Speak Out

Support for the arts

THIS IS in response to the person who voiced concern about wasted money on legal fees in pursuit of the River Campus. There are many people in Cape Girardeau who support the River Campus and look forward to a school of performing and visual arts and wish the university and city would just get on with it.

Should have known

IS THE public really supposed to believe that those who formulated and worked for the passage of the last school bond issue in Cape Girardeau did not know at the time that an additional tax would be needed to fund the school being built on the grand scale being proposed?

Fighting for children

I JUST want to thank the Southeast Missourian for printing that guest column from Tammy Gwaltney, the advocate for children who have been sexually abused. We have to look out for these children and fight for them like we are fighting for other causes. I think this cause for our children needs to be stepped up.

Lack of exercise

PEOPLE ARE talking about the lawsuits against fast-food restaurants because people are getting obese. It isn't the restaurants' fault, but the people who eat it. They are too lazy to cook for themselves or to exercise.

Stop the pity party

I HAD to get out my finger violin after reading the article about the firefighters who had to leave the dinner table and come back to a cold meal. What if you were a worker at a hospital where many nights where you don't eat at all? Stop the pity party. Your jobs aren't any more important than mine.

Cut them off

WITH RUSSIA deciding to back Iraq with up to $40 billion, I feel the United States should cut off any aid we have promised to give to Russia, no questions asked. If they are going to cozy up to Saddam Hussein, then we need to cut them off.

Thanks for changing tire

I HAD a flat tire in the rain recently, and a kind truck driver from Swift trucking company politely changed my tire for me. I just wanted to thank him for taking time out of his busy day to help me.

Plenty of crack

IT DOESN'T surprise me that there was a drive-by shooting here. There are more drugs here than Cape wants to admit. And the police don't want to do anything about it. There is more crack in this town than you would believe. You can pretty much go anywhere and get some. They sell it on almost every street in South Cape.

Outrage over column

WORDS CANNOT express my outrage over conservative Cal Thomas' column admitting that the Republicans plan to sacrifice the lives of Americans merely to gain an advantage in the upcoming elections. I know you will find this as hard to believe as I did, but all you have to do is read his column.

Unfair reporting

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian has once again demonstrated its incredible bias with its headline regarding the straw poll on Jean Carnahan and Jim Talent's straw poll. Of course Talent is ahead among rural voters, the primary audience at the State Fair, but Carnahan is a head by 11 points in popularity polls overall. This was unfair, conservative reporting on the part of the Southeast Missourian once again.

No DDT, more mosquitoes

I WOULD like to make a comment about the West Nile virus. If you are looking at the cause of all these problems, you should look at all those environmentalists. Back in the 1970s they stopped the use of DDT. So can I sue these people for causing a possible health risk?

Fines for trash

IF THE city wants to raise money, it needs to fine those who litter and stick to it. I have recently traveled all the states between here and Canada and have not seen as much trash on the whole trip as we have here in Cape Girardeau County.

I'VE HEARD that in the next few years China will have more long-range missiles pointed at us. They have stage plays that center on the taking over of America and ending our way of life. Why do we keep Cuba shut out for its policies and continue to treat China as a democracy? When our government falls, as all governments eventually do, I feel it will be at the hands of China.

Dream on

WOULDN'T IT be nice if Speak Out were filled with more positive input rather than all this complaining and grumbling that we read every day? Look around you, people. Count your blessings and let's hear about it.

Disrespectful story

IN MY opinion, the article you published about Billy Jones has got to be the most disrespectful thing a person could do to a deceased person and especially to grieving family and friends. Whatever was in his past is irrelevant to his dying. I don't even know the man, and I was insulted when I read the article. The things you mentioned happened six years ago. How do you know he hadn't changed and learned from his mistakes?

Nonsense graffiti

THESE YOUTHS who are spray painting graffiti need to understand they can't be damaging automobiles and homes of private individuals with whatever nonsense that's in their head at the time.

Equal protection

IN RESPONSE to "Florida case highlights voucher movement": I don't think the Blaine amendment could stand the scrutiny of judicial review. The state does not invoke Blaine when it comes to tax-deductible contributions to religious groups, does it? It would be extremely arbitrary of the court to abide by the letter of the state constitution in one instance and not the other. Where's the equal-protection clause?

Look to the future

THE BILLY Jones killing will have a domino effect on the lives he touched. He fathered seven children over the span of his short life. Those children will have to face life without their father. The mothers of those children will now be faced with having to supplement their income without their father. The killing of Billy Jones will affect taxpayers, for we will have to pay for the welfare of those children. We should not focus our eyes on reparations for slavery or hate for one another, but we should focus our eyes on black-on-black killing, gangs and scum that loot our communities. We need to put the focus more on how we can change the future, not the past.

Ridiculous statements

THE RECENT comment "Repaying welfare" is just another amazing example of the level of racism in this part of the country. Why does the Missourian even entertain these ideas by printing such ridiculous statements?

Our drug culture

YOUR RECENT front-page articles about a man murdered while sitting in his car have given us a view into a drug culture in Cape Girar-deau that few of us ever see. This is a culture that a lot of us don't understand. It's messing up our city. What's going to happen here? How can we stop this and get people back into productive lives?

No to reparations

I DO not believe in reparations for blacks. I also disagree with the caller who said all blacks get welfare and should pay back the government. The past is the past. You don't need to give money for what's been done. I just think it's wrong of people to try to get more and more and more. There has to be a point where we say no. I think reparations is where we say no.

Don't talk down to us

I'D LIKE to say something to the young people, the ones that are in their 20s and 30s, who work in business offices and doctors' offices: Please don't talk down to people in their 60s and 70s and 80s because they're probably smarter than you are.

School luxuries

LET ME see if I understand this. The Cape Girardeau School District was considering a 6-cent levy increase because it's run out of money, but it has a cappuccino machine in the library for the students. What else do they have that's a luxury? How many of us workers have a cappuccino machine at work? All I've heard all summer is about how many luxuries the new high school has. Mike Cowan, the principal, and Mark Bowles, the superintendent, have a lot to answer to this community for such things as this.

Reparations for Indians

THIS IS in regard to the blacks who want reparations for having been slaves. If they're going to expect some kind of monetary compensation from the United States, then they also need to get it from Africa as well. These slaves were sold into slavery by their countrymen. I'm three-quarters Indian. What's been given to me? Our land was taken. The Trail of Tears is a testament to the thousands of people who died. Have reparations been made to the American Indians? No. In fact, they're still treated like second-class citizens. It seems we only hear from the blacks. Thank you, news media, for giving them an outlet. You certainly don't give one to the Indians.

Wasting our money

FIRST, THE prescription drug bill that seniors are looking for passed the House of Representatives controlled by Republicans and is waiting for the Senate to bring it to the floor, controlled by Democrats. Second, lottery funds do not go to education. The legislature designated all those funds for general revenue. Pay attention. It's all about getting their hands on our money and wasting it. I wouldn't mind the taxes so much if most of it wasn't being wasted and going places where it wasn't needed.

Parking at West Lane

THE JACKSON School District needs to make a parking lot out at West Lane Elementary School so the parents have a place to park since we can't park on Oak Street. There is a huge green area between the school and Broadridge that would be ideal area.

Whites on welfare

The comment regarding reparations for slavery included the suggestion that African Americans "should repay the government for drawing welfare when they could have worked." That statement is not only offensive and overtly racist, it is based on misinformation. Whites always outnumbered blacks on welfare. It is unbelievable that the Southeast Missourian would print such vile, racist material.

Drive the speed limit

In response to the person who said slower drivers need to stay in the right lane when they are not in a hurry: That person must be an aggressive driver, because the posted speed limit is what everyone should drive. No one should be disgusted with slow drivers.