the biggest draw to the celebration, has also been dropped. In the name of wholesomeness, the tradition has been rendered sterile and lacks one other important ingredient for a good celebration: humans. To avoid a repeat of this non-event, I suggest a trip by the mayor, chamber of commerce and parks department to the tiny town of Altenburg where great old-fashioned celebrations are still marvelously executed and maybe even profitable. Fish, anyone?

University funding

PERHAPS THE reason all of these Southeast Missouri State University projects go through is because the university pays for them. We'll start asking Cape Girardeau voters for approval as soon as they agree that SEMO students must give approval for city projects. Sound fair? Not a dime of city money is being used for the tower relocation or the swimming pool projects.