Speak Out 8/6/07

No drug testing

WHY WOULD I object to my child being tested for drugs? Because I raised my child to believe he lived in America, not the 1980s Soviet Union.

Be considerate

TO ALL the people who are upset about the comment to not come into a restaurant 30 minutes before it closes: This is called respect for the workers who have provided service all day and have a family at home. Restaurants post their closing times for a reason. The same with shopping centers. When it's time to close they announce 15 minutes before doors are locked, and then its time to close. Doctors offices will not take a patient 30 minutes before closing. So stop complaining and give yourself enough time to eat and get out so these hard-working people can go home to their families.

Late hours

TO THE individuals who are complaining about people coming into a restaurant right before it closes: That is the reality of your job. There are workers in all types of professions who face customers coming in just as they are ready to get off work, and they accept it because they know it's their job. If hours are posted for a certain time, then that should be honored. If you don't feel like people should be coming in a half-hour or 15 minutes before close, maybe you should be employed elsewhere where the hours are more suitable to your needs.

Mail is late again

WHAT HAPPENED to the earlier mail delivery? We had it exactly four days last week in my neighborhood. Now it's later than it ever was. Is this our new postmaster's idea of early?

Lightweight nabob

LIGHTWEIGHT journalistic nabob Jonah Goldberg recently suggested the revival of a political literacy test as a qualification for voting. Of course, Goldberg is correct in his estimation that far too many Americans are uninformed about the political and governmental scene. However, when the GOP and its neocon string-pullers were riding high, they consistently invoked the wisdom of the American people. Now that they and their policies are on the verge of the rejection by the American people, they surmise, I suppose, that the populace has suddenly turned dumb. And, gullible old me -- for a while I thought Goldberg had some semblance of straight shooting.

Hiring decisions

THIS IS in response to some of the recent comments that Jackson schools are passing up qualified job candidates in favor of people who are related to someone or some other superficial reason. Do you have extensive formal education, not to mention years of practical experience, in hiring teachers and other school staff members? The folks who make these decisions every day do. I find it offensive that people who are passed over for jobs in a school system feel they can publicly lash out and make accusations against that school district. I work in the corporate world, and when people are passed over for promotions or someone else is hired, it comes down to one thing: accountability. Be accountable for your career and your life. If you weren't hired, take an honest look at yourself and ask why. Rather than trying to put a black mark on the place that didn't hire you, ask for some feedback and figure out where you can improve. The people who didn't offer you a job are extremely hard-working and intelligent people. Use them as a resource as you plan your career rather than blaming them for hiring a better candidate. Above all, blaming someone else for something that is up to you to manage is unprofessional.

Probation, parole

KUDOS TO Missouri for being named as the leader in the nation for having less prison population growth than other states. How is it that the probation and parole officers are some of the lowest paid in the nation?

It's civil war

THE CALLER from Iraq is correct in informing us that there is a substantial al-Qaida presence in Iraq. That is a direct result of our invasion. However, the caller is incorrect in saying it's not a civil war. It is. It's Shiite versus Sunni with al-Qaida stirring the pot.

Do what you can

I HAD an opportunity to meet the homeless woman, and it was an opportunity to do something. I offered a place to live. I bought her lunch. I talked to her. We need to do what we can do for each other. Everything starts with one person. Do what you can to help.

Hurry up

WHILE I don't condone customers coming in when a restaurant is about to close, if they do they should eat promptly and not dilly-dally.

Narrow viewpoint

THE PROBLEM about asking a soldier about the war in Iraq is that he sees one section of the war. We have soldiers from the top of Iraq to the bottom. One person's opinion doesn't matter so much.

Loose dogs

A GOOD neighbor won't turn a dog loose to run all over the area and mess in our yards. Our good neighbors have their dogs in their fenced yards. If you don't have a fenced yard, keep your dog chained or in a pen. Please, keep your dog on your own property and off of mine. My children shouldn't have to keep cleaning the dog poo off of their shoes.

More fun places

KIDS ARE the future. How about something for them to do around here? Cape Girardeau is run by and for the older generation. Please consider more fun places.