I think there should be more people like Jim Carrey in the world. Then the world would be a funnier place.
Dan H., 8 Chicago
Fair play
I would like to thank you for printing “The price tag for peace “
(Dec. 5 Tough News). I am getting sick of all the articles that are saying “the Serbs did this” and “the Serbs did that.” As a Serbian I felt it was a fair article that didn’t take sides over the Serbs, Croats and Muslims.
I understand that President Clinton felt it was the country’s duty to send troops to Bosnia-Herzegovina. What I don’t get is why he (is sending) 20,000 troops. That will be 20,000 men and women who won’t be with their families dur-ing the holiday season. The Serbs, Croats and Muslims are nearing peace, so why do we need troops over there?
Daniella M. South Holland
Fighting for her life
I’m responding to the article “Was killing self-defense?” (Nov. 14 Tough News). I agree with Jennifer Van Nunen. I probably would do the same thing to my father if he was beating or threatening my mother. I don’t really agree with how she killed her father, but if I was in her shoes at that time and that was the only way I could stop him, I guess I would. I think she was defending not only her mother but herself as well.
Kelly S., 13 Bensenville
Home sweet home
Hey, wait a minute, Veronica H. (Nov. 28 Backtalk). Many people don’t throw their parents into nursing homes because they don’t care. It’s actually the opposite. We put my grandmom in a home for her own safety. We love her a lot and tried really hard to think of other solutions, but they didn’t work. We wanted her to be some-where where she always had company. The place we put her is very respected and if anything happened we would take her out again. Maybe you should think before you accuse people like that.
Emily O., 14 Winnetka
In response to Veronica, elders do deserve respect. But the comment about nursing homes was very insulting to me. I volunteer at a very good nursing home. The nurses do an excellent job. The aides help the elders and play games, watch movies and just talk with them. I know some of the daughters/sons and granddaughters/grandsons and they visit them every week.
You have no right to assume (the elders’) kids don’t want to take care of them. No one has stolen anyone’s personal belongings here. If you ask me, you should clean your act up. If you volunteered at this nursing home you would know what I’m talking about.
Amanda W., 12 Geneva
Pointing fingers easy
Why must there always be someone to blame? C.T. (Nov. 28 Backtalk) says that the bus driver is the one at fault in the (bus/train) acci-dent. The driver could not pull out in-to the intersection be-cause of traffic. Everyone was on their way to work, so the intersection was crowded. If she drove out into the intersection dur-ing the red light, she would have caused an accident and probably killed someone in the process.
So are you saying that to save those kids’ lives she had to kill someone else in an accident? Is that right? I believe that the accident was just a bunch of coincidences that led to tragedy, and that no one is to blame.
You have the same idea as most other Americans, that we are all victims and that if you can find someone to blame, sue ’em. (A recent) “Broom Hilda” comic illustrates my point. She purposely leaps in front of a car so she can sue the driver for hitting her.
Chris S., 15 Hanover Park
Regarding C.T.’s letter, the driver will have to live with the fact that she inadvertently killed seven children. If that were me, you should just lock me up in the looney bin and throw away the key!
The tracks right by my school are just as dangerous as where the accident happened. When my class went over them, we all held our breaths and cheered when we went over safely.
I’m sure you lost some friends, C.T., but this woman is being ridiculed because the lights at the intersection failed. It wasn’t her fault!!
Michelle C., 12 Northbrook
Circus too daring?
I think that the Globe of Death (Nov. 14 Cover) is very dangerous. One little mistake and someone might get killed. Everyone makes mistakes. Even if you just were to turn the wrong way or if your partner’s going the wrong speed, both of these things could result in death or tragic accident. I think Barnum & Bailey Circus should consider safety a little more.
Sara P., 10 Crete
Let me play
I love sports and play everything. I enjoy tackle football and am sort of good. But the boys don’t let me play. They say, “Girls are too weak” and “Go home and cook.” To this I want to say grow up. We are in the 1990s not the ’50s. I am a modern girl and will not be denied what I so rightfully deserve. Whatever happened to the equality boys say everyone should get? Or does that not count in sports? How can we achieve equality in this country if we can’t even achieve it on the playground?
Maude S., 11 Chicago
Play on
I think that “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” should come back to Chicago. I was in the play as one of the kids listening to the story. It was one of the best things I have ever done. It was fun and exciting for not only me, but everyone involved in the play. Even though I got paid, I would have done it for free. I think it should come back to Chicago so other kids can have this great experience. I also think more plays should involve kids.
Maggie F., 11 La Grange
Misunderstood
I just read the letter from A.M. (Nov. 21 Back-talk) that said that the “black sheep” joke was racist. The term “black sheep” implies someone who stays away from something common (for example if every member of the family goes into a certain business except for one, that person would be the black sheep). This expression probably came about because it is more rare to see a sheep with black wool than one with white wool.
D.W., 13 Deerfield
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