Speak Out C 8/29/03

The human cost

A SIGN on I-55 brags that the gambling industry provides Missouri with 11,500 jobs. Does this include police, attorneys (prosecuting and defending), medical specialists (psychologists, psychiatrists) and any others involved in the apprehending, prosecuting and treating of gamblers who have stolen from their employers or dragged themselves and family into debt? With 5,000 people who have admitted to have a gambling problem, we have got to ask: "How many do we have who don't recognize they have a problem?" Does Missouri's share of $1.3 billion justify the human cost?

Plenty of blood

WHEN SOMEONE hits someone else on the head or if you hit yourself on the head and break the skin, you're going to bleed profusely simply because there are numerous capillaries in the head that are close to the surface of the skin. My 3-year-old daughter hit herself in the head with a hammer. Of course, she bled like a stuck pig, but it didn't hurt her that much. It scared the heck out of me. She bled profusely because it was on the head.

Jury pool is here

REGARDING THE former Cape Girardeau detective who wants to pull jurors from other counties because he thinks we need a greater portion of black people on the jury: Cape Girardeau has a significant portion of black population. I don't see why we have to go outside the community to get jurors.

About those tests

THE EDITORIAL "Low standards raise MAP test questions" said, "Let's hope students in our area show better results than the paltry standards deemed acceptable by the federal government." It also said, "If we set them up for a life of low expectations, those are the ones they'll meet." If the students can't pass the tests, most of the people around the country, including California, have said let's discontinue the test. Make the tests easier. That's what they've done to the so-called admission tests that the seniors take for colleges. They could educate the students to exceed the standards or keep them back a grade or fail them. They might consider making the test tougher in order to be more meaningful and helpful and either pass them or fail the students.

Cartoon isn't funny

I AM reading the Tuesday Opinion page with an editorial cartoon I do not like one bit. It's a put-down of Roy Moore. It's not a bit funny.

Politicians responsible

I HEARD on the news about the space program and how the top people appear to be out of touch with what's going on. They're being blamed for the space shuttle that blew up. But you also have to blame politicians who supposedly were looking out for these people. If anyone gets caught not doing his job and is causing problems, government agencies promote him instead of getting rid of him and barring him from ever working for the government again. This is asinine.

Street solutions

HERE'S A solution for the snafu at the southbound Mount Auburn Road-Independence Street intersection. Cape Girardeau will have to bite the bullet and pave more land to make the transition more gradual. Also, paint arrows far ahead to alert motorists.

Disappointing cartoon

I'M REALLY disappointed by the choice of editorial cartoon regarding the Ten Commandments. Bible-believing Christians find no humor in the fool who drew the cartoon or the editors who cannot discern the true meaning of the spiritual warfare over the public display of God's laws.

Motoring advice

TO ALL the people complaining about the intersection at Independence Street and Mount Auburn Road: I've had no trouble going through there today. All you have to do is two things: watch where you're driving and stay off the cell phone.

Need bigger list

I THINK it's absurd that political campaigning and fund raising are exempt from the Do Not Call laws. There should be another list to sign up on to prevent the exempt list from calling.

Child endangerment

LAST WEEK I was driving down North Farmington in Jackson and saw a boy who couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 years old using a weed trimmer that was longer than he was tall. There were no adults in sight. Whoever is responsible for this child needs to know that if this is witnessed again by me, I will report it. If this isn't child endangerment, I don't know what is.

Bending the rules

MY ARMY nephew is getting married in a few weeks when he comes home. Because his leave was cut short, the wedding date was moved and the ceremony is being held at a hotel. When asked to perform the ceremony, a military chaplain said the couple would need to go through at least three months of marriage counseling with him and he would not perform a ceremony in anything other than a chapel. My nephew is very proud to serve his country and it meant a lot to him to have a military chaplain perform the ceremony. While I understand the requirements, I question that the chaplain couldn't bend the rules.

Seat belt lessons

IS SEAT belt safety taught in the classrooms? If not, it should be. I've seen several parents driving around with their children not strapped in. Perhaps some reinforcement through the schools could not only teach the children, but teach them to teach their parents. Seat belts save lives.

Building-site trash

IF I made a pile of trash in my front yard with fast food bags and soda cups, my neighbors would complain. It's not appropriate. So why do home builders in Jackson think it's OK for them to do so? Don't they realize that a garbage pile attracts unwanted critters? Don't they realize that the trash blows into my yard on a windy day? Would it hurt for them to have a trash can?

Computer chips for kids

AS I notice all the missing-kid posters in the stores and on milk cartons, I can't help but wonder if all kids shouldn't have UPC-coded computer chips inserted in them like my dog has. I've heard many success stories on how lost and stolen dogs have been returned to their owner because of these computer chips. If it works for dogs, why not for kids?

Covered-bridge cleanup

HAVE YOU been to the Burfordville covered bridge and mill lately? Some attention needs to be paid to the upkeep on the weeds and debris along the banks of the creek. In years past, it's been well-maintained. I'm not sure what's going on with it now, but whoever's job it is to take care of this must be enjoying a long nap. Let's get our beautiful park cleaned up before the musical festival.

Back to school

NO ONE looked forward to Labor Day when I was a kid. It meant going back to school the next day. I don't remember the heat being an issue,. The only air conditioning in our school was in the library and the principal's office. What a shame it is that our youngsters had such a short summer this year. What a shame it is that our children seldom get fresh air.

Perfectly clear

HERE'S A Bible verse for you: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God he made man" (Genesis 9:6). It doesn't seem to be taken out of context, and it sure reads clear to me.

Pray for peace

PRAY FOR peace. Acknowledge to your brothers and sisters that you are praying for peace. Pray for the president. Pray for all world leaders. Pray for peace.