Letters 7-15-04

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HUFFING AND PUFFING

In fact, it is very doubtful that many people mourn the passage of the disastrously failed John Hay Homes project or the retirement of a fairly worn and dated public mural; neither event could even be remotely connected to the construction of the downtown Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex. It is likewise doubtful that many sober folks have really challenged Mike Townsend to come up with any ideas for “atonement.” Between his commentary piece and the follow-up letter to the editor [“Dishonoring Lincoln, big-time,” July 1; “Get the ball rolling,” July 8], he’s huffing and puffing to keep this soufflé from collapsing. But I think it already has. The moment of hilarity which accompanied the launch of this new conspiracy theory is behind us.

Tom Immel

Springfield

SHADES OF GREEN

I wish to thank Todd Spivak for the well-written articles on the Green Party convention and the Illinois Green Party [“The spoilers,” July 8]. But I do have a couple of constructive criticisms to offer — and one correction.

The correction concerns the statement that I had to collect 5,000 petition signatures for this campaign. That is incorrect: Five thousand was my goal during the last campaign, counting a margin for invalid signatures. In the 2004 campaign, having received established party status, I only had to collect 300 valid signatures to get on the primary ballot — the same as the Democratic and Republican parties.

The constructive criticisms pertain to the stereotyping of Greens as a “fringe” element consisting of aging hippies and young idealists and the degree of “political maneuvering and finger-pointing, hissing, and catcalling” at the Milwaukee convention. Although it is true that there are ex-hippies, ex-’60s radicals, and young idealists visibly populating the Green Party, so too are there farmers, office workers, lawyers, truck drivers, union laborers, teachers, and a wide range of people from all walks of life in the party. The comment about the Milwaukee convention’s resembling a Woodstock reunion was the kind of hyperbole we might expect from a corporate-dominated rag like the New York Times but it was unbecoming of Mr. Spivak’s otherwise fine writing in your journal. It was also inappropriate to tie the issue of legalization of hemp to these insinuations about the character of party members. Legalization of hemp is a sound, rational policy choice that would prove to be a boon for our farmers, provide an environmentally superior source of paper products, and a potential source of clean energy, among many other things. It does not deserve derision by association.

As for the catcalls, I am not denying that these things occurred, but I do feel that the article was a bit unbalanced on that score. For the most part, such acts of rudeness were quickly hushed by the overwhelming majority of Greens who respected the democratic process and conducted themselves civilly. And the other side of the coin is that many of us came away empowered and energized by our interactions with hundreds of Greens from across the nation (and some from other nations), and a feeling of greater unity and solidarity, despite differences of opinion. As we like to say, “This is what democracy looks like.”

Finally, I call attention to one glaring omission. A central message of the Green Party and major theme of the convention is to push the states to enact instant-runoff voting — a ready solution to the “spoiler” problem. Now that the Democratic Party has control over both the executive and the legislative branches of our state government, they are well positioned to do something about the spoiler problem, instead of finger-pointing at the Greens. Yet we haven’t seen much action from them yet on that front. What are they waiting for?

Rich Whitney

Candidate for State Representative,

115th District

Carbondale

FOR THE RECORD

Thanks for your article covering the Green Party national convention in Milwaukee and Green Party activities here in Illinois. I would like to point out an error, however. You wrote that “Illinois’ representative took a shot at Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland Co., which he described as ‘well-known corporate criminals, price-fixers, and union-busters.’ ” I made that speech, and as a woman, I prefer to be referred to as “she.”

Karen Young

Chicago

LET’S KEEP TALKING

At the next school board meeting (Monday, July 19), a presentation is expected by Springfield School District 186 personnel on the financial implications and space needs related to the elimination of mandatory busing. WMAY (970 AM), during its broadcasts on Tuesday, reported that the elimination of mandatory busing would free up at least $1 million for District 186. Let’s assume these broadcasts have some validity. This extra $1 million would be available every fiscal year, giving District 186 the option of doing many different things.

For example, District 186 could hire 20 more teachers, use the money to float a bond issue to build a new school on the East Side, or help build the new east-side community center and fund the center’s programs. District 186 could do many other things, instead of spending $1 million running buses up and down the road.

Hopefully, the mandatory busing issue dialogue will continue.

David Welch

Springfield

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

This year’s Independence Day celebration at the Illinois State Capitol saw several thousand people, from the Springfield area, other parts of the Midwest, and even from abroad, celebrating in style. The Springfield Municipal Band presented a rousing concert of patriotic music, and the annual secretary of state’s ice cream social provided cool treats to everyone. The evening was capped off with a fabulous fireworks show from Stars & Stripes Fireworks.

The Sertoma Club of Springfield, as coordinators and financial co-sponsors of the Capital City Celebration, would like to publicly thank our other financial sponsors: Illinois National Bank, the city of Springfield, and the Springfield Jaycees. Without them, there would be no fireworks. We would also like to thank Kellie Michaels and WNNS (98.7 FM), D.A.R.E., the Springfield police and fire departments, City, Water, Power & Light, and the Springfield Department of Public Works for their many in-kind services.

Sertoma members encourage you to mark your calendars for Monday, July 4, 2005 — join thousands in downtown Springfield for another tribute to our nation’s birthday.

Cheryl Pence

Sertoma Club of Springfield

WHY NOT SOUNDPROOFING?

I am in complete sympathy with Julie Kemp and others who are upset with the loud music and other noise emanating from a place of business in their neighborhood [Dusty Rhodes, “Party poopers,” July 8]. I once lived in an apartment across the street from a business that featured live music most nights of the week, and even during some afternoons. Even with the windows closed the sound came through and was very distracting, to say the least.

Common courtesy, if not the law, should dictate that sound from one’s property, whether business or residential, should not be so loud that it can be heard beyond the property lines. Obviously, there have to be some exceptions, such as the occasional use of noisy power tools outdoors or the annual fireworks on Independence Day.

But sound within a structure certainly can be controlled, by restricting the volume and/or putting in adequate soundproofing. Adequate soundproofing might be expensive, but it is a cost of doing business that is appropriately passed on to the business’s customers.

Dick McLane

Springfield

This article appears in Jul 15-21, 2004.