SPEAKOUT

No golf courses? Where do I sign up?

CHRISTINE STEPHENS recently wrote in a letter to the editor that she didn't think there would be many country clubs in hell. Country clubs are, of course, noted for their golf courses. Thus, one can conclude that, by extension, Ms. Stephens was saying there won't be many golf courses in hell. After contemplating that scenario, I am compelled to make a public plea to Ms. Stephens to never again write about that possibility. Frankly, the chance that there may be few if any golf courses in hell has, for the first time in my life, tempted me to be a sinner.

Dogs deserve better than human treatment

IN ANSWER to a caller: If anyone deserves human treatment, it's not a dog. They deserve better. My dog is my best friend, and I can trust my dog. My dog gives me unconditional love and expects nothing more in return but maybe a pat on the head. When all your human friends let you down, your dog will always be there for you. A while back I was in the hospital for a few days, and my dog looked and looked for me and even refused to eat. Would one of our human friends do that for us? I say, yes, give your dog a lot better than human treatment, because they deserve so much, much more.

Put Pete Rose in Hall of Fame

I THINK Pete Rose should be in the Hall of Fame, because you have people like Albert Bell who has gambling problems, and you don't see him being suspended or banned from the Hall of Fame. If they're not going to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame, then they shouldn't put Albert Bell in the Hall of Fame.

Democrats vote against getting facts

ALL OF the Democrats on the campaign finance committee have voted against finding out the truth about what happened in the campaign finance scandal. Isn't there one Democrat who wants to vote to find the truth?

Halfway house is a needed program

I JUST wanted to put in Speak Out about the halfway house and Gibson Center. I can't understand why people are so negative toward having a halfway house for people coming out of prison. I feel this would be a great help for these men, because some of these people are fathers, husbands and sons. These people have the kindest hearts, even though they're alcoholic, when they're not using. To keep these people sober and free of drugs, we need something like the halfway house to help them so they can get back to their families and be productive citizens in our community. When they're in the halfway house, they are not using, and they're not drinking, and they would not hurt anyone because of their kind heart and their motivation to become good citizens or they wouldn't be sent to the halfway house. Why can't people open up their hearts, open up their minds and maybe their pocketbooks to find another place for the Gibson Center to try to put these people back into society to be productive and to be good fathers, good sons and good husbands.

Sitcoms are mirrors of our time

"SEINFELD" HAD the potential to be a nice show. Its casting, writing and production were all excellent except for a gaping black hole at the center of the show: Jerry Seinfeld. His voice, style and mannerisms were parodies of themselves by the middle of the first year. Just because he had no pretensions to being an actor doesn't excuse his inadequacy. There is a thought that says each sitcom mirrors its own time: "All in the Family" and Mary Tyler Moore for the 1970s, "Cheers" for the 1980s. If "Seinfeld" is the mirror for our time, we're in more trouble than we realize.

Iris garden makes pretty scenery

I JUST wanted to tell the persons who live on North Kingshighway next to the Golden Eagle motel and across from the Fountainbleu Lodge how pretty their flower garden is. I enjoy it every day on my way to and from work. The iris garden is beautiful.

Stunned by comment on pastor

THE SPEAK Out comment directed at Pastor Zellinger regarding normal homosexual behavior and people stunned me. I am not homosexual, and I am not religious, but I too have studied the Bible. Interpret whatever you want to about the Bible's views about men lying with men, but first you might want to check out a passage in Matthew: Judge not lest ye be judged. Who does this caller think he is telling a man who has donated his life to spreading the word of the Bible what to study? How would the caller like it if the pastor showed up at his job and told him how to perform it? Get out of the Middle Ages. It's a huge, diverse world. Find joy in the variety of happiness others have settled upon.

City pools are well run

THIS IS to the lady who commented about the city pools. I have frequented these pools many times and have seen kids enjoying themselves and a staff that was skilled. If I think right, the rule is no one under the age of 8 is allowed in without a parent. There are certain times available that the pool is open for families to use. The Elks pool can't hold 10 people, so that option is rather silly.

Public-access channel promotes business

WHILE WATCHING Channel 5 on my TV, I was shocked to see that the city of Cape Girardeau is advertising Wal-Mart's Re-Grand Opening. I thought the public-access channel was to be for non-profit organizations only and for the cities of Cape and Jackson. I'm wondering who do I contact to have my business advertised free on Channel 5?

Papers on porches are appreciated

IN SPEAKING of good deeds week, we have a lady out at Saxony Village at Lutheran Home who does a good deed every day, and has been for years. She goes by early in the morning, picks up our papers and puts them on our porches. We really appreciate it.

Thanks for acts of kindness

I WOULD just like to thank several people. My car died at the Lexington-Kingshighway intersection, and several people performed random acts of kindness. They are: Cindy Spaeth, Steve Legrand and the Apria Healthcare man. I would like to thank them very much for their help. It was greatly appreciated.

Thanks for jump-staring car

I JUST want to thank that nice man who helped this poor old boy by jumping his car again, again, again and again. I really appreciate it, and I finally made it home. Thank you.

School paddling would stop guns

ALL THESE modern-day behavioral techniques for dealing with misbehaving children are creative and wonderful. But our grade schools still need at least one teacher, preferably a male teacher, with the guts to take up a paddle and whack butt two or three times to straighten out some of these kids, including mine. If there is no male, the school principal should do it. Then maybe the shootings in grade schools might decrease.

Character counts, not programs

IT'S TYPICAL behavior of a left-wing extremist to change the subject when confronted with the facts. Whether or not the president broke the law has nothing to do with the programs he supports. A man's character is judged by what he does when nobody's looking. There is a disturbing trend that we're starting to judge people by the programs they support rather than the content of their character.