SPEAKOUT

We're all responsible

AS WE'RE mourning the deaths of these young people in Kentucky and everybody is asking why, I think we need to look at some of the places where some blame should be fixed. The manufacturers and the promoters of senseless of violence like Mortal Kombat movies and videos that people are buying for Christmas gifts at this time when it should be a time of peace all can be placed some of the blame. As long as we teach our children that you can fire guns at anything without any consequence, we all stand responsible.

Mexico paid back the bailout money

TO THE person who called in the article entitled "Why not give aid to Americans?" It may be of interest to them that Mexico paid back with interest all the money lent to them for the bailout.

Yield to all emergency vehicles

I WOULD like to comment on a few of the people in Cape Girardeau County's actions and I'd also like to comment on a couple other people's actions that do not reflect the overall best interest of this county. The subject is giving right-of-way to emergency vehicles. The other day, I was responding to a fire. I'm a volunteer firefighter, and while I was in my personal vehicle with my blue light flashing, people were very courteous, got out of my way and allowed me to proceed through intersections so I could get to the fire and put it out before there was any loss of property. However, when I got to the fire station and got in a fire truck, people seemed like they didn't notice the big white truck with the red lights and the siren and were very rude and did not get out of the way. I would like for the people to realize that these trucks carry between 750 and 3,000 gallons of water along with a couple thousand pounds of equipment. They don't stop or start very fast. You need to be very cautious with these. If one of these trucks hits the average car, it will go right through it. It will not stop. The lights and siren are there for a good reason. For all you know, it could be your house we're going to put out. Next time a fire truck or a volunteer fire fighter gets behind you, you should really show them courtesy and get out of their way. We're out there to help you as well as anybody else.

Heidi's column is a pick-me-upper

I'D JUST like you to know that Wednesday is my favorite day for the Southeast Missourian. I hurry to the backside of the front page to read Heidi's column first. It always makes my morning so much better, and when I'm feeling low, it raises me up.

Just wait for global warming results

I HAVE a suggestion regarding the ongoing discussion in the Southeast Missourian concerning global warming. Why doesn't the Southeast Missourian declare a moratorium on global warming discussion. Just give it a rest. I propose we simply wait. If the Atlantic Ocean recreates the former great swamp of Southeast Missouri, we'll know that Mr. Journet was right. On the other hand, if we begin to see woolly mammoths grazing along I-55, we'll know Mr. Aldrich was right. Think of all the column inches your paper would save.

We've forgotten the meaning of Christmas

I'M CALLING about the person who called about the holidays all running together. I just want to say I totally 100 percent agree with that. I think we've forgotten the whole meaning of Christmas. In fact, this year, we're doing a lot of things differently so that we can actually enjoy friends and family instead of just purchasing things. I just, again, want to say amen to what they said.

Reno is puppet for Clinton

I'M 68 years old, so obviously I was not born yesterday. If there was ever a puppet and a yes man for Bill Clinton it's Janet Reno.

You still need evidence

THERE'S NO more evidence to prove that Bill Clinton is involved in any wrongdoing that there is evidence to prove that the Ramseys were involved in any way in their daughter's death. Just take it from there.

Let's work on health care for everyone

TO CONGRESSWOMAN Emerson and our two U.S. senators: Those 8 million people who do not have access to health care are still there. You can hide them in a closet just like the spirit tells Ebenezer Scrooge, but they're still there. Also, that's something for the clergy to pray about. They pray for the hungry around the world, but they don't seem to give much prayer to U.S. citizens, right here in river city and around the country, who do not have health care. That's something we should strive for in 1998 and before the new century: Everyone should be entitled to have access to health care with free or a reasonable rate regardless of age or regardless of who they are. Just like you have the right to fair trial and lawyer, you have a right to health coverage if you are unable to pay. I think that's something we need: national health care. We can do it.

County park is a splendid sight

I'D JUST like to say that the Cape County Park with it's light displays is beautiful with all that Christmas splendor. Thank you to everyone who is responsible. It's simply splendid.

Thanks, Dan, for the El Nino info

I WAS so impressed to hear Dan Rather discussing the weather and it's causes. He personally said that a large fire in Sydney, Australia, was caused by the El Nino weather pattern. I'm so glad that he knows what caused it, and maybe he could find out some causes of similar unsolved things around here. I didn't realize that cause and effect were so easy to assert, but it must be. Dan Rather can do it.

State's tax refunds are complicated

I'M A senior citizen, and I'm rather confused about this tax rebate we're supposed to get from the state of Missouri. Somebody said that they owed every taxpayer money, but they're not going to give them money. They're going to do something about your real estate or personal taxes or something. I'd like for somebody to explain just what's going on.

REPLY: Missouri has collected more tax revenue than allowed by the state's Constitution for several years, but the amount and who should get refunds are a matter of lawsuits that were heard just this week by the Missouri Supreme Court. In addition, some legislators have proposed additional tax credits to offset excessive tax collections in the future.

How many scientists does that make?

I FIND it amusing that one of the great scientific minds of this century, SEMO's own Alan Journet, instructs his critics how to think scientifically and then makes the broad, blunt statement that 90 percent of the experts support the global warming theory. Hey, Al, please explain the scientific method you employed to come up with your 90 percent figure. Surely you didn't pull that number out of thin air.