In response to the question: Is R. Kelly catching a break because he is famous or is it unfair to blame him for the delays? (“Trial delayed again,” Sept. 5 cover story.)
What’s the holdup?
I really do not understand why they can’t get the ball rolling on his trial. I don’t think it is R. Kelly’s fault but it seems every time he shows up for a court date, it is postponed for some reason. This has gone on long enough. How exhausting — yet, he has made how many albums already? His music is not that great to begin with.
Christina Morganelli, 33, River North
Don’t hate on Kelly
Yes, a part of this delay has to do with [R. Kelly] being famous, but at the same time it’s really who’s on your team and who you know. It’s not his fault that his appendix burst, and it’s not his fault that [prosecutor] Shauna [Boliker] was giving birth. That’s life, so I feel it’s very unfair — you can’t knock that man for being himself.
Talia Tyler, 26, Englewood
Best buds
My best friend is straight, and I am gay. We have been in a “bromance” for 7 years now where nothing sexual ever entered into the equation (“Year of the bromance,” Sept. 4 cover story).
We partied, went shopping, worked on our cars, went camping together frequently and lived together for 2 years. In fact, I was just the best man in his wedding in Oregon.
So I believe that bromances can cross the sexual orientation line — which may blur the definition. Nonetheless, he and I are proof that it does not have to be strictly heterosexual.
Jeremy Little, 27, Andersonville
Sales tax hike won’t help
The Illinois statehouse and CTA are trying to sell us a false bill of goods: tax increase or doomsday.
Taxaholic Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), with Speaker [Michael] Madigan’s help, is working hard to ram her sales tax increase through the House with a veto-proof majority.
Thankfully, reason ruled Sept. 4 as the bill failed to pass, but it’s not dead yet (“Transit roadblock,” Sept. 5). In Chicago, we pay 9 percent sales tax, plus more for gas, liquor, soft drinks, restaurants and downtown restaurants. Let’s be realistic: this tax increase won’t make the CTA financially solvent. The statehouse will throw CTA a few pennies and spend the balance of the revenue on pet projects.
Let’s stand with the governor and demand an end to corporate welfare in Illinois, and use the savings to fund public transit fairly.
Kenneth Salkover, 28, Rogers Park
Give it a rest, fans
Seriously, people! What’s happening to Chicago? I am a Cubs fan all the way. Yes, I get my heart ripped out any time they lose, like all fans do — that’s par for the course.
Even though I get upset and yell about mistakes or whatever, I would never boo any player (“Code boo,” Sept. 4). It’s completely immature and uncalled for.
Cubs fans never used to boo. Is it because there are a bunch of yuppies who go to games now? Don’t you have class? Why do people come to Chicago, jump on the bandwagon — being a part of a fantastic crowd of Cubs fans — then show no respect for another human?
I think that [pitcher] Carlos Zambrano is one of the best things that has happened to the Cubs in a very long time. Yes, I know he’s either on or off, and rarely in-between, but even still, he’s an amazing pitcher and he needs respect — he deserves it.
Yes, I also realize he gets paid a lot, but that’s baseball for you. He’s not a piece of property that we own. He does a job and gets paid, even if he has a bad/off day.
Think about it: If you were at work and you made a mistake, blew a case, lost a client, screwed up a proposal — would you want people in your office to boo you? Of course not! And they shouldn’t!
He shouldn’t apologize, we should. You should, whomever was booing him, acting like a child.
I feel bad for him, and am ashamed that there are these so-called fans who would behave this way.
Heather Forys, 27, West Rogers Park
