Speak Out A 08/07/03

No clowns, please

IN 1997 as a student at Southeast, I was a part of a drive that stopped SEMO from changing our mascot to an Eagle. We contacted officials from the Cherokee Nation and were told SEMO has always done honorable things and they were proud of what SEMO had done and said they would be interested in being more involved. So why is this change even being considered? I hope it's not so we can dress some person up in a ridiculous animal costume to run around and act like clown at athletic events.

Too many eagles

THE OVC already has two schools with eagle mascots. Calling the Southeast Missouri State University teams the River Eagles would be a third. "Tonight's match-up is the Eagles versus the Eagles." Now that's dumb.

Stereotyped residents

I AM amazed that a vast majority of Cape Girardeau-area residents are part American Indian. What a much larger percentage than the last census suggested. And how wonderful that they are all so proud of being stereotyped ethnically. Long live the mythological legends of many white families that they must have had an Indian princess great-grandmother.

Pest for mascot

NONE OF the names that have been suggested to replace Indians for SEMO athletics works for me. I suggest that we be called the Fighting Mosquitos. The name is very descriptive of the No. 1 activity around here this summer.

Names segregate teams

SEMO NEEDS to change its mascot from the Indians. The name segregates men's and women's sports because the women are called Otahkians. In a Sports Illustrated article, SEMO is known for being one of the very few schools that haven't changed their Indian mascots. That is not a good thing. I think Jackson should change its team name too, because the town is named after Andrew Jackson, the president who forcefully removed the American Indians and created the Trail of Tears. I find it very disrespectful, as does the Cherokee Nation.

Accentuate the positive

BECAUSE IT would keep a part of Cape Girardeau's slogan while at the same time reflect our always cheery, optimistic, upbeat attitude, I say we go with, "City of Rosy Scenarios."

How did this happen?

THE EPISCOPAL Church obviously cannot turn its back on homosexual individuals who are looking for help and guidance. In my heart I believe this is what Jesus would do. It is quite laughable, however, that comforting and assisting these individuals has turned into a legitimization of a lifestyle choice that is spoken to directly in the Scriptures. Would I consider Gene Robinson based on merit were he a computer programmer interviewing for a key computer position? Yes, of course. But the fact that he has been allowed to remain in the clergy is an affront to Christians everywhere, not just Episcopalians. A practicing, self-avowed homosexual a minister? Not in any church that takes itself seriously or asks that true believers take it seriously. How, in heaven's name, did we reach this point?

Education changes

AS THE years go by, we can see the gradual increase of change that takes place from elementary schools all the way to the university. Administrators still call it education. Fifty years ago the system was working and it cost a fraction of what it does today. You no longer have education going on. Instead, it is a very expensive form of indoctrination of what others seem to want to tinker with and perfect. Baloney. Let's go back to reading, writing and arithmetic as well as basic science that does not teach evolution as fact but only a theory. The school systems are pumping out poorly educated children not ready for the real world.