SPEAKOUT

Correcting the poem

TO THE person who quoted Joyce Kilmer's "Trees" in Speak Out last week: This 12-line gem is truly uplifting, sending a powerful message to everyone. But line 10 reads: "Who intimately lives with rain," not "immediately.' This correction is intended only to set it straight for readers who may want to copy or quote the poem, not to censure the person who offered it. Perhaps the only reason I remember it so well is that I memorized it for teachers in grade school and high school, taught it in middle school, and often included it in public readings. I even wrote a parody on it, but a parody flatters the creator.

REPLY: Our apologies to the Speak Out caller and to Joyce Kilmer. The error was made in transcribing the call. Thanks for the correction.

Still the best

THIS IS an answer to someone who called Speak Out griping because you're a Republican paper. Yes, you lean toward the Republican side, but you're still the best darn paper in this part of the country, and I will continue taking it.

Why I deserve a raise...

ON THIS proposed raise for the judges and the legislators: The proposed increase is 22 percent and a lot higher. I'd like for those people to tell the people who are on minimum wage why they deserve a raise.

Sidewalks make sense

REGARDING a proposed sidewalk ordinance, Steve Strom states "he would prefer to see the homeowners pay for the sidewalk." I have three comments on this. No. 1, it was stated that the sidewalk would add over $2,000 to the price of the lots. It's very obvious that the contractor or developer would not absorb this cost but would add it to the overall price of the finished project or the house. Therefore the homeowner would be paying for the sidewalk as part of the overall price. No. 2, as a buyer, I would rather pay for the added amount of the sidewalk as part of the overall price of the house. $2,200 isn't much over the life of a 30-year loan. However, for most new homeowners, having to pay over $2,000 out of pocket for a sidewalk would be a major burden. No. 3, if you do not want the sidewalk torn up by suppliers, put the sidewalks in last. I have seen this done in many times in other towns, and it is not a new concept. Perhaps I am naive, but it seems that Mr. Strom and the planning and zoning commission are missing some very basic and obvious points.

Waited on pay plan

I THINK it's not just coincidence that the commission on lawmakers' and judges' pay increases was made after the election -- after the minimum-wage proposition was defeated. I think it stinks.

SEMO's football season

THE SOUTHEAST Missouri State University football season is just about over. It's been very disappointing this year, although the kids evidently are giving everything they have. What's also disappointing is the poor turnout of fans. The stands are mostly empty, and that, of course, doesn't support the program. The real problem has to be with the direction the football program is heading. And by that I mean the head coaching situation. Coaches are paid to win. We haven't had a winner here for a while. Interest is lagging. Recruiting is down. I think John Mumford is a good man. I really think he's a fine gentleman, but it's just not the answer that this football program needs if it's going to be successful. I think it would be in the interest of the university to look at another direction as soon as the football season is over with so recruiting can be enhanced and we could truly get going and bring back the support of the fans. It's not going to happen in the current situation.

Suspend driving privileges

ALL THIS talk about teen-agers having no respect for their parents or other people's property or caring about the law brings me to my point. When this disrespect occurs, I certainly don't believe you can go around beating your kids like they were an Ethiopian water buffalo. But suspend their driving privileges, because most teen-agers won't walk a half-block for anything. You understand, this gets them where it really hurts the most.

Tired of speech police

I'M CONFUSED. Do we have freedom of speech or not? How come if someone says the N word, Jesse Jackson and his entourage comes marching in and tells us we can't use that word. I'm getting tired of the blacks telling us what we can say and what we can't say. I'm not racial. I'm realistic. Get out of my face.

Waiting for licenses

I SEE that we're going to have a while-you-wait driver's license. We already have that. We walk through that door at the license bureau, and we wait and wait and wait.

Other diets available

I JUST read the Saturday articles on weight loss. I'd like to let you know for medical reasons I am not supposed to take in any carbohydrates because they break down in my system and are very harmful to me. I am on an increased protein diet, and it has no harmful effects on me. Also, I have lost 8 percent body fat in just a mere matter of four weeks from another program in this town that is just for women and there is no weight training involved. It uses cardiovascular and tension machines. So there are other places in town with these same results if not better results and I think those should be checked out too.