SPEAKOUT

Bible references

I AM responding to the lady who cannot find in the New Testament about homosexuality. Well, it is there. If she will read Matthew 4:17 about why Jesus came, then go to Romans 1:26-27, you'll find the homosexuality lifestyle is not only in abomination in the Old Testament but it is against the natural use of our bodies in the New Testament.

Law of the prophets

I'D LIKE to comment to the caller that there's nothing in New Testament that Jesus said about homosexuality needs to read Matthew 5:17-20. He says "that I didn't come to abolish the law of the prophets." And so Leviticus speaks clearly on the issue of homosexuality as does the rest of the Bible. But as long as there are unprincipled men, as long there is sin in the world, people are going to continue to find loopholes and to justify their own wrongdoing, to find a blame and a cause other than themselves for what they're doing. I want to tell you Jesus Christ is the answer. If you humble your heart, accept God's provision for your life, give your life to Jesus Christ and be born again, God will change your life.

Attention deficits

I'D LIKE to commend Heidi Nieland and your paper for your recent report on Ritalin and Attention Deficit Disorder. Those of us who are parents of children with attention problems are desperate for all the information we can get to help our children function in the classroom. Many of us are tortured by the decision to use medication or not. ADD and ADHD are perplexing problems that erect huge roadblocks to students' potential in the classroom. When methods that work well with the mainstream students fail, the unfortunate result is exasperation and finger-pointing. Parents blame teachers, teachers blame parents and the student is labeled a space cadet, a brat and a troublemaker. It is little wonder that so many of these kids grow up feeling worthless. I was very sad to read the president of Community Teachers Association public expression of her doubts as to whether ADD is even a medical condition. Her approach and pointing a finger to the lack of control at home is typical of those who would rather fix the blame than fix the problem. How does she explain this theory to parents who enforce the same discipline principles with all their children yet only have one child with ADD? For the sake of the problem, please, let's understand that this is a very real, very tough problem for which there may be no magic pill. Our focus and attention should be on helping these kids surmount this roadblock to success and find new pathways to learning.

More on teacher pay

I WAS reading in Speak Out where the teacher called in and said that they do get paid for holidays and he or she gets $12,000 in benefits above a $36,000 salary. It would be interesting to know what school pays a teacher's salary of $36,000 in Southeast Missouri. I know it's not in Cape Girardeau Public Schools, and I also know that in the state of Missouri they don't pay into the Social Security fund. They pay into a separate Missouri Teacher Retirement Fund. I doubt very seriously that person was giving accurate information when they called, because I doubt very seriously they're a teacher in Missouri. As for that matter, teachers are paid by a length of their contract, and most teaching contracts are generally 9 1/2-month contracts, and that's what they get paid for. Holidays and summers off are not included in their pay. Now some school systems do allow them to take their paychecks over 12 months or 10 months, depending on the school district. I just wish people would call in and keep the facts straight. Teachers get paid based on the length of their contracts.

Spring cleaning time

IT'S SPRING, and many people's thoughts turn to different things. It's also time for election. I challenge the people in Cape Girardeau County and Jackson to look at the good-old-boy situation that we have in the county commissioners, the buddy system that we have in Jackson City Council and the old-relative situation we have in the Jackson School Board. This spring let our fancies turn to spring housecleaning and clean up the three entities.

Pot calls kettle black

IN RESPONSE to the clown who said the Democrats should go to Sweden instead of heaven. It was very cute and all, but let's get the facts. Republican leaders such as Ronald Reagan were rewarded by the Japanese government $4 million. Just what did he do for them to show him their gratitude? Just what did he do for them to pay him that much money? And this S&L deal, just how did Bush and Reagan manage to stay out of that? Why isn't there an investigation over that? And also, what about our own Congressman Emerson? He was very much wined and dined by the Japanese government. I understand Sen. Dole is also being accused of exempting this big corporation in Kansas and aiding millionaires. Just how much is in it for him? I think this person making charges like that is like the pot calling the kettle black. So I think the Republicans would be far more at home there. I think the caller should get his facts straight before he starts name calling and before he starts making accusations.

THE REPUBLICANS want to save Social Security, which I find kind of hard to believe. If they want to save Social Security, why don't these millionaires and these big firms contribute a 10th of their yearly income to put in the Social Security fund. And why doesn't each person making over $300,000 a year exempt themselves for any future Social Security payments. And the people in the Senate and the House should exempt themselves from drawing any Social Security benefits. Certainly the amount that they're paid through the private business they had prior to entering the Congress would be enough to take care of themselves where they don't need Social Security. Let's give it to the people that need it. Also, let these corporations donate to the fund. Then we could build it up, then Social Security will be out of the red like they claim it is. No, they want to attack it to make the ones that need it pay. They want the low-income people to pay for it. So let these big corporations donate. Let's have a fund where they donate to the Social Security fund. Then Social Security would be out of trouble.

REPLY: Corporations already make hefty contributions to Social Security by matching all of their employees' contributions.

God doesn't change

I'D LIKE to say this in response to the individual who called in about Jesus not condemning homosexuals. While he didn't do it directly, the Bible does say that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and the Bible does indicate that God destroyed two cities, namely Sodom and Gomorrah, in the Old Testament because of homosexuality. While Jesus himself may not have condemned sexuality, it is true that God destroyed two cities, and the Bible also says he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

CHADD has the facts

I HAVE just read Heidi Nieland's article entitled "Ritalin: Miracle drug" and am absolutely, positively shocked at the misinformation here. I'm calling to direct the citizens of Cape Girardeau to contact their local CHADD chapter if you want some accurate information. I doubt very seriously if Dr. Dinkins has proclaimed himself as the area's expert. What Charlene Peyton has to say about ADHD is ridiculous and shows that she does not know much about. The audacity to say that it's the lack of parental control. Would she say that it's a lack of parental control that a child needs glasses or uses an inhaler for his asthma? There's a lot of misunderstandings here, and as a parent of a ADHD child and as a teacher, I urge you to contact your local CHADD chapter for some accurate information.

It's a disorder

I HAVE some information that Charlene Peyton needs. In the article on Ritalin, she said: "Sometimes I think it's a lack of control at home. I don't know if it is a medical condition." Yes, ADHD is definitely a medical condition. It is a neurobiological disorder.

Where were they?

WHEN IT comes to draft dodging and Vietnam, I have done some thorough checking. I hereby nominate for my Vietnam chicken platoon the names of Republicans of Phil Gramm, Newt Gingrich, Dan Quayle, Pat Buchanan and Rush Limbaugh. Where were these big-talking rough hombres when the real Vietnam jungle combat started?

Disappointing story

I WAS very disappointed with Heidi Nieland's article on Ritalin. It's obvious she did not do her homework. The secretaries at the school in Cape do not figure dosages of medication for patients. Only the physicians do that. And she obviously didn't do her homework on what kind of a problem it is, that it's a neuro-transmitter issue and that the stimulant properties that Ritalin has for most people actually have more calming effects these kids, so it's pretty simple to see whether the diagnosis is right or not. I really feel like she could have done a little more homework and been a little bit more fair about the whole process.