SPEAK OUT

It's not a crime

I VERY much disagree with people who say it's the public's business if an official commits adultery. It's something strictly private. It's between the congressman, his family and God, if adultery is committed. It's none of the people in Southeast Missouri's business. It's between the congressmen, the people in his congressional district, his wife and the voters. We have no right to say he should resign. If he's guilty of any point of law, he should be punished. Unfortunately, adultery is a sin, but it's no crime.

Be glad it's a church

CONCERNING THE First Assembly of God's construction plans on Old Hopper Road: Would the residents of that area be complaining if a bar was going to be built there? Did they complain on Halloween about the Beetlejuice house? Do they complain when all the people come down the street? If the church is built out there, maybe that's what they need to get a new road and a stoplight to get out onto Mount Auburn Road. They ought to be glad it's a church that wants to build out there. Who knows when it will become commercial and there'll be all kinds of shopping centers and stuff? Cape is growing and running out of land. People need to be concerned that this is a Christian movement. Are their children going to Freedom Rock that the church has provided? They need to think about it. Maybe they need to start praying.

Let's get organized

STATE SEN. Peter Kinder is opposed to state workers being organized, yet he belongs to an organization the same as a union: the bar association. The doctors all belong to the AMA. They don't call them unions, but they're the same thing. But in Missouri, the workers can't belong to a union? It's just like the Republicans. They're opposed to the minimum wage. At the same time, the politicians voted themselves a raise in per diem, which totals more per day than a person working minimum wage can make. And per diem does not include the legislators' salaries. Who are they trying to fool? They feel they should make all the money, and the poor working class should make no money at all. Everyone has the right to organize.

Require air conditioners

I READ the editorial, "We can do more to prevent tragic deaths." I feel there is another way to keep a tragic death, such as occurred to Sellars Allen, from happening. The city could enact a law that each landlord install a window-unit air conditioner in each home or unit they rent. Therefore, neighbors could tell if the neighbor was using the unit. If not, in hot weather these persons could be checked on to see if they're OK. I feel if the landlords have the means to purchase rental property, they can afford the air conditioners.

Considerate neighbors

FOR THOSE that fear the building of a church in a park-like atmosphere, I ask you to please think about your use of public facilities. I share my neighborhood with a public school, a hospital, a city park and a church. Yes, there is increased traffic when school starts. I recognize shift changes at the hospital. I can hear the Municipal Band on Wednesday evenings. The nearby church has traffic at various times. Perhaps you attend church in someone's neighborhood. Perhaps you have children attending school in someone's neighborhood. Perhaps you've visited the park in someone's neighborhood. This is being a part of a wonderful, sharing community. I have no connection with First Assembly of God, but I believe they would be a considerate neighbor.

Someone's listening

TO THE people driving around talking on their car phones and eating at the same time: Better watch out what you say. There are people who listen. You can buy devices that pick up these phone calls. If the call is so important that you have to make it in your car, I think everyone has the right to listen in.

Not all in one lump

IN REPLY to "It fits the Democrats": It's wrong to lump all the Republicans in one group. We all know people only voted their pocketbooks when they elected Bill Clinton. All Republicans are not rich and greedy. Many are good Christians.

Major traffic concern

IN REGARDS to the proposed building of the First Assembly of God church and day care on Old Hopper Road: I live on a cul-de-sac directly across from their proposed main entrance for the church We want to know how we're supposed to get out of our cul-de-sac if we have 1,000 to 2,000 cars coming out of the main entrance? The church stated at the P&Z zoning commission meeting they'd mostly use the Vantage Drive access. Most of the people will use the main entrance so they can then take either Kage, Old Hopper or New Hopper. Traffic is going to be horrendous. The residents in this area are going to be adversely affected by the constant heavy traffic between the day care and the church.

Good investment

IN REGARD to local sales tax for the River Campus: Granted, everyone in the city pays that tax. I'm a college student at SEMO as well as the owner of a restaurant and bar and grill in Cape. I'm all for the special sales tax because if we have a River Campus, more people would come to the university, and all the businesses would do much better than they would without. The more people we get at the university, the more Cape's businesses are going to do well. For someone to say let's not use city money to build something for the university is totally ridiculous. If we do this for the university, this will come back to the Cape Girardeau area tenfold in my belief.

Protect the protectors

I'D LIKE to thank Cape Girardeau Police Department for the outstanding job it's doing for the citizens of Cape. These officers patrol the city seven days a week, 24 hours a day, keeping the streets safe for everyone. But what about the safety of these men and women who put their lives on the line every time they put on their uniforms? I wonder if the taxpayers of Cape Girardeau realize how understaffed, underpaid and ill-equipped these officers are. I wouldn't want to risk my life depending on walkie-talkies that won't transmit inside buildings or bulletproof vests held together by safety pins. Why would anyone expect these taxpaying officers to do so? Come on, Cape, let's protect the men and women protecting us.

Taking the advice

I AM going to take at least part of the advice offered by Christine Stephens. I am going to contact Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson. However, my message will not be the abstract argument Stephens presented, postulating that no federal money be spent for embryonic stem-cell research under any conditions. Rather, it will be to tell the common-sense congresswoman to support a form of embryonic stem-cell research and pay no attention to hysterical histrionics.

Long way to go

THERE ARE many happily married couples where the wife has hyphenated names or the woman has kept her name. I have observed that these husbands respect and adore their wives. My husband would never have asked me to change my name, and I never would even think of it. I also know many single women who are sick of the way many men behave. No, they aren't going to marry any of these offensive male-dominant types. I look forward to a day of equality for women and men. Obviously, from the comments I'm reading, we have a long way to go.

We'll all be walking

THERE MAY be many of us following in the footsteps of state Rep. Rod Jetton. In fact, walking may be the only way for Missourians to visit the new stadiums in St. Louis and Columbia since our roadways and highways are falling apart. Ah, progress.