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.
School districts that cut funding for music and the other arts are foolish. Our children need both the arts and the sciences -- much more so than sports -- if they are to provide a positive contribution in an uncertain future. Kids need English -- both composition and literature -- so they can analyze the thoughts of others and coherently present their own ideas. Great ideas are often ignored if not presented well.
Kids need foreign languages (and history) so they can encounter other cultures with understanding. Kids need music for creativity, that ability to use both sides of their brains to solve the toughest technical problems.
I'm impressed with both the fine arts and the math and science education at Belleville East, each complements the other. I've been a mathematician in industry for almost 25 years and understand the critical importance of both. My congratulations to school leaders who strive to maintain the funding and high quality of each of these critical programs.
Jim Francis
Swansea
Free to choose
I'm writing in response to the letter, "Attention, please," by Jim Francis. I want to welcome Francis to 2008. Now that he realizes we aren't in the Stone Age, I want to introduce him to our location. We live in this wondrous country named the United States of America, also known as The Land of the Free.
The framework this country was founded on is this beautiful document called the Constitution. One of the most amazing things about this Constitution is that it makes America secular, meaning it's separate from religion. This means that gays and unmarried couples don't have to worry about being stoned to death by barbarians like him.
Bigots like him are a dying breed. They drive people away from their faith and make a poor representative of our nation, especially being from such a progressive state as Illinois.
I find it appalling he thinks we should be teaching hate to grade school children when they should be learning tolerance so they can function properly in our modern world.
Freedom means that what two consenting adults do in their bedroom is none of his business and most certainly is not equivalent to murder.
Chad Farris
Belleville
What's being taught?
In regard to Amber Kelso's letter to the paper on April 23, she encourages us all to "stop polluting and littering," and that "animals would like it if you did." She further states, "Buildings are taking lives of some kids and people's favorite animals," (I assume she is speaking of urban development).
I don't know whether Amber is in elementary, middle or high school. I would hope she is in the early educational period based on the comments. This is not a personal attack on Amber. What concerns me is that her views of the status of the environment are most likely being shaped within the public school system, or through non-science, political propaganda such as Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth."
She states at the end, "If animals could talk, they'd say thank you for saving their lives and the earth."
I am an agricultural entomologist by advanced degree and applied experience for more than 30 years, and am quite certain that insects have no greater ambitions or thoughts than to eat, defecate and replicate (eat, poop and have sex in lay terms).
As to the environment and our future, it would be most beneficial if Amber were being taught substantive facts versus propaganda, which is developing fear, fantasy and ignorance. Do you know what your children are being taught?
Brent Rains
Collinsville
Answer to our fears
Reference the March 30 letter "Fear no more." I sympathize with the writer, who is "sick, tired and afraid." He is concerned that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" mean nothing and that we are not really free to live a healthy and safe life free from worry, debt and poverty. His main fear seems to be a lack of national health care.
Our government does indeed assure us the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," but nowhere is it written that it should provide for freedom from fear, worry, debt or poverty, or provide health care. The government is not our parent and it is only supposed to provide us an opportunity to pursue a self-actualized life through which we may achieve our own goals.
The problem of fear can easily be solved by giving your heart and soul to Jesus; I realize, of course, that most people are just not going to do that. But once you repent and make the decision for Christ you will find a fulfilling life that is free from fear, but not always free from trouble.
James L. McAfee
Belleville
English only
Although I live in Collinsville, I do not personally know Michael Ray Dillier. But I do agree with his letter on April 20.
I think English is our language and should be learned by all who live here. What is done in the home is one thing, but in public or schools is another.
I won't talk to anyone on the phone who can't speak my language. I worked for 51 years and have never been able to get freebies or help. English was my thin" in school and I refuse to learn anything else. I'm too old, anyway.
Mary H. Kurtz
Collinsville
Different rules for Obama
Recently, the media spent a great deal of effort publicizing the ill-chosen remarks by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's former pastor. His statements were unfortunate. However, Wright is an ex-Marine who does love his country, and he was chiding our leaders and all of us to make the United States a better place.
The national media all but ignored the fact that Republican presidential nominee John McCain actively sought the support of two ultra-extremist fundamentalist pastors -- John Hagee and Rod Parsley. Hagee has stated that the pope is the Anti-Christ. Parsley has called for the destruction of the Islamic religion. This is dangerous, divisive dogmatism at its worst,. The fact that McCain is seeking support from the religious right by seeking the support of these two loose cannons shows he will do anything to win.
Why did the media jump all over Wright, but ignore McCain's actively courting two lunatic fringe ministers? The national media are owned by big corporate types who have been doing very well when conservative Republicans are in charge of government. They probably fear that a Democratic presidency might threaten the corporate "free lunch" system in general. Therefore, they will emphasize negative coverage of Democratic candidates, while mostly ignoring anything negative about McCain.
Wright misspoke, but he is a patriot, not an extremist. Hagee and Parsley, however, love views that advocate the destruction of other faiths. McCain should be ashamed for seeking their support. The national media should be ashamed for not pointing this out.
Larry L. Brown
Glen Carbon
