SPEAKOUT

Honesty still exists

THERE ARE still honest people in this world. I lost a very valuable ring in Ryan's Steakhouse. I immediately called them the next morning at 8 o'clock. They told me they had found the ring. The server by the name of Amy had found it. She could have kept the ring. I would never have known where it went. But instead, she called me, told me where it was and that it was safe until I picked it up. I want her to know how much I appreciate knowing that there are still honest people in this world.

Attack the prosecution

TO SEE Barney Frank on the impeachment committee go after Ken Starr, who has more decency and character than Frank and all the other Democrat wolves put together, was just sickening. Just like the O.J. Simpson trial: attack the prosecution.

Look in the mirror

TO THOSE of you too busy to work your way through the verbal mine field of columns by Jack Stapleton, I have taken it upon myself to condense them for you. In a recent column, Stapleton said, in so many, many words, that if you want to know who is responsible for the widespread disenchantment with our system of government, look in the mirror.

Letter said it all

THE LETTER from Mike Seabaugh in Jackson said, "Politicians losing sight of the goal": Man, what a letter. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks to treasurer

MISSOURI STATE Treasurer Bob Holden recently wrote a letter to the editor. He thanked the public for passing Amendment 5. I would like to thank Bob Holden. In fact, I will go further than that. It is my belief that all Missourians should be beholden to Bob Holden.

Cure for common cold

I'D LIKE to respond to the person who says she uses the emergency room a lot of times for colds and sore throats and feels that the hospital emergency rooms don't want her in there. She's correct. If you have had a lot of colds, you'd think by now you'd have the sense to realize what the symptoms of a cold are. Why do you feel it necessary to go to an emergency room to get something for a cold? A cold is a viral infection. Antibiotics will not cure a cold. If you want something for a cold, stay home from work for seven days, don't give it to other people, don't contaminate the rest of the world with it and use your God-given sense to get some cough drops and gargle with salt water. That'll cure your cold.

Poor student parking

I'M A student at Southeast Missouri State University, and I'm appalled at the way students are treated at SEMO basketball games. Not only do students have to park in the very back of the Show Me Center, now we are the last ones to be able to leave because the parking attendants let everyone else out first. SEMO students, speak out now or the next thing you know, our free tickets will be up in the nosebleeds.

Sickness at school

I WAS at the school board meeting where the doctor spoke about sick kids going to school. Your reporter didn't mention the woman who said her kid went to school with the flu and then threw up between classes. The reporter didn't mention the nurse who said there's a lot more sick kids at Central High than at Jackson. It's 4 in the morning, and my kid is throwing up, and I'm wondering if he went to school with someone who was sick.

Hurray for warming

JIM KREWSON wrote a wonderful letter about global warming. We've all realized global warming and global cooling come from time to time, and they can't be blamed on cars and pollution because it's happened for thousands of years before cars were ever invented. We all know that. But what Jim told us, and what I've never considered before, is that civilization flourishes during times of global warming. The founding of the great civilizations and agriculture all occurred during times of global warming. The Roman Empire was built during a time of global warming. The Renaissance of Europe and the Modern Age of Europe both happened during times of warm temperatures. The Dark Ages were the times of cooling. That's when people retreated and tried to survive, and nothing happened that was good for civilization. It was just a time of retreat. We don't want global cooling. Global warming is good. I'd never considered it. Besides, I'm not sure we're in a time of global warming. Part of that is based on the idea of keeping track of weather stations that used to be on the edges of cities and now are surrounded by cities. Therefore, they're warmer just because of the extra concrete surrounding the weather station.

Parade Friday or Saturday

I WISH that the Parade of Lights could be on Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. My grandkids were looking for something to do, and they left on Sunday. Next year, please consider having this parade on Friday or Saturday before all the families leave to return home.

Special windows

I JUST want to comment on how nice the display windows looked at Judith Anne's gift shop on North Main. I think everyone should stop by and take a look at them while you're out doing your Christmas shopping.

Unrealistic attitude

THIS IS to the person who called thinking that the police need to spend more time arresting people for loud music than they do for drunk drivers. Obviously no one has ever injured one of your loved ones by driving drunk. Perhaps if it had happened, you wouldn't be taking this stand. Get real.

Corporate welfare

ONE THING you gotta love about corporate welfare is you get to privatize the gains, but if you fall on hard times and get a government bailout, you get to socialize the losses.