OpinionMay 21, 2013
Speak Out 5/21/13
We have always been amazed that the people of Germany claimed after World War II that they did not know the government was killing Jews in concentration camps. The Nazis were also killing a smaller number of outspoken Christians. Most Germans closed their eyes and did not see the murder. Today, many Americans have not seen the murder of babies after they were born alive. Are we as guilty as the Germans?...Closed eyes
We have always been amazed that the people of Germany claimed after World War II that they did not know the government was killing Jews in concentration camps. The Nazis were also killing a smaller number of outspoken Christians. Most Germans closed their eyes and did not see the murder. Today, many Americans have not seen the murder of babies after they were born alive. Are we as guilty as the Germans?
Educational benefit?
It really doesn't matter if giving every student a computer improves student performance or not. Even though there are a smattering of studies showing student test scores in math and science dropped in some instances, the key is that the parents and students think they will be of educational benefit. There is little doubt that in Cape Girardeau, they do. So, it's full speed ahead with the adoption of yet another myth that technology is a key component in improving student test scores.
Jensen column
Mike Jensen denouncing the media for engaging in hyperbole (wild exaggeration) would be like me trashing citizens for calling Speak Out.
Bad timing?
On the same day the stock market hit an all-time high, a conservative group sent out an email warning that President Obama was ruining the stock market and called for his impeachment. What can you say? Bad timing?
Common Core
More top-down "solutions" for education like Common Core or the end-of-course exams or the Missouri MAP test simply lock up the curriculum because if it isn't on the test, it won't be taught. This means that the innovations, creativity and the evolution of the curriculum that teachers provide will be completely shut out. It used to be educators, through professional development, could look at other districts and adopt what works, but soon innovation will be through and we will all be the same. Stuck.
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
Casino revenue
I guess it was encouraging to read that the stunningly sharp drop in Cape city revenue from the Isle Capri casino will surely reverse itself when temporarily hesitant gamblers regain their senses and resume throwing their money away.
Benghazi hearings
There have been several congressional hearings over whether the lead up to the Benghazi attacks should have been called a protest or terrorist plot. How about a little context? Following the overthrow of Qaddafi, Libya was awash with weapons and unemployed young men, many of whom were loosely organized into local militias to fill the political vacuum. In this environment, the line between a protest and all-out attack is pretty insignificant. Thirteen people were killed in embassy attacks during the Bush administration, but I don't remember a single congressional hearing over those. A message to Congress: Stop wasting your time and our money.
Growing government
Obama is spending our tax dollars like there is no end to it. He just sent several millions to Syria. He needs to focus on jobs, which he hasn't been doing. All he wants to do is grow government and shrink the private sector -- which he is very good at.
Audit prevention
It's really not that difficult, folks. If you don't want to be audited by the IRS, avoid acting upon or associating yourself with about 99 percent of the ideas expressed by syndicated columnists published on the Opinion page of the Southeast Missourian.
Rising premiums
To all of you who drank the Kool-Aid about Obamacare, you are about to get a rude awakening come Jan. 1. Your health-care premiums are about to skyrocket. Obamacare will be fully implemented by then. I hope all you Democrats will be happy because this is what you voted for.
Story Tags
Advertisement
Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:
For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.
Related
Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!
