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Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois
62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
A GLIMPSE OF TRUE GENIUS
Job well done, Dusty Rhodes! Your article
“True Britt” [Nov. 17] managed to capture the essence
of Springfield’s editorial cartoonist Chris Britt. Chris is
an amazingly clever man. How fortunate we are that the State Journal-Register opinion
page displays his works of genius so frequently. Also, kudos to
Chris for his willingness and ability to defend his position to
those challengers who call or e-mail him. Lori Farrington Springfield
I enjoyed your article “True
Britt,” very much. As I began reading, I couldn’t help
but see the parallels to the way Chris Britt is received, and
criticized, by the public. It reminded me very much of the
reactions to Steve Benson of the Arizona
Republic. In reading further, I
found that Benson is Britt’s mentor! We lived in the Phoenix
area for almost seven years, and I looked forward to Benson’s
creations as often as they were in print. They can really stir
things up! As an artist, I appreciate their work very
much and know somewhat the difficulties in capturing the
expressions and caricatures that are involved with their format. Thank you so much for providing this
insightful article on a totally creative young man. MarySusan Farmer Jacksonville JOE HILL IS STILL ALIVE
Nov. 19 passed quietly without so much as a
ruckus or observance. I guess labor forgot the author of The Preacher and the Slave, Mr. Block, and There Is Power
in the Union. Ninety years ago, on Nov. 19, 1915, Joe Hill
— labor’s troubadour and organizer of the workers of
the world — was shot down by a Utah firing squad, executed
after a show trial for a murder he didn’t commit. As the song
goes, “ ‘The copper bosses killed you, Joe, they shot
you, Joe,’ says I.”
And now the chemical bosses, the oil execs,
the fast-food barons, and others of the ownership class are
shooting the workers down. Illinois is witness to this unfeeling,
unthinking corporate bid for profit at any cost: labor lockout in
Meredosia, a strike in Lincoln, and, as the recent Illinois Times evidences,
corporate globalization in Centralia [Mary Rickard, “Future
shocked,” Nov. 17]. Social strife and suffering are
widespread. All that is solid melts into air. Recently I contacted Sen. Larry Bomke about
passing a bill banning the use of replacement workers during
lockouts, strikes, negotiations — in fact, an absolute ban.
While he said he isn’t opposed to the idea and that more
needs to be done to help the working class, he also made it clear
that the majority Democrats probably aren’t interested in
this basic job- and community-preserving measure. While this is
mostly true, I don’t see what Bomke has to lose beyond
corporate sponsorship in starting a conversation on the subject by
introducing such a scab-banning bill. Do the unions not realize that by supporting
Democrats they aren’t getting much beyond rhetoric? Sure, the
Dems aren’t as far gone as the pro-business Republicans. So
it’s a choice between the lesser of two evils. But are the
unions really content with Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s minimum
wage increase? Shouldn’t the workers sit at the head of the table, not pick up
the scraps and sustenance wages and benefits dropped by Republicans,
Democrats, and big business? How about living-wage legislation? Anyone
want universal health care or elimination of the at-will status of most
employment in Illinois? Termination is only a grudge or prejudice away. While the real movement for progress and
human development occurs through society, workers need meaningful,
principled, unwavering representation in government. Joe
Hill’s command must be our rallying cry: “Don’t
mourn for me — organize!”
He never forgot the worker. Joe Hill
isn’t dead; Joe Hill ain’t never died.
Michael P. Ziri Springfield
DON’T GIVE IN TO THREATS
The Salvation Army, according to city
attorney Jenifer Johnson, has said it may sue the city if it is not
granted zoning permission to erect a new complex in the 1400 block
of J. David Jones. The controversy rose to a high level when both
the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Association and veterans representing
the war memorials across the street opposed the Salvation
Army’s relocation. Most of those opposed to such a move gave
great praise for the work the Salvation Army performs worldwide but
have grave concerns for those that come to the Salvation Army for
help and must be turned away for any of many reasons. Where will
they go? What will they do? One can only believe that it would be
in the vicinity of the Salvation Army shelter.
The Building and Zoning Department voted down
the zoning change request at its Oct. 18 meeting. This brought the
matter to the full City Council meeting held on Nov. 14. The Oak
Ridge Neighborhood Association and veterans had unofficial
assurances that the Salvation Army’s request would be denied
by the council. As if by chance, one day before the council
meeting, the Salvation Army provided the city with a document
threatening to sue the city of Springfield if they were not granted
the zoning changes they had requested under federal-fair housing
law. The council voted to defer this issue until its Dec. 6
meeting.
It is truly a very sad day when any
city’s leadership bows to these kinds of threats. I guess
poorer taxpayers and veterans don’t deserve proper
representation like those that live in Panther Creek who won their
battle against the giant business named Wal-Mart.
Others and I will be there to point the
finger at the city of Springfield should anything happen to one of
the neighborhood children or any of the schoolchildren visiting Oak
Ridge Cemetery’s many historic monuments. Jim Mathes Springfield DOC JESUS HAS THE CURE
Why is the bird flu flying over the global
cuckoo nest so fast? Birds of a feather flock together. The answer,
my friend, is the Holy Bible. More than 1,900 years ago, there was a
prophecy is the Book of Revelation (chapter 18, verse 2) that tells
about the bird flu today. Also the Book of Matthew (chapter 24,
verse 7) tells about pestilence in the last days. The bird flu is
one of the pestilences.
Don’t let the bird flu give you the
blues and put fear in you. There isn’t enough vaccine for the
bird flu now, but Dr. Jesus has a cure. Get a shot of the blood of
Jesus in your veins. The blood of Jesus has never lost its power!
The bird flu will fly away when the blood of Jesus vaccine saves
the day! George Culley Pinckneyville
STOP INTRUSIVE SCREENING
I recently learned that in 2003, the Illinois
General Assembly passed into law a plan to screen all children,
birth to 18, for mental health. At first glance, it seemed
harmless, but after some consideration, I am outraged. Who will determine “mental
health”? The state? Or the professionals who see this as a
gravy train? Will all kids be considered at risk? What about those
kids who “fail” to measure up to these vague standards?
Will they be put on medication? Or worse yet, labeled for the rest
of their lives? Let’s face it, many of the emotional
and mental problems facing our kids today stem from a breakdown of
the family.
The thing that infuriates me the most is that
unless parents know about these screenings, they will not be able
to stop them. Where are my rights as a parent to raise and protect
my children? I have called my elected officials who helped
create this mess, and I urge others to call their state
representatives and senators and tell them to stop this intrusive
mental-health-screening plan. Alicia Taylor Bolingbrook
BUSH EARNED THE RIGHT
No matter what President George W. Bush does
or whom he endorses, he will never please the opposing party! He
nominated a woman to the Supreme Court and was slapped down. Now
the Democrats promise a battle to block the nomination of Samuel
Alito, a highly qualified individual, because he is too
“conservative.” Bush campaigned for the presidency as a
conservative and won the right to make such an appointment. It’s time for those who truly care
about the ungodly direction our country has been heading in recent
years to stand up. Carie Parkes Orland Park
This article appears in Dec 1-7, 2005.
