Kokoraleis release does not harm society

It's easy to be swept up in the emotion opposing the release of Thomas Kokoraleis, 58, for his part in murders committed by the infamous 'Ripper Crew' four decades ago. The pain of the victims' loved ones is real and heart-wrenching. But this is not a case of discretionary release. Kokoraleis has completed his sentence under guidelines in effect at his sentencing and must be released. 

Two aspects of his case deserve consideration. 

With virtual certainty, Kokoraleis is no longer a threat to society. Mental health and legal experts have long concluded he was a dim-witted follower of his brother Andrew, executed in 1999, and Ripper Crew leader Robin Gecht, who wielded Svengali like influence over the hapless Thomas. His 37 years of incarceration have been trouble free and include participation in prison ministry. 

More importantly, Kokoraleis deserves parole if discretionary. He and other aging inmates marginally involved in heinous crimes as youths, who are deemed fit to re-enter society, should have that opportunity. He's similar to the vulnerable, young women who blindly followed murder cultist Charlie Manson's order to kill, like Leslie Van Houton, who unnecessarily languishes in prison after 50 years despite two grants of parole overturned by California Governor Jerry Brown. 

That Kokoraleis is likely moving to nearby Wheaton is not a concern. It's the active evildoers who scare me. We should use his release to re-valuate the outmoded and wasteful concept of 'lock 'em up till they rot'. That applies to many but not to Van Houton and Kokoraleis. 

Sanders only choice to push back against perpetual war

Ending US perpetual war may be the most important issue in the 2020 election. In 2016 it was the issue that dare not speak its name but is slowly moving up the list in public polling. Americans are growing weary of 18 years of senseless, self destructive war costing trillions while causing death, injury, and exile to millions in the Middle East and Africa. It may spell doom to the American Experiment if not drastically curtailed. Bernie Sanders is far ahead of every other announced or likely contender on the peace issue. He's not a Bernie Come Lately. He voted against 16 of 19 gargantuan military spending bills since 2013. He sports an 84% record voting for peace between 2011 and 2016 according to Peace Action (working for peace since 1957). He's leading the Senate effort to end our murderous, criminal abetting of Saudi atrocities in Yemen by invoking the never used War Powers Act of 1973 which takes back war making powers from the president. Bernie supports withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan and Syria, and opposes reckless military intervention in Venezuela. Bernie's not perfect, taking $366,000 from the defense industry for his 2016 campaign, where he avoiding pushing his antiwar bonafides. But his recent efforts signal he may go where no Democrat has gone since George McGovern campaigned against the Vietnam War in 1972. Losing 49 states to 1 and 61% to 38% in the vote cast a pall on any Democrat, or Republican for that matter, ever running as a peace candidate. But we in the peace movement must never give up, never give in. We're backing Bernie.

Ives' anti LGBT history should disqualify her for COD presidential search committee

DuPage residents are not being well served by inclusion of former state rep Jeanne Ives on the 16 member search committee to select a new COD president. She has a history of horrendous views on LGBT persons, including school leaders breathtaking in their fear, ignorance and hate. In February, 2013, as a leader in the crusade to prevent gay marriage in Illinois she charged that "same sex marriages are completely disordered"...with gays "trying to weasel their way into acceptability so that they can then start to push their agenda down into the schools, because this gives them some sort of legitimacy... and we can't allow that to happen." Having lost the battle to prevent gay marriage Ives turned her vitriol to school administrators striving to grant full civil rights and dignity to transgender students, lamenting these noble efforts are "happening in Wheaton schools too. To dispel any thought she supports these efforts she shared an op ed from anti LGBT hate group Illinois Family Institute which likened such dedicated school teachers and administrators as being "like dirty old men in trench coats lying in wait to expose children to sordid things." Ives atrocious views on the LGBT community were not the immature ravings of a youngster, but the long held views of a middle age public servant. Ives never adequately apologized or repudiated these actions which make her unfit for any involvement in selecting college presidents or influencing educational policy. Ives should withdraw forthwith form the COD presidential selection committee. If she doesn't, the governing body which selected her should seek her removal.

Two Illinois abortion bills should apply to the other 49

Brittany Clingen Carl's lengthy commentary (Tribune, March 16) opposing two proposed abortion bills making Illinois possibly the most progressive state for strengthening women's reproductive health, makes clear her singular agenda: reducing safe, legal and cost effective access to abortion. This is demonstrated by her agonizing over Illinois' status as an "abortion oasis" where thousands of women "flock to Illinois for abortion procedures they cannot access in their home state." Implicit in this concern is that such efforts are bad for Illinois, bad for society and bad for the women. 

Does it ever occur to Ms. Carl that each one of the 5,500 plus women who made the trek to Illinois in 2017 had their future saved by this Lincoln land abortion oasis. The delay, anguish and cost to make the trip is something no pregnant woman should ever have to endure to get the reproductive care she should have as an absolute right. Does Ms. Carl ponder how many women were unable to gather the wherewithal for the trip, resulting in an unwanted child and a lifetime of personal and family dysfunction. Or how many simply got an unsafe, humiliating and expensive back alley abortion close to home. 

None of that real, personal anguish appears in Carl's piece. Every argument she offers simply boils down to reducing, if not ending abortion, regardless of the personal and family harm such opposition causes. We can be proud Illinois will lead the nation in strengthening women's reproductive health. Illinois will soon set the bar for the other 49 to emulate.