SPEAKOUT

Conservative voice

THE KID writing about Rush Limbaugh, calling him old Rush Limbaugh, doesn't take time to learn that old Rush Limbaugh is over 100 years old and has been a top lawyer in Missouri since the early 1900s. Younger Rush hammers at the misdoings of the legislators and other socialistic big namers to get free air time so the concerns of us U.S conservatives can be brought out in the open where the far-left newspapers and TV people put them. Over 60 percent of Americans need to have someone who expresses their views.

Lessons to learn

ANYONE WHO doesn't have the decency and courtesy to stand up for the flag of the country that gives them the greatest privileges and the highest standard of living in the world needs a good lesson in patriotism. Better yet, let Abdul and Missourian writer Jamie Hall go live in most other countries around the world and see how great it is. Then, young Mr. Hall, come back and talk to us about tyranny and oppression. I hope you've grown up in 10 years. No, you won't be laughing about what you wrote. You will be ashamed. And if you don't grow up, I hope the good old U.S.A. doesn't need you to stand up for her on a battleground as a protector. God help the America that is home to such ungrateful, disrespectful young people like Abdul and Jamie Hall. I'd say, love her or leave her. I don't care for your writing anymore, Mr. Hall. Grow up and then write something about sports.

Money giveaway

THE POLITICIANS are at it once again, giving the American taxpayers' money away. How can these conservative Republicans claim to be conservative when they vote along with Bill Clinton to send $100 million to Israel to fight terrorism? I cannot understand what these politicians are thinking when we have terrorism right here in our own country and they're wanting to cut Medicare and Medicaid and some of these social programs that people have to live on. Wake up, taxpayers. The next election, vote them all out.

Good move, Jackson

THE CITY of Jackson has hit a home run. Mayor Sander, all the council members and staff should be commended for their foresight in acquiring our beautiful new city hall. What a bargain for the long-term future of Jackson. Less than $900,000 spent on a building worth well over $2.5 million. I call that a great decision for Jackson and our future generations. Keep up the great job you are doing.

Don't be brainwashed

WE OLD folks who still remember the sneaky attack on the unsuspecting people of tiny Pearl Harbor by the Japanese still shed tears when we are reminded, and we still hold resentment in our hearts for both the Japanese and the traitor who conspired to bring the invasion about, because he wanted this country to get into World War II for his own political gain. Personally, I would never send my child off to get involved in anybody's battle, especially if the person sending my child is a cowardly draft dodger who didn't even support his own government when he was called. So let's not talk about patriotic duty. There is no such thing, not in our White House. If you're a member of the United States Armed Forces, please don't be brainwashed into thinking that whatever you're doing is for the good of your country. It's for the benefit of your president and nobody else.

Need a safe site

SO SOON we forget. Immediately after the federal building was bombed in Oklahoma City, the spokesperson for the feds stated there would be no more federal buildings built in or near residential areas. It is just too dangerous. They would be built where they can be secured from terrorists' bombs. There is no way any site proposed by Cape's citizens for the new federal building in Cape is safe to Cape residents. If it has to be built, build it on the west side of I-55, away from residents, where it can be secured.

Street repairs

I WOULD just like to know when the city of Cape Girardeau is going to do a better job of fixing the streets on the south end of town like they have done on the north end of town where your upper class of people live. Some of the streets on the south end of town are really bad, like at the intersection of Sprigg and Morgan Oak that leads to Illinois. There's a lot of traffic there. That road is really bad. There are other streets on the south end of town that need work done. We pay taxes too, and I'd like to see a little more money spent on fixing these streets on the south end of town as well as on the north end of town.

A good column

I READ and admired the column by Jamie Hall on the NBA and its action regarding Abdul-Rauf. It was a very well-written article, and it focused on a broader issue of a person's right to his belief, his right to respect or not respect the national anthem. You cannot make someone respect something if he does not want to. If Abdul-Rauf chooses not to, then the NBA's action should not be reflective of ungrateful bickering. Anyway, I am glad that Abdul-Rauf has chosen to compromise and not make a stink out of the whole issue. As Michael Jordan said in the paper about Adbul-Rauf, he's a good kid. A lot of us may not agree with his views, but you have got to respect him for what he believes in and then being to willing to compromise that stand. He shows he has strong character when playing the game. One last thing I want to point out is it is not against Islamic belief to stand and pay respect to the flag and the national anthem. The broader issue as pointed out by Jamie Hall in his column is that the NBA should show the same respect for its players that it demands of its organization.

Scripture truth

THIS IS to the scripture bigots. The Bible also states men should not have long hair, and have you looked at a picture of Jesus lately. Homosexuals are welcomed in the kingdom of heaven if they are monogamous to one mate or celibate. The only sins that keep you from heaven are the Ten Commandments, and it will never state thou shalt not be a homosexual. The anti-Christ would come to your wealthy, prejudiced churches, but the true son of God would be on the streets with the drug addicts and prostitutes and visit cancer and AIDS wards to heal those afflicted. When you speak of a forgiving religion, Hitleristic hate and murderous God should not come to your mind. If it does, you are worshiping the anti-Christ. Give up your hate and follow the true God and Jesus Christ. Amen.

Paying the professors

THEY KEEP talking about the way the cost of college is going up, but I wonder what you can expect when they pay full salaries for those teachers to teach 15 hours a week.

It's the GOP's fault

YOU KNOW, it's disgusting to read in Speak Out why you have to work for minimum wage and blaming Bill Clinton. Where have you been if you don't know whose fault that is? It started under Reagan, who never raised the minimum wage. It's the Republicans that keep it from becoming a law. So if you don't know that, you haven't been listening.

HIV in the military

IN THE 1960s, the draft-dodging Bill Clinton wrote that he loathed the military. Since he's been president, the Clinton agenda proves that to be a fact, because he started out to destroy the military and he's doing a good job of it. Certainly all of his actions have had that effect, if not that intention. Most recently, he ordered the Justice Department not to enforce the law that would discharge people with HIV infection from the military. There are more than 1,000 identified HIV-positive members of the military. There's absolutely no good reason for keeping them there. The military is not a social service or health-care program. It exists to fight and win America's wars and defend our vital interests. Keeping HIV-positive personnel does nothing to advance that position. Having HIV-positive personnel in the armed forces is basically political and hideously shameful. It adversely affects readiness and morale. It presents an additional and unnecessary danger in battle.

Expensive duplexes

I WOULD just like to say those people who are talking about duplexes. I don't know if they priced any of these new duplexes in Jackson. The rent starts out between $500, $600, $800 or more to rent one of these duplexes. So that sure ain't trash moving into them. You've got make some good money to live in one of these new duplexes.

Butting in

TO THE sarcastic person who called in with all the comments about the school butting out. Something as silly and trivial as what a child drinks for lunch, whether they're drinking Kool-aid, soda or whatever is taking it too far. Their little snotty comment about not sending the kids with coats and all that stuff, you're getting into abuse there and neglect. That is not the same thing as butting in and telling us what our children should drink for lunch. I think you need to rethink your comment.

Comics in color?

I HAVE always enjoyed your paper, especially the pictures that are in color. I was just curious. Have you ever considered putting the weekday comics in color?

REPLY: The cost of having color comics on weekdays as well as Sundays is prohibitive. There aren't very many papers that have color comics except on Sunday, and the paper's that do are large, metropolitan papers. Thanks for the comment.

Bullfrog pride

SINCE I read Speak Out every morning I am familiar with the Cape Girardeau accent of the swamp bullfrog. I was wondering why not name one of the new business land tracts or else designate a new street and call it Swamp Bullfrog Drive.