SPEAKOUT

Everyone should get to choose

NOW THE Cape School Board has voted to approve grandfathering. IN other words, this means you can pick the schools you want to go to. You have a choice too. If you don't want to go to the school district you live in, you can pick another one and go free. But the Catholic schools, when they pick another one, they have to pay. Is this still called a democracy?

Leave time for church schedule

JUST AS late as a week ago, I've had friends in Jackson telling me how we should move over to Jackson because that's a good, small-town community with good values and Christian values and so on and so forth. And then in the paper I saw the two Fourth of July schedules, one for the Cape Girardeau celebration, one for Jackson. Cape Girardeau didn't start until 11:30 a.m., plenty of time for people to go to church in the morning and then come out. Gosh, I noticed Jackson started at 7:30 a.m. had things all day, including the times when those good, God-fearing Christians should have been in church. Hmm. What does that tell you about Jackson?

You can choose compassion

RACISM. EVERY day we're reminded of this problem. All races have some who whine, provoke, blame, make excuses for their race and their racial views. It's a shame that just a few creeps may get many decent people wrapped up in this hate and distrust. No one can choose his or her race, but you can choose your heart and compassion. I'm sure God doesn't prefer one race over the other.

It still was a generous gesture

WHILE IT is true that Gwen Winningham sold the land for Brookside Park to the city of Jackson, the fact remains that she sold it well below market value. Had it not been for her generous spirit, it's possible Jackson would not be able to afford this beautiful park.

Poll doesn't change our rights

I JUST wanted to make a comment about the weekend poll that was on the front of USA Weekend. A scientific poll of 1,000 adults show dramatic support around the nation that guns should be modified or eliminated. The liberals would like for people to lay down their arms. But that's what Fourth of July is all about. It is our constitutional right for law-abiding citizens to be able to carry a firearm. Believe me, the burglars and the carjackers out on the highway have got to wonder if a law-abiding citizen might put one right between their eyes if they try to do bodily harm to them. I went to Vietnam myself. I have fought for the right to bear arms, and I will bear arms. I don't care what the poll says. I have that right, and I will continue to have that right.

She has done a lot for Jackson parks

I'M NOT sure what the big fuss is over what Gwen Winningham has or has not done for the Jackson park system. The recent Speak Out comment about clearing up some information is, at best, only partly correct. Gwen has quietly gone about spending the last 20 years of her time and savings on the Jackson City Park. I cannot comment on the cost of the old drive-in theater. That preceded my time as a Jackson Park Board member. I was on the board during the purchase of the Brookside Park and the development of the Litz Park addition. The park board had the Brookside property appraised, and Gwen did in fact donate half of the appraised value. She then permitted the city to pay the remaining 50 percent over a five-year period with no interest charge. She did in fact donate the funds to build the two excellent ball fields in Brookside Park, and she had and continues to donate countless amounts towards other projects to include the veteran's memorial. My personal experience only goes back 20 years. I mean no offense, but since 1980 no one outside of Vera Wagner has had as much positive influence on the Jackson park system as Gwen Winningham. As for Litz Park, the caller was partly correct. The Litzelfelner family did donate 13 acres of the Litz Park addition and then sold the city 17 acres to make it accessible and developable. The restroom has since been part of a park development grant the city received.

When only seconds count

SOME NEWS for those who feel that Mr. Booher should have waited until he was attacked before defending himself. Studies have shown that the average adult can cover a distance of 21 feet in less than two seconds, giving a person in a self-defense position precious little time to organize his defenses. This information is well-known among police departments, and there are actually police drills that teach police officers to cope with this situation. That's the reality.