Just call our 24-hour hotline at 299-1500, or go to our website at www.journal-topics.com to state what is on your mind concerning an issue you consider to be significant, and we'll publish it. If you would like to state your opinion about anything, feel free to do so. Just make sure your message is brief, to the point and within the limits of good taste and acceptable to readers of a family newspaper.

Not convinced about war

As a senior citizen I find it so troubling all the spin put on this so-called war with the Iraqi people. You can call it whatever you want, it's still an invasion by us, to a foreign country, turned into a religious war. It's one that we will never win and you can never win, OK? We have to go over there and convince people ours is the right way? No way. Bring your son and daughter home while they're still alive, hopefully. Pray for the rest.

Kudos in earning degree

Yes, congratulations to Lt. Gill on the completion of your college degree. Is there a promotion on the horizon? Thank you.

MPPW did a great job

Hello, I am a Mt. Prospect resident and if you could publish this message for the Mt. Prospect Public Works Dept. I just wanted to say they did a terrific job during the big snowstorm, a great job. So, you're awesome. Thank you, bye bye.

Stand up for your beliefs

As a senior citizen I think it's about time Americans get their head out of you know where and start standing up for what they used to believe in. What happened to good old American Christmas? What happened with the Christmas tree? I have no objection for anybody else to do what they're doing. But for me to give up what I believe in, I think it's a violation of me and my feelings. Wake up America. Is it so important, the almighty dollar, that you'd give up your soul for what you believe in? Again, I say get your head out of you know where, stand up for what you believe in. Don't wait for someone else to do it for you.

He should have thought earlier

Ask yourself, why did it take the President until after Christmas to announce his strategy of what he's going to do in Iraq? While your son and daughters are possibly being killed. I wonder how does the man sleep at night, knowing he has such a tough decision, and yet he has to delay it. He should have thought of that before we went to war.

Why were names in paper?

This is Mike from Des Plaines. I'd like to know why recently there were a bunch of people who sold to underage smokers and they didn't put them in the papers at all. But we can take a bunch of kids that are just under the drinking age, 19 or 20, and put all their names and addresses in and hurt them.

Aldermen made tough decision

Yes, this is something that I have seen in the Journal, something that I don't understand. You know, I go to the polls to vote against the TIF. It's 11,000 votes against and 2,000 for. What I can't understand is how our aldermen and our wonderful mayor can vote for it the same night and pass this bill. I do not understand this. Where's our democratic society? What's the big deal? Why do they get to vote for it and pass the bill. I don't understand it, I don't understand it.

(Ed. Note: Des Plaines aldermen voted to create the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District at Rand and River roads on a Monday night in November. The following day, an advisory referendum was held. A clear majority of voters said they oppose the TIF the aldermen had just created. However, it was an advisory referendum, not binding. Aldermen said they did what they were elected to do: make tough decisions that they believe in.)

Where were Christmas songs?

Here we go, another year and the high school had a Christmas concert that no one understands. They had a bunch of songs from another country that the audience did not have any idea what they were. They were supposed to be Christmas songs. We had a couple traditional Christmas songs but they were non-religious. The music director had to put forth his song that he wrote called "Yellow Snow." Not Silent Night, not putting that in there, but he we had sit there and listen to that song that he wrote about yellow snow. Where's the Christmas songs?

We can't win that war

We're at war America. A war that we started. Now the president's talking that he wants to send more troops over there. You could send a troop for every person that's over there, you will still not win that war.

Thanks for your service

Merry Christmas to the City of Des Plaines and the Des Plaines City Council for such a wonderful Christmas affair. We are so grateful for what they provided for all of the people.

Comment may have been right

I'm a senior citizen. A couple years ago somebody made the comment to me "this country's going to hell in a handbag." After listening to today's news about a 4-year old assaulting a teacher I tend to believe that comment. A child. How ridiculous. My God. Wake up America. It's a 4-year old kid.

Complain about noise

Hi, I'm calling from the south side of Des Plaines and I'm calling regarding the article in the Journal about the O'Hare Airport noise and that there hasn't been that many complaints recently. Probably part of the reason is people don't know where to call. Call the O'Hare Noise Hotline at 1-800-435-9569. They answer to the City of Chicago. Tell them you want to complain about the noise around O'Hare. I've got planes going over my house about one a minute now and it's 10 o'clock on a Thursday, and I'll probably be having them coming over until 11 or 11:30 like before. Complain, people complain. This is a pain in the rear, and I have soundproofing.

Trees have nothing to do with Christmas

This deal with District 62 not having Christmas trees up is absurd. Christmas trees have nothing to do with religion. We're talking about Christmas trees and Santa Claus. We're not talking about baby Jesus, Bethlehem or anything else. Christmas trees are Christmas trees. Santa Claus is Santa Claus. Put the trees back in the room, let the kids have their parties. Let's stop all the adult nonsense and give the kids what they deserve; presents and a happy holiday.

Need to teach kids better

As an educator I am dismayed and disturbed at the lack of action at Cumberland Elementary School in Des Plaines regarding the Christmas trees. If we're going to educate our children about the world that they're going to enter into, they need to be fully versed on all types of religions, all types of ethnic backgrounds. As long as you're taking the time for drug and sex education, this is an equally important an issue for some peace in our future world. We need to have them fully educated as to all the backgrounds and all the religions. I'm so disappointed and frankly surprised at the lack of direction the school has taken.

City needs more spirit

Christmas still lives in Des Plaines. I know we have a tree in Metropolitan Square. But people driving or riding in on the train see a dull town that has no Christmas spirit. It was so nice last year with the trees in the Library Plaza. So sad to have to go to those extremes to get the Christmas spirit.