SPEAKOUT

Raise hands in praise anywhere

I'M COMMENTING on "Standing shows praise for God." I agree. God loves to be praised. We should stand and raise our hands. I don't care if you're at a concert, in your home or in your car (if you're not driving). God loves praise. The person who doesn't understand that needs to search inside themselves. God's people show their respect and love and the gospel in their heart by standing and raising their hands for God and Jesus Christ.

Answers to the questions

DAVID LIMBAUGH stretched credulity to the limit in a recent column. He went way over the line in attempting but failing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in our successful effort to stop tinpot war criminal Slobodan Milosevic. However, to his credit, Limbaugh raised three questions which deserve answers. One, what is the purpose of NATO in the Cold War world? Two, should the United States remain a member? Three, should foreign-policy decisions made by the United States always be in line with NATO? The answers: One, NATO's purpose in the Cold War is to selectively stop the likes of Slobo and promote democracy. Two, the United States should remain a member of NATO. Three, U.S. foreign policy should not be subordinated to NATO, but it's unlikely the two will ever be at odds, because we'll be calling the shots.

McDonald's folks deserve thanks

I WOULD like to commend all of the McDonald's employees during their Beanie Babies sale. I went to several McDonald's restaurants and purchased two sets of the Beanie Babies. And not one time were any of the employees ever rude or disgusted or ugly during my experience there. Everyone was very nice and friendly and patient, and they had lines miles long. So I'd just like to commend the McDonald's employees.

Neighborhood should take charge

TO HAVE our police officers attacked by a mob when they're trying to apprehend suspects is a disgrace to our community. When the same people are in distress, whom do they call for protection? You're right, the police. It's a shame that the decent people in this neighborhood don't show some responsibility and leadership to take care of this mess.

Go take a look

I JUST read your nice article about the trouble on South Middle Street. Regarding Councilman Tom Neumeyer's comment, the police do a fine job, but I think Neumeyer needs to get off his City Council chair more often and walk around his actual district. He might learn a few things. He's a little bit naive. People who live on the block -- not everyone, obviously --- but several people are sitting in lawn chairs selling the drugs. It's as obvious as the nose on Neumeyer's face. He just needs to get out more often in his own district.

Great patriotic program

THE MEMORIAL Day program held at the Osage Centre was quite nice. A big thank you to all who contributed to it. The band played patriotic melodies, and the woman who sang had a beautiful voice. The program ended with her singing the Lord's Prayer.

Laws broken on Middle Street

I AM a little confused. In Friday's paper, one of our citizens was concerned about his residence being trashed. Isn't this called trespassing? Property damage? Probably underage drinking? Loitering? Illegal drug use? And Carl Kinnison of the police department said many of the trespassers' activities are not illegal. I have a question: Which one? We have all these laws. They're told us we have to be the one to file a complaint. Some of us don't have time to take off from work and go to court. What's the use? I'm wondering if it pays to be a law-abiding citizen. I sympathize with Mr. Bonner. I do have a suggestion: Why don't they park an empty police car in front of your house? That does about as much good as a live police officer being in that same car.

What about rest of the time?

I WAS just reading the comment "Standing shows praise for God." This is wonderful, and we should show respect and praise for him. But I wonder if you stand and show respect for him when you're home alone and no one else is watching, or slipping around taking that drink you shouldn't have, or when you go to the gambling boat. Do you stand up for Jesus then? No way. These men were just doing their job, and more power to them.

What's the next diversion?

WHAT WILL be Clinton's next diversion from his scandals? Better he be sex-addicted than bombing-addicted. Has his injured ego been assuaged yet, or does he have more tragedies in mind for America and the world? He should be prosecuted along with his war cohorts to the full extent of the law.

Too much hate, not enough love

SOME OF the things I read in Speak Out are so hateful. Why don't you people get God in your life and put some love in your heart? Maybe you could think about what Jesus would do if he were in these particular situations instead of hating someone so much? People are asking why our youths are into violence so much. Just look around you and listen to some of the adults you work with. They are so hateful that some days you wish you weren't even with them.

Jesus was a carpenter too

A SPEAK Out caller advised us that we don't need a carpenter's union. Jesus was a carpenter with a union of followers who came to be known as Christians. Thus I consider the caller's comment anti-Christian.

Heavy-handed tactics

WELL, IT looks like the Cape Girardeau Police Department's its gestapo tactics are going to get them a round with the federal people investigating this thing. You don't have to be black to be victimized and insulted by the police department's tactics. They're going to get theirs. We're just going to let justice prevail here.

Why not use force?

IF THE Cape Girardeau Police Department is being attacked, they have guns. Use them. If people want to act like animals, treat them like animals. Why should a policeman not use a weapon when he's being attacked by people?

Cape can clean this mess up

LET'S CLEAN up Cape Girardeau. Let's get the criminals behind bars. Let's don't fight back. Let's clean house. Cape Girardeau Police Department, do your job. Let's clean this town up. There is not room for criminals in Cape Girardeau. We can grow. Let's grow in the right direction.

And still more millennium math

THIS IS for the person who called in with "More millennium math." Now pay attention. During your first year of life, you don't celebrate your first birthday until the end of the first year. But it's still the first year of life. So the first year of the millennium will begin Jan. 1, 2000. OK? But if you wanted to celebrate the first year of the millennium, then you would celebrate that on midnight Dec. 31, 2000. Got it?