SPEAKOUT

Go ahead and whistle

HEY, SPEAK Out, in regard to Scott Moyers' column on wolf whistling. I'm a 74-year-old lady. I always enjoyed being wolf whistled at, and at my age right I would appreciate a little bit of wolf whistling. It means it's OK. It is not demeaning as some people think.

Whistles are threatening

SCOTT, SCOTT, Scott. I imagine that your family, friends and co-workers have probably set you straight about why wolf whistles are demeaning to women by now, but I'll just throw in my two cents if you're truly interested and not just being flip. It's like this: A woman is walking down the street, minding her own business, alone or with her friends. She's got her mind on her business and all of a sudden here comes a truckload, carload or vanload of men hooting and hollering and screeching at her, making her feel about this big. It is off-putting. It is socially unacceptable in any context. If a woman did it to a man, it really wouldn't look that great. But most importantly, it's threatening. In many cases, men who are chauvinistic or think very little of women are sexist, belittle women, maybe even beat them or hurt them. This is the kind of thing they do. They'll drive by and they'll hoot and holler at a woman and they may go back and kidnap her. And a woman doesn't like to be threatened in a violent manner, and it is violent. OK, it implies violence. To the woman, we don't know you, we don't know that you think that you think you're good, we don't know anything about you. All we know of you, hey, baby, woo-hoo. What is all that about? A real man doesn't need to stoop to such juvenile tactics to get close to a woman, to get to know a woman. A real man is nice and pleasant, and if at your age, you don't understand that, you've got some growing up to do, you and all of your compatriots.

A right to worship

THIS IS in response to the Rev. Mark Anderson's stand on homosexuality. I don't applaud Anderson for the stand he has taken on homosexuality. For one reason, he is not God. He's not supposed to judge people. God only has the right to do that. I am a believer in God and Jesus Christ, but by no means do I claim not to commit even the smallest sin of my everyday existence of this earth. Even homosexuals or gays, whatever you call them, have a right to worship the Lord. That's the problem with most of the religions today. They're always ready to throw that first stone without looking at their own sins they commit. At least some of the homosexuals or gays have the courage to admit what they are, unlike people who hide their sins but are ready to label someone. No, I'm not gay. I'm married and have children. Life today is too short to go around name calling and not accepting people for what they are. No wonder the world is the way it is today. No wonder we can't all get along because of people who put labels on people.

Park is parking lot

THE CITY built a nice park on Washington Avenue, but as usual the college has used it as a parking area. At night after the park is closed, they are parked there and not in front of their own apartment building. They leave their cars there in the park for 24 hours a day.

In defense of FBLA

THIS IS in reply to the Jackson FBLA parent. First of all, there are no made-up reasons for going to Columbia. The campaign people worked very hard to get Dean Bucher elected state president. That is a very high honor for the entire Jackson School District. The voting delegates were responsible for getting Dean elected along with choosing next year's state officials. Both the campaign people and voting delegates worked, while others of us were taking our tests. The club did not spend the taxpayers' money. They worked very hard selling all kinds of different items to earn the money for this trip. Why don't you ask your child about selling candy bars? That is something every FBLA member has done. Yes, a certain amount of money was probably budgeted for the business department, but no one threw any money away. Our advisers, Coach Riney and Mrs. Hecht, did not just pick anyone for the campaign committee and voting delegates. They were chosen based upon their attendance at FBLA functions, how hard they worked on FBLA activities and who would do the best job. I am a student who took a test and district and state contest, and I think the campaign people deserve a round of applause, not a guilt trip. Jackson has one of the best FBLA Clubs around.

Ignorance no excuse

THIS IS in regards to Jamie Estes who was arrested by the Cape police on a warrant for failure to appear in court. I just want to say ignorance is no excuse for the law. Anyone would be picked up, and they ought to be.

No preferential treatment

LET'S BREAK out the violin. I believe we owe some tunes to Mr. Estes who has this complaint about being arrested for not showing in city court. I applaud Judge Ed Calvin for his handling of the situation. I've been in city court before, and he had literally hundreds of people there on a week-to-week basis, and he doesn't have time to hold some rich man's hand because he can't remember his court date. As for Judge Syler: He says he takes it on a case-by-case basis. This is because he's an elected official, and he doesn't want to make anyone mad. He should treat everybody the same as Mr. Calvin, and that way a rich person doesn't get a break. It seems like the only people who get a break are the rich people. I think Mr. Estes should go pay his fine and pay the dues like everyone else.

Judge Calvin is fair

I THINK Judge Calvin should be commended for being a fair and equitable judge. Perhaps Judge Syler's policies should be changed to reflect Judge Calvin's.

A single standard

I'M SO happy to see that Judge Calvin has a single standard for everybody in the city of Cape. I think it's about time that having money or having a high position at one time or another does not entitle anyone to special privileges. I think the police bent over backwards in trying to help the man. I think the man should apologize to the police department and to Ed Calvin. Keep it up, Calvin. Good work.

Irresponsible parent

THIS IS with regards to the statement that Rep. Mark Richardson thought more of his family and the GOP caucus than he did for himself with his resignation as leader of the House. I have to say, if you thought about your family, why did you have your daughter in the car when you were drinking alcohol? In my book, that's an irresponsible parent.

Breaking the law

THIS IS in regard to Jamie Estes complaining about being treated like a prisoner. I have news for him. When he missed his court date, he became a criminal. Therefore a warrant was issued for his arrest.

No special treatment

CONGRATULATIONS TO Judge Calvin who had the guts to treat everybody in his court the same way regardless of their income, prestige or position in this community. I've lived in this Cape Girardeau for over 40 years, and I am sick and tired of certain people in this community getting preferential treatment. Jamie Estes is a citizen who is bound by the same laws that I or anyone else in this community is bound by. And I would expect that he would be pleased that Judge Calvin is upholding his standards. Evidently, Mr. Estes expects preferential treatment. How sad.

No exceptions

I WANT to comment on Mr. Estes being arrested for not appearing in court. I applaud the judge for taking a stand. He said he makes no exceptions when someone doesn't show up for their court date. It's good to see the law does apply to everyone.