Speak Out 8/18/05

Handing out tickets

THANK YOU to the person who spoke up about the police in Jackson enforcing the laws. The music and the car and truck exhausts get louder all the time. Highland Street is a raceway day and night. Most motorists do not stop at the stop sign at Gerald Street. We have lots of policemen. I see them. But I don't see them giving out tickets. Three cheers for Oran's police chief. If Oran doesn't like you, come to Jackson.

Great guitarist

THANK YOU for bringing Kraig Kenning to Cape! Girardeau. He was awesome. He is a great guitarist. His concert was an hour of ecstasy.

Baseball letdown

I PROFUSELY apologize for praising the Southeast Missourian for publishing the progressive columns of Gene Lyons. Please forgive me. I promise you that I had no idea Lyons was a fan of the Cubs and Red Sox.

Pedestrian caution

THIS IS a note to all pedestrians: Please look both ways before entering a street. Walking does not give you the upper hand at an intersection. Keep in mind that everyone, walking or driving or biking, owns just as much of the roads as you do.

Affordable job hunting

I CERTAINLY hope my application for a second mortgage on my home is approved. With the money I plan to buy some gasoline so I can go look for a job. Everything seems to be getting better and better with each passing day.

Insensitive example

I HAVE read the Southeast Missourian for years and generally agree with what is published. However, I take exception to an article published Aug. 14 regarding cliff diving and the danger involved. Overall, I was impressed with the article., which used Mary Yarbrough as an example for others to describe the danger of cliff diving. But as a friend of Mary Yarbrough, I found it shocking that the reporter would feel the need to report that drinking was involved in her accident. Her family and friends would prefer to remember her as a fun, outgoing, adventurous woman who always had a smile on her face. I see the point the reporter was trying to make -- drinking and boating, floating and cliff diving don't mix -- and I fully agree with it. However, I think it was particularly insensitive to use her as a direct example.

Financial choice

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI State University has changed its name many times over the years. It has not always been called "Southeast" or "SEMO." To better reflect its statewide mission, Northeast Missouri State University changed its name to Truman State University. In the same vein, Southwest Missouri State University has become Missouri State University, shedding its double-directional designation to enhance its image and better appeal to the entire state and region. If the double-directional name is looked down upon by other NCAA Division I schools, and if there are possible negative economic impacts with regard to recruitment, fund raising, and future state appropriations, it only makes sense to change the name of this university. It would improve the image of SEMO, but more importantly it makes good financial sense.

Reasoning skills

GASOLINE PRICES will soon cause hardship. According to a recent article, minorities worry about gas prices. Does the color of your skin or the nationality printed in your passport affect the amount of worrying you do about gas prices? Of course not. This is another journalist who believes minorities are poor and worry about gas prices. With reasoning skills like this, the journalist ought to run for office.

Accountability issue

THE MAN who was convicted of killing the cat should spend a lot of time in jail. He should be held accountable for his terrible actions. When does the cruelty stop?

Worse than you think

THE CALLER concerned about the Kansas requirement that intelligent design be taught in public school science classes should read "What's the Matter With Kansas." Be prepared, though. The situation there is much worse than you think.

Moment to cherish

THANKS TO the cute couple who helped me at Schnucks last Thursday. You know who you are, and you know what you did. It will be a moment that I will cherish for ever. Thank you for making me feel so important.

Unselfish caring

I DON'T consider Eli Fishman of Cape Shoe Co. as part of a dying breed. He is a figure unique to history. He cared about his workers for the sake of caring. Other employers have cared or do care for their workers only because it is in their selfish best interest.

They don't mix

AS MUCH as political propagandists might wish otherwise, science is science and religion is religion, and never the twain shall meet.

Consenting adults

I AM dismayed by efforts to ban nudity in clubs. The only rationale for this I can see is religious or an effort to control morality. Our forefathers saw to it that the state and religion were separate Just because some lawmakers don't believe individuals should participate in this lifestyle does not constitute the right to legislate against it. People need to make a living. Many of these girls make a reasonable living in this environment. If lawmakers close down a legitimate job because it's personally offensive, they are doing society a disservice. This trade is between consenting adults. Lifestyles are a choice, and I don't have the right to interfere.

We need water park

THE ECONOMIC impact a water park would have on the surrounding area would be phenomenal. The Poplar Bluff and Farmington areas combined don't compare to the Cape Girardeau area. A water park would provide employment opportunities and an economic boom to local businesses. Bottom line We need a water park.

Bad science, bad religion

PROFESSOR RUSSELL D. Renka is correct in saying so-called intelligent design is a political controversy, not a scientific one. The fundamentalist movement pushing this snake oil has to do with power and politics, not faith and spirituality. Crusaders like the Limbaughs seek to re-combine religion, science and politics into the same foul witches brew that brought so much persecution and mayhem before our Forefathers wrote the Constitution. They capitalize on the inherent spiritual goodness of Americans by setting real science and history up as an anti-religious conspiracy. Unfortunately, the president has also chosen to peddle snake oil rather than promote science and reason. Creating a rift between men of science and men of faith to promote selfish fundamentalist political agendas is bad science -- and bad religion.

Intelligent illness

I HAVE been reading about intelligent design. If it is to be taught in our schools, my children will get the flu that week or month. There is no way I am going to have my children learning this sort of religious mess in school when schools barely have time to teach them how to read, write and do math. That is what church is for. We have enough churches in this town. Let them do the teaching of intelligent design and leave my kids and the rest of us who want our children to be taught real science out of their religious conspiracies. Religion has never favored logic. Let's not try to mask it as science too.

Heading south

SCOTT COUNTY Health Department moved from Benton to Sikeston. Now Benton's library may be moved to Miner. North Scott County will soon have to go to Sikeston to get a cup of coffee.