Speak Out 11/20/06

Give CTA time

GIVE THE Cape Transit Authority time to get itself together. There are some areas not covered my the bus route, and there are not any shelters yet. This takes time. I have worked in transit for 14 years. The route that CTA has implemented is a good start. More bus stops with shelters, time lines and routes all cost money and will probably come about as ridership increases.

Program suggestion

I READ with amusement the article about Southeast Missouri State University's museum and its educational program for Native American Month. I had to laugh when I read that the Boy Scouts did the program. They danced, gave demonstrations and talked about their regalia. I thought I might ask SEMO if my white Girl Scout troop could dance and do demonstrations while dressed in African-American regalia for Black History Month.

Relocate ballpark

BEING AT the beautiful veterans memorial in Brookside Park in Jackson on Veterans Day was something to see. The flags waving in the wind made us proud to be Americans. It is the most beautiful veterans memorial in our state. It is hard to understand why Jackson is going to build a baseball field right behind the memorial. It will take a tremendous amount of dirt work to level the hill for a ball field. The mud will wash down on the grass and parking lot, which will ruin the looks of the park. Gwen Winningham spent a large amount of money to build the memorial, and several people spent many hours to help make it so nice. I think if Whitey Herzog knew where the city plans to spend his $25,000 he would put a stop to it. It's not too late to stop this bad decision. Please think about this before we are sorry.

Plenty of parking

THERE HAVE been complaints that there is less parking now that the Cape Girardeau Post Office has moved back to Frederick Street. That's simply not true. A couple of women I work with and I have been taking turns going to the post office for our business twice a day. We cam can park closer now, and the parking is safer than at the temporary post office on Christine Street. There are many times more parking places at the Frederick Street location. No location is going to please everyone, but this is close to the downtown business district and serves a purpose.

Smells like home

I LIKE the smell of burning leaves. I think fall is beautiful. If you ever left this area, the smell of burning leaves would remind you of home.

It's not funny

I READ the review of the "Nuncrackers" performance at the River City Yacht Club. This reaffirms the anti-Catholicism that prevails in our nation. Religious sisters and priests who have given their lives to God do not deserve to be portrayed in this crude and vulgar way. Some may claim it's just comedy. I find it offensive. Would the River City Yacht Club present a comedy about blacks and slavery or Jews and the Holocaust? Most people would agree that these issues would be offensive and not comical in any way.

Regional pride

I'M FROM Stoddard County and went to school in Dexter. I have never heard that Dexter and Bloomfield were in the Bootheel. In fact, looking at the 2005-2006 Missouri official highway map, Stoddard County is a few miles from Bernie. We always thought we lived in Southeast Missouri and that the Bootheel started south of Malden. According to the map I am using, that is where it starts. I was proud to be from Southeast Missouri.

This is not justice

I HAVE a family member who is in prison for five years for a DWI while drug dealers are only serving six months or less. This is definitely not justice.

Offensive matters

A WOMAN is kicked off an airplane for breast feeding her baby. It was considered offensive to passengers. On the other hand, you can take pictures of fetuses and hang them in a museum and consider it art. If anyone's offended, they're told just don't look. What is wrong with our society?

Great band

EVERYONE WHO missed Mike Smith and the Runaways at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri's benefit dance missed a great night. The guys did a great job. They've only improved with age. I hope they play again.

Decent wages

I VOTED for the minimum-wage increase. So did everyone else who felt that the ridiculous amount of $5.15 an hour was below poverty wages. It is not going to hurt the McDonalds owner to pay his workers a decent wage.

Caring for cats

I HAVE two cats that were strays. They're outdoor cats. They're not like a big dog running around that's going to bite someone. My cats are healthy. They're fat, healthy and ready for the winter. A cat fight might happen on rare occasion. The best thing people can do is get their cats neutered or spayed.

Same treatment

IT LOOKS like Cape Girardeau is getting a taste of its own medicine dealing with AmerenUE. Ameren says street lights aren't a priority compared to other items. This is no different than when a builder or developer goes to city hall and asks for something to be done. When we submit plans or propose new projects, we run up against this same bureaucracy at city hall. Cape Girardeau, take a lesson. All of your customers are experiencing the same thing you're experiencing with AmerenUE. Learn from your mistakes.

Hollywood values

HOLLYWOOD ACTORS are like you and me. They come from all over the United States and pretty much have the values that their parents raised them with. And what would we give for the chance to be one ourselves?

Great teachers

Of course homeschooled students' grades are better and they perform four grade levels above the national average. That's because there is one teacher per student. Public schools have one teacher with 20 to 25 students. I would like to praise our public school systems. The teachers are doing a great job.

Stop-sign rules

THE RULES of stop signs are not always as simple as first come, first served. There's also a rule that says when two cars approach at the same time, the car on the right goes through first. When it gets more complicated is when more than two cars approach at the same time. In this case, some polite hand waving would come into play. By the way, a stop sign means just that.

Veterans salute

I WAS one of the lucky veterans who attended the Jackson High School veterans assembly. The choir music was beautiful, and the speech the girl gave about her grandfather and other veterans touched my heart. I appreciated the thank yous they gave me and my fellow veterans. I'm looking forward to attending again next year.

O.J.'s book

SHOULDN'T THE book publisher be held accountable for O.J. Simpson's book? What kind of company would put out a book like this? Simpson doesn't seem to be getting any smarter over the years, does he? How tragic.

Entertainment magic

I'D LIKE to thank David Ross and the Show Me Center staff for the Brad Paisley-Carrie Underwood concert, "Disney on Ice" and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. We're looking forward to the GAC show coming up. Thank you, guys, for a great job bringing these groups to town. Let's keep that Christmas magic going, and let's keep that entertainment magic going throughout the year.

Attendance rules

I SEE where the rules don't apply to city government. Kathy Swan was kicked off the planning and zoning commission for absenteeism and then put back on. If you're on too many committees and can't make all the meetings, then give one up. Let somebody serve who can be there.

Illinois wages

ILLINOIS IS increasing its minimum wage $7.50, and we in Missouri have just recently raised the minimum wage to $6.50. Why are we so far behind a state that's right next door to us? Can't we bring up our standard of living for the people of Missouri? We need to think about that when we vote people into office.

Be content

I'll always remember advice given by a guest speaker to my child development class: "Having happiness as a goal for your life is a formula for unhappiness. Better to strive for the contentment of having done your duty."

Diverted meaning

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of liberty, not immigration. It was meant to inspire citizens of all nations to fight and sacrifice to establish liberty within their nation for their posterity. The "huddled masses" poem diverts the meaning.

Proud of police

We expect a great deal from police officers, and in return we don't even give thanks for what we get. Officers here in Cape Girardeau every day put their lives on the line. They never know when there going to be run over giving someone a speeding ticket or shot at by a drunken driver or go to a domestic disturbance and have a gun or knife pulled on them. I wonder if those of you who complain would be willing to take the same chances. I am proud of our police force.