SPEAKOUT

Disagreement on birth control

THIS IS in response to the Speak Out caller who said abortion and birth control are related. I find it odd that someone would think that. Birth control is preventing a life before it happens. Abortion is killing a life after that life has already formed. There's no way they can be related. I do agree that people frown on those who have large families. They think it's so strange when people have three or more children, but that is family choice. Abortion is not a choice. Abortion is murder, no matter how you look at it, because it's life that's already formed. Birth control prevents the life from forming, but there isn't a life that's being killed.

Spanking needed in our schools

I DISAGREE fully with the caller who says children should not be spanked at school. That's what's wrong with our children today. When my children were growing up -- I had two sons -- I always figured if they needed a spanking, spank them. But there is a place to spank them. I didn't want them to be hit just anywhere. Our children today know they can be rude, crude and disabused and they will not get in trouble. That's why we have rude people who do not have any standards when they grow up and think they have the world by a string and nobody can touch them. When they get out in this world, they find out they're wrong. They grow up with the wrong attitude. I think there is a time and a place for everything, and a woman who says her children should not be spanked probably doesn't have any discipline at home either. There are places you can take your kids if spanking doesn't help for counseling. Teach them God's word and discipline.

Loudspeakers were too loud

I WENT to the SEMO football game Thursday night. I enjoyed the game, but I left early. I left early because of the public address system. It was so loud that it gave me a headache. I wish someone would do something about lowering the volume on the public address systems of the Show Me Center and Houck Stadium.

Congratulations to Kim Talley

I WOULD like to speak out about the recent stand-a-thon. I think it was great what Kim Talley did. The last few days of the event I started watching with amazement. Every chance I got, a couple of times a day, I would drive by to see if she was still standing. I'd rush through the parking lot, my fingers crossed, and I'd get out. Sure enough, she'd still be there, the picture of health. Everyone else was swollen and in bad shape, and she looked so good. Rodney was a nice guy too. I'm sorry he lost. But being a female, I was rooting for Kim, of course. I just wanted to say she did a great job. Does she get any kind of prize? I think she deserves one since she's a female, and she beat 81 people out of Cape. Good job, Kim. Thanks.

Paducah workers used safety precautions

I'M CALLING in reference to this atomic plant contamination they're talking about over at Paducah. I worked at that plant in 1953, 1954 and part of 1955. It is ridiculous to talk about radiation and danger. Everybody who was hired in there and was working with uranium knew it was radioactive. Plutonium shouldn't make any difference because it's a little more dangerous. You wouldn't want to take a bath in any of it. People were supposed to wear protective gear and take protective measures any time they worked around that in case there was a spill. So to these people who act like it was a surprise that there was any danger, it's totally ridiculous and not true. I knew one of those people who died of cancer that they say was caused by the radioactivity, but that doesn't mean it's true. No one was supposed to be exposed to radiation, and people in those areas were given badges that turned color when exposed to radiation, just like X-ray technicians wear today. This is all about getting some money, and I don't feel that I was damaged or contaminated.

Reagan found ways to spend more

THE REASON that everybody keeps referring to the deficit as the Reagan deficit is because Reagan was lacking in any initiative in trying to reduce spending during his term. When Reagan really wanted something, he always went directly to the people, and you'll recall he was made famous for his ability to bypass Congress and get what he wanted. Here's the real shocker: Not only did Reagan not do anything to reduce spending, he actually submitted budgets larger than the Democratic congress wanted to spend. It's a fact, folks.

Oh, now it's dirty pool?

I AM calling to talk about our two political parties, the Democrats and the Hypocrites. When Clinton was running for office, the Republicans justified digging way past 25 years into his past by saying that character mattered and it would reveal his character. Now that the Republicans have someone with a checkered past, going back that far is dirty pool.