Speak Out 2/1/07

Church music

It's a crying shame how some people think that only music that fits their personal tastes can be considered Gospel. If the message is there, contemporary music can be used to praise the Lord just as well as something written decades ago. No wonder so many young people are turning away from organized religion when so many people in churches have such narrow-minded attitudes.

No ATV license

IT'S HARD to hurt yourself on an ATV if you follow the rules or take a safety course. Riders ride at their own risk, and if they choose to do wild stunts and ride risky trails, that is their decision. The idea of an ATV license is ridiculous. In that case, you should have to have a smoking license or fast-food license.

All about money

TO THE person who said CEOs are supposed to protect and take care of the American people: All companies care about is money. Once that need is fulfilled, then CEOs go after more money. Don't expect goodness and civic responsibility from corporate America, it just won't happen unless it's a byproduct of a plan to make more money.

Dog warning

IN READING of the Dunklin County man who was attacked by his own pit bull on New Year's Day and is still in critical condition, I ask people to please exercise caution when dealing with these dogs. I am a dog lover. I believe how an animal is raised reflects how it behaves. But not these dogs. My niece took in a stray puppy that was part pit bull and gave it a good home. At age 2, it attacked and mangled her hand out of the blue. Please be vigilant with these dogs, especially when it comes to your children.

Use blinkers

I AM amazed at the number of people who do not use blinkers in Cape Girardeau. It's horrible. They can prevent accidents and let other drivers know what's they're doing. Please tell people to use their blinkers. It's so simple. Motorists can also get a ticket for failure to use blinkers.

Rousing performance

JACKSON SCHOOL District should be so proud of its music department. I got to see the junior high select choir perform at Tan-Tar-A. You would not have believed the rousing applause, the cheers and the standing ovation the choir got. This is something these students will never forget, nor will I.

Time for raises

THERE SHOULD be a freeze on everything except the minimum wage and Social Security. Bring the minimum wage up to $8 an hour, and bring Social Security up to where recipients can live on it. That would be fair.

No confidence

I WAS substituting at Central High School and talking with teachers. I was amazed to find out how many teachers in the Cape Girardeau School District have chosen to move out of the district after getting a job in Cape so their children can go to a different school district. Some of the teachers pointed out that several administrators have also chosen to send their children to private schools. As a taxpayer, that concerns me because it sounds like a vote of no confidence in the district. One of the teachers said, "You hit the nail right on the head. That's exactly what it is." What's going on?

Railroad nostalgia

REGARDING THE railroads in Scott City: During World War II, we would run to the trains that came through that had soldiers on them, give them apples and wave them on. We would watch to see if there were bums in boxcars. Then one day the cabooses were gone. I hope the railroads never leave.

Need competition

I LIVE in a small town in Southeast Missouri. I'm fed up with the greedy retailers we have to contend with. One grocery store in town sells food for at least 25 percent more than you would pay in a large town in the area. Some people have no transportation, so they have no choice except to pay what this store is asking. We also one service station that charged whatever it wanted for fuel. A couple of months ago a discount station moved into town to compete. We also need a grocery-store competitor.

Band memories

THE COLUMN by Matt Sanders about live music and the lack of crowds at local bars brought back a ton of wonderful memories. Does anyone else remember places like Wild Bob's, the Mule Lip and Rumors? And great bands like Medallion, Nickels and Fararri? Back then, you were lucky to get in the door, let alone find a seat. Those places were packed. All ages were there, and for one main reason: People loved the music. These bands were great. Like Sanders said, somewhere along the line the interest in live music started to fade. If those bands played now, they'd be playing to mostly empty houses. It's sad that those fun times are a thing of the past. Where do all the college kids go these days? I feel sorry for people like Sanders and his generation. They missed out on the truly wonderful fun times that Cape Girardeau offered in the past.

Gospel church

FOR A church that preaches the gospel and does not have a rock-and-roll band, consider Maple United Methodist Church. I'm sure you'll be welcome, and you will hear the Gospel.

Deaths in U.S.

THERE IS a running total of U.S. dead every day in Iraq, but no one seems to care about the violent deaths in U.S. states as big as Iraq that have more. It seems liberal peace groups ignore their own country for political gain. They attack those who want a free and stable Iraq. Where's the outcry from this group which politicizes every military death in Iraq but says nothing about violence in the United States?