Speak Out A 09/23/02

No Route K stoplights

YOU DON'T need stoplights at either school out on Route K. What you need is for the police to start issuing tickets to all these kids who are doing 70 mph and pulling out in front of people. The people creating the problem are the ones who go to the school. I don't want to have to stop at another light or slow down because of someone else's ignorance. Make these kids carpool. Teach them some responsibility. Whoever decided to put the school entrance at the bottom of a curving hill didn't do the smartest thing.

Unpleasant surroundings

I WISH someone would do something about the people who live in East Cape Girardeau and have several unlicensed cars in their front yard, have bags of trash stacked up on the carports, have a homemade garage that looks as if it will fall at any time and grass that needs to be mowed. There are people who live here who care about their surroundings.

Our responsibility

WE MUST occupy Iraq for four to six years. The heavy burden of reconstructing a world favorable to democracy and freedom has fallen on the United States, and it is a responsibility from which we must not shy.

University is best deal

I WOULD like to respond to those who are complaining about the cuts at SEMO University. I am an employee at the university, and we also are affected by these cuts. This is a very trying time for the university, but I see that the administration, faculty, staff and even the students are joining together to find ways to get through this crisis, and we will. During a financial crisis, some hard decisions have to be made. The ones who are making these decisions have one thought: "How can we keep this university running and continue to offer the best education we possibly can for our students?" Come on up to our campus and talk to the faculty and staff. You will find out where our hearts are. We are for the students. We have the best campus, best facilities, best faculty, best staff and best students. For the money, Southeast Missouri State University is the best deal.

Potential gold mine

AFTER TAKING my family several times this past year to the Farmington Water Park, I was wondering how many people in this area think we need a similar water park in the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area. Farmington charges $5 per adult and $3.50 for children for a whole day of wonderful and safe entertainment for all ages. There were many lifeguards, and the number of people at the park was limited. Every time I was up there it was crowded but never overcrowded. After speaking to several people at the water park, I found there were people there from Cape, Jackson, Scott City and Benton, just to name a few. I can't help but think that a reasonably priced water park in this area would be a total success. I wish I had the funds and the ability to build and operate such a business. I think it would be a gold mine.

Holden was right

AFTER READING the article about Gov. Bob Holden's remarks about MoDOT, I think he is probably more in line than all of his critics combined. Based on the way MoDOT has operated in the past, who has any faith in what the highway department is doing?

Reinstate the draft

I AM a retired Navy wife. My husband spent 20 years in the service of his country. He would go back today if called. I am sickened by the disrespect we receive. We have spent 20 years of our life to keep people free who do not realize we are war. I agree with the "Time for war mode" comment. Get these young men and women and let them see how we and those before us kept them free. Reinstate the draft.

Sidewalks cleaned up

THIS IS a thank you to the city. Somebody came by and cleaned up the sidewalk on the new Hopper Road. They cleaned all the mud slides off the sidewalk and made it much easier to walk and run and bicycle on the sidewalk. Thank you very much for a job well done.

New band uniforms

AS A proud band mom, I'm always grateful for the interest the public shows in Central High School's Marching Band. We too were disappointed that the new uniforms did not arrive in time for us to complete the alterations before the parade. Some will ask why we got new uniforms. Since we added the freshmen to the band, we simply didn't have enough of the old uniforms to cover everyone. You can see our new uniforms and our show at home football games or at our competitions.

Look at the teachers

AS A proud parent, I am greatly offended by the Cape Girardeau Board of Education blaming some of the low grades on the MAP testing on uncaring students. Did it ever occur to them that it might be tenured teachers not caring to teach anymore? Why does my honor student feel so frustrated with all the homework and is rightly offended when he goes to a teacher for help and is brushed off?

Flags from China

YOU KNOW what I really enjoyed about Sept. 11? All the patriotic people waving their little American flags that said made in China.

Too much homework

AS A parent of a Central High School student, I am absolutely appalled at the amount of homework the teachers give these students every night. My son and my daughter have both been told by their principals all the way through school how important it was for them to be involved in extracurricular activities. So now my children are involved. One is in band, and one plays a sport. They get home from their extracurricular stuff sometimes after the rest of the family has eaten supper. Then they have to eat, take their showers and sit down for four or five or six hours of homework every night. What happened to family time? What happened to allowing students some time to unwind? What happened to some respect for the students? A teacher told me that the teachers were told every child should have a minimum of two hours homework every night. That is ridiculous. You get our kids 185 days. Use that time wisely. Stop piling so much work on them at night.

RECENTLY, MY wife was assaulted by her own brother. I don't understand how somebody can punch someone and grab her by the throat and not get arrested. If I did this to another man, I guarantee you I'd be arrested. This is not right.

I AGREE with the comment about the mess after the fair parade. Even though I know the kids love for the people to throw candy during the parade, it was disruptive. There was still trash laying in the street after a week. I think that it's a disgrace. I think they should not have candy from now on at parades in Cape Girardeau.

The blame game

FOR HEAVEN'S sake. What kind of two-faced double talk is it? The Southeast Missourian constantly blames former Gov. Mel Carnahan and Gov. Bob Holden for our MoDOT problems. And then you end up by saying "blaming others won't help at all." What have you guys been doing all along? It's the blame game. Democrats blame Republicans. Republicans blame Democrats. You just keep trying to poison other people's minds against the other guy. Shame on you.