Speak Out 8/4/05

Enemy within

THE NEW enemy to the African-American community is no longer the white racist but the young black thugs who prey on their neighbors. It is not the KKK night riders but the low-riders who peddle drugs and violence. They find safe harbor under the claim of racism when they are exposed like the cockroaches they are. I wish the best for south Cape Girardeau, but the only salvation you will have is when you refuse to harbor those guilty of misdeeds and start holding them responsible for what they have done to your community.

Military funding

ONE THING'S for sure, the middle class and the poor can't pay taxes. So I hope somebody can support our military.

For the ban

I ABSOLUTELY agree with the caller about banning the cell phones. The other day I was almost rear-ended by a Cape Girardeau police car while the officer was talking on a cell phone.

Breathing problem

I AM disabled and agree the law regarding handicapped-parking permits needs to be changed. My problem is my lungs, not my legs. Sometimes I can walk through a store without using than electric wheelchair if I don't have to walk across a parking lot to get to the store. I also think it would help if the state would only give one hanging sticker instead of two to people who have a handicapped plate.

Make a choice

NOW THAT Bill Frist has come out for federally funded stem-cell research, I think it's time for some of you to choose. Which do you prefer: the opinion of a noted, dedicated surgeon, or to follow the lead of Tom Delay, a pest-control operator?

Unaffordable pork

I HAVE just read the article on the $10.8 million federal funding for the East Main Street interchange, when the total cost of the interchange is only $5.8 million. Accompanying the article are the smiling faces of the six major politicians responsible for the interchange and the $10.8 million fed funding. I see this as nothing but a political scam and see no reason for anyone to be proud of it. The national debt just increased $10.8 million for all of us to pay off. The old excuse, "If we don't take it, someone else will," doesn't make it right. We cannot afford all this pork barrel just so a few politicians can get re-elected.

Getting records

I CAN remember a fellow who got his birth certificate, and his name was listed as Baby Schrader. He went on to fight in the South Pacific. When I got my own birth certificate, it had the wrong name. Records have not always been kept at all, and some are not accurate.

Using his brain

GOOD FOR you, Sen. Bill Frist. Finally, someone is thinking with his own brain. This is not a black-and-white issue. Nothing is when it comes to medicine. With control and strict guidelines, stem-cell research could save thousands of lives. Frist is a medical doctor. I hope his experience and knowledge will move America forward instead of bickering about party lines, judges and foreign governments.