Speak Out A 02/26/02

Take down barricades

IHAVE to agree with the Southeast Missourian. I've been downtown several times, and I didn't realize why those barriers were in front of the federal building. I just thought it was road repair. But I was concerned about a parking space like the Southeast Missourian probably is right next door. Then I would probably be pretty perturbed about it too. It's not like we have the Liberty Bell here. I would have to say it's time to take down the barricades.

Interpreting values

I CAN'T believe anyone referring to Jesus as the most liberal individual whoever walked the earth, inferring that he has the same liberal views the caller does. Can you imagine this holy man as accepting homosexuality as a lifestyle, or aborting children as a woman's right? Can you imagine him accepting filth and pornography as freedom of speech? Or fighting to keep God's word out of our government, public places or schools? Liberals have their own meaning of God's values.

Unity of Christians

I WOULD like to respond to the debate about God being a liberal or a Republican. God is neither. He is beyond political parties. There are certain moral agendas that he would agree with and disagree with in both parties. I think the largest issue here is the unity of the Christian body. If Christians hate one another and become self-righteous, they are not in the will of God. Remember, God is love and righteousness.

Preaching hate

I DON'T hate Jerry Falwell, nor does my dislike for him have anything to do with Bill Clinton (although you right-wingers like for everything to have to do with Clinton). Most people's dislike of Falwell comes from his own hatred. Falwell preaches the word of God, yet he hates, judges and condemns those whom he dislikes. He teaches hatred and intolerability, not love, as Jesus asked.

Historic lawsuit

THE JUST-FILED case of the General Accounting Office versus White House will someday be considered as historically significant as U.S. versus Nixon.

Popular wave

ENOUGH ON George Bush already. I see constantly what a great president he is, what a great job he is doing and how he speaks so well. It may seem like he is doing so well, but due to the recent and tragic events which will change America forever, Bush is just riding the wave of patriotism that Americans feel right now. Other people who may have been in office at the time of Sept. 11 and who picked up the pieces and made the speeches people wanted to hear would be getting a good approval rating right now. Think about it, before that happened, we were just coming out of a huge investigation regarding Bush and his so-called victory in Florida -- lest we forget.

Political accountability

I HAVEN'T lived in Cape Girardeau for five years, and it appears nothing has changed. The biased coverage of one of our own makes me realize that getting out was good. David Barklage not only put himself in a dangerous position with an obvious conflict of interest, but his party as well. "I think the facts didn't add up to anything significant," said Barklage. When will the time come when even small wrongdoings are taken for what they are: wrongdoings. If I get pulled over and have a little amount of drugs, I go to jail. Just because it is white-collar crime doesn't mean he shouldn't be held accountable like the rest of us.

Throwing trash cans

I HAVE a complaint about Jackson's sanitation department. I just watched the pickup crew throw my trash can in the street. I would say that half the time they throw my trash cans in the street and the other half at my car. I tried to call the sanitation department four times, but I could not get anyone to answer the phone. I think the service is terrible. If the crew does not want to do the job, then maybe they should get another job.

Most popular votes

AL GORE won the most popular votes regardless of what a Bush backer says in Speak Out.

Big repercussions

NOW THIS is breaking news. The Southeast Missourian actually mentioned the Enron scandal in an editorial. That's progress, even though the predictable editorial spin was to reassure Republicans that it won't have any negative repercussions for them and even though I continue to agree with outspoken muckraker Michael Moore that it will eventually lead to the resignation of the president.

Don't know the law

THE REPORT that was just released confirms what I suspected all along, Missourians just don't know how to drive. The report says 58 percent of Missourians flunk their driver's test because the state requires no driver's training to get a license, whereas the rate was 8 percent in Illinois because the state requires it. The reason all these people drive in the left lane and do all the other wrong and illegal things in this state is simply because they don't know any difference. It is scary to think that over half the drivers in this state don't know what the rules and laws of driving are. The next time you see someone driving in the left lane for no reason or using the left-turn lane to merge right into traffic or not use a turn signal or pass you at the last second so they can cut you off and turn, don't blame them for their ignorance. Blame the state for letting them have a license.

Learning about God

MY DEFINITION of religion is man's perception of what is God as influenced by his culture. All religions have very beautiful aspects, and not one base religion is wrong. Where things go wrong is when fanaticism takes over. Men are the corrupters of all that is beautiful. I believe that the ultimate lessons man can learn from deity is tolerance and knowledge.

I SAW a report discussing the gas prices, and I was quite confused. I have been told by several Speak Out callers that since we have two energy men in the White House, gas prices would be the highest they've ever been because they would be lining their own pockets. However, the report said the average price of a gallon of gas this time last year was $1.46. This year it is $1.12.

Political optimism

IN A statement related to his resignation as Peter Kinder's chief of staff, David Barklage said it's the job of political parties to try to undermine each other, that being the nature of politics. No better statement than this brutally honest one by Barklage explains why so much of the general public is put off by politicians and their party hacks and operatives. The eternally hopeful public has been praying for years that the focus of politics will place more emphasis on doing what's right and less on getting a leg up on the other party, often through dirty tricks, disinformation and the like. If you think that the diminished role of Barklage in Jefferson City means cutthroat Missouri politics is dead or dying, then you qualify as an eternal optimist. I don't.

Misguided historians

WHOEVER GOT the mistaken notion that this great nation was founded by God-fearing conservatives was surely misguided.