Speak Out 9/20/05

In his steps

I AM not condoning panhandling, but I object to the reasoning in a recent Speak Out comment. Jesus did not help everyone in the course of his ministry as far as providing for their physical needs, He recognized and acknowledged there would always be poor among us. But Jesus did not base his actions on his feelings, much less his feelings about whether or not someone deserved or earned his help. Everything Jesus did was in obedience to the Father. If we are to follow his steps, then let's practice the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule and pray the Lord's Prayer for those in poverty and those left to get back on their feet regardless of the cause. But for the grace of God, there go I.

Disgraceful pointing

THE SAME day the Southeast Missourian publishes an editorial encouraging holding off on a Katrina commission and ending the finger pointing, the onetime hapless and failed director of FEMA starts pointing fingers. How disgraceful and sad.

Study causes obesity?

THE GROWING obesity problem among the young can be traced in part to the reduction in recess because of the schools wrongly perceived need to sacrifice much needed physical activity on the altar of MAP preparation.

A reason to give

I GREATLY appreciate having the Red Cross on the Southeast Missouri State University campus doing blood drives and asking for donations for the hurricane victims. It takes a kind heart to be giving and a healthy one to donate, so get out there and donate blood or merely drop a dollar in the bucket. Good comes to those who give good.

Smooth ride

I'D LIKE to commend the Missouri Department of Transportation for the superior work on I-55 north of Fruitland. The smooth ride is greatly appreciated.

Take responsibility

EVERYONE LIVES in areas that are subject to acts of God: hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes. However, with hurricanes we are granted advance warning to prepare and evacuate. The local authorities and most of the citizens of New Orleans had the means to evacuate themselves. Due to their failure to accept responsibility, the finger pointing begins. Once again, hard-working self-responsible citizens will be expected to foot the tax bill to bail out those who are not willing to help themselves. The majority of those crying foul now are more than capable of working and helping themselves but choose not too. My taxes will be raised or the deficit will increase because of this disaster. But if an earthquake hits this area and I have to rebuild or repair my home and pay my insurance deductible, I will cut corners elsewhere to live within my means. Our government will not cut corners because too many people will complain. We do not need acts of God to destroy our nation. Our continued support of the welfare state of mind and our lack of self-responsibility will certainly be this nation's downfall.

Plenty of noise

WITH ALL the loud mufflers or no mufflers, plus the kits some vehicle owners install to make more noise, Cape Girardeau is by far noisier than a larger city I lived in. I live on a major street in the north part of town, and the boom boxes sound like thunder 24 hours a day. There is never any peace and quiet here. Let's hope our new police chief is less tolerant of all this noise.

Liberal spending

LBJ IS smiling while Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan are turning over in their graves. That's because President Bush's speech suggesting spending $200 billion federal tax dollars to fix up the Gulf Coast was without a doubt the most liberal in U.S. history, though coming from a self-described conservative.

Taste of autumn

Thank goodness for the fair and the break in the weather.

Familiar answers

IT'S AMUSING watching the senators question John Roberts, the Supreme Court nominee. They don't like his answers, but what he's feeding back is the type of answers they gave in election years. They never answered questions either. They beat around the bush or even change the subject. They're getting what they've got coming to them.

Recess concerns

I AM calling about the article "No time for play time." Last year, one teacher at North Elementary School took away the morning recess. She wanted to use this time for reading and did not allow the children to go outside and play. These were first graders. They needed time to unwind. I talked to the teacher and the principal. The principal said, "We legally don't have to give them any recesses." Now I read what he said in the paper, which contradicts what he told parents last year. I called the superintendent and the school board, and they did nothing. First graders lost their recess all year and most of the class was in tutoring anyway. Thank you for the article pointing out the need for recess. Thank you, American Association for a Child's Right to Play, and thank you to the ADHD researchers. My child had ADD.

Fair and relevant

I AM a Republican and a former Marine from the Vietnam era. I attended the rally at the Osage Community Centre to hear the woman whose son was killed in Iraq. I was skeptical going in. But I was curious and tried to keep an open mind. This woman was outstanding. She had relevant facts. She presented her case very well. And she was extremely fair. She let some of the opposition speak. In the end, they hugged. It was a warm, fuzzy moment. I was impressed. I didn't agree with some of the Bush bashing that went on, but she made the statement that it could have been any president and that she wasn't really into politics.

Talented contestants

HATS OFF to all who participated in the Cape Idol competition at the SEMO District Fair. We were only going to stay for a few of the contestants but ended up staying to the end. I'm glad we did, because the last contestant who sang Billy Joel's "Piano Man" was our favorite. What talent we have among us.

Who will pay?

WHERE WILL the United States get the money to rebuild the Big Easy and fight the war on Iraq and rebuild Iraq when the war is finished, plus other countries we are rebuilding and supporting when the majority of the people here in the United States are working for minimum wage? The ones who can't or won't work are on some sort of social services. Our taxes pay for that. If the minimum wage is raised, the cost of living will increase also. Will our great-great-grandchildren pay for rebuilding the Big Easy, the Iraq war and rebuilding Iraq and support of other countries?