Speak Out A 12/24/01

Holiday break

THIS IS Christmas season, and it's time you stopped Speak Out. There is so much hatred in it. I think it's time to change your ideas on it. It used to be nice, but there's too much hatred in it these days between the Democrats and the Republicans. I wish you'd stop printing Speak Out. It would improve the tone of your paper.

Public apology

I PUBLICLY apologize to Dr. Michael Devaney for criticizing his views in Speak Out. A Speak Out caller told us that Devaney's opinions are frequently sought out and published by the likes of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. I was unaware of that. Had I been, I would never have questioned his thoughts.

That's enough

I FEEL as sorry as anyone about the New York tragedy. But when they take millions of dollars donated by people across the country and give it to the actors who are putting on a stage show instead of to the poor who can't afford tickets anyway, this is selfish and ridiculous. Now they are getting a bill passed so that the families of the victims don't have to pay income tax for two years. What about Oklahoma City? And people who lost everything in tornadoes or fires? Don't they deserve a break too? A lot of the victims of the terrorist attacks were millionaires and had good insurance policies. I say enough is enough.

Can't take a tip

EBENEZER SCROOGE is alive and well within the bureaucracy of Cape Girardeau. I wanted to give our sanitation workers a Christmas tip. Guess what? They're not allowed to accept them.

Pretty good deal

I DON'T have any sympathy for members of the National Guard who are called to active duty. I'm sure they join for the money. They receive military pay and sometimes their salaries. My sympathy goes out to the people who lose their jobs with no notice. They have a job one day and none the next. These poor people and their families have no income at all. They are the ones who need sympathy.

Another perspective

MONDAY'S editorial asks: "Would there have been such a public outcry if the girl had not been charged?" The editorial's answer: We think not. That goes without question. The paper should have asked this question: "What if someone else was driving instead of the sister? Would there have been an outcry because of the charges brought by the prosecuting attorney?" My answer: I think not. The only concern here was the driver was the older sister of the victim.

It wasn't snow

THANKS TO global warming, we only had 4.5 inches of rain instead of 4.5 feet of snow.

Agree to disagree

A RECENT caller's assessment of Mary Francis Barry is incorrect. I too watched the Florida hearings on C-SPAN. It is not our place to criticize civil rights. Our democracy is made up of groups that may not agree with each other, but we do not need to tell each other how we are supposed to be.

Tips for taxi drivers

TO THE person who called in betting that no other business requires tipping to meet an employee's salary. I have been a taxi driver in Cape Girardeau for over 10 years, and our tips are figured into our salary. We receive nowhere near minimum wage. There are more than just restaurant workers who receive poor pay.

Declare a victory

I DO not feel we should go into Pakistan after Osama bin Laden. I think we've pretty well sent a message that terrorism will not be tolerated, and I think we should proceed with setting up a new Afghan government. Bin Laden is an old man, so how much more trouble can he cause? We can't be fighting every government like President Bush is proposing. I don't think I'm willing to sacrifice my son for a long-term engagement, and as a mother of sons I think we need to declare a victory.