THIS IS TO those who have criticized the gay and lesbian display at the park, which I'm sure was put there with the same Christian spirit as the others. Did you take the time or money to help make the park so beautiful for everyone to enjoy? And, to the mother who didn't know how to explain it to her children, you had better learn because you never know what your children will be when they grow up. So extend love, not hatred, and the world will be a better place for everyone. Thank you.

I DO HAVE another comment regarding the gay and lesbian light display in the county park. I feel that if this display is allowed there every person in the community should just stop visiting the county park. Then maybe the other organizations will take theirs down next year and realize the community's real, true opinion on the birth of Christ. Thank you.

I'D LIKE TO read something here. The doctors in this area are a very unique group. They either hire the worst office managers in the nation or they have a common delight in seeing their waiting rooms full. I always thought an appointment was to ensure a person of a certain time to be seen by a doctor, to avoid crowded waiting rooms and long waits. But in Cape Girardeau and Jackson it seems the doctors only use appointments to fill their waiting rooms. They will get to you at their convenience, usually after an hour wait. After trying a baker's dozen of different doctors, I have decided to take my family to St. Francis' quick care. It's a little more money but much faster service. Thank you.

JUST WANT TO say thank you to the Southeast Missourian and to tell you how much I appreciate your special insert in the Tuesday, Dec. 10, edition, "In The Spirit." It truly blessed me and others I've heard comment on it, too. We read and hear about so much bad news going on in the world today, but the good news is in Jesus Christ and what he has done for us and will continue to do for us. Thank you again and also to all the wonderful people who shared a part of their lives with us. God bless.

THIS EVENING AT 1:30 I was involved in an accident. I was sitting at a stop sign when a car hit me in the back end. Tomorrow morning I'm putting a sign on my other cars; I have three cars. These signs will read, "You hit me, you bought it." I will not take what the insurance agrees on. They're going to buy the car for what I want. I will not take just anything. If you hit me, you're too close. So remember, you bought the car. Thank you.

I'M NOT GAY and I do not like gays but leave them alone. They're trying to do something nice for the park. They're just trying to help.

HEY, REPUBLICANS, WAKE up and smell the coffee. David Duke is the best candidate for president we have. Unless we vote for Duke, we're going to have Bush in for another four years cutting our military, making us the weakest country in the world, and we're just going to be in so much trouble it's pathetic. If Duke is elected president, he could really turn things around and we could get out of this recession and get back on with being the richest country in the world. Thank you.

IT'S REALLY NICE for the citizens of Kentucky that NBC affiliate channel 6 carries so many of the Kentucky college's basketball games in prime time. How frustrating for us who are limited to only one NBC station and cannot watch the regularly scheduled programs that NBC has. Thank you.

A THOUGHT JUST ran through my mind. Would it be feasible to charge a fee, maybe 50 cents to $1 or what one might think they can afford, to see the beautiful Christmas lights at Cape County North Park and the proceeds go to Toybox or the needy persons? I think this would be a wonderful way for all of us to enjoy our holidays, to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas. Thank you.

WELL, IT'S THURSDAY night and I sure am upset. Went out to the Junior High to hear the Christmas music and vocals and the parking was full. We wound up having to park a mile away from the school; got out and it was pouring down rain; had to run all the way over. I can't cut through the building because they had the doors all locked except the ones you're supposed to go through, so you literally get soaked. You go inside and you find out there's no place to sit; it's just standing room only. What really tees me off is the fact that they scheduled a ball game the same night as they scheduled the music performance so that it takes all the parking. You can't attend both no matter how much you want to, plus you have no place to park. And they also scheduled a program at the grade school so if you have a child in grade school and one in junior high you can't go to both. So it knocks you out of seeing one of your kids perform. I think we need to get more intelligence in our school systems and schedule these events on different dates and have appropriate room for the people when they show up. Thank you.

CONCERNING THE GAY and lesbian controversy: I'm a live-and-let-live person, but what I can't understand about this is why are SEMO supporters contributing to the club that was primarily established because of their sexual preferences? Secondly, until the news the other day, I did not know who to complain about the Christmas display in Cape County Park; but rest assured, Mr. Younghouse, I've heard many complaints in my workplace but most don't take the time to write or call. I seriously doubt that we will make our annual visit to the park. Finally, I guess the bottom line is, despite the openness of today's society, many of us still feel that sex and sexual preferences should remain a private matter not for public display. Thank you.

THIS IS IN regard to all the fathers who don't take the time to spend time with their children, especially during the holidays. I work at a youth home that takes in children from all over Southeast Missouri. It's the same story for all the boys who are admitted: alcoholism, negligence, abuse, both physical and mental. With all the state funding being cut, it seems that the little the children now receive through the state is in jeopardy. So, fathers, love your kids now or tomorrow may be too late.

I DON'T CARE how good a producer, how great a director, how good an actress or how well Barbara Streisand sings, that woman is just too hard to look at. Thank you.

IT MUST TAKE the anti-gay and lesbian Christmas display mother a week to go through the park if she explains the meanings of all the organizations represented there. How ridiculous.

THIS IS IN regard to the person who called and said only stupid people call Speak Out. I think Speak Out is one of the most excellent things I've ever seen, and, if only stupid people call, he fits the category. I hope the Southeast Missourian will continue keeping Speak Out because it lets us all speak out on things that concern us. I don't believe anything that I've read there yet is stupid. Thank you.

I THINK YOUR answer in the Dec. 12 issue of Speak Out to the man who was condemning the stupidity of people who called Speak Out was an excellent answer. He probably couldn't get his messages published in the St. Louis paper so he's upset about the messages published here and he's trying to get his messages published here. Thank you.

I AGREE COMPLETELY with the letter from the former city councilmen regarding the Show Me Center building. I don't want to see anything added to it, and if this restaurant tax was voted to retire the debt incurred for the building, why would they want to do anything else with it? It belongs there.

DEC. 25 is the day set aside to honor the birth of our Savior, and to display a light like the gays have up there in the park is blasphemy to our Lord and Savior. It is plain old sin to be a gay, not a way of life. Leviticus 18:22 tells what it is and Romans 1:24-28 tells what God thinks of them. I would not go through that park as long as that thing is up there. And, if the park does not make them take it down, if I had a display there I would take my display out. What a shame they have made something so beautiful so ugly. Thank you.

I LEARNED many things from the Smith rape trial. One was that, if I show emotion in Judge Lupo's courtroom after she has warned me several times not to show any emotion or she will take dire measures; if I grin, jump up or hug my attorney all I will get will be another warning, if I am Kennedy. Thank you.

THIS IS CONCERNING some of the themes for our Christmas decorations in Cape County Park. The train loading with Santa Claus and presents, how beautiful; the poinsettia lit up, all nice and pretty; and the wise men walking slowly over the hill; and the pink triangle. What does a pink triangle have to do with Christmas? Thank you very much.

KEN NEWTON OFTEN writes well, but not necessarily correctly. If I cannot defend myself, who will defend me? At least give me a chance. Nationally, police are the first to admit they cannot respond quickly enough, and FBI uniform crime statistics for 1990 indicate those who were prepared have avoided death or threat. It's amazing how the media ignores the statistics of Florida, where bad guys never know who is legally armed and might be prepared to defend themselves or prevent crime.

HOORAY TO THE concerned mother who wrote the letter to the Public Mind in regards to the gay and lesbian Christmas display in county park. I was horrified to learn that the park and, or the commission had permitted this to be. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth and the practices of the gay and lesbian is not acceptable to his teachings. I personally feel this is blasphemy towards the Savior's birth and it is very inappropriate to allow such a display in the park. The display has always been beautiful and it would be a shame to disband this yearly practice. But perhaps it would be better than to allow this to happen again. Thank you.

THIS IS TO the person who called in saying that farmers were not supposed to work on the Sabbath. If you have a six-day dairy cow, please let me know because I would like to buy every one of them that you have. All of mine work seven days a week. Thank you.

DR. DAVID STEWART is getting a bum rap from the university. Many of us don't appreciate the way he is being treated. We would like to thank him for making us more aware and prepared for an earthquake when it does happen.

NOW THAT POLITICIANS can carry a concealed weapon and get away with it, I am going to carry my pistol also for protection. And the law can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. Thank you.

KFVS, WHEN ARE you going to stop showing Southern Illinois news? Why don't you move to Southern Illinois if you want to show them all the time? KBSI sure is showing cartons. Why don't you have a 6-o'clock news thing? It wouldn't be very hard to do.

I CAN UNDERSTAND Magic Johnson saying publicly that he was wrong and made a mistake. I forgive him, but what else could he do in his position? He would have been found out and exposed. I can understand his saying he didn't want kids to make the same mistakes that he made, and I know of nobody who wouldn't rather die a hero than a villain. I as a mother have made mistakes and have said those same things to my children. The big difference is this: I received no publicity to bust my lifestyle. I did not capitalize on my efforts to prevent my children from making the same mistakes I made, nor was I made a heroine or paid any money or given a job for either admitting my mistakes or for trying to prevent other children besides my own from making those same mistakes. If Magic Johnson is a hero and making money off it then I am an unsung heroine as broke as I ever was. But at least my intentions were honorable. Thank you.

I JUST WANT to say thanks to whomever found my package with pennies at the Wal-Mart store on Dec. 10 and turned it in at the office because it was my granddaughters Christmas present.

LAST THURSDAY NIGHT we had the privilege of hearing what must be one of the best gospel quartets as they performed at the Esquire Theater. That was the Blackwood Quartet from Branson, Mo. Seems to me that it is a shame that no more people would come out to hear good gospel singing. Where are the people who go to church and call themselves Christians but don't come out and enjoy and support the word of God in song? I don't know a more ideal place for people to go on Friday or Saturday nights and enjoy gospel singing. I think people should appreciate such an opportunity and take advantage of it. Thank you.

TO THE PEOPLE who stole our Christmas lights Tuesday night on South Missouri: You took a part of our babies' Christmas away last night. Our 3-year-old son was really proud of our big, decorated tree and our 17-month-old baby girl used to stand in our picture window and jabber at it. Why can't you be like us and others when you see lights, and enjoy the decorations and appreciate the money, time and effort put into putting the decorations out? Your type of entertainment is very tasteless and hurtful.

I WOULD like to speak out on the condom issue. Instead of passing out condoms why don't they just show a picture of a person after they have died of AIDS? At least this way it wouldn't take a lot of explaining because a picture is worth a thousand words. Thank you.