SPEAKOUT

Thanks for help with trash

I WOULD like to commend two sanitation workers for helping the handicapped in my neighborhood when they forget to set their trash out. One of my neighbors is handicapped with a very severe heart problem, and these guys always remember to help him. Another neighbor is handicapped and can't get out, and these two young men always just go in the yard and get the trash for them. I think that is something to be commended. I just want to thank those two guys.

Get rid of old tires near KHS

NOW THAT the tire recycling center in Malden is burning up, someone should do something to clean up the tire recycling center on Highway 77 in Scott County near Kelly High School. It is just an accident waiting to happen. There are piles and piles of tires and shredded tires. It must breed mosquitoes and vermin. Let's get rid of this junk.

Don't put flag burners in limelight

I ALMOST have a heart attack every time I see someone desecrate the American flag. I am, however, not in favor of a law making it illegal to desecrate the American flag. All the law would do is encourage every sicko and wacko piece of garbage out there to desecrate a flag for his or her 15 minutes of fame. The only way to discourage people from desecrating the American flag is to ignore them and not give them any media coverage.

Taxes make city too expensive

THE CITY of Cape Girardeau is making it too expensive to live here. I will not vote for anymore taxes. No more taxes.

Using up paper for environmental letters

PAPER IS made from trees. Having said that, I have a question. How many trees do you think SEMO teacher Alan Journet has gone through writing letters to the editor encouraging more and more attention to environmental causes like saving trees.

REPLY: Not to defend Alan Journet's position on environmental issues -- he certainly is more than capable of doing that on his own -- it must be pointed out that trees used to make newsprint, mostly pine, are an easily renewed source of pulpwood. Newsprint makers plant more trees than are used in making paper.

High cigarette cost is the idea

THE TOBACCO industry has a commercial on television on how terrible it is to increase taxes on cigarettes and how it would only affect the poor. Isn't that the idea? Make a pack of cigarettes so expensive that teen-agers and the poor couldn't afford to smoke, thereby saving their lives? Then there would be no lung cancer and deadly effects from smoking.

DuQuoin should keep street rod nationals

THIS IS to the citizens of DuQuion, Ill. Can you imagine how much money you are going to be losing if the street rod nationals didn't come back to DuQuion next year? The problem is not the people who bring the cars to the show. It's the crowd they attract. That could be the same with any large function of that type. It's the amount of people it attracts that causes the trouble. For the millions and millions that show brings in, you could definitely hire some extra security people. Governor Edgar could definitely bring in some extra state law enforcement people. That would definitely be cheaper than taking away all this money from DuQuion. I'm sorry, but communities the size of DuQuion don't have a lot of ways to bring in money. You are kissing any improvements or extra money goodbye by letting this thing go.

Wright should have abstained

THE ARTICLE on the special school board meeting said Steve Wright was the only member who voted for the increase in teachers' salaries. I was curious. Why did he vote for it? His wife works for the school. He wanted a raise for her. I was under the impression that he wasn't supposed to vote on an issue like this that would pertain to his wife. He should at least abstain on the vote.

Store clerks should be nicer

I REALIZE store personnel have to put up with a lot from their customers. They have to put up with people shelving things in the wrong area, throwing things on the floor and being rude. They have to be on the lookout for shoplifters and just all kinds of things. And they do have a hard job, especially if they work in a store where there is a lot of merchandise. I well understand that, so don't think I don't. Don't call in and say, "You don't know what we go through." I know exactly what you go through. I have people in my family go through the same thing, and I have just a bit of retail experience myself, so I do know. But my problem is this: I think people are so paranoid, especially in your larger department stores, about everybody who walks through there that they sacrifice courtesy for caution. By this I mean they watch you like a hawk. It doesn't matter what age you are, what color you are, if you are slovenly dressed or how well you are dressed. I have some experience with this. I can be well dressed with a hat and minding my own business, but they have so much merchandise that you have to look around before you know what you want. People get nervous when you browse. I've had people walk up to me in a Cape department store just recently and say to me real sarcastic, "Are you finding everything alright?" with a look that means "I've got my eye on you." And I said, "Yes, I'm finding everything, but I am continuing to look." And she never did say "May I help you" or "Are you looking for something particular?" There are a hundred different ways for an intelligent person to put their question. But when people say to you, "Are you finding everything?" the answer most of the time is no. And I wanted to say to her, "Why, are you offering to help? Is that your roundabout rude way of asking me if you can help me?" There is nothing wrong with saying "May I help you?" I think people think it makes them subservient. Or maybe they just don't want to bother with you. If people could just say "May I help you," and then if I say "Thank you," then they could say "You're welcome" instead of "No problem". I am glad it's no problem, I didn't expect it to be a problem. I think the way people phrase things today is atrocious. Assume the best from people, because mostly that's what we are in there doing: just browsing and shopping. And we could use your help. Just try to be a little nicer to people. You'll find it comes back to you threefold.

Teens did what society taught them

I WANT to comment about these two teenagers who killed their baby in New Jersey and now they are going to have to do two and a half years in the pen. These kids were doing simply what society has taught them to do. There have been almost 50 million abortions in this country. And now they are even doing partial-birth abortion. And they simply did the same thing. They killed their kid, and now they are going to have to serve two and a half years. There is a disrespect for human life. If they aren't going to punish one person when they do murder, why are you going to punish them? You can't go sowing corn and when you get corn growing up as a crop decide you want pumpkins. It just doesn't work that way. Our society has blood all over its hands. People are in denial that what they have done is awful. I just think it is a bunch of hypocrisy.

We need health plan like Canadians

YOU FINE conservatives and people who are anti-national health care and have doubts about the Canadian plan, I implore you get a copy of the London Free Press Forum, May 2, 1998, edition. It tells the whole story about the Canadian plan. It is a wonderful plan. We are the best country. Now all we need is a plan just as good or better than the Canadian plan. I implore Congresswoman Emerson to read the London Free Press Forum. We need just what Canada has got for health care to make us even a greater country.

Support for campus at old seminary

I THINK it is a great idea to use the former St. Vincent's Seminary for the college campus. I know my vote will go for it. It will nice to see the building not empty any longer.

The real work was done by others

I AM so happy about how our Christian block party turned out this year in Sikeston. Our community should be proud to have rallied together in the spirit of Christian brotherhood. Many volunteers spent many hours in the sweltering heat spreading God's word, serving food, supervising games and cleaning up. I didn't appreciate Jo Ann Emerson walking up with a television crew and standing among the other servers just long enough to have her picture taken and then walking away when the camera was turned off. It was not right for her to mislead people into thinking she was one of the workers. Those TV people should have focused on our inspirational local talent such as our children's choir.

Give to the poor and support fireworks

I HAVE a comment in regards to the person who spoke out in Speak Out about giving money to the poor instead of spending it on fireworks in Jackson. I feel we give a lot to the poor, and this is a one time a year and so many people enjoy the fireworks. I think it was great that there was a really neat fireworks display and that we are forgetting what all it means about the Fourth of July. I feel we give a lot to the poor at Christmas at Thanksgiving, and there is just lots and lots of giving to the poor. I feel we those who aren't poor should have some things left too.