SPEAKOUT

Defending Disney

I'M CALLING in reference to the narrow-minded person who commented that Walt Disney World has now become a friendly place for the gays and lesbians. That place is for everyone. My belief is he's not a Christian because he has no right to judge. The Lord is the only one who has the right to judge. And if he's not going to take his family there, I don't think they want him there anyway.

O.J. not missed

I'M RESPONDING to "Come back, O.J." My opinion is this: If you want O.J. to come back on TV and on the radio, you need to get yourself a life and get yourself together. You have to be sick to miss him. I sure don't miss him at all, because he's guilty, he lied and he's racist.

It's old news now

ISN'T IT about time to place O.J. Simpson news in storage, lock the door and throw the key away? This news value has become moldy.

Bending Emerson's ear

I WOULD like to have the telephone number in Washington for Bill Emerson. I would like to ask him how come the Republican Party is going to change the Social Security system the way they're doing. I would like to also tell him to leave it alone the way it is. The Republicans should keep their fingers out of Social Security and quit giving it to people who don't need it. It isn't the people who paid it in that's going to get it. It's the people who don't pay it in.

REPLY: Congressman Emerson's telephone number in Washington is (202) 225-4404. He also has an office here in Cape Girardeau. The telephone number is 335-0101.

Elderly victims

I'M CALLING about the "Democrats' fault" comment. All I can say is it's not who's fault it is, it's the outcome of it all. The older people will be hurt. No matter if they're Democrats or Republicans, they're the ones going to be starving and doing without medication. They're also doing without more money to live on or rent. Two wrongs do not make a right. If you hurt the older people, the ones that helped Social Security, then they're the ones that still going to be hurt when we become the older ones.

Stop the raises

IF OUR lawmakers in Washington would quit writing hefty raises for their own pocketbooks, they would have no trouble at balancing the budget. The old people would not complain if they would control their own spending.

Too many street names

IT'S TERRIBLE for a city the size of Cape Girardeau to have over 500 street names. Just wait until something terrible happens due to the big delay of the fire department or police to answer any emergency calls. The fire and police dispatchers plus 911 just can't get the help to the correct location in good time. The street names are scrambled as if a tornado passed through.

Youth League result

THANKS TO the guys in the Sports section for putting in the Cape Youth League results. There are six teams and over 200 kids from the Cape and Scott City area. They play every week.

Why people stare

I WAS in the grocery section the other day. In front of me was a well-fed woman, a well-dressed woman, nicer than I ever thought about dressing. Had two food carts stacked full of steaks and everything else that goes with it. She paid for all of that with food stamps. I can't even eat steaks. I do well to buy hamburger, but I pay for my own. It's not off someone else's tax money.

Need food stamps

MY HUSBAND and I did graduate from high school. We both do know how to read. We both work. I'm not proud of using food stamps, but I'm glad I've got them because I've got two little girls that need to eat every day.

The war resumes

I WOULD like to comment about the person who called the Confederate soldiers monument a monstrosity on our courthouse lawn. I find the Yankee soldier a monstrosity. I don't like to see Lincoln on the money. Lincoln was the biggest pusher of federal government there ever was, and look what we're paying for now. He forced the federal government on the whole country. That's what the Civil War was over, federalism versus state's rights. I not only wish they would keep the Confederate monument, I would like to see it enlarged. Not all people here were traitors to their country. Some of them fought for the Confederate cause. They didn't want to invade another person's country. The people who had families in the Confederacy deserve to be honored just as much as the other one. The war's been over for 100 years, and besides we've got a president from Arkansas, vice president from Tennessee and speaker of the House from Georgia. Some of the most powerful men in the House are from the South. So you'd better wake and smell the coffee. The South has risen again.

Lazy Americans

I AM just shocked at how lazy the American people are. You can call four or five bids in for someone to do work for you, and you do good to get one person to show up to give you a bid. I can't believe how short-handed the restaurant people are working. They just work and work, and they need help. The people work one week, get a check and they're gone.