Speak Out A 12/13/02

Lake, not water park

CAPE GIRARDEAU and Jackson need a water park like a hole in the head. Don't you realize how many towns have these things and went broke? Sure, they are nice, but they will end up just like the paintings on the flood wall. Where is all the tourism that generated? The Jackson train supposedly generates tourism, but where is the profitability? If you want a water project, dam up the end of the Diversion Channel, get the Department of Conservation to buy all the flooding farmland that is under water half the year and make a Lake of the Ozarks for our part of the state.

Need enforcement

ANOTHER NIGHT here in Jackson sitting in my home and listening to the racers running up and down the street. Where are the police? If you call to complain, the police might eventually send a car to drive through, but it seldom stops. Wait until the next time the city wants more money for new programs and improvements. If the city won't listen to the residents, then the residents might not listen to the city.

Medicaid coverage

A SPEAK Out comment said a person with Medicaid gets better treatment than someone with insurance. This is not true. I am a working mother of three, and my children have Medicaid. My 3-year-old son has a speech delay. His four front teeth were knocked out by an accident. Even with a speech delay and this accident setting him back even further, Medicaid will not cover his false teeth until he gets his permanent teeth. Medicaid considers this to be cosmetic even though it has set him back 80 percent in his speech.

Student wants to hear

THIS IS in reference to the caller who said we should be thankful we have the ability to hear loud mufflers. I would be happier if I could spend the rest of my life being able to hear music or my children laughing. These loud muffler noises can contribute to hearing loss. I am a 22-year-old college student.

Biblical auto sales

WHAT WOULD Jesus drive? The Scripture tells us: "And they were all in one Accord." Honda does it again.

ACCORDING TO former President Jimmy Carter, on accepting the Nobel Peace Prize: "War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good." There are no necessary evils. If something is truly evil, there's no way it can be necessary. And if it is truly necessary to the well-being of a rational man's life, it's not evil, but good. There is such a thing as a good war. A war against Adolph Hitler was good. A war to decimate Osama bin Laden and others of his ilk is equally necessary and good. Given the premise that evil exists and that certain people will act in an evil and violent manner, a rational and just war is synonymous with self-defense. Self-defense is good.

The threat is real

I AM in the military overseas. I read Speak Out every day online. I read every day about people who object to the war and who want peace. If someone slaps you, are you going to let him continue to do it, or are you going to react? Most of the world hates America out of jealousy. We train every month on how to combat terrorism. I cannot go off base without taking numerous preventive measures to ensure my safety. Most of you all sit in the security of your home and don't fear anything. This contributes to your ignorance. But the threat is real. If you just keep ignoring it, it will just get worse.

Feeling of goodwill

A SPEAK Out comment said a 12- or 13-year-old may be too old to believe in Santa. My daughter is almost 10 and still believes in Santa. I don't think anyone has the right to take that belief away from her. Not even me. As she gets older, she will figure it out on her own. If she asks me, I will try to explain to her that Santa is more like a feeling of goodwill that we should feel all year round and not just at Christmas. My daughter also knows the true meaning of Christmas. She and Jesus have something in common. They both have a birthday in December. Happy birthday, Jesus. Happy birthday, Robyn.