We welcome letters. Please include your name, address, and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to Letters, Illinois Times, P.O. Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; e-mail to editor@illinoistimes.com; fax to 753-3958.
DON’T IMPEACH; LET’S GO FORWARD
Let me say first that I’m a new Democrat, not politically connected. Here is why I agree about not pursuing impeachment [see R.L. Nave, “Cut-and-run Democrats,” Nov. 16].
While I do think there was a time for pursuing impeachment, that time has passed. If it were to be pursued now, we would spend months in gridlock and build up animosity between the parties. During all of this time we wouldn’t be helping those that need it most, our soldiers and our poor at home.
While I believe the next president — hopefully a Democrat — will have his hands full with the burden of eight years of mistakes, fraud, and international shame, I don’t think a battle to impeach now will help. I would much rather see positive movement forward.
An impeached president won’t stop one bullet or bomb from taking another of our soldiers. For once, let’s not get caught up in politics.
Troy Gorda
Springfield
HE CAN’T BE A REAL PERSON
I marvel to think that Patrick Johnopolous might be a real person. I am tempted to believe you have used a pseudonym for a character created to elicit a response from your readers.
Surely no flesh-and-blood human being could endorse displays of Native Americans as prancing caricatures [see “Hail to the chief,” Nov. 9] and follow that up by writing that he was “tired of downtown’s panhandlers” [“Letters,” Nov. 23].
In my mind’s eye I picture a bizarre mélange of Gen. Philip (“The only good Indian I ever saw was dead”) Sheridan and Marie (“Let them eat cake”) Antoinette — with a sprinkle of Dick Cheney (“I am a deficit hawk” who doesn’t mind an extra $40 million) for his character.
Brice Brinkman
Springfield
EVERYBODY SHOULD BURN CORN
Everyone should be burning corn to heat their homes — it makes total sense [James Dulley, “The power of corn,” Nov. 23]. This should be one of the benefits of living in the Midwest — cheap utility bills in the winter. Why not use a renewable resource that is carbon neutral and benefits the local economy instead of supporting big oil or power companies?
The one item I would have liked to have seen in your article is the fact that more than just corn stoves are available. Corn “furnaces” can heat your entire house with very low maintenance. Just load the corn every couple of weeks and dump the ash pan once a week. In most cases corn furnaces can connect directly up to your existing furnace. I am a firm believer in this technology, so much so that I recently became a dealer of corn furnaces, Patriot Heat. My very small company is in its infancy. I have done no advertising except being listed as a dealer from the manufacturer, LDJ out of Pella, Iowa (www.cornheat.com).
I think everyone wants his or her heating bills to go down — and who could be against something that is environmentally friendly?
Bob Meyer
Springfield
MIXED-UP PRIORITIES
After reading your article on the smoking ban in Springfield, I’d like to offer an observation [see “Smoke signals,” Nov. 16]. If someone is passing up a good meal in a restaurant, giving up enjoying a good band in a bar, or simply quit going out to socialize with friends so they can sit on their couch and smoke, I think someone has their priorities mixed up.
Greg Bouillon
Chatham
SIGNAL TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
How is it that some elected officials can ignore the obvious? It’s blatantly obvious that the smoking ban in Springfield is truly hurting the bar business [see Marissa Monson and R.L. Nave, “Smoke signals,” Nov. 16]. It’s to the point that some bars may close from lack of business. I can’t imagine why an elected official would take the risk of being known for closing businesses, losing jobs! Isn’t that what most politicians campaign on, creating more jobs?
It’s apparent that the poll survey that stated there would be “increased” business after the nonsmoking ordinance was enacted is obviously inaccurate!
Yet Ald. Bruce Strom is still defending this survey, [arguing that] “the economies of other communities where smoking bans have been implemented have done just fine, so why would Springfield be any different”? Key words, Mr. Strom: “other communities.” You don’t understand people from other communities aren’t Springfield residents? The concept that people in different cites may have different ideas, mindsets? You think all people think exactly the same way?
Obviously, a big portion of the bar crowd in Springfield is composed of smokers and nonsmokers who don’t care whether they are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Mr. Strom still stands by his position that “it’s about health and not whether somebody is making a few dollars or not.” A few dollars? Mr. Strom, you are talking about people’s livelihood. You are willing to possibly destroy people’s businesses/lives to try and promote good health? What job or business is next? What kind of signal does that send to the business community? You can open a business here, but if we decide later it has an associated health risk, we are shutting you down?
Jeff Davis
Dawson
NCAA NEEDS TO BE CONSISTENT
A letter to the editor in the Nov. 16 edition of Illinois Times expressed opposition to the use of “Fighting Illini” and the “Chief” as University of Illinois symbols. The writer suggests, perhaps with tongue in cheek, that if these symbols continue, other names for teams, such as the “Georgia Crackers.” should be used.
Actually one of the most successful minor league baseball teams in the U.S. was the Atlanta Crackers, of the old Southern Association and later of the AAA International League. The Crackers name was dropped only when the major league Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta and the team kept the Braves name.
But aside from the pros and cons of the U of I symbols, there is the matter of the inconsistent policy of the NCAA regarding team names, mascots, and traditions. To me, there is no real difference between a Seminole “warrior” coming onto the field at Florida State University football games and throwing a flaming spear into the ground and Chief Illiniwek dancing at University of Illinois games.
Apparently Florida State gets a waiver because the Seminole tribe supports what this “warrior” does. Yet the question has to be raised as to how much this support is due to the favors that Florida State gives to the Seminole tribe.
NCAA officials should decide what they consider to be offensive and enforce the resulting policy uniformly among all universities, period. There should be no consideration given to any “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” agreement between a university and a tribe.
Dick McLane
Springfield
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
Many of us are fortunate enough to receive outstanding medical care in our city. We have state-of-the-art facilities that cover all forms of illness both large and small. However, without the quality of the medical staff and their expertise these facilities would mean nothing.
I have been a patient of Dr. Greg Mishkel, at Prairie Heart Institute, for the past 13 years. Because of him, and his extraordinary commitment to excellence in his field, I continue to have a quality of life that is second to none. Dr. Mishkel excels because he does not believe in failure nor does he allow his patients to doubt in his abilities or solutions. He has done and continues to do a great deal of research that has most likely benefited thousands of people. He does a weekly television program that addresses heart issues, health, and life. I would suggest tuning in if you have not seen it. I could continue but I have hopefully given people a glimpse of what this man stands for and does for so many. Most importantly, if you haven’t yet noticed, he is also an incredible human being. I trust him with my life when it comes to my heart and I would trust him with my life in ordinary circumstances as well.
Bob DuVall
Springfield
This article appears in Nov 23-29, 2006.
