SPEAKOUT

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH Ed Arnzen of the Southeast Missouri State University girls basketball team. Let's get out and support this great team during the playoffs here in Cape.

I'D LIKE TO talk about the political implications and what led up to this war and about how politics affected it. If you had Mondale and Dukakis in there versus Reagan and Bush, which one do you think would stop the Iraqis better: waving a welfare check at them or waving a Patriot and missile at them? Thank you. I think it explains to you the difference in the political parties in the United States.

IF WE DID a report card on the governor, would two hours more every day with no pay increase make him a better governor? What do you think, teachers?

TO THE PERSON who made the comment that George Bush will go in history as one of our great presidents, you fail to realize the war, thank God, is over in the Persian Gulf. But we have another war: we have a war of unemployment, the economy, the homeless, medical benefits to the aged and working poor. Don't forget President Nixon's popularly was extremely high, but it fell drastically. We have so much to do. We have things like leave of absence for mothers through pregnancy leaves. We have many rights that employees need to make the economy great, and we need for those men to come home too. We also have another war waiting for you, Mr. President. This will tell the tale. Thank you.

I BELIEVE IN Bollinger County, I saw the article in your paper on Friday about the sheriff's deal concerning the audit. I would like that to be explained. I read one article. It tells one thing; the next time it tells something else. I would like someone to explain to me what's going on in that audit. Who got the money, why they gave the money back or something? Thank you.

FREE AT LAST, free at last. Thank God almighty, our troops are free at last.

IT SEEMS TO me that our highway committee should give Highway 60 first priority instead of thinking of I-66. It seems to me that most of the land has already been purchased for four lanes. Why must we wait another 10 or 20 years to finish it? Thank you.

PETER KINDER CANNOT mention Jimmy Carter's name without spouting venom and malice, yet the latest polls give Carter a rating higher than that of Reagan. I think the public lost respect for the great communicator when he gave that $2 million speech in Japan.

COULD YOU PLEASE print the mailing address of Commissioner Jones of the MIAA conference? Some of your readers might wish to write him an evaluation of his performance as a public servant. Thank you.

The address of the MIAA is 430 West Lincoln, Maryville, Mo. 64468.

THIS CONCERNS the Bob Simon capture and story of his release. Bob Simon and his crew of three should be reprimanded by their media peers and the United States government for breaching top secret military installations. By doing so they could have jeopardize this whole Desert Storm operation and more lives could have been lost because of their inconsiderate, self-serving, big-shot news reporting. The rest of the news media, no matter how many frustrations they had upon them, behaved in a responsible way. Bob Simon and crew deserve no sympathy medal for what they've done. Thank you.

I THINK THE president or Congress, whichever has the authority, should award Secretary Cheney, Gen. Powell and all of those of high rank and responsibility who were in charge in the war in the gulf, the highest award this country can offer.

ON THE TV they show too much half-naked women. I don't like that. The TV should stop that. God will stop that. Thank you, Speak Out.

I THOUGHT ROY Rhodes did a great job setting up the support parade held in Cape Girardeau Feb. 23. The turnout was real poor for the size town of Cape Girardeau. The lonely walk from Capaha Park to the Arena was a let down. If it had not been for the troops' families and the American Legion, it would have been a slim crowd. There were no city officials from Cape Girardeau and no support from the city. I guess Cape Girardeau thinks they have done their duty with the yellow ribbons and the American flags. Maybe next time they won't be so selfish about their freedom.

THE NELL HOLCOMB school board has a challenge to find a superintendent to fill Wayne Presley's shoes. Chaffee has gained an experienced superintendent who will do what's best for their children. We parents challenge all Nell Holcomb school board members to find an experienced superintendent who will do what's best for our children. Thank you.

I NOTE THAT when they looked into the Iraqi dugouts there were boxes of ammunition sent from the United States to Jordan and Jordan had turned this ammunition over to the Iraqis to shoot back at us. That is very interesting since this is a country we have been giving foreign aid to for years. I think the next place we target for invasion and bombing should be Jordan. Thank you.

SPEAKING IN REFERENCE to the article someone spoke of last week, Corinthians says men shouldn't have long hair: Get a clue, people. Don't try to shove your interpretations of the Bible on everyone else. Don't you think it's a little deeper than a literal meaning? Wouldn't you have to be a narrow-minded, backwards fool to believe long hair people are such devils scorned? Give me a break. Thank you.

I AM VERY CONCERNED now that I have found out that Jordan was sending ammunition to Iraq during this war. Now the question is, is the United States going to continue to give these people money? This needs to be stopped. Cut all foreign aid to the country of Jordan because they were on Saddam's side all along, and it's not right for our government to send American taxpayers' dollars to that country. I am so thankful and proud of our armed forces that did such a wonderful job in driving this man from Kuwait. We have the greatest armed forces there is. I am very proud. Thank you very much.

I RECENTLY NOTICED all the renovation work going on to the old N'Orleans Restaurant, and I'd like to comment on how beautiful it is and how it fits the downtown area. I also noticed all the beautiful iron work lights. It's really an attraction to the downtown area. Thank you very much.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO the group of people who were looking into our local TV cable situation and who can I call to talk to? Thank you.

The city committee is still in operation, and its next meeting, which is open to the public, will be Wednesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall. You may contact the city attorney's office about cable-related matters. The number is 334-3036.

THE GRASSY MEDIAN in the center of the 200 block of South West End Boulevard needs some simple landscaping. A six-inch-deep by six-inch-wide by 40-foot-long ditch has been worn down along the edge and it is dangerous for cars, trucks, and especially school buses to pass.

I SEE THE golf board has decided to do nothing again. I really think the course should be sold. I'm getting tired of my tax dollars going for something so few people use. We could use this money in a lot better way. The golf course has been a tax burden from day one. If I have something that is costing me money, I get rid of it. So I think the taxpayers need to take care of this issue.

I'M CALLING TO commend those people who make traveling pleasurable. I'm speaking of those participating in the Adopt a Highway litter control. In pursuing a program of medical treatments, I travel each week and have opportunity to see the effects of the work of these people. It is a shame that travelers aren't conscientious about throwing litter on the highways, but thank you for helping keep America beautiful. Thank you.

IF THE Cape Girardeau school board would like to hire a superintendent who best fits Cape Girardeau, why did they have to go to St. Louis to look for them? Why don't they just hire someone from this area? I cannot believe with this fine university we have in this town that there are not enough candidates for the job here in this area. Thank you.

I JUST WANTED to say thank you Southeast Missourian for putting in the pictures of all the parades that have gone on in this area. I have been sending them to Saudi Arabia, I have a cousin over there, and she has appreciated them. So, thank you very much.

I'M JUST WONDERING if maybe those four newsmen they finally got back have changed their views somewhat on their coverage of the news, perhaps their liberal news. I never have had any sympathy for them. Thank you.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING "60 Minutes" this evening and saw the four ultraliberal newsmen are still alive. Small news. They went where they should not have gone and got caught. They goofed. Maybe all the news media should spend the next six months in an Iraqi prison and learn how anti-American and liberal they really are. Thank you.

WELL, TOO BAD they got all four of those stupid newsmen back. I hope somebody eventually will learn something from this. The next time newsmen go into enemy territory where they're not supposed to be, and have been warned not to go, I hope the enemies shoot them on sight. Then we won't have to hear about them anymore. I hate those liberal newsmen; always have and always will. Thank you.

WHEN THE GULF war ended I remember Gen. Schwarzkopf saying that this campaign would be studied for years to come. In my estimation, I consider it a modern-day miracle, just as Moses parted the Red Sea. Thank you.