SPEAKOUT

There are two kinds of Republicans

I GET disgusted when I read in the paper and see people blaming the doctors' greed on the fact they are probably Republicans. There are two kinds of Republicans. There are the kind who are Republicans because they think Republicans should go as far as they can themselves. They think they shouldn't be taxed within an inch of their lives. They believe in loyalty, patriotism and fidelity should be promoted in this country. This is what you saw with Ronald Reagan. Then you have the country-club conservatives who are people like George Bush. These people are Republicans because they want to keep their money to themselves. They don't want to share. That's the kind of thing you get with the doctors. Each group of Republicans is ashamed of the other, which is a shame. But please don't tar all Republicans with the same brush. Some of us who are true-blue, dyed-in-the-wool Republicans are as ashamed of this tobacco propagation of the doctors and other wealthy people in this country as any Democrat could be.

Tax for campus? Not likely

SO, THE college wants to put a tax on the ballot in the fall to fix up the old seminary? They don't have a prayer.

We've been silent too long

AS A senior citizen, I am ashamed to admit it took a 15-year-old girl to spell out the differences in China and American policy on human rights. We have been closing our eyes and ears to the message coming out of China on human rights. It is time the Christian people of this great nation let our leaders know how we feel on the human rights issue. We have all been silent too long. Thank you, Megan.

Yes, Republicans have long memories

I WANT to comment about the person who said the Republicans have an elephant for a symbol, but they don't have long memories. We do have excellent memories. We remember Nixon real well. Remember, he is the one who opened up China without giving them nuclear and rocket science in order to aim them at our country. Nixon was also crucified for not wanting to surrender in Vietnam. He wanted to stay there until we got all our prisoners of war back. But the liberals and Democrats in this country crucified him. Nixon was crucified for 16 minutes of missing tape. Imagine how much tape that they have on this guy who is in there now. And we remember Bush and Reagan. Weren't they the ones who won the Cold War? Mr. Reagan said, "Mr. Gorbechev, tear down this wall." Here's the question: Is the wall going down or not? Reagan won and created more good-paying jobs than Clinton ever thought about. The only thing Clinton did was to increase jobs because they have to work on account of paying taxes. That's why the day-care business is so high, because Clinton arranged it. They've done so good with day care because all the women have to work now. They didn't have to work when Reagan created all those good-paying jobs. Now there are nothing but hamburger-flipping jobs. Yeah, we have good memories, and we'll remember. I was just wondering about the Democrats. Are they so mule-headed that they can't recognize the truth even when they saw it? It amazes me the gall of the Democrats.

Some weddings are old news

SINCE MOVING to Cape several months ago. I have noticed weddings are not reported in the Southeast Missourian until several months after the fact. For example, a wedding that took place in December 1997 is just being featured in the Southeast Missourian. After more than six months I feel that is can no longer be considered a news item or an announcement. Please explain the reason for so long a delay so I can understand.

REPLY: The Southeast Missourian encourages families to submit wedding photos and information just as soon as possible after the event. All weddings, engagements and other social items received by the Southeast Missourian by 5 p.m. Tuesday are published the following Sunday. However, many families choose, for whatever reason, to submit the information weeks or months after the event. Our policy is that if it is still important to the families to submit it, we will publish it. Thanks for asking.

Why not make tobacco illegal?

ONE THING the Congress and President Clinton seem to agree on is that smoking is dangerous and a very bad habit. But if it is such a bad habit and they speak about it so much, why hasn't there been a bill to make it illegal?

Fourth celebration was outstanding

I WANTED to call and congratulate the city of Cape Girardeau for the most fabulous Fourth of July celebration ever. It was one of the most enjoyable events I have ever been to. The bands were superb, and the fireworks were a grand combination to the day. Thank you to each and everyone that helped to make the event so successful. City of Cape, you did yourself proud once again.

REPLY: We're sure the compliment will be greatly appreciated. A large number of individuals and organizations contributed to the Independence Day events, led by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This newspaper ought to be ashamed

PETER KINDER has no business talking about the liberal media disgracing itself. The Southeast Missourian is the most disgraceful rag I have ever read. It should be ashamed of itself trying to pass itself off as a legitimate newspaper when it is only a vehicle for the writings of conservative state senators who also happen to be an assistant to the president of Rust Communications.

Farrow's articles are appreciated

I WOULD like to say how much I enjoyed Ron Farrow's article in The Best Years section of the Missourian. I went to school with his sister, Linda, and my husband went to school with Ron. I can remember some of his lifetime memories. I always look forward to his articles, and I always read it first. Ron, keep up the good work.

Fireworks were fantastic

THE JULY 4 fireworks at Arena Park were fantastic this year. The finale was really spectacular. Many thanks.

Why isn't America outraged at Fonda?

WHERE IS the outrage, the demand for tolerance? Jane Fonda, in a speech a couple of weeks ago at Washington's National Press Club, called on Americans to speak out against the abstinence-until-marriage sex-education formula for preventing pregnancy among teen-agers. Asked why Christian conservatives didn't agree, Fonda replied, "They don't care about children who don't look like them. They don't care about children who aren't white, middle-class Christians. As far as they're concerned, others can be eliminated. This is a holy war, and everything for our children is at stake." If she were a conservative, the media would have been in a frenzy. Remember Green Bay Packer Reggie White and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott?

Need info on dog hit by car

WE HAVE a favor to ask. Our dog ran away on the night of July 4. We looked and looked for her. Several people saw her but said they could not catch her. We live close to Arena Park, and she was last seen at Independence and Silver Springs Road. She is a brown and white Chihuahua. She wasn't wearing a collar, and she is kind of skinny even though she is well cared for. Some of our neighbors said they saw a dog that looked like her over on Independence by Beverly Health and Rehabilitation, but she had been hit by a car. My husband went over to get her and there was a little blood on the road but no dog. What we want to know is if someone saw her or if she was hit and if someone came by and picked her up. The city said they didn't pick up any animals over the weekend. Someone had to have picked her up. If you have any information, please call us at 334-1614. Our 4-year-old is still asking for his dog.

Use tax list for jury pool

I WAS reading your article in the paper on how they select names for jury duty. I was kind of curious why they couldn't select the names off the personal property tax, the fee that you pay each December. Both names if people are married are listed on that. You have to have that to get your auto license. I have been selected for jury duty three times in four years, which I think is way too much. Right after that my daughter got selected, and then my wife got selected. I'm kind of curious why they can't go for all the public and the county.

Taxes already too high for senior citizens

I COULD not believe Southeast Missouri State University would or could have the gall to ask the taxpayers or the motel and hotel owners for a nickel towards their new play toy, the River Campus. If the university want this, let them finance it. Let each of them donate a portion of their salary. Plus let their spouses have bake sales, garage sales and car washes to pay for this play toy. This is what the university would expect students to do to finance a trip they wanted badly enough. Senior citizens as well as other citizens can not afford another tax. Postage is going up. Garbage removal is going up. When is it going to stop? When giving out senior citizens cost-of-living expenses each year, I believe the government should check the city of Cape Girardeau for the increases. They would find this city is taxing its citizens to death. When does it stop? When is the college going to give us a rest? I am from a long line of school teachers. It's not that I am against education, but I am against taxing citizens for noneducational items such as this. The drawings probably cost more than most people make in a year. I don't believe you will get this tax passed.

Lesson learned with lost child

I LEARNED a good lesson last Sunday. A little boy was lost from his mom in the grocery up front by the candy. He was crying, and I was trying to console him. He said his mother was going to go to the back to find some ice cream. I told him not to worry and I would help him find her. I went with him to the back of the store, and she wasn't there. Immediately I saw my mistake. What I should have done was have someone page her. I got him back up front, and there she was right there by the candy. It really is best to stay with them where they were last seen. It's never to late to learn.

Protest against taking driver's exam again

I THINK a mistake has been made to change how the voters are selected with voter registration versus driver's licenses. I have to say I have lived in this state for two years now, and I haven't gotten my license for the state. I thought I was the only person in this boat until I met anther person who was protesting it. As I look at the voter situation, teen-agers want to get their license, but they aren't ready to sit on a jury. As things get easier, it seems like to make people go to stuff we need to change the voting system. I come from the old school that if you really want to vote, you will walk miles to do so. If they are going to make things easier, why don't they make it easier to get a license? The fact that I moved from one state to another shouldn't mean I have to get a new license. They make it so easy to vote, yet they insult the intelligence of a nearly 40-year-old woman by telling her she has to retake a test. Living here two years now I haven't gotten my license, but I have had no accidents. They need to make it easier to get a change of license. Voting is a civic duty, and I have always voted. I think that is how it should remain.

REPLY: Responsible residents of Missouri who want to drive also obtain a driver's license, as required by law.

Attorney general appointed Starr

TO THE person who thinks it is political nonsense for the taxpayers to be paying Ken Starr: The president's attorney general appointed him, and the president himself said it would not be appropriate to let him go. It's the taxpayers paying him for doing the good job the president wants him to do.

Taxpayers shouldn't support Chelsea too

I KNOW we are supposed to support the president and his wife until they are out of office. But who says we are supposed to support their grown daughter? She is in college now. That girl is getting free trips to China and all over the world. The girl is grown now, isn't she? She's in college. I don't want to support her.

Band and fireworks were very good

I WOULD just like to say thank you to the people who were responsible for bringing the Compton Heights Band to Cape for the Fourth of July concert. It was outstanding. And also, the fireworks were very, very good. Thanks for those who made it possible.

Reader wants a liberal press

YOU CAN'T help but love that Peter Kinder. Once again, he mounts up and attacks a nonexistent enemy, the liberal media. Where is this liberal media? Not on my TV, radio or newspapers we get here in Cape Girardeau between Limbaugh, George Will, William F. Buckley, John Mclaughlin, Pat Robinson, G. Gordon Liddy, Robert Novak, Ariana Hutchinson, Ollie North. Hey, what about those big media moguls such as Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch? This is a guy who got his big start in an English tabloid. Not the most family-oriented piece of journalism. What about GE, which owns NBC and also owns nuclear power plants? I guarantee they wouldn't holler too much if one of those things springs a leak. I wish we had a press that was more responsive and independent. I want some real news, I want to know what the real ills of our society are, not this obnoxious bunch of bull we get every day. Peter, I will decide what I read, not you. I want a liberal press.

Remember the digging into Reagan?

IT'S JUST like liberal crybabies to complain about taxpayer dollars being spent by Kenneth Starr to investigate the most corrupt president in our history. And they never mention a word about Lawrence Walsh spending twice the money Starr has, trying to conjure up wrongdoing about one of our best presidents in recent history, Ronald Reagan.

Focus on the positive of teachers, doctors

I HAVE to express some disappointment to the newspaper for the quality of Speak Out. Specifically, all I see in there is doctor bashing and teacher bashing. These are the people who dedicate their lives to the community in the form of educating our children and taking care of our health problems. Whereas each community of doctors and teachers may have problems within themselves, the vast majority of both are excellent in this community. We have a lot to be thankful for in this community, and what we ought to be doing is focusing on the positive benefits of the teachers and doctors instead of bashing them constantly. Dr. Stan Sides is an excellent physician and has given a great deal of his time and energy to this community and both hospitals in not only giving his time to patients but virtually building the Woman Care Program at St. Francis. Has anyone ever thanked him for this? Has the paper ever done anything to thank him for that? No. All we do is bash him in Speak Out, which is full of call-ins from people who don't know anything but what the newspapers tell them. This is an excellent community of doctors and teachers.

Oregon Trail better than our highways

I WOULD like to make a comment about the sorry state we have in our highway department. They spend a lot of money, but nothing is ever fixed permanently, though a few shovel asphalt in the potholes patted down with a shovel and let the traffic bump along. I think the old Oregon Trail was a better ride than the highways of Missouri. They must make their highway inspections during the night.

Milking on the wrong side of the cow

I GOT a chuckle out of seeing Mr. Gateley milking the cow from the wrong side. Tsk, tsk. Apparently he never had to get up before dawn to milk cows before boarding the school bus. That was some 60-plus years ago, and I had no difficulties finding the right milking side even in the dark.

REPLY: As a matter of fact, Councilman Melvin Gateley grew up on a farm and had considerable experience milking a cow. What about it, folks? Is there a wrong side and right side for milking a cow?

Doctors are smart enough to choose GOP

I'M CALLING in response to the Speak Out caller complaining that doctors belong to the Republican Party, which is getting money from the tobacco industry. I need to point out that all doctors to become doctors have to be very intelligent persons. Dummies don't become doctors. These people aren't Republicans because they are getting tobacco money but because they are intelligent. This might help the caller to figure out why he or she is a Democrat.