Speak Out 7/31/06

Forsythia damage

THIS PERTAINS to the person who apparently lost control of his vehicle July 23 and ran off the road, down an embankment and across 12 forsythia bushes and left without knocking on anyone's door or leaving a note with contact information. These bushes were treasured by all who passed by as the winter months passed into the first signs of spring. To replace these special bushes is estimated to cost approximately $1,000. I hope the person who is responsible for this will come forward.

Smoking decision

STOOGE'S HAS decided to become a nonsmoking business. That is the way it should be. Our governments should have no right to make laws banning smoking in private businesses. Businesses should be courageous enough to decide such things for themselves. The owner of Stooge's commented that this "attracted sit-down customers who had previously only ordered takeout." In the future, he may see that the smokers will be the ones ordering takeout, which will eliminate ordering things like a mixed drink or two or dessert and tipping the staff. As a smoker, I admire him for taking his own stand, even while being fully aware that he, like most, has taken the second-hand smoke danger at face value, just as the government intended.

Positive publicity

PULL RUSH Limbaugh down from the "Missouri Wall of Fame"? What an insane idea. Limbaugh has given your town more positive publicity than you could generate in a thousand years.

Media coverage

ONCE ISRAEL began its attacks on Hezbollah, the major news networks stopped reporting on Iraq. And even though all the major media sources frothed at the mouth over the Hurricane Katrina victims, no one is covering the half-million St. Louisians who were affected by the recent storms. You have to love those unbiased, hard-working media types.

Humanly impossible

YOUR "RICE finds no quick fix in Mideast" headline was right on target. The only one capable of doing that (maybe sooner than later) is God.

Spirit of the law

SO THE Jackson School District complied with the letter of the law. And the spirit?

New cause for ACLU

THE LAWSUIT challenging a new Missouri law requiring photo IDs for voting having been filed by the ACLU should tell most of us something, considering the ACLU's history of frivolous and political lawsuits. Perhaps smokers could convince the ACLU to take up their cause, now that our government has finally made them a second-class minority that is being discriminated against,

Hold on to freedom

LET'S THINK about all the privileges we've lost recently. We're limited on the number of pets we can own. We can't put a yard-sale sign up. We can't ride an ATV on our own property. Why can't we do these things? Because it bothers other people. How far are we going to take this? Should we ban everything that could possibly offend another person? Let's ban wearing perfume, talking on cell phones in public places and wearing revealing clothing. I can't stand the smell of coffee, so let's ban coffee in all public places. How would you feel if something that you enjoy doing, like drinking your favorite beverage or a hobby like jogging or reading, was banned because it bothers others? Think about this when talking about a smoking ban. Let's hold on to our freedom.

Different mix

THE HUMAN body must have water to survive. But too much water too fast can kill. Ditto for immigration. Too many too fast for too long will kill the assimilating melting pot that has served our nation so well.

Thank the police

PEOPLE NEED to stop complaining about police officers who are doing their jobs. I see at least 10 police officers a day doing their jobs and patrolling the streets of Cape Girardeau. When are people going to understand that the police are not going to catch all the illegal stuff that is going on? Give them a break. Instead of complaining, you should be thanking the police.

Positive thoughts

PEOPLE DO a lot of complaining in Speak Out. Try a positive mindset for a while and see what happens. Here are my comments: Thanks to the utility workers and others who must work outdoors in this hot weather. Thanks to the city for fixing almost all the potholes I have encountered. And a big thanks to the city for the free Wednesday special trash pickup. It was much appreciated.

Parking problem

IT IS absurd that people are allowed to park cars on the side of the street when the cars are taking up enough space so others can't get by. I had to get into oncoming traffic lanes numerous times today because of such instances. Our city needs to do something about this growing problem.

Democratic platform?

A RECENT caller claimed that Southern Republican voters only care about God, gays and guns. Really? And what does the Democratic Party care about? Please tell me and the Democratic Party leaders, because they sure don't have a clue.

Not protection

I WAS sitting at a stop light next to a police officer when a man ran through a red light. All the officer did was sit there. That is not protection. That is endangerment.

Need more deputies

IN REGARD to Proposition 1: A violent crime occurred in the county fairly close to the city limits over the weekend. Unfortunately, it was impossible to get a deputy to the scene for at least an hour and a half because there were only two deputies available to respond to calls. Considering the size of Cape Girardeau County, we need to be able to afford to have more deputies, especially on the weekends. Don't wait until it affects you. Support this one.

Quiet restaurants

NOISE IN waiting rooms doesn't bother me. It passes the time waiting for the doctor. But noise in chain restaurants and clothing stores gets to me. I know that the reason restaurants play music so loud is so people will eat quicker and the restaurants will have a higher turnover, but they have taken it so far that we don't frequent some restaurants as much. Add the noise of shouting to hear each other, and it is not relaxing. We have been choosing smaller places to go to instead of the big chains and enjoying the places that want you to stay, spend your money, have dessert and enjoy the food you paid for. If you like quiet, the nonchain restaurants are the key.

Sign on dog

SOMEONE WANTED to know what it takes to get a roaming dog off the street. That's simple. Put a yard-sale sign on the dog.

Sarcastic comment?

I CAN only hope that the comment I concerning teachers "doling out" grades was meant to be sarcastic. I certainly hope no intelligent person believes that.

Road easements

BE CAREFUL of what you ask for when it comes time to vote for paved roads in the county. You might think paved roads are for the better good and will ease everyone's woes concerning troublesome gravel dust. What you do not realize is that in order to pave the roads, the county commissioners will demand that every property owner hand over a 50-foot strip of their land as an easement. So far, this requirement has not been unilaterally imposed. Some roads were paved without the landowners' relinquishing an easement. On other roads not yet paved, the landowners have already been forced to move back their fences in anticipation of the paving. The commissioners have unfairly imposed their demands and have pitted neighbor against neighbor by an inaccurate portrayal of this issue. The behavior of the commissioners smacks of being a "good old boys" network.

Renter's complaint

I AM disappointed with landlords in this town. After moving out of an apartment that was much cleaner after I moved out than when I moved in, I was informed I would have to pay to have the carpets cleaned. This was not in my lease, nor were the carpets in bad condition. It is my understanding from reading the Missouri laws that tenants are not to be charged for normal wear and tear on the apartment. But it seems that tenants are being charged for this. Someone needs to get the landlords back on base with the laws.