Speak Out 9/17/05

Capture bin Laden

FOUR YEARS after the deadliest act committed on our shores, I find it terrible that we've not been able to find Osama bin Laden. We got Saddam Hussein and his sons, but we cannot get bin Laden. I can't understand why. We must devote our resources to capturing him. As much as I hate to say it, I think the reason we haven't caught him is because of the Saudi ties that bin Laden has. If that's the case, that's so sad for our country and for the people who lost their lives that day.

Thanks for column

I WANT to thank you for having the "He said/she said" column by Callie and Bob Miller. I never miss it, and it's so much fun. They're a super couple.

City for the wealthy

CAPE GIRARDEAU has become a city of the rich. The wealthy side of town has new sidewalks. The SEMO District Fair costs $4 per person to get in, keeping out those that can't afford it. The so-called free public schools charge you for certain activities, keeping the poor from participating in athletics, music or art classes. The city has no compassion for the poor.

Creeps will benefit too

IT'S A shame to leave your home to get away from impending disaster and then to have your house looted. Martial law should have been proclaimed. Looters should be shot on sight. These creeps will get the same benefits as decent citizens from the government and donations.

Showing compassion

THANK YOU, Sgt. Steve DeClue, for showing compassion to living creatures who are the real victims of Katrina. These animals were not given an opportunity to go elsewhere when the hurricane hit. Our government needs to show them compassion as well and allow the Guard to evacuate them to shelters.

A mess again

ABOUT A year ago on South Kingshighway on the east side by Southern Expressway and further south, crews were cleaning up, cutting down brush and making the area look attractive. Now I notice it's all grown back, and it's an awful looking wetland. Why?

Feds are responsible

IF YOU can't hold the federal government responsible for the disaster in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast, who is responsible? It was the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that inspected the levees. The Corps of Engineers is under the federal government. Warnings were given to the Washington bureaucrats that those levees could break. I think the federal government is responsible.

City business

I FEEL that at least four of the city council members should be in attendance to conduct city business. What bother even running for the city council if at any given time business can be conducted when four out of seven aren't there? At least four should always be there.

Primary agenda

ALTHOUGH I strongly disagree with his views, I applaud Bernie Dirnberger for being honest. Probably unwittingly he exposed the primary agenda of this so-called coalition for peace. These people are against our free-enterprise system. There's nothing wrong with that view, but coalition members need to be honest like Dirnberger and not hide behind these various left-wing movements. They need to call it like it is: the coalition for socialism. They would get more respect.

Fair behavior

AS AN adult I understand that dealing with youths nowadays is a challenge. But if you're going to be part of the SEMO District Fair, you should learn to do so in a proper manner. This week we entered two exhibits as a family. Both times my older children were scolded by fair workers for being in there. They were assisting our youngest child and were not doing anything wrong. They were trying to be helpful. I think it was rude, and it upset our children. Not all kids are out to be disruptive and rude.

Blame game

I AM appalled at the wave of lawsuits that are going to come out of Hurricane Katrina. Instead of looking at what needs to be done and how we can be better prepared if something like this ever happens in the future, the news media and politicians are trying to put people in jail. People used their best judgment and did their best. Health-care professionals and rescue workers stayed to help. If the hospitals are going to be sued, we are telling the world there is no place for humanity in the U.S. judicial system. You did not hear any of this nonsense after the tsunami. In this country, you never die of natural causes or from a natural disaster. It is always somebody else's fault. Somebody has to be held accountable. The real heroes are people who are working to help people.

Turning advice

AT FOUR-WAY stops in Jackson, people continue to upset the natural order of the universe by ignoring traffic laws in a town that desperately needs traffic to move smoothly. If you're facing a vehicle with a left-turn signal, go through the intersection and let them turn after you pass. Trying to wave them by in front of you slows everyone down and increases the chances of an accident. Stop asking people to break the law by asking them to turn in front of you.

Sending help

THE YOUNG people volunteering for the hurricane-relief effort at the tractor-trailer parked in Jackson have spent more than a week in the hot sun trying to get the truck filled so it can be sent to the Scott, La., Red Cross for all the many shelters there that need the supplies. The volunteers get so discouraged when people drive by without a glance their way. The many comments I hear is that if it were us, we would want another state's help. The truck isn't even halfway filled. I know many trucks have already been filled and sent out to other shelters, but we have been in touch with officials at the Red Cross in Scott, La., and they are waiting for this supply to be delivered. The need still goes on.

It's a way of life

I THINK we need a criminal-justice lesson. Virtually everyone who is prosecuted for a crime pleads guilty. They do this for various reasons, including fear of financial costs of a trial, fear of an unreasonable penalty if found guilty in a trial and fear of public scrutiny during a trial. People plead guilty because it is in their best interest, because the prosecutor and defense attorney worked out a deal beforehand. Not everyone who pleads guilty is guilty. Less than 10 percent of people prosecuted get their fair trial.

Beer competition

I'M A bar owner in Cape Girardeau and pay city, county and state taxes. I attend college football games for business. I don't think it's fair for the university and a local distributing company to be giving away beer to students. I don't think Southeast Missouri State University should be in the beer business and in competition with people who support them.