We welcome letters, but please include your
full name, address, and daytime telephone number. We edit all
letters for libel, length, and clarity. Send letters to Letters, Illinois Times, P.O.
Box 5256, Springfield, IL 62705; fax 217-753-3958; e-mail
editor@illinoistimes.com. WE NEED MORE LIKE HIM Rob Williams is one of the most professional
police officers to ever wear a uniform, as well as being a man of
exceptionally high morals and ethics [Dusty Rhodes,
“Reluctant witness,” Jan. 19]. He has paid his dues and
earned all that has been bestowed upon him. I only wish to
underscore Rob’s obvious integrity and phenomenally sincere
approach to giving anyone the benefit of the doubt. The entire law-enforcement community, and the
citizens they serve, would benefit immensely from more officers
like Rob Williams. G.D. Stone Springfield OK, SO WHAT DO I DO? I absolutely agree with Rod Helle
[“Take back the country,” Jan. 19], but, specifically, what
can I do, besides voting, supporting organizations that I believe
in, and attempting to be kind in interactions with others? Other
than the “being kind” part, it doesn’t seem to
make a difference. I’d like to see a Helle column that
addresses this. Adriel Ippolito Springfield FOR A MORE PROGRESSIVE CITY Hallelujah! We finally can boast of a
first-class presidential museum in honor of Land of Lincoln’s
namesake. But we can’t dance in the streets yet or shout
praise, because of our dismal lack of progress on racial relations
and equality. How sad. The obvious irony of Lincoln’s freeing
the slaves should be especially noted here. How can we in good faith and in keeping with our
proud heritage possibly not free our minds to embrace true equality for
all citizens? Freedom comes in many forms: freedom of speech, [equal]
rights, and freeing ourselves from our attitudes of prejudice. It takes
a diverse people to make up a great community and progressive ideas to
integrate one. Could some of the failure be because of our
political system? Probably. But what else? I’d like to think
that this city is better than that and not content to settle for
second class. Why can’t the powers that be embrace and
envision a more progressive, integrated, diverse city in all
aspects? It should be reflected in our city’s policies. Janet Roth-Shaw Springfield ARMY SHOULD HAVE SHOWN RESPECT The Jan. 12 edition updated readers on the
controversy regarding the Salvation Army’s proposed building
site across from Oak Ridge Cemetery [R.L. Nave, “Feeling the
heat”]. It was apparent from the information in the numerous
articles and letters concerning this matter that the Salvation Army
never entered into honest and open-minded negotiations with those
who had concerns with the location of their proposed far north
construction site. Forget about the Salvation Army’s
charges that those who opposed their plans are prejudiced against
low-income and homeless individuals. This was just more of their
smokescreen arguments. The attitude of the Salvation Army was one
of arrogance and total disregard for the concerns of the citizens
of Springfield. The citizens of the community make it
possible for the Salvation Army to assist those in need. It seems
the Salvation Army of Springfield forgot it too is a citizen of our
fair city. Their behavior in this matter was anything but caring. John D. Kolaz Springfield HATS OFF TO DR. GLENNON PAUL I saw a nice letter written to Illinois Times in
the Jan. 19 edition regarding Dr. Glennon Paul from Larry Smith. I
am a new patient of Dr. Glennon Paul, and felt compelled to also
write a nice letter in defense of Dr. Paul. I saw Dr. Paul in the fall of 2005 for sinus
problems. He was the first allergist I had ever seen and I was
impressed on how well taken care of I was. The process of allergy testing and
investigating the cause of problem was quick and organized. Dr.
Paul took the time to meet with me at the beginning of the visit
and after all the testing was completed. He was able to tell me
what was causing my problem and gave me instructions on how to
amend it. He gave me a precise diagnosis, several prescriptions,
and explained what all this meant. He was friendly and caring and
at one point, I witnessed him contacting a patient at home and
telling her to come in and see him that very afternoon, which was
on a Friday at 4 p.m. I was stunned to see a doctor call a patient,
and tell them he would make the time for them. I have not had any problems with my sinuses
since and have recommended him to several other potential patients.
Hats off to Dr. Paul! Deb Gossrow Chatham FILM FEST SAYS THANKS A big “thank you” to Illinois Times for the
excellent article by Marissa Monson about the opening of the 15th
Annual Film Festival at White Oaks Cinema and the accompanying
photos [“Taking action,” Jan. 12]. A very large crowd
attended Junebug, the first film, thanks very much to your good write-up.
Molly Schlich Springfield WHY IDPH CIRCUMVENTS THE LAW Whose health does the Illinois Department of
Public Health protect when its director, an unelected bureaucrat,
can “circumvent” state law that prohibits neurotoxic
mercury in vaccines [R.L. Nave, “Mercury rising again,”
Jan. 19]? At a meeting on June 29, the IDPH and the American
Academy of Pediatrics planned their declaration of exemption
strategy. IDPH’s threatening statement that it
will continue to file yearly exemptions to the Mercury-Free Law is
a slap in legislators’ faces. Perhaps IDHP would provide
their science that shows the safety of thimerosal, the
ethyl-mercury ingredient in vaccines. Parents need to ask their doctors for vaccine
package inserts to determine if thimerosal is still in the
recommended vaccines. Illinois provides vaccination exemptions
based on personal religious beliefs for grammar, high school, and
college students. It’s safe vaccines that parents want for
their children and themselves. Barbara Alexander Mullarkey President Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition Oak Park GOD IS PART OF THE PROCESS In reading the first few pages of Jan. 12 Illinois Times, I
found myself struggling to come up with a nice name for an
“idiot-free America.” I can only hope people’s
frustration with their leaders will increase their ability to think
for themselves, rather than the passive behavior they have shown so
far. That being said, in regard to Fletcher
Farrar’s piece “The politics of God-talk,” God is part of our
legal process. It is ridiculous to truly separate morality and the
law. Otherwise it would be legal to murder, steal, and rape.
Drawing the line somewhere between religion and state is a tricky
and difficult process, but it must be done; otherwise little things
like slavery and women as property would exist. Actually, forms of
it do exist, just not in your face. I suppose the answer lies in
our struggle. As our leadership continues to disappoint, we are
forced to think for ourselves, work it out. This could be a good
thing if everyone participates. As I read the letters that
complained about our laws for gay rights, I lose hope that we are
getting anywhere close to a thinking constituency. People are not
gay because they want to be. It is not a choice, any more than the
color of one’s eyes. If we discriminate against being gay, we
are punishing a group of people that do not deserve it. If the Bible was to be taken literally, then
men would have proven to be doing a great job at running this world
— and we have yet to see that happen. The key is to take all spiritual
teachings as guides, not laws, and I hope, as time passes, our
consciousness evolves into a higher more compassionate form of
understanding and away from the simplistic jargon of the Pat
Robertson form of thought. It takes work to grow your faith as the
world changes and learns new things. I am not sure America
remembers that process. Anne Logue Springfield THIS IS THE YEAR ROE GOES It has been 33 years since abortion was
legalized. [There have been] more than 45 million abortions since
that terrible decision. I’m sure this is the
year Roe v. Wade will be overturned. With the two new justices on
the U.S. Supreme Court, abortion will come to an end. Then God will
bless our nation once again. I’m sure God has chastised
America for all the innocent babies that were murdered. Danny Faulkner Springfield
This article appears in Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2006.
