SPEAKOUT

Prevent pregnancy, prevent abortion

THE ANSWER to the abortion issue is very simple. If prevention of an unwanted pregnancy or abstinence were used, there would be no abortion issue. It's as simple as that. People aren't taking responsibility, so it creates unwanted pregnancies. They have no example in our leadership, either, for taking responsibility. This lack creates havoc in our nation.

Deal with nation's problems

IT SEEMS like all Congress is worried about is Clinton's sex life. The whole country's tired of hearing it. Congress isn't doing anything about the problems in our country. Besides, I wonder if those representatives who will sit in judgment of him have a right, because people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

President was the predator

IN REGARD to the defenders of Bill Clinton who say that Monica Lewinsky was a sexual predator, if you would read the Ken Starr report, it states that during the November 1995 government shutdown, the president invited her to his private study, where they kissed. It sounds like the president is the sexual predator, not Monica Lewinsky. All you Monica-bashers, please read the Ken Starr report before you make these erroneous statements in Speak Out.

Public shouldn't have access

I DIDN'T think the Starr report should have been made public, and I don't believe the grand jury testimony should have been made public. I do think that Congress should read the report and see the video, but they keep saying it is their duty to release all this to the public. Why? They are the ones who will make the decision to impeach or not. We, the people, are not going to vote on that.

It may be a socialist plot

THIS TRAGIC Clinton debacle makes one think it may be a highly staged Clinton socialist scheme to wreck our country. Clinton is shown in the Southeast Missourian of Sept. 19 proudly displaying a copy of "Changing America." Shouldn't this declaration set off alarms in America? This socialist Clinton couple is leading us to a global confrontation and are a definite danger to our country with their socialist changing of America. This whole Monica and Clinton affair and all the following developments may be a planned scheme to devastate and destroy our nation and split us apart. Congress, impeach this socialist president.

Practice forgiveness

WHAT WOULD Jesus do? Not what the Christian Coalition, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are calling for. They have preached forgiveness for years. They are throwing the largest stones. The Pope practiced forgiveness to the person who shot him. That's what Jesus would do.

Can't humiliate him

Prosecute to the fullest

ABOUT THE story on the McClure man who abducted a little girl at knifepoint. She escaped when a train blocked the road. There's no telling what he would have done to that little girl. I hope they prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe others will see that, and that would be a good deterrent so others won't stoop so low as to include themselves in such criminal activity. You're doing a good job, Southeast Missourian. Keep up the good work.

Clean up the windows

I WANT to applaud the person who called concerning the old Buckner-Ragsdale building on Main Street. The structure itself is in perfect condition. However, the front windows are a disgrace to all the Main Street merchants and the city of Cape Girardeau.

Clinton wasn't fair to us

THIS BUSINESS about not being fair, as the Clinton whiners are claiming, is so ridiculous. How fair was Clinton to the American people for seven and a half months? He wouldn't have told the truth then if it hadn't been for the dress and the DNA forcing him to come clean to the people. Congress, impeach this liar.

Reclaim our dignity

BEING A Republican or a Democrat is not the issue America is facing today. Let's put aside our party affiliation and reclaim our country's dignity.

He made it our business

WHAT DOES Dan Burton's private life have to do with his public record or Clinton's situation? The easy answer is that Dan Burton put his own private life in the public forum. He did it in a gentle sort of way by making himself an advocate of family values. When a politician raises a public issue, it's reasonable to examine his private record on the issue. If Burton had been a leading advocate of bankruptcy reform, it would be reasonable to wonder if he's ever had a bankruptcy. If he wanted legislation to limit import of foreign cars, it would be reasonable to ask if he owns a Ford dealership or drives a BMW. So when Burton makes an issue of unmarried mothers and pregnant teen-agers, it's reasonable to ask about his own contribution to family values. Burton specifically put his private life into the public forum by describing Clinton as a scumbag and by saying if we can prove 10 percent of the rumors, then he should be impeached. If Burton sets the 10 percent standard for Clinton rumors, then it's reasonable to set a 10 percent standard for Burton rumors. That's his standard, not mine.

Destroyed by politics

I'M SPEAKING to Americans: Wake up. Our country is being destroyed by two political parties, each trying to be more powerful than the other. We have become so polarized that we can't see the wrongs our party does, but we magnify the wrongs of the other party. Do I want President Clinton to remain as president? No, I don't want him as president. But I certainly don't want Al Gore to be president. What Clinton did was wrong, but what we are doing to our nation by constantly magnifying the situation is definitely hurting our country. Had we scrutinized the Iran-Contra affair, possibly Bush and Reagan would both be in prison, and we know Ollie North should be there now. I would like to know what was on the papers Ollie North's secretary smuggled out for him and where they are now. And how many people honestly think the $2 million paid to President Reagan by Japan for a 45-minute speech shortly after he left office was because he was just a good speaker? I think it was payback for something. Let's show both parties that Americans will not be manipulated. Let's start voting for the best person, regardless of party affiliation. I'd like to see Senator Hatch or former Senator Mitchell run for president in 2000.

Not acting very Christian

MY WIFE'S church properly prayed, as good Christians, for President Clinton and the country. I'm praying that he sees his error and says he is sorry. My church just prays for the country. What are the other churches doing? Are we Christians without sin? I don't think we're acting very Christian. I don't think Ashcroft is either. He's supposed to be a very religious man. He's become a condemner, an opportunist, jumping on a man's weakness. Clinton has got to go. Ashcroft, we don't want you up there. You'll think you're God.

Looking to Hollywood

HOW IRONIC and how sad that in order to have your faith in the dignity and honor and office of the presidency of the United States, it takes watching Harrison Ford in "Air Force One." You ought to listen to some of the lines he has about the moral responsibility of the president. Is Hollywood the only place we can go for examples of good leadership?

For the good of society

TO THE Libertarian who wrote in to the paper: I may be a conscientious parent and perhaps would want my child to work at a job to earn some money, but there are child-labor laws in effect. The reason for this is because some parents would abuse their kids and make them slaves and overwork them. This is almost the same as the curfew law. Ideally, it would be wonderful if we didn't need a curfew law, but there are parents who don't enforce a family curfew. For the good of society and of the child, it's necessary for us as a society to say that we need a curfew law.

Can't lie to your boss

SURE, CLINTON has lied. He lied to his boss. The people are his boss. If I lied to my boss and got caught, I'd get fired. The issue is whether he lied under oath in a court. That's perjury, a felony, a crime. He's done both of these.

Doing the tango

I'M CALLING in regard to Clinton and Lewinsky. I have to think way back and remember what my mother used to tell me a long time ago when it came to illicit actions. "It takes two to tango." The best that I remember, in the Uniform Code of Military Justice there's an article in there about fraternizing with superior officers. Come to think of it, President Clinton is commander-in-chief of all military forces.

Should get fired

I AGREE with the caller who said federal employees have rules. The president went far beyond what he should be doing. I don't care if he had sex with another woman or many women. He said he didn't do it, and he did it at the White House, he did it on the job. Anyone who does something like that on the job is fired for it. There are sexual harassment laws. He's showing our children it's OK to have sex with someone other than your wife after marriage. This is not appreciated by the American public, and we don't need a president who has a sexual problem like he does. And for the caller who said that if every man or woman who cheated on their spouse would lose their jobs, the whole country would starve, I don't think so. Most people who cheat on their spouses don't do it at work, and if they do, they usually do get fired. I think he should be impeached.

Men aren't four-legged animals

TODAY'S MAN is supposed to have risen above the four-legged animal's nature. Bill Clinton is still living in an ignorant age, since he himself is still ignorant. That is sad, since he and the media have tried to make us believe that he is intelligent.

Get psychiatric care

HAS HILLARY been talking to Eleanor Roosevelt lately? I think it's time both she and Clinton get under psychiatric care. They're both sick people. Power has unbalanced both of them. Congress, remove Clinton so we can get the presidency back to normal.

Speed limit too low

I WOULD like to leave a point for Speak Out. Safety is an issue on the Cape Girardeau highways and streets. I feel that the 45-mph speed limit on the new Highway 74, which could be considered a limited-access four-lane highway, is too low if you compare it to Kingshighway coming in from I-55 South where the speed limit is 55. There are many more exits and entrances to the four-lane highway along with a turn lane. Is this supposed to be a route to the river to help traffic from I-55 get across the river bridge quickly, or is this supposed to be a money-making project for the city of Cape Girardeau?

Misplaced outrage

WHY IS it that the Democrats are so outraged at Ken Starr, Monica Lewinsky and the Republicans? Why are they not outraged over the conduct of Bill Clinton and what he's done to the presidency and the nation? This man and his administration are devoid of morality, ethics, character and leadership, and he should resign. Are there no Democrats who will stand for truth and decency in this country?

Bunch of hypocrites

I DO not condone what Mr. Clinton did as far as the adultery. I don't blame him one bit for lying about it, because the government has no business prying into his personal life any more than they have yours or mine. They are off base when they pry into his private life or any other citizen's and spend this amount of money to tear him down. Congress passed a bill last week barring smut on the Internet, then they turn right around and release all this smut out to the public over the news stations on. You talk about hypocrites.

A Soviet mole?

THE SOVIET socialists do not believe in absolute truth such as the Ten Commandments, but that truth is only that which advances their program and agenda. This is also true of our president. Shouldn't a reasonable person believe our person is a Soviet socialist mole? He had the occasion and opportunity to be recruited when he was in Russia. The president opposes all that is good, true and holy. His life reeks of evil corruption. What is wrong about a reasonable person believing he is the devil in the flesh? Our nation has twice chosen him for a leader who has no moral character to act as a guiding rudder. Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God. Psalm 9:17.

We would be charged

PEOPLE, PEOPLE, people: Think. If any one of us goes before a court and tells a lie and the court finds out that we have lied, they will charge us with perjury. The president is to be no different than us.

Parents reflect morals

I CAN see now why so many young people are in trouble with sex, drugs, moral conduct, pregnancy, low esteem, delinquency and irresponsible attitude. The low morals of a parent or parents in our country is very plain to see by their approval of the appalling acts of a president. In front of their children, they are saying, "This doesn't matter, it's his private life." This is a shame. Our country is in trouble in many ways. But our children are in bigger trouble when they are taught that our economy is more important than morals, decency and God's laws.

A lot of nitpicking

I'VE JUST watched part of the tape of the president's testimony. The Republican Party and Congress have sunk to a very new low. Half of the accusers have done worse than the president. It all happened several years ago. Members of Congress needs to get back to their country's business if they want to stay in office. While this tape is being aired, the president is trying to go on about the country's business talking to the United Nations. The Republican Party needs to clean up its own party. This tape is a lot of nitpicking and Republican politics because of the election in November.

Take Springer off the air

THIS JERRY Springer should be taken off of the airwaves completely. He's a despicable person, and he's no good for anybody. Let's please remove him.

She kept lots of notes

IT'S FUNNY to me that Monica Lewinsky knew all the times, dates, places, who was there and who wasn't, who they talked to on the phone, and kept a careful record of it. Why would someone do this unless they had attended to use it all along?

Linda Tripp is a hero

TO ME, as a woman, Linda Tripp is a hero. I don't believe any charges should be brought against her for her part in the tapes. She was a woman who made sure her Ts were crossed and her Is were dotted when she knew of a folly in the work place, which can be distracting when you're trying to do your job. She's a very wise woman. She told Monica Lewinsky to keep the dress. If Monica hadn't kept that dress, Clinton would have been able to lie his way out of this. I think we need to realize what kind of man we have in the White House, and I think as women, we should celebrate a woman would make the work place stronger and make sexual discrimination not allowed from the top echelon of society down to the lower rungs of society.