SPEAKOUT

Remember Desert Storm?

DO YOU remember Desert Storm? We sent thousands of troops and spent millions of dollars. Do I remember that then-President Bush said something about the price of oil? Remember?

Not politically correct

THIS IS in response to the person who wrote in about the confusion over the SEMO Indians. The Show Me Center can't put the name Indians anywhere because it isn't politically correct anymore.

Pick better candidates

A SPEAK Out item wished the Republicans would pick better vice president candidates. Who? Like Al Gore? Give me a break! I wish the Democrats would pick qualified men for to run for president. We don't need adulterers, habitual liars or perverts in our White House.

Reasons for China in WTO

CLINTON HAS four reasons for waging his fight for China's WTO entry. One, WTO entry is compensation for his Chinese embassy bombing in Belgrade. Two, WTO entry is payback for communist Chinese re-election campaign money. Three, WTO entry is a deterrent Clinton-thing for China not to declare war on Taiwan and challenge the U.S. entry on behalf on Taiwan. And four, WTO entry is to open China's huge markets for United States corporate profits plant investments as well as cheap labor.

Clean out the ditches

I JUST have one question to ask. Who takes care of the roads from Delta down to Randles on Route P? The ditches are level with the road. Every time it rains, we have water over the road. It's hard to get through. All they have to do is clean out the ditches so the water won't pool on the road.

Why the double standard?

TELL ME something. Al Sharpton is a bigot and a racist. How come he can voice his opinion, but John Rocker can't? Figure that for me.

He stooped too low

THIS GUY John McCain may be a war hero, but I can't help remembering him making fun of the appearance of Chelsea Clinton. Any grown man who will stoop that low I don't think deserves to be in the highest office in the land. His other abilities may be high, but he really did reach a low with his comments about Chelsea.

Blame the Democrats

THERE HAVE been several people calling in about how we make such a big deal out of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and nothing out of Presidents Day. One caller even asked where this was coming from. Well, one place it's coming from is our schools, where they're devoting a whole month to Black History but nothing to Presidents Day. They might do a few worksheets or something. As a teacher, I can tell you where that came from: a Democratic administration. If you look back when this happened, it was under a Democratic administration that allowed the NEA to come in and run things. You need to watch what the Democratic Party is doing to our educational system. That does not mean I don't vote for Democrats. I vote for the individual. But when the Democratic Party is in power, our local schools, governments and cities lose control, and more and more goes to state and national, such as Clinton's proposed federal testing. This is a real problem, and that's where it started happening and why it's continuing. Watch what your children do during Black History Month and watch what they do around Presidents Day.

A truly caring person

RECENTLY A dear friend of ours died unexpectedly and it was necessary for someone from the coroner's office to make an investigation. I was with the family of the deceased when John Clifton, who I understand is the deputy coroner for Cape County, came to the hospital to talk with the family. I just wanted to say what a professional and caring person Mr. Clifton is. He talked with the family for quite some time and helped make a very difficult situation a little bit easier for all concerned. Obviously there were some questions he had to ask that were difficult for the family to answer, but I could tell he was truly a caring person and did everything possible to make all of us as comfortable as possible. Thank you, Mr. Clifton, for being there and being so nice to all of us.

His word against mine

SPEAKING OF the police department -- a couple of weeks ago I was driving west on Mount Auburn and a police car behind me signaled with his siren for me to stop. I thought something was wrong with my car, but the police officer said I was speeding. This was his idea, because I was NOT speeding. Anyway, he gave me a ticket and it cost me $71. He acted like he had done a big brave deed. I think the head of the police department needs to look into this kind of ticketing. Of course, it was the officer's word against mine and the court would have upheld the officer's information. He was smiling all the while he was issuing this ticket. He knew he was wrong. I paid the fine rather than go to court. Councilmen, look into this. I am 75 years old and I am sure he thought he could cite me without any arguments. He was right. Being a woman, I'm positive he thought he had a sure charge out of this. However, I was not guilty, but I knew it would be his word against mine.

PAT is worthwhile program

THIS IS In regard to the Parents as Teachers program. Joy Cutler is the teacher for the Delta and Chaffee school districts. I think that it's a very good way to spend tax money. Joy has been coming to our house for many years to evaluate our daughter. She has worked hard to get our little girl the help she needs. If Joy sees any child in need of help, she will not stop working on it until the child gets the help it needs. Thank you, Joy, and Parents as Teachers.

Another perspective

I JUST read another Speak Out complaint from someone who had to wait in the doctor's office. This morning I called my doctor's office and said, "I'm sore. I'm hurt. I don't know what to do." The office person said, "Can you come in this morning?" I am so grateful for that. I know it means that someone else may have to wait a little longer for their scheduled appointment. Think about it, folks. Isn't that wait worth knowing that your doctor is available when you need him or her?

Thanks for pumping gas

A GREAT big thank you to the gentleman who pumped my gas for me. It was not self-service, and it was so very kind of him. I think his name was Josh.

Murderers aren't caught

DON'T YOU think it's strange? Let a nobody get murdered, and that nobody's killer is captured in a New York instant before the body has even grown cold. But let a somebody get murdered, somebody whose family has a lot of money or prestige, does the murderer ever get caught? Look at O.J. Simpson and Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. JonBenet Ramsey. There are hundreds of them. Prominent people have been murdered, and their murderers have never been captured. I wonder why.

When will he start?

GEORGE BUSH says he brings people together. I've been watching these primary elections. I see people going apart. Can someone explain to me how George W. Bush brings people together? And when he's going to start?