Speak Out A 11/19/04

Pray for the Iraqis

THERE ARE a lot of people praying for the president and praying for U.S. soldiers. Just once I would like to hear someone praying for the millions of Iraqi men, women and children who are dealing with the loss of power and destruction of their homes and are being injured and killed as part of their liberation.

Important food drive

I VOLUNTEER at a food pantry and know how serious in need we are of the Boy Scout food drive that's coming up. We really do appreciate those little guys getting out on a cold, windy Saturday morning to put the bags out. We know they try to pick up every bag that's left next Saturday, and if they miss someone, that food could be brought to the food pantry by that individual or call anyone who is involved in the food pantry. We would see that it is picked up. Every item is deeply appreciated. Our shelves are almost bare at this point.

Defend America

EVERYBODY'S HOLLERING, "Bring the military home." That's an all volunteer military. They're getting paid well. Look at all the benefits they get. When we need them, we need them wherever they need to be. We can't have them all at home living the easy life and drawing big pensions and full medical benefits when they retire. You've got to use them where you need them, and that's what the job is. Our job is to defend America.

Keeping us safe

REGARDING THE airlines and government passenger data: Civil libertarians are worried about invasions of privacy. If the passengers are innocent, they have nothing to worry about. If there had been more airline passenger scrutiny, it might have prevented the attacks on America. Our government will defend and protect our country. You should thank God your libertarian privacy has not been bombed by terrorists.

Forget the degrees

I WANT to comment about how much salary the new Cape Girardeau School District superintendent will make. This is ridiculous that the education industry forces taxpayers to pay higher salaries for more degrees. Forget about his doctorate. I'll bet there are a lot of teachers who could move up to principal. Move one of these principals up to superintendent. They could find a good businessman to run these schools. Maybe that's what we need instead of these education people.

Hire real people

NO ONE in Cape Girardeau or Jackson deserves $100,000 a year for doing a job unless he can make $1 out of a dime, motivate his employees to put in 100 percent effort all the time and work well within the budget that we give him. With all the degrees some hold, they should be able to work out solutions to any problem that develops without hiring an outside firm or without crying for more money. Just because someone has a college degree doesn't mean he is smarter than the next guy. Get real people. We have all kinds of eligible people in this area to do the job of superintendent of schools for a lot less money.

Thanking veterans

VETERANS DAY has just passed, and I thought I would share this with you. I have a distant cousin in her 60s or 70s. Every Veterans Day she calls me and thanks me for serving my country. She calls all the relation who were in the service and thanks them for their service to their country. I think this is so nice. Others should do the same. God bless you, Pat.

Praying for Jim

AFTER READING of Jim Trickey in the paper going to China for an operation, how about all faiths in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, Kelso and all around have a prayer service and ask God to heal him. God is more powerful and can help the doctors to bring him back to health. I have faith in prayer. I'll start my prayers today for Jim.

A smooth surface

THE FLOODWALL murals are absolutely gorgeous. I go down several times a week to look at them from my car. However, on the plan to widen the sidewalk: Please don't use red paving stones. For us in wheelchairs, it's a rattling, jarring experience. Perhaps you can make a strip wide enough for a wheelchair made of smooth concrete so that riders in wheelchairs and pushers will have a much better experience to view the wall. A second suggestion: Why not close off Water Street entirely and make it a pedestrian area and encourage the restaurants along the area to make sidewalk dining?

Loving your neighbor

I WAS in a little shop today down by Bloomfield Road. As I was paying my bill, a woman in front of me turned around and said, "Happy birthday, merry Christmas, happy New Year or whatever." And she paid my bill. I didn't get her name. I was so shocked and stunned. But I do thank her, and I thank God for generous people who still go by the Ten Commandments and still love their neighbor as themselves. Honey, whoever you are, may God's riches blessings be upon you.

Voice your support

THREE OR four years ago, we circulated a petition here in South Cape to extend Hackberry over to Boulevard, approximately 900 feet. I want to urge the people who signed the petition and even those who didn't who would like to see Hackberry extended to please call city hall and voice your opinion on that and the support to get that done.

Helping the pay plan

IF IT hadn't been for the fire department and police department, there would not have ever been a pay raise for the Cape Girardeau city employees, and possibly there would have been layoffs.

Thanks, book fairy

I WOULD like to send my heartfelt thanks to the person who left this little note with a big bag full of good, readable books. The note says, "I think I remember you really like to read. Enjoy and pass them along. Sincerely, the book fairy." Needless to say, I'm very proud of the package of books.

Raising the money

JUST TO set the record straight concerning Monday's article about Jim Trickey II's trip to Beijing, China: His father, Jim Trickey Sr., will also be accompanying on his trip and was highly instrumental in raising the funds to send him. In fact, thanks so much to the good people of Cape Girardeau, this last fund raiser raised enough to cover his expenses.

Sassafras recipe

I REMEMBER very well drinking Sassafras tea. It is especially good on a cold day. It is so warming to the body. They use to sell roots at the grocery store, but I haven't looked in a while. Just wash the roots clean and boil the desired amount of roots in water until you get the right flavor you like. Add cream and sugar.

Respect for police

I'VE LIVED in seven cities in my life. I have never seen a town so disrespectful toward its police officers than Cape Girardeau. Walk in their shoes. They see things that would give most of us nightmares for life. They listen to you mouth at them while they write you a ticket you truly deserve. Sometimes they take a bullet. I don't have enough guts to do what they do. How dare someone compare a garbage collector to a police officer?