SPEAKOUT

Creeps trashed Mickey Mouse collection

I SINCERELY hope they find the creeps that trashed the Mickey Mouse lady's house. She is a hard-working person and was so proud of her collection. I had the pleasure of seeing her collection, and it was something to see. And now it's completely devastated. I tell you, there are some sick people out there.

Give credit to teachers and principal

THIS IN response to Larry Hahn's comment on the New Hamburg honor roll students. Do you not credit this to the fine teaching and principal supervision? Most school boards have little to do with the children's learning. By the way, the principal and the faculty supported the girls' being allowed to be on the cheerleading squad, but the board voted against the principal's recommendation. Also, if you attend the board meeting, you would see that, regarding any children with special needs, their parents have to fight to get what they are entitled to. Give credit where credit is due to our fine teachers and the principal.

Examples of postal service problems

IN REFERENCE to the U.S. Postal Service and their constant requests for increases in postal rates. I'd like it brought to the attention of somebody at the post office that the Cape Girardeau Post Office is very inept. We keep getting deliveries of mail to our home address that is addressed to everybody in town, and I keep getting reports of mail sent to me by other people that I don't receive. What seems to be the problem? I received something addressed to KBSI television. I am not KBSI television. I don't even live on the same street. I don't even live in the same section of town.

Praise for Jackson's Mayor Sander

I DO not live in Jackson, but I always read with interest the progress of Jackson and its city affairs. I would like to publicly commend Mayor Paul Sander. He has done an excellent job with Jackson, and I was wondering if he has ever considered running for governor. Missouri could sure use a man like him. He has kept Jackson on an even keel and growing without diminishing any of its small-town attributes. Thanks, Paul Sander, from an outsider. We appreciate you, and I wish our community would use you as a model.

Both political parties are guilty

LET'S CUT through all of the smokescreen, people. This so-called investigation of Clinton and Gore raising money in the White House is the same old hatchet politics to cut down the other party. We're supposed to be idiots and believe that only one party is guilty of campaign finance abuses. Both are guilty, so what's new?

Bigger needs than saving artwork

HOW SAD that someone would talk about the artwork in St. Francis of Assisi church in Italy that way, the one that was hit by the earthquake. Who knows, maybe God didn't like what the church stood for. But putting that aside, it does make you wonder when they start clamoring to raise funds to save this artwork from this church. Is this really needful in our society today to save this artwork? As for the article on credit-card debt, considering there's farm aid for farmers, it is too bad people don't put together some effort to help those who have credit-card debt, because credit-card debt destroys marriages and home life. If you declare bankruptcy, I guess it ruins your life for seven years. Too bad that other people can't feel compassion for people who may have gotten heavily in debt and basically absolve them from this debt instead of saving this artwork that may get hit by another earthquake.

Disorder is only an excuse to collect money

I WOULD like to comment on how many times these doctors and psychiatrists claim a child has an attention deficit disorder. This is nothing but a scam to get money from the government. Why are these people with kids who have attention deficit disorder getting a $400-$500 check per month? I know of a case that happened right here in Cape where the parents claim their child had ADD. This child would bite. Well, the biting stopped at school when he bit other students and then one day the students started biting him. Now these parents are upset that their kid doesn't bite anymore and they don't get any more checks from the government. I think this ADD is another way for parents to take the blame off themselves when these kids needed a good swat on the backside. Unconditional love does not work.

Education more important than bickering

I'M CALLING in regard to the situation over at the Kelso School District. I'd like to say to all the adults in the district, have they forgotten what is really important? It's not who can or can't participate in sports, nor is it who does or doesn't run the school. What matters is what the children who hold the future in their hands are learning. Are they achieving in math, reading, science, language? I believe all they're learning right now is how to argue and bicker. How are children expected to get along and build a strong future when all the adults in their lives are setting such outrageous examples? Are they really concerned about what is best for the children and their future? They need to think about. What is the most important thing, what the adults want and desire, or what their children are learning to work together to build a strong and caring society? I think they all need to stop ranting and raving and start to think about what is really going to matter in the end.