SPEAKOUT

Children aren't kids

I WONDER if there's anyway you can educate the public to not refer to the entire younger generation as kids. From babies through college age, they refer to them as kids. Why can't they say babies, toddlers, children, students, young adults or youths? But when they categorize everyone as kids, it lumps everyone together, and we all know what kids are: baby goats. Let's give our children some respect, use some respect and refer to them in some other terms.

REPLY: Well said. This is a particular complaint of the editor too. There are better words that specifically describe a person, and there is the matter of respect for those who are young. Thanks for the comment.

Matter of pride

I TAKE great pride in the Sunset area and am a graduate of Franklin School and have noticed that the janitors have yet to even mow the lawn and groom the grounds of the school since the beginning of school. Was hopeful that calling attention to that could get someone to do so. I would think the students could take better pride in the school if the lawn was well kept.

Fair umpiring

I APPRECIATE the fact that they have speeded up the baseball games. Now if they can do something about the plate umpires. When an umpire calls a third strike when the ball misses the plate six inches, it's terrible. If it is one inch outside, it is a ball. They say some umpires are pitchers' umpires, because they have a wide plate. That would be OK if they called them on both teams the same. But they are too one-sided.

COULD SOMEBODY out there please give me the address to write to "Dear Abby?"

REPLY: Write to Abigail Van Buren, c/o Southeast Missourian, P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702. Letters will be forwarded to the advice columnist. Thanks for asking.

Working for success

I DON'T live on Sylvan Lane but I do live in a lovely, well-kept neighborhood of expensive homes. I know most of the residents of Sylvan Lanes. They have worked hard all of their lives to save their money so they could afford nice living conditions. If the people on welfare would work and take some of the hundreds of job offers here in Cape, they too could have better living conditions. But they would rather sit back and let the government support them with public housing and other benefits then criticize those who have more.

Job well done

I WAS happy to attend my 50th class reunion in Jackson this past weekend. All the good food and fellowship with old classmates was very heartwarming. We were so impressed with the presentation of the postcards of the Veterans Memorial by Harlan Seibert, chairman of the memorial. I visited the memorial, and we all should appreciate all the time and money the chairman and his wife spent. Also the maintenance is exceptional. A job well done, Harlan and Dorothy, and your committee.

Bicycle on track

I'M A student and an employee of Southeast Missouri State University and frequently use the Abe Stuber track off of North Sprigg Street, which I feel is as much mine as anyone's. However, recently when I went to run, I was met by the disturbing sight of a small child riding his bicycle around the track. He was probably too young to know better, but the two or three adults who accompanied him certainly were not. I had to speak to the child once as he laid his bike down right across the lane in which I was running. An officer even pulled up while we out there and did nothing. I'd hoped that his arriving would put a end to this annoyance, but it did not. Maybe I'm expecting too much of people to assume that they know riding a bike on a collegiate track is just something that's not done.

Respect for animals

THIS IS to the person who commented about how their animals just don't respect rights. I'm sorry, but when you domesticate an animal and remove from it's natural environment and then complain about the fact that it doesn't treat you right, something's really wrong. If you want those animals to show you some respect, maybe you should respect them and leave them exactly where they were.

The Christian way

I SAY "Amen" to the Christian caller describing the American way. I detest labels, but I just consider myself a loyal Christian, not ultra-conservative. But neither am I liberal, not a Republican or even a Democrat, but rather for the best person. I don't believe in abortion or prejudice, just everyone being decent, kind and understanding to each other.

Is it too late?

IF THE voters of the Cape Girardeau School District will look carefully at the 1993 Outstanding Schools Act, they will discover that their visions planning meetings are a futile waste of time, because of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has total control of Cape Girardeau public schools and their future curriculum guidelines under the Outstanding Schools Act.

O.J. is innocent

I FEEL that O.J. Simpson is 100 percent, absolutely, positively innocent.

Making predictions

THE ARTICLE about the road study reminded me of a study published by the trucking association a few years ago. They estimated that by 1995 interstate trucking would increase by 30 percent. In 1980, there were 17,000 licensed interstate truckers. Now there are more 60,000. Where are the new interstate highways?

Gratuity added on

IT HAPPENED again. We took our family to supper last night and was "charged" a gratuity. Am I the only one who knows the meaning of gratuity? Look it up, folks. It is a gift given for good service rendered. Only the patron should determine that. I wonder who gets the tip that is charged. That restaurant won't be visited by my family again.