Speak Out A 11/07/02

Candidates can call

I WAS going to call to gripe about candidates calling me at home even though I'm on Missouri's No Call List. But I did some checking first. It turns out that candidates are exempt from the No Call List. Their freedom of expression is protected, while the commercial messages of telemarketers is not. So not everyone is prevented by the No Call List from making calls to your home.

Needs legal help

THIS IS to the Division of Family Services in Scott County. You were doing so well in helping someone I know. You got her into the system and got a restraining order against her husband to protect her and her children. You encouraged her to stay home with her preschool children and helped her children understand the divorce that their father is getting. Now when she needs a lawyer to help her in the divorce, you can't help. The legal-service department is out of funds. That I understand, but does she just get left out? How is that helping her?

Not such good old days

ALTHOUGH I don't remember quite so far back, I do remember enough to know that the so-called golden age another Speak Out caller recalls so fondly was built on mind-numbing conformity and oppression of African Americans, women, gays and lesbians. Back-alley abortions or unwanted children were forced on young women condemned by society. The good old days were anything but for many of us.

It's our privacy

I WONDER what people who welcome surveillance cameras because they are doing nothing wrong would think about having one in their living rooms. If they're doing nothing wrong, why in the world would they object to it? I think we need to take a long look at what our Founding Fathers tried to prevent: invasion of our privacy.

Time to strike

WHAT'S WRONG with these people who are saying war with Iraq is wrong? We yelled at the government because it didn't pick up on the Sept. 11 attacks soon enough. If we don't act soon, we'll look like idiots. It will happen all over again because you refused to back the government.

Explain the money

I WISH someone could tell me why that the United States is sending fuel oil to North Korea. I would also like for someone to explain why the American taxpayer is sending over $400 million to Kuwait. The paper said part of the money in Kuwait would go to the government and part to its people. I would like to know what this money's going to be used for.

THIS IS to my neighbors who have the loud exhaust pipes on their vehicles. Iftwould be nice if you wouldn't get out on Sunday morning so that my family can sleep a little bit late. If you want to check how loud your pipes are, it would be nice if you'd do it after 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning so other people could sleep.

Cemetery confusion

MORLEY SWINGLE'S book "The Gold of Cape Girardeau" is great reading. He gives the location of the Confederate line during the battle of Cape Girardeau as being roughly from Capaha Park near St. Vincent's Cemetery. I think he was referring to St. Mary's Cemetery. Was this ever known as St. Vincent's? Regardless of what it was called, the general location is very clear.

Make our own fuel

WE DON'T have to go to war for oil. We can make our own oil here out of corn. Cars will run on alcohol fuel made from corn. It would be better to grow corn than to make war.

Honor for athletes

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and their families. This is indeed quite an honor.