SPEAKOUT

Missouri Tigers are worth it

SINCE I am a Missouri basketball season ticket holder, I drive up to Columbia many times during the year. However, I know to watch big-time basketball you have to go the limit. It's worth it when you see the University of Missouri Tigers beat No. 1 Kansas. After the Missouri Tigers, there's nothing left if you enjoy basketball.

Reaction to the speech

I WANT to comment about the president's speech. He said anyone with a B average should get a free education. Well, I wonder what about people who are remedial. Will they lose out on it? Won't this bring down grades? Won't schools give people B's who don't deserve it so they can get the money? About these computers: How can I get my name on the list to get one of these computers? He said everybody should get a computer within five years. I'd like to have one and get us online. Another thing: If he had a lotto, whoever won could get a free night, room and board, in the Lincoln bedroom. On the other hand, I guess the Lincoln bedroom is mainly saved for people from Indonesia with fat checks.

Role models in sports

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES are role models, like it or not, including Dennis Rodman. My advice for Dennis is simply grow up. I have an 8-year-old daughter who plays baseball and basketball. She plays both sports with competitiveness and intensity. I realize she doesn't get paid millions of dollars, but she does know the meaning of sportsmanship. Imagine that, an 8-year-old and she knows not to kick someone. If you're so touchy, Mr. Rodman, try a different sport like kickboxing. Better yet, put on a football uniform and line up against Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers. Now that's a Christian role model. He has everyone's respect and his dignity, not to mention that big old Super Bowl ring. Thank you for letting me give my opinion. I'm the father of two and an ex-athlete myself.

Country comes first

I JUST called to say that I think it was terrible that on the night that the president was giving the State of the Union address, that O.J. Simpson got more coverage and more headlines in the paper the next day than our president. I think our country should come first.

Cartoon is unacceptable

I READ the Feb. 4 issue of the Southeast Missourian and turned to the Opinion page. The cartoon was from the Chicago Tribune. The cartoon might be acceptable in Chicago where I am originally from, but I believe, being that trailer parks are so prevalent down in this state and in Southern Illinois, it's an unacceptable cartoon because it portrays people who live in trailer parks as trash and people of less reputable circumstances. I really take offense to this, being that my fiance lives in a trailer park. We live in a very nice trailer park where everyone works very hard. It is maintained immaculately. I believe that before you place cartoons like this in your paper, you should take in account how many people you offend by things like this. In Chicago, that's fine. There are very few trailer parks. But down here, you people need to realize you're offending a lot of people.

Goes around, comes around

THIS COMMENT is regarding the decision on the O.J. Simpson civil case. I guess, the old saying goes, O.J., what goes around, comes around, buddy. It's just a shame that this decision wasn't granted on the criminal trial, which it should have been. Of course, if you get a little short of cash on this settlement, you can always contact the dream team. I'm sure Johnny Cochran and those guys who got plenty of finances, they could probably float you a good low-interest loan.

Kinder's column is scary

EVERY TIME I read Peter Kinder's column in the paper, I get more and more irritated. I think you ought to change of your paper to something like the Regressive, Renegade, Red-neck, Rebel Republican. What he writes is so absolutely silly that it's just to the point of being scary to think someone like that be allowed to represent this area. What do you want to be? Maybe you to ought to have your motto for your paper, "The Bridge to the 19th Century." The major industrial countries of the world have national health programs and much cleaner air because they have a cost benefit by having good air. Mr. Kinder's ideas area absolutely silly. In Canada, they found out that tobacco is very costly and they charge a tax on cigarettes of approximately $2 a pack because they found that's what it costs to take care of the people in the national health care program that smoke. Come on, Pete, get with it. We are in the 20th century, not like you want to make it. Protect our people.

Two beauty pageants

PLEASE SETTLE an argument between me and my husband. He says the Miss America contest and the Miss USA contest are one in the same. I say it's two separate contests. Who's right?

REPLY: Get your husband to take you out to dinner. You win.

Student responsibility

I CERTAINLY think it's a good idea for students to have editorial control of the school newspaper. I also think it's a good idea that they write it off school property using their own personal supplies and that they be fully prepared to empty their piggy bank to pay for a libel or slander suit.

Swingle applauded

I WOULD like to applaud Prosecutor Morley Swingle for not going along with the bar association on doing away with the death penalty. I don't know what's wrong with these people, but I don't think they realize how overcrowded the jails are now. If they do away with the death penalty, then there won't be anything holding the criminals back from killing people more than what they do now. Then they're really going to have a problem. There is no law in the land now. What are people supposed to do?

The cost of garbage

I QUESTION the wisdom of our city fathers in regard to their garbage policy. A small town near Cape Girardeau for $10.50 a month can have five bags per pickup. In addition, by making a phone call, you can get free large pickup. That's for $10.50 a month compared with Cape's restrictions and costs.

Put killers to death

THE DEATH penalty is not carried out like it should be. Too many killers are kept alive at taxpayers' expense. The lawyers and judges should see that more killers are put to death and save the taxpayers' money and keep the killers from killing again. This would put a damper on a lot of killings. Protect the innocent.

One-way road?

ALL THIS talk about the road between Cape and Scott City: Are these people trying get into Scott City or out?

It's a question of bucks

I'VE READ several articles and watched several television specials concerning the ABA's decision to oppose the death penalty. One consideration of the ABA stands out to me. They're upset because the federal government will not underwrite the cost of endless death row appeals. If anyone wants the bottom line of the ABA's opposition, it's pretty evident it boils down to dollars. The primary concern of the ABA is making a buck, not justice. Look how much trial lawyers and the U.S. are losing by not having the federal government underwrite unlimited appeals, which on average, exceeds 10 years.

Do-it-yourself towing

I'D LIKE to comment on some of the people that have made it a practice to hook a chain to other people and try them out of a ditch in bad weather. I'd like to advise them that there are numerous tow companies here in town that have the equipment and the safety items such as lights radios to call for backup. They should really consider having these people come and help them. The prices are not that expensive, between $25 and $50 to have a car pulled out of a ditch. The damages caused by another car running into you or someone getting killed is certainly not the risk. These companies are out there, they are available and they do have the proper equipment to get your car out of a ditch without getting it torn up.

Throwing stones at Mississippi

THIS IS in response to the person who wrote in about Trent Lott and Mississippi. This person said, "The people in Mississippi lives in shacks, roofless houses. It's a disgrace." This is typical of the mindset of a person who generalizes and puts everything in a little box. As in Missouri, the range of economic status runs the gamut from those who are poverty stricken to millionaires. Lott lives in a glass house? Look at Missouri before you throw stones.

Outlandish statements

WITH PETER Kinder's outlandish and astonishing statements about his worry for environment and defending big corporations and his ridiculous proposals concerning concealed guns, we must face reality and now ask the question: Is Peter Kinder playing with a full deck?

Empty promises or Mizzou hoops?

SPORTS FANS in Cape Girardeau take note. Last Tuesday night while viewers in other Missouri locations were able to watch on television Mizzou upset top-ranked Kansas in double overtime, all we got were the expensive, empty promises of Mr. Clinton, the honorary Commissioner of the Midnight Basketball League. Thank goodness at least for alternatives provided by radio station KZIM and Congressman J.C. Watts.