Speak Out 03/03/04

Thanks for TV listings

I LIKE the new layout of the newspaper, but I sure did miss the TV guide. Thank you for restoring it.

Thanks, KFVS

THANKS, KFVS12.

Good TV news

THANK YOU, KFVS12, for bringing the TV guide back to the Southeast Missourian. This is very good news.

Misinformed story

I THOUGHT the newspaper story on the downtown was OK but misinformed. The writer got quotes from business owners who have left and business owners who are still there or opening soon. As it was mentioned in the story but apparently discounted and certainly not explored by the writer, those who have left had their own reasons for leaving, including reasons as divergent as over-investing in a new location elsewhere to needing to be nearer a specific customer segment. Any time a story focuses on those who fail in a location or move elsewhere, it's going to sound negative. The same type of story could be done about the mall.

Religious passion

IT'S FINE to watch "The Passion" in a theater. It's fine to leave sobbing because of the tragic story and your emotional involvement in Jesus and your religion. At the same time, please consider the fact that people who have different religious faiths are just as passionate about their religions and religious leaders. Maybe then you will be able to begin to understand how they might be as passionately interested in preserving their faith as you are in preserving yours.

Watching progress

I LOOK forward to the progress edition printed in the Southeast Missourian each year. It's a great primer on what's happening. I especially like the photos of the different businesses. I see bankers around town but don't know which bank they're at. The progress edition helps me keep track of who's where. Thanks.

Not likely to happen

IN AN eloquent appeal to the presidential candidates, Jon Rust asked for a serious debate about how to avoid the collapse of Social Security. Very little in the history of modern presidential candidate debates indicate that Rust's reasoned plea will fall on anything other than deaf and demagogic ears.

Thanks for purse

I WOULD like to thank the employee at K's Merchandise who found my purse and turned it in for me.