Speak Out A 08/09/03

Give parents a choice

TO THE Speak Out caller who warns Republicans to watch out for the new tide of Democrats: I am not the least bit scared. Democrats and their party have a lot to worry about within their own ranks. They need to quit spreading lies and gossip and come up with their own people-oriented agenda instead of the same old rhetoric about raising taxes for education. I say it is time we bring in vouchers and give all parents everywhere the choice to choose.

Inevitable change

THE DECISION to change the name of SEMO's mascot is correctly said to be driven by market forces. In other words, SEMO gets hurt economically because using the word Indian is considered offensive in more places than it isn't. As an economic determinist, I believe matters of dollars and cents decide everything. Thus, to carry on the debate in letters and Speak Out is ultimately futile. That the change will be made is inevitable.

Not enough support

IF THE Cape Girardeau and Jackson districts are having so many financial problems, why aren't they involved in the lawsuit to bring more equity in state funding to local schools? I'll tell you why. They would not benefit from a favorable ruling, in large part because local taxpayers refuse to bear their fair share of responsibility in funding these districts. Spokespersons for these districts may publicly praise local citizens for their strong financial support of their district, but behind closed doors what is likely said would not suitable for Speak Out.

The TIF lesson

I HOPE you're correct in asserting that the TIF experience was an education for Cape Girardeau. I think most residents realize that there is a wealth of welfare for the wealthy. However, I don't think too many knew that TIF could legally be exploited by the rich to that outrageous degree.

Satan moves in

REGARDING THE confusion about the calling of a gay man to become a bishop: I urge Christians to not confuse a calling with outright deception. Satan is a deceiver. Lost people, along with some believers who neglect to study the Word, are being tricked. I'm not for intolerance. You can love the sinner. But you should hate the sin. A church should have discipline and a God-fearing congregation. If yours doesn't, I would consider the fact that Satan moves into churches where God has been pushed out by the people.

Offensive statement

ROBERT BRUSS' recent real estate column asserted that "foreigners are especially good" at negotiating. It was biased, ignorant and offensive. These may be the views of the writer, but it was poor form to print such a blatantly biased opinion. I have lived all over the United States and have visited many foreign countries. I have met many Americans who are skilled in negotiating. Bruss' statement perpetuates hatred, stereotypes and negativity.

Heidi's biggest fan

IN RESPONSE to her column, "Fighting to be the most ugly": Heidi Hall is the best and the coolest writer at the Southeast Missourian. I am one of her biggest fans.

Embarrassing comments

COMMENTS ABOUT SEMO's mascot reveal our parochialism to an embarrassing degree since they vastly outnumber comments about the state of the economy, sensibility of nation building or wisdom of establishing a military presence in Liberia.

Multicultural nation

FIFTY YEARS ago the education system was rigidly segregated by race. Contrary to what a Speak Out caller claimed, the system was working primarily for privileged whites. We live in a culturally diverse nation now and are making strides in truly educating the masses. As much as the caller may yearn for our country to be like South Africa when the Afrikaners were calling the shots, it cannot.

Gifted fund raisers

FIELD TRIPS and treats are not funded by local or state gifted funds. What was claimed could not be further from the truth. Nor does the district pay any additional fees for gifted busing. As one of the teachers for the gifted program, I can inform all that these extras are funded through annual student fund-raising projects. It would be a breath of fresh air if people did not complain about things until they made sure their facts were correct. What a different and more positive world we would live in if, before negative information was shared, facts were checked.

Riverboat solution

THERE IS a great solution to making Cape Girardeau beautiful again, funding our schools and revitalizing the downtown area: riverboat gambling. My family and friends travel to Metropolis, Caruthersville and St. Louis to gamble and have a good time. We also shop in the stores that are close by and eat at the restaurants. Why doesn't Cape realize that a riverboat would bring in tourism dollars as well as provide some entertainment?

It's going to cost

I'M NOT a mind reader, but I have to believe that these people calling for universal health coverage actually think they would be getting free health care. Ask the average Canadian if his health care is free. Since enacting socialized medicine, the federal tax rate for the average Canadian is practically 50 percent. To add insult to injury, the system doesn't work. Hospitals are closing, and people are forced to wait months for critical procedures. We can pay the private sector for good health care or pay the government for poor health care. Either way, it's going to cost people money.

Losing our morality

TO THE person who disagreed with President Bush's views against gay marriage: Your attitude seems to be if they love each other, who's to say that this is wrong? What's it going to go to next? This country's morals have gone low enough. We'll sink lower and lower, and then our morals will be all gone.

Not national security

I'VE BEEN hearing that the attack on the pharmaceutical plant in the Sudan ordered by Bill Clinton was a blunder on the part of the intelligence community. That is incorrect. The intelligence community advised Clinton that even if the evidence that they had was for certain, it did not constitute cause to launch an attack -- an act of war against a sovereign nation. Clinton did for reasons other than national security.

Incorrect bus times

I READ in the Southeast Missourian where the bus company that services the Cape Girardeau School District is going to have a trial run the day before schools to see if their times are correct. Why wasn't this done several weeks ahead of time so that when they print the times, they could be pretty accurate? Last year we had moved to a new house. My daughter was at the bus stop at least 10 minutes before the time we were told the bus would be there. The bus never came. We found out later she had missed it. It took us several days before we could ever find out when the bus actually got there.

Cost of athletics

AS A student in college, I did a study of how removing athletic programs would affect the budget of an entire school district. Athletics in high school do not even represent a minute fraction of what goes into the budget. As for athletes coming out of school and working at selling used cars, I'd like to say that I'm a 4.0 student, sports take up every day of my life and I'm going to be a teacher. That was a ridiculous stereotype.

Weeds in sidewalks

IT BUGS me that we have all these downtown groups, but none of them will pull the weeds out of the sidewalks. Don't the downtown merchants know how bad this looks to customers?