Speak Out 8/7/04

Son's bike is back

I WOULD like to thank the Scott County officer who helped get back my son's bike, which was stolen about two months ago in Scott City. Thank you for keeping your word and doing your best. You made my son's day a lot brighter.

Downtown relief

I LOVE downtown Cape Girardeau. Downtown merchants spend a lot of their own money and have done a lot to make it better. It is really hard to believe that there are no bathroom facilities for downtown shoppers. I think the city should provide a nice bathroom facility and some drinking fountains. Please provide some relief in downtown Cape.

Tell them about sex

ONE OF the reasons our public schools are addressing sex education is because parents aren't. They assume their kids will get all the information they need from the streets and TV. They're getting information all right, but is it the correct information? Teaching a child about the reproductive system, the hazards of AIDS, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and how to make choices empowers them with correct information they need to make intelligent decisions about their own bodies. We didn't think twice about teaching proper nutrition and staying away from cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, but when it comes to sex, it's a taboo subject. Parents, talk to your kids about sex and start early. You may save their lives.

Talking about sin

PEOPLE HAVE been saying that churches should stay out of politics. It's not politics they're talking about at churches. It's sin, and they have a perfect right to talk about that.

Traffic problems

JACKSON DOES have traffic problems, and it will be worse when full construction starts on Highway 34-72. But after all the construction is done, will it be better? Yes, somewhat. When drivers continue to get in the left lane and drive side by side with the vehicle in the right lane, not allowing people to pass, traffic problems will be the same. What happened to staying in the right lane except when passing? Get over and let the other driver move on. There are a lot of people going through Jackson using cell phones and using the left lane. They're in their own little world and an accident waiting to happen. So pay attention. When a vehicle comes up behind you in the left lane, you should get over.

Song is still strong

JUST A word to the thieves who broke into Cowboy Church and stole all our music. You did not steal our songs. They belong to Jesus.

Minister's duty

A MINISTER is a shepherd and will be held to a much stricter judgment than the rest of us because he is the teacher. If one of his sheep is going astray, he needs to tell them. If a person believes in things like gay marriages, abortion and killing old people, the minister has a duty. You can't attack a minister because he's doing the will of God. The way to hell is wide and well-traveled, but rocky is the way and narrow is the way to heaven.

Dealing with the board

I AGREE we should contact school board members about the tax levy. You can e-mail them by going to the district's Web page. In the dealings I and other parents have had with board members in the last six or so months over neglecting to do what's best for the kids, we're ignored. They act like all they expect from us is our tax dollars. Other than that, they don't want to hear from us. They want to have special meetings and act like they're listening. I was at one of those meetings where a parent said, "This is the fourth one of these meetings I've been invited to, yet nothing's changed. You're not listening to us." The bottom line is we need new leadership.

Trail is for bikers

I DON'T understand why the city spent all that money building a trail through Arena Park for people to walk and ride their bicycles. I saw two people riding their bicycles on the street. They took up the whole right side. They weren't any hurry to get out of the way. They finally got out of the way of a truck. Why can't people use the trail?