Different perspective

I AM wondering if the person who said in Speak Out that we should turn the other cheek when dealing with terrorists would feel the same way had it been her loved one who, in the only way to escape the flames in the World Trade Center, jumped to the pavement.

Voice of reason

I HOPE you took note of it. Sandwiched between the histrionics of the Southeast Missourian editorial staff and the hysterics of Samantha Brown was a sensible voice of reason pertaining to Iraq and emanating from former U.S. Sen. Tom Eagleton.

Attacking al-Qaida

NOW LET'S see if I've got this straight. We're going to attack Iraq because we have proof that there are al-Qaida members there -- or have been. They may not be there today, but they were there within the last six months. I understand all the anger towards al-Qaida, but if that's the reason we're going to attack Iraq, they're also in England, France and other countries. They're even in our own country. Are we going to attack ourselves? What are we doing?

No more golden eggs

I JUST hate it when politicians talk about raising revenue. It always means give them more money. They promise to give some of it back, but it never happens. The city's finance task force managed to rework a Douglas MacArthur quote: "Old taxes never expire, they just get extended." I challenge homeowners in Cape Girardeau to look at their tax bills for 1995 and then look at the same one for 2001. Property taxes have increased a whopping 100 percent in the last seven years. The goose has no more golden eggs.

IT'S FUNNY you should bring up the use of DDT to stop West Nile virus. DDT was a wonderful insecticide because it killed insects and did not hurt people or mammals. It didn't ever hurt any people. There were questions about birds, and we would need to do scientific research to see whether or not DDT really did hurt birds. If it doesn't hurt birds, DDT would be a wonderful way to slow down mosquitoes, malaria and West Nile virus.

Not a big magnet

I CANNOT understand how anyone in charge of the City of Roses Music Festival thinks Dave Mason is a big name. I am curious how they came up with bringing him to the festival. Who in the planning meeting said, "Hey, that Dave Mason rocks! People will come and see him!" Maybe next year we can save up and get the cowbell player from Blue Oyster Cult.

Thanks for music festival

I WOULD just like to say that the City of Roses Music Festival was great. There were a few things I didn't like, such as the high ticket prices and the fact that all the good bands were playing at the same time. But it was very enjoyable. I'm glad we have an event downtown since we no longer have Riverfest. Thanks to everyone.

IT SEEMS to have boiled down to whether or not U.S. action against Iraq will be primarily unilateral or multilateral. War is inevitable. Anti-war voices should silence themselves, bide their time and re-emerge if and when the world's geopolitical situation is destabilized to a degree never seen in human history. Then might be the time for a tempered "we told you so" message.