SPEAKOUT

Have credit card ready

ATTENTION CHRISTMAS shoppers: If you plan to use a credit card for your purchases in one of our retail stores in Cape, it would be very helpful to the sales associates and to other customers waiting in line if you could have your credit card ready in your hand for check-out. Thanks very much and have happy holiday shopping.

Young Life clubs help

THIS IS a mom and someone who's concerned in the community about the teen-agers. I would like to tip my hat to Heidi Nieland for her front-page article on the Young Life clubs assisting the students in Christian living in Cape Girardeau. As an Jackson parent, I can only hope the same for Jackson and am encouraged to see that the group expands to Jackson. I would just like to encourage all the parents in the area to get behind Young Life. As grateful as we are for the many fine churches in the area, the Young Life clubs can reach kids that churches might not necessarily reach. We appreciate you, Young Life. And Heidi Nieland, keep giving us meaningful articles that give us hope as well as expose reality.

No huge mandate

I THINK it's about time that the Southeast Missourian gets the word. The total difference in vote for Congress and the Senate was barely three-tenths of one percent. There is no huge mandate to turn to the right. Get to the center, and get with it. You don't have a mandate. Live with it.

Bush and the Moon cult

THIS HEADLINE was in the Post-Dispatch: "Bush Helps Moon Start Newspaper." And he praises him and goes on about this Moon cult. When you read thoroughly you will find he was paid $100,000 for his appearance at this church cult. So believe me, when all of you people start bashing in Clinton and his reputation, I think you'd better start sweeping the back door of ex-President Bush.

Paying for world solutions

I AM so fed up, so sick of our federal government trying to solve the world's problems and our having to pay for it.

Wanted: More views

I LIKE Speak Out, but it's gotten less political and more editorial lately. I would appreciate more partisan views from both sides.

It's slave labor

ANY PERSON who works for $6 per hour and under 40 hours per week is stupid, because this is slave labor. I don't know any person who has any respect who will work this way. Let's do away with slave labor.

An explanation of Xmas

SEVERAL readers have called concerning the use of Xmas instead of Christmas. These callers make the point that Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ; therefore, using Xmas takes Christ out of Christmas. For centuries Christian churches have used X as a symbol for Christ, based on the Greek letter chi, which is the initial of Christos (the Greek word for Christ). Thus, Xmas has a long and religiously sound background. While some readers may prefer Christmas, others seem to prefer Xmas.

Still need four-way stop

I WAS wondering if the city of Cape Girardeau is planning to put a four-way stop at Bertling and Sprigg. I notice we need one there really bad because there's going to be a lot of wrecks there. I know that one person said we need to slow down and obey the laws, and he is right. So why is there a four-way stop at Lexington and old Sprigg but not at Bertling and new Sprigg?

Need speed control too

I BELIEVE that the new Lexington-Sprigg Street intersection should be controlled more often, because I got passed today. I was doing the speed limit, and the other person passed me very quickly. I would estimate 55 mph, and that's dangerous.

Food wasn't picked up

I TOOK the time to contribute to the Boy Scout can drive to be picked up at my front door and my food was not picked up.

Prosecution, not reform

I WANT to comment about campaign reform and these contributions that the president and Congress took in the last election. They say now we're going to have campaign reform. We don't need it. These contributions that came in from Indonesia and Korea are already illegal. It's illegal for foreigners to give money to an American political race. All we need now instead of reform is prosecution. Anybody who took money from these Indonesians or Koreans needs to wind up in jail. And chances are the special prosecutor's looking into it and they probably will.

Thanks for good story

THANK YOU for printing the article about the local girl who took top honors in the walking horse competition. There is so much bad news on radio and TV today that it is refreshing to hear a story that has a happy ending and to know that this young girl worked so hard to achieve the recognition that she did and hearing of the love between a job and an animal. Please, let's have more good stories, especially at this time of year, to warm our hearts and to tell the story of love thy neighbor and peace on earth, good will to men.

Tips to ward off burglars

I'D LIKE to make a suggestion to the elderly, how they might protect themselves in their homes from burglars. Whether you have a dog or not, go ahead and put up a sign in the front and back of your house "Beware of the dogs" and also have at the door and at the back door at all times a can of pepper mace and don't hesitate to use it if someone forces their way in. Also you may want a can under your bed.

Need more police

WHEN ARE the mayor and city council going to come down off whatever planet they live on and get back to the real world. We need more police officers now. Does some elderly person have to be killed before something is done? Wake up, Mr. Mayor and council. If you don't do something, nobody will want to live in Cape but the robbers and the dope heads. And I don't think they pay any taxes.