SPEAKOUT

Why use labels?

WHY DO people have to have labels instead of black or white, Jew, Anglo or whatever? Why not just call the people by their name?

Perpetuating a myth

I WANT to comment about the piece that was on TV about Ol' Miss having a Confederate flag and naming its team the Rebels and having a statue of a Confederate soldier. This is just more propaganda that Lincoln put out to try to justify war against the South to make it remain in the Union. It only happened after Antietam, which was after the war had already begun. It makes me so mad when CBS puts half-truths on. That means the war was over slavery. If 95 percent of the people in Mississippi want to keep the Confederate flag, why shouldn't they be able to keep it? The war was not over slavery. and if you say that it was, it just perpetuates the myth. I think it's ridiculous for people to say that it has anything to do with hate. Because you fought for your freedom, that's hatred? What about the American war against England? That was because they wanted to be free and break away from England. Was that a form of hate? It was only after the North was doing bad in the war that they began to bring the slavery issue. Remember, more blacks fought for the South than they did for the northern army. It's just been that it's been suppressed in history. Unless you can have a two-sided debate or discussion, why is there any use in having a discussion? It's just a bunch of more phonyism.

Religion and politics

COULD SOMEBODY tell me where there's a church that you can go that you don't hear about politics? Most of the churches here in Cape now, if you're not a Republican, then they're really after you. I'd like to hear more preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ than I do the politics and Bill Clinton and all this stuff.

Who ever got shot?

ON PETER Kinder's concealed weapons bill that Gary Rust so proudly announced Kinder got out of the Senate giving the guns to the lawyers, and the prosecutors and the ex-police: Would somebody please put a list of those people that got shot by someone? I'm almost 75 years old. I've lived here in Cape Girardeau all my life. I don't know of a single law enforcement officer, judge or prosecutor who was ever shot by someone they sent to prison. It's all a bunch of bull, and the only law man in this area that supports it is that dude that used to be chief of police here.

Quayle and drugs

I REALLY feel sorry for you Republicans. I just heard another one of your proud politicians who was the second-best one in the United States at one time because you gave him the second highest office, Dan Quayle. Dan, in his intelligent style, said you need to take these life-threatening drugs seriously and get them on the market. This is the man you people put in as vice president. What is the matter with you? Come on. To take something like that seriously, how can you be a Republican and have people be your leaders?

Delta's band performed

THE DELTA High School Band recently performed at the grand opening of Sam's Club in Cape. As a member, I do not appreciate the rudeness of the crowd at all. Despite the low temperatures and chilly winds that continually blew sheet music off stands, we played extremely well. All we received was a few empty stares. You'd think after all the trouble we went to people could at least take five seconds to applaud our efforts and acknowledge that we were there at all. As if this wasn't enough, Sam's Club also failed to announce our band on flyers, in the newspaper or on the radio. We may not even come close to the size of Cape or Jackson bands, but I don't find that a reasonable excuse.

Don't watch the show

PEOPLE, BOYCOTT the "Ellen" show. It's not really Ellen DeGeneres. It's Ellen Degenerate. I cannot believe that they're allowing this type thing on television to influence young people. The Bible says it's wrong. What's wrong with our society? We're going down the tubes.

Resent Waco comment

AS SOMEONE who is all-American as apple pie and proud to be Democrat, I resent the heck out of the Speak Out comment from someone who charged the tragedy at Waco, including the deaths of innocent children, to all those who vote the Democrat ticket. I say shame, shame on your newspaper for quoting such trash.

Recognition for the lights

AS THE article on the Capaha Park baseball field was very interesting, it failed to give credit to those who were instrumental in getting the lights in the early 1950s. Kiwanis Club members, -- namely Wayne Rust, Henry Badden, Floyd Statler, Dan Scarlett, Al Spradling Jr., Norvel Randal and Dr. H.T. Miles Jr. -- worked hard to get the lights. Dr. Miles was also the manager of the Capaha team at that time. Let's remember those beginnings.

Bible misinterpreted

LIZ LEACH said the Bible is misinterpreted and misunderstood. Her statement was that there obviously were gay people in the Bible. Jesus tells us in the Bible to beware of false teachers. There can be no misunderstanding on Jesus' teachings about homosexuality. If you are a child of God, you know that the Bible is the truth. Of course, there were homosexuals in the Bible just as there were murderers, adulterers and thieves. You failed to mention God's punishment for these. I will pray for you, Liz. Citizens, read chapters two and three in Revelations and see just who is misinterpreting the Bible.

Danger in pickups

I BELIEVE we're supposed to wear seat belts and motorcycle helmets in Missouri and yet it's OK to sit in the back of pickups unprotected. I just observed a pickup careening around a corner with teens in the back. They were sitting on the sides, not in the bed. In fact, I'm seeing it more all the time. With traffic conditions as they are, it's only a matter of time. It's just more Missouri law logic.

Minister's stand applauded

I WOULD like to thank the minister, Rev. Mark Anderson of Lynnwood Baptist Church, for the stand that he has taken on homosexuality. I wish that every pastor in our city would do the same thing. It seems to me that none of us can read in Romans the first chapter where it speaks of unrighteousness and sexual immorality.

More religion and politics

SOMEONE IN Speak Out was saying that the Republicans were trying to get religious people working against the Democrats. Well, that went on here in the Reagan administration. Jerry Falwell was here working for Reagan. And how about Jimmy Carter helping the Democrats, knowing what they did to him, sitting in and talking with Pat Robertson. Doesn't sit well with me at all. I feel like Jimmy Carter was a religious man, but now I'm not so sure. Religious is one thing, but a true Christian and working for the Lord is another.