Wake-up calls in order
Support the priests: I find it confusing to read letters from people who are quick to condemn the 46 priests and the religious sisters who have been bold enough to speak up on behalf of the Catholic people of the Belleville Diocese. This is 60 percent of the priests of the diocese, not a small group of three or four disgruntled men.
At Big Oil's mercy: Letter writer Bob Poole summed up the key reason why we are at the mercy of Big Oil: "We will never win because we have no true advocate in our corner."
What stimulus?: Lawmakers and the president have seen in their infinite wisdom and compassion to bestow on eligible families and individuals a payment to stimulate the economy. Keep in mind, it's mostly the wage earners' money they are sending back.
Doesn't suit the bill: Senate Bill 2052, the levee repair 1/4 -cent sales tax bill, is dead on arrival in Monroe County. The Waterloo and Columbia City councils, which represent 20,000 of 32,000 residents, have nixed the County Board imposition of a sales tax. An advisory ballot in November will surely be defeated. Senate Bill 2052 needs revision as far as Monroe County is concerned.
Not worth the money: You hit the nail on the head with your editorial last Sunday, "No pay raise for lawmakers," and crawled out on a limb with your quote: "In the business world, where compensation generally is based on merit, lawmakers wouldn't be getting a pay raise, they'd be getting their pink slip."
Change in the wind It is evident to me that we are in a recession and that global warming is a reality. Surely now we will be serious about finding alternative sources of energy and take steps to halt global warming.
Inspired to vote: In 2004, I got the opportunity to meet Sen. Barack Obama in a visit to Waterloo in his campaign for U.S. Senate. It was so very special I took my sons out of school to hear him speak.
Just the right notes: It's a privilege to go to a choir concert at Belleville East and know to get there early to find a seat. It's a joy to see so many teenagers singing from so many different backgrounds: Christian, Muslim, Mormon, even a few atheists. It seems to be one of the few areas where we can set differences aside and focus as a team without the testosterone in overdrive.
Church standards: After carefully reading and following the issues surrounding Bishop Edward Braxton and the Belleville Diocese during the past three years, I feel it is time to express my thoughts.
What a deal: I have decided to start my own carbon credit (carbon offset) company. It will be here in Illinois for now, but I anticipate going national very soon.
Broken promise: When Ray Sonnenberg went around the west end of Belleville and East St. Louis asking for money to build what was then known as the East St. Louis YMCA, he told us that our money would go to building a YMCA that we all could be proud of for the rest of our lives. We gave our money and we have used the Sonnenberg YMCA all these years and watched as it has been neglected. I know in my heart that if Sonnenberg were still alive, he would not let this closing happen. He would have done whatever...
Thanks, Columbia: The Prairie Du Pont levee system was originally designed to protect Dupo and its rail yards. This was an industrial grade levee, offering protection from a 500-year flood event.
Don't tase us, bro I have followed the News-Democrat's articles from 2006 in remembrance of Nick Mamino Jr., who was tasered by Collinsville Police, shortly after which he died.
Coordination, please: I am beginning to be concerned about public service employees of St. Clair County. It is amazing, the stumbling blocks that are placed when citizens try to report an incident.
Follow the money: In a recent letter, the Rev. Dennis Voss encouraged people to give donations to the Catholic Service and Ministry Appeal. Voss stated that all donations go to the Finance Office in the care of William Knapp, CFO, and his staff. Quote: "If the bishop wants to spend some money on something, he has to go to Mr. Knapp for him to cut a check."
No more rate increases: In February the consumers spoke up at the Illinois Commerce Commission public hearing in Belleville to express their opposition to Ameren's request for a $247 million rate increase. Little did they know that Ameren had additional plans in mind. I attended that meeting.
Ja Ruler: Our original Midwest rapper: FIRST, WE had Sister Joyce Gadoua of Cohoes, New York, writing a letter about cartoonist Glenn McCoy, saying he owes the sisters of the Belleville Diocese a huge apology for a cartoon that "denigrates their image." It showed a Ruma nun with a ruler that had smacked Bishop Braxton's knuckles. Sure it may have been stereotyped, but the media did get it right. The nuns did do that. It wasn't a lie. It wasn't "that sad, sick or sorry."
A waste of resources: Would someone please tell me why every week we have several Illinois State Police cars in Marissa handing out tickets to citizens who don't come to a complete stop on a side street? Does the state have such a big surplus that it has to send the State Police to Marissa every week? Is there no more crime in Illinois?
To err is human A recent letter writer referred to those who support Belleville Diocese Bishop Edward Braxton as "people who revere their bishops as godlike figures rather than the fallible human beings they are," then proceeded to chastise the bishop for a wrong committed. I find this humorous. It is precisely because we do know that people are "fallible human beings" that we are able to show respect and forgiveness. No one is perfect.
