Speak Out 9/27/06

Great sales pitch

WHAT'S GOING on here? Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez calls President Bush the devil and waves around a copy of U.S. linguist-philosopher Noam Chomsky's Bush-blasting book, "Hegemony or Survival." No big deal so far, except that, lo and behold, Chomsky's book almost instantaneously appeared on Amazon's best-seller list as No. 1.

Risk is increasing

THIS IS for the person who thinks sixth-grade girls don't need the vaccine against cervical cancer. They may not need it in sixth grade, but they will need it someday. The risk for cervical cancer is not a small risk once a girl becomes sexually active. The number of girls who get the virus that causes cervical cancer is a huge number now.

Talk to legislators

PLEASE STOP condemning teachers for the school snack ban. We and our administrators have no control over it. It is a statewide plan that has been forced on our districts. We are told by the state what we can and cannot serve and have in our schools. Instead of calling Speak Out, call your state legislators. Harping on teachers, who do not necessarily agree with the new food plan either and are just doing what they're told, is not going to accomplish anything. You must take it to the top and question your legislators and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Booming economy

FOR ALL the people who have complained about high gasoline costs yet continue to complain about the so-called motive behind low gas prices: get over it and be happy. The economy is booming, and I intend to vote smart.

Need an interpreter

HOW MANY people are as frustrated as I am that when you pay $2 when you call directory assistance, you get people who can't speak basic English?

Hurting the poor

WHEN I was growing up, my mother always used layaway for her children. Today she continues to use it for my niece. Wal-Mart's decision to discontinue layaway will hurt poor people. They have been Wal-Mart's biggest supporter from the very beginning.

Sex education

THE UNIVERSITY of Missouri is providing condoms in the dorms. I would like to know if the taxpayers of Missouri have any implied liabilities for the failures of said condoms to stop the passing of any infectious diseases. Will the taxpayers also be liable for wrongful conception when the condoms fail to prevent conception and women decide to bring their babies to full term, despite all attempts by school to limit its liability? Perhaps the university might offer a free abortion also.

Drainage problems

REGARDING THE city's pledge to do something about drainage problems: I live in the 1500 block of Amblewood Drive in the Parkside subdivision where we have a terrible flooding problem. Water levels will reach up close to the door handles on some cars. Numerous cars have been totaled. I first started to talk to city when I was in my mid-40s. Now I'm in my mid-70s, and I'm still asking the city to do something. I have been told in the past that "it's in the works" or "it's on the agenda." To all other people out there who have drainage problems, I wish you the best of luck. You're going to need it. After all these years, I have decided that it is not only what needs to be done, but who wants it to be done.

Liberal-conservative

REPUBLICANS WHO favor globalization and the war in Iraq are really liberals on these issues, and Democrats who oppose both are conservatives, though most are afraid to say so.

Put us on the map

I URGE the parent who pledged to come to school and sit with her child to ensure his right to eat Skittles and Sweetarts to do so, because I think this would make the national news and put this area on the map.

Biblical direction

MADALYN O'HAIR did not take prayer out of public schools in the U.S. Her actions caused the prohibition of mandated, coerced, teacher-led, school board-approved student recitation of prayer. Just read Matthew 6:6-8 for some direction.

It's self-preservation

REGARDING THE Cape Girardeau County Democratic Central Committee's annual fall festival and comments that Democrats only need to tell the truth to win: heck, politicians of both parties have been winning for generations without telling the truth. Both parties could start with being truthful about their views on voter IDs. Republicans want it to keep Democrats from getting fraudulent votes. Democrats do not want voter IDs because they might lose those fraudulent votes. Face it. Few if any of our politicians and political hopefuls are really interested in anything but getting elected and retaining their cushy status.

Disagreeing twice

MEXICAN PRESIDENT Fox opines that when we enforce our immigration laws we are disrespecting the dignity of foreign nationals who enter our nation illegally. So does President Bush. A majority of Congress and citizens disagree with both presidents.

Thanks to Guard

THANKS TO the Cape Girardeau National Guard unit for conducting the military escort, funeral duties, casualty assistance and burial duties for Corporal Shank and his family.

Distorting the issue

A COMMENT suggested that the Hrabik family had been swayed by supporters of Amendment 2 into supporting stem-cell research. As a disabled person, let me tell you what has swayed me to support stem-cell research. Try 35 years of pain and lack of mobility. Not enough? How about years of watching people with Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis slowly die? Disabled people have done far better homework on this subject than opponents of Amendment 2. People against Amendment 2 have been showing off models of embryos suggesting stem-cell research had something to do with fully developed embryos. How disgustingly dishonest. I believe God will bless those who worked so hard to end suffering using stem-cell research, but am not sure how he will view those who used deception and distortion in his name.

No more support

I SEE everyone complaining about the new county sales tax, and I disagreed with them all until just last week. I was on my way home when a truck tried to run me and another motorist off the road. I called the sheriff's department and was told it wouldn't send someone out. I was told to get away and come file a report. When I got there, the officers took down all of the information and then informed me they would do nothing. What a waste. I'm sad to say I supported them before but will no longer. They have lost all my respect. I guess we have to take care of things like that ourselves.

Medical attack

I NEVER thought the Fox News Network would go so far as to have one of its lackeys try to provoke a heart attack in President Clinton.