Speak Out A 07/10/02

Fighting wildfires

THE FIRES out West are uncontrollable. That means, that starting a backfire would be uncontrollable as well. I live out West, and in many of these areas, there is nothing but scrub oak and pine needles. Starting a fire on the side of the highway would only increase the acreage burned, not stop it. We are not even allowed to start a barbecue grill out here right now. There is close to zero percent humidity and heavy winds. The winds are what determine the direction of the fire. My brother-in-law and two of my closest friends are firefighters. They risk their lives every day to combat these fires. I do not appreciate the arrogance of someone 900 miles away thinking he knows the solution. Do you think our crew hasn't already thought of every possible way to stop these fires? Do you think we enjoy watching hundreds of thousands of beautiful acres and homes going up in flames? I am outraged.

All a smoke screen

I FIND it funny that people get so worked up over the SEMO financial emergency. Everyone in the know understands this is smoke and mirrors for what is really going on. This is a concerted effort by the administrators of public institutions to make their universities look as bad as possible for several things to happen: 1. Force higher student and parent contributions to higher education. There is a belief that students do not contribute enough to their education. 2. Force a massive tax increase. 3. Make political hay out of the governor's withholdings in an election year. The message to the public is do not believe what you read. The university would like you to believe that it is on the financial cliff. But since the Missourian will not force the university to open its books, it's all a smoke screen to get you to open your wallets.

Worth the increase

THIS COMMENT is in regard to the complaints about the raise in postage. This is the one time I completely agree with the USPS. It has had to implement many precautions since Sept. 11, and it continues to bear the burden of ensuring your safety and mine when reaching into our mailboxes. If a small postage increase is going to help the USPS with security and safety, then I am not going to complain. I would much rather pay the increased rate and feel a little safer when accepting my mail. How many of you would want to be handling mail right now? I certainly would not, and it is our duty to protect not only ourselves, but the people who continue to put themselves in what could be a dangerous situation.

Time for change

I THINK it is funny that the SEMO spin machine makes life sound so simple: Student, we can jack your fees up through the roof and you can apply for a scholarship that you might have a 10 percent chance of getting. We can fire Kim Groves, the alumni director, to make a statement but hire several new employees. There has been no hiring freeze at SEMO. At the same time, we can spend $13.5 million on toilets and several hundred thousand dollars on football-stadium upgrades. As the great Texas governor Ann Richards, once said about the Reagan and Bush administrations, "It's time for them to go." The community, the students, the faculty, the staff and the parents deserve better.

The big picture

I CAN understand our leaders not being blunt when civilians are killed by our soldiers, it is called tact and diplomacy. But let us pray that someone is trying to get it through those people's heads that when weapons are fired indiscriminately in the vicinity of combat troops, those same troops are likely to fire back. It does not matter that firing guns into the air in celebration of everything from births to weddings is their time-honored tradition. You would think that, just from the standpoint of self-preservation, they would get the big picture.

Thanks for cleanup

I WOULD like to thank the village of East Cape Gir-ardeau, Ill., and Beasley's Waste Inc. for their annual cleanup. It was very much appreciated.