Speak Out A 04/09/02

Same kind of problem

THE PROBLEM the Israelis are having with the Palestinians is very much the same as the problem we had with the American Indians in the 19th century. I'm confident we will help the Israelis settle their Palestinian problem the same way that we settled the American Indian problem.

Check on coverage

IN REFERENCE to the woman who complained she couldn't get treatment with CHAMPUS: Doctors are treating my wife and my kids right here in the Cape Girardeau area under CHAMPUS. My wife had a couple of big operations in Cape, and they took care of that. They also take care of the medicine. Check with the veterans affairs, toll-free number in St. Louis. They can set you on the right track.

Watching our children

I AM a single mother of two children. I thought that I was doing the best I could, but suddenly it changed within an hour. You are not allowed to let your children play outside in plain view from your kitchen window while you do dishes until they are over the age of 8. If you let them play outside or ride their bikes and you are not outside with them but can still see them, someone may call Family Services. If your child asks to go play at a friend's house, make sure you walk them to the house, or someone may turn you in. I am the only person my children have, and that was almost taken away by some people who thought I was not caring for my children. I just wanted to let other parents know about the laws we have and the way we are supposed to raise our children.

All in one chunk

THE SCATHING Speak Out condemnation of teachers getting three months off in the summer is based on the false allegation that teachers claim to be workers. They do not. They are white-collar professionals like businessmen, doctors and lawyers. The only difference is they don't earn an income commensurate with their education and training. Because their time off comes in one big chunk, it creates the false illusion that they get more time off than other white-collar professionals.

Proper education

ONE OF the first things the Bush administration did when it took office was to discontinue all family planning and birth control programs in the Third World. Now Bush proposes to send billions of dollars in aid to poor countries. It doesn't seem smart to hand out money without educating poor people about controlling their population.

Pro-skateboarders

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian's crusade for a skateboarding park in Cape needs to be taken seriously and the construction of said park completed forthwith.

No objective data

DEB CALLAHAN, president of the League of Conservation Voters, is hopelessly out of touch if she believes anyone who reads the Opinion page of the Southeast Missourian has any interest whatsoever in objective data.

Changing world

I NEVER thought I'd live to see Sikeston's patriarchy toppled and Cape's city council feminized.

Just like politics

THE ONLY sport that exceeds skateboarding in the need to change positions quickly, show dexterity, be flexible and engage in fancy footwork is politics.

Stephanie's fans

I REALLY enjoyed Sam Blackwell's story on Kid Rock's drummer, Stefanie Eulinberg. I love their music and buy all of their CDs. A bunch of us went to see them last week in St. Louis and were surprised to discover they are even better in person, and so diversified. Thanks for sharing Stefanie's Cape connection with her area fans.

Smelling the roses

I'M AN old man and remember the days when there were roses covering the highway between Cape and Jackson. Most young people don't even know that. That's the problem with kids today. They never take the time to smell the roses.

Harder to forget

THE NURSES of St. Francis Medical Center have spoken, We now would like to get on with what we do best, which is taking care of our patients.

Hole of barbarism

IN THE view of a Speak out caller it is unimaginable to conceive of this rash of suicide bombings. That may be, but it also seemed inconceivable to late fifth century citizens of the western Roman Empire even though that part of the world was descending into barbarism as we may now be doing.

Keeping promises

AS A former employee and pro-union nurse at St. Francis Medical Center, I was disappointed in the recent election outcome. But in our country, thank God, majority rules. Congrats to the anti-union folks. I truly do hope the administration lives up to its promise of improving some of the problems in the next year. The hospital, as a whole, continues to be outstanding in patient care.

Stadium for highways

STATE SEN. Peter Kinder, let's make a deal. If the Cardinals will build our highways, we'll build their stadium.

SADDAM HUSSEIN pays the families of terrorist suicide bombers more than $25,000 each for massacring Israelis. That's a fortune for many in the Middle East. So, let's get this straight. The United States prepares to remove Hussein from power because of his terrorist activities and efforts to develop nuclear and biochemical weapons. Hussein responds by inciting terrorism against Israel in the hopes it will delay or deflect a U.S. attack. Hussein is not dumb. Americans should not be dumb either. The terrorists began these attacks in the Middle East. Not Israel. Do not blame Israel for the carnage. Arafat started it. Hussein incites it. Iran is helping to finance it. Meanwhile, the Saudis are cowardly and afraid that if they don't blame Israel, the poorer Arabs will blame and attack them. America must not be cowed in allowing evil because it's more convenient than fighting it. President Bush deserves our support.

Probably won't fly

DAVID FINDLAY'S call for a primary seat belt law in Missouri will go over in these parts like a lead balloon

THE U.S. Postal Service is releasing a proposal this week to restructure the nation's mail system to make it function more like a private business. This is very important to the customers of the Postal Service. This will be a final blow, destroying what was left of a service trashed by big business. It's time to speak out, Americans.