SPEAKOUT

Campus real estate

I'M CURRENTLY in my senior year of college pursuing a degree in vocal performance at Southeast Missouri State University. As would be expected after the controversy this summer, much has been spoken about the mythical River Campus in many of my classes and some of my extracurricular activities dealing with liberal arts. I wonder if it has been pointed out to the administration the ample real estate that exists near the campus which is already owned by the university. If it has not been pointed out, it certainly should.

All will be judged

I'M NOT the wisest, the most religious or the most involved in politics, but I love my country and want a Christian nation. I vote, but I wouldn't belong to a political party that wanted you to support any person it picks and sticks its head in the sand when something goes on in the White House like this. Quoting the Bible and defending this president is just as hypocritical. Thou shall not judge. We have laws. Do you want to have no laws for man or moral laws? Forgive him in your heart, pray for him, but don't have him to be your standard-bearer for your children. God will judge all of us. You forget the quotes in the Bible: You shouldn't lie, you shouldn't commit adultery, you should pick religious men as your leaders, you shouldn't pray to the wicked. I think no political party has the right to accept homosexuality. It's an abomination in the Bible. I don't think any political party should accept abortion as a choice. God created life. He knew him in his mother's womb.

We have to judge

IT'S INTERESTING how some people tell us to forgive and forget Clinton's transgressions because the Bible says, "Judge not lest ye be judged." Does that mean if we don't judge people down here on Earth, then God will not hold us accountable for our sins? If so, we must stop construction of prisons and hurry to throw open the prison and jail doors, because we have sinned by casting judgment. Therefore, all swindlers, liars, perverts, child molesters, drug dealers, scam artists and other lawbreakers can feel free to ply their trade. If caught, all they would have to say is, "I made a mistake, forgive me and don't you dare judge me because the Bible says not to.

Nurses, speak out

REGARDING THE hospital merger: Perhaps this will be a good thing to contain health costs. However, of the jobs being cut, the public should be asking which jobs. Will it be those at the top who do not actually deliver patient care, or will it be, as we have been told, from the nursing staff, the people who actually deliver the care to the patient, the people who actually monitor these patients who can be less than 24 hours past bypass surgery on a floor and not the intensive-care unit? We've been told nurse's aide positions will be cut and nursing positions will be cut. Yet I was told yesterday that both hospitals will have an administrator, assistant administrator, director of nursing and whatever else. These people do not care for the patient. Nurses, nurse assistants and housekeepers and those who make the hospital safe for the patient, who actually care and deliver services to the patient need to attend these meetings and voice their concerns before it's too late and your family member is in a hospital ward, very ill, with one nurse taking care of seven, eight or nine people and one nurse assistant. This will not be safe. This will not be ethical. Nurses need to speak out now because they are the ones who can be advocates for their patients.

Letter showed insight

MY HUSBAND and I read with great interest the letter that Bill Coomer had in the Missourian. He shows insight that a lot of people have never gained. We wish that we had people with his expertise in Washington. Perhaps some of these situations could be handled a lot better than they are at the present time. Mr. Coomer, we really support you and thank you for taking the time to write such a nice letter.

Sign of moral decline

TO A 50-year-old man, a 21-year-old girl is just a kid. Ask any decent father or mother. To have her boss being in the highest position commit this perversion in the people's White House is undoubtedly the most disgusting behavior that ever happened to any nation. Then lawyers, TV hosts and politicians say this is no big deal. Many accept this. This is surely a sign of this nation's moral decline. We have a sick leader and a sick society. God help us. We've sunk to a new low. Where is the courage of these decent Democrat Christians?

Try bounty method

I THINK it's pretty much of a waste. We've spent $40 million of the taxpayers' money for Ken Starr to find one person who's guilty of adultery. Here we go with the Democrats. They went out and found three Republicans who were guilty of adultery, and they didn't even cost the taxpayers any money. If we want to clean out the mess in Washington, all those rotten, dirty, whoremongers and adulterers, I think what we should do is just pay a bounty, $10,000 for every person who gives factual information about somebody, then clean up the mess. because you're not going to do it with a bunch of reporters. All they can see are the richer jewels.

Right to an opinion

I'D LIKE to make a comment on the police crackdown on illegal sexual activity. It amazes me how judgmental the homosexual community is when they find their own kind being arrested for lewd sex acts in public restrooms. I would like to see the police record of arrests for heterosexual people in this same instance. Facts are facts. You can do all the name calling you want and judge those who do not and will not condone the homosexual lifestyle. Heterosexuals engage in intercourse. Male homosexuals engage in anal intercourse. Are you telling me that that is normal? My homosexual friends, this is called freedom of speech, not judgmental name calling like homophobia or gay bashing. You have a right to speak, and I have the right to speak and have an opinion.