SPEAKOUT

LAST NIGHT I stopped in a local bar for a drink to unwind. I was approached by some guy who thought he was God's gift to women; but he was so drunk he couldn't keep his eyes open and stand in one spot. Anything I told him last night he wouldn't have heard or wouldn't have remembered, but I'd like to tell him now: You're really disgusting. A man can be a drunk, but, honey, a drunk sure can't be a man. I hope you see yourself in the mirror and straighten up before it's too late. Thank you.

TO THE READERS of the Southeast Missourian: There are a growing number of people in this community who believe in abortion and that the God theory is ridiculous, for there is no proof whatsoever that there is a God; and that only foolish men fight in wars, and that the Earth would be better off without these foolish men. Thank you very much.

I HAVE BEEN thinking about the statement Congressman Richard Gephardt made about cutting off funding for Desert Shield if the president gave the go-ahead order. I can't believe a U.S. congressman thinking that way. Congress had better support Bush on this very serious business 100 percent and forget about politics on this one. And to think, Gephardt ran for president with that kind of thoughts. Some joke. Thank you, Speak Out.

I JUST READ Monday's Speak Out about the person who called in saying her friend just had an abortion and she thinks it's very wrong. I'm very proud of the person who called in and tried to discourage her friend. It was her friend's decision, but I think she was a pretty good friend to try and discourage her. I'm not able to have children and I've adopted a couple of kids, and had it not been for people who were brave enough to go through with the pregnancy and not take the easy way out and have an abortion, I would not have the beautiful children I have. So I want to thank the friend who tried to stop the murderer.

WHAT'S YOUR PROCEDURE for choosing the people to be featured in the People Profile? Thank you.

We welcome suggestions on names of people for the weekly feature. Anyone wishing to suggest names may call our newsroom at 335-6611 or submit them to: People Profile, Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701.

I JUST WANTED to say thank-you and tell the person who took care of us at the hospital that we really appreciate it. It was a young secretary in the surgery department by the name of Susan, and she really made our stay much more enjoyable there. I thought that she should get some recognition for that. Thank you, Speak Out.

I WANT TO share one of my ideas. A young man I know left for Saudi Arabia today. I'm planning a birthday shower for the young man to be held the first part of February even though his birthday's in April to replace razor blades, personal hygiene items, batteries, and so on. I challenge each and every one who knows of someone going to Saudi Arabia to hold a shower for their acquaintance or loved one. Thank you.

ALTHOUGH DEC. 3 passed without event, this would be a good time for Missouri to consider passing legislation similar to the California Earthquake Recovery Fund, a mandatory insurance coverage costing $12 to $60 a year that will provide almost enough to cover what would be the deductible under a standard earthquake policy. The insurance covers only structural damage, not contents or living expenses. Premiums and deductibles are based on where one lives and the type of construction. The higher the risk, the higher the premium and deductible.

I'M CALLING IN regards to the postal service trying to raise the price of stamps to 29 cents. I feel that 25 cents is sufficient. Their main reasons were the higher costs of living and gas prices. So what they're saying is when gas prices go down, they're going to lower the price of a stamp to 25 cents. I think not. I think the government needs to regulate this because that's over a 20 percent increase. Not too long ago they raised the price up to 25 cents. All it's going to do is get us further into the recession by causing the price of everything to go up.

I'VE OBSERVED CABLE television in Chaffee and Poplar Bluff and I feel that their networks are doing more to provide a decent service for them than our Cape Girardeau-Jackson area cable TV. They have more channels, larger variety, and cheaper prices. I wish they would strive to maybe get some St. Louis or Memphis stations so we can have local broadcasting of Cardinals baseball and sporting activities. Thank you.

I GET KIND OF upset that so many newspaper articles just say churches do this or churches do that. One that really got to me was your recent front-page article about churches endorsing withdrawing the feeding tube from Nancy Cruzan. When you read it you found the churches involved were a coalition of really liberal churches: the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America, the most liberal church; the so-called mainline Presbyterian; the United Methodists; and the United Church of Christ. Those are the most liberal churches in America. They also endorse abortion, women priests and the acceptance of homosexuality. When churches do this, people think the majority of churches approve of this. The majority of churches did not approve of all these things. The conservative Lutherans like the Missouri Synod, the Catholics, the Assemblies of God, the Southern Baptists you know, most of the churches in America did not go along with this thing. I think the least you could do is say liberal churches endorse that. And, as far as living wills go, there's no way I would sign a living will. It's fear of medical technology. I would sign a Christian living will, but not just a sort of blanket, like you can control everything. You can't control what's going to happen by signing a living will or by doing anything else other than putting your faith in God to take care of you. Thank you.

We disagree with your suggestion that the churches should have been identified as liberal. The Associated Press article of Dec. 23 clearly named each church that supported the Cruzan family's wishes. It is not the role of the reporter who wrote the story nor this newspaper to judge whether those churches are liberal or conservative. These churches were identified in the story as those which supported the family: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and the Roman Catholic Church.

I'M CALLING about the public schools in Cape Girardeau. They were supposed to be off for Martin Luther King's birthday and now, because of Browning saying we would have an earthquake, they were off for two days. Now they have to make up Martin Luther King's birthday, which is supposed to be a holiday. I don't think they should have to go to school on his birthday and Washington's birthday.

THERE ARE MANY of us out here who think Dan Rather is great. We don't call Speak Out about this because it is such a trivial matter. Let it rest.

IT IS TUESDAY, Jan. 8, at 12:10 p.m. I'd like it written like this: The media calls us anti-euthanasia. The media calls us anti-abortionists. We call ourselves pro-life. Thank you.

I WAS READING Walter Williams' column and I've been reading it for quite a number of months now. He's a very articulate journalist. Is he a syndicated writer or is he employed by the Southeast Missourian? He is very articulate and he has a very good hold on life and it's problems. I'd like to see more of his columns in future issues. Thank you.

Williams is a nationally syndicated columnist.