I know politicians are often looked down upon, but Illinois had a politician I truly loved. Believe it or not we had somebody better than Blagojevich or before him, Ryan.
His name was Paul Simon and he was our senator. I always voted for him until he retired and became a professor at Southern Illinois University. He was known for his horned rimmed glasses, bow tie and honesty. We lost him much too soon. I wish all politicians would use him as a role model.
When Jon graduated from the University of Illinois, Paul Simon was their commencement speaker.
The first thing I remember was him admonishing the Board of Trustees for continuing to use Chief Illiniwek as the mascot for the University of Illinois. I'm proud to say my son was one of the few strongly pushing to retire the dancing chief. Mr. Simon told the Board that if one Native American felt it was denigrating to have a person dressed in a Native American costume as a mascot, it needed to stop. He spoke eloquently of prejudice, respect and understanding.
Mr. Simon went on to say that he wanted all those students who weren't wearing the special achievement sashes across their chests to know that they would be the real movers and shakers of our country.
Then he advised them all to go out into the world and meet people in other countries. Everything they would do representing the U.S. would influence how people would feel about our country. Traveling would also enable them to grow and be all they could be.
His words struck such a chord in me that I e-mailed to tell him how wonderful, how perfect his speech was.
A few days later, I was surprised to get a message from his secretary asking me for my snail-mail address because he preferred to write me a letter rather than e-mail.
I received the following letter from him and have cherished it ever since.
His name was Paul Simon and he was our senator. I always voted for him until he retired and became a professor at Southern Illinois University. He was known for his horned rimmed glasses, bow tie and honesty. We lost him much too soon. I wish all politicians would use him as a role model.
When Jon graduated from the University of Illinois, Paul Simon was their commencement speaker.
The first thing I remember was him admonishing the Board of Trustees for continuing to use Chief Illiniwek as the mascot for the University of Illinois. I'm proud to say my son was one of the few strongly pushing to retire the dancing chief. Mr. Simon told the Board that if one Native American felt it was denigrating to have a person dressed in a Native American costume as a mascot, it needed to stop. He spoke eloquently of prejudice, respect and understanding.
Mr. Simon went on to say that he wanted all those students who weren't wearing the special achievement sashes across their chests to know that they would be the real movers and shakers of our country.
Then he advised them all to go out into the world and meet people in other countries. Everything they would do representing the U.S. would influence how people would feel about our country. Traveling would also enable them to grow and be all they could be.
His words struck such a chord in me that I e-mailed to tell him how wonderful, how perfect his speech was.
A few days later, I was surprised to get a message from his secretary asking me for my snail-mail address because he preferred to write me a letter rather than e-mail.
I received the following letter from him and have cherished it ever since.
