Speak Out 7/18/05

Cape is great

I am a U.S. Marine, I haven't been home for over eight months. I get online to read the paper every once in a while. I also read the Speak Out section. I find it hard to believe that so many people don't like living in Cape Girardeau. I have lived in Cape all my life, and every time I get a chance to take leave I always come home. Why? Because I love Cape.

Let president choose

WHY CAN'T Democrats let the president pick his candidates for the Supreme Court without a big protest? When decent Democrats take their party back, it will be a great day. But is it too late?

What to do?

Of course the London bombings rightly anger us and strengthen our resolve. But to do what? That is the question no one seems to have answered satisfactorily.

Honorable history

Civil disobedience is, by definition, peaceful. Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were practitioners. In order to call attention to an unjust law, civil disobedience teaches intentional but peaceful disobeyence of the law with a willingness to pay the price, even if it means going to jail. Civil disobedience has a long, honored and justifiable history.

Extra fireworks

I believe the fracas over the fireworks on Hanover Street was just the tip of the iceberg regarding the fireworks problems in Cape Girardeau. Fireworks are allowed for eight days only. In my neighborhood fireworks were going off for two weeks. A 10 p.m. cutoff at night, right? It was always midnight or later. No bottle rockets? I know them when I see and hear them -- especially when I find the sticks in my yard. They were so loud at night we couldn't hear our TV. We were trying to work on two or three hours of sleep a night. Isn't it about time to stop this? There are always those who will break the rules, no matter what. Those of us who obey them pay the price.

Resource takeover

I just read there is a Canadian oil company drilling in Colorado that wants to use Chinese labor. And China is trying to buy an American oil company, Unocal. Sadly, our resources are being taken over by other countries.

Wait your turn

Why do certain people think standing in line to be waited on doesn't apply to them? They may have just one question or just need one thing, but other people standing in line also have just one question or need something easy. Wait your turn. Everyone is busy.

Simple solution

Given their track record, I'm surprised Mayor Jay Knudtson expressed such excitement and optimism when Missouri Department of Transportation officials said a simple transformer upgrade will fix light problems on the bridge. Perhaps the mayor forgot that in MoDOTese, "simple" means several years.

Harsher laws

All of us who are concerned about our children need to contact Gov. Matt Blunt and our legislators to pressure them into making harsher laws for sex offenders. Some only get probation and don't even end up with a conviction on their records.

Corporate welfare

You support subsidies from taxpayers to promote new jobs and to attract business. It figures. You guys are corporate welfare zealots.

Editorial oversight

The "I have a right to it" mentality surfaced again when a caller said readers are entitled to the truths espoused by columnist Gene Lyons. Readers like me may be happy that his columns are being published but realize that we are in no way entitled to them. I suppose that decision rests with the editorial staff of the Southeast Missourian, at times an admittedly scary thought.

Sounds like LA

Speak Out comments about what's going on in south Cape Girardeau would lead one to believe we live in south-central Los Angeles.

Grass is greener

I live in the so-called 'hood of Cape Girardeau. Try living in Hell's Kitchen like I did for five years before moving to this paradise. You think the cops don't care here? I've seen New York police showing up eating a cheeseburger to investigate a murder. My worst experience in living in the south part of Cape Girardeau was someone's dog using my yard as it's personal urinal. But my grass couldn't be greener.

Police concerns

All this talk about Hanover Street needs to stop. The police in Cape Girardeau do nothing about the south side. I have called them several times to report disturbances. They take forever to get down here, and when they do they laugh and joke with the people causing the disturbance. I live on the south side of town. Until people have respect for themselves, they aren't going to have respect for others, including the police department. Until they are all taken off the streets for selling drugs in plain view, the streets are going to remain the same.

Spending wisely

I DON'T see why Jackson needs lights on U.S. 61. There are better uses for the money.

Other factors

I WASN'T there at the incident on South Hanover Street and don't know exactly what happened, but I'm seeing a pattern not only of bad behavior and problems in that part of town, but also that a particular officer keeps getting injured. He has been pushed down steps, kicked and hit over the head. Maybe he's not handling things correctly. Is he answering calls before he has proper backup? Yes, the problem that exists needs to be addressed. But also I think we need to look some other factors.

Tracker is a hit

I'D LIKE to thank all the people who worked in the Southeast Missourian Jr. Tracker's tent at the air show. They made a wonderful show. They made the whole experience much better. They were very nice and helped out a lot.

Train concerns

Regarding the complaints about trains in the Chaffee, Mo., area: The railroad was here first. Residents of that area purchased their homes knowing the railroad ran through Chaffee. Now they want everything to change. Think of the tax dollars the railroad is bringing into these communities. When the railroad is finished with the new track, the trains will be traveling 30 mph. Accidents occur less frequently with the trains moving at that rate of speed, because people don't take for granted that they're stopped or going slow.