SPEAKOUT

Fond, bittersweet memories of a cat

SADLY I can't take Mr. Sullivan's cat nor do I know anybody who would be as good a mother as I would be to it. Unfortunately I live in a place where pets aren't allowed, but I know exactly what he means when he says his cat is just like a puppy dog. I too once had a cat like that. Several years ago when I was in college, I took in a stray, a little black kitten with one white hair -- I'm not kidding -- on its tail. I couldn't think of a name for it either, and I went through several names. Finally wound up with Quincy, I don't know why. This cat was sick, and I nursed it back to health. I fed it and I watered it. Nobody claimed it. I bathed it. It was gray when it first came to my house, and it was listing to one side like a boat about to sink. At any rate, the cat got so sick I absolutely had to take it to the Humane Society. I just didn't have the money, being a college student, to properly care for it. It grieved me and broke my heart, and I think of that little cat all the time. I know how much I enjoyed her company, so I really hope whoever finds a home for Mr. Sullivan's nameless cat will be as good a mother as I might have been to it. You have my sympathies and good luck.

Fathers love their children too

I'D LIKE to speak on behalf of fathers who have ex parte orders against them. Anyone can get an ex parte against anyone, so there are probably a lot of fathers who don't deserve an ex parte against them. That doesn't mean that they've mistreated their children or that they don't love their children. They probably love them very much and wouldn't harm them for the world.

Cigars and Cocoa Puffs

STATE SEN. Peter Kinder recently wrote that the oldest man alive still smokes cigars. I've always thought cigar smoking was the key to good health but lacked the nerve to say so. Thanks, Senator. On a related note, I consider myself among the most prolific Speak Out callers in history, and I still eat Cocoa Puffs.

Still need national health plan

I KNOW something that the Republican party and the congressman, who, unfortunately, most of you praise so highly want to ignore: national health care. We've still got a problem in this country that's not going to go away. I've written letter after letter to congressmen. They said people could get affordable insurance, that's their main concern. I asked them what's affordable to them. They don't seem to know. They make the comment about the people in Canada have a waiting list. There's no waiting list in this country. They die if you cannot afford it and if you're not on welfare and not old enough to get Social Security or Medicare. People do without their medication. Wake up. Let's get a congressman who will give you people, the working poor, a national health care. We need it. Let's vote next election. I am not on welfare. I have insurance plus I have Social Security and Medicare. I don't need a government health insurance, but many people do. I see them every day.

Wait and see on the budget

I NOTICED the Republican advertisement that thanked Congressman Whitfield and Jo Ann Emerson for the reality of the balanced budget. I would give you a little advice. We'd better wait and see how it turns out before we do any thanking. We're going to see who it helps and who it harms. It's going to be at somebody's expense, you can bet your bottom dollar. And more than likely it's going to be the working poor who get the hind end, like Harry Truman always said. So I would wait before I give my thanks. I would give it another year or maybe two. We'll see. If it helps everybody, well, let's thank everybody, and God bless them. But I'm a little skeptical. Every time a Republican does something, I am just a little hesitant to thank them until I can see the outcome.

Pro-lifers can take the babies

I SEE nothing wrong with outlawing all abortions. I think that the only way to do is all the right-to-lifers take the babies that people don't want, can't afford or for other reasons shouldn't have. Then we won't have to have all these problems with what to do about abortion. If they are certain that somebody else should have a baby, they ought to be willing to kick in.

Bike trail brings tourists

A BICYCLE trail 2,000 miles long going through seven states, and only a few people oppose it and they're in Perry County. Maybe they can place signs at the Perry County line for people that take the Illinois route, "Our restaurants and hotels don't want your money." Also, they must have another motive besides safety, because moving those bicycles to Highway 61 is even more dangerous. Highways C and H have homes with families, and I'm sure some of those children ride bicycles. Even without the trail, it sounds like the lumber and corn truckers need to drive slower. If safety is the real issue, get the big trucks to slow down to the speed limit. Even better, lower the speed limit on these short sections for the trucks. The rest of Missouri would appreciate the tourism dollars.

No protection for Red Star

I HAVE just been watching in displeasure and dismay at the wrecking company knocking the houses down in the Red Star District. I don't know who is responsible for getting this floodwall built and not protecting these people in the north end. I read something in the Out of the Past column just a few weeks ago concerning this when they said it was not feasible to bring this floodwall further north because of the low property values in this part of town. Might I remind these people who were in favor of this floodwall that it was built to protect the shoe factory and the downtown area. I would like for these big shots to tell me now where the shoe factory is? I know where it is. It's in China and Taiwan. It is a shame and disgrace to see these people run from their homes by this high water that was deliberately backed up with this levee in this section of Cape. And now they're talking about building a levee at Ste. Genevieve and one at Dutchtown. If they do that, the next big flood we have the water will be in the homes of North Spanish Street. Are they going to tear those down too? This river has got to go it's course. You cannot dam this up to where it has no place to go. Water has to go someplace. So I think our city fathers should take another look and see if something could be done about running people from their homes. They may have low value, but it was their homes.