Speak Out 9/23/05

Wetland protection

PERHAPS HURRICANE Katrina has awakened the most doubting Thomases to the fact that the destruction of wetlands can cause a serious event to become an unmitigated disaster.

Anarchy, lawlessness

HURRICANE KATRINA did not expose the mentality of the welfare state. It exposed the chaos that results from a state of anarchy and lawlessness. This has been addressed in many forums, including William Golding's "Lord of the Flies." Perhaps conservatives will see the error of their ways in their continual harping that government is the problem and not the solution. Lack of law and order (effective government at all levels) caused the social Darwinistic response of some victims, as survival of the fittest took hold. Sadly, it is just this philosophy that many who call themselves conservatives and libertarians put into place.

Mannerless teens

PARENTS, PLEASE teach your children some manners. I recently went to a high school football game and was never treated so rudely by teenagers: cutting in line, foul language, not saying "Excuse me" or "Please" when wanting to use the seat beside you as a step to get off the bleachers. I kept thinking, Where are your parents? Do you really talk to them like this? What kind of people are they? Are they as rude as you are?

Band congratulations

I WANT to relay a huge congratulations to the Cape Central High School Marching Band for its win at the Farmington competition. It was the band's first competition of the season, and it took first place in its division for overall performance, drum line and auxiliary. The next competition will be Oct. 1 in Washington, Mo. It looks like a successful year.

Enjoyed the concert

MY HUSBAND and I attended the Tracy Byrd concert. Unlike the critic for the Southeast Missourian, we enjoyed the concert. We felt Tracy Byrd was a very appealing performer. He was friendly and gracious and seemed to enjoy presenting the concert to the appreciative crowd even though the crowd seemed a bit small to us. We were familiar with his music, but we had never had the opportunity to see him perform in person. After witnessing his performance firsthand, we are very much Tracy Byrd fans.

Ready for disaster?

I WONDER if the person worried about our area becoming a disaster area has made any preparations. Like New Orleans, we have been warned for decades this could happen here, but many people have no emergency plans. There is a certain amount of personal responsibility here. Any bureaucracy takes a while to get things rolling, especially when infrastructures such as roads and utilities have been destroyed. The official disaster plan for this region recommends citizens be prepared to fend for themselves for up to five days. Are you ready?

Giving advice

CONSIDERING WHERE Cape Girardeau and surrounding area residents live, Speak Out callers who advise New Orleans residents that they shouldn't choose to live below sea level are being a bit incredulous.

Differing opinions

"CONGRESS SHALL make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... ." It is sad this amendment exists on paper only and not in the hearts of people. There are some in Southeast Missouri who will not approve of the way others exercise there faith unless it agrees with their perceptions. They do this to the point of alienating their own children. It is usually a person who is unwilling to grant equal freedom of expression especially in religious matters. This type will allow their own ignorance and fear to dictate how they treat others. Difference of opinion is a wonderful thing as long as you take time to listen to other opinions before you execute judgment.