Speak Out 12/20/05

Toon misrepresentation

IF DON Greenwood's cartoon Dec. 14 is an example of what he will do in the future, he is a sorry addition to the Opinion page. His cartoon shows a picture of Condi Rice and a purported torture victim with the caption, "Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?" Those wires were, in fact, not electrical wires. Investigations revealed they were not electrical, and they were not hooked up to anything that would have given a charge even if they were. The prisoner was, in fact, made to stand in water for a long time hooded, thinking that he could be electrocuted, but there was no bodily threat to his person. While that might be repugnant in itself, it is mild compared to acceptable interrogation techniques used around the world, and it does not fit the definition of torture. This is not to say that some U.S. soldiers have not stepped over the boundary in Iraq, because clearly they have, as has been the case in every war. War is hell. Otherwise decent people do bad things. But to hold this image up as example of American policy is a despicable misrepresentation that indicates that, in fact, cartoon images do lie. I hope Greenwood's future work is better, but I'm not holding my breath.

Twain's observation

IN THIS polarized nation of ours, I am reminded of Mark Twain's observation that if Christ were alive now, he would not be a Christian.

Time for platform

IRAQ HAS held another democratic vote contrary to the Democrats' naysaying. The economy continues to set positive records despite Democrats' claims that targeted tax cuts were bad. Gasoline prices continue to fall despite Democrats' continued efforts to block exploratory drilling. Caucasians suffered the most casualties in New Orleans contrary to Democrats' assertions that response was slow because it affected poor minorities. I don't know what the Democratic Party is going to do now. It might have to develop a platform instead of second -guessing everything.

Not up to standard

I AM disappointed by the selection of "The Gold of Cape Girardeau" as the 2006 Cape Reads selection. I have read this book. It is a fine book, but it is not of the caliber of the books chosen in the past. To select a book because the author is local is not the criteria I have seen in the past, and it should not have been used this year or any other year. I am disgusted that the standards for selection have been lowered to this extent. Morley Swingle's book simply is not in the ranks of "A Painted House," "All Over but the Shoutin" and other previous selections.

Use recent photos

I HAVE a pet peeve. I'm in my 50s and have made many older acquaintances during my lifetime. Some I know only by their faces and first names. I have missed saying goodbye to many of these wonderful people because their families seem to want high school pictures or some unrecognizable picture in the obituaries. Please use recent pictures so people who knew these wonderful folks won't continue to miss their visitations.

Postal circuit

MAKE CAPE Girardeau's post office mobile.

Need some control

I WORKED in retail years ago and have recently come back to work force. I am amazed by the damage some kids do. Young children in the past may have curiously touched things they shouldn't. Now some will deliberately destroy or try to steal things while their parents ignore them -- or worse, leave them on their own. Kids have even damaged the restrooms. Now we have to be salesmen, policemen and parents. The parents' lack of disciplinary action sends the message that this behavior is OK.

Not a federal case

ONE FRATERNITY swipes the other's mascot without harming it, and the other fraternity retaliates by sneaking into a fraternity house. Lighten up, folks. This isn't a federal case. There's no reason why tax dollars should be wasted by having this in court.

Manners for children

I AGREE with the mom who said the play area at the mall is overcrowded with older, unattended children. Parents need to explain to their older children that they are too old to play on the current structures. I have a 2-year-old who never gets to play there because there are always older children running around crazy. Where are the parents? It is the same at the parks in the summer. I take my son to the Tot Lot, which is supposed to be for toddlers. However, there are usually older kids there abusing the equipment with no regard for toddlers. Let's teach our children some manners.

School concerns

I WAS watching the Cape Girardeau School Board meeting last night and was appalled at the way one of the board members behaved. Board members should realize they are doing a service to the community and not sitting in a throne. Know the facts. The comments about the payroll situation were blown way out of proportion. One board member made it out that the district is flooded with employees who are thieves who take the money and run even after another board member said that it rarely happens, if ever, because teachers are under contract. Do not bring back the old ways. I can only stress to the board members that they do not want to make the teachers think they are the enemy. Board members must also remember that there is a major difference between the business world and education. If the school district needs to be run like businesses, then it needs to start paying employees corporate wages and benefit packages.

Drugs, not recess

SOMEONE SUGGESTED that if a child is hyperactive his condition would be improved by giving him recess so he could get rid of excess energy. Wrong. The only thing that will improve the condition of a clinically diagnosed hyperactive child is appropriate medication.

Gift is waiting

ON DEC. 16 we found in the Walgreen Drug Store in Cape Girardeau a precious gift made by a young woman. We know she would want this back, because it's a gift for her parents that she made herself. We turned it in to the management of Walgreens to be picked up.

No arguments

DAVID LIMBAUGH, Michelle Malkin and their followers, have no cogent arguments to offer. Instead, they belittle liberal Democrats. That Howard Dean, for instance, spoke in a given context and said other things, or that, heaven forbid, he might be right about our chances for success in Iraq cannot be allowed to be the question. Instead they declare, without further discussion, that his remarks are offering aid and comfort to our enemies. They endlessly contradict themselves in offering nothing but vitriol aimed at those Democrats and left-wingers who they say have nothing to offer but vitriol. Meanwhile Limbaugh demands that we stand beside a president and administration because Iraqis are voting. Yet Iraqis and American deaths still accumulate. Limbaugh and Malkin seem to hope that the smoke of their tirades will obscure the record.

Changes make sense

I GUESS I was listening to a different radio program when I heard the mayor speaking of the charter proposals. They make sense to me. Those who only want to pick others apart always seem to cut through the rhetoric and find exactly what they want to complain about.

Hildebrand book

THOSE WHO have a particular interest in the Civil War in Southeast Missouri should pay particular attention to a book released in November. I enjoyed it so much I figured I must share it with those who might not know. It is an edited version of the 1870s original autobiography of Sam Hildebrand. It is meticulously edited by Kirby Ross, who proves the truth of some of Hildebrand's stories and the inaccuracies of others. Love Hildebrand or hate him, you will enjoy this book. "The Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand, Renowned Missouri Bushwacker" is available online through the University of Arkansas Press or through Barnes and Noble. Sam Hildebrand was to Southeast Missouri as William Quantrill was to Southwest Missouri and, in my opinion, was much more colorful.

Safety questioned

SOMEONE SUGGESTS a nuclear power plant should be built in the Bootheel. I assume they would trust the same company that gave us the Taum Sauk Reservoir disaster to run a nuclear power plant safely. I would not. If I lived within 100 miles of the Callaway nuclear power plant, I would run.