Speak Out 7/16/07

Equal rights?

WOMEN GOT their equal rights in the work force. So now it's time for men to have equal rights in custodial issues. The system is prejudicial against men in a custodial issue. This is an infringement of men's rights according to gender. For too long men's rights have been infringed upon. It is time for a man's rights to be heard and protected. The system is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. This is a violation of the rights of the children whose lives will forever be changed for lack of fatherhood.

Bargain education

MY NIECE who lives in another state has decided to come to Southeast Missouri State University for her education as it is less expensive for her to come to Southeast and live on campus and pay tuition as an out-of-state student than it is for her to stay in her own state, which to me is amazing. My niece and her parents were truly impressed with Southeast and its programs in the field she's looking at pursuing. They couldn't believe the great value at this institution. I thought I would pass that along to all the people who think we need a less expensive alternative to Southeast. If people checked other institutions in the region, they would be shocked at the cost of tuition and room and board in other states. I want to thank Southeast for providing such a great educational opportunity.

Tough town

I AM new to the area. I was looking through the local paper and I happened to see a lot of people getting tickets for things like shoplifting and possession of marijuana and driving while intoxicated. But there was a business owner who dared to hang a sign and he went to jail. My kind of town, I guess.

Utility savings

I MOVED here from another state and I was shocked by my utility bill. With all the complaining, I expected a huge one. It was only a third of what I was used to paying. Think about it: What would you do without electricity? I hear no complaints about beer and cigarette prices, which are much higher here.

University parking

I'D LIKE to comment on the higher parking fines Cape Girardeau wants to impose around the university. These fines are unjust. It's the students going to school, trying to get an education so they can better themselves, who would be penalized with bigger tickets. Instead of charging more for parking tickets, the city ought get with the university and build a parking garage close to the university.

Parking fines

KUDOS TO Mayor Jay Knudtson for voting against the higher parking fines around the university. Isn't this a form of discrimination? Shouldn't it be if you park illegally anyplace in the city? Don't tell me if you run a red light in one part of the city it costs one fine, but if you run a red light in another part of the city it's something else. The fines for disabled parking should be raised to at least $300.

Petty politics

CLINTON WAS wrong with his pardons. Bush is wrong protecting his conservatives against telling the truth and obeying the laws of our country. As an independent voter, I find more and more Republicans and Democrats disgusting after they get the power. Evidently Bush-Cheney supporters want to prove two wrongs make a right after all. God help American citizens against both parties.

Motivating movies

IT'S A sad commentary on society when Hollywood continues to make movies that don't do anything but inspire and energize psychopaths.

Awesome Merle

I WENT to see the Merle Haggard show at the Show Me Center, and the only word to describe Merle is awesome. I want to thank all who helped bring Merle to Cape Girardeau. Please bring more of the country classics to town. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart.

Proper punishment

WHAT IS Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle thinking by asking for a lenient sentence for a man who drove drunk and killed his best friend? I too am sad this happened, and I'm sure the driver feels bad thinks living with that should be punishment enough. I don't think so. What if it had been a family he hit instead of a tree? If he is behind bars, he will have to think about his actions. Someone has to draw the line and get these accidents waiting to happen off the road and away from alcohol.

Threat still there

I HEARD that the government is saying the al-Qaida threat is as great or greater than it's ever been since 9-11 and that we're not any more prepared. I'd like to know what we got out of this war other than losing thousands of our soldiers' lives and Iraqis' lives. We at danger as much or worse than we were before. If the war is not doing us any good, why don't we get out right now?

Voting with a broom

SOMEONE commented that politicians need to clean house. It's not politicians who clean house. It's Americans who have been given the right to vote. If you vote, you get to clean the house.

Good ideas

I HOPE good use is made of the ideas brought up during the meeting about the memorials.

Cleaner streets

Cape Girardeau's streets are filthy, mostly due to smokers. It would be nice if Cape would start ticketing people who litter. Another idea would be to run the street sweeper 24 hours a day. There could also be a street-cleaning schedule so that people would know when the sweeper is coming and could move their cars from the street.

Misguided vote

Let me be the first 1140th Engineer Battalion soldier who risked my life every day for a year clearing bombs from the side of the road in Iraq to call for the defeat of U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson in her next election for being one of four Republicans to vote with 219 Democrats to prematurely pull out of Iraq and risk a genocide of biblical proportions if we do.