SPEAKOUT

February's history

SO NOW it's February and Black History Month, as if we didn't get enough MLK and Anita Hill shoved down our throats for a couple of weeks already. Can you liberal historical revisionists at SEMO University and the media remember what February also represents? Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. What are we going to hear about and see about them? Probably only that they're insignificant dead white guys. I'm sick of you condescending elitists academic fools. You don't know or care who pays your bills. So as an alumni, don't bother begging me for donations to perpetuate your foolishness. Get a real job. And as for Black History Month, try teaching real history for a change. Such as, Africans became slaves because they're African brothers sold them into it. By the way, when do we all get to bow down and honor gays and lesbians for a month?

A change of heart

I AM a pastor with a small, independent, community church. I am calling in the hopes of opening up some eyes. You often hear people question why the United States is having problems. Recently I heard some people say the reason they wouldn't attend certain churches is because of the people who went there, referring to those who are less economically fortunate than we are or because they are handicapped in one form or fashion. My heart goes out to those high-headed people, for really they are the ones who are less fortunate. Jesus said, "I haven't come for those who are whole but those who are in need of a physician." He also said in Matthew, "Whatsoever you have done to the least of one of these, you have done unto me." It is time as Christians we come down off of our almighty dollar social-standing high-horse and find the cross once again. We are supposed to follow the example of Christ, and as I understand it he did not run after the big dollar or what would make him socially excepted. Just the opposite. He sought after the low at heart, the troubled, the sick, the less fortunate and the lost.

Washington watch

I JUST GOT a laugh out of the Speak Out about the caller criticizing Jon Rust's article about President Clinton's speech sounding like a Republican. Evidently the caller doesn't keep up with the voting records in Washington. Slick Willie Clinton picked out early last year our good Sen. John Danforth from Missouri to organize a committee to lay out plans for cuts in Social Security which would involve over 33 million people being cut to the bone. The committee recommended cutting every Social Security recipient $1,000 per year. Then the election popped up and scared Slick Willie Clinton to death, and he was on TV within just a few hours nationwide to tell the people there will not be any Social Security cut. Naturally it wouldn't be cut, because the election made a big change in his mind. Bill Emerson has done some pretty good talking for us up there a few times. Just check up on his voting record. I think he has done a pretty good job.

Smoking in prisons

WITH ALL of the hullabaloo about smoke-free workplaces, a question comes to my mind: Is smoking now a no-no in the nation's prisons? If it is, have disgruntled prisoners retained the ACLU to battle for their smoking privileges? This brings to mind another thought. Some in the media love to portray the American Indians as ecologically sound, environmentally cool, politically correct, yet who was it that introduced the demon tobacco to the first Caucasian explorers who came to the new world?

Woman drives shuttle

EVERY WOMAN in this country should have watched the first female pilot of the spacecraft take off into outer space. It was a fabulous feeling. It was great. I remember when the first man landed on the moon, and to see a woman pilot a spacecraft did womanhood a lot of good. I hope every female got to see that.

Give it to the feds

THE FEDERAL government has its finger in every pie in this land. The states have absolutely nothing to say about anything. It all depends on the federal government. So why do we have to pay both federal taxes and state taxes. I suggest that we all pay a 10 percent tax on our income and let it go at that, because those poor little states don't have a say and have not had a say for years. If you want to dabble with the federal government, you got to pay the price, and I suggest we're going to have to do away with that state income tax.

Downtown will benefit

I READ in Speak Out about gambling and shoppers. I don't know where the caller gets such a left-handed idea. He seems to think that downtown is not going to profit from the boat coming in. Any time you have more people in an area from out of the area, it's not only the boat going to profit. It's the downtown merchants, because they only take so many people out on a tour on the boat, and the rest of them are going to want something to do while they are waiting. So I think they better think this through again. I would rather shop downtown.

List deadbeat dads

I WOULD LIKE to make a suggestion to the welfare department. If you would like to get money from the deadbeat dads, I think it would be a very wise decision to print a list of all the deadbeat dads in the Southeast Missourian, and I, as a taxpayer, would be willing to pay for that.

Wobbly or bending?

THIS IN REFERENCE to an article that said the GOP may be ready to bend on the Contract With America. If this was Clinton, you conservative Republicans out there you would call it wobbly. Since the GOP is ready to make a change in their Contract With America, you want to call it bend. Look, it's one way or the other. You do or you don't do what you say.

Some mall smoking

AS I ENTERED the West Park Mall, I noticed the sign on the door that read "A Smoke Free Facility". However I walked into a restaurant, and the smoke was thick. Is the West Park Mall smoke free or partially smoke free.

REPLY: West Park Mall has banned smoking in the public areas controlled by the shopping center. Restaurants, however, can still designate smoking areas for their customers.

No expert on women

I JUST READ where a caller said he was an expert on three things. On the list was women. Since women, contrary to popular opinion are all individuals, I find it both implausible and illogical for anyone to be an expert concerning them.

Tigers have potential

THIS IS IN response to the person telling Central's basketball team not to get a big head, that the season is not over yet. Well, guys, it doesn't matter where you are in the polls. You Tigers have the potential, and I believe the desire to go all the way. Keep up the good work.

Free publicity

I HOPE the local news media are proud of themselves. Regina's House of Dolls couldn't have afforded all of the free publicity and advertising they are getting from the local radio, newspapers and television. I hear their name at least once or twice a day during prime time hours and during the news. People pay a lot of money to advertise during our local news, but Regina's is getting that advertising for free, because they are making news. Please remember when you give people free publicity like that you are just encouraging their actions and their activities.

Government pay raises

WHAT REALLY gripes me is these politicians wanting to give everybody in government a pay raise. But to heck with the ones who deserve a pay raise and haven't had one for over two years or even more.

Decent working wage

REPUBLICANS, your biggest aim is to take people off of welfare. The minimum wage law that President Clinton wants to endorse -- that's the way to do it. You want them off welfare, but you want them to work for nothing. Give people a decent working wage, and by all means give them a national health care bill. That's the key to people being off welfare.

Good show at Regina's

I WAS AT Regina's House of Dolls, and it was really nice. The girls put on a great show, and I'm sure the club is happy that KFVS is giving them so much coverage and publicity. Thank you.