Speak out 9/6

Mine eyes have seen ...

I'M GLAD President Bush designated Sept. 11 as Patriot Day. I'm going to be lowering my flag to half-staff. I'm going to look forward to hearing the bells tolling in our city. And I am looking forward to the fair parade. But I would hope for something else instead of "Amazing Grace" being played. We've had a year of mourning. I think we should be able to get over our mourning and realize that we are at war. We should be hearing more militant songs. I think "Battle Hymn of the Republic" would be more appropriate.

Support the president

IF PRESIDENT Bush decides to attack Iraq, we should stand behind our president and give the support to our soldiers they need so we will not fall victim to Vietnam when so many soldiers came home and didn't feel their work was appreciated. I hope the president has a plan of action that includes a reasonable time to get out of Afghanistan. I guess the best we can do is pray for what is right for our nation and ask God to protect us from the evil that was perpetrated on us last Sept. 11. I felt the editorial cartoon about someone going on an island to escape talk of Sept. 11 was in poor taste. We need to be reminded of the terrible thing that al-Qaida did to our country one year ago.

Quiet observance

LET'S ALL observe Sept. 11 quietly by remembering and flying the American flag.

Land of the free

SADLY OUR country tops several categories which shame this nation. We have more crime, more prisons, more inmates than any other country. We're tops in murder, rape and assaults. We have more abortion, single mothers, deadbeat dads and spousal abuse. Only 50 percent of couples get married nowadays. We have more drug addicts, alcoholics, panhandlers and homeless. You can't walk down the streets of most cities and even smaller towns for fear of robbery, assault or even worse. And law enforcement has enough men to handle half the load. This is the land of the free and home of the brave which God watches over. If you were God, would you watch over this?

School bus safety

I WAS crossing Kingshighway at about the time the school buses come out. The buses were tailgating each other so closely that when the light changed for me to cross the street the buses didn't stop. Three of them ran the red light so they could stay close together. Somebody ought to know about this. This happens every day at Kingshighway and Bloomfield Road.

Reading students

I AM furious about the editorial cartoon showing a teacher teaching a child to read. There are children out there who want to learn. There are children out there who are smart enough to learn. They can read more than "soda" or "candy." You all need to get your act together and clean it up.

Inside study

IT'S NO wonder the university found the River Campus makes "economic sense." Two of the three economists involved in the study are university administrators.

Park entrance

I CAN'T believe the county commissioners want to pay Bruce Watkins $250,000 for a one-story house and two acres, calling it a fair price. In Ellsinore, Mo., MoDOT doesn't want to pay a man there for his property that he has a business on and paid big bucks to get. Now MoDOT is offering him a measly amount of money. We don't need a new entrance to the county park. Everyone that I've talked to says to leave it like it is. Leave the parks like they are. The public doesn't want any more buildings or different entrances.

Student sales

I'VE ALREADY got students knocking on my door wanting to sell me expensive fund-raiser items for their school. I'm sorry, but I feel I'm paying enough in school taxes. I will not be buying over-priced items for any fund raisers. Give this senior citizen a break.