SPEAKOUT

I AGREE 100 percent with the Letter to the editor from W.K. Zellmer of Cape Girardeau entitled, "Does America have to accept world's AIDS carriers?" I think everybody is getting sick and tired of the money being spent for welfare AIDS people. Thank you.

I JUST HOPE the lake project goes bust again like it should have to start with.

I AM CALLING to the person in the June 20 paper asking if a 13-year-old son could stay home by himself for four-and-one-half hours. I am 10 years old myself, and I think you should hire a babysitter until he is about 12 or 13 years of age. That way, if there were a problem, more than likely the babysitter would be able to handle it better. After all, a 10-year-old may seem to be more responsible than he really is. Thank you.

I'M A PARENT of a senior at Central, and I think kids should be able to go wherever they want to and shouldn't be forced to go to one official photographer for their senior pictures.

THIS CONCERNS THE cigarette-smoking ban in grocery stores in Cape Girardeau. No. 1, a municipality is not empowered to level such an ordinance against private industry and privately-owned stores. Therefore, it would be illegal if challenged. No. 2, Jackson and Chaffee already have taken much of the business from Cape Girardeau grocery stores. Thank you.

THIS IS IN response to the call about the Democrats spending so much money. Not long ago somebody forgave Egypt a $7 million debt to the United States. Was that a Democrat? It was George Bush, that's who it was. Also, he gave money to Iraq in July before Iraq invaded Kuwait in August. In fact, when he did so he overrode Congress' wishes.

WELL, THE GOVERNMENT'S done it again. They tell the cable TV companies the way they're doing this new cable channel is illegal and they cannot do it. But they're doing precisely the same thing with this new Medicare there charging people for. At least the cable's been advertising and telling the people that they will charge. I thought we were living in America, not a Communist country.

THE SCOTT CITY police are trying to cloud the issue of the boy left in the pickup truck alone by bringing Mr. Moore's arrest record into the situation. The fact is, when the Scott City police arrested Mr. Moore, his grandson Christopher was in his care. So that automatically put the Scott City police officers in charge of the boy. What the officers did was wrong; there is no other way you can look at it. Thank God for the two men who took care of the boy. So many people would have turned their heads, afraid to get involved. And who knows what would have happened to the little boy? The Scott City police were wrong and they should get more than their hands slapped. Thank you.

I READ IN THE paper where Scott County took over the investigation of the Scott City officers. It's about time since Mayor Young's husband is involved. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE compliments to the Southeast Missourian about the article they had June 16 on the front page about the little boy from Scott City with a disability. It's nice to see articles in the paper about children with disabilities. Hope this will continue. Thank you.

I JUST WANTED to say I really enjoyed the Warrant concert in Cape at the Show Me Center Friday night. I request they have more concerts like that in the future. A job well done, to security, for keeping the crowd in line.

IT IS GOOD to read the news of our government's anti-smoking bill. The bill is certainly needed to prevent the many thousands of deaths caused by smoking.

I SAW A great movie with my wife and family this week. It was "Jungle Fever" and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. I hope everyone who can afford to get away from VCRs and rental movies will do themselves a favor and go see this marvelous movie. Thanks.

I HOPE THOSE responsible for passing the abortion law in Louisiana June 18 know they are again assigning women to back-alley abortions where poor women will die as they used to. They are also denying women their fundamental constitutional right to terminate unwanted pregnancies without interference from the state or church. We pro-choice will do everything possible to stop this. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to correct Mr. Harris on his fourth article. "The Simpsons" are not carried on KPLR out of St. Louis. Thank you.

In his Friday column, Harris was speaking hypothetically when he mentioned "The Simpsons" in regard to a blackout rule that applies to competing stations broadcasting in the same areas. He wasn't saying KPLR carries the show. By the way, that was the fourth column he has written since joining the Southeast Missourian staff.

THIS IS IN reference to Brad Harris' article in Friday's paper. Is Brad Harris gullible or just unprofessional? I can't believe that he'd print an article without checking on the facts before it was published.

He did check the facts before writing the column. What specifically do you claim was unfactual?

I WANT TO respond to the article written by Brad Harris in the June 21 paper. I don't see how you can actually believe what he had written about not enough people are interested in getting the Cardinals ball game in Cape. He said that St. Louis is only 100 miles from Cape. Perryville is closer than that and they get more of the games. It's really sad because there are a lot of retired people who would enjoy the games and who are not able to travel, and television is their only means of entertainment. Come on, Cardinals fans, let cable TV know we are very interested in watching our team play very good ball. Thank you.

ISN'T IT ABOUT time to take Desert Storm commercials off TV?

I WAS READING your Speak Out in regards to the City Council voting on smoking and other things that don't amount to a hill of beans. If they want to really do something good for the city and for the people that live in the city, why don't they check into the wilderness behind some of these apartment buildings?

I'D LIKE TO say to all the people who are complaining about the smoking in the supermarkets that I think you have a worse danger than that: the kids who push those little carts around in the store. I was in (a grocery store) Saturday and I was almost pushed over about three or four times by the little kids. If you are so concerned about a health hazard, why won't you take your kids and put them in carts where they belong, and don't let them roam free all over the store where they knock people over? Thank you.

I JUST READ Sunday's Speak Out and I'm very upset to read that this $25 activity fee at any time went to support the gay and lesbian activities on campus. If those people want to support themselves that's okay. I don't think any student money should go to those associations.

I'M CALLING IN regard to the comment about the person that said I'd like to make a comment on the smoking ban in grocery stores, it's stupid. Be real, man. I think you're stupid because I live with a smoker. I'm around cigarette smoke in regard to my job and I don't like to go to the grocery store and gag on someone's second-hand smoke. Thank you.

I'M CALLING ABOUT the one that moved here from the city with the dog. Who do you think the parks are for? The kids, not your mut. Keep them out of the park.