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telephone. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity.
Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois
62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com
My most difficult years
I joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in September 1999 and really didn’t
know Jerry Wiley that well and had no insight into the discrimination issues
highlighted in your article [Pete Sherman, “Trouble Man,” Oct. 23]. However,
I was impressed that Wiley was knowledgeable and effective as the department’s
fiscal officer.
I was appointed by John W. Johnston and subsequently terminated effective
May 1, 2003 by his replacement, Roy L. Dolgos. I have no hard feelings about
the termination because a substantial number of people appointed to work in
the Ryan Administration were terminated when the new governor took office.
I left the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to join Johnston as deputy
director for operations. He never once made reference as to the terms of my
appointment, and I assumed I could work with the department as long as I wanted.
I found out after I started that I could be fired at any time without cause.
In all my years of working with veterans I had never encountered an individual
like Johnston. In short, he was absolutely impossible to work with unless you
could count yourself among the half dozen or so favored staff members, including
the auditor mentioned in your article. I could elaborate on a number of issues
and events during Johnston’s tenure that could only be classified as bizarre,
but you would probably question at least some of these recollections because
they would be hard to comprehend. The sad irony is that after literally driving
the department into the ground and creating the most polarized environment imaginable,
Johnston was allowed to stay on for several weeks after the new director arrived.
In my opinion he spent most of this time influencing the new director on who
should be terminated and who should be retained. In retrospect, none of Johnston’s
cronies were terminated, while both deputies and several others who were not
in his favor were axed, but by the new director. Hal Fritz had eight years with
the department and a Medal of Honor, but he received the same termination letter
I did. He was barely given time to clean out his office and essentially treated
like a criminal.
This is the first time I have said anything about Johnston, although my name
as the “other deputy director” appeared in several articles about Hal’s termination.
I have a good job that I enjoy, but will always consider my three years and
eight months with the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs as the most difficult
of my career.
Dan Boatright
Former Deputy Director,
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Springfield
His aim is true
Bob Cavanagh [“History Talk”] is a bloody genius: everyone knows that. Here’s
to a long and happy association between the lot of you, though I hope he manages
to throw a few stones yet from inside the glass house. God bless the good times,
all the rest of you can hang. I’ve renewed my subscription with hot blood this
time. Luck, faith and vigor.
Liam Burke
London, England
Our summer getaway
I enjoyed reading your article “Water World,” including the map [Pete Sherman,
Oct. 30]. As a child I spent many years at Baldwin’s Beach. The area was so
small, no more than 16 cottages is my recollection, that it was quite a surprise
to see it shown on the map published with your article. Nearly all the cottages
were owned by Springfield people — I can recall most of the names — who used
them as summer getaways in the years prior to air conditioning. Our family was
there from Memorial Day to Labor Day in the late ’20s and early ’30s.
John Dixon
Springfield
So there’s no confusion . . .
I am afraid there has been some misunderstanding in regard to claims of the
“Art of Living” course which I would like to clarify [John L. Glosser, “Know
how to breathe? Think again,” Oct. 30]. The injury to the cartilage I alluded
to was personal and stressful. The breathing technique offered by the course
helped me reduce my stress and anxiety greatly. The alleviation of stress and
anxiety was felt subjectively which had some positive effect on the pain itself.
However, I would like to disclaim any inference relating the “Art of Living”
breathing technique and alleviation of physical pain. It must be emphasized,
nevertheless, that the breathing technique known as “Sudarshan Kriya” has led
to an emotional cleansing and betterment of the quality of life for me, and
several others personally known to me.
Dr. Padma Talcherkar
Springfield
Repeal the Patriot Act
Over 190 cities and counties across the country passed resolutions expressing
concern about the original Patriot Act. And in Congress, there’s bipartisan
support for repealing portions of the Patriot Act. Instead of fighting these
efforts in Congress or proposing further restrictions on our basic civil liberties,
the Bush Administration should listen to the people — and its Republican allies
in Congress — and join the reasonable and growing movement to restore freedoms
that were too hastily thrown away after the horrific 9/11 attacks.
Rene Apack
Highland Park
With great anticipation
Just a note to say I enjoyed the chapters that were presented of The Highway
Side by Jack Clark. I will miss the new chapter on the last page in future
issues of Illinois Times. I now look forward to reading the book in its
entirety.
Cheri Harden
Pawnee
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2003.
