Speak Out 12/02/02

Critical support

THIS IS for those with an "America -- love it or leave it" attitude. Those of us protesting the proposed war against Iraq have no quarrel with the United States or its people. Our problem is with the government of this country that does not represent the best interests of the people, but only represents the multinational energy corporations.

Military meals

IF YOU happened to view the Thanksgiving TV coverage showing troops in Afghanistan having their dinner, please let me dispel any mistaken idea that they were drinking champagne or any other alcoholic beverage. The beverages were sparkling grape juice, which is nonalcoholic. Also, meals like this do not occur regularly, despite what the media chose to show throughout the day. Meals are general military meals, not gourmet. I know because we have a soldier there who contacted us to share what the menu for Thanksgiving was.

Foreign spam

ATTORNEY GENERAL Jay Nixon is going to be one of the most popular politicians in Missouri. We are so happy to be on the no-call list, and we want to sign up for the no-spam list. But how is he going to stop spam that is generated from computers in foreign countries? Could they use his no-spam list to send us even more spam?

Airport priorities

IT SOUNDS like the groundwork is being laid to make the airport a business air park. I don't think the airport master plan goes far enough to address the problem of having only one carrier for the flying public. The plan is good for private aviation but lacks a lot if you want to fly out of Cape Girardeau. The airport board should aggressively seek a second airline to get the prices down and provide better service for the flying public. You have to ask yourself whether the airports board's top priority is corporate jets or the flying public.

High numbers

IN RESPONSE to the person who challenged Shelly Goss' information that hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children died from U.N. sanctions: A UNICEF report from 1999 cites 500,000 children under the age of 5. A Columbia University study cites "at least 350,000." And a Harvard study also shows over 500,000. Prior to the Gulf War, Iraq had some of the best levels of child nutrition and health care in the Middle East in spite of Saddam Hussein's being a despot.

Dealing with smoke

IT IS a well-known fact that habitual smokers can't smell themselves or anyone else who reeks of cigarette smoke. Their olfactory nerves and taste buds are damaged from long-term smoking. What irritates me is to see patients in hospital gowns hooked up to IVs standing outside the entrance puffing away on a cigarette and guests at hospitals or employees at a business who set up a smoke screen that we nonsmokers have to walk through to get in the door.

Uncovered trucks

EVERY SINGLE day on my way to and from work I manage to get behind a truck that's hauling something or other that's not covered by a tarp. I drive slow enough to stay far enough behind to avoid my car being pummeled by rocks. But today it happened. A rock hit my windshield and made a pit about the size of a quarter with little cracks radiating from it. These truckers have no respect for others using the highways.

Guaranteed smoke

NOT GOING to heaven was the expressed wish of a Speak Out caller if people smoked cigarettes there. Wouldn't the alternative be even more smoke-filled?

Wrong proposal

IF U.S. Sen. Kit Bond is correct in claiming that Southeast Missouri residents can be protected from flooding while the environment is preserved, why do he and the Corps of Engineers repeatedly refuse to advocate an alternative that does that? Don't lay blame at the foot of DNR for doing the right thing. Blame the corps and Bond for dogmatically sticking to the wrong proposal.

Thorny existence

A DEMOCRAT? Now I know why I read Heidi Hall's column faithfully. She is a rose among the thorns.

False claims

ON THE New Madrid Floodway project: U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and the Southeast Missourian are profoundly not pro-resident. This project was doomed from the start. Flooding problems in these areas are due more to local storm drain issues than the levee. But the Corps of Engineers refuses to acknowledge this and develop a plan to address the real problem. The landowners of Southeast Missouri have deceived the other residents into believing false claims.

You can't trust them

A RECENT letter writer claimed that she "voted for morality in politics." All politicians lie. Our current president is especially loose with the truth. All politicians accept money from corporations that expect to get something from their investment. While a perception was created that the Clinton era was especially corrupt, there were actually fewer convictions of members of that administration of any presidents in recent history. This isn't to say that they were moral. It's just to say that you are naive to think that any politician can be trusted.

Looking to the future

IT'S NICE to have big trees, but what we really need are the natural communities that support these big trees and so many other species of wildlife. Many of the champions of Southeast Missouri are natives of wetlands and moist bottomland forests. Unfortunately, these are exactly the forests that we have destroyed. As a result, when these champions are gone, there will be nothing to replace them and no community left to support the other species associated with these forests. To many area residents and politicians, these natural communities only have value when cut and plowed or paved and developed.

Nuclear possibilities

THOSE FOLKS who are gung-ho to fight a war with Iraq should be lining up at the recruitment center in Cape Girardeau unless they are chickenhawks: people who want to go to war just so long as someone else is going. But remember, if Saddam Hussein does have nuclear weapons, you might just be bringing on the end of life as we know it.

Profiling is tool

I WAS glad to see the letter to the editor supporting targeted profiling while protesting rude, bigoted behavior. The Arab gentleman made good points about both, which are not the same. Those who seek to make investigative profiling synonymous with hate crimes do not understand the gravity of the terrorist threat or the logistical challenges of criminal investigation. Profiling is not hatred. Used appropriately, it is merely a tool.

Avoiding taxes

MISSOURI IS in dire financial straits. Tax loopholes allow businesses to register out of state and avoid paying their fair tax burden. The governor wants to close the tax loopholes. Allied Industries of Missouri and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce oppose closing the loopholes. They argue that making corporations pay their fair tax burden constitutes a tax increase. So if I pay no Missouri taxes for a couple of years and then I am required by law to pay them, does this equal a tax hike -- or just retribution for my avoiding my responsibility? No wonder corporations and chambers have such bad reputations.

Apt reminder

I AGREE with Rebecca Walker that Christians must stand up against war in Iraq. Not to do so indicates that one has missed the overriding message of Christ's teachings. It also shows a failure to acknowledge the role he was modeling. The example our Lord gave us is that of a revolutionary who spoke out against many ungodly policies and attitudes of his government and his people. Thanks to Walker for reminding us.