In a few weeks, I’ll be one of you — and I’m worried. Since the fall of 2003, when I took this job, I’ve been commuting between St. Louis and Springfield. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, this living in two places — weekdays in the Land of Lincoln, weekends in the Show-Me […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
The price of citizenship
The image of the United States is of a country that provides refuge for people who desire freedom and opportunity — yet the latest round of immigration “reform,” which targets “unwanted” or “undesirable” immigrants from south of our border, reinforces a history of immigration practices that have been filled with hostility toward those wanting to […]
Posted inOpinion
When today’s 65 is yesterday’s… 65!
I’m 65. The TV is on because I like background noise as I pretend to do my morning exercises. The man has a few wrinkles around his eyes, but his eyes are clear and bright. His hair is gray, but there’s plenty of it. His teeth shine white to match his eyes. It’s a given […]
Posted inOpinion
Raising the bar
Contemplating nonviolent civil disobedience at the office of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin isn’t easy. On the one hand, Durbin is one of the senators most supportive of ending the Iraq War; on the other, he has consistently voted to fund the war. As I find myself increasingly angry and frustrated about the lies, torture, disregard […]
Posted inOpinion
Hamburger, in the eye of the beholder
Doctor: No more hamburgers for you! Neighborhood bar and grill: $2. Police officer: The alleged hamburger. Teenager: Like, you know, like hamburger. Old-timer: In my day, we didn’t have hamburgers. We ate dirt, and we were damn happy to have dirt. Why, I remember one time in ’48, maybe ’49, we were playin’ football with a rock, […]
Posted inOpinion
Lifting the smokescreen
Henry Rose is a man full of charity, kindness, and even temper; he can’t recall ever thinking ill of anyone, and he’s never been angry. Life is good, always has been, and through a combination of hard work and good luck he’s been able to retire at age 52 and immediately start volunteering his time […]
Posted inOpinion
A double standard
One of the most heated academic controversies in America today involves Ward Churchill, a central-Illinois native and Sangamon State University graduate. A May 17 article in the State Journal-Register discussed the charges of plagiarism against Churchill and reminded readers that he once likened some 9/11 victims to Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. More needs to […]
Posted inOpinion
The Hype
SEEING GREEN The political dynamics of Illinois’ 115th House District are somewhat unusual. A former Democratic stronghold, the 115th elected conservative Mike Bost as their state representative in 1995. However, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, many believe, provides a solid base of liberal-minded folk in the district as well. So in 2002 when Carbondale attorney Rich Whitney, running on […]
Posted inOpinion
The Hype
Betting on a gamble Not long after Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH announced his proposal to fund education by leasing the state lottery for $10 billion, the wordplay began. “Governor takes gamble on funds,” read one headline. Chicago Sun-Times columnist MARK BROWN announced that the “plan looks like a bad bet for schools.” Even state Treasurer JUDY […]
Posted inOpinion
A first step
The U.S. Supreme Court’s central ruling in Suzette Kelo et al. v. City of New London has created a firestorm of controversy and outrage in state legislatures and among property owners across the nation since it was handed down last fall. The court, in effect, endorsed what has become a dangerous trend wherein governments, mostly municipalities, […]
Posted inOpinion
The Hype
ILLINI NOISE Illinois lawmakers want entities that regulate intercollegiate sports to stay out of schools’ beeswax in terms of athletic nicknames, mascots, and logos. Earlier this month, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Republican U.S. Reps. Tim Johnson, Ray LaHood, and Mark Kirk, along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, co-sponsored the Protection of University Governance […]
Posted inOpinion
The Hype
Opportunity knocks State Republican and Democratic candidates made huge symbolic statements at last week’s annual meeting of the Illinois Association of Minorities in Government — the GOP by showing up, the Dems by, well, not. State Sen. Christine RADOGNO, a Lemont Republican vying for the job Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka is leaving, made an appearance. […]
