LETTERS: FREEDOM FORUM WAS LEARNING EXPERIENCE

To the editor:

The Southeast Missourian sponsored me for the Missouri Freedom Forum at Southeast Missouri State University recently. I am writing this letter to tell you I really enjoyed the forum, and I appreciate your sponsoring me. I learned a lot about the freedoms we often take for granted here in the United States and what we can do to keep from taking these for granted.

I was impressed by some of the speakers who came in and talked to us: Richard Hardy, Mindy Hawkins, Joe Heckemeyer, Chuck McGinty, Peter Kinder, David Lankford and Sanford McDonnell. McDonnell, chairman emeritus of McDonnell Douglas Corp., impressed me with his talk. However, I feel I learned the most from Richard Hardy. He gave a talk on our political system and was on the panel with Rep. Heckemeyer and Sen. Kinder. He really showed me how good the federal government is, but also how unorganized it can be.

One of my favorite things at the Freedom Forum was a computer simulation we ran on the last day of the forum on what it is like to be in public office. My group was a state senator, and we had to discuss the situation we were presented. The goal of the simulation was to be re-elected to a second term. We were re-elected by a 51-to-49-percent margin. This simulation taught me much about our political system.

I would encourage you to continue sponsoring Freedom Forum participants. It is a worthy cause and really teaches kids how the American government is run and about freedoms we take for granted. Thanks again.

JEFF MUELLER

Cape Girardeau