Speak Out A 10/11/03

I WANT to thank the person in charge of the food bank at the Family Resource Center. I am so thankful for the hiring of a man to carry our food up to the cars. Many senior citizens are not able to do so. Thanks again.

Racist remark

AS A white man and a sports fan, I believe the comment Rush Limbaugh made was racist. He went the extra step to bring the color of the man's skin into the equation. Donovan McNabb may not be the best quarterback in the league and may not have played well so far this year, but the fact that he is a black man has nothing to do with his performance. Limbaugh stated that the media were trying to elevate McNabb strictly based on the color of his skin. McNabb should be criticized for his play, not his color. If the media are trying to promote black quarterbacks to stardom, then where are Andre Ware and Akili Smith?

Quality problem

JUDGING BY the MAP test results in last Sunday's paper, Missouri schools do not only have a budget problem, but a quality problem as well. I was very upset by the statement that the tests are too difficult. The tests are not the problem. The teachers are.

Amen, sister

I WAS just reading Heidi Hall's column about Christopher Cross, and I must say, "Amen, my sister." As a child of the 1980s, nothing brings me back more than his music.

Those accusations

THE DEMOCRATS have accused President Bush of warmongering, destroying the economy, loving the rich, hating the poor, purposefully not finding Saddam and Osama, wanting to get rid of public education and welfare, cutting Social Security, starving children -- anything that will shock the public. But I have yet to hear accusations of womanizing in the White House, lying under oath, trying to remove God from our laws and schools, pardoning drug dealers and criminals or protesting against his own country at a time of war in another country. The Bible says to choose religious leaders and not do anything to get elected.

Not run like a business

AFTER READING about the university, I am outraged about the lessons in survival. It is outrageous to have a geography department with one student majoring in geography, or a family life major with 19 students. If the university were run as a business, it would cut these out and let students go to other schools with those majors. We can't be everything for everybody. No wonder our education system is under financial strain.

Count students, not majors

I WAS surprised to learn that so many students are taking geography at the university even if they aren't majors. I think counting the number of majors in a program is not a very good way to see if the courses are really needed. Southeast needs to look at the number of students who take these courses no matter what their major is. We all know students need more education in geography. Thanks for the interesting article.

National recall

THE MEDIA can't be held responsible for everything. The media reports, and it's for us to draw conclusions. We believed our president when he said there was evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Apparently the administration lied to us, and for that they deserve to go the way the governor of California: a recall.

Victors shouldn't pay

A RECENT comment said we have a responsibility to rebuild Iraq because we won the war. Republicans say we should pay for it. Let's look at the history of war. Historically, the loser in war is either killed or made the slave, and the victors take prisoners and do not have to rebuild. That's how it happens in the Middle East.

Sneaky maneuver

THE CAPE Girardeau County Commission still wants planning and zoning. Now it wants to get by with passing one little ordinance at a time, hoping nobody will notice.

Bus routes

IF CAPE Girardeau gets a bus system, I hope it will go from at least Kingshighway to Wal-Mart, because I have noticed individuals walking to get there. A bus route on Broadway would be good too. I think a bus would be nice for Cape Girardeau to help those individuals who don't have cars.

Guns in city buildings

I WAS wondering why the city council and the mayor felt it was necessary to have an ordinance banning guns from city buildings. Criminals have always had guns, and nothing was done to keep them out of public meetings.

Critical of behavior

I WAS appalled by the mayor's behavior at the recent city council meeting. I thought his attitude toward the people on the south side of Cape Girardeau was demeaning to women in this community. I felt his behavior toward the owner of the bed and breakfast was inappropriate. I don't know if the city has a recall process like California, but if we did, I would vote to recall him.

Give up the table

I AM a waitress and have noticed an excessive number of people holding business meetings in restaurants. Please note that your waitress assisting your table makes $2.20 an hour. If you are taking her table for another hour, you are causing her to lose a lot of money that she could have made from other guests. And other customers are waiting for a table. If you are just talking business and are done eating, then you can go back to your office and let someone else eat. Thank you.