The Springfield News-Leader from Springfield, Missouri • Page 4

OPINION The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Saturday, January 12, 1991 The News-Leader Nancy I. Qrn, President and Publisher Lou Zleglar, Editor Batty Llddlck, Managing Editor George Fraaman, Editorial Page Editor Hank Billings, Editorial Page Coordinator Robert Lager, Special Projects Editor Louisa Whall, Metro Editor Airport would help northwest Arkansas' economy OUR EDITORIAL WHO'S IN CHARGE? The fol'owing editorial expresses the opinion of The News-Leader editorial board, including the publisher, editor and editorial page editor. Observations elsewhere on the page represent viewpoints expressed in editorials of other newspapers, and the independent viewpoints of the columnists, cartoonists and our readers. Christmas trees A work in spring, too Winter has been relentless in its onslaught, sending wave after wave of snow, sleet, freezing rain and cold.

But this too will pass and spring is somewhere around the corner. The Corps of Engineers, Missouri Department of Con servation, Bass Pro Shops and some other groups and individuals interested in the outdoors believe it is time to think spring, at least in terms of preparing fish cover in area lakes. fa I Iti Iw- iu 4 The project of providing fish habitat has the added ad vantage of allowing for easy disposal of discarded Christmas trees that don't need to clutter landfills. Icy roads and boat ramps have delayed Bass Pro's plans to plant donated trees in Table Rock and Bull Shoals lakes. Plans now are for Bass Pro to deliver the Bob LinderThe News-Leader with neatly kept homes in the area.

City officials say they have no recent complaints about the house. Readers who wish to suggest eyesores may call The News-Leader at 836-1119. A holiday visitor to the home of a resident of the Scott and Prospect neighborhood complained about the unoccupied residence at the northeast corner of the intersection as an eyesore, contrasting sharply YOUR LETTERS Another great idea would be to have our troops out of Saudi Arabia by Tuesday. Maybe, we should have a race to see who can get their troops out first. It is the right thing to do.

KARL PRUTER Bishop Cathedral of the Prince of Peace Highlandville Your letters are welcome. Write to Letters to the Editor, The News-Leader, 651 Boonville Springfield, 65801, or by FAX to 417-837-1336. All letters must be signed and include full address and telephone number for verification purposes only. Timely letters of 250 words will receive priority. As a general rule, only one letter will be published per writer each month.

To inquire, call 836-1119. a monkey, not the Piltdown Man, but a teacher can't read from the Bible in class. A' prayer can't be said at a school gathering; yet, 75 percent of my property taxes go to schools. The article in the Jan. 3 edition of The News-Leader concerning the possibility of a regional airport in northwest Arkansas was very interesting.

It appears that some Springfield officials are opening their mouths before they engage their brains. Has either City Manager Tom Fin-nie or Springfield Regional Airport Aviation Director Rob Hancik ever lived in the northwest Arkansas area? Have they ever flown in or out of the Fayetteville airport in bad weather, especially during the winter months? Are they aware that it is far less expensive to drive to Tulsa, Springfield or Kansas City to catch a flight with a major airline than to get a commuter flight out of Fayetteville to a major airline hub? How would the people of Springfield feel if they had to drive to Tulsa or Kansas City or over icy roads because the airport was closed due to weather conditions? A regional airport in northwest Arkansas is not a new idea. Don Tyson, J.B. Hunt, Sam Walton and several others have been pushing this idea for several years. And why not? It should be a boost to the economy in an area where it is badly needed.

A regional airport would probably bring in more industry, which would create more jobs. The News-Leader recently had an editorial regarding the money being spent for a feasibility study for the regional airport. The editorial suggested that the money could be better utilized by building a four-lane highway from Springfield to Kansas City. The News-Leader and Springfield officials couldn't care less that a regional airport in northwest Arkansas is needed. It does not matter to them that it could boost the economy in an area where it is badly needed.

Their only gripe is that money is being spent somewhere beside Springfield. WAYNE E. PRESLEY Dadeville News-Leader isn't treating all amendments equally Your editorial, "NRA misguided over machine guns" (The News-Leader, Jan. 1) caused me to wonder who else may be misguided or perhaps misguiding. In our Declaration of Independence, we claim to hold certain truths to be self-evident.

One of these is that all men are created equal. Apparently, you are not in favor of projecting that same equality onto the various rights and freedoms enunciated in the Constitution. Of course, there's freedom of press, the god of all freedoms, which cannot be questioned in the slightest without stirring instant denunciation. Freedom of speech is enthroned in the same temple. But when we come to the third- or fourth-rate rights and freedoms, such as making "no law restricting the free exercise of religion" and the "right of the people to keep and bear arms," it's more like "Come on, man, let's not get fanatical about this." Let me make it clear that I am not a member of the National Rifle Association.

I don't own, nor do I wish to own, an assault weapon or any other automatic weapon. But when I read your editorial, I couldn't help but wonder how your logic (or lack of same) would apply in some other cases. If I could and would own a machine gun, that fact and act would harm no one. However, the absolute blank check that you would defend to the death for freedom of the press has been proven to have destroyed reputation, invaded privacy, intruded on grief and caused innocent death. Almost any article or newscast with political content manages to tilt to the writer's view rather than maintaining ethical objectivity.

Yet, any mention of regulation waves the red flag of censorship. Your deliberately ridiculous inference that the ultimate extension of the NRA's attitude would call for private ownership of a "household-sized neutron bomb" seems less ridiculous when considered alongside the ruling that burning the flag of the United States is somehow an act of free speech even if you steal someone else's flag to do it. Freedom of religion is, of course, open to varying degrees of interpretation. The religion of humanism is taught in every government-directed, tax-financed public school in the country. The religion of evolution is also state sponsored.

Interestingly enough, people seem to be having trouble keeping up with all the changes they are making in their bibles. The discovery of a rat head in Wyoming has put several million years into their chain for which scientists have to dream up a theory to explain. Just recently they found something that brought into question the Big Bang sacrament. When I was in high school, the teacher explained that one of the pictures in our world history book had been discovered to have actually been trees to Long Creek and Moonshine Beach accesses on Table Rock later this month. Pontoon boats donated by Bass Pro will be used to get the trees, assembled in bunches, onto the lake, where they will be submerged for fish cover.

Anglers interested in helping with the launch are invited to be at the access points at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 or Jan. 20. As of Thursday, 14 truckloads of trees had been collected at the Bass Pro boat lot on South Campbell Avenue, about seven fewer than last year.

The Corps of Engineers also has been receiving discarded trees at the warehouse near the powerhouse on Stockton Lake. These trees, which must be free of tinsel, angel hair or any decorations, will be dropped into the lake near fishing docks. The Rolla Parks and Recreation department is trying a similar project on Frisco Lake in Schuman Park. Tuesday, workers placed 160 discarded Christmas trees at various points on ice on the lake surface. As the ice melts, the weighted trees will sink and become fish cover.

The department placed another 40 trees on a pond near the municipal swimming pool. Both projects had the cooperation of the Department of Conservation. It may be too cold to go fishing, but it's never to cold to think about it and to prepare for better angling days sure to come. Roses and thorns A ROSE: To Camden County sheriffs deputies Sgt. Gary Bowling and Sgt.

Gary Fiene, who rescued Benjamin J. Hilton, 58, when he fell through the ice on the Little Niangua Branch of Lake of the Ozarks in an attempt to save his dog. After Hilton was safe, Fiene also tried to reach the dog, but it drowned. A THORN: To whoever shot a bull elk, one of a herd of about 40 of the animals that roam in the southwest Missouri counties of McDonald and Barry. Two suspects, whose names were not immediately released, are scheduled for arraignment Monday in Barry County Associate Circuit Court.

A ROSE: To inmates and staffers at Fordland's Ozark Correctional Center for forming a Youth Awareness Group to discuss such juvenile behavior problems as drug and alcohol abuse, truancy, delinquency, rebelliousness and criminal behavior with young offenders, parent groups, schools and other youth support groups. A ROSE: To Good Samaritans one of which delivered a meal to elderly friends over the weekend because of the weather. Friends and neighbors need to keep in touch with those confined to homes because of the weather. Food supplies can run short. A hot meal may make all the difference, and boost the spirits of those who live alone.

A ROSE: To members of the Mayor's Youth Council at Cabool who helped clear driveways for senior citizens. A ROSE: To Table Rock Lake, which recorded 5,927,900 visits during 1990, tops among the 23 facilities in the Little Rock, District of the Corps of Engineers. What others say Blame recession on government excesses The most-predicted recession in history finally seems to be upon us. Republicans blame it on Saddam Hussein. Democrats blame Ronald Reagan.

But the culprits are George Bush and Congress, who failed to act when they should have and made things worse when they did. The economic downturn was in evidence well before the beast of Baghdad raped Kuwait Growth in the first half of 1990 slowed considerably from the year before, which in turn was slower than prior years. The temporary spike in oil prices didn't help, but prices returned to more normal levels as the world market adjusted to the loss of Kuwaiti output. And the "party is over" argument that excesses of the Reagan years led to an economic hangover is baloney, too. A few Michael Milkens and Ivan Boeskys don't add up to a general recession in a economy.

The country may be paying for a much earlier "party" a deposit insurance and banking system that encouraged the proliferation of small, badly managed banks and sloppy lending practices. If we are paying for anything now, it is the excesses of government. Rather than cut spending, Congress insisted on raising taxes a major blow to the economy at a critical time. The best idea remains a deep, permanent capital gains tax cut. It would restore value to bank and individual real estate portfolios, greatly alleviating the credit crunch.

And it would provide incentives for job-creating investment across the board. The Detroit News Tis a privilege to live In the Ozarks carriers. I am grateful for the of the carrier who brings The News-; Leader to Branson subscribers. And while the inclement weather I persists, the seed orders have sent to several nurseries and companies, not because they will be of immediate use, but because the post; age will cost more for those who wait. The news brings us ideas on econo- mizing that are worth the More than one Sunday edition paid for itself by the food coupons, used.

The table-top photography is set up and draws my focus away from want-, ing to write this note, but I need to write it, to say thank you, and to thank God that he delivered me from the cabin-fever syndrome that used to strike at times such as these. I need to get some shots of the Bosc pears and other food items, before I eat them or before I go back to work," whichever comes first. I need to put'-income tax information together. I'-need to write some friends. I need to-straighten cabinets and clean, Perhaps the reader will be aged? This is a wonderful time for getting things done.

And it is a time-' that is enhanced by access to news'" and insights. JACQUELINE V. LONE Branson Cox personnel concerned, kind health professionals Loving kindness, goodness, gentle-, ness, helpfulness, patience, service-! and spiritual encouragement. These words describe, although in- adequately, all the personnel on the, third floor of Cox Medical Center South and the fourth floor of Cox', Medical Center North. What a blessing to have these services available to us in the Springfield, area.

My ill husband and I wish to publicly say "thank you" and "God' bless you" to these dedicated health-! care givers for eight weeks of love and, concern. MRS. WALTER F. DILATUSH. Kimberling City NEWSMAKERS SPEAK OUT "Regrettably, I heard nothing to-' day that suggested to me any Iraqi' flexibility." U.S.

Secretary of State James Baker III, following his meeting in Geneva. "We have not made miscalcula-' tions. We are very aware of the situation." Iraqi Foreign Minister Aziz "This was a total stiff-arm." President George Bush. "The captain cannot abandon the ship. It is not an option of the: U.S.

Congress to disapprove what! we for months have asked others to support." Sen. John Danforth, R-Mo. "We say we can win without war and the evidence is on our Let U.S. lawmakers know of dissatisfaction with Bush I'm a senior at Southwest Missouri State University who is concerned for the future of many of my classmates, as well as our nation. Let's not wait until the body bags start coming home to express our dissatisfaction with Bush's war policy.

Please write to your congressional representatives now, before it's too late. Here's the text of the letter I've sent and addresses: "I support continued negotiations in the Mideast situation. I do not support the use of military force. I do not support our military's presence in Saudi Arabia. Let's concentrate our resources on freeing our nation from the yoke of Mideastern oil dependence.

Please urge restraint. Do not let our young people's blood be spilled on foreign sand." Sen. John Danforth 249-A Russell Building Washington D.C. 20510-2505 Sen. Christopher Bond Russell Senate Office Building Room 293 Washington D.C.

20510-2503 Rep. Mel Hancock 318 Cannon Building Washington D.C. 20515-2507 BRETT R. PIPER Springfield Highway Department overlooking county routes The Highway Department has proven to be worse than usual in light of the last storm. They have spent all their time cleaning U.S.

60 and Interstate 44. That would be fine if everyone lived along these routes. Unfortunately many of us don't. The department has failed to take this into consideration. I am a careful driver, nevertheless I feared for my life after traveling Webster County PP.

I have good tires and four wheel drive. At 10 miles per hour. I barely made it down one hill and up the other side. This is ridiculous. I pay gasoline taxes and because I live out of town that's a lot more gasoline than most city drivers.

Why don't we rural folks get the same treatment as those in Springfield? The roads just get steadily worse as you head east from town. By the time you get to County AD you better know where the road is because you won't find it otherwise. We in the country have the same right to get to work and school as people in the city, yet our local schools have been closed the last two days because the Highway Department doesn't see fit to take care of us. JOHN SMITH Fordland Paper, thanks to carrier, one way to beat cabin fever If, as you say, "Law enforcement officials are understandably outraged. Every American should be as well," why not do something sensible and constructive? Why not lobby for a law which attaches an automatic, stiff penalty without appeal or probation, to be added to the sentence for conviction of any crime committed with the help of a firearm? Why shouldn't the restriction be on the criminal act, not on the right? CORNELIUS UKENA Greenfield NRA's ownership stance absurd try at brainwashing I hope your Jan.

1 editorial about guns is repeated by editors all across the nation. How anyone can believe the framers of the Constitution had AK-47s and guns like them in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment defies understanding. The National Rifle Association's attempt to brainwash the American people into believing that discontinuing machine gun sales is the beginning of the end for gun owners is absurd. Joe Foss was president of the NRA when I watched and heard his testimony on C-Span. That a man with his war record could possibly advocate the ownership of such weapons suggests to me he is ready for the old Marines' home.

Hasn't he seen enough of violent death? We are presently debating going to war. Some are shocking our senses by saying 10,000 to 20,000 fine Americans could be killed. Some of our national leaders say the American public will not stand for that much carnage. I was stunned and angered to learn that 25,000 Americans were killed in 1990 by gunfire of every type. Why is the American public accepting this carnage? At Christmastime three kids were killed on their way home from school by stray bullets.

At least the troops we are worried about are armed. What is wrong with trying to even things up on the street by restricting guns? We won't know until we try it and give it time to work. We seem willing to wait in the Middle East. We can be no less patient here. E.J.

GREENE Springfield U.S. pull-out better idea than waiting for Iraq to leave President Bush wants Iraq out of Kuwait by Tuesday. What a great idea. While the weather tests the mettle of many, some come through the test with flying colors. I join the list of those who thank The News-Leader side." House Majority Leader Richard" Gephardt, D-Mo.

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