OpinionOctober 29, 1995
SPEAKOUT
THE ANTI-RELIGIOUS bigotry that is so prevalent in the United States made me yet think about some other countries like India, which is probably the most religious nation in the world, and Sweden, which is the most irreligious country in the world. It looks like America is a nation of Indians governed by Swedes. ...
Teaching religion
THE ANTI-RELIGIOUS bigotry that is so prevalent in the United States made me yet think about some other countries like India, which is probably the most religious nation in the world, and Sweden, which is the most irreligious country in the world. It looks like America is a nation of Indians governed by Swedes. Education officials often brag about educating the whole student, and they come close. Our students are taught about nearly everything: cooking, sports and, heaven forbid, the proper way to don a condom. Yet religion is totally out of the picture. At the best, the message is that religion isn't a part of the normal person's life. Religion has been eliminated from public schools, and into that void has flooded violence and drug abuse as well as inability to read, figure math, understand history or work with science. It was never the intent of constitutional law that the government be hostile to religion, but it is that way today.
School bus seat belts
I CAN understand where some people would want to have seat belts on the school buses. I am a former school bus driver, I have driven school buses with seat belts, and they're very dangerous. The driver cannot make sure that all students will remain fastened in their seat belts. The students use their seat belts as weapons against each other. They fasten the seat belts across the aisles and trip other students. They use the seat belts to reflect sunlight into the driver's eyes. They are more hazardous than helpful. If there was some way you make sure the students would remain in their seat belts and use them properly, that would be one thing, but you can't. It just doesn't work. I know it's a nice idea, but it doesn't work.
Start over
HARRY TRUMAN is one of Missouri's best-known and best-loved citizens. That thing on the floodwall -- you can't call it picture -- is a direct insult to everybody who ever saw Harry Truman. I can't believe that wall. Paint the whole thing and start over again.
Social Security math
I'D LIKE to speak on the Social Security situation. I've been reading all the Speak Outs and the letters that people have been sending about cutting Social Security. I'm on Social Security. Maybe they went from a different school than I did, but going from spending $4,600-plus now to $6,000 plus dollars in year 2000 doesn't seem to me like a cut. If you subtract it, it sounds to me like it's about a $2,000 increase. But then maybe my mathematics are different than they are today.
Stay home
DO NOT send any money overseas. Keep our military home. This will help balance the budget. When we send troops or money overseas, there is no return for this expense.
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Your majesty
THIS IS to the callers who keep saying they voted Republican the last election but will never vote for a Republican again. Do you really expect people to believe that? If these callers used to be Republican, then I used to be the King of France.
No comparison
THIS IS to the person who listened in to two elderly couples discussing the Social Security. Please do not compare us all with one such case. We do not all draw enough Social Security to live on, not by far. Nor do we all resort to such tactics as your described. And listening in on private conversations is not very nice either, even though it does not cost you or the taxpayers anything. A lengthy conversation such as you described is not overheard, It's listened in on.
Blind drivers?
I WOULD like to know if every driver in Scott City is blind. I'm asking this because out at that stop light near the school everyone runs the red light.
SS isn't welfare
TO THE misinformed person who called in about the farmer selling his stuff so he could draw Social Security. He has a right to do that. Social Security is not like welfare. You've got that coming to you because you paid for it through the years. You can be a millionaire and draw Social Security. That's his right. God forbid if he would have kept that stuff. More than likely they'd take it away.
Thanks for good deeds
MIRACLES ARE happening in Cape Girardeau despite all the negative comments in Speak Out lately. On Oct. 25 my daughter's car caught fire. She pulled into American Superstore's parking lot. In near hysterics, she ran into Fun Flicks. The employees there called the fire department and then went outside to wait with her to comfort her while waiting on fire department. The fire department responded immediately, and I have to tell you we have the best fire department in the entire United States. They not only put out the fire promptly but gave my daughter advice and offered her comfort and help. She had no money and was embarrassed about it, and a really nice guy named Matt lent her money for the tow. The firemen still stayed to help her because she was so upset. Her car means everything to her as she is a SEMO student and works a job besides. She was towed to Dwight's Town Plaza station. The mechanics there are just the greatest. Thanks to them, this car will be on the road again. Talk about random acts of kindness. We thank each and every one of the people above from the bottom of our hearts and we pray to God he returns your kindnesses a thousandfold. Isn't Cape Girardeau a wonderful place to live?
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