Speak Out 9/12/11

Great teacher

I would like to applaud Miss Pierce, kindergarten teacher at Immaculate Conception School in Jackson. She deserves nothing but praise for her caring, the way she handles the children and her passion for her job.

Fruit or vegetable?

WE'RE all supposed to eat five fruits and vegetables a day, but I was just thinking, mushrooms are a fungus. Is that a fruit or vegetable?

Indian mascot

THIS is in regard to the "offensive mascot" comment where the Native American person would like the Jackson School District to change the name of its mascot from Indians to something else. You don't name your mascot of your school something you're making fun of. You name it something you're proud of. I never could understand the problem even when SEMO was going through this. People were proud of the Indians and what they did, and that's why they named their mascot that.

Realty TV

PEOPLE are upset that Chaz Bono is going to dance on "Dancing with the Stars." Don't you realize that all these programs, along with reality shows, are nothing but freak shows? They destroy lives and then they wonder what happened.

Union dues

I was just watching a program on television and this teacher said that unions automatically withhold $100 a month for dues from their checks. I can't understand that. I don't know why schoolteachers and nurses and therapists would want to belong to a union. These people are professionals. They could have their own committee of people that would work with their employers to set their wages instead of wasting their money. That is outrageous that they're allowed to deduct the money to go to the big unions.

Proud Indian

NOTHING aggravates me more than to have someone speak for me. I'm a lifelong resident of Jackson and a proud Jackson Indian alum with a long Native American background. I have never and will never find anything offensive or derogative about Jackson having the Indian as their mascot. They do an amazing job at being respectful to our heritage. So please do not speak for all of us Native Americans. We do not all share your views. Go, Jackson Indians.

Blame game

THIS is to all you Bush people saying we shouldn't blame Bush, to blame everything on Obama. Well you know what? Whenever Bush got in office, what did you people do for seven or eight years? You tried to blame everything on Bill Clinton. And now when we try to blame Bush, you don't like it. But that's just tough. You just have to suck it up.

Unemployment

OBAMA is going about the unemployment problem the wrong way. As long as he's paying the people adequately not to work, many millions will prefer not to work. That is what is happening and has happened and will continue to happen as long he wants to keep paying them to sit at home and do nothing.

Obama stimulus

IF the president has so much money to pass out another stimulus, I think he should pass it to the senior citizens. We haven't had a raise for three years. And in order to buy my medicine, I have to do without food. I can't make ends meet.