Letters policy
We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity.
Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
CONDONING OBNOXIOUS BEHAVIOR
I was appalled by the “Reporter at large” column written by Fletcher Farrar [“Landlord journal,” Dec. 15]. The gist of his article was that it’s OK for a person to trash a rental unit, causing hundreds of dollars of damage, “if the pressures of life had gotten to him” and alcohol was involved. This is tantamount to saying that a hungry person may hold up a convenience store so that he can be fed. The article also condones fights and obnoxious behavior that disturb others in the neighborhood for the same excuse. I’m sorry, but as a law-abiding citizen I cannot agree with Farrar, nor should his viewpoint be accepted by our society. Those who claim to be less fortunate do not have the right to openly break our laws and cause damage to the property of others. The final paragraph states that he sent the destructive and law-violating tenant out of his apartment and down the road to someplace else owned by others. If Farrar was so kind as to forgive this gentleman for his unlawful and destructive conduct, why didn’t he keep him in his own unit rather than turn him over to others, where he likely will do the same again? Thomas Y. Pearson Springfield
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
Keith Housewright stated that “[President George W.] Bush has an obligation — an oath — to protect and defend this country [“Letters,” Dec. 29].” If you go to the actual presidential oath it states that the president “will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” — not “defend the country” but “defend the Constitution.” Thus, with Bush having the National Security Agency wiretap American citizens outside the “constraints” of the Constitution, it appears to be an outright violation of the oath he swore to. To me, it sounds like a case can be made for impeachment. Housewright also conveniently ignored the fact that Bush misled the nation regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. If Bush truly was the victim of faulty intelligence, why on earth would Valerie Plame get outed and George Tenet get award the Medal of Freedom? The things that make you go “hmmm. . . ” Just like Bush, his supporters seem to conveniently ignore the facts when they work against their cause. Bob Smet Springfield
SOMETHING GOOD, SOMETHING BAD
The year 2006 will be very interesting! Two plus six equals eight; the number eight means new beginnings. There will be a great change in Christian churches in the United States, from men-pleasers to God-pleasers! The body of Christ will come together in one accord and the denominational walls will come tumbling down! The remnant will start marching to Zion, the beautiful city of God, in 2006! Something bad will happen on June 6, 2006! George Culley Pinckneyville
We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity.
Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
CONDONING OBNOXIOUS BEHAVIOR
I was appalled by the “Reporter at large” column written by Fletcher Farrar [“Landlord journal,” Dec. 15]. The gist of his article was that it’s OK for a person to trash a rental unit, causing hundreds of dollars of damage, “if the pressures of life had gotten to him” and alcohol was involved. This is tantamount to saying that a hungry person may hold up a convenience store so that he can be fed. The article also condones fights and obnoxious behavior that disturb others in the neighborhood for the same excuse. I’m sorry, but as a law-abiding citizen I cannot agree with Farrar, nor should his viewpoint be accepted by our society. Those who claim to be less fortunate do not have the right to openly break our laws and cause damage to the property of others. The final paragraph states that he sent the destructive and law-violating tenant out of his apartment and down the road to someplace else owned by others. If Farrar was so kind as to forgive this gentleman for his unlawful and destructive conduct, why didn’t he keep him in his own unit rather than turn him over to others, where he likely will do the same again? Thomas Y. Pearson Springfield
TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
Keith Housewright stated that “[President George W.] Bush has an obligation — an oath — to protect and defend this country [“Letters,” Dec. 29].” If you go to the actual presidential oath it states that the president “will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” — not “defend the country” but “defend the Constitution.” Thus, with Bush having the National Security Agency wiretap American citizens outside the “constraints” of the Constitution, it appears to be an outright violation of the oath he swore to. To me, it sounds like a case can be made for impeachment. Housewright also conveniently ignored the fact that Bush misled the nation regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. If Bush truly was the victim of faulty intelligence, why on earth would Valerie Plame get outed and George Tenet get award the Medal of Freedom? The things that make you go “hmmm. . . ” Just like Bush, his supporters seem to conveniently ignore the facts when they work against their cause. Bob Smet Springfield
SOMETHING GOOD, SOMETHING BAD
The year 2006 will be very interesting! Two plus six equals eight; the number eight means new beginnings. There will be a great change in Christian churches in the United States, from men-pleasers to God-pleasers! The body of Christ will come together in one accord and the denominational walls will come tumbling down! The remnant will start marching to Zion, the beautiful city of God, in 2006! Something bad will happen on June 6, 2006! George Culley Pinckneyville
