SPEAKOUT

Libertarians hold kooky views

KUDOS TO the Southeast Missourian for publishing some Speak Out comments critical of the Libertarian Party. They have gotten a virtual free ride in the local press for far too long. Republicans and Democrats pander to them and patronize them when they should be condemning them for their kooky ideological stance. Philosophically, the Libertarian Party favors everything from legalizing drugs to legalizing prostitution to putting the defense of our nation in the hands of private concerns. Locally, the Libertarian Party hit a new low when, in my opinion, they exploited Cape's young people for the purpose of gutting a much-needed get-tough-on-teen-smoking ordinance. It's about time the whole truth came out concerning these nutcakes.

No guns here; bombs elsewhere

I WOULD like to comment on President Clinton's handling of the places testing these bombs. Here in America they want to take our guns away. But when it comes to our enemies, Bill Clinton wants to hand these people bombs. You people who support Clinton ought to be ashamed of yourselves, because we may be under the threat of nuclear war now.

Cell phone produces erratic driving

RECENTLY I saw a pickup heading north on Highway 25 that kept running off the highway, swerving and crossing the center line, barely missing oncoming cars. I thought the driver was drunk. I caught the license number and stopped at Jackson and turned him in. They finally pulled the pickup over in Gordonville. I figured that person realized she had had too much to drink and shouldn't be driving. As I passed I looked to see. What did I see? That person had a cell phone pressed to her ear, holding it with her shoulder. I couldn't believe how stupid and careless that person was. I hope she sees this and realizes how dangerous she was. Make your phone calls at home.

Call chamber for yard awards

CAN YOU tell me how to nominate a yard for the Yard of the Month? I don't know who to contact, and there is a yard in town that is beautiful and certainly deserving of the award.

REPLY: Contact the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce at 335-3312.

Scary ad for third-largest party

I BELIEVE in free expression and all that, but I don't think you guys should run ads that frighten people. I'm still shaking in my boots after reading an ad that said the Libertarian Party is the nation's third-largest political party. Man, that's scary. I may move to Indonesia.

Greenspan, Clinton are a team

I JUST wonder when Speak Out callers are going to get their facts straight. They run around slobbering about how Allen Greenspan is controlling the economy and Bill Clinton doesn't know anything about it and acting like Greenspan is doing it all himself. I don't think they have ever read Bob Woodward's book. He was talking about after the election, before President Clinton took office, Greenspan went up to Little Rock several times to see Clinton to work out the plans for handling the economy. Clinton was very well aware that he had to change his program slightly to make the financial plan work. He and Greenspan worked together, hand in glove.

Dogs don't belong in churches

THIS IS in rebuttal to the comments from the two dog lovers about when I said that dogs don't deserve human treatment. I'm trying to say there's a difference between humans and animals, and dogs do not belong in people's churches. The house of God is for humans. It is not a house of Dog. I'm glad you like your dog. I'm not a dog hater. But I don't believe that I would put dogs over humans. I agree that some people are pretty bad, but there are good people out there. Maybe you should try to treat people as well as you treat your dogs, and maybe they would treat you better.

All the truth, not just snippets

TO THE caller who wants to know if there's one Democrat who wants to find the truth: I've talked to a lot of them, but they want to know all of the truth. They want all the truth about the finance campaign problems of the Republican Party as well as the Democrats. They also want all the tape of Hubble's conversation. They should give us all of the tape, even the part that might say Hillary didn't know anything. So let's have all the truth about Republicans and Democrats, not just sneak previews.

District gets free rides in Jackson

NOW THAT the Jackson School Board has come out against free rides, I can only assume they are also against the following free rides: The Legion baseball diamond located in the city park, the women's softball field, Brookside fields, girls league T-ball field located in the city park and the tennis courts located in the city park. The district uses these facilities cost free - nothing for maintenance, upgrading or utilities. Plus the school has the authority to tell Jackson citizens to stay off these sites when the district has games and practices. This includes city leagues that have charged the participants a fee. Example, the boys baseball league. What has the school district paid in users' fees in the last 20 years for park facilities? Can I use the gymnasium free next Thursday? I'm sure the school board will address the free ride that is the trash produced by high school students on Missouri Street and the adjacent cemetery.

Christian singing is welcome sound

WHAT A refreshing sound as I walked in Wal-Mart. There was no canned music but live Christian singing by a couple from Nashville. What a joy it was to talk to them. Maybe we could also have some local artists like Robyn Host or Bob Collier who also are Christian singers. Hats off to the Wal-Mart manager.

Giving away more to China

BILL CLINTON's going to be heading off to China. I guess he's going over there to get more American factories to move to China and take more American jobs. I guess you have to do something, because it's payback time for all the contributions he got from the Chinese. It all comes out in the wash sooner or later. These trade agreements that politicians negotiate with these countries are not worth the paper they're written on when it comes to protecting American workers.

Child molesters get off too easy

I GET so tired of hearing that child molesters were molested when they were children. I too was sexually molested by my own father. I would never even think of doing this to another individual. What bothers me is seeing my father, who also beat my mother, walk around like he owns the world. The reason I'm so upset is seeing Judge Syler's decision letting a 19-year-old molester off on probation so "it won't ruin his life" and because it would be "vengeful" to put him in prison. What if it was your child who was molested, Judge Syler? I have decided to move out into the country with my husband and children. There is no law in Cape Girardeau. And I guarantee one thing: If anyone hurts my children, I will not call the police. I will take the so-called law into my own hands. If you decide to arrest me, be sure to take into consideration that you be vengeful and ruining my life too if you were to send me to jail.

What about those weather reports?

LAST WEEK KFVS-TV did a report on mistakes made at the grocery store involving sale items. Yes, as a customer, I do find mistakes at least once a month, but nobody's perfect. Has KFVS ever done a report on how often their weather forecasts are wrong?

Schultz puts on a fine musical

RECOGNITION NEEDS to be given to Mike Dumey and the seventh-graders of Schultz school who put on the musical "Hercules." There was great talent and great leadership in the production. Thanks also to all the teachers, parents and students who helped make this production possible.

Tribute to a dog

THE ONE absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintery winds blow and the snow drives fiercely if only he may be by his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. (By Sen. George Best, 1870.)

Whitewater revival was appreciated

I WOULD like to tell Laura Johnston that she had a good column about the churches. She should have been down in Whitewater last week where all the area churches got together and had a wonderful revival. Even the people who weren't members of any of the churches enjoyed it, and it was just wonderful. I would like to thank all the churches that got together and had this revival. I want to let them know that all the people who attended really did enjoy it. Thank you, everybody.