SPEAKOUT

ONCE AGAIN JUDY Williams, the other directors, and talented students of Cape Central High School have demonstrated their superb theatrical talent. The Madrigal Feast was an outstanding performance executed with such professionalism it was hard to believe it was a high-school production. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated, talented directors to work with our students. I did not have a child in this wonderful presentation, but my children enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward with great anticipation in having the opportunity to participate in such a unique and broadening experience.

I THINK THE chickens are coming home to roost. You know Reagan said when he was in office, you ain't seen nothing yet. Well, we're going to see it soon. All the coverup and deceiving is showing up in unemployment and cutbacks in programs, and the high cost of living. I was here when Hoover took the country down the drain. The way I see it, we're going down again. Things were made under Reagan to look good for everyone, but it was only for a few: those that took from the poor and gave to the rich.

I'M CALLING about the senior citizens and the golf course. I think it's awful these senior citizens think they should get everything free or at a discount. You can't play golf anywhere in the world for the price they're paying at the Jaycees golf course. Thank you.

MR. PRESIDENT, SEN. Bond, Sen. Danforth and Congressman Emerson: What are you going to tell the American people when they start bringing those boys home in boxes? Is that oil worth it? Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to say something about the right to die with dignity. Feeding tubes and artificial life support should be temporary. After a while, when there is no improvement, they should be removed and let a person die as intended. Thank you.

I THINK THE war on drugs here in America should be suspended. They haven't accomplished anything. Round up all the warriors and send them to Saudi Arabia. Maybe they could do something over in the desert. Thank you.

TO THE PERSONS who have had their Christmas decorations destroyed and stolen, my heart goes out to you. In this time of the supposed spirit of Christ it is a shame there are people in this world who would break the commandments of God. My prayers also go out to you that you learn what the true spirit of Christ is. Peter asked Christ how many times to forgive anyone who has wronged you, and the reply from the Lord was 70 times seven. To have the spirit of Christ a person must do the things that Jesus would have done. If you know the person or persons who have done such a thing to you out of envy or evil, confront them and give them a chance to repent. The wages of sin is death. If you cannot forgive them, then on the day of resurrection, either the first or the second, you will not be forgiven. Remember to hate no one and to not go to sleep with anger in your heart. The hate of sin is the spirit of evil, which comes from the devil.

THIS IS IN regard to the man who left the message in Speak Out last week about why we should be worried about going and getting construction workers out of Iraq and Kuwait; why we should worry about them because they're the ones that wanted to go make the big money. Well, to the fellow who wrote the article, if the shoe was on the other foot, he would want somebody to come and get him. Let's not be so narrow-minded next time. Thank you.

TO THE person who thinks we should go to Iraq and bomb them, I want to tell him the doors are open. All he has to do is go over there. The rest of us don't feel that way. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO talk about the chances of something happening; in other words, the odds. Do you think you have a 50-50 chance of slipping on a banana peeling today or is there a 50-50 chance of a tornado? I say the odds are not 50-50 that either will happen. Since its been since 1949 that we had a killer tornado, isn't it feasible to believe that the odds are not favorable for either of the two? In fact, the Thanksgiving issue of Speak Out contained two of my articles. Both stated in essence there would be no earthquake here on Dec. 3. No one knows how many thousands of years went by before the New Madrid earthquake, and in spite of Dr. Browning's Dec. 31 prediction, I'd venture to say the probability or odds of an earthquake are 50-50 that we could go the same length of time before it will happen again. The earthquake scare is as bad as our Congress cutting the Social Security benefits from the recipients on fixed incomes. I'd like to know if Browning would bet money that we have a quake Dec. 31. I wonder if he would put his money where his mouth is. I think he should publicly put up or shut up.

I WAS JUST in Scott City looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights, but I can't decide which is the more beautiful display, Country Club or Wheeler Drive. I was wondering, do the residents know how many light bulbs they've used on each of these wonderful, wonderful Christmas displays?

MOSLEM IS ONE of the best religious beliefs on earth. Thank you.

I SAT DOWN tonight, Friday, Dec. 14, to read your paper, looking specifically for the headlines of the very large earthquakes that happened yesterday, as I only heard part of the report on channel 6 news last night. And guess what? No headlines, not even a note in the back of the paper. Also, no articles all month of the many quakes that have happened around the world since Dec. 1, except in your Speak Out column Dec. 9. I just wanted to know why. To me this is news, and either you're a newspaper or you're not. Well, I decided if you won't report these major things that affect the world, you're not. So I picked up my phone and ordered a year's subscription to USA Today. I feel sorry for you if all this politics over the last few months has you scared to report newsworthy facts. If I've missed any articles except the Speak Out in the Dec. 9 paper, please answer and tell me exactly in what paper these headlines or small reports were printed, and I will renew my subscription to your paper when it comes due. If not, you've lost one customer, and that's a fact.

Earthquakes of varying magnitudes, including large ones, occur on a regular basis around the world, and we can't possibly report all of them. Neither does USA Today. We have and will continue to report earthquakes that cause major destruction, injuries and deaths.

I WAS JUST watching Jimmy Swaggart, and I really have a problem with the some of these evangelist preachers. They claim to be preaching the word of God, but at the end of their telecast they try to talk their contributors into paying with Visa, MasterCard, major credit cards. I don't find anything in the scriptures where we're suppose to pay our bills like this. I have a real problem with this. How about anybody else out there? Thank you.

IN RESPONSE TO your request for information about Jim Brooklyn's earthquake predictions, he predicted the San Francisco quake, and that prediction was printed in the (unintelligible) dispatch newspaper. On Oct. 13 he also predicted an aftershock in November following the quake, and that prediction was printed in the Oakland Tribune. I know you don't want to believe it, but there is a possibility that some of these people might be right.

I'VE NEVER SEEN so many people running around with just one headlight. It's not just in this town. I wonder what they're going to do if they're out and they have the one light they do have go out. Thank you.

WELL, I SEE in the media where Scott City is blasted all over it again, mostly about the police department. Thank you.

I WISH YOU COULD have been in our church, the Immaculate Conception in Jackson, last Sunday. It was just beautiful. Our choir sang just great and everything just worked out so pretty for our bishop. I wish you could have been there to see it. It was a perfect day for me. Thank you.

DEAR SPEAK OUT: I wish you could see the most beautiful homes here in Jackson that are decorated. It is worth coming over here to see. It is just beautiful. The blue stars hanging from the houses and things; you have to see it to believe it. So, please, come over and see it. You will be proud of Jackson. Thank you.

I THINK SPEAK OUT is one of the stupidest things a newspaper could possibly ever print. No one has a rebuttal. Why doesn't the person who is putting the item in the paper not have enough nerve to put their name to it? If the Southeast Missourian doesn't have anything better to print, then I think they ought to close down the paper and somebody ought to open a good paper in Cape Girardeau. Again, I think it is the most idiotic thing that could ever be printed in a public newspaper. I doubt very much if this message will be printed because it goes against everything you people stand for. Thank you.

We disagree. Speak Out gives people who do not want their named used an opportunity to air their comments. We require names on letters to the editor, although we will hold them on request.

THIS IS IN regards to the person who wrote in concerning sending everyone else but the reserves over to Saudi Arabia. The men and women who are in the reserves signed a piece of paper, knowing that some day or somehow they could be sent over to a foreign land to defend a cause they may or may not agree with. So, please, don't try to accuse the people who are innocent and who do not want to go over there.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND why the people in Scott City have not inquired what is going on since the chief and the mayor are supposed to be representing the people in Scott City. Why has this been hidden for two years?

THANK GOD FOR the university because I sincerely believe that without SEMO Cape would be a very ignorant community. I have come to this conclusion following the remarks I have read in Speak Out about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday being acknowledged by SEMO. At one time I was appalled and offended by the remarks, but I now have nothing but sympathy for you people who are living in the past. Wake up. Maybe you all need to take a few classes to learn about society as it is today, and then all of you will realize that SEMO, the United States, the NFL, and all others who acknowledge and appreciate the work of Dr. King know that this minority, which apparently is scaring you, may know what they're doing. And I'll pray for you. Thank you.

I'M CALLING in regards to the person who had in Thursday's paper, Dec. 13, that they feel that Martin Luther King shouldn't be recognized. I feel like this: If you don't want to recognize him then you shouldn't. This is not something that is required of you. It's not in the laws; it's not in the constitution. I'm a black person and I'm very upset to know that we have people like you, who don't want to take the time to accept him for what he has done and for what he did. Thank you.

AFTER FIGHTING IN World War II, being shot down, and being recalled for the Korean war, my husband was in the Marine reserves from 1950 to '51. He was not paid a dime for that, but was on call at all times. The National Guard gets to go on a spree for two weeks each year, and maybe one weekend per month, and get paid for it. Then, when they are told to go to Saudi Arabia to earn the money they have already received, they griped. I have no sympathy for people who accept my money and expect to do nothing for it in return. Did they think the National Guard was just a game that they'd be paid to play on the pretext of what they would do for their country? Since the beginning of this country, its inhabitants have had to fight wars. After almost 500 years, it's apparent to me that man is still as ignorant, just as selfish, and just as egotistical as he ever was, yet we call this progress. Do the reserves get paid to sit and wait? If not, why not? Thank you.

I'M CALLING about President Bush tonight. I don't know how a lot of people feel about it, but I don't especially like my children hearing the president use foul language as he did on the NBC news tonight. If anybody else agrees with me I wish you would call in. Thank you.

I CAN'T BELIEVE that somebody would steal Christmas decorations just for fun. We spent hours and hours of decorating for others' enjoyment and someone has the gall to steal our four-foot snowman. Have we forgotten the true meaning of Christmas?

ARE PEOPLE WHO make allegations called alligators or what?

THIS IS A comment on somebody's remark comparing Iben Browning's projection of the earthquake with the weather forecast. I am for that 100 per cent. That is great. But there is one thing I think people should understand around here and they don't. Don McNeely, Bob Reeves and Grant Alworth do not make weather forecasts; they are simply the media who gives the forecast to the public. The forecasts are made by the National Weather Service, not by television announcers.

LET'S STOP HARPING about Iben Browning and start talking about Jack Stapleton's prediction that hypocritical voters in Missouri will shut down the state. At least that's a disaster we could do something about. But will we? Of course not. Missourians are like the farmer who brags about how little it costs to feed his horse, but then complains about how little work he can get out of it. If the people would invest in their state maybe they could get some new businesses to invest in it too, and we could start spiraling up instead of dwindling down. Missouri is broke. Let's fix it.