Home is best destination

I WOULD like to applaud Sandra Fann's letter in the newspaper. I agree with her 100 percent about spending your vacation at home.

Not a matter of convenience

IN A recent radio interview, Emily Firebaugh stated that the decision to abort an unborn baby should be left up to a mother, and the government should have no role in that decision. Since most abortions are done for convenience purposes and using Firebaugh's reasoning, what would be wrong with me injecting my parents with a lethal drug when they reach the age where they become inconvenient for me to take care of them? What about my neighbor's teen-age children who inconvenience me by parking their cars in front of my driveway, or my boss who calls me out at night or on weekends? Can I kill these people because they inconvenience me? The thought of killing one's parents, neighbors and co-workers is outrageous, but no more outrageous than killing a baby, which Firebaugh, Gephardt, Clinton, and Carnahan condone. What's really outrageous is that people striving to protect these babies are labeled extremists and radicals. Think about it. I'm considered a nut by these people because I think murder is wrong, while they apparently consider themselves normal for advocating the right to murder babies.

Just $125 for a new job?

I HEARD President Clinton boasting of $25 million worth of new business coming to California to boost that state's economy. He said hat had created 200,000 new jobs. I listened and did the math, and that comes up to $125 per job. I either didn't hear this correctly or there is something very peculiar about these jobs. What is it, Mr. Clinton? Did anybody else hear this? Am I wrong?

Remember father's role

I'M CALLING about something that I saw in the grocery store that not only embarrassed me but infuriated me. There was a young lady trying to use a voucher from WIC standing in line with a small child, and there was a gentleman in back of her. When the clerk had to call a supervisor up to check on the order, the gentleman said to her in a very loud and rude voice, "Oh no, not one of you people again," and moved out of line. The young lady was almost in tears as it was, and the child was crying. It embarrassed me because these programs were put in place to help people, not embarrass them. I wonder if this gentleman would have said the same thing to a man buying beer and snacks that may have been the father of that child. The young mothers are the ones who catch all the grief when they have to use these programs because the father is not supporting them. Maybe we ought to think about the father's role in all this and not just the mother's.

Announcing band program

I'M CALLING about the municipal band concert at Jackson. We enjoyed the program very much, and it was really refreshing to hear Mr. Leist speak about the upcoming numbers and to listen to his commentary. This is a treat that we haven't had for a long time. Let's have more of Mr. Leist announcing the numbers.

Dole's right hand

THIS MAY sound like a stupid question, but why does Bob Dole always have his right hand clenched in a fist? Could this be a health-related problem? An answer would be greatly appreciated.

REPLY: Because of an injury received in World War II, Dole has little control of his right hand unless it is clinching something. Years ago he began holding a pen in his right hand. He shakes hands with his left hand, which he is able to use.

Cape always votes no

TO THE person who called Speak Out complaining about the school bond issue passing in Jackson and raising Jackson taxes: move to Cape. They never vote yes on school improvements. In fact, they never vote yes on any improvements. I went to Schultz School 47 years ago when it was Central High School, and it was ready to fall down then. We are proud of our schools in Jackson, and we are proud of our students. Leave us alone and move to Cape.

P&Z timetable

THE CAPE Girardeau County Commission says if they don't appoint a planning and zoning commission soon, the issue will have to go to a vote of the people. Planning and zoning has already been rejected at the ballot box. Does government of the people, by the people and for the people no longer apply? Why is the county commission bypassing the voice of the people? Maybe we all need to speak louder.

REPLY: Legislation allows county commissions in second-, third- and fourth-class to appoint P&Z commissions. The appointed P&Z commission would then formulate a P&Z plan, which would be submitted to a vote. Because Cape Girardeau County becomes a first-class county on Jan. 1, the commission must appoint the P&Z commission before then if it wants to start the process. After Jan. 1, the P&Z commission would have to be elected.

Castor River warning

THIS IS a warning for other fishermen, swimmers and hikers who intend to visit the Madison County section of the state forest near the Castor River shut-in just east of Fredericktown. There have been numerous car break-ins in the parking lots there recently. The thieves break into a car window and take any small items of value from inside the car.

Give-'em-hell Harry

I LIKE the way the Speak Out is putting in comments praising Bill Clinton and not cutting them off. I'm like Harry Truman, and this is to the Republicans: Give 'em hell and hang in there. I'm a Democrat all the way.

Reply to smoking sufferer

THIS IS to the person with asthma complaining about smokers and wanting the smokers to be charged with murder and assault: The problem with that is that in our legal system there is a thing called intent. The smokers certainly are not intending to kill or hurt anybody. But who knows if it is or not? You should just avoid smoking areas and smokers, because what they are doing is legal. If you don't want it to be legal, you should go through the system and make tobacco illegal, and that's the answer to that question.

Stay away from smokers

TO THE person who has asthma and who is complaining about second-hand smoke outside stores and facilities. May I suggest that you order your bubble soon and live in it. It is a ridiculous assumption that your disease, which I can have sympathy for, should alter everyone else's lifestyles. And please don't ever visit a big city and walk down the street. The fumes will knock you down faster than 50,000 cigarette smokers standing in a parking lot. Also, may I suggest that your twin sister may be allergic to perfume? She needs to politicize the agenda to outlaw perfume in public places also.

No beer, thank you

MARK BLISS'S column on life on Mars said that anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows life can't exist without beer. I'm existing at 82 years. I have never tasted it and never expect to do so. Does that mean that I have no intelligence?

GOP is avoiding the issues

DOLE-KEMP? No way. It doesn't matter who Dole's running mate is. Everybody's fed up with a party that doesn't have room for everyone. The federal government has no business pushing morality upon us. The so-called Moral Majority is just a bunch of greedy hypocrites hiding behind the name Christians. There are three main issues that the Republican party is avoiding: education, health care and jobs. Until the GOP recognizes this, they might as well forget the White House. They fooled the American people twice with Reagan and once with Bush. Do they think their tactic of cutting taxes is going to work again? Who do they take us for? A bunch of chumps? No, I don't think so. Bob Dole is the nicest guy in the world, but until he separates himself from that conservative scum pool, he might as well forget it.

Enough bad choices

ROSS PEROT: If he wants to flaunt and spend his money, giving the American people false hope, that's his right. But he has no right asking us to waste our vote. He showed his true colors by his on-and-off-again campaign. We may need more choices, but we already have enough bad ones.

Remember the 1993 budget

IN REFERENCE to Paul Greenberg's column: All of us who remember and who haven't been brainwashed know that Clinton proposed and passed a budget in 1993 to reverse the horrible state this country was in. It was not voted on by any Republicans, only Democrats. This is why the country is in such good shape today -- because of Clinton's 1993 budget.

What about hero worship?

WHEN I read the praise some of our citizens of Cape County have for Bill Clinton, I wonder. Don't they have any thoughts about the attitude they are expressing to their children or their neighbors' children? Don't they know about hero worship? That has always been part of teaching and learning. Are you suggesting that a person who lies, cheats on his wife, has been accused of running dope and has demonstrated against his own country is material for hero worship? If so, then you can take part of the blame for the stealing, dope-using and killing that our youths take part in today. Think what you are proving. How do you live with yourself?

City should buy seminary

I WISH the city of Cape Girardeau would buy the old St. Vincent's Seminary. It sure would help Cape Girardeau, and it is much needed.

Thanks for eyeglasses

I JUST wondered if I could thank the gentleman who found my eyeglasses in the grocery story parking lot and returned them to the office desk but didn't leave his name. I'm lost without them, and I just wanted to say thank you.