SPEAKOUT

I'M A CITIZEN of Scott City and I would like to say I have seen a lot of pretty Christmas lights and nativity scenes, but the nativity scene on Seventh Street is beautiful. Anybody would love to see it. Thank you.

NOW THAT THE hostages are free, please let's not forget to say a prayer for them. They endured a lot. Let's pray that they can lead a normal life like they did before they were hostages. Thank you.

PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT all the teenagers hanging out at the mall, but I'd like to thank one special one who I met there one evening. As I'd finished my shopping I stopped and talked to a friend, and I noticed a group of teenagers standing to one side. Suddenly one of the girls came over and handed me a yellow rose and balloon and said this is for you. I tried to find out why and she said, no, I just want you to have it, and they walked off. So whoever she is, I want her to know that she really brightened my day and I thank her.

THIS IS TO the people at the unemployment office: You are out of line acting like that money these people are drawing is yours. It's not. These people have pride and they didn't ask to be laid off. This past week I've heard several people saying how you people down there at that office are. These people are working people who would much rather be working and getting money than unemployment. You know, they have enough problems trying to make ends meet on the amount of money they receive compared to the money they were drawing while they were working. And Christmas is coming up. They can't help that the economy is in the shape it is in and that factories, security guards, retailers, and so on are all laying off their people. So lay off these people's backs. You find them a decent job. You think it's so easy. You could be without a job too. Thank you.

I'M CALLING in regards to the Community Counseling Center budget cut. It's a sad day in this nation when the people in need of help and reaching out for help have to be turned away because they are either not sick enough or they don't have insurance to pay for it. Why can't the government help before someone falls off the deep end. Think about all of these suicides and murders that go on in Missouri alone. It's really sad. You government officials sitting back in your padded chairs, how about taking some preventive measures here? Thank you.

THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT display at the Cape County Park is beautiful this time of the year. It seems there are more and more each year and we really appreciate it. If you're feeling especially down this holiday season I'd urge you to take a drive through the Cape County Park after dark and just relish the true meaning of Christmas. It's breathtaking. Thank you for sharing all this with us.

AFTER READING THE Public Mind I realized I wasn't the only one distressed over seeing the light display at the Cape County Park by the gay and lesbian group. I am appalled. If sodomy is truly illegal why would they allow such a display, especially during our Christmas season when we are celebrating Christ's birth? Maybe these people should read their Bible.

WHAT COULD BE less offensive to personal moral values than the GLSA park display of lights? The display itself is small and modestly placed. GLSA, like other campus organizations, has focused its attention on the need to stop the spread of AIDS as well as to provide for the needs of those who suffer from it, gay and non-gay alike. GLSA has hosted AIDS awareness seminars within the gay community, sponsored guest speakers on topics dealing with AIDS, and has worked in conjunction with other community and campus organizations concerned with the spread of AIDS in the SEMO area. The display of lights is meant only as a way of extending a thank-you and feeling of good will to all the people who helped GSLA in its AIDS awareness efforts. It wasn't placed there to offend anyone. Thank you.

THE ARTICLE in the Dec. 9 sports section on Coach Urhahn did not state the fact that Scott City supported him. Most of the ball players, players' parents and some teachers attended a school board meeting and spoke in his behalf to get him reinstated as coach. I understand the high-school principal and superintendent recommended Derek be rehired. I myself stood up and asked the school board to rehire him. The main thing is, the ball players like him and do well under his coaching. He also has had good players, which makes coaching a smoother job. Thank you, Gayla Crabtree, Scott City.

THIS IS ABOUT the display in the park. Why don't the people just look a little further? It ain't the park board that is doing this; it's the ACLU that is standing behind the group at the college. Thank you.

MY SECOND daughter, now in her early 30s, reminds me of "Heiress," a movie I saw once again today. I saw my daughter when she was in her 20s cry with a broken heart from what men had done to her: their lies, their carelessness. The two men she married she honored. Today, my daughter is in a managerial position with a nationally-known firm and I am appalled at the attitude she now has. She's in a pay-back frame of mind. She deliberately leads men on and then drops them. She refuses to ever marry again because she doesn't trust men or marriage. She is behaving like all the men I myself have ever known. Can she truly have a happy life without a husband? Somebody please try to answer my question. Thank you.

SINCE SO MANY women are choosing to remain unmarried these days, maybe we're getting to the point where God, who is love and truth is winning out over lust, lies, and selfishness. It's true that most men have always had the upper hand and have used women as they pleased. Things are definitely changing and this time I think it's for the good. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO say that whatever two adults do in the privacy of their home is fine with me. My problem with the gay and lesbian community going on and announcing their things is, it's none of our business and we don't care. I'm also curious about just what percentage of gays and lesbians compared to heterosexuals make up the rapists and incest abusers.

YOU READ AND hear a lot about drugs but did you ever think about checking into the drugs that the doctor gives you, especially the anti-depressant drugs? Here's a story that will illustrate what I mean. There was this old lady that lived alone. She was having some problems with some property she owned and also some personal problems. She didn't feel good so she went to the doctor. He said it was depression and gave her some anti-depressant drugs. After she started taking them it was as though she was living in outer space. She would talk, cook, eat, and sleep, and also have wild crazy dreams. He went back to the doctor and all he did was give her more pills. About this time all of her friends were giving her advice, saying you should do this, do that. Some had even told her if you'd just get rid of that property you wouldn't have that to worry about. About three months of advice, talk, pressure, brainwashing, or whatever you want to call it, she was really living in a world of her own and didn't really understand all she was doing. Well, the papers got fixed and signed and someone else has her property now. A little more time went on and she's trying to get off that medicine, but her memory is bad. She doesn't remember much of what happened in the last few months. So don't you think you had better watch and learn more about the drugs the doctor gives you before you take them?

I WOULD LIKE to tell Speak Out people who love gospel music about a new place in Cape Girardeau called The Gospel Connection. It's in the old Esquire Theater and it's open every Friday and Saturday night at 7:30. It's a low, $2 per person and you get to listen to good gospel music. Once a month they have a featured group. On Jan. 9 they will have the Newman Quartet. They need help from the people out there to get this theater off the ground. So come and listen. There is a concession stand also.

I WOULD LIKE to speak out about the recession. Everybody says nobody is shopping. Well, I would like to say nobody is shopping during the week because everyone's working. But try to find a parking place on those parking lots on Saturday or Sunday and you'll see everybody's shopping.

WE'RE HEARING SO much about buy American. Ask anyone who drives a Japanese car why they do so and they will tell you it is because they are much more trouble free and last longer than American-made cars. If our country's labor and management leaders would take a lesson from Japan and learn to act like partners rather than competitors we could see a difference. Labor should be respected and appreciated as partners. They should be given shares in stock, at least encouraged to buy shares. Then they would feel more like doing a good job. Management should be willing to share a portion of the profits and labor must be willing to work honestly with the employer. If we want our country to turn around, these ideas would help more than anything. Thank you.

THE DISPLAY OF THE AIDS quilt at Houck Stadium was truly an emotionally-moving experience. A special thank-you is extended to the Southeast Missouri State University organizations for their part in promoting the quilt display: the Student Activities Council, Association of Black Collegians, the Gay and Lesbian Student Association, Southeast Missouri State University, and Southeast Missouri Regional Consortium on AIDS. Appreciation is also extended to students and non-students who volunteered their services in an effort to make this touching exhibition possible. Thank you.

I HEARD THAT SINCE John Sununu, President Bush's chief of staff, has resigned that he has been presented his chair in which he sat all these years. I think the airline on which he logged so many flights with taxpayers' money should also award him a seat from that plane. I think that's the least they could do, being as we spent so much money on this guy. Thank you.

WELL, CBS DISCONTINUED Pee Wee Herman because of indecent exposure, but we continue to see Magic Johnson in the news and he has AIDS from overexposure and sex. We just watched Pee Wee's Christmas special on MTV and I'll take Pee Wee for my hero any day.

DISPOSABLE DIAPERS. Something must be done about them. They are going in our landfills and will pollute our underground water. You will find them on parking lots and on our highways and streets. They should be recycled by the manufacturer. These diapers are not biodegradable. Fine anyone at least $1,000 if caught leaving them on our parking lots and our streets. Some landfills will not accept leaves and grass but will accept filthy diapers. They must be barred from our landfills. Leaves and grass do not spread disease; diapers will. Let's do something about it before it's too late. Thank you.

I'M 17-YEARS-OLD and if I'm raped I'm not going to report it. After the William Kennedy Smith trial I'm going to keep my mouth shut because I don't trust the judicial system. I would say the same thing for other girls. Just keep it to yourself.

I JUST WANT to say that the nurses' aides at Southeast Hospital on 4 South are the greatest. I want to thank each and every one of them for their loving and tender care while I was a patient on the fourth floor. Thank you.

I'M 21 YEARS OLD and trying as hard as I can to work my way through college and make something of myself. I would just like to thank all those kind, loving people who voted against Proposition B for raising my tuition from $858 a semester to way over $1,000. You gripe about having to support people on welfare, but you'd rather die than spend an extra dollar or two a month to help someone like me get through college. If you can rationalize this decision in any way, I welcome your comments. Thank you.

I JUST WANTED to thank you for using recycling plastic bags for the newspaper. Thank you.

READ MY LIPS: Bush says it's the Democrats' fault we're in a recession. I'm a Republican but I'll never vote for another Republican as long as I live. I'm ashamed of my party. He sends money overseas but doesn't help the people here in the United States. What has he done for the working man and woman besides take their jobs away from them? He said read my lips, no new taxes. There's tax, tax, tax. Another thing: Our city council and city government here in Cape Girardeau, that's all they think of tax, tax, tax. I wish someone would teach them a lesson. Let them live on a fixed income or be out of a job and try to make ends meet, put food on the table and food in their baby's belly.

WHAT'S THE MATTER with the American people? Why don't they do something about our administration? They're sending money overseas and wasting their time and our money trying to talk peace. If the American people are smart, they'll vote some of these people out. He's not helping the senior citizens. He had better get on the ball or we're going to have a revolution here in America. That's for sure.

THIS IS FOR all those who are members of the Cape Central Class of '92. Don't listen to all that criticism that they put in Speak Out. Don't listen to criticism of the juniors and sophomores. They don't know what they're talking about. Just remember, '92 rules and we have Tiger spirit.

I'M NOT GOING to designate names but I wish to alert the public of some incidents. A store in town tried to short change me $1.50 out of a $10 bill. Another shorted me $2 out of $20, which I caught. An automotive company showed it added gasoline while servicing my car, and they couldn't have as I had just filled it. I didn't catch this at the time. You should print because many people can't afford it. Thank you.

TO THE PERSON who stated in Speak Out that teachers today do not care about their students or whether their students learn basic skills, you are wrong. I do not speak out usually but I feel I must now. I respect our teachers today. These people, who are dedicated, have immeasurable patience. Obviously they have their jobs because they want to because certainly they are underpaid. I am not a teacher but I am the parent of two children. Teachers do as much as they can, but, please, you have to understand that I firmly believe also that it is up the parent to create a positive learning atmosphere at home. Homework and daily lessons must be encouraged. I firmly believe that it is not the teachers' fault that Proposition B was not passed, but it is because of the way that funds are being handled in education. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE TO make a comment about how cold weather correlates with the recent findings of the greenhouse effect and how everyone that screams we're having a greenhouse effect is doing so on public money or federal grants. I do not think there's such a thing.

YOU PEOPLE PLEDGING your support for David Duke are doing so on your own stupidity.

THERE WAS A REPORT that the average person now spends 52 percent of his earnings on taxes. Our government just can't stop spending money. Look at just our area. The federal government is going to remodel our airport buildings, extend the Federal Building downtown, and build a highway across southern Missouri. And it also pays for taxi service for 1,000 to 3,000 Cape citizens, and the city spends another $50,000 on the same taxi service. And what about spending for recreation? It's nice to have those ball fields and parks, but do we really need to finance a golf course and help pay to heat a swimming pool? And now they want to take the money for the food and motel tax and divert it to creating more park facilities instead of retiring our debt. If our city did away with the taxi service and trimmed a few of the other programs, such as some of the money that goes to the Chamber of Commerce, perhaps we could remove the tax from our utility bills. Or, how about removing the sales tax from our food bills? That would help each and every person in Cape and not just a few. We are in the process of being taxed and taxed and taxed and taxed. Thank you, Speak Out.

ALL THE LEAVES I raked up over a week ago are now all over the street. I hope they go down the gutters. I'm not going to rerake them. The zone system for picking up leaves is worthless.

I WOULD LIKE to say something about TCI Cable. I think that all the bad publicity they've gotten is an injustice. I feel that people are forgetting that cable is a luxury and a choice. It is not something that people necessarily have to have. They complaint about the rates. When Union Electric raises their rates on utilities people don't say anything. People have to have utilities; with cable they have a choice. It's just like going to the movies. They haven't said anything about the movies raising their rates. And they don't say anything about what TCI cable provides for our city. They provide a lot. TCI is just trying to provide the public with the best that they can get. The public asks for more, then they give it to them. It is not a necessity of life. If they make the choice to have it, then they don't need to be complaining. Thank you.

I GET SO TIRED of the news media running our great U.S.A. down and talking about hard times. The younger generations don't know the first thing about bad times. We who lived during the depression do and we survived and it made us better people for it. These women that are in the news with two, three, and four children telling their sad stories, do they think we feel sorry for them? I don't. Get out and help yourself. Thank you.

THIS IS TO all the seventh-graders, junior-high and high-school students who smoke: You may think it makes you look really big or grown up. If you are smart you will quit now. You aren't hooked as bad as you will be later on. When you start coughing up your lungs it will be too late. No, it doesn't happen to everyone, but do you want to gamble that you will be one of the lucky ones?

THE PERSON WHO talked about Social Security being raised $22 a month and the congressmen getting $20,000 a year raise hit the nail on the head. We need to clean up Washington and we need to clean up fast or else they'll be a lot of people starving to death.

ISN'T THERE ANYTHING that can be done about people calling on the phone trying to sell stuff to you? We have just had a death in the family and this is what I told the girl. She was very polite about it and said she was very sorry. It just looks to me like there would be something that could be done about telephone calls like that. Thank you.

THIS IS FOR all the hunters and fishermen out there who love to hunt and fish but don't have the land to do this on. They either sneak in on a person's farm or some call first. Last week we had a person call wanting to go hunting. We gave this person permission but it seems somehow he forgot to mention there would be around seven or eight people with him. Also, if a person does call for permission to hunt one time, this does not, and I repeat, does not give him a full-time hunting permit. I am sure other farmers feel the same. Thank you.

MAY I GRIPE AGAIN? Every television situation comedy has canned laughter, which tells me that the producers of those shows think we don't have sense enough to know what's funny. I don't laugh just because somebody else does. Canned laughter insults my intelligence. I hate canned laughter and that's primarily why I never watch television situation comedies. Thank you.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS in society and I think everyone should deal with these problems as they happen. It shouldn't take a celebrity like Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson, Elizabeth Taylor or anybody else to open up your eyes to any of the causes these people support. It's kind of obvious we have problems and people need to open their eyes and look at them. Why does it take a celebrity to go to Capitol Hill to bring up the issues of the problems facing each of us in our lives? It seems like you people need to look into these problems yourself. I resent the fact these celebrities are capitalizing on these things or that the government is not responding until a celebrity speaks up and says: This happened to me or I now have a disease or I now have this problem. The government also needs to look at the problems. Yes, we have them, and ordinary people need to be helped, not just celebrities.

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY of Pearl Harbor was a wonderful kickoff for the 50th anniversary of World War II, which in the months to follow we will observe every month or so for a year or more. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to hear the views of minority leaders on the busing of minority children to various schools. Wouldn't it be wiser to use that money for better schools and qualified teachers to provide a solid education? Do any records show improvement of these children's grades? I wouldn't begrudge the money spent on education, but riding school buses for many miles does not educate a child. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to express my displeasure with the local retailers in the area. You can go in and buy cold beer and wine but there is no cold soda available. Thank you.

THIS IS TO the people who say teachers do not care. At L.J. Schultz School 36 young people could not make up money, $1.75, to buy a T-shirt about saying no to drugs. Teachers made up the entire rest of the money so that every student in Schultz School who wanted a T-shirt could have one with the help of lots of the businesses in Cape Girardeau. Our Just Say No Drug Team contacted businesses and they have generously helped us do this. But 36 of the T-shirts were paid for by the teachers of Schultz School. This is just one example of many things that teachers do. We also see that students who do not have gifts at Christmas, who do not have clothing, are taken care of. Many of these children do not even know how to take a shower, clean themselves up, how to comb their hair and take care of themselves. We watch for those children and we try to see that they are taught good grooming before they go on to junior high school. These are just some of the ways that students in Cape Girardeau are taken care of by teachers who do care.

I WOULD LIKE to comment about term limitations. I favor term limitations but this seems like an easy way to keep people from finding out about their politicians and what's going on. For instance, the average person doesn't even know how a bill gets put into law. They don't realize it first goes to the House of Representatives, it's introduced and then it goes to the Senate, both of which are controlled by the Democratic Party. The president has never introduced a bill in the history of the United States. It's introduced in the House. He simply passes it on and okays it or vetoes it, and then they have an opportunity to override it.

THERE ARE A LOT of people who criticize the president for supporting foreign aid. I know it's wrong right now, yet don't we every time we buy a foreign-made product support foreign aid? We brought a lot of problems on ourselves because we don't buy American-made products. Thank you.

HOORAY FOR THE person who gave a very good reason Proposition B failed. It would have helped all of these bad teachers, especially elementary ones. Yes, test them, they should know the right things to teach our children besides having their coffee breaks and gossip at school. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to address my comments to people who think teachers are doing such a bad job and they think we are not trying to educate their children. I am at Southeast Missouri as a student in a teaching program, and if they had any idea how much work we have to go through to become a teacher. Missouri has passed some very hard laws and the teachers that are now graduating are having to work their butts off just as much as any other professional in Missouri. We spend hours and hours out in the field from the time we are sophomores. We are now having to spend two and three and up to four and even more hours a week out in the field. We are working with other teachers and we are trying to correct the problems we see in the field. I think if people think we don't deserve additional money for our schools then you should look at where the money needs to be spent. Maybe it's not to be spent on the teachers but more on the kids. And we do test at the end of the year.

I JUST WONDER how many of these unemployed people are driving foreign-made cars. Thank you.

I JUST WANTED to thank the Cape Girardeau Police Department and 911 for the way they responded to a call one night when someone was trying to break into my home. The officers were very courteous. I just wanted to thank them. Thank you.

GOOD MORNING OUT there. As I got up early this morning to start my day, realizing that Christmas is so close at hand, I thought of a poem that the Lord had given me when my little girl fell from a sliding board at school and died. It's called "Christmas Time in Heaven." There is a lot of laughter and happiness in children and families - that's wonderful - but there are people out there grieving really hard because they have lost loved ones: little children, babies, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters, brothers. This morning I thought I might try to encourage you by giving you this poem that the Lord gave me when my little girl died: It's Christmas time in Heaven, the redeemed are around God's great throne, giving him praise and thanksgiving, for their eternal home. Angels with their golden harps sing songs with the redeemed, giving thanks for all mankind for their heavenly king. While children sit on Jesus' knee and sing him songs so sweet, others sit in humble prayer so close to his dear feet. They can see the scars of Calvary upon the Saviour's hands, knowing it was for them he died, the Saviour of all man. If we here on Earth give our praises, how much more do the redeemed up above, knowing they are with Jesus, rejoice in his great love? So it's Christmas time in Heaven as well as here on Earth, and saints of God give him glory for it is the day of Christ's birth. Thank you.