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FOREIGN FILM SERIES
Thank you for the great coverage of Molly Schlich’s foreign film series [see “Reel foreign,” Jan. 14]. I was delighted by all the pages given to the series. There has never been better publicity. The series is so fortunate to have your support.
Molly works very hard to put together an interesting program of films for our community. It’s a unique and valuable program and it is a labor of love on Molly’s part. Your feature story certainly got the word out.
Jim Huston
Springfield
BIGOTRY AND ZEALOTRY
Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh have each issued statements, blaming the people of Haiti’s lack of faith for the earthquake and stating that U.S. taxes were being funneled to that country for support before the current relief efforts, respectively. These two men are the sort of people who continually garner attention with proclamations that extol racism and hate in the name of religion and truth.
For years, the American public has been bombarded with speeches and bombastic statements that have very little basis in truth and are an affront to reason. Only in America can such bile be aired to the public with no threat of punishment. We have enough folks who believe this misinformation to consider them a threat to society.
These two “gentlemen” are no better than any past or current pundits and high-profile leaders whose irrational rants garnered the attention of the public with “verbal” sleight of hand to achieve a following. Bigotry in the guise of patriotism, news or religious zealotry is still racism!
Michael Abrams
Springfield
I GOTTA FEELING SHG HAD SPIRIT
While Sacred Heart Griffin High School may have been disappointed about losing the City Tournament Sullivan Spirit Award, we are also feeling very proud. Ever since I was five years old I have attended the City Tournament. It has always been my favorite event that the city of Springfield hosts because of how exciting the atmosphere is.
Since I’ve been a student at Sacred Heart Griffin, I have never seen a more dedicated senior class than mine. We put so much effort into making the City Tournament a huge success this year for our school. While we might not have won a single game, freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors packed the student section to the brim and cheered non-stop throughout the entire City Tournament. For this reason I have never been more proud of my entire school.
For as long as I can remember, SHG has never drawn a bigger crowd of students. This year our student section displayed the best sportsmanship I have ever seen. We not only cheered for Lanphier on the night of their last game, but some of our students also joined their rather small student section to help them cheer. Gaining respect from Lanphier for this act, some of their students stayed for our game and gathered in our section to cheer.
However, the event I am most proud of was the SHG Poms dance routine on Thursday night. SHG Poms helped organized a student section dance-along for every student to take part. Practices were held the week before the tournament for students to learn the dance to the song, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas. During the last three minutes of our poms routine on Thursday night, our students and many parents took part in an epic dance that will go down in history. Creating such a buzz in the Prairie Capital Convention Center, on a local radio station, and throughout the town the next day, the SHG Poms and students rocked the place. I had never seen anything so amazing and such a stellar display of school unity. That moment will forever be my favorite senior memory.
Jenna Cusumano
Springfield
