What can cancer center be thinking?

To the editor: According to today's article the Cancer Treatment Centers of America are donating money for the improvement of the Barrington High School stadium.

Were all cancers cured while I was asleep? Aren't cancer sufferers still in need of treatments? Is radiation no longer necessary? No more chemotherapy? Or are some people at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America nuts?

And who approved the donation? And who accepted it? I'm beyond outraged. Let's get our priorities straight, folks.

I. Burrows

Barrington

Don't be so quick to dismiss puppet art

To the editor: According to your article Dec. 15, the Des Plaines mayor called puppeteering a "dying art" and gave that as part of the reason for opposing the use of public money to keep the Puppet Parlor in his city.

There are a number of so-called dying art forms in our history. People look back with nostalgia and sadness when it's too late to resurrect a lost art. We should make more moves to keep them around when we have the opportunity.

I think it is fortunate that the city of Chicago was able to see the value in the puppet theater, and very unfortunate that Des Plaines could not be as open.

There will always be a variety of choices for children's attention and interest. To allow that to be a reason for not supporting retaining this venture in the Northwest suburbs is, in a word, humbug.

Brenda Baines

Arlington Heights

This is not a life worth celebrating

To the editor: I am responding to an article by the Associated Press in the Dec. 5 "Life Stories" section adjacent to the Obituaries.

I read two uplifting stories authored by Daily Herald staff about a reverend and a local historian who passed away.

A third mentioned person, listed as a "Notable Death" is "Pimp C." Don't you just love that name? My question to you is "Who decides what constitutes a 'notable' death?"

Yes, I agree that his death at the age of 33 is sad. A life wasted … wasted because he was a rapper who used explicit language to promote his own personal agenda and to convert more young people into the darker side of hip-hop.

His newest promotion is "Pimpalation," a DVD that shows his release from jail in 2005, and his work in the studio with "stars" including Scarface and Bun B. A song listed on his newly released CD is "The Pimp is Free," which again was written because he was freed from jail.

I believe, and I am sure many other Americans believe, that there are more uplifting, interesting, and moral people who could be listed in your section "Notable Deaths." Your selection has disgusted me! How are we, as Americans, ever going to point the moral compass in a positive direction and fight those who prefer to denigrate people and entice children into their world, when our community newspaper promotes their lives by printing this tribute to an undesirable.

This Associated Press article does not merit even a mention in your newspaper. Put it in the gossip papers or "rags" as they call it. We don't need to read it; we don't need to know it. Help make America a better place, Paddock Publications!

Nancy Konnen

Rolling Meadows

Bartell right about illegal immigrants

To the editor: Although I am not in the State Representative 66th District, I am very impressed by Laura Bartell. She has a strong fiscal understanding and would do well against the total incompetence of the democrats in Springfield.

In addition, she will keep our educational system strong without major increases. Finally, Laura does not support amnesty for illegal aliens. The illegals must stop breaking the laws of this nation and return to their homelands and apply legally to immigrate.

Roman G. Golash

Palatine