Quick Hits – February 8, 2016

Quick Hits – February 8, 2016

Yes Virginia! She really is a bigot

One of the things I love about being a columnist is when a subject goes out of their way to prove my point.

JWardu46And let me tell you! U-46 School Board member Jeannette Ward did not disappoint me. In fact, I’d thank her for proving my bigot theory, but it has nothing to do with me. A bigot can’t wait for the next opportunity to prove they’re a bigot because it’s the nature of prejudice.

This time, the proof came in the form of Ms. Ward’s Black History Month Facebook post. C’mon! What could possibly go wrong with a conservative Caucasian wading in on African-Americans? If some of you white folks are still unsure about it, please allow me to explain:

  1. Unless it’s something like, “Black History Month is a great opportunity to learn about the amazing contributions of African Americans and to understand the insidious nature of institutionalized racism,” just don’t do it! No good could possibly come of sharing any other opinion. It’s kinda like Caucasians using the N word is a really bad idea.
  1. If you are going to wade in on the subject, a white person probably shouldn’t quote Fox News commentator Jason Riley, whose face adjoins the Webster Dictionary definition of “Uncle Tom.” And if Ms. Ward’s, “Don’t blame me, I was just quoting some black guy,” excuse really worked, then this would too, “Hey! When I said Jews suck and murdering scores of your fellow countrymen is OK, it wasn’t me! I was just quoting Hitler and Stalin.”
  1. But the best evidence of Ms. Ward’s vast bigotry is, her assumption that – the man – in the form of white Democrats, are holding every last African-Americans back. Really? I don’t know about you, but the last time I talked to Elgin City Councilman Tish Powell, the late Elgin City Councilman Robert Gilliam, U-46 School Board member Traci Ellis, former U-46 School Board candidate Kai Rush, former EPD Deputy Chief Cecil Smith, Elgin photographer James Harvey, Elgin Township Trustee Robert Johnson, and ECC president Dr. David Sam, they were doing just fine without me.
  1. That said, the fact that Ms. Ward doesn’t seem to realize that many African-Americans have succeeded in no way mitigates the institutionalized racism that continues to plague this county. Look no further than how the police treat white vs. black gunmen or the National Republican Party. In the 100 yard dash of life, white men start at the 75 yard line, white women start at the 50. Black men start 50 yards behind the starting line and black women begin 75 yards back.
  1. And despite that massive Caucasian advantage, 40 percent of food stamp recipients are white while just 26 percent are black. I can’t wait for Ms. Ward to address all those Caucasian slackers.

So yes Virginia! Ms. Ward is a bigot. And so is the rest of the Tea Party.

 

Actually, the sky is falling this time.

Please let me open this particular piece by adhering to the old adage, “If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.” So here’s what I have to say about Courier-News reporters Janelle Walker and Mike Danahey….

towerBut that caveat won’t prevent me from taking on their most recent thoughts (or lack of them) on the Elgin Tower Building. Apparently it was a slow Elgin news week because, not only did Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum lambaste the City of Elgin for that falling sky, but they claimed the City was lackadaisical in their efforts to move the Tower Building project along.

Goddam Elgin City Council!

Why, they claimed those falling Tower Building façade chunks were a greater danger to Elginians than a nefarious North Korean nuclear device. Of course, they utterly failed to mention that the City installed a fence around the structure that has prevented any untoward injury.

And when they did finally mention the fence, it was in regard to how that dastardly barrier was destroying Elgin businesses on a daily basis. That kind of round robin argument, in which no one can possibly win, is reminiscent of Abbot and Costello.

But that’s not all! Apparently our dynamic duo got all those local business to declare that the consarned City of Elgin should’ve moved this bleepin’ along. But they barely mentioned the fact that it was the Muscarello’s insistent and continuing lawsuits that delayed it.

Only the Courier-News, with its 2,200 Sunday subscribers, could take the most recent positive Elgin development and turn it into a Lemony Snicket story.

Just go ahead and cancel your subscription to the Courier-News. You’ll be glad you did.

 

Ya gotta love the Cubs!

While the White Sox fade into utter oblivion, the Cubs just came to some eminently reasonable terms with Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta.

cubsYou see, Arrieta wanted a cool $13 million with Theo Epstein was offering a scant $7 .5 mil, but before those player-centric arbitrators could get their hands on it, they settled on $10.7 million.

It may just be just a one-year deal, but considering the number of MLB pitchers who’ve had a breakout season only to fade into obscurity or break down, this contract is perfect. If Jake continues down his primrose pitching path, he’ll get that four-year $88 million deal.

Ah! But if he falls back to his first three season form, the Cubs could avoid a really bad Barry Zito-esque long term deal. To quote Ernie, “The Cubs will be keen in 2016.” That World Series victory is coming folks!

Quick Hits

0 thoughts on “Quick Hits – February 8, 2016

    1. Dave,

      Yikes! Thanks for the head’s up! Though I suppose if I was related to her Christmas dinner would be a fascinating proposition.

      But the truth is, though my family enjoys their own brand of crazy, U-46 School Board member Jeanette Ward does not contribute to that. Put more simply, we are not related in the least.

      Jeff

  1. Help me here Jeff.  Let’s take this a step at a time.  First let’s start by defining terms: 

    Bigot: “A person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief or opinion.”
    (Dictionary.com)

    Is that your understanding?

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