Speak Out A 07/03/02

Leaning on God

DON'T THEY still start sessions of the U.S. House and Senate with prayer? Who are they praying to? Our own president called for a National Day of Prayer after Sept. 11, 2001. Who did we pray to? There is such an overwhelming sense in this country of leaning on God when things go wrong or when things are a problem. Are we doing so great right now that it's time to take "under God" out of our Pledge of Allegiance? This is the time for the American people to not stand for this. It is just as unconstitutional to take it out. People who are agnostics and atheists can keep their mouths shut when the words "under God" are being said and say the rest of the pledge instead. It's most amazing that suddenly we don't need God in our Pledge of Allegiance when it just seems like it all crashed down on our heads in September. That's who we did need. How ironic.

Ignoring constituents

RHODA REEVES' assessment of U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan`s voting record was right on target. When the people of Missouri voted for her husband, they knew little about her background. It turns out that she is an ultra-liberal and a Tom Daschle pawn. Reeves' perception that Carnahan pays little attention to her constituents' mail is correct. There is probably something worse than being ignored by one's political representatives, but I cannot recall it at the moment.

Funding for stadium

JUST WHEN I thought the stadium bills were dead, I read: "Missouri gave final approval Friday to state financing for a downtown exposition center in Springfield, a $12.5 million facility." It seems Missouri will pay $715,000 annually for 23 years. That totals $16.45 million, or 25 percent more than the facility actually costs. What is ironic about this is that the article above this tidbit stated: "Holden won`t free funds for colleges, nursing homes." Holden is still upset that his plans to use the rainy-day funds were thwarted. So he denies the universities funding from revenue that is now available.

Consumate politician

I AM glad that a local business owner, Rhoda Reeves, called U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan on her disingenuous remarks in her letter to the editor. Carnahan has become a consumate politician in a very short period of time. She has learned how to spin an issue and, by omitting valid points, make her stand seem better than it is. She has never listened to her constituents on issues that do not appeal to her.

Replacement worries

WELL, SOUTHEAST Missourian scribes, if the scuttling of Yasser Aarafat is an absolute, then why do you think the Israelis haven't taken him out? Perhaps it is because they remember well the early 1930s demand by the German Reichstag that the current leadership be replaced and who was chosen as a replacement.

Don't let it happen

FOR THOSE who are in favor of Proposition B, I would like to remind them of the promises made when the state proposed tax increases for our roads in what is now commonly referred to as the 15-year plan. With that in mind, remember this oft quoted phrase, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Let's not get fooled twice.

Turn to God

I THINK it is a shame for Americans to stand by and let the government take away our rights. Our nation is under attack because Christians are standing back and not willing to stand up for what we believe in. If we turn from our wicked ways and look to God, he will heal our nation. We need to turn to God in this time and not keep trying to turn away from him.

Police radar helped

I LIVE on Westfield Drive and want to thank the police department for putting the radar detector up last week. Please bring it back. We need it. People drive like they are on a race track on this street.

Left out words

THOSE WHO wax enthusiastic about the sanctity of the alleged historical and cultural roots of the Pledge of Allegiance likely don't realize that the original pledge was written by a socialist who left out not only the word "God," but the word "nation" as well.

Well-spent funds

THOSE WHO say there is no correlation between spending tax money on public education and learning and often make adamant comments abhoring spending of said money will, because of a Supreme Court ruling, suddenly discover that there is a relation, but only between spending taxpayer money on learning if one attends a voucher-financed private or parochial school.

Pharmaceutical plot

SAM BLACKWELL, you are a shining beacon of light battling the forces of darkness that virtually surround you. Thank you for writing that the Republican-sponsored prescription drug benefit plan is one backed by the pharmaceutical companies. That cinches it for me. Where can I get a trailer truck full of "Carnahan for Senate" signs and bumper stickers?

Wrong picture

IF I fall on hard times and ask for help from the government, say a welfare check here or there, I'm a drain on the economy and a deadbeat. Amtrak, a national corporation once worth billions, wants $200 million from the government. So far no one is complaining. It seems the government and many Southeast Missouri residents are more than willing to fork it over. Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this picture?