SPEAKOUT

AIDS and homosexuality

I WOULD like to make a comment to the political correctness group. If AIDS isn't a homosexual disease, then why is it that every time they have a gay awareness week, they have AIDS awareness? I'd rather see the word homosexual being used rather than gay, because it shows how there's a gay contingent in the news media to try to make people think different.

Find out who's who

YOU PEOPLE concerning Social Security and concerning the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, I challenge to you to find out the facts and see who has really done more for the country as far as history is concerned. You'll find out who brought Social Security in. You'll find out who brought unemployment insurance in, who brought the National Recovery Act in, who brought the Wagner Act in, and you'll find out who has done more for the working poor, the Republicans or the Democrats. And find out how many Republicans opposed the New Deal and how many Democrats voted for it. Also, the Medicare that Kennedy brought in, Mr. Dole was opposed to that. The Republicans have done nothing for the working and the working poor. That why I am a Democrat. The Republicans, maybe they mean well, but they have trickle-down economy, and they are not really on the side of the working and the poor.

Model for love of game

IN THESE troubled times in Sports, with lack of role models, I'd like to point to the umpire, Mr. McSherry, who passed away of a heart attack. Mr. McSherry was a good example of the role model. He sacrificed himself by not attending a doctor's meeting so he could fulfill his obligations as crew chief and umpire opening day behind the plate. Now this is a role model that gave his all for the love of the game.

Slamming isn't normal

CONCERNING YOUR article on Excel Telecommunications. As one of several hundred Excel representatives in this area, and as one of several thousands of Excel customers in this area, I can tell you first hand that is not the way Excel does business. It's unfortunate you chose to display this story on the front page without doing a complete investigation. If this person did indeed slam this customer, he will be dealt with by the company and be dismissed. It is not company policy to slam. Unfortunately, your article has probably cast a shadow on this up-and-coming company along with those who depend on it for income. Hopefully, your newspaper can do a better job of reporting in the future. You certainly did not do a good job of reporting in this particular instance.

Time to develop airport

IT'S INTERESTING that the airport board feels that the airport ground is prime development area. I don't know how they can think that when 50 years have gone by and nobody's developed it. Maybe they ought to consider letting somebody else do something with the land that would be more appropriate, because there sure isn't any aviation development going on around here.

Cleanup Week is coming

NEXT WEEK is Cleanup Week in Cape, April 15-19. This city needs for everyone to get out in their yards and put all that trash and clutter down by the curb, the south end of town especially, Benton, Ellis and farther south. The 50-year-ago column mentioned an ordinance proposed to fine anyone who didn't keep his yard clean. What happened to that? The people behind Vision 2000, what a great project this would be for you. Clean up the city. Start with South Cape. There are houses that have burned just standing there, houses with trash and garbage thrown out in the backyard. This is unsanitary. Where is the health department? Someone come down here and help get something started.

Government experiments

I READ where Oran is finally getting a railroad-crossing warning lights and gate. It is really sad to think that six people have lost their lives in such a terrible death. I realize that when it's your time to go, you could have security gates all around your body, and it won't help a thing. Even the man upstairs needs a little help now and then. He has the whole world to watch over. Whenever I read or hear how our government has spent so much money on stupid experiments, such as how many times does a cow chew its cud in so many minutes, it really makes me feel smart and intelligent. Half the people in our government don't even know what a cow looks like, but they sure love and enjoy all those wonderful steaks they have.

Fairness in education

THIS IS in regard to school vouchers. I don't believe I have read anywhere about anyone saying let's do what is fair. If a child in a public school moves from one district to another, then one district loses the money and one district gains the money because of the move. This is fair. Let's balance the scales and make it fair for everyone. If a person sends his children to a private or parochial school, then let his money he pays to support the public school be sent to the private or parochial school, or let's exempt him from paying any taxes to support public schools until his children are out of school. Let's stop being so greedy in making them pay twice for their child's education. Let's be fair about it.

Honesty is still best

THANK YOU to the honest person who found my purse at Burger King on March 30. God bless you.

Higher wages, higher costs

I REMEMBER my first minimum-wage increase. I thought I had become rich overnight. It had increased my wages 10 cents an hour. I was paying 15 cents for a quart of milk, 5 cents for a loaf of bread and 13 cents for a gallon of gasoline. Within three months, I was paying 20 cents for milk, 10 cents for bread and 20 cents per gallon for gas. The working man or woman who thinks the government or that matter a union, can increase his income in relation to the cost of living is tragically mistaken. The dog chasing his tail has better odds. Government or union attempts to enhance wages always push prices up across the board and most often in excess of the wage increase. The only way to enhance you income is to take personal responsibility, improve your skills and knowledge in order to move up in your company or in your career or whatever your chosen field is. President Clinton should be ashamed to try to pull this old illusion on the American people again.

Rooting for Otahkians

I'VE BEEN reading the Sports page about the Southeast Missouri Otahkian softball team. First, let me congratulate them. Is there anyway that the paper can publish the schedule, because there are a lot of softball enthusiasts over here in the town of Jackson who would love to come see them play?

REPLY: Daily schedules that include the Otahkian games as well as all other local sporting events are included in the Scoreboard each day in the Southeast Missourian.

Build some roads at home

REGARDING THAT Missouri National Guard foray to Panama, a suggestion: Let the Missouri National Guard or the Illinois National Guard, since I live in Illinois, come over to Gale and elevate and improve our old country road. We're a little Indian village situated near the Mississippi River, and we need three miles of road and 19 new culverts. You won't need any airdrops, choppers or troop transports. Just come over the bridge. Our rural community is in a great need as any in Panama. The training will be good, and look at all the money you will save with an important humanitarian mission.

Think about parking too

IN SPEAKING about a larger enrollment at the college, I think they should think about parking spaces for the students. Those of us who live within six or seven blocks of the college can never park in front of our own homes because of college kids parking there. We can never have visitors as there is no place for them to park.

Paying for big settlements

I'M CALLING in regards to the person who was apparently talking about the Republicans push for tort reform who said the Republicans just want to make it so only the rich people would be able to sue. I'd just like to reply that the only people who have benefited from our legal system the last 20 years are the lawyers themselves. It's funny because whenever these juries award these big settlements to people, who do you think pays? Not the companies that are sued. It's you or I, the consumers, because we pay higher prices for consumer goods as well as higher cost for insurance. And don't kid yourself. The reason the Democrats are against tort reform is because one of their major contributors is, yes, the trial lawyers association. So next time you call Speak Out, you might want to be a little bit better informed.

Children need to be loved

ACTIONS SPEAK louder than words. I want to comment on a letter to the editor April 6 from Paula Cobb Dover. Supporting a House bill doesn't mean taking it for a free ride. Voters, open your eyes and know that giving birth doesn't make you a parent, and children need to be loved as people, not as possessions for income.

Easter pageant was a hit

I WOULD like to thank Lynnwood Baptist Church for the beautiful pageant they presented Easter Sunday night at the Arena Building for the public. We enjoyed it immensely. That's what Easter's all about. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity of sharing it with you. Hope it's an annual affair for Cape Girardeau. We enjoyed it immensely.