Speak Out 9/10/07

Traffic laws

I WAS pleased to read in the Missourian that Jackson police are going to begin ticketing for the improper use of the center turn lane. I hope Cape Girardeau follows suit. Both towns should also start enforcing another law that's been on the books for ages, the keep-right-except-when-passing law.

Learned his lesson

WHEN I balance my checkbook and make a mistake, that's an error. When someone hits my car in a car accident or I hit another car, that's a mistake. Some people's mistakes in this life are bigger than others. At first Michael Vick might have thought the rules weren't made for him, but I think he's gotten a wake-up call that the rules are made for him, too. I think Vick has learned a lesson and that animals are valuable to our society and that the rules are for everybody. Because you're a pro football player doesn't make you above the rules. If you want to gamble and bet, maybe dog fighting is not the best thing to be betting on. With that said, I think he should be left alone to live his life.

Let others brag

I'M 78 years old. When I was about 10, I was doing a little bit of bragging on myself, and my dad told me something I've always remembered. He said, "If you do something well enough and you're good enough, other people will do your bragging for you." I think that could apply to a lot of what's going on today.

The real radical

REGARDING THE op-ed piece "Beware the watershed group" by William Jud, who believes only a radical Utopian busybody could expect to live life without being poisoned by lead. I'd like to point out that Jud called members of the Big River Watershed Group at least 10 different derogatory names, making him sound like the real radical.

Center-lane safety

I AM so excited that the Jackson police are going to enforce the center turn lane law. It's pretty frightening for a driver when somebody comes barreling into the center lane and you don't know what he's doing. Thanks to the police for addressing this issue.

Time off for the parade

THIS IS a plea to the teachers of Cape Girardeau and the county. Don't assign homework Monday. Let the children be free to go the SEMO District Fair parade.

Renaissance in progress

I HAVE read the article about the problems in downtown Cape Girardeau. The mayor says it's part of the "renaissance" going on down there. Does the mayor know how long this "renaissance" will last? Does he know what can be done about it right now? I shall spend my shopping and eating out at the malls and Wal-Mart until the "renaissance" is completed.

Nothing positive

I DON'T know why when I picked up the Southeast Missourian that I expected to see a fair and unbiased article about the Greek recruitment that is going on right now. Again, I was disappointed. The article was completely about hazing. It was not about anything good or positive about what the Greeks do on this campus.

Enforce all laws

AS A Jackson resident it upsets me to find my police department selectively decides what rules to enforce. The laws are all supposed to be enforced. The police have decided to enforce the law about center turn lanes. The next three I hope they'll start enforcing, starting with themselves, are the speed-limit laws, that you get in the right-hand lane of two lanes unless you're passing and that you go the speed limit and get moving with the traffic.