Speak Out 9/1/05

Thanks for the help

I'D LIKE to say thank you again to my helper after I fell Friday in Jackson. I do so appreciate that you came to my rescue so quickly and so gently. May God richly bless you.

Respectful coverage

THANK YOU for what I see is a respectful way that the paper has handled Sgt. Robert G. Davis' death and funeral. You are to be commended for the tribute you have given to a fallen hero.

Can't afford to play

MY KIDS can't play sports because we can't afford the sign-up fee and uniforms. I guess my kids and others without money will have to make do with the playgrounds.

Rely on faith

I READ the Speak Out comment that said that creation is science and evolution is science fiction. Irrational statements like this do not further our cause as Christians. They reinforce negative stereotypes. No matter how strongly you believe in creation, it is not science. How could God ask us to have faith if creation is science?

No need for math

MY MAJOR is secondary education with an emphasis on English. Despite the fact that most English majors are horrible at math, I'm required to take upper-level math classes. I seriously doubt that in my adult life I will be required to know how to figure out if X is greater than or equal to three times X plus negative four. Unless, of course, that's something Shakespeare touched on.

Not showing dignity

MANY A family has lost soldiers, and they've done it with great dignity. Cindy Sheehan is not doing it with dignity. It's disgraceful how she parked herself outside the Bush residence. There are three people I don't really care for: Pat Robertson, Cindy Sheehan and Jesse Jackson.

Help themselves

I'M CALLING about the panhandlers at various intersections in Cape Girardeau. I don't feel sorry for them, but I am sorry for the poor dogs out there in the sweltering heat. That is animal abuse. I always want to hand the panhandlers a copy of the Southeast Missourian help-wanted section to seek out the many jobs available. The Lord helps those who helps themselves.

Positive pastime

THINGS HAVE changed since you were a kid. There are no empty lots. Every inch of land is owned by someone, even empty lots. If children find a place to do positive things, they're run off for fear of someone getting hurt, leaving the property owners open to lawsuits. Why is it so many people complain about money spent on our youths? They are the future of our country. Give them a break. I think it's great that they found a positive pastime. We all need to support them and not keep pushing them away. There is one part of our society that will take our youths with open arms: drug dealers. And I guarantee that cost will not just be tax dollars.

Panhandling swindle

IT'S TIME to get the panhandlers off the streets of Cape Girardeau. Their signs say they're hungry, but they won't take food if you offer it to them. They say they want money. They're taking money under false pretenses. You know they don't report it to the IRS.

Work-zone speeding

A RECENT comment said traffic fatalities are up due to Missouri Department of Transportation maintenance crews out fixing the roads. If the work zones are the culprit, it is due to the unwillingness of motorists to slow down, not just the presence of work zones.

Watching the hurricane

LESS THAN a month ago I visited New Orleans. I stayed in the Hyatt and attended a convention in the Superdome. Now I watch as the entire city, including those two buildings, are torn apart by Hurricane Katrina. My heart goes out to those families and to the city.

Too much debt

THAT WAS an interesting article Aug. 28: "Experts warn that heavy debt threatens American economy." Would somebody please tell that to our president? Sources in the article put quite a bit of the blame on the U.S. government for high debt among retirees, veterans and the poor. Dick Cheney said Ronald Reagan proved the deficit didn't make any difference. But you may want to argue the deficit is not the same thing we're talking about, but it's part of it.

Can't afford fuel

I AM a registered nurse in a nursing home. I have nurse's aides working for 25 cents an hour above minimum wage. This money is taxed. They have to pay baby sitters and buy food, clothing, school supplies and health insurance. With gasoline over $2.50 a gallon, they can't drive to the Bootheel or up to St. Louis to visit their extended families. Some drive from Zalma, Marble Hill and other small communities. Most have old cars that guzzle gas. They can't afford to trade. Something needs to be done to lower these gas prices. When do the cartels say, "My pockets are full"? As long as we allow this to go on, it will continue. We need to carpool and use less gas.

Labor heroes

WE'RE ABOUT to celebrate Labor Day. On Memorial Day, we honor our American servicemen and women who gave their lives. That's wonderful. I also think we ought to pay honor to our labor unions and the leaders who founded the labor unions. Labor unions brought in eight hours a day instead of 10 hours a day. They brought in health insurance for employees. They also brought in equal rights and civil rights in the labor movement. We wouldn't have the benefits, union or not, and we're prospering thanks to the labor unions. I'm proud to be a lifelong union member. John L. Lewis, George Meany, Samuel Comfort and Phil Murray are heroes too.

Long-hair fashions

AM I the only one who disagrees with the comment about long hair? As a male with long hair who works in the food preparation business, I am insulted. I always buy scrunchies to put my hair in, as well as some for the other long-haired men on my kitchen crew. I am tired of walking down the street and being called "hippie" or "beatnik." Get with the times. Long-haired men are in.

Eating too fast

IT IS funny that we are hearing about how awful it is that our children get only 20 minutes for lunch. A few years ago my child was eating lunch at 10:35 a.m. and only had 20 minutes. It affected my child, because at home he still eats that way. No matter what meal or where we eat, within 10 minutes he is done eating. Over the summer I retrain him for good eating, but once school starts it is back to speed eating. And we wonder why so many children are having problems with their stomaches and reflux.