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Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958;
e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com.
BLAMING GAYS FOR MARRIAGE WOES In a recent letter, David E. Smith cites a Pew
Research Center study to support his position that “every society
needs traditional marriage — as many men as possible each finding a
woman, caring for her, and committing himself exclusively to her . . .
” [“Letters,” July 12]. He went on to say that the
majority of Americans don’t support gay marriage. What was left out
was that the general public does support civil unions (54 percent to 42
percent).
Shaming and blaming children and adults for being
born gay will not fix the heterosexual marriage crisis; it will just make
matters worse by forcing gay men and women into heterosexual marriages to
avoid a lifetime of isolation. Marriages like this eventually end, often
involving children. Persecuting the gay population will not fix the
institution of marriage. However, it is only human to blame others.
Today, women now have the ability, financially and socially, to leave
husbands who are abusive or unfaithful. Years ago, women were just supposed
to stay there and take it. Smith’s image of marriage speaks volumes
about his perception of women. He doesn’t even include a role for
women in marriage, saying, “a man is to find a woman, care for her
and commit himself to her.” Today, women have choices. Men
aren’t who we were brought up to believe in. And marriage, just like
Congress, is seriously in need of people who can hold themselves to a
higher standard. The struggle is within. Go there and figure it out.
Anne Logue
Springfield HARRY POTTER’S ROAD TO HELL
Harry Potter books and movies are demon-possessed and
are promoting witchcraft! Harry Potter books and movies are straight from
the pits of hell and the devil is getting worshiped! The darkness of this occult worship is deceiving the
pure innocent minds of the children! The black magic will warp the minds of
the children! The brainwashing of the children makes witchcraft seem good
instead of evil! Parents, watch what your children read. Parents,
throw all of the Harry Potter books in the trash! Children, don’t
read the Harry Potter books or your soul will be damned! Children, throw
the Harry Potter books in the trash, then you soul will be saved! The worshiping of witchcraft in the Harry Potter
books and movies will let the demons control you. The Harry Potter books
and movies are cursed and are an abomination to God! Satan in these last days is promoting evil is good
and good is evil in Harry Potter books and movies! George Culley Pinckneyville
MISLED ABOUT MARIJUANA It seems to me that too many people are being misled
about cannabis. The criminalization of cannabis was originally based on
lies. At the time when cannabis was criminalized, the majority of its users
were black and Hispanic. And seeing as how the politicians and police of
the time considered those two minorities as being the instigators of most
crimes, they purposely lied and linked marijuana to the crime rate. They
also lied and labeled it as being “dangerous” and called it
“the devil’s weed.”
What most people don’t know is that over the
past century, numerous reports from independent, government-sponsored
commissions have documented marijuana’s relative harmlessness and
recommended the elimination of criminal sanctions for consumption-related
offenses. A growing number of people, smokers and non-smokers alike, are
joining together to end the prohibition of cannabis on local, state, and
federal levels.
I know what you’re thinking: Wait a minute, the
government knows of marijuana’s harmlessness but still continues to
lie and say it’s one of the most dangerous drugs? Sadly, the answer
is yes. Marijuana is not dangerous to one’s health, or society, and
for no good reason, the government continues to fight for the extinction of
a harmless plant. The government will never be able to destroy
something that comes from a seed and was originally found growing wildly in
nature. The only way to end this war against a plant is legalization. We
have two choices: Legalize or legal lies. The decision is ours. Josh Trott Springfield
THE LEGACY OF CAREER POLITICIANS This country is being sullied by incessant
partisanship, which is the antonym of goodness, wisdom, and honor.
Campaigns that were once sprints are now marathons — some would say
“never-ending” marathons. It’s sickening, and there are
some very negative consequences. Simply put, Washington has become a
stagnant and corrupt sideshow; it feeds on the American people instead of
honorably serving them, and this milieu is the legacy of career
politicians. If we keep voting for incumbents, we are 100 percent
sure to get more of the same! Our country is desperate for ordinary successful
Americans to become part of the process by finding a way for them to
equitably compete with career politicians and the wealthy. Only those who are selfishly thriving in the current
environment of corruption, haughtiness, and deception would be against any
plan that levels the playing field, and that is most compelling reason we
desperately need such a plan. Bob Ruble Springfield
SIDING WITH CORRUPT EXECUTIVES Main Street investors nationwide beware. In a recent
move, President George W. Bush has made it very clear that he values the
likes of Enron’s crooked CEOs over Main Street investors. This fall the U.S. Supreme Court will consider Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta, the case which will determine whether investors can
recover investment losses when fraudulent corporate collusion is proven,
like the fraud committed in the Enron and WorldCom scandals. In an effort
to protect the corrupt executives, President Bush ignored the Securities
and Exchange Commission’s recommendation to file a brief on behalf of
investors — falsely citing the myth of “America’s
decreasing competitiveness” as his reason.
Perhaps he underestimates America’s resiliency.
After all, the same U.S. markets he is disparaging in his decision remain
the strongest in the world, despite his administration’s dismal
performance. For example: • Fourteen percent of all IPOs conducted in 2005
were conducted in the U.S. — more than any other country. • In 2005, the U.S. topped the list of countries
for percentage of total IPO proceeds with 20 percent. Those proceeds were
valued at $33.086 billion. • U.S. IPO volume increased by 22 percent from
2005 to 2006. • During the last quarter of 2006, there were 94
registered IPOs on the American exchanges — the highest quarterly
level since 2000. Our markets remain strong, and using “American
competitiveness” as an excuse to weaken investor protections is
nothing more than a sham. This case pits Main Street against Wall Street,
and Bush has made his loyalties abundantly clear.
Sherry Liles
Danville
GAMBLING IS NOT THE ANSWER Last year Gov. Rod Blagojevich blasted his opponent
when she proposed a casino in Chicago. He said this was a massive expansion
of gambling and a flip-flop from earlier positions she took opposing
expansion. Senate Democrats recently agreed to a compromise for
a casino in Chicago and two or three additional casinos that any city can
bid on for a new casino license. Do you really think any downstate city
will get a casino? Blagojevich now says additional gambling is an option
he may accept to raise revenue for his budget priorities. “I have
historically opposed an expansion of gaming. I have said in the interest of
compromise, that if it means providing health care to families, I’ll
hold my nose and support that option.”
Governor, this is a massive expansion of gambling and
a flip-flop from the position you took when you signed our candidate survey
saying you opposed additional casinos, increasing gambling positions at
casinos, slots at racetracks, video gambling at bars and restaurants, and
telephone wagering. Gambling promises more than it delivers. Revenue from
the Illinois Lottery accounts for only 9 percent of the education funding.
Lottery and riverboat casino revenue account for 4.8 percent of the general
fund in the 2007 budget. Gambling is an unstable source of revenue that
cannot solve the state’s budget problems. Legislators and the governor need to stop wasting
taxpayer money and find a way to fund programs that will not increase
addiction, bankruptcy, and crime.
Anita Bedell Executive director Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction
Problems
Springfield
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2007.
