Speak Out A 11/12/02

Encourage and help

YOU PUBLISHED a long story on segregation at Jefferson Elementary School. If federal judges have ruled that each school building must be racially balanced, then we must obey the law, and the soon the better. How can we encourage minority students to achieve higher scores on standardized tests? We cannot take the test for them or give them extra points for being a minority. We need to encourage and help these students learn to be the best that they can be. We need to give them an education. When are we going to learn to be a colorblind society? Then we can encourage and help all students in the Cape Girardeau School District to be the best that they can be.

Breaking the law

TO THOSE people who drive between Cape Girardeau and Jackson and who get in the left-hand lane and go way below the speed limit blocking traffic: Did you know that you're in violation of the law? The left lane is for passing. You're also creating a dangerous situation. When people have to pass you on the right-hand side where most of your blind spots are, you create a passing situation that's dangerous and could cause accidents. We're not breaking the speed limit. We're just passing those going slower than the speed limit. Have a little consideration and try to follow the law.

Misuse of a privilege

THIS IS in reference to Kerry H. Wynn's letter about the handicapped-parking spaces. I know there are a lot of handicapped people, but a lot of people get aggravated, including myself. You see three or four handicapped-parking spaces in a row with no cars parked in them. I saw some when I went to vote the other day. You see people pull in there and park, and they don't have a handicapped-parking tag. But before they get out of the vehicle, they stick a tag on the mirror bracket. And when they get out, they walk better than I do, and I've had my knees operated on. I can understand if someone is using a wheelchair or a cane or crutches. But the majority of these people are in better shape than lots and lots of people, but still they take advantage of the handicapped-parking spaces. There's a misuse of this privilege.

Consider the parents

TO THE teacher who is not off when their child is off: Think of those who have jobs that only get off work for seven or eight holidays a year. It's a real shame that the two school districts do not keep you in mind. Maybe someone will think of the parents who work one or two jobs and see their kids once in a great while. Putting food on the table can be rough for some of us. So please be a little more considerate before complaining about your days off.

Watching with horror

I FEEL like I am watching with a strange fascination and horror as the nation is being swept into an illegitimate war that will have huge and irreversible consequences for our safety and our children's lives. The power of the corporate-owned media is really impressive. The gap between the facts and the accepted truth is a wide one, but few notice. The public is scared, prone to believe anything, ready to follow blindly, ready to rush to military solutions without serious reflection or thought. Wave the flag. Let the blood flow (but only from a distance). Aren't we great? And the spin will be appearing soon: "The great heroes will liberate the Iraqi people." It's fascinating but really disturbing to watch.

Think twice about war

TO ALL of the people talking about the pro-war versus pro-life debate: Yes, the people in our military are there as volunteers. However, the military of Iraq is not. The Iraqi soldiers are forced into battle with a better trained and better equipped force where they are slaughtered against their will. If you want to read more about it, read "An American Terrorist." This book is about Tim McVeigh. It doesn't glorify what he did in Oklahoma. It is an interesting book and gives insight about the first war in Iraq that will make you think twice about the second one.

Be skeptical

CERTAINLY EVERYONE wants Saddam Hussein disarmed. The United Nations has given the OK to that process through the resumption of inspections. But it appears that what President Bush really wants is a U.S.-backed regime change like that of the shah of Iran, which -- though a highly repressive and undemocratic government -- was cooperative in regard to U.S. oil interests. (Think of our current Saudi friends.) What little mistake or technicality will these oil executives use to lead our children into war? Always love your country, but be skeptical of those in power.

Don't count on it

THOSE WHO didn't vote no longer get to complain, according to a Speak Out caller. Wanna bet?

Keeping us safe

TOALL of the people who are saying that innocent lives should be protected: You are right. The innocent lives on the other side are just as precious as our lives -- you know, the thousands taken horribly on Sept. 11. I just wonder if you have forgotten the way you felt on that day. Do you want to do that again, or do you want to know that you are safe? Our military is out there choosing to lay down lives for you. I do not want to raise my child in Bosnia or the West Bank. That's why I live here. That's why I support my country. That's why I want to guarantee our safety and security, whatever the cost.

Construction safety

TO THE person complaining of 50 mph speed zones for construction workers: Did you ever work on one of those construction sites? My husband and sons have worked on construction for many years in Michigan, which has a 45 mph limit for construction zones. Just in this past six months there was a 24-year-old construction worker and mother killed and at least five injured because of speed violators in these areas. How can you possibly complain about driving slower to save lives?

All for a few jobs

IT IS a clear dilemma: Should we, for a few dollars, sacrifice our health, the health of our children and the health of our precious environment, or should we take the dollars and risk everything? Those wishing to take the money and the risks drag the rest of us down with them. Unfortunately, if we live here, we cannot choose not to breathe -- and neither can our children. Kinder Morgan Power Co. promised a few dollars here and there so they could pollute our county without paying their fair share of the taxes -- and all for a handful of jobs. Being happy they have left is a no-brainer.

Risking consequences

FIFTEEN OF the hijackers originated in Saudi Arabia, which has links to al-Qaida -- but there's been no investigation. It seems the oil companies need Saudi cooperation. Al-Qaida fled to Saudi Arabia and to Pakistan. Pakistan has a far less stable government than Iraq and has nuclear weapons. Iraq is hardly a threat to the United States -- but we're now going to spend money and lives and also risk the long-term consequences of an unprovoked attack?

It's about murder

FOR THE past week, I have been reading about people saying you cannot be pro-life and pro-war at the same time. They also say that this war with Saddam Hussein is just about oil. Everyone is talking about how war is only going to kill civilians. The only problem with this is that Saddam Hussein has been murdering for years. How long are we going to sit around and let him murder more innocent people? By leaving him in power, we are only going to hurt more than we want to save. This war is about keeping us and others safe, not about getting oil for lower prices. I am not saying that a war would not lower prices on oil, but we do not get as much oil from the Middle East as some people are trying to make others believe. The United States get less than 15 percent of its oil from the Middle East. This war is not about oil. It is about saving lives before Saddam Hussein can murder any more.

Election forecast

THE RAIN in Illinois certainly did not keep us Democrats at home. We had a wonderful election. The way we see it is after two years of a GOP president and Congress, blizzard conditions will not keep voters from the polls in 2004.

Time to change tunes

ALL RIGHT, David Limbaugh, I'll make you a deal. I will tell Clinton Democrat speech writers to get some new material for their speeches if you promise to come up with something other than virtually recycled columns filled with redundant Clinton-bashing rhetoric.

You can trust the USGS

PLEASE, SOUTHEAST Missourian, give the U.S. Geological Survey some credit. A 2.0 earthquake is essentially meaningless. There's an earthquake of that size every day somewhere in the Southeast Missouri-Northeast Arkansas-Western Kentucky area. You just can't feel it. To proclaim that no harm came by the "grace of God" is more than slightly exaggerating. The test was done to benefit the people of this area in case of a real earthquake. If you don't remember, the earthquake in this area from 12 years ago was a 4.6, and it caused no injuries or deaths and minimal property damage. Let the USGS do its job: to help prevent disasters from occurring. They know what they're doing.

Does not compute

SOMETIMES I feed data into my computer in search of an answer. I usually get one. But not this time. I've tried it several times, and all I ever get is, "Does not compute," when I feed the following two sentences of data into my PC: Heidi Hall is a member of the Southeast Missourian editorial staff. Heidi Hall is a Democrat.