Speak Out 10/5/08

Remember the veterans

FINANCIAL MARKETS aren't the only thing in this country that need fixed. So do our veterans benefits and disability systems. I am a Vietnam veteran. I served three tours of duty. I came home to an airport entryway lined with Americans exercising their right to object to the war. That was the first time I met someone who had enough hate to spit in my face. Even back home in Missouri there were a good many folk who believed that we were the enemy and treated us accordingly. There were no active support groups to help veterans readjust to being back in the civilian world. After many years, I finally had to get help with my problems. After seeing VA doctors, counselors and psychiatrists, I applied to increase my disability. The VA denied my benefits because the written documentation I provided describing my service and things that happened to me that contribute to mental and physical illness was considered unverifiable. I will continue to fight for my benefits, but what I worry about more is the fate of veterans of today's wars. Will they have to fight their own country for the dignity to survive? You want to honor veterans? Let's change our attitudes of denial and hoping the problems will just go away. Family, friends and our government should be helping veterans to reassimilate into civilian life. a lot of promises have been made in Washington, I have yet to see any real changes. My wife of 43 years has stood by me through all my challenges. Please join us and stand by our country's veterans. Write your U.S. representative and senator. Let them know that the sons and daughters of America who sacrifice their own freedom to serve our nation won't be forgotten or ignored.

Boyd is the best

I'M A 54-year-old white male living in Pennsylvania who screamed for joy when Neal E. Boyd won "America's Got Talent." The first time I heard Neal I knew he had a great chance of winning. I don't particularly like opera, but Neal's voice, presence and overall personality captivated me. My wife and daughter were fully behind Nuttin But Stringz and Eli Mattson. I liked them too, but not as much as Neal. When Nuttin But Strings was eliminated, I knew Neal had a great chance. Although I believe he was the best talent and most deserving to win, I'm still a little shocked that he won. And by pulling himself together and singing once more, he showed everyone why he won and why he is absolutely the best.

Column disclaimer

I DON'T see the point in publishing any more columns by the once insightful Michael Jensen if he is going to begin each column with a disclaimer to the effect that he knows nothing about the topic with which he is dealing. I would attribute it to modesty on his part, but this has never before been a characteristic associated with the one-time master of the journalistic universe.

Restoring prayer

WHAT HAPPENED to the Christian students? I am so proud of the Muslim students for taking the lead in restoring prayer in the Cape Girardeau school system.

School tolerance

THERE HAVE been misinformed comments about the Muslim prayers at Central High School. There are at least two student clubs oriented toward the Christian religion. Our schools are leading the way in allowing these types of groups. Only by understanding and tolerance will we keep our nation from becoming a nation of warring factions like Afghanistan and Iraq. It is a testament to the founding principles of our nation that we can have clubs this diverse coexisting in our schools. My thanks and appreciation to those students and sponsor teachers who are helping make it happen.

Rules of the road

ON MY way to work going south on Kingshighway I stopped at Broadway for the red light. While there, I observed a man on a bicycle coming south on Kingshighway run the red light. There was an automobile coming out of the bank parking lot on a green light, and that automobile had to stop to keep from hitting the man on the bicycle. That is wrong. I do not approve of bicycles riding in traffic on public thoroughfares. But if they are going to do so, they are obligated to observe the road rules. That bicycle rider deserves a ticket.

Not for everyone

I REMEMBER the Democrats saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had a house?" That was their goal: get people into houses. Now this is what happens. We find it's not so nice if everyone has houses. In other parts of the world, everyone doesn't live in houses. Spain is full of apartments. We have to rethink. I don't know what's deserved. There's the argument unless you can pay for it or unless you've got some organization handing you a house, not everybody gets a house.

Financial third rail

IN THE article "Bailout breaks down," conservative Republicans complained that the plan for a bailout of certain financial institutions would result in unacceptable intrusion into private business. Doesn't it occur to those conservative Republicans that the extent of the crisis probably would have been avoided if more regulations and overviews had been in place to curb heedless actions of financial institutions? In the same article, John McCain states that the current bailout plan under discussion will sacrifice Main Street for Wall Street. Is McCain truly unaware that Main Street has already been sacrificed to Wall Street over a period of months? Consider rampant foreclosures, major layoffs in the working sector and the instability of Social Security and pension plans. The list goes on. Congress and the administration have been treating the financial crisis as if it were the third rail of current politics, too hot to handle. Now the administration and Congress are trying to cobble together a bipartisan consensus. Will it be enough? Will it be too little too late?