Speak Out A 04/19/02

Did Hale do it?

DID NATHAN Hale have a vest of explosives strapped and concealed on his body when he was captured by the British? Was Hale captured while attempting to explode himself and as many small children and non-combatants and bystanders as possible? Was the execution of civilians part of Hale's military plan? Did Hale recruit children and civilians for use as human bombs? Any answers?

Sexy wins

TINA TURNER turned out more people in one night than several nights of the fundamentalist crusade combined. This doesn't mean that the secular has triumphed over salvation, just the sexy over the sanctimonious.

Ready for barricades

THOUGH IT hasn't been all that long ago, I'm already nostalgic for the days of Cape traffic disruption caused by street barricades and construction. That's why I urge SEMO to proceed full speed ahead with the construction of new parking garages.

Shameful practice

INSURANCE COMPANIES that use irrelevant credit ratings to determine automobile insurance premiums should be ashamed of themselves and forced by the state legislature to make it up to the largely elderly victims of Missouri with massive reparations.

No trespassing

THIS IS a message to the people who keep coming on our property, ignoring the "private property" and "no trespassing" signs. No trespassing means exactly that. You've been warned.

Paying for parking

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI State University has had a problem with parking for many years. As a student there until I graduated in the fall of 2000, I can remember having to trek miles and miles of hilly terrain to get to my classrooms. My wife is going to graduate in the fall of 2003, right as they're opening the new parking garages. However, the cost of my wife's parking permits for her to park anywhere on campus will almost double this fall. Why should my wife, who will graduate when these new conveniences are available, have to pay for them when she will never be able to use them? Why should any student who's graduating within the next two years have to pay for parking garages for students who aren't even in college yet? Fee and tuition increases greatly affect the reasons people want to not attend Southeast Missouri State University. However, even though we've seen an increase in enrollment, we do not see an increase in parking spaces. These parking garages should have been built 10 years ago. Southeast Missouri State University, why don't you realize you're 10 years behind the trends? You've got too many students and not enough spots.

Post office parking

I'M CALLING about the Postal Service rate increase. If the Postal Service wants to do something for the people, the Jackson Post Office should increase its parking. It's always busy, and the lots are always full. Do something about the parking.

It's not Christian

INTRA-CHRISTIAN Speak Out squabbling over the turnout at the Show Me Center's Christian crusade is unchristian.

Need better lighting

I LIVE on old U.S. 60 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. On Tuesday nights there are a lot of car buyers parked along the side of the road. It wouldn't be so bad except you can't always see the people coming or going to their parked cars. I wonder if it would be possible for the auction managers to put up extra lights so the roadway has better light. Someday, someone is going to get killed there.

Supporting handouts

OF COURSE the working man is the best friend of the Democrats. If it weren't for the working man and woman, the Democrats wouldn't have the money in payroll taxes that we give the state and federal government each payroll period. Where do you think the money comes from for all their handouts?