SPEAKOUT

Women's rights on abortion

FOR MANY years women were treated unfairly and deprived of many of their rights and opportunities, especially in the workplace. Their efforts to exercise their rights were rebuffed by men who feared that giving women more rights would result in men losing some of theirs. They were in a position of control, so they simply said that's the way it is. Many men, including this one, cheered as women marshaled their forces and gained enough power to demand many rights and encouraged them to continue to progress toward gaining the respect and advantages they deserve. It is, therefore, disappointing to see many of these same women, when in a position of control, revert to the same position they do despised in men. This is most evident in the abortion question where women say to their unborn child, "I am in control, and if I give you your rights and opportunity for life, I will lose some of my rights, and that is unacceptable, so you will be eliminated." Unfortunately, these babies cannot marshal their forces to change this or to defend themselves. This is left for us to do on their behalf, and at this point we seem to be losing ground. With the law and many in political power favoring this practice, the only hope the unborn has is for those who speak for them to appeal to the moral decency of the women who makes this decision. Just because the law allows something does not make it right, and regardless of the law, the problem can be solved if women choose to not have abortions. The question that remains is, what are you and I doing about this very said situation? Let's speak against this great injustice at every opportunity.

State welfare is limited

I HAVE something to say about the state we live in. I am a mother of four children. Due to domestic violence, I now am homeless. Although I could receive temporary shelter at the Safe House for Women, nothing is permanent. My children and I are staying just wherever we can with friends. Fortunately, I have some very good friends who have opened their doors to us. But nothing is permanent and nothing lasts forever. AFDC said that we could receive $400 a month. All HUD waiting lists are closed. Nobody's taking applications. You can't find a house for five people $400 a month and expect to pay your utilities, buy diapers and stuff too. This is pathetic. This is the sorriest state out of all 50. It has to be.

Democrats support unions

I URGE you union people to take heed of the McDonnell-Douglas strike in St. Louis. Now they're going to hire scab labor to replace the striking workers, which would only cripple the union. Rep. Clay wanted a bill that would make it against the law to hire scab. That was a good law, which your good Congressman Emerson and your two U.S. senators opposed. All three of them are strictly anti-union. If it could happen to a company like that and workers like that, it could happen to anybody. I feel the federal government should cancel all contracts with that company if they're going to have scab labor. If the company replaces them with scabs, then your job if you're a union employee doesn't mean nothing. So I think we all should get together and unite in this election and vote for the party that the labor unions endorse, and that's the Democratic Party.

Learning by doing

THE RANDOM Acts of Kindness Week isn't over yet. I had an act of kindness bestowed on me. A lady came out of the store with her children. She said, "Here, let me put your groceries in your car," and to one of her boys, "Take her empty cart back into the store." She was not only helping me, but also helping her children learn to do for others without being asked.

Information on abortions

I AM answering the pro-life Republican who says that Peter Kinder is misinformed about partial-birth abortions. I understand why you came to that conclusion. You watched "60 Minutes." But you were the one who was mistaken, not Peter Kinder. You couldn't find the partial-birth abortion listed in the medical book. But if you look again, you will find dilation and extraction abortion. It is the same thing. The name is so vague, it hides the reality of what it really is. Partial-birth abortion is the term used because it describes more closely what is being done. I say thank you, Mr. Kinder, for having the courage to speak out on an issue that needs to be presented to the public. We can't fight against things we know nothing about. You have my vote, my thanks and my prayers. May you serve our country many years to come.

Cameras capture the truth

IN MY opinion, cameras do belong in the courtroom. The camera itself is the eye of the public, and the public has the right to be in the audience of any courtroom trial. However, it's about time the general public learns the difference between an actor in the courtroom who is trained to lie and a truthful person. The camera is not the culprit, the actor is. The camera does not act. It tells like it is, and it shows it like it is.

Floodgate opened too early

I JUST want to comment about the opening of the floodgate. I think it was poor timing on the part of the people responsible for opening it with Riverfest coming up and so many young children going to be there. It would certainly be a shame that something that is so pleasant to have and interesting for so many people from this surrounding area to have the possibility to have a tragedy. I think the gate should have remained closed until the water had receded considerably more than what it is.

What about the Waco fire?

JUST A comment about the burning of the churches that's been going on and how Bill Clinton is indignant and calling this the most hateful crime of all. Seems to me like about three years ago in a little town called Waco he did a little church burning with children in it, and it burned the kids up too. Remember, the gas that was used at Waco required a presidential OK to put it in there. Janet Reno called and asked him if they could use that gas because it was highly inflammable.

Is talk cheap, or not?

YOU KNOW, they say talk is cheap for our president. What about the Republicans? Their talk isn't cheap, is it? Or is it? In my opinion, they're both a bunch of bull. I think they should stop that stuff and stop it right away. That is down right ignorant. People don't pay any attention to that stuff. Wake up, America. Where in the world are you?