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We welcome letters. Please include your full name,
address, and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to Letters,
Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958;
e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com.
GOVERNOR HAS THE RIGHT IDEA Yes, the governor has it right: Those big businesses
he is talking about are most likely to be corporations. Corporations are
defined as artificial beings created by law and are given the same rights
and privileges as us citizens. If these businesses are not paying their
share of the cost of these privileges, then we are carrying the cost and
thereby subsidizing them. And they have the nerve to threaten us with a
higher-cost product — their prices having been set in a
monopoly-oriented marketplace. I urge Gov. Blagojevich to vigorously pursue
this idea of his. Fred J. Dietz Sr. Springfield
HOW GOOD MUSIC JOURNALISM CAN BE Just wanted to say thanks for the excellent review in
Illinois Times [René
Spencer Saller, “Sound Patrol,” April 5]. I don’t usually
bother (unless it’s to trounce some idiot whose lazy journalism is
particularly offensive!), but your article showed just how good pop-music
journalism can be if the writer really pays attention to the work they are
reviewing instead of spouting the clichéd information they already
have on file. Nice job. Graham Parker via the Internet
MY VOTE’S FOR ANOTHER GUY I cannot listen to or read any more about the mayoral
debate. These two grown men are acting like students running for
high-school president. Who are you supposed to believe in this debate? It
is about “you said, I said.” That is high-school mentality. You
know why I know? I have a 14-year-old in high school. I know exactly what has gone on in this city, and I
have not seen enough changes. We still have a garbage problem in this city.
Public works is stretched to the limit. The police department is a mess.
Thank goodness there is a write-in candidate,
because I will be choosing him. LaDonna McClanahan Springfield
EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS I have no argument with Bill Wellington’s
letter [April 5]: Making better lifestyle choices — that is, diet and
exercise — goes a long way toward curbing multiple health issues.
But, no matter how good your diet or your exercise regimen, sooner or later
everybody gets sick or injured whether due to accident, age, or genetics.
Personally, no diet or exercise regimen choices will ever correct (nor did
they cause) my funky heart valve. When that time comes, everyone —
everyone — ought to have equal access to quality health care that
isn’t tied to employment or substantial personal wealth. The current
system, including the Illinois CHIP program, just doesn’t cut it.
Douglas Mayol
Springfield
THANKS FOR BIG SHOW OF SUPPORT Please allow me to extend a heartfelt appreciation to
everyone for your active role in the Chambers/Dickerson fundraiser, which
was held at the Jaycees Activity Center on March 23. The fundraiser was a
huge success. People came from everywhere to show their support. The
children and I will be forever grateful. It was a wonderful evening of fun,
tears, food, smiles, entertainment, and hugs. Awesome!
Kudos, kudos, and more kudos go out to the people who
were behind the scenes, causing the wheels to turn. People like Amy Zahm,
Janet Barkmeier, Marie Brest, Willo Wilson, Janet Woodson, Sue Landgrebe,
Ellen Bruce, Blake Koke, Sandra Parrish, Tonda Garrett, Dan Ford, Ledora
Alinger, Julie Woodzien, Josephine Sneckus, and Marge Roth (the Slovene
Strollers), Macy Hamilton, Rob Murphy, Helping Hands, WICS-TV, Pepsi,
Antonio’s, Red Lobster, Tracy Smith, Kami Becker, Melanie Barnes,
Nefra Johnson, Les Eastep (the Chilli Man), Brad Engert, Dusty Rhodes,
Douglas staff, and numerous teachers from District 186. I’d also like
to thank all the churches, organizations, and caring individuals who
supported us and the event.
It is not often that a person is fortunate enough to
work with such an outstanding group of comrades who truly demonstrate
compassion to one another. God bless each of you. Doris Chambers Springfield
DREDGING UP CRIMES OF THE DEAD? OK, so I am no fan of President George W. Bush and
his throwing away innocent lives in his insane invasions, but I have to
draw the line at dredging up a family’s deep past to question the
present [Roger Hughes, “Legacy,” April 5]. I cannot believe that Illinois
Times wasted space on an article about
Dubya’s ancestors, many of whom were dead up to a century before he
was even born. I say, “So what?” if a long-dead ancestor owned
slaves. Unless Bush himself endorses a return to slave ownership, I say,
“Let the dead rest in peace.”
Sure, slave ownership is not something to be proud
of, but I am confident that if Illinois Times investigated my own ancestors there would be crimes
committed, long before my own parents were even born, and which I never
knew about. The question is: Should I still be condemned for these crimes?
If my great-great-grand-pappy raped a woman in 1810, what purpose would it
serve to bring this to light in 2007? Why cast a shadow over descendants
for the crimes of ancestors? I wonder how many “forgotten crimes” the
author’s own ancestors may have committed. For that matter, I
wonder how long of a rap sheet that Illinois
Times’ own staff members would have if
their families were traced. Norman Hinderliter
Springfield
VOTE FOR CHANGE In the 1980s, the Springfield chapter of the NAACP,
the Springfield Urban League, and three volunteer citizens filed a lawsuit
in federal court under the Voting Rights Act, challenging the historical
lack of representation of the African-American community on the Springfield
City Council. The affirmative decision of the federal court resulted in
sweeping changes in the governmental structure of the city of Springfield.
Ten wards were created, and an African-American was elected from the 2nd
Ward, which represents the east side of Springfield.
The community of greater Springfield also benefited
from the action of the federal court. Given the historical pattern of
electing candidates to the City Council who were primarily from the west
side of the city, prior to the action by the federal court, the other
segments of the city of Springfield had not attained representation on the
City Council. The establishment of the ward structure for the city council
provided the mechanism for the citizens who lived in the other nine wards
to also elect an alderman from their respective communities.
In the years between then and now, much has changed
for the greater Springfield community, while much has remained the same for
the African-American community. Business opportunities, economic
development, neighborhood infrastructure, new and improved housing,
commercial and retail businesses, and social and entertainment
opportunities have all exploded on the west and southwest sides of the
city. During this same period of time, government support for neighborhood
improvement, as well as private business and economic development
opportunities, have been all but absent from the east and southeast
portions of Springfield. Other recent events have amplified the continued
neglect of the African-American community by the city government. One
glaring example is the disintegration of the quality of public safety in
Springfield, particularly on the east side, and the inadequate attention
directed to this issue by the city government. In recent years, there has
been little evidence that the office within city administration that is
responsible for ensuring equal access to employment opportunities has been
given a role in addressing these matters. The apparent reduction in this
activity was recently exposed by the discovery of a lack of
African-American workers at the site of the new CWLP power plant and the
continued lack of African-Americans employed within other departments in
city government. This is a call to action for the African-American
community in particular and for all people of good will in the greater
Springfield community in general! A change is needed to address these
circumstances, so we must all “vote for a change” in order to create
opportunities for a better future for the African-American citizens of our
city.
Voting for a change will not only create the right
government support for equal access and opportunity for our
African-American citizens, but in the long term, such change will benefit
our entire community by improving the quality of life for all citizens. The
change will also enhance our ability to present Springfield as a more
attractive city to the businesses and organizations seeking a location
where they can establish or expand their opportunities for growth. Wes McNeese, M.D.
James C. Forstall
Gordon A.
Smith Sr.
Rudy Davenport
Kenley R. Wade Sr. Springfield
This article appears in Apr 12-18, 2007.
