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
WHAT’S WRONG WITH KANSAS?
I am writing in response to your
“Reporter at large” column of your Dec. 2 edition
[Fletcher Farrar, “How to avoid the Great Backlash”].
Your column attempts to equate the residents
of Kansas with Illinois residents southeast of Effingham.
My most recent trip to Effingham, Newton,
Olney, Fairfield, Robinson, Flora, Mt. Carmel, Mt. Vernon, Carmi
and other towns shows that residents of these communities are proud
of their sons and daughters in the U.S. military, are proud to say
“under God” when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, do
not believe homosexuality is a civil right, do not want homosexuals
in the Boy Scouts, are proud of their ownership of firearms, do not
want additional gun control, and are proud of their jobs, towns,
and families.
I hope that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is not
from the center but from the far left, experiences the same fate as
former Sen. Tom Daschle — the sooner the better.
Gus Wall
Gridley
IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
I agree with Janet Roth Shaw, who is concerned
about issues that affect our children’s welfare
[“Letters,” Jan. 20]. She suggested that the best thing
to do is to get involved in any group or organization that is
trying to make a difference.
If you are a woman 21 years of age or
older, consider joining the Junior League of Springfield. Our
national organization began more than 100 years ago in New York
City, and the Springfield branch affiliated in 1950. Here in
Springfield, members have helped families in more than 150 programs
through hands-on volunteer work and community grants funded
primarily by our fall “Next to New” sale, sales of our Honest to Goodnes cookbook,
and our spring kitchen tour. Experienced Junior League members
serve on board of directors of many social-service agencies.
We are a founding partner in the
Leadership Springfield program and helped found the Golden Laurel
Awards to recognize senior scholars of all the Springfield schools.
Just this year we have collected art
supplies for the Early Literacy program, basic-needs supplies for
female National Guard members serving in Afghanistan, and cans of
soup for the Salvation Army; wrapped presents for the Ronald
McDonald House that we were instrumental in getting established;
hosted a party for the Make a Wish Foundation; and helped at Camp
Care-a-lot, a one-week camp for children of no- or low-income
families where children learn conflict-resolution and cooperation
skills while having fun. We will be giving out $10,000 in funds to
help children and families later this year. We also join with other
Illinois Junior Leagues to lobby for legislation to benefit
families and children.
We will be forming a new class of provisionals
to begin later this year. All it takes to start making a difference
in Springfield is a call to our office, at 217-787-7802, or our
admissions chairwoman, Paulette, at 217-528-9776 to reserve a spot
or receive further information.
Kathy Dehen
Springfield
TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY
Two phrases caught my attention during the
president’s inaugural address. The first spoke of the
“shipwreck of communism.” If communism is truly
shipwrecked, then someone needs to tell China, Cuba, North Korea,
and Russia.
The second phrase was “to the best of my
ability.” Enough said.
Chris Babb
Rochester
GET READY FOR THE NEXT DEBACLE
It’s time liberals forget the 2004
election and start rooting for Hillary [Clinton]. (She can’t
make it, either!)
F. North Ross
Rochester
CLOSER TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
I’m really shocked to find out what the
General Assembly and governor have done to Illinois! Making a law
that gives legal protection to any behavior is wrong. But
protecting homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender confusion is an
invitation to folly! It’s another stepping stone in place
toward the goal of the radical gay community — same-sex
marriage.
The Massachusetts Supreme Court cited the
state’s gay-rights law as a basis for legalizing same-sex
marriage. The court’s justification was “. . .
Massachusetts has a strong affirmative policy of preventing
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”
Illinoisans are no different from the people in
other states who overwhelmingly voted to protect marriage as one man
and one woman.
I can’t believe our elected officials
are that blind. I can’t believe they are pandering to a small
group who want their physically harmful sexual behavior normalized.
We do not want this happening in Illinois!
Dianne Gustafson
Burr Ridge
CHECK THAT BIBLE AGAIN
The Rev. James W. French of Dakota states that
Illinois is now on the wrestling mat with God
[“Letters,” Jan. 27]. This is all a result of his fear
of SB 3186, the legislation adding sexual orientation to the
Illinois Human Rights Act.
French states that the state government could
force the Roman Catholic Church to hire homosexual men to supervise
altar boys. Hmm, last I heard, the Catholic Church has been
settling lawsuits because of what their priests have been doing
with said altar boys (please don’t take this as an indictment
of all priests).
French then goes on to warn about the hiring
of child molesters for daycare centers and other churches’
being forced to hire sexual predators. I guess I’m going to
have read that darn bill, because, according to French, it
circumvents all other laws and provides for complete anarchy.
It is this type of fear and ignorance that is
the true danger. I have to read the Bible again to find the section
that lists which sins are worse than others and where it says that
if someone lives a lifestyle different from yours, they go to hell.
It’s always amazing to me how those with the loudest
religious voices seem to have a Cliff Notes version of the Bible
that lists those things they should pay attention to and those they
shouldn’t.
Rev. French, would you explain to us why an
adult who goes to work shouldn’t receive the same benefits as
another adult, or why you need to know what they are doing in the
bedroom (or the kitchen or their back yard)? Would you explain why
it’s OK to hate and deride some people and not others? If you
go back and proofread the Bible, you may find where you missed a
few lessons.
Troy Gorda
Springfield
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
I must admit I got quite a chuckle after
reading James W. French’s letter to the editor and his
concern for the state being able to “force the Roman Catholic
Church to hire homosexual men to supervise altar boys.” I
don’t think the Catholic Church needs anyone to “force
them to hire homosexual men to supervise altar boys,” as they
have been doing a fine job of hiring and retaining and enabling
known homosexual predators of altar boys for some time now.
If I recall, Jesus had his feet washed by a
prostitute, drove individuals out of the temple who were making
money off the poor, and was eventually nailed to a cross by the
religious leaders of his time. Jesus seemed to be more upset with
hypocrisy from the leaders of the church then he was with sexual
sin. This apparently was the last time a “Christian”
had his priorities straight.
As for the rest of French’s drivel,
employment contracts between religious institutions and individuals
have been found to be unenforceable in a court of law. Big powerful
religious institutions have been using this fact to fire their
“weak and voiceless” employees for some time now for
such “offenses” as not allowing the pastor’s wife
on a children’s outing. I know this from the personal
experience of a family member of mine.
Besides, the state for decades has said that
one cannot discriminate on the basis of religion. Perhaps French
can enlighten us on how many Hindus, Muslims, Jews or Pagans the
church has been forced to hire?
Todd Ernst
Petersburg
SHE’S MOVED TO CYBERSPACE
I’ve been a faithful reader of Illinois Times for many
years and in particular enjoyed Grace Smith’s column. All of
a sudden, no column, no explanation, no reason — nothing. I think your
loyal readers deserve to know why she disappeared from your paper.
Fired? Quit? Left town?
Please respond. I have seen inquiries in your
paper but no answer. If I missed it, I’m sorry — please
repeat.
Margaret J. Herr
Jerome
Editor’s note: Grace Smith continues to
write a column at graceuncensored.com.
WORST KIND OF PARTISANSHIP
Some time ago the White House changed its
policy on the treatment of prisoners. After that change there was a
pattern of abuse and torture. The soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison in
Iraq have repeatedly claimed they were following orders. Similar
but less publicized reports have come from Afghanistan. There are
many reports of various forms of abuse at Guantánamo Bay and
recently prisoners there attempted a mass suicide.
Instead of holding policy makers responsible
for their decisions, the Bush administration has attempted to
scapegoat enlisted soldiers and wants to promote the author of the
more permissive torture guidelines to attorney general. Another
president might admit his mistake or at least conduct an
investigation to determine whether it was wrong to send mixed
messages to our military about human rights.
Voting to confirm Alberto Gonzalez as attorney
general sends a message to the world that we do not take the
torture of prisoners seriously and that the U.S. Senate is
unconcerned about what happened at Abu Ghraib and
Guantánamo. Such a vote will make those already horrible
violations of human rights an even greater stain on America’s
reputation and legacy.
It’s unfair that the media only throws
the accusation of partisanship at Democrats who oppose Bush’s
nominations.
The worst kind of partisanship is one that
tolerates deception and abuses of power simply because it comes
from a president of your own party.
Will Reynolds
Springfield
This article appears in Feb 3-9, 2005.
