SPEAKOUT

Gambling negatives outweigh positives

IN RAY Owen's column in Monday's paper ("What lies ahead for Cape's downtown?") he told all the positive things that would happen if the Boyd company located here. The negatives far outweigh the positives. Cape would be known as a gambling town. It would lose its identity as a clean, university and family town. Some builder could put up apartments on the property there overlooking the river. The place is perfect.

Another area of problem teen-agers

I NOTICED where someone commented about teen-agers taking over the neighborhood during the night hours. They should live up in the 1400 block of North Henderson where the teen-agers have taken over the block during these very hours, aggravating the people who live there, retirees, handicapped people, tearing up their yards, tearing up their flowers and what have you. When they talk to the police they say they can't do anything about it. Something needs to be done. This has been going on for too long a time, and I've watched it from the side. These boys are going to get hurt one of these nights, and there will be an outcry: "Why?"

Disappointed in execution stories

I WOULD like to respond to the recent stories in the Southeast Missourian regarding the executions. I am very disappointed in the Southeast Missourian for printing these. This is pitiful -- printing what a person has for his last meal. As I sat in my living room before I went to church on Sunday morning and read the story on the Potosi Correctional Center, tears came to my eyes, just reading and thinking about what the family is going through. Although he did commit a crime, we have no right to judge that man. I am absolutely appalled at the Southeast Missourian for printing this kind of story, not only one time, but several times within the past week. I'm very disappointed in you.

Jackson growth produces crowding

I'M TIRED of all the people moving to Jackson. It's just getting so crowded up here. As long as I've lived in Jackson, which has been my whole life, uptown there's been a street where they're putting the new school but now they have to expand and there is no more room. Everything's just getting crowded. It's just getting on my nerves. If you agree, just call and say so.

Haircut shouldn't stop an education

I'VE BEEN watching the news about this kid who has been expelled from school repeatedly because of his haircut. I live near a high school. I see pierced eyebrows, tattoos, pierced tongues, kids wearing jeans hanging halfway down their buttocks with flowered silk boxer shorts on top of them. What is up with this kid's haircut? If they can have a pierced eyebrow and their jeans hanging halfway down their knees, then I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be educated because of his haircut. Public schools have the responsibility to educate children until they reach the age of 17 regardless of race, religion, creed and hairstyle. That boy has a right to an education. Get a life. You don't tell me how to cut my hair. Why should I tell you? That's how he wants to look. If his parents approve, then the school board is totally out of line.

Those who own land have bigger interest

LAKE FACTS: Am I sure glad to see some more of these facts coming out in the paper. Looks like a couple of letter writers have alternative reasons for wanting this thing to pass, recently buying land within the last few years of the study. Well, I guess if I that much invested and that much possibly to lose, I think I would be pushing it awfully hard as well.

Government takeover of people's lives

THIS IS in response to the person who thinks it's just hunky-dory because the government is going to tax cigarettes so highly that people will quit smoking. I don't think this person realizes that this is not about smoking. This is about a government takeover to tell people how they should live their lives. If he doesn't realize that, then I will be looking forward to the day to see him pay $4 in taxes for his lemon cream pie and $4 in taxes for his hot cup of coffee just because someone has petitioned the government to tax him for eating something that is supposedly bad for him in their opinion.

HMO agenda for elderly is euthanasia

HELLO, ALL elderly people. You all had better sit up and take notice of an article in the Southeast Missourian concerning HMOs and their treatment of you. Seems a spokesman for HMOs says they are doing you a big favor by not prolonging your life and spending all that money necessary to do so. This, to me, is going down a slippery slope. I never thought I would see, in my country, the beginnings of Nazism, but it is here. As everyone knows, elderly people have the right to refuse extensive treatment together with their doctors and their families. What the HMOs are telling you is that they are doing you a big favor by denying you treatment should you prolong your life. I would suggest everyone best get on the ball and try to do something about this through legislation or anything else they can manage to do. I am sickened at the thought that HMOs would just outright say what they're agenda is: euthanasia.

Stick to teaching, not hairstyles

MY GRANDSON had his initials cut in the back of his hair a few years ago. Guess what? It grew out. Now it's a different style. Kids go through phases. So, teachers, stick to teaching, not hairstyles. Kids do grow, and your job is to see that they have a good education. Let them be kids while they can. Good grades is the main thing. Put a cap on the kid if it bothers you.