Speakout 6/20

Sunday, June 20, 2004

I want to SpeakOut about Father's Day and give recognition to our YMCA. Did you know that Father's Day started at a Spokane, Wash., YMCA in 1906?

As a resident, I was totally shocked to learn that the Mississippi County Courthouse did not close its offices for the Day of Mourning in memory of President Ronald Reagan. How disrespectful can you be? And just who made the decision not to close? I want to know.

Every morning in the shower, the radio station I have on carries Derry Brownfield. I think I have finally figured out what might make him happy. He wants to return to the way things were 60 years ago when a farmer could (barely) make a living on a 40-acre farm with two milk cows, a few chickens, a little garden and a couple of hogs. He could milk and eat the cows, eat the eggs and chickens and can some green beans. The hogs would be butchered in the fall and put in the old smoke house. Mr. Brownfield would like just a couple more things. He wants to be exempt from all the government regulations that we have to put up with. He just wants to be left alone and doesn't think he should have to comply with any state or federal laws that he personally doesn't like. And just one more thing - he expects the government to underwrite all the markets so he and other farmers can become wealthier by farming their 40-acre farm. He thinks the government is wasting money on any program that he can't get his hands on or somehow don't put any money in his pocket. He is sure that someone is working 24 hours each day planning to take his farm away from him. Let's get real. Nothing is the same as it was 60 years ago for any of us. The difference is: The rest of us have adapted, left the small unprofitable farm and are doing the best we can. If poor Derry cannot change his farming operation in the most wonderful rewarding country in the world, he needs to start traveling the globe until he finds another country to his liking. I for one sure get sick of his whining and moaning day in and day out while feigning discrimination and hard times. He is one good reason why the rest of us question the motives of farmers when they cry hard times and demand more and more handouts while they live in the nicest houses around and drive new cars.

I am calling in response to the SpeakOut calls about people parking in the handicap parking spaces. I'm not obese but I do have medical problems (heart problem and back problems) and I have handicap plates and use those spaces because I am unable to walk a very long distance. You point out people who are obese. Did you ever stop to think that maybe they have a medical problem that prevents them from exercising and doing things. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. You don't know what their problem is or what's going on with them, so you shouldn't throw stones at people when you don't know what you're talking about.

I was at the Sikeston Recreation Complex and noticed all the trash on the ground. What kind of example are parents setting for their kids by not picking up their own trash? It looks ridiculous!

Why doesn't television have good music stations? My husband would love to hear good music from the 1940s, '50s and '60s.

Your cable provider can answer questions about programming.