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Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705;
fax 217-753-3958; e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com.
CAN’T SUPPORT KIDS? DON’T HAVE ’EM
I feel absolutely no sympathy for parents who cannot
meet their child-support obligations [R.L. Nave, “Deadbeats or dead
broke,” June 22]. With the education available concerning birth
control, why are these cretins having kids they cannot support? The law
should read: “Are you financially able to support a child or children
without government help, family assistance, or loans for the rest of your
life? Do you have brains enough to take the necessary precautions to
prevent more when you can’t take care of your current
brood?”
Also, these idiot women who have kids, hoping the man
will either stick around or marry them — you’re better off
alone rather than to employ such desperate means to keep a man around! I divorced in the state of Texas, where nonpayment of
child support is a felony, not a misdemeanor. Three felony convictions, and
you are a permanent guest of the state. The first time, my ex was given 48
hours to make full and complete restitution and a six-month suspended
sentence. The second time, he was taken from the courthouse to jail for six
months and was given 24 hours to make complete restitution. He was told not
to come back again on this charge because if he did, he would not need a
toothbrush. He was led from the court to jail, and a loan was taken out on
his home to make complete restitution. It was my fault that he lost his job as a cop, because I filed for
child support. The alcoholism that cost him another job also was my fault. It was my fault that he decided
to have another child by then, which caused him to fall behind in his
payments. He blames me for the six months in jail, which cost him another
job. When I asked for financial aid in Texas, because my
monthly gross income was $375 per month with no support from my ex, I was
told I must have a free sterilization to receive help. That state says if
you cannot take care of what you have, you have no reason to have more!
This is also the policy in some foreign countries. Why can’t we have the same requirements here
— and help the taxpayers out? Nina Bain Springfield
REMEMBER PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS
In 1893, a historical event took place in the state
of Illinois. Unfortunately, it is almost forgotten. In that year, in the
month of September, an august gathering of world religious leaders took
place. It was called the World’s Parliament of Religions. Their
respective religious leaders represented many religions of the world. At
this conference, a 29-year-old monk presented a “Paper on
Hinduism” from India. He read his paper on Sept. 19, 1893. One hundred thirteen years have passed since that
historical event. At this convention, this monk from India prayed and hoped
that the “bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention
may be the death knell of all fanaticism.”
After 113 years since that international event in the
state of Illinois, I think it is time to remember that historical event in
the current affairs of the world. Don’t you think so? The name of that monk was Swami Vivekananda, and if
you visit any city in India, you will see his statue. He is respected and
revered by young and old alike. Ramesh Genge Springfield
FORD-CHEVY DEBATE NOW IRRELEVANT
When I first moved here, 25 years ago, there were
heated debates between the American car and truck fans. The U.S. has the
best-compensated autoworkers in the world. Some time back, a friend bought
a new Chevy van. She was happy until he son returned from Japan. He pointed
out how the doors didn’t hang evenly. We noticed how the passenger
side had a draft from the door and the heat on the driver’s side was
poor, requiring the heat to be on high and broiling the passenger (me). I
have not noticed Fords to be any better. I now drive a Mazda. It would be
nice if a little more care went into the assembly of U.S. vehicles so we
could argue if General Motors or Ford was No. 1 — instead of No. 6. I
would like to be loyal — give me a chance, please. Patrick Johnopolos Springfield
ARE THEY GOING TO CONDEMN TOPINKA?
In the last presidential election, priests on the
Catholic channel were saying that voting for a pro-choice candidate was a
sin for Catholics. They stayed with that claim, even though a Vatican
spokesman said the church had never gone that far. On the other powerful
Christian-right television political forums, people were urged to vote for
the godly candidate who was pro-life. Are those same voices going to tell independent and
Republican Catholics in Illinois that voting for pro-choice Judy Baar
Topinka is a sin? Are those same voices going to say both
candidates for governor are ungodly for being pro-choice? Or maybe it’s only a sin and ungodly when a
Democrat is pro-choice. Tom Ferrari Tovey
SHAME ON HUPP AND NEECE
As a supporter of Goodwill Industries, I have
followed the case against former executive director Larry Hupp and his
assistant executive director, Debra Neece, in Illinois
Times. I have been very impressed with the
coverage that Illinois Times has given this issue. I have followed the case with
interest. I read that Hupp and Neece are opening a for-profit thrift
center, which will compete with the current stores run by three charitable
organizations in Springfield [see Bruce Rushton, “Ill will,”
April 27]. Shame on you, Larry Hupp; shame on you, Debra Neece.
Instead of being grateful that you are not serving jail time, you have the
audacity to now compete with Goodwill! I, for one, will not be supporting
this new venture. I care too much for the disabled people Hupp put in
jeopardy as director of Land of Lincoln Goodwill. Shame, shame. Joann Landers Springfield
FOR THE RIGHT TO BURN A FLAG
As a former U.S. Marine who served my country in
Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983, [I believe] flag burning should always remain
legal. The day it becomes illegal is the day America moves closer to Nazi
Germany. This is an act of disrespect not to the country but to arrogant,
wayward, and out-of-control politicians, at any or all levels of
government, who don’t deserve respect. Simply put, if I become angry
at my government, I want the right to burn my flag and vent. It is one more
reason I served my country and volunteered to preserve and protect my
constitutional First Amendment free-speech rights. So while George W. Bush
says, “Don’t mess with Texas” and naïve citizens
say, “Don’t mess with my soldiers and country,” I say,
“Don’t mess with my Constitution.” Flag burning has
nothing to do with disrespecting soldiers or my country. End of story! Tim Thornton Springfield
WHERE ARE THE UNIONS NOW?
The current brouhaha over immigration is most likely,
in part, an election-year tactic to energize Bush’s base. Apropos of
this, the Chicago Tribune recently ran a series of articles on the slaughterhouse and
meatpacking industries, beginning with essays on Upton Sinclair’s
muckraking novel The Jungle, which came out in 1906. It got me to thinking. In the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, and during Teddy Roosevelt’s terms in
office, the country was ruled by robber barons and big trusts. In his book,
Sinclair argues that the beef trust was the “incarnation of blind and
insensate greed.” In the 1930s, the unions helped workers in these
industries get a decent wage and benefits. At that time, employees of these
“trades” were Irish, Poles, Slovaks, African-Americans, and
others. Today, those workers are mostly Latinos, and many are illegal
Mexican immigrants. No longer entry into the middle class, these jobs pay
barely the minimum wage, if that, and forget about benefits. Where are the
unions now? I remember back in the 1960s, when Cesar Chavez was organizing
the Mexican migrant workers, there were boycotts of grapes and lettuce. I
am thinking that what we need now is a Cesar Chavez to come to the aid of
the Mexican meatpackers so that they, too, can reap the benefits of an
upwardly mobile middle class. Beni Kitching Springfield
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2006.
