SPEAKOUT

If ACLU is against it, I'm for it

I WAS originally opposed to campaign-finance legislation. However, I read in a letter to the editor that the American Civil Liberties Union is also opposed. I may have to rethink my position.

Some Methodists go to boats in moats

I DON'T believe the United Methodist Church speaks for all it's members regarding gambling and boats in moats. My wife and I are United Methodists, and we go to the boats in moats now and then.

Why are we paying all these extras?

I JUST got my telephone bill which informs me I have to pay 50 cents a month more for an online repair plan. Also, I will be charged on my July bill 5 percent more for school computers and access to the Internet. Why? If the president has all the money to give to China, Japan and all the other countries, why do we have to pay the bill? Also, the bank informs me if I want my checks back, I have to pay a $5 fee every month to get them back. Why? The banks are getting bigger and bigger, and we poor folks have to pay for it. Why? I, like many others, live on a fixed income. Lately everything is getting higher. Just as my sewer fee jumped from $25.50 for three months to almost $40 for three months. Will somebody please tell me why? Are we getting money hungry? And why do all the schools have to get on the Internet. Doesn't anybody use common sense anymore?

Draw the line on private emotions

TO REPLY to a Speak Out comment, I would like to say that had Linda Tripp been a man who had taped Lewinsky's conversation, I am sure he would have been in jail immediately and Starr would have not helped him out by taping some more trash on Lewinsky. And when does he draw the line against private parties having their own emotions? What is he trying to do to America?

Thanks for returning my purse

I WOULD like to thank the person who returned my purse from Food Giant Grocery Store on July 2.

Florida fires and dire predictions

PAT ROBERTSON predicted severe consequences for Florida for what he termed "sinful behavior" in Orlando. I believe he probably said hurricanes or tornadoes. Who could have predicted fire? But now Florida is burning. Pat Robertson was made so much fun of. I just wonder if people have stopped to think about that. It's worth the thought.

The White House won't be the same

WE NOW have a president who is capable of deceiving himself in believing he didn't have sex with this young woman. We have to wonder how this carries on into his politics today. And we have to wonder why this president was over in China for his longest visit ever. I recall so much stuff being made of Mr. and Mrs. Reagan traveling around. I would swear that Mrs. Clinton by herself has done more trouble than Mrs. Reagan ever did. Combined they have had quite the experience in the White House for being such a dastardly couple.

Cape Meadows area needs attention

I WOULD like to know why the Cape street department has not put caution signs or speed bumps in the Cape Meadows area. For the last six years I have lived in Cape Meadows. I have seen many, many kids come close to being hit. It's a maintenance area that should be looked at a lot more before something happens.

Media make up quite a bit of stuff

I WANT to comment over the latest flap over CNN's credibility and how they said nerve gas was used on American soldiers in Vietnam. I always knew that the major news media weren't telling the truth. They made up quite a bit of stuff. What can people expect out of CNN? Just think who owns it: Jane Fonda and her husband. Especially about the military, who would hate the military more than Jane Fonda? I don't even watch Larry king and all them. They are the biggest liars in the country next to Walter Cronkite. Here they are talking about CNN. They should add ABC, CBS and NBC in there. I watch the Fox News Network. At least they are balanced and fair.

Not trust for tobacco-growing doctors

I HEARTILY applaud the person who responded in the Missourian saying the doctors should hang their heads in shame. I absolutely agree. I was really hurt and embarrassed to think a doctor would try to heal a patient and then grow tobacco to try to kill them. I personally hope I never have to go to one of those doctors, because I wouldn't trust them to think they would even heal me. Again, I think it is terrible.

Retired Navy man opposes flag burning

I JUST want to read something to you quick. "I, (blank), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, that I will bear truth, faith and allegiance to the same and that I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers over me." This is according to the regulations and the uniform code of military justice. Let me tell you a little bit about this, I am retired from the Navy and that is exactly what it means. You will bear truth, faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that means the flag. Decimating the flag is not a thing you want to do. That is the symbol of our country, the pride of our country. I have been in Granada, Panama and the Persian Gulf. I fought very well for my country. And the sailors and soldiers who did their respective jobs did a great job for the country. And I am just absolutely appalled at the thought of someone burning my flag, our flag. It's everybody's flag. Let's not do that.

Don't ask taxpayers to pay for campus

VOTERS OF Cape Girardeau: In November you may be asked to approve a tax to help fund development of the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus. I cannot believe they can buy a piece of property and ask us to fund it. I am 45 years old, and I have never owned a house. Now what you all need to do is set up a fund for me. I will buy a piece of property and ask the taxpayers to pay for it. That's what we are doing here. And I can not believe this is happening here. I appreciate it that they will put it to the voters, because I wouldn't give y'all a nickel.

Children need to be taught responsibility

I DON'T plan to sound threatening, and I don't want to go on and on with this. But I have to tell you what happened in a Jackson parking lot. I was sitting in our van. Another van was parked next to us. There was a boy and a girl in it. She was chucking little pebbles at our dash and van body. She didn't damage it, but I got out and reprimanded her, gently enough I thought. Someone else not as nice would have been much more harsh. She was taking an awful chance. She didn't genuinely apologize. She was intending to hit the van. They didn't think I saw but I did. Their father or somebody came out of the drug store. I told him what had been going on. He said, "Oh, it looks alright to me, there doesn't seem to be any damage." He wasn't even looking at the van, by the way. He was getting in the van to drive away. I said, "Luckily enough, I don't see any damage," but I looked right at him and said, "It's a good thing too." And he looked at me real sarcastic and said, "I think it's a good thing myself," and drove away. He didn't apologize on behalf of his children or make them apologize. I just want to tell you that I know your van, I know your license plate number and I picked up the pebbles. If I find anything that looks unusual, I will go to the police. You don't know who I am or what my job is. I could be police myself. I could be a lawyer, I could be married to someone in law enforcement. You don't have any idea. I don't know who you are, but I could easily find out. This is a small town, and I will see your van again. I hope you don't have any problems. He would deserve any problems with his van or with his children, because he is going to reap what he sows, and the apple doesn't fall very far from he tree. What I am getting at is he is not teaching his children, I don't know how many generations this goes back. This is taking personal freedom a little to far. I think you should be ashamed of yourself. You are certainly not a gentleman, nor do you have a lick of common sense.

Didn't pay to be a bench warmer

I WOULD like to speak out about the 14- and 15-year-old boys league in Jackson. My son just got done with a game, and he just played one inning in the outfield. He never got to bat. We didn't pay good money for him to sit on the bench. That is not fair. Something is really messed.

Keep the money at home

WHAT RIGHT does Bill Clinton have to go to a communist country and offer them money and technology for their environmental problems? We have environmental problems at home. I cannot understand how these people can do this and take the American taxpayers' money and give to a communist country. Something is terribly wrong when the government gives our money to communist countries. Who will be next? Cuba? People better wake up and stop voting the party line and vote for the people who best represent the American people and not the foreign communists.

Don't give out your credit-card number

THERE IS another phone scam out there. The person will call and say that because of your excellent credit-card usage you have been selected for an offer of a list of practically guaranteed winning lottery numbers. They then ask if your credit cards are in good standing. They then ask what card you wish to use and to confirm the number they have as correct. Don't give the card number to these people. One thing is guaranteed: They will be using that number to charge an astronomical amount of products, and you'll be stuck with it. Don't ever give your number to someone who calls you over the phone.

Democrats wanted more money to spend

I FEEL I just have to call in because people keep calling and making remarks about how the Republican Party having sold out to Big Tobacco because of the failure of the tobacco bill. I just can't believe that people are so brainwashed and cannot think for themselves and believe that Dick Gephart and crew wanted to save our teen-agers. It is very obvious that the tobacco issue had nothing to do with anything but more tax revenue, which the Democrats could use for their own pet projects to make themselves look good and which would ultimately result in even bigger government. It is really frustrating that people can't see that. Hopefully this will make a couple of people think and maybe see the light.