A different kind of torture

To the Editor:

This is an open letter to Sen. Dick Durbin:

On a television newscast, you recently voiced your opposition to the nomination of Mike Mukasey for the office of Attorney General on the grounds that you disapprove of his position on waterboarding as a means of obtaining information from our enemy.

Please help the voters to get this clearly. You object to this practice, calling it torture of such magnitude that America should never be involved in such things. Others in your party agree with you, saying it gives us a poor image to all other nations of the world. But on the other hand, you and many others in your party are crafting new legislation to override the recent Supreme Court decision outlawing partial-birth abortion which, if passed, will forever guarantee a woman's "right" to abortion at any stage by any means with no way to oppose it. You call it the "Freedom of Choice" act, and it is supported by the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, NOW, NARL, pro-choice America, and others.

Here's what's confusing and needs a public reply - we give mercy to head-chopping, blood-thirsty terrorists who have sworn to destroy all of Israel and America as quickly as possible. Yet at the same time we continue unfettered murder of innocent babies even if they are almost out of mom alive and kicking. If we stop waterboarding, would it be all right with you guys if we substituted that with dragging the terrorists around by the feet, jabbing scissors in the back of their heads, and sucking out their brains? Or, getting a giant set of forceps and pull their arms and legs off (of course, we can't use anesthetic), or maybe put them in a big enough tank and soak them in salt water until their skin comes off.

Come on fellas, be fair about this. It's good for America's image.

Dale Gabriel

Carbondale

Stay safe on Thanksgiving holiday

To the Editor:

The Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation are announcing a second round of the enforcement emphasis called the "Stay Alive on the I's." This enforcement initiative will start from noon until 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, and conclude from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007. During this time, all interstates in Illinois will be saturated with state troopers every 10 miles. Our focus will be on enforcing the "Fatal Five" violations which lead to serious injuries and death. These are: driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or fatigue; speeding; following too closely; not wearing a seatbelt; and improper lane usage.

We are the district commanders which encompass Southern Illinois. It is our goal to have no fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Last year, there were seven crashes which resulted in seven fatalities in all of Illinois. In Southern Illinois, there were no fatal crashes in Districts 13, 19 or 22.

We urge you to stay alert and drive smart. Wear your seatbelts and make sure all your occupants do the same. Drink responsibly, watch your speeds and yield to stationary emergency vehicles. The last thing our troopers want to do is notify your loved ones that you have died in a crash. Please be careful so we all can enjoy the holidays.

"Stay Alive on the I's" is in conjunction with the Thanksgiving Combined Accident Reduction Effort and IDOT's "You Drink and Drive. You Lose." campaign.

Capt. Mike Irwin

Commander ISP District 13

Du Quoin

Capt. Rich Fulkerson

Commander ISP District 19

Carmi

Capt. Harry Masse

Commander ISP District 22

Ullin

Why fly? The history is here

To the Editor:

For those who do not have the financial resources to take a vacation, I recommend a visit to Shawnee National Forest.

After a recent day trip to beautiful, unspoiled Pope County, Garden of the Gods, Elizabethtown and Golconda on the beautiful Ohio River on a crisp, clear autumn day, I was reminded of how gorgeous this area is. We have four distinct seasons and a reasonable amount of sunny weather. Though summers are quite hot and humid, we soon usher in the inspiring fall season. Winters are not terrible, but cold enough to remind us what season it is. Sometimes we are even blessed with a fresh sparkling blanket of new fallen snow. In spring, the redbuds, dogwoods, apple and peach blossoms finally come. Need I say more?

Being a native of Murphysboro, in my backyard are Kinkaid Lake and Lake Murphysboro - small but very pretty. Pine Hills, Giant City, Devil's Backbone and Tower Rock in Grand Tower are not far. There is also the Shawnee Wine Trail.

The convergence of two of the mightiest rivers in the country, the Ohio and Mississippi, occurs in Cairo. There is an old abandoned Kaskaskia reservation off Grimsby Road, as well as Fort Massac, John A. Logan, de Chortres from frontier days and river pirates in the Cave-In-Rock region.

This region is a treasure trove of history and beauty. Take some time to see and appreciate it. Save gas and lodging for a longer trip and see what we have in "The Other Illinois."

Maria E. Bencini

Murphysboro