Speak Out 7/12/09

Tea parties

THERE was a comment regarding tea parties being held in parks funded by taxpayers. At least there not burning and looting the city like some groups would do. Keep it up, tea party protesters.

Shorter leash

I can see the writing on the wall with this fireworks ban in Jackson. I will have to march over to city hall and turn in the cap guns my little boy received as a birthday present this week. Can't have those putting my kid's eye out. While we're at it, we need to ban the selling fried chicken because of the chicken-bone choking hazard. You have to laugh at the boneheaded ideas town councils come up with at times. We need to keep these people on a tight leash and keep them out of our personal lives. I wish they would stick to zoning and street repairs.

Power to people

HERE'S a fact people in Jackson should think about when they hear others talk about the proposed fireworks ban. Thirty-nine states allow fireworks sales within the state for private use. The states that do not allow fireworks sales or very restricted sales are Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Vermont, Arizona, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Ask yourselves: Do we want to put ourselves in league with 10 of the most liberal states in the land? Read that list of states again. Do you really think we should follow their big-government, big-brother-knows-best mindset? I think not. I believe we need some new leadership in Jackson. Power to the people. We all need to read the Declaration of Independence a few more times and start living it.

A free life

THE storm of discontent concerning the recent Jackson Board of Aldermen vote to ban fireworks in the city is a great example of the citizenry finally getting tired of government getting in their business. I wish we would follow suit with the current government in Washington. I long for the days of my youth in the 1970s when all of the town's kids would congregate on the baseball diamond next to what is now the bowling alley and have one heck of a four-hour bottle rocket fight. What fun we all had shooting those rockets at each other, and I don't recall any kid ever getting hurt. We had a much more free life back then, like riding everywhere in the bed of my dad's pickup. I remember those days of personal responsibility without the nuisance of big brother looking over our shoulders. It's time we Americans start pushing back at the rule makers and say enough is enough. I have lived and worked in more than 20 countries, and when other countries have celebrations, the citizenry shoots rifles, shotguns and pistols in the air. The people here need to wake up to the real world.

Facts are facts

I'M tired of the comments about how separation of church and state is all about squashing the church or keeping it out of government. It's clear that it was to keep the government out of the church, and it's clear that we have many in this area who love to comment without doing diligent research. Opinions are one thing, but facts are facts.

Thanks, leaders

I'VE been in Cape Girardeau over three decades, and I too want to thank the people who are in charge today. There have been a lot of good things take place in Cape Girardeau recently. Thanks. Those in charge get a lot of criticism, but we appreciate what they do.

MJ tribute

I thought the memorial service for Michael Jackson was a wonderful tribute to the late entertainer. I also encourage all readers of the Southeast Missourian to contact members of Congress and urge them to support U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee's resolution calling attention to Jackson's many humanitarian achievements.

Needs of the few

I see that the Jackson aldermen voted to ban fireworks because they are an inconvenience. It looks like our local government is going the way of the federal government by giving in to the wants and needs of the few as opposed to the many. In a time when we are preached to about staying home with family to conserve gas or because most can't afford to go somewhere, these people want to take away a long-standing tradition in the celebration of our nation's independence. When I was a child, we all had picnics and ice cream and eagerly awaited nightfall for that array of spectacular color in the sky, writing our names with sparklers and hearing those squeals of delight. I work and get up early, but I don't complain about a few nights of noise. We listen to sirens and fights and worry about break-ins the rest of the year. How does one week make a difference? I guess next the aldermen will want to ban Halloween and Christmas because candy and gifts are dangerous or bad for our children. If the city lets this be forced through, we can all be prepared for what's to come. If the needs and wants of the few can be imposed upon us so easily, we may as well bend over and kiss the pursuit of liberty, justice and happiness good-bye.

Personal safety

I feel I am quite capable of deciding what is safe and unsafe for my children. Banning fireworks in Jackson is an idea that I disagree with. Why does government feel it has to control every aspect of the American home, from health care on a national level to fireworks on a local level? Maybe the aldermen could suggest banning Homecomers and the farmers market. Somebody could trip and fall at these events, and that would be dangerous.