SPEAKOUT

Count the blessings

I REALIZE that as a nation we have many great reasons to feel disappointed and disenchanted. For example, we are continually confronted with major social concerns such as the continuing dissolution of the family unit, financial trauma of racism and the lack of national budgetary priorities which are mutually beneficial to all citizens. At the same time we are confronted by our seeming inability to effectively deal with these same major social concerns. However, as a nation we must never lose sight of our many blessings as Americans. After a particularly arduous day of emergency home repairs, all I've got to say is Thank God for vise grips.

Beautiful sights

WHAT A beautiful, sunny Sunday, then the sunset, then the rising spectacular big, beautiful hunter's full moon. Out of this world. We saw all of this coming home from the lake. Then early Monday morning, the hunter's moon was still out there. Thank you, Lord.

Higher judge

BREAK THE law, see a judge. Violate the laws of nature, you'll see a higher judge.

Library questions

SOME QUESTIONS still remain unanswered about the new city hall in Jackson and the location of the proposed new library. Question No. 1: Why wasn't the new building found unsuitable for the library before it was bought? Question No. 2: Why were we told very little renovation would be needed on the new city hall and then almost $300,000 is being spent remodeling? Question No. 3: Will sidewalks be built along North Farmington and along Route D to the library if it is built in the park?

Mural IDs

THIS IS regarding the mural downtown. It's really nice and all, but I don't know who half these people are. Are there going to be names underneath them, or will there be a brochure going out telling us who all these people are? I was just curious.

REPLY: Yes, the names will be added to the mural.

Liberals at SEMO

THE SOUTHEAST Missourian had an editorial saying that SEMO University's financial aid office financed an ad opposing the Republican-proposed cuts in student loans. I agree with the editorial that the Republicans are trying to do something to help the country, and here you have all these liberal teachers and the liberal administration at SEMO saying, oh no, give us more money even though the students don't always pay back their loans.

It's 'Not guilty'

I'VE READ any number of comments in your paper saying that O.J. was found innocent. In fact, the verdict was "not guilty." There's a large difference there. Because of the way reasonable doubt works, a juror can be 90 percent sure that a suspect is guilty, but if he's 10 percent uncertain that would be the reasonable doubt. So, in fact, it's possible that all those jurors actually thought O.J. was guilty, but they had enough doubt to where they voted for an acquittal anyway. Again, that doesn't mean that they think he was innocent, they just think there was enough reasonable doubt. And let me be the first one to say that I'm tired of hearing about O.J. The jury reached a verdict. Although a lot of people think it was wrong, that's the way the system works, and it's all over. So let's have no sour grapes.

Zoning woes

I'D LIKE to say to residents in the Sylvan Lane area: At least you don't have a body shop or junk yard across the road from you. And you don't have to put up with neighbors whose dogs are left free to roam on other people's property. We in who have lived in the out-county all of our lives have no control anymore about what can be built near our property. And I'll bet some of you voted against county planning and zoning.

Wrong reaction

AS A white person, I'm outraged at the reaction of my race over the O.J. decision and calling for a change in the court system. I didn't see these same white people calling for change in the court system when the policemen who beat Rodney King and were videotaped were acquitted. They said they got a fair trial and the court system worked. And I think that while we all may not always agree with the court decisions, I think we must say the system has worked for over 200 years, and it's the best system of justice that there is in the world. I commend jurors and judges and lawyers all over our country who have to make the very difficult decisions. I think the system works. O.J. is innocent according the system we have set up.