SPEAKOUT

Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity

THE HABITAT for Humanity article in the paper was a very nice article about a wonderful group. How can we get involved, how can we help? I've helped build churches before. I'd like to help build some houses now.

REPLY: To find out more about Habitat for Humanity, please call Bill Cheeseman in Cape Girardeau at 651-0122. Your interest will be appreciated.

Parents' reasons for stand on tobacco

IN RESPONSE to the elementary school teacher and others who may have missed the point of my comment on the proposed tobacco possession law for underage smokers, I'd like to say the following. First, I never mentioned alcohol in my initial comment. Second, you have no more right to raise my children than do the City Council or the police chief of Cape Girardeau. Third, my wife and I do not condone our children smoking. But which is the greater evil, I ask you: that our 17-year-old smokes with our consent or learns to be deceitful and hide it and lie about it? Fourth, our children are all well-mannered and behaved, do as they are instructed, are polite, considerate, honest and caring. They are never abused and are wholesome, well-rounded people. Most importantly on the issue of values, you missed the point. Values, not tobacco possession, dictates that I speak out on any law that interferes with either the constitutional rights of myself, my fellow citizens and my children or attempts to usurp my authority in my household. If, Miss Educator or Mr. Educator, you were an educator instead of just a teacher, you would understand my position. It's because of so-called teachers like you that our children are home-schooled and are honor students. You teach, and you don't educate. Values? You have no idea about values.

Why not give aid to Americans?

I WANT to bring up something that the average person is unaware of. Do you know that the United States government is getting ready to bail out Asia with a $68 billion to these Asian banks? Now this is all a payback for all these campaign contributions. This Lipo group is right in the middle of this, and we're going to have pay them just like we did Mexico. The people won't get the money. It's these big-shot banks. And the president is wanting to ramrod this through. But I understand Gingrich and the Republicans are against this bailout. Why doesn't the government bail out the average person over here who owes money? I owe the government some money, and they want to take my scalp. But let some foreigner want a little money, and the government's all for bailing him out, especially President Clinton. I think it's ridiculous he takes our money when Social Security and Medicare are going broke and give it to his friends in the Lipo Group. Let these foreign banks that used bad management pay it out of their own money. It's mighty funny when you give a couple million dollars for a campaign contribution then get $68 billion back. I think that's a good return on your money. I wish Americans could get it.

Let commissioners know about tax problems

I HAVE a concern I'd like to address to the Cape Girardeau County Commission. I bought a home in Jackson in October. The assessor's office assessed the home for a considerable amount more than the actual value of the property. I contacted the assessor's office and was told I had no recourse because the appeal process was in July which was month's before I even owned the property. I was basically told that by state statute they may overestimate the value of a home or property by 10 percent. I'd like other dissatisfied homeowners to let the commission know of any problems they may have.

Some day there will be proof

SOME PEOPLE used to think Earth was flat. They were proven wrong. Some people used to think Einstein and Franklin were crazy. They were proven wrong. Some people still think that gay people were given the choice to be either homosexual or heterosexual. Some day they will be proven wrong. Do you really think we like to be hated for being gay? In more than 30 states, we stand a chance of losing our jobs for something beyond our control. We can't help we are attracted to the same sex anymore than heterosexuals are naturally attracted to the opposite sex. Some day this will be proven right.

Statement was out of line

I WAS calling in reference to the Mickey Mouse burglary. You guys printed the article that the lady said she wanted to punch out those 14-year-old children's eyes. I think that was morbid. I don't think you should have printed that. I don't think highly of a grown adult who would say such things about a child. They're 14 years old. They're wrong in what they did, but she was wrong to even voice that, and you were very wrong to even print it.

Interested in volunteering for CASA

THE ARTICLES about CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates, was very interesting. The statement that at this time there were 13 children in three counties that have an assigned advocates concerns me. This seems to be an awfully small number. I'd like to believe that there were no more than 13 children abused or neglected in three counties, but I fear that this isn't the case. Are more CASA volunteeers needed, and how and where does a person get more information about becoming a volunteer for this organization?

REPLY: To find out more about CASA, call the program's director, Mike Heston, at 335-1726. Thanks for your interest.

Dual standards for workplace beards?

RECENTLY, IN looking for a job, I was told I would have to shave off my beard, that I might offend someone. Question, why are beards on psychiatrists, college professors and other elitists almost socially obligatory but offensive in non-professional workplaces? Now don't tell me money or position may have something to do with.

Concerned about big tax increases

I'M CALLING in regard to the personal-property tax increases. I haven't increased that much in welfare. I'm 70 years old, and they have tripled my personal property tax over a few years and with a newer automobile. We are an important part of this community. We pay our taxes. We're an apartment renter. I'm retired. My wife isn't. How they ever put this over on people, I don't know. It's pure stupidity on the part of people. To increase taxes that much, from $68 to $260, that requires quite a bit ignorance on a lot of people, and I realize that goes for all the people voting. I wish people in Cape Girardeau County could read this as soon as possible and see what's happened to their taxes, how it's been increased on school tax and this, that and the other. Of course, my wife and I have no one in the school district other than grandchildren. This is just ridiculous. Like I said, I wish this could be put out so people could read it and appeal it and see what happened to the great increase in taxes.

Trimmed trees produce fewer leaves

THERE IS a great deal of leaves around town, and the only solution I can see is people are going to have to start trimming their trees and don't let them get too big. That cuts down the leaves quite a bit, and they don't have to worry about big limbs falling on power lines. Some of those trees on the curbs or out in the curbs should be taken out. Keep your trees trimmed or pruned good, and they won't bother anything.