SPEAKOUT

I WAS PLEASED to read in a recent Missourian the news of our government's anti-smoking bill.

I'D JUST LIKE to say whoever called and said Scott City was behind Gene Thompson didn't speak for the silent majority. I want to know when the blame's going to be placed on the mother for knowingly allowing her son to ride with a man who has a revoked license. Scott City's long been a railroad town, but why do we always seem to have a minority in this town trying to "railroad" people who want to get the best done for the city? It's a shame.

WELL, I JUST returned from what might very well be the last meeting of the Cape-Bollinger County Lake Committee. The Bollinger County commissioners came up with their solutions as to whether the lake question should be on the ballot. He's going to have a write-in poll of all the registered voters in Bollinger County. Is this a joke or what? Someone asked what would keep the opposition from voting the names of everyone in the phone book since there will be no electioneers to judge the ballots. Why not put the question on the ballot in November? Wouldn't that make more sense? At least it would be fair and legal.

I KNOW YOU get this question every year but here it is again. What are the official times that you can shoot off fireworks and what's the last day you can do it? Thanks.

We previously reported the information, but here it is again: In Cape Girardeau, Class C fireworks may be discharged from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 20 through July 3, and from 8 a.m. to midnight July 4.

TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL TV, it's Saturday afternoon and here is another one of those half-hour commercials on channel 12. Maybe I would like to come up with a product myself and sell it on your channel.

I'D LIKE TO know why every time I call in something about the city you don't print it.

THE SONG SAYS, "Where have all the flowers gone?" I want to know, where have all our freedoms gone, to Russia? First, I'm 83. I neither smoke nor drink, but to tell businesses what they have to do, well. We are forced to wear seat belts, you cannot stand outside a building and drink a beer, women cannot have an abortion if they want. I am not for abortion; to me, it is murder. You are telling doctors what to do. We do not have freedom of speech; if something is called in to your paper that hits a big shot between the eyes, you will not print it. I live in HUD housing. You wouldn't believe the rules I have to live under. The only freedom I can see is religion; so far I can go to the church of my choice. When are they going to take that? People, hide the word of God in your heart; they can't take that away. Thank you.

You have just expressed your freedom of speech.

A FARMER'S MARKET. Cape has one, right? Well, kind of. Saturday I happened to be in Carbondale, Ill. Driving by, I saw a large, and I mean large group of people, cars and pickups backed up in an area on a large parking lot. Farmer's market, you bet. Not only did I see some of the same vendors that are here on Thursdays, but there were many more. What was really special were the stands with homemade bread, coffee cakes, rolls and cookies, all made from scratch. They were simply melt-in-your-mouth goodies. There also were stands that had homemade jams and jellies. Why can't a city the size of Cape ever come close to doing things right like all of our smaller neighbors? Just take a drive early Saturday morning between 8 and 12 to Carbondale. You won't be disappointed. Thank you.

I'VE LEARNED FROM calling Speak Out as well as from various other ways that you can't fight the system. I've called numerous times to offer my comments on various subjects. I've noticed that if my opinions did not coincide with those of the power to be, they would not be put into print. When I expressed my opinions that the Southeast Missourian did not agree with, even though I did not use any names, I did not jeopardize anyone, and the printing of those opinions would not have made the Southeast Missourian liable, they still were never put into print. Thank you, my dears.

We can't answer either of the preceding two remarks without knowing what your comments were. In response to the second comment, we can tell you that we publish in every issue of Speak Out opinions that we at the newspaper may or may not agree with. In fact, we encourage people to call or write us and express views opposite of our editorial positions. So there are other reasons your remarks were not published. Give us a call at 335-6611 and we'll be happy to discuss them with you.

ABOUT THIS LADY OR whoever it was who said she moved here from the city and appreciates the pooper-scooper in the parks for the dogs but they should keep the kids out of the parks everything would be great, that woman or man has never buried a child or they are just cold and cruel. Thank you.

IN THE JUNE 23 paper someone was wanting to know who played on "BJ and the Bear." This person seems to have a free breakfast riding on the answer to the question. The answer is Greg Evigan. I remember because I was a big fan of this program. Hope he gets his breakfast.

I'M CALLING ABOUT the article that was put in the paper about the lady who had moved from the city here. She takes her dogs to the park. It would be nicer, she said, if they kept the kids out of the parks. I wanted to tell her one thing: When the children go to the park and play, the little ones wear Pampers and they leave no tracks. These people are going to the park with their dogs and the children and people who pay taxes, when they walk in the grass, they step in it. I think she had better step back and think about what her dogs are doing.

I JUST WONDER how long the radio station Y-105 is going to call itself the new Y-105. It seems like it has been new for about a year and a half now. Thank you.

I THINK GOV. Ashcroft should sign the utility bill that was passed by the legislature. After all, it is free enterprise and a taxpaying industry, whereas a municipal-owned system doesn't contribute to the tax system at all. Thank you.

AFTER THE RECENT Persian Gulf involvement, I think this July 4 is going to be a very special celebration. It'll mean something, possibly more, than it ever has in the past to many people. If you want the opportunity to let that renewed patriotism really come out, I would encourage you to see Freedom Celebration '91 at First General Baptist Church starting Wednesday night, June 26, through Sunday night, June 30, starting at 7:30 every night. Tickets are only $2 a piece and it's a very inspiring musical production that really brings out the true feelings that our country was founded on.

I JUST TOOK a drive over to Illinois. It's Sunday afternoon about 1. I went through the Good Hope area. There were boys sitting around drinking and carrying on. Let me ask you, where was the police department? That's not allowed in Missouri. Thanks a lot.

I'M CALLING ABOUT the city passing a law that you can't smoke in a grocery store. Some of the grocery stores had signs thanking people for not smoking before the college people even contacted the city council. As far as the people disregarding the signs and smoking anyhow, I don't know if the smoke in their eyes keeps them from seeing the sign or if their brain is so foggy they can't read. As far as second-hand smoke hurting bystanders, I'm walking proof that second-hand smoke can cause passive emphysema. I know someone who lost a kidney because he smoked too much. So you don't have to be too smart to realize that the surgeon general knows of what he speaks. Thank you.

I BELIEVE THIS is a question for the city of Cape. In Indian Park on the corner of William and Lorimier there are two or three benches for people to sit on. It's a nice park, but it has not one picnic table or barbecue grill. I went around to the other parks and every one of them have picnic tables and barbecue grills. Is it possible that that particular park can get a barbecue grill and picnic table? Thank you.

A spokeswoman for the city Parks and Recreation Department said Indian Park has one small shelter that contains a picnic table but no barbecue grill. She said all developed city parks contain picnic tables but only two Capaha and Cherokee contain barbecue grills, and they were placed in those parks just last year. She said grills may be put in other parks depending on money availability.

I WOULD LIKE to express my opinion about the caring, especially on KFVS every day, about the soldiers returning home from Desert Storm and Desert Shield. I've heard that so many times that it is beginning to make me kind of sick at my stomach. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm just as patriotic as anyone. I'm a veteran of World War II, the United States Marine Corps, and that should tell you something. We had a real war. So was World War I and the Korean War. Anyway, I think we've heard enough about saluting our own and all the ribbons flying and the hugging and kissing every day. It's the same group shown over and over returning home. This has become unnecessary and rather sickening. When we returned from WW-II our friends and relatives met us and greeted us, but they didn't do it every day for six months after we returned. In my opinion this Desert Storm and Desert Shield was just a practice run compared to WW-II and WW-I.

I'D JUST LIKE to say that I am a smoker and when I come up to a door like at a grocery store or department store, anywhere that has a sign that says thank you for not smoking, I don't smoke in that place at all. Furthermore, I believe that any place that will not let a smoker smoke in their establishment should not be allowed to sell cigarettes, cigars, or smokes of any kind. If the city council wants to ban something, make a law about that; if people cannot smoke on the premises then that business cannot sell cigarettes.

I JUST RETURNED from viewing "Jungle Fever." What a movie. I was completely overwhelmed and caught up by it. It was one of the most intense movies I've ever had the pleasure to see. I think I was wet-eyed through most of it. I have had many similar experiences myself over the years so it really hit home. I think this is one movie all of Cape Girardeau needs to see. I'm sure everyone will find themselves somewhere in this movie.

I AM SO sick of hearing that all men were created equal that I could throw up. We are all equal in only one sense, and that is that all of us in this country who are mentally capable have the same choice to either break the law or abide by the law. It is a fact that there are so many differences between the races that police scientists can determine the race of a criminal merely by examining his semen, blood, hair or skin. Regardless of race, we had all better learn how to tolerate each other; but that does not necessarily mean we should deny our own races and live with or socialize with another race. Thank you.

I THINK IT'S important for people to know that not all of the troops are home from the Middle East. In fact, some troops have been called to active duty since the fighting stopped. There are still many reserves on duty. Thank you.

I'VE BEEN READING lately and hearing about all the freedoms that are being lost in this country. Take the example of drinking: no open container at Riverfest. A person would be afraid to go to a wedding reception or party, drink a beer or two, and drive home. Then we had this optional seat-belt law, which became mandatory a few years later. The list goes on and on. I just think if our forefathers could come back today, and with all the freedoms they had could see what we have today, they would probably head out for another country, trying to find the freedom they once had here. Isn't it ironic, though, that America is losing their freedom and the Soviet Union is gaining theirs? Wake up, America, dictatorship could be just down the road. Thank you.

THE BREAD I'VE been buying at a local store has tasted and felt like day-old bread. This last loaf was fresh. Keep up the good work. I like fresh bread.

WE SEE IN the paper today where the North Koreans returned 11 American servicemen killed in the Korean War. They say they are doing this to have better relations with the U.S. Don't kid yourself; these people are doing this to get on the bandwagon like Russia is doing. They are looking for foreign aid from the American taxpayers. These remains should be returned with no strings attached whatsoever. The families need these remains back to satisfy themselves without the U.S. feeling sorry for the North Koreans now and handing them out billions of U.S. taxpayers' money. I've said this before and I'll say it again: all these communist countries are doing this for is to get aid from the U.S. The big cats in D.C. will see that they get it. Thank you very much.