Speak Out A 06/29/03

Do the crime, time

IF A police officer did the crime, he should go to jail like anybody else. He is no better than anyone else.

Marital concerns

I WANT to comment about my wife of 40 years. Suddenly she's turning into a Democrat. She's put out feeders to feed birds and give nuts to squirrels. This is exactly what the Democrats do. They feed all the deadbeats. This is teaching all the animals to wait until someone gives them something free instead of going out looking for worms. This is the same thing the Democrats do. I'm really worried about my wife.

Tobacco is a killer

TO THE smoker who knows smoking is bad for him but who has outlived two doctors: People succumb to other diseases and for other reasons. Your luck may run out. Tobacco is a killer, as you admit, but you're still addicted and a slave to a weed.

Holden's freebies

IF ALADDIN and his magic lamp would appear and offer me three wishes, one would be that everyone in Missouri read Dan Wehmer's guest column in the June 20 Southeast Missourian. Gov. Bob Holden is extremely knowledgeable about how to spend Missouri's tax money to further his personal and political ambitions, from mailing expensive Hallmark cards to flying around the state exhorting everyone to adopt his points of view.

Merging traffic

THIS IS to all my fellow motorists. You can't merge with 70-mph traffic when you are going 35 mph. On-ramp trepidation is dangerous. If you can't stand the speed, stay off of the interstate.

Convenient ATM

I THINK what would help the downtown area most is if they had a conveniently located ATM machine. Often I'm downtown and haven't been by the bank and need money.

Can't afford any more

THEY SAY consumer spending is the engine of a healthy economy. Well, how would we be able to spend if Gov. Bob Holden were to tax the already overburdened taxpayers to death?

Shameful cartoons

WHAT A disappointment that this newspaper has stooped so low to put in what they call editorial cartoons like those in Sunday's paper. Every first lady deserves respect. How dare you not to give it to Hillary Clinton. She is not the person portrayed in these ugly cartoons. Shame on you. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Still a thief

I'D JUST like to tell everyone that returning a wallet after stealing the money doesn't make you any less of a thief.

They think alike

THE NINE Democratic candidates for president are supposed to have a debate. Hogwash. They debate nothing. A debate is an exchange of ideas and viewpoints. They are all the same: hate for the current administration and hate for conservative views.

Kids left in van

I PARKED near a van at the mall parking lot. As I got out of my car, I heard the motor of the van start and the motor rev up. In the front seat of the car were two children not over the 8 or 9 years old. The keys had evidently been left in the ignition, and the young boy had started the car. Please don't leave your children unattended, and don't leave the keys in the car. They could have wrecked the car and gotten hurt. They could have been kidnapped.

No graduation speaker

CENTRAL HIGH School's graduation ceremony didn't have a speaker. There were noisemakers and hooting and hollering, but there was no dignity. That was the first graduation I'd been to in 20 or 25 years. It surprised me. What happened to reputable speakers that we had in the past?

Construction danger

WHO WOULD be responsible for future lawsuits for not putting proper markings on the northbound Diversion Channel bridge as MoDOT is repairing it? There's no paint on the signs, and it's impossible to see them.

Help when needed

I WANT to let Cross Trails Medical Center know how much it's appreciated. People like us who don't have much money and no insurance have really benefited from their services. I think they really deserve a big round of applause. We thank them very much.

Funny choice of words

ONCE IN a while, I read a headline in your paper that tickles my funnybone like this one, "Statue in courthouse park will be revived." To me revived means to bring back to life as to resuscitate. If that happens, I want to be there. The old fellow will have so much to tell as his war experiences, not to mention to all the things that have happened in Courthouse Park where he's been on guard for 92 years. Maybe the word restore would have been a better choice for this repair job.