Speak Out 02/22/03

Choosing your friends

HOW SOON they forget. At the beginning of World War II, France was crying, "Don't let the Germans get us, America." At the end of World War II, the Germans were crying, "Don't let the Russians get us, America." Without America there would be no France or Germany or many other countries. What upsets me the most is the lives of the young Americans that were spent saving these countries who claim to love freedom, honor and justice yet choose the side of a dictator who doesn't even know the meaning of these words.

Gas pricing

I'M READING the main editorial on the Opinion page about the gasoline prices. I ran into a very interesting thing going through Southern Illinois. I found that gas prices there are somewhere between 5 cents and 10 cents a gallon higher than ours. Before this latest increase in gas prices, they were usually running 20 cents a gallon higher than ours. So that tells me that it's not necessarily the cost or the supply that's going up. It's happening between that and retailing.

Full-service station

I THINK it's appalling that Cape Girardeau does not have but one filling station that has customer service for the handicapped and those of us who cannot get out of our cars and pull on the hoses. It's in the southern end of town. I think maybe there'd be somebody who would add this service for the people in west end.

Wrong target

I'M CALLING in regard to the "Begging for mercy" Speak Out comment. I think it is silly to say that we are fighting a war for 3,000 innocent lives when that was the work of al-Qaida, not Iraq.

Another plan

I JUST heard an idea that makes much sense to me. Now that we have many troops in the area of Iraq, we should demand as a condition for waiting to attack that the United Nations should as quickly as possible put 1,000 inspectors in Iraq with unfettered access and surveillance planes would have unlimited use of Iraqi air space. This would allow the control of Saddam Hussein and would not inflame the whole Islamic world, which heavy bombing of Iraq and the killing of tens of thousands of innocent civilians would.

Act of betrayal

MY FATHER'S a World War II veteran. He always talks about when U.S. forces in Europe helped get rid of the Germans and helped rebuild Europe. He talks about how grateful the French and all these other countries were. Now when they have a chance to stand up for us when we've been attacked, we see what France does. The answer to this is very simple. We should pull out of NATO. The next time somebody attacks them, we need to sit back and watch them struggle. Every World War II veteran and their children should be appalled that our men went over and helped them out, yet they do this to us in return. My father risked his life for those people, and they turned their back on us. It's an act of betrayal.

Crossing repairs needed

WHO IS responsible for repairing the highway railroad crossing on Route V in Gordonville? Is it the St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad or MoDOT? Try it, you won't like it.

Refuge in Psalms

I'D LIKE to tell the media to go on and continue to spread fear. You have become the real terrorists. I, as a Christian, claim Psalms 46: "God is our refuge and strength, the very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear? Though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." Hallelujah.

Christian imperative

I THINK it's amazing that the percentage of Americans who don't support war in Iraq almost mirrors the percentage of those who don't attend church. If you follow the teachings of Christianity, you'll understand that when push comes to shove, Christians will stand up against injustice. President Bush is fulfilling the wishes of the majority.