Speak Out 12/1/05

Get the facts

ONE THING is interesting about history: Unless and until researchers find the truth, much of it is fictionalized, even the history we were (and still are) being taught in schools. It takes much in-depth digging to ferret out true history. People can be so gullible, even intelligent, professional teachers and authors.

Controlling deer

REGARDING THE gun-control advocate who wants the Missouri Conservation Department to control the deer population and movement: One cannot have his cake and eat it, too. God controls wild animals, not the conservation commission. Nor do they control the weather and the diminished kill for the 2005 season. Take that up with a higher power.

Dangerous candy

I THINK people in the Christmas Parade of Lights should stop throwing out candy. I witnessed several groups of kids jumping out into the street and pushing other kids to get the candy. I also witnessed one group of kids who threw a piece of candy and hit a boy in a wagon. When we informed a police officer, we were told that it is not illegal to be disrespectful. If we cannot control the crowd, do away with the candy.

Inappropriate behavior

THE CHRISTMAS Parade of Lights was absolutely wonderful as always. There was one thing that wasn't so wonderful. This was the two women who were acting so childishly, blocking people's views of the floats by running into the street to grab candy and being loud and obnoxious. They kept children from gathering candy being thrown from the floats. Have some decency. They made a spectacle of themselves.

Thanks for purse

IT WAS dark on a recent Saturday night when I left my purse in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. I had been shopping all day with my 7-year-old son. This was a stressful day. As we pulled into a fast-food restaurant, I noticed my purse was missing. I headed back to Wal-Mart and rushed into the store. With a look of panic I asked the person behind the counter if my purse had been turned in. The woman asked me to describe the purse and show identification to prove that the purse was mine. I pointed out that my purse had my identification and proceeded to describe the purse and it contents. After a few moments, I got my purse back. The $500 in money orders was still there, and so was the $100 in cash. To whoever returned my purse, I thank you very much.

Stereotyping recipients

IN A recent comment, someone stereotyped Medicaid recipients as body-pierced, cigarette-smoking deadbeats. That comment disturbed me deeply. I was upset even more that the person making the comment was applauding our governor for cutting Medicaid. That is a uneducated and discriminating attitude. A Medicaid recipient might be the premature child of a hard-working married couple who can't pay for medication no matter how many jobs they work. Our governor is cutting people like that, not the few who are truly deadbeats.