SPEAKOUT

Sun a reminder of Pearl Harbor

THIS IS to the people at Southeast Missouri State University who want to change the mascot from an Indian to something else. If this committee would take a look around, they would find the Indian is very much honored in this community. Several parks are named in honor of the Indians: Capaha Park, Cherokee Park, Delaware Park and the Trail of Tears Park, and I probably missed some. As well, there are several streets in Cape Girardeau that are named in honor of the Indian, and I'm sure you'll find the same thing in most communities in Southeast Missouri. I would like to see a list of the people who think our mascot should be changed. I'm sure you would find most of those people on the hill at SEMO University, and I'm sure they are the political liberals. Outside of the many liberals at Southeast Missouri State, I've never heard of anyone in this community that thinks the mascot should be changed from the Indians. I believe the Sun has been mentioned. Before they change anything to the Sun, someone had better go back and remember 1941 and Pearl Harbor. I don't think we need the Sun as a mascot.

Watch out for car phones

IT DOESN'T take many smarts to know that telephone conversations require a response. To formulate a response requires concentration of what is being said. It's a fact no one can concentrate on a phone conversation and drive simultaneously. Now that we know that talking on car phones is equal to drunk driving in the leading cause of accidents, we can take precautions. These drivers are easily recognizable by their phone plastered to their right or left ear held there by whichever hand is convenient. We reasonable drivers can then make allowances, thus protecting them from their own folly and maybe avoiding an accident of our own.

Lady Tigers still No. 1

I JUST returned from the girls sectional soccer game in Fenton between Cape Central and Lafayette. I want to congratulate the Lady Tigers on an exceptional season. Although you did not win, your determination to stick with it and not give up through the last second is very commendable, and that alone makes you a winner. You are a group of very talented young ladies, offense and defense. I was very impressed by your spirit and skills. Keep you chins up. You're No. 1 around here.

Bird-feeding considerations

I WISH something could be done about neighbors putting up bird feeders and attracting all kinds of wild birds. Mostly they attract sparrows, starlings, blackbirds and pigeons. They feed at these people's feeders, and when they fly off, they leave a mess behind at the neighbors. All over the building, on the porches. I wish these neighbors would have some heart and think about their neighbors. Birds not only carry disease, but you're not really supposed to feed birds, because when something happens and you cannot feed them anymore, they are left out in the cold. The Conservation Department will tell you that. So before you put up a bird feeder, think about your neighbor, and if you must put one up, put one up closer to your home.

Communication through attorney

TO THE Missourian. You keep criticizing SEMO University for notifying Ron Shumate of his dismissal through his attorneys instead of in a face-to-face meeting. Hasn't it occurred to you that the fact Shumate was already represented by lawyers is significant itself? Once a person hires a lawyer to represent him, the lawyer usually insists that all communication be through that attorney. Shumate had already hired a mouthpiece.

Sex in the military

I'VE BEEN reading so much in the papers lately about all the sex scandals in the Army and the various other branches of the military. And I seem to recall back to the days when we thought it would be such a tragedy and horror to have homosexual men or women in the Army. Seems to me like it's the heterosexual men and women, with the possible exception of Kathy Flynn, who seem to be causing most of the problem. Maybe we should rethink this and have the Army and other branches of the service made up of heterosexual women and homosexual men. Then nobody would have to worry about who's in a foxhole with them. Nobody would care.

Lights are good protection

YOU KNOW I'm often surprised of the number of people in the Heartland and elsewhere who don't understand that criminals operate under cover of darkness. They like darkness. That's why they're out at night. When it's light, they scatter like cockroaches. This is why my family and I burn our porch lights, front and back, from dusk to dawn. We think it dissuades criminals. Maybe we're correct, maybe we're not, but the few extra cents that we can cough up per month makes us feel better. Our neighbors on our street benefit from us burning the lights so much so that they refuse to turn on their own lights because they're too cheap. Many of them have higher incomes than we do and can well afford this addition to the budget. I'm surprised at the number of law enforcement individuals in the area who do not practice what they preach. We live quite near a certain law enforcement individual in our tiny town who simply refuses to burn any sort of a porch light at all, ever. It doesn't matter where I'm from because this is a widespread problem. Eventually, somebody is going to come to our quiet street and say nobody cares about anything here. They don't burn their lights. Let's rob them, loot them, rape them and kill them. It's not the only measure. You still have to lock your doors, and you have to be aware of your surroundings. But I'll swear, if one by one people would turn on their lights at night, these criminals will go elsewhere. Try to figure it into your budgets, people. It's worth it.