Speak Out 4/9/03

Prosecute litterers

WHAT ABOUT those who litter? Many want prisoners to clean up the trash littered on highways. Some want school children. Some suggest state employees. Others suggest someone adopt a section of highway. Why not prosecute those who litter the roads? Let's punish these uncaring, lawbreaking slobs who care nothing for our countryside. If you see someone litter, report the license number.

Because they care

WHEN I was in the service in Korea, we were told that a complaining soldier was a good soldier because he cared. I say that would apply somewhat to Speak Out callers.

Poor example

THIS IS in regard to the comment about having the students who do poorly on the MAP test pick up the trash along the interstate. I think this is a ridiculous statement. It doesn't matter how poorly you do in school. My husband dropped out of high school in the ninth grade, and he makes three times as much as I do in a year. I graduated from college.

The Bible explains

MANY PEOPLE are confused about what's happening in the Middle East. Those of you who read the Bible, go to Isaiah 13 and 14 and read that. If you will read it, I think you can discover what this Middle East battle is all about.

Building character

I'M CALLING in response to the comment that said teachers have kids seven hours during a day and nine months a year and are mostly responsible for their behavior. There's been tons of research on the effect of parents and teachers on children. It's proven that a child's personality, value system and behavior are completely determined by the age of 5. Most teachers don't enter a child's life until they're 5 or 6, so the people who dictate this and determine children's attitude and behavior are their parents. Teachers hear parents say, "It's fine if kids are disrespectful. That's how kids are nowadays. That's how they are with me too. I never could control them." And you blame that on teachers?

Unprofessional timing

I THINK it was unprofessional that Jackson released the names of the three finalists for the police chief before they contacted the four other candidates. The city conducted background checks and turned those candidates' lives upside down while doing the check.

Affecting the brain

ALTHOUGH MANY people support lowering of the drinking age, many do not know why it was raised in the first place. Science has proven that by age 21, your brain has fully developed. Taking alcoholic beverages before this time can distort the maturing of the brain, causing long-term damage that cannot be cured.

Freedom to yell

I WAS coming out of a convenience store and saw a young woman in uniform pumping gas. A group of teenagers drove by yelling all kinds of profanity at the young woman. She did not seem disturbed by it at all. I was proud of her decorum and ashamed by the teens. A word to those youths: Be thankful you live in a country where you were not run down and shot for making those comments. Soldiers in uniform are the only reason you got away with that.

DNA tests take time

TO THE caller who is upset about the wait for DNA testing: Be glad we have that technology at all. DNA processing is not like an ATM. It takes a little time.

Don't lower the age

TO ALL you people who favor lowering the drinking age: Are you crazy? At age 18, these kids barely have the experience of driving. Instead of supporting a lower drinking age, why don't you just ask lawmakers to encourage suicide, because that is what you are doing. I love my kids and don't want the legal drinking age lowered.