Daily Herald Prints Letters from Only One Point of View
Posted Monday, May 22, 2006, DailyHerald.com

Shakespeare might be on hit list, too

To the editor: District 214 board member, Leslie Pinney, wants seven books banned ... none of which she’s read. Huh? She gleaned information on certain passages from these books by surfing the Internet? Huh? (Wonder if she found any “Urban Legends” to believe in?).

Perhaps if Ms. Pinney actually does read anything herself, she may wish to research the phrase: “Get thee to a nunnery.” Bet the author of that will be on her hit-list. Shakespeare didn’t refer to a convent, you know.

Sheila F. Baker

Arlington Heights
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Books are a window to the world

To the editor: District 214 school board member Leslie Pinney wants to ban books that she hasn’t read? What did she read in high school, “Curious George?”

The irony of her small mindedness is that part of the No Child Left Behind Act within the school district, is that military recruiters are allowed to persuade our high school students during lunchtime to actually join the military to fight in wars.

Maybe if the students (and Leslie) read Tim O’Brien’s book, “The Things They Carried,” on the horrors of the Vietnam War, they could make an educated decision at their tender age if that is a “career choice” that they would like to make.

Leslie, go find another school district that will listen to your illiterate drivel.

Karen LeBuhn

Arlington Heights
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Make school board members read them

To the editor: It doesn't surprise me that Leslie Pinney has not read any of the books on the required reading list for District 214. To actually read them might encourage independent thought rather than parroting a conservative Christian agenda.

As a parent of a Hersey student, I think these books should be required reading for any board member attempting to remove them from the list.

Margaret Wiard

Prospect Heights
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Don’t legislate what my child reads

To the editor: I hate to say I told you so, but the election of right-wing extremist Leslie Pinney to the board of District 214 has led to her inevitable push — ban books. Books that she stunningly admits she hasn’t even read. This appalling acknowledgment of ignorance, along with her attempt to impose her personal viewpoints on others is frightening. What’s next? Mandatory prayer and Bible reading?

Since Pinney doesn’t actually read herself, only relying on excerpts, she should know that book banning didn’t work in Nazi Germany. It most certainly won’t work in the Northwest suburbs. Especially since district policy allows parents who have concerns about certain books to request an alternative — for their child; not the entire school district.

I deeply resent Pinney’s attempt to deem what is appropriate for my children. Since I do not attempt to impose my beliefs on others, I expect the same level of respect to be afforded me.

Reasonable moderate people should closely monitor Piney and her actions over the remainder of her term. Attend meetings. Voice your opinion. Apathy or inaction will allow her and other (right) “wing-nuts” like her to gain publicity and traction. Then, vote her out of office.

Gilbert M. Riley

Arlington Heights
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Ban mine too! My sales need the boost

To the editor: For those who yearn for the good old days of circa 1925 Tennessee, we have a new hero right here in present day Arlington Heights — District 214 board member Leslie Pinney. This crusader would ban books such as “Slaughterhouse-Five” from school required reading lists (without bothering to read them) because, in her opinion, they are littered with lewd language and graphic sexual references inappropriate for teens.

We can only assume that, by her reasoning, most classics of American literature should be banned. Certainly that would include Voltaire’s “Candide,” which has survived countless attempts to ban it over the past three centuries because of its abundant depictions of rape, murder, thievery, prostitution and cannibalism.

And let’s not forget the Bible, which, using Ms. Pinney’s logic, would certainly have to be included in her list of lascivious books.

Yes, I know she is not asking that any books be banned entirely — just banned from the required reading list. But this is a slippery slope. And banning a book she hasn’t even read? That boggles the mind.

I believe my book, “My Letters to David Letterman,” qualifies to be tossed into Ms. Pinney’s book-burning bonfire. This quote from the book will illustrate my point:

“I read somewhere that most violent criminals have a unique combination of chromosomes … we need to determine the chromosome combination of each person in the country and humanely execute all those whose chromosomes identify them as potential killers.

“Why wait around for someone to get hurt?”

In spite of excellent reviews from such prestigious publications as Mensa’s national magazine, the “Mensa Bulletin,” my book is presently only number 1,778,001 on Amazon’s best-seller list. I therefore ask Ms. Pinney to ban my book, since that would surely give sales a much-needed boost.

Gene McDougall

Arlington Heights
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Book banning is ‘flat out ridiculous’

To the editor: What is Leslie Pinney doing serving on School District 214? She wants to ban seven books she hasn’t bothered to read. Get out of your time-warp and into reality. This is the United States of America. We don’t ban books.

Removing books from the schools will not deter any teen who wants to read them. While you are at it, Ms. Pinney, why don’t you lobby to ban rock and roll music as well? Even better, lets bring back Prohibition.

I guess you think parents of teens are ignorant. Parents of children who love to read should be thankful. My oldest child will enter District 214 in three years and I suppose I will spend her high school years butting heads with the board.

“Slaughterhouse-Five” is a classic novel. Kurt Vonnegut was a brilliant author, not a pervert. “The Things They Carried,” — well, let’s just have our children learn the Vietnam War never happened and why don’t we forget the Holocaust as well.

Book banning is flat-out ridiculous. Leslie Pinney should be using her precious time to begin reading and perhaps volunteer in literacy programs.

Kristin Dailey

Roselle