SPEAKOUT

Still need math, grammar

IN REFERENCE to Gov. Carnahan's desire to have every child computer-proficient by the age of 12, he needs to remember that the computer is only as good as the operator's ability to use it intelligently. Children need to be taught the basics in grammar and math by a teacher in order to work and live successfully in this complex world.

Golf shoes on ice

HERE IS a tip for walking on the ice. Use either your own or you husband's spiked golfing shoes. They work fine. You can also carry a pair to work if necessary.

Cowardly bombers

THE COWARDLY and gutless bombing near an abortion clinic in Atlanta once again proves how these dimwitted people have absolutely no respect for the law or law-abiding citizens. These low-life terrorists must be stopped and punished to the utmost.

No Pulitzers here

I WAS just reading the World Almanac trying to find any mention made of the Southeast Missourian as far as having the Pulitzer Prize. I see all these other papers, but nowhere could I find the Southeast Missourian. I did see the St. Louis Post-Dispatch listed dozens of times. I would think that maybe these people who knock the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ought to realize that they're knocking one of the premiere papers in the United States. They have to get their opinions from somebody that has never, ever been awarded something as prestigious as the Pulitzer Prize. It's been awarded to many times to papers of the same size and circulation of the Southeast Missourian. They better just quit their griping and start reading the Post-Dispatch once in a while and see what the outside world is doing.

Good effort in Jackson

I WANT to commend city workers in Jackson for all the outstanding work that they've done during this ice storm. I have a scanner at home, and I've listened to all the aggravation and the problems they've had. The police, the street department, water department, electrical department, dispatchers and all, they've done a wonderful, wonderful job. I think the people of Jackson owe all of them a vote of thanks. During this whole time listening to the scanner, I never heard a cross word from any of the people who work for the city. I sure thank them for the job that they've done.

Adoption is an option

I'VE JUST read about another teen-ager murdering her baby. Apparently she hasn't heard about adoption either, which probably isn't her fault. She thinks, OK, she didn't get an abortion, but the abortion people didn't tell her she didn't have to keep the crying, hungry, wet, expensive thing that she now has, only that she would be punished for having an abortion. These people who keep putting up crosses on the side of the freeway don't list an alternative to abortion, only a disgusting landfill of crosses. Please get rid of the crosses and spend your money on one huge "Adoption is the option" sign instead of having children bring other children into the world because they've been shamed into doing so.

Thanks for the mail

I WOULD just like to commend all the Scott City carriers, rural and city, for delivering the mail on such an icy day.

Waste in city expenses

I'D HAVE to agree with Councilman Gateley about that needs to look at operating expenses and cheaper ways to do the water system. Also, I've got some comments. I wonder why we have to buy $27,000 city vehicles, Dodge pickups, for the city public works department and why we need a fancy weather computer system to track storms when we have local television stations that we could use? I think the city of Cape needs to look at overall expenditures. I believe there's a lot of waste of our tax dollars that happen in this city.

Hustler does the opposite

IT IS obvious Gloria Steinem and Gary Rust have not been reading Hustler magazine. The very thing Steinem says Hustler does not portray except to women it does portray. Nothing is sacred. Black, youth, politicians, animals, animal activists, druggies, presidents, tree huggers are the subject of jokes, not just women. Steinem's arguments are totally invalid, because Hustler does exactly the opposite of what she says it does.

Feeling our pain

DURING THE first four years of Bill Clinton's presidency, we could count on him showing up at every natural disaster, feeling our pain and giving out low-interest government loans. With rain and flooding on the West Coast and freezing deadly weather in the Midwest, where is our president? He's been off to the Caribbean to sun himself and play golf. I guess we'll have to feel his pain the next four years and take out low-interest funds for his defense fund. We love you, man.

Thanks for shoveling kindness

I'M VERY grateful to the person or persons who removed the snow from my driveway last week here in Bent Creek in Jackson. It was such a great surprise the next morning when I opened the garage door. Just another reason I am happy to have moved to Jackson. Thanks very much for act of kindness.

Offer to help

THIS IS to all the people who either called or came in to the post office during the ice storm wondering why their mail hadn't been delivered. First of all, they apparently have no regard for other people's lives. Makes me wonder how much they have for their own or their own families. Second, apparently if they had the time to sit there and make phone calls, they weren't working either. Maybe they ought get off their dead butts and go over and offer to help either the post office, the police department or one of the hospitals. This is their community too. Third, I'm not a disgruntled post office worker. I'm just a concerned citizen.

Some deliveries were made

I'D JUST like to hand it to the Southeast Missourian and UPS for delivering on the icy Wednesday.