And what about the Willis family?

Chuck Goudie really hit the nail on the head in his column of Oct. 29. The first thing I thought of when I read about George Ryan's request for an appeal, which mentions his 17 grandchildren, was "What about the Willis family?"

Goudie states that the Willis family has 25 grandchildren now and probably would have had more, had the six not been killed in that horrible car accident. Ryan has provided well financially for his children and grandchildren; they are reaping the rewards of his corruption. His physical presence is not needed to remind them of him.

The Willises, on the other hand, have given us a much better example than Ryan ever will; they have forgiven him for his actions.

As for Ryan's long-time roots in Kankakee, some of them are rotting away, just as his morals did during his time in office.

Patricia D. Herrmann

Arlington Heights

Men have a role and responsibility

I am writing in response to a letter from a reader who thinks abortion is a women-only issue. First, a man is required to make a baby. What if the father loves the mother and does not want the baby destroyed? Should he have no say in the matter? When a couple actually plans to have children, is the decision to do so solely up to the woman?

Following the logic that if you cannot have a baby, then you should have no opinion on whether to destroy one or not, then you could say that a person cannot express an opinion on whether or not to go to war, unless she has been a soldier. Perhaps parents should have no say in what is taught to their children, unless they have been a teacher.

Those who wish to make it a women-only issue will continue to bear alone the consequences of unplanned pregnancy. When a man is held accountable for his actions and bears the responsibility for the child he has helped create, he is going to act more responsibly, and think twice before he casually enters into a relationship.

But when women insist that it be a women-only issue, then irresponsible men will continue to disrespect and use women, and frankly, are being given a license to do so from the women they are abusing. If you insist that abortion is a women-only issue, then you or your sisters will continue to be used by men, and endure the words, "Here baby, here's some money, you go take care of it."

Eric Carver

Palatine

Bush and Cheney must be impeached

Congress owes it to the citizen voters of this country to impeach both George W. Bush and Dick Cheney! For all the damage that these two have done, they should not be allowed an honorable discharge when leaving office!

P. Nelson Elk Grove

So-called choice becomes a baby

That woman was pregnant. She made a choice. That "choice" became a baby And that baby became an intelligent, well-read person called Susan Schafer (see Fence Post, Oct. 26).

If that woman had made a different "choice," where would Susan Schafer be today?

Fifty years ago I had a miscarriage at four months. But at that time we had no ultrasound or other ways of knowing this truly was a life. Now we know! And now we must make sure everyone else knows too.

Mary Alice Myers

Streamwood