Contents
July 1993
Illinois
Issues
|
Vol. XIX No. 7
Established 1975
|
July 1993 /Illinois Issues/5
Published by Sangamon State University/
cosponsored by the University of Illinois
Readers:
I like being reminded that classics
such as John Steinbeck's Of Mice and
Men and Shakespeare's King Lear have
been censored or banned by different
groups in this country. Not because I
approve, because I don't. But attempts at
censorship are far too common in a
nation that supposedly reveres freedom
of speech and of the press.
Richard Peck explains in an essay in
this magazine how another Illinoisan,
Phyllis Schlafly of Alton, once publicly
warned her followers of the "dangers" of
Peck's work. Thus, Peck laments, "I
found myself on a forbidden list when I
wrote two stories lightly laced with the
supernatural which were, in fact
comedies of manners set in my
hometown, Decatur, Ill., back at the turn
of the century.... The two most
innocent books I've ever written continue
to appear on the master lists circulated
by watchdog groups."
Peck's essay on censorship is timely.
For this is an era not only when
frightened groups continue to stifle
freedom of speech, but also when
"political correctness," sadly enough,
seems more important to many people
than giving others the right to express
despicable ideas. Shouldn't we know by
now that freedom of speech means
freedom for thoughts that we hate?
Peck's essay also serves as an
introduction to our annual Summer Book
Section — an interesting assortment of
reviews on books such as a biography of
political pioneer Ruth Hanna
McCormick, Sen. Paul Simon's book
about Clarence Thomas and other
Supreme Court nomination battles,
former Chicago Tribune editor-turned
Perot spokesman James Squires' analysis
of America's newspapers, a biography of
Frank Lloyd Wright and more.
Our book reviews editor, Judith L.
Everson, and graduate assistant Charles
Swearingen deserve a tip of the cap for
their months of effort in putting together
this section.
Elsewhere in this issue, don't miss Ray
Long's profile of Richard Phelan or
Jennifer Halperin's analysis of the
underfunded state pension systems in
Illinois. Both pieces provide living proof
that Illinois Issues regularly offers some
of the best perspective on state politics
and government anywhere in Illinois.
July 1993/Illinois Issues/3
