SPEAKOUT

Libertarians likely to vote Republican

BEFORE SOMEONE telephones Speak Out and calls Mary Nall a communist or liberal or Democrat or all three for opposing a flag-burning amendment to the U.S. Constitution, allow me to make a point. Mary Nall is a Libertarian. Unless they decide to waste their vote, Libertarians are more likely than not to vote Republican.

High cost of visiting China

WELL, I guess I'm going to see everything now. The butcher of Tiannamen Square is going to meet the butcher of Waco. I think this is the worst thing that we could possibly do. They're a bunch of outlaws. They've given millions of dollars to President Clinton, and now he's going over there I guess thanking them and taking 1,200 people with him which is going to cost almost $60 million. How can afford this when children in this country are starving, Social Security is going broke, cutbacks on everything, higher taxes on the working class? Yet, we can spend $60 million going over here. Just think of this. What's his impeachment going to cost? That will cost us another $60 million. Of course, that will be worth more than them going over there.

Older workers are forced out

TOO MANY low-paying jobs which have no potential of higher pay is what's wrong with the work force in Southeast Missouri. When a good-paying job comes along, the older worker gets bribery of early retirement so a lower and younger person will fill the job at way less to pay. The retired teachers of Cape Girardeau are a good example. Just have them to wait four or five more years from now, and they'll see what I'm talking about.

Teacher's comments were tirade

AN APPARENTLY out-of-control Central High School teacher had a mega-length comment in Speak Out recently. The teacher cautioned the public against back-biting and mudslinging. Ironically, the teacher proceeded to back-bite and mudsling. In what I interpreted to be a near-hysterical tirade, the teacher took shots at what he/she termed minor sports, the summer school enrichment program and sadly, Notre Dame High School. This was all preceded by what seemed to be a plea to understand that teachers at Central need two preparation periods, inferring that teachers at other schools don't and that teachers at Central need the extra prep period because they go the extra mile, implying teachers at other institutions don't. Public discussion and debate is good, but outbursts like the teacher's add nothing to it and subtract from the wonderful reputation Central High School has had for so long.

A bit of detour verse

THE NAME of this poem is "Detour": The department of cats in our fair city made a maze for us mice without any pity. While blocks remain routes on their 8-to-5 run, close off the best and leave open just one. Let them find their way home, from the east to the west, and get back before dark. Can these mice pass our test? If you've got the answer to the point of their gain, help me find a good route. All these streets look the same.

Day care is a loving home

IN REFERENCE to the frequent day-care comments being made, please allow me to offer another side of the story. I know first-hand about this day care situation, and I can tell you that as a parent, I'm very happy that my baby is in such a loving environment as this one. Yes, it's in a Christian home with lots of hugs, kisses, dancing and singing. The little ones are taught how to share and be kind to one another and are exposed to the teachings of Jesus. As a careful parent who feels very picky about what my child is exposed to, it took a lot effort on my part to find such a day care that matches the values I would want my child taught in my home. Consequently, I think that what really stands out for this day care is that I believe my child feels he's in a home away from home and he always looks forward to being with his daytime friends. I believe that the person who originally made the outrageous comment was not just unfair, but manipulative, wrong and unjustly playing with the livelihood and reputation of a caring individual.