SPEAKOUT

Honoring Indian ancestors

I BELIEVE Indians and Otahkians are very special names for our Southeast Missouri State University athletes. Our heritage is about Indians, our forerunners, and they would be honored to have us remember them. Could it be that some of those tribe might have stayed on longer here if they hadn't been driven away? I can't see any harm in honoring our Indian ancestors.

Time-tested family values

I FULLY agree with the letter to the editor from Jack Knowlan Jr. regarding teen parties. It places the responsibility squarely where it belongs. The teen-agers have learned well the example set by their trendy parents who have discarded all traditional values. It is my opinion that time-tested family values that worked 40 years ago would still apply in today's home.

Better off as Americans

I'M 25 percent Indian and 100 percent American. One thing I don't understand: I've never seen the Southeast Missouri State University or the Jackson High School ridicule Indians in any way. If we could quit worrying about ethnic background and start becoming Americans, we'd all be a lot better off.

What about the Irish?

I THINK the Indians and Otahkians are good names for Southeast Missouri State. I'm a graduate from Southeast Missouri State, and I like the nicknames. This political correctness that's going on in the country is really ludicrous. I could go so far as to say, "Well, I'm going to sue Notre Dame Fighting Irish because I'm Irish," or "I'm going to sue Kraft because I'm Swiss and they've got Swiss cheese," and then "I'm going to sue Germantown, Tenn., for using German because I am part German."

Casino instead of lake

IF THE RCGA and Peter Kinder are so intent on bringing tourism to this area, why don't they focus on getting us that gambling boat. We voted on it and we wanted it. Those farmers don't want that lake. Why don't they just leave them farmers alone?

Signal is in charge

THIS IS for the person who said you can turn on red. You're right, you can turn on red if there's a signal or sign there, but at Route K and Siemers, there is a sign that says "Right turn signal." That means you cannot turn until the light turns green with the arrow pointed for you to turn.

A sign was recently put up at that intersection that specifically prohibits a right turn on red without the green light. Right turns are on green arrow lights, unless they are specifically prohibited, according to the Cape Girardeau Police.

Enjoyable production

I JUST came back from the production of "The Music Man," a very enjoyable evening. The chorus, quartet, all of them very enjoyable.

Union was a good thing

THE CALLER in Speak Out who was running down unions appears to have never belonged to a union. Therefore, he doesn't know what he is talking about. I've been in one of the construction trade unions for over 40 years. My union has served me well. I made a good living while I worked. Now retired, I draw a very nice pension to go with my Social Security. I have very good medical insurance with my union so, my union is still serving me. If it wasn't for the unions, people would still be working for nothing. And it's well known, union workers are among the best in the world. God bless our unions, and God bless America.

IDs aid shoplifting

MY DAUGHTER who works in a convenience store told me since this new cigarette ID law went into effect, the kids can shoplift much easier while she is busy checking out IDs. She is going to quit because of too much extra work.

Use the knowledge

I NOTICED an article that said some of the preachers in the area are thumbs down on the cloning of people. They think man would be playing God. Well, God would not give man the knowledge if he wasn't to do it.

Support for letter

IN RESPONSE to the Feb. 24 letter to the editor by Jack Knowlan from Jackson, this reader would just like to applaud what Jack said. It's something that has been needing to be said for the past 15 years, and I have heard countless parents throughout Jackson applauding his statement. The rest of us have been feeling it for a long time, and we just appreciate the fact that Jack was willing to voice his concern for the youth of the community.

Should have written

AS A student of Dr. Journet, I wish the caller to Speak Out leaving a lengthy message about Dr. Journet would have written to the letter so he had the guts to print his name like Dr. Journet did. Another thing: Dr. Journet, as a teacher and professor and doctor, his responsibility is to ensure the future of human kind. As a business person, I understood the caller's viewpoint. So it has to be a compromise, but I do wonder about the caller who criticized Dr. Journet. He could have written a letter.

Question of bias

TO THE person that said the Southeast Missourian was not biased. I would like to quote from Richard Nixon, "There's no such as a non-political speech by a politician." I think you have to qualify Peter Kinder as a politician. Anything he does, he is the voice of the Republican Party. So that is biased, period. There's no argument there, is there?

Honoring the Indians

THERE HAVE been a lot of Indians who have made a permanent home for a long time in this area. There are still a lot of Indians living in this area, and some people aren't even aware of their Native American heritage that they do have. I really feel that they should contact the local Cherokee Tribal Office on Independence and get some professional advice from them and look at some accurate ways of portraying the Native Americans. I think it's a great honor, as someone who has Native American in them, that the university chooses to do that, and it could be both beneficial for the Cherokee Nation people of this area and the university to work together in educating people in this area about our Native American history. There are so many people who know little about their family past and history.

Neighborhood schools

NO DOUBT, the city of Cape Girardeau needs improvements in our school buildings as well as a new building. But when is the board going to understand that we do not wish to give up our neighborhood schools? For that reason, I will be voting no in the election.

Paying for taxes

THE TAXPAYERS of the city of Cape will be spending most of their salaries for taxes by 1999. The young people that vote taxes will be paying a large amount of taxes for years and years and years. The elderly people can vote for taxes. They won't have to pay but a few years.

Nice cab drivers

CAPE GIRARDEAU has the nicest cab drivers in the whole world.