Speak Out 9/15/09

Sinister connection?

LAURA Bush congratulated and endorsed President Obama on his recent speech to students. Does this mean that Laura Bush has converted to communism?

Trial balloon

SOUTHEAST Missourian readers who might be wondering why the newspaper gave over mega-space for a ho-hum harangue by an unknown governor of the Hoosier State need to know that this was what is known in politics as a trial balloon for one who will be a failed effort for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Trash containers

FOR those who are so concerned with how big the new trash cans might be if Cape Girardeau switches to a new garbage-collecting system: If you have two 35-gallon cans now and are able to store them how much space are you really losing by switching to a 65-gallon bin? Just a thought.

Special thanks

THANKS to all the people who work behind the scenes at our public schools. The food service, custodial and maintenance employees do not get the recognition or pay given to others at the schools but continue to do their best to make sure the students are provided for. Many thanks.

Getting weighed

IF you have 18,000-pound-or-more plates on your truck, you only get one license plate. This needs to be on the front of your truck so when you go onto the scales to weigh, the scale master can see your license plate. This is for heavy-duty pickups and larger trucks that lots of times have a trailer.

Loss of integrity

JOE Wilson's lack of respect for the office of the president is exactly what the GOP has been trying to cultivate. Months of bogus conspiracy theories about birth certificates, showing up with assault rifles to Obama town halls, comparisons to Hitler and, most recently, the outcry that Obama was going to indoctrinate schoolchildren with a socialist agenda have lowered the standards of decency to the point that an elected official yells insults at the president in front of the entire country. Congratulations to the GOP on having lost any integrity and relevance it had left, I hope it was worth it.

Civil manner

BARACK Obama is our president. Support what he proposes if you can, and express your opposition if you cannot. But please do so in a civil manner. Our future depends on it. Democracy is inherently confrontational. It never has, however, abided untruths, demogoguery, lies or slander. Please examine your position about our president and his agenda. Examine as well, the position of those radio talk-show hosts who posit opinions which cannot be challenged in the same time warp. There may not be a good guy or bad guy in this historical event.

Try kindness

PEOPLE move to the country for a reason. If they are racing up and down your road on dirt bikes or four-wheelers and you don't like it, ask them to slow down as you offer them a Coke. Who knows, you might make a new friend. I know almost all of the children around and near County Road 651, and not one of them is a bad kid. If that doesn't work, have a nice conversation with their parents. Once again, that could be a good thing. If that doesn't work, move to town, pay city taxes and your problem is solved.

Full picture

BACK in the day, when I was younger and the world was brighter, I would listen to the news reported by Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley or Chet Huntley. I believe they knew the truth and reported it honestly. In today's world, however, there is no newscaster or television network that seems to be unbiased. To get a somewhat full picture, one has to listen to Fox News for a conservative viewpoint then switch to CNN or MSN or MSNBC or another television station to get a liberal view. Even then it is hard to get the whole story. It is best to believe that the whole picture isn't as dark as it seems and America is a great place to live.

Speaking to children

BOTH George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan made televised speeches to schoolchildren. Both times the Democrats protested vigorously that the Republican presidents were brainwashing their children.

Extra push

I would like to thank Republican Congressman Joe Wilson for his shocking "You lie!" scream at the president during his address to Congress. President Obama has brought a much-needed return of civility to the White House. Wilson's town hall-type eruption may be just what the doctor ordered in creating the momentum necessary bring about health care reform.