Random acts of vandalism

THIS IS pertaining to the night in September when vandals broke my windshield and window. It's a shame and a pity we have to babysit our automobiles at night because some punk teen-agers or possibly adults don't have anything better to do with their time than to vandalize and destroy other people's property. It's hard enough just to try and live and meet monthly expenses, much less have to come up with over $360 to pay for the thoughtless, foolish acts of other people. I hope you get caught, and I hope your conscience bothers you enough to come forward some day and made restitution for what you have done. That's the only way I can ever forgive you. Maybe something will happen to you some day, and then you will know the feeling. They say what goes around usually comes around some way or the other in evil people.

What about highway signs?

THE OTHER night the city council was debating about political signs and yard-sale signs. I wonder when somebody is going to address the issue of all the illegal signs up and down Kingshighway on state right of way which they're not supposed to be there. I just wonder if somebody's going to do something about that.

When next century starts

ON THE front page, one of the headlines read, "Last lunar eclipse of century Thursday" and you repeat that a couple of times in the article. But in the article you quote Dr. Cobb as saying that this is the last eclipse until the year 2000. The year 2000 is still in the 20th century. The 21st century does not begin until Jan. 1, 2001. The class of 2000 is not the first graduating class of the 21st century. It's the class of 2001 that will be the first graduating class of the 21st century.

REPLY: It has generally been accepted that the new century will begin in the year 2000. This is due in large part to the change in numbers from 1999 to 2000. The caller makes a good argument, but popular usage will probably win this debate.

A constructive effort

THIS IS to educate the person who assumes that money has been misused to make a point. The land for the crosses was donated, materials for the crosses plus labor was totally donated by local businesses, organizations and volunteers. The upkeep is being done by area Knights of Columbus councils. By making a point that 4,400 children die a day, we hope to make a difference. This is the ultimate child abuse. We hold an annual free, lock-in for life to educate our youth on issues facing them today, such as drugs, alcohol, sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS and abortion. We also provide speakers, films and literature concerning life from conception to death to the community. If you genuinely feel a community center will help our youth, do what we do. Contact friends, neighbors, businesses and organizations. It only takes one person to get it started. Turn your opinion into something constructive, not criticism of others.

Thanks for seniors night

THANK YOU, Central High School, for the seniors night at the football game. You made all the seniors feel very, very special. Thanks again, Emily Jorgenson and the other people at Central High School.

Protecting land in Utah

IT'S AMAZING that the governor of Utah didn't know Bill Clinton was going to protect the lands in Utah. I knew about it for a few days. As far as not getting any votes in Utah, Clinton is going to get a lot of votes from the people who wanted that land protected.

Proud to be liberal

WHAT IS wrong with being a liberal? Just look up the definition in the dictionary. I'm proud to be a liberal.

Confusing positions

I JUST want to comment on something I've been reading about the liberals and the Democrats, having to do with their compassion, especially President Clinton's compassion for the unborn. It seems he does not care for the unborn. That's why he vetoed the legislation on the partial abortions. But see on the education situation with the illegal immigrants, he's really got compassion for those people. He thinks they need the right -- that we taxpayers pay -- to go school. I truly am confused at which way he's going.

National parks not for sale

A RECENT letter in the Missourian stated that Republicans wanted to sell off parts of our national parks to corporations. In reality, the bill which is before Congress would allow 10 corporations, selected yearly, to donate $10-15 million each to the National Park Service in exchange for advertising rights. These rights would simply mean that the selected corporations could claim to be proud sponsors of our National Park System in their electronic and print advertisements, much like Olympic sponsors. No company logos would be allowed in our parks and monuments. The only effect this bill would have on our National Park System would be an extra $150 million badly needed dollars. There's absolutely nothing in this bill about selling our national treasures. It amazes me that the letter writer, who is a highly educated professor, forgot to do his homework. Or perhaps he's resorting to the tried and true Democrat principle of distorting the truth to scare the voters.

Yield the right of way

ATTENTION PEOPLE of Jackson: As you are approaching Cape Girardeau on Highway 61 and you come to Interstate 55, there is a signal light. When that signal is red, even if you are getting on the interstate southbound, you must yield to other traffic. Don't keep going 60 miles an hour onto the on ramp, because if there is traffic coming across you are as sure as heck going to smack somebody some day and somebody will get killed out there. Pay attention to the yield sign and pay attention to the signals and slow down.