Everything's affected

OIL GOES into almost everything we use in our home, tires, cars, floor covering, carpets, wallpaper, paint, the plastic we use to wrap our food and cardboard. It affects so many things that prices will be going up because the price of a barrel of oil is increasing. It's not just gasoline that's affected.

Creative license

I FEEL compelled to respond to Dr. Kenneth Stilson's assertion that the Southeast Missouri State University theater department's production of "Romeo and Juliet" is faithful to Shakespeare's text. This isn't entirely true. Shakespeare's Romeo is not black, and Shakespeare's Mercutio doesn't moon the audience or hump Romeo. Whether good or bad, Stilson's production takes creative license with Shakespeare's text.

Taking time to march

I AM a white working-class woman. I am tired of hearing about immigrants marching. They say they want to show our economy how much they put in. People are even letting them take off a day to do this. Are they not breaking the law by being here? I can't afford to take off a day to march. I am too busy working a job that has no impact on the world. I cant get assistance cause I make too much money -- $220 a week. Somehow the immigrants are eating at expensive restaurants and shopping at big department stores.

Changing the country

REMOVING ILLEGALS would rectify the wage stagnation in this country, but we would also risk inflation. It would be worth the risk, because the flood of illegals is changing our country, and not for the better.

They know all of that

I THINK schools need to be more down to earth. Do administrators not realize that ninth- and 10th-grade students more than likely know everything about the birds and the bee? "Romeo and Juliet" would have been a good play for them to see.

Worthy cause

I ATTENDED a wonderful concert at New McKendree United Methodist Church Celebration Center. It was a benefit for the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence put on by a Christian group, Restless Spirit. The music was so beautiful, and the message was inspiring. What a great evening for such a worthy cause.

Miracle of birth

BEING A mother of a baby born at home 30-plus years ago, I feel the article about the baby born in the bathroom could have been treated with a little more respect for the miracle of birth. The gritty details didn't need to be published. If the parents wanted the child to know the exact circumstances of the birth, they could tell her.

Viewpoints, choices

ISN'T TODAY'S society suppose to be tolerant of individual choice? If so, then one's opinion about another's choice is uncalled for. Whether one chooses to view Shakespeare or not also falls into the category of choice. Forcing one's views seems to be a common malady of society.

Turning socialist

AS CONSTITUENTS make their opinions on gasoline prices heard, the most diehard conservatives have suddenly gone socialist. Republicans love and defend capitalism only until it affects their wallets. Now we have people like Bill Frist talking about windfall profits and price controls. Either stop buying gas for that 15-mile-per-gallon behemoth or stop complaining.

Finding alternatives

I'M AMAZED there has been no Manhattan Project for alternative fuels. America developed and weaponized a nuclear device within the time frame of World War II. Our answer for a dwindling oil reserve? Change fuel economy standards by 2 miles per gallon. If we would commit the money and resources we give to military projects to environmental projects, who knows what technologies would develop. Instead, half of government spending is on defense, and scientists are labeled as wackos.

Take active role

WHY IS it that when a child is failing in school, the first person who gets blamed is the teacher? The parents should not have to wait for a teacher to let them know their child is failing. The parents should know at all times how their child is doing in school. Parents should ask their children about homework, tests and progress reports. If your child doesn't want to tell you, call the teacher. Do not blame the teacher. Blame yourself for not taking an active part in your child's education.

End is coming

THE END is coming. Signs are all around us. We better start focusing on where we are going next and not on things of this world like gasoline or wars.

Learn English

I READ an article about a Spanish rendition of the national anthem. I am well aware that this country was built by immigrants. My great-grandparents were some of them. However, my great-grandfather took my grandfather to school on horseback so he could learn English. He shared his English lessons with the rest of the family. If one chooses to live here, he should learn to speak English. As Americans, if we don't stand up and say our national language is English, we're going to find ourselves in trouble one day soon.

Waiting for posing

WHEN THERE was a gasoline shortage during the President Carter years, I had to wait for gas a long time because of other cars lined up in front of me. Now I have to wait until the politicians get done posing in front of service stations.

Immigration lesson

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS can march in the streets carrying their national flags, displaying their signs calling us thieves and demanding amnesty, yet they can't show up at their jobs because they fear the gestapo immigration tactics. Perhaps there needs to be a few raids with a few illegal immigrants transported back so they see "illegal" doesn't mean "amnesty" after all.

Slow to accept

LOCAL DEMOCRATS cannot handle the fact that 54 percent of respondents to the semissourian.com online poll favor some form of military action against Iran. State Democrats cannot handle the fact that Pollingreport.com shows that 56 percent of Missourians support the war in Iraq. And national Democrats cannot handle the fact that 54 percent of those surveyed are going to vote for their incumbent in mid-term elections. The Democrats will lose again, despite controlling the media.

Unscientific elections

EVERY TIME I see an Internet poll, I read that the poll is not a scientific survey because only those who chose to participate do so. That would mean elections are also unscientific surveys, because only those who choose to participate do so.

Learn the language

I HAVE no problem with any nationality coming to America, but I believe that if they come here they should learn to speak and read our language. I don't know why we allow them to come here and tell us what we will do for them.

Midwest stereotype

BY CONDEMNING Southeast Missouri State University's production of "Romeo and Juliet" for not cutting Shakespeare's original lines from its performance and for showing a little backside, Southeast Missourians are only confirming the stereotype of the book-burning Midwesterner. I'm surprised someone in 2006 could still manage to be offended by something written in the 16th century. Shame on all of you.

Capitalist pricing

WHY DO people think that opening a bunch of oil rigs that will provide six month's worth of fuel will automatically drop gasoline prices? The same companies doing the drilling are refining and distributing. They control the supply. New sources of oil only mean longer-term profits for oil companies. They have no incentive to flood the market with cheap oil. Join the real world, Republicans. As long as people pay $3 a gallon, that's what the oil companies will charge. It's called capitalism.