SPEAKOUT

I REALLY ENJOYED the band festival in Jackson last night. I especially was happy that the veterans of all wars were honored in the mass-band performance. It was a great show. Thanks to everyone involved in putting on the band festival.

I'M RESPONDING TO the comment in Speak Out Tuesday on the lack of spirit from the class of 1992. The last time I checked there were three classes in high school. Why is it just the class of 1992's responsibility to carry it all. The underclassmen have football players involved. Let's all work together to promote Central spirit. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to tell all the Jackson Indians football fans there ain't no way they will beat Cape Central. If they do, I will walk backwards from Cape to Jackson. Thank you.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO are criticizing the university for having to pay the student activity fee, with part of it going to the gay and lesbian activities at the university have valid criticism. But I feel there is another point more important than even that. For instance, how can the university, which is a state institution, condone, sponsor and approve a student gay and lesbian activity, even going so far as funding it, when it's illegal practice in the state of Missouri and the Cape Girardeau police arrest homosexuals when they are caught in activities in the parks? It's illogical to say that you have a law on the books that makes homosexuality illegal in the state, and the university continues to fund it.

I'M CALLING ABOUT the person who said Marty Mishow is no expert on football and that he'll have to eat his words about the Jackson football team. Listen, Mishow knows what he's talking about. I thought he'd have to eat his words a few years back on Mizzou Tiger basketball, but it turned out he knew what he was talking about. You people in Jackson think your football team is so great. Just wait until you have to play some tough team like Cape. I guarantee you, you're the one who's going to be eating your words.

I FOUND IT very interesting that your paper found six people to have their taxes raised to combat the evil marijuana. I wonder if these same citizens are eager to have their taxes raised for education? They'll get their chance to vote yes. Then we'll find if they're serious in their civic-mindedness or whether they were just engaging in some politically correct rhetoric. I can't wait. Go back and ask if they'll vote yes on education. Thank you.

IF YOU EXPECT a good life, then be good with the life you have and make the best of it because this is the only one you get. No matter what you may believe, there ain't no more. If you want to die young, then break the law. If you want to enjoy the life you have now, then abide by the law because, when you die, there ain't no more. This is your only chance and I don't care what your preacher may tell you. Thank you.

I KNOW THIS IS a scary and touchy subject, and I may be putting my life on the line by telling you this, but after having worked unknowingly as an entertainer for what our federal government calls the crime syndicate or the Mafia, now that I am 62 years old and retired from show business and can look back and compare, I see no difference between the United States federal government and the ones they call criminals. I take that back; members of the Mafia and crime syndicate protected me and treated me with respect. The Mafia hides from the federal government but the federal government hides from the people it represents. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO thank Schnucks for putting the Girl Scout information on their grocery bags. I think this is a very kind and considerate thing for them to do. I'm sure that many other people have noticed it and do appreciate it. Thank you.

PEOPLE OF SOUTHEAST Missouri, I'm going to tell you why you have to work so hard to have so little. It's because the taxes you are paying to better your standard of living go to better every other country's standard of living. There's no money for education, there's no money for the elderly, there's no money for our needs; but there's $10 billion for Israel, a few billion for Russia. There's money for everybody out there but not the people who work for it. If you agree that not one more dime of your money should leave this country until your needs are met, cut this out, and for 19 cents stick it to a postcard and mail it to your congressman. Let them know that you've had enough and make a difference.

SPEAK OUT IS so enlightening. Gosh, I've always wondered what that smell was in my garbage can. Now I know.

THANK YOU, SPEAK OUT, for giving me the opportunity to voice our current dissatisfaction with our local cable TV company. Once again we are being severely penalized because our local cable TV is forcing us to receive NBC through WPSD out of Paducah. Again this morning, NBC came on with live coverage of Rider Cup golf. We were shocked to turn on WPSD and find they were showing a lengthy commercial on some type of body-building equipment. I called Paducah and they informed me they would not start the showing of this golf event until noon, and they would have tape-delayed coverage. I am getting sick and tired of our present cable TV company. Come on, City Council, please make the necessary changes to correct this bad situation. Thank you.

It appears your dissatisfaction should be with WPSD, not the local cable company, which has nothing to do with programming of stations it carries.

I PLAN TO SUE the city of Cape when they create a health and safety hazard by only collecting my trash once a week. Is this how they will run the water company if they buy it from UE? They say they want to keep the rates down by buying it. Yet we see how trash rates have increased and service is down. My trash must be out at the curb by 6 a.m., but mine seldom gets picked up before 2 p.m. The city is also making money selling the recyclables. Why don't they take that money and put it back into the trash service to lower our rates? I'm all for making our planet cleaner, and I'm not a litter bug, contrary to what a recent caller implied. I'm just a hard-worker and both parents in our family have to work to make a living to pay for our trash service. I have small children and don't have time nor space to keep recyclables. The people who make up these rules make lots of money to buy nice, big homes they can keep extra trash in, and usually their spouse doesn't need to work, so they have the time. What will they want to make us do next? Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE TO comment on the articles on the sports page regarding Cape Central's inability to win football games. Every Sunday I pick up the paper and read where they have played the greatest team in Arkansas one week, the greatest team in Missouri the next week, and the greatest team here and there the next week, all giving reasons or excuses for losing. Maybe the writer should not look at the play itself, the players, but the person who is directing the team. I think that's where the problem lies, and anybody with any football knowledge at all could see this in the loss to Caruthersville. Thank you.

WHEN THE JACKSON football team is beaten by the No. 3 class-4A team in the state, they are wrecked by six points, whereas the Cape Central Tigers, which have a very good team, are beaten by Caruthersville, which may not have as good a team, and the headline reads Caruthersville gets by Central Tigers. They were both a 6-point difference, but the headlines tell a totally different story.

Sorry if you didn't like the headlines in Sunday's edition. They weren't intended to express any adverse feeling against either team.

AFTER 62 YEARS I just told my husband that I'm not so sure that Christianity is the only way of life, that I'm not so sure that I even believe in Christianity. Having been raised as a Christian, I was taught that they are supposed to be tolerant and understanding. I attended Hendrix College, a denominational school, and was taught to think for myself. Since then I've been watching the Discovery Channel and have observed what they say has transpired long before my existence or anybody else's. Today I'm confused. I have four children who were raised to be Christians. How does a mother who has changed her mind possibly tell this to her children, especially to one who is knocking herself out to do what she believes to be right according to her Christian beliefs and her Christian upbringing? My husband may think I'm satanic; my children may think I have lost my mind. So, what am I to do? The drastic change is too much for me and I need some help from somebody. I would appreciate it. Thank you.

I'M CALLING ABOUT the man in the Perryville area who thinks MTV should be taken off free cable and charged to viewers who watch it. When will people stop deciding what is right or wrong for others? If you want to watch it, watch it; if you don't, don't. It's as simple as that. Thank you.

I NEED TO know how to keep bees away from a hummingbird feeder and how to keep ants out of it. Thank you.

WHEN VEHICLES TRAVEL the streets with music turned up so loud that it rattles things in the house and you can feel vibrations, that is just too loud. I wish Cape Girardeau would pass a sound ordinance. Thank you.

I'M calling to tell the people of Cape that I'm tired of hearing Councilmen Richards imply that we are all brain dead and we can't figure out how to recycle. I got my flyer with my trash bill and started separating the garbage just like it said, and sure enough, it works better because we only got a half can full of garbage after a whole week. I don't know about some people, but I'd rather take one can out rather than three. So I think, Doug, you need to join the 20th century while we still have it. You said you're for recycling so why not lead by example rather than by bad-mouthing those who want to try to improve the environment. Thank you.

I WOULD LIKE to say something about the trash pickup. I think the city, since they intend to pick up solid trash once a week, should only charge half as much as they have been for twice-a-week pickup. Then people would use the other half of the money to have BFI or some other trash-hauling company to pick it up. In other words, the city could pick it up Monday or Tuesday and the other company could pick it up Thursday or Friday. I don't think the people care who picks up their trash or solid waste as long as it is picked up and you don't have to wait around a week. Thank you.

WELL, ONCE AGAIN we have TCI cable's arrogant response to the cable advisory in the news. The city signs agreements and TCI ignores them. I say kick them out if they don't comply; that's what a contract is for. If one party doesn't abide by the terms of the contract, then it is rescinded. TCI may have a government-granted monopoly, but they are not the only cable company out there.

MISSOURI STATE DEPARTMENT of Education is at it again. They had money left in there equipment accounts so they are buying new desks, chairs, typewriters, book cases and so forth, whether they need them or not. No wonder the taxpayers are being asked to come up with a lot more money when they waste money they have. Thank you.

THE PEOPLE IN this country had better wake up and get rid of those Republicans. Bush is cutting interest rates on the old people saving money and medicine has gone up 15 percent. All he wants do is give to some other country. Better wake up and vote Democratic. Thank you.

I WOULD JUST like to say I would like to see Central High School band get some better uniforms for their girls. Those really look like something from the dark ages and they are not very becoming. Thanks.

SOME PEOPLE WILL do anything to make a buck, but anybody who would write a book disgracing and dishonoring his parents is scum. I refer to show-biz stars whose careers are slumping, and in order to get back into the spotlight, they air their parents' dirty laundry by writing a book about them. To me, people like the Jackson girl, Suzanne Somers and all the other show-biz people who exploit their families for the sake of the all-mighty dollar are the lowest form of life. Personally, I'm not the least bit interested in a person who never matured enough to accept the responsibility of his own behavior, a person who blames his failures or circumstances on somebody else. I also think the author should have permission of the entire family before the book is written so it appears that no member involved is ashamed of his ugly behavior and doesn't mind telling the world. It's a prime example of doing anything to make a buck. I, on the other hand, no matter how big a star my daughter may become or how she may fade, will keep my skeletons in my closet and my sins between me and God. These things are not for the general public, but aren't Latoya and Suzanne cute? Thank you.

ACCORDING TO Speak Out, you say that your paper isn't a Republican paper, it is an independent. Calling black white doesn't change anything. The Missourian is an ultra-conservative Republican newspaper.

THE PEOPLE OF Jackson should realize that when you are making a left turn at a green light the oncoming traffic has the right of way. I was going straight through on green and the traffic turning left didn't even look to see if I was turning left or going straight. If a car doesn't have a left turn signal on, it should be assumed that it is going straight. There could have been an accident and it would have been the other person's fault because I had the right of way. If I want a new car or get rid of my car for the insurance, maybe I'll try that next time.

I AGREE WITH the caller that said the paper doesn't print very much on the Bush Administration. I call in on this mess of ours and I don't get one out of five printed. Tell it like it is: you're fooling the people.

We aren't trying to fool anyone. We've published many comments that have been critical of the Bush Administration. If your remarks weren't published, it was because they were not acceptable for reasons other than being critical of the administration.

SOUTHWESTERN BELL HAS put thousands of people out of work in an effort to make more money for themselves. I don't like wasting five minutes pressing buttons, talking to and obeying a robot; my time is important and I feel like an idiot talking to a machine, anyway. I want live communication; it saves me time and money. My questions and complaints are not limited if I'm afforded the courtesy and convenience of talking with a human being rather than a robot. My sister, a heart and stroke patient, was on her way back from Marble Hill to Texarkana last week. She tried to call me 10 times from Poplar Bluff to let me know where she was staying and that she was okay. Because of Southwestern Bell's updated equipment, her call never got through to me. In fact, her live operator told her that no one here would accept her collect call. After that she tried to charge it to her own phone and still could never get through to me. But I sat here all night, waiting to hear from her.

WHEN WILL THE American people wake up? Our president, vice president and Congress are not doing anything for the country. They're worrying about the desert country, and there are all these people who are hungry and have no hospitalization and a lot of people are getting laid off from work. Why don't the American people, when they go to vote, vote these congressmen, president and all, out. They're not helping the American people at all.