'Twas a Few Days Before Christmas

'Twas a Few Days Before Christmas

by Roland Tolliver

With all due respect to Clement C. Moore...

'Twas a few days before Christmas, and all through the town,

The shoppers were taking out credit cards and laying them down;

All of the people were out of their houses,

Except for the ones that were at their computers clicking their mouses;

Electronics, games, dolls, and books,

Movies, jewelry, and clothes filling all the crannies and nooks;

In the malls there were Santas galore,

One for each walkway, one for each store.

The children were fighting and whining and way past ready for their beds,

While visions of Game Boys, cell phones, and the latest ads still stuck in their heads;

They were pulled, pushed and dragged through just one more store,

I want this! I want that! We're hungry! We're bored!

It started in October before Halloween, all of this clatter

The decorations, the advertisements, the special sales, as if it mattered,

Shop early! Shop often! Don't worry about cash,

90 days, no payments, no interest, the money's gone in a flash.

The season has become just a blur to the eyes so it appears,

We've become enamored more with decorations and reindeer,

Than the original reason and history of our beloved St. Nick,

Now the kids know more about theWii, computers, games and joy sticks.

And we ask about the craziness and who can be blamed,

Then we pull out our credit cards and list them by name;

Now, Visa! Now, Mastercard! Now, Target and Wal-Mart!

Put it on American Express and Discovery! Put it all in the cart!

To the top of the limit! Put it on lay away, charge it all!

No cash, that's okay. Gotta have it now till the creditors call!

There is no limit that is too high,

We've got to have all of the latest or the kids will cry.

So into the house comes the latest, the greatest, all new,

Our vans and SUV's all full of toys, for mommy and daddy, too.

And then, in an instant, with our charges through the roof,

It seems like we no longer needed proof.

As I reached into my pocket, not a penny to be found,

I realized that to commercialism we've become bound.

And I thought of a baby whose birth was the start of it all,

Born not in grandeur, but in a stall.

With a Father in Heaven and one on earth,

A mother so pure and an angel foretelling His birth.

A star rose in the East and three Wise Men traveled to Bethlehem,

Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh they brought for Him.

And now we argue over Merry Christmas! and Happy Holidays!

Is this why He came into his world? I wonder what He'd say?

Perhaps, He'd tell us there is war, famine, disease and homelessness, the world's gone berserk,

There are things to be done here on earth; Now, let's get to work!

So let's fill the churches with families and song,

At least once during the year, let's all try to get along;

Let the food pantries be filled, no cupboards be bare,

It all belongs to Him, so we all have something to share.

Let's hope that no child is left with nothing under the tree,

Open our hearts for the less fortunate so that they might see,

Why Christ belongs in the center of our festivities!

The magic of Christmas goes beyond the toys and the clothes,

It means so much more than the ribbons and bows.

We celebrate Christmas for all kinds of reasons,

But, there remains one simple reason for the Season;

A baby was born, so that we may have everlasting life,

And to bring peace, love, joy and hope during times of strife.

And so from our family to yours, as we prepare for this most Holy Night,

We wish a Blessed Christmas to all, and to all, May God keep you in His light.

Goodbye, Again

Once again it is time to say goodbye to a weekly column. The Freeport Focus will have two more editions, tomorrow (12/23/08) and then the last one on Tuesday, December 30th. There was a grand plan to create a new daily newspaper, which would have been the first one in the country this year as far as I know. Unfortunately, it was launched at a time when an economic firestorm hit our community and the country. There was not enough time, nor enough resources to give it a full go of at least one year, which would have been the minimum time necessary to become more fully established.

The competition with the other local paper has lead to greater local coverage and improved quality, but the question is now, will it be sustained? I will miss the weekly deadline and trying to stay topical with the columns, but will try to maintain more frequent postings on this site. It is hard to not want to say something about our current state of affairs in Illinois with Blago, et al and what will happen with President-Elect Obama and the new administration. Our world is so ripe with potential stories that it makes the fingers itch to write about them.

Looking at the state of newspapers, though, makes it easy to understand how it would be difficult to have a new start-up for a newspaper. The Detroit Free Press and Detroit News are cutting back to three days per week and two days per week, respectively. An online presence is a must if there is to be local news disseminated to the public. The ones that will suffer the most will primarily be the geriatric population that relies on the daily paper in print form. Eventually, most people will be online and this will become almost the only source of news in a print format. The news will most likely go the way of The Christian Science Monitor with a daily online edition and a weekly newsmagazine edition.

Welcome to the internet age of news ...

Will He Stay or Will He Go?

Our beloved, okay, not so beloved as bedeviled, Governor, Rod the Mod, is not going to leave quietly, is he? It is quite evident that he should be gone. It is sad that it appears that his wife, Patti, has been complicit in his dealings for more and more money. Shakedowns, extortion, backroom dealings, and selling his soul for a few extra (alright, a lot of extra) dollars.

How does this happen when he knew that he has been under federal investigation since 2003? It boggles the mind to think that he is that brash, brazen, unrepentant, and ignorant all at the same time. Word from the New York Times is that Rod the Mod even blows up at his own personnel when they can't find his prize hairbrush. This is a man who manages to never take responsibility for his actions. I spoke with a relative this past weekend who works with a former elementary school classmate of Rod's. The former classmate is not surprised by the outcome of his governorship. She said that as a student, he never accepted blame for any of his actions. He always managed to blame someone else, or get them in trouble. His "goody-two shoes" act wore thin with his classmates, but he managed to hoodwink the nuns in charge.

There is no excuse for his actions. When reading the Federal Complaint it is apparent that the hubris of our governor is beyond even our worst expectations. Trying to sell a Senate seat, influence peddling with regards to the Tribune and the sell of the Cubs and Wrigley Field, garnering cash for the "Green" lanes of the Illinois Tollways, and shaking down the CEO of Children's Memorial Hospital for public aid money to be released. Holy bleep!

I have written about the Gov for the past several years and wondered when, not if, he would be indicted. I thought that it would most likely be because of his dealings with Tony Rezko. It seems that this was just the tip of the iceberg. How derelict of his duties could one person be? Well, he could have been an investment banker like Bernard Madoff who managed to fraud people of more than $50 billion, but he wasn't running a state into the ground in the meantime.

Complicit in the Gov's dealings was his wife, Patti, or so it appears according to the tapes transcripts. She was at least aware of the Gov's actions against the Chicago Tribune, based on her foul-mouthed tirade against the editorial board. Her father, Ald. Dick Mell, from whom Blago's family has been estranged for the past few years, tried warning us of his son-in-law's actions. Was anybody besides John Kass actually listening? Apparently the FBI was, but they waited for concrete information in order to file the Federal complaint. The Trib is to be commended for withholding information about the wiretaps until the FBI had the necessary information to arrest Rod the Mod.

Now, we need to get on with the process of selecting another Senator for our state. I'm split between getting Patrick Quinn has soon as possible in order to allow him to make a selection, or going with a special eleciton in order to allow both parties to submit potential candidates. I think that the most expeditious option of getting Quinn into office and allowing him to select a Senator who could serve out Barack Obama's term may be the best option for now. Then we can hold our regular election in two years and vote in a well-vetted candidate. Perhaps, the public will actually take a good, long look at the people running and not just vote for the person with the most money in his/her campaign chest and the best television appearance.

The Column That Was Edited

The following is the column that appeared in The Journal-Standard on Christmas Day, 2006. The letter to Santa from Governor Blagojevich was left out of the online and printed editions, as I was told that the editor didn't feel it was appropriate at the time because "no charges" had been filed against the governor. The editor is long gone, as is the subsequent one and many of the columnists, freelance writers and writers from that Christmas Day two years ago. I guess there is no room for political insight or prognostication in certain publications.

Dear Santa
by
Roland Tolliver

For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. —John Greenleaf Whittier

Merry Christmas Morning to You!
I have intercepted some letters that were directed to Santa, but due to the public figures involved in writing these, the letters were to be made available to all. So, here is a sampling...

Dear Santa Dude,
I always, like, loved to hear that Dorothy sing in "The Wizard of Oz," but my favorite character was that Scarecrow guy. It may be because I could, like, relate to him. So, Santa, could you, like, um, bring me a brain for Christmas?
Love,
Britney Spears

Dear Britney,
Why don’t you wait outside with Paris, Nicole, and Lindsay tonight? I’ll see if I can get a four-for-one special. Like, totally, cool, eh!
Love,
Santa Dude

Dear Santa,
I seem to have lost my way. I never should have listened to my friend Tony Rezko. It seems that I put my own power and greed ahead of the people that I was elected to serve. I was going to ask for forgiveness or maybe some way of making restitution, but what I really want is some more hair gel. Thanks.
Yours in Power,
Governor Rod

Dear Governor Rod,
I think that there are quite a few things you could use before I stuff your stocking with hair products. Maybe I could provide you with common sense, a calculator that tells you the real numbers and damage you are doing to your state, and what it means to raid the working people’s hard-earned money. Instead, I’ll just hold off the feds and that indictment for a while longer. Okay?
Wishing I Were the Prosecutor,
Santa

Dear Santa,
I really need your help. I have been in office for six years and now I’m really at an all-time low. The voters chose Democrats to lead both the Senate and the House of Representatives. My poll numbers are slipping lower than Jessica Simpson’s IQ and now Rummy has left me. Would you please give me a clue as to how we can end this mess in Iraq? Thank you.
Respectfully,
President George W. Bush

Dear Mr. President,
There are some things that even Santa has a hard time getting someone for Christmas. I hope that Mr. Gates (not Bill, but the other one, Robert) will aid you in this endeavor. Let’s face it, though, you can’t keep hiding your head in the sand. Our men and women deserve to know what the real plan is. They’re the ones stuck every day in the sands of Iraq. Mrs. Claus and I would like to see them come home safely. Our best to Laura and the twins. By the way, have they been naughty or nice this year?
Wondering Where the Answers Are,
Santa

Dear Mr. Claus,
Perhaps you have heard of me. I have written two best selling books. They loved me in New Hampshire and even in New York. I am gaining momentum with a capital "MO"! I am eloquent, suave and debonair with a flair for the spoken language. I may have made a mistake in doing real estate business with a Mr. Anthony Rezko, but I got a great deal on my mansion. Mr. Claus, sir, what I am most in need of, however, is having done something of substance in my political career, besides, become the golden child of the Democratic Party. Will you help me?
I Could Be Great in ‘08,
Senator Barack Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,
Thank you for writing. The elves have been very busy this year building platforms. Perhaps, they could help you when they’re done. It would be good to have a foundation of substance on which to build your campaign. Let’s see, you did try to make amends with Senator McCain from Arizona and you once visited that nice little town of Freeport in northwest Illinois. And you... and you... well, good luck on that, sir. I wish you the best in your quest, but be wary of Illinois politics. It not only makes for strange bedfellows, but they can turn on their own in a hurry. Say hi to Hillary if she’s still speaking to you.
In a Non-Partisan Way,
Santa

That’s all the space we have folks. May you and your families have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas Day! Till next year....

Letters to Santa, 2008

Two years ago when I did my "Letters to Santa" column for my previous newspaper home with the Journal-Standard, my "request" from the current governor of Illinois was for leniency should he be indicted. This "letter" was omitte from the J-S, because I was informed by the editor at the time that the governor did not have any charges against him. I let him know at the time that he would. Fortunately, my new home newspaper, The Freeport Focus and Village Voices, are more progressive in their format and forward-thinking with their editoral board. This year's "Letters to Santa, 2008" came out yesterday, the same day that the same governor was arrested and removed from his home in handcuffs. We may be small town in comparison with the likes of the Chicago Tribune or Sun-Times, but state politics affect us as much as the rest of the state.

The following column appeared in the December 9, 2008 editions of The Freeport Focus and Village Voices:

Letters to Santa, 2008

By: Roland Tolliver

“One of the problems we have in this country is that too many adults believe in Santa Claus, and too many children don’t.” --Lee Lauer

Dear Santa,
Thank you for letting us fly to Washington, D.C. in our private jets to present our request to Congress for billions of taxpayers’ money. I know that put us on the naughty list, so we drove out in our hybrids the last time and it looks like they will give us some money this time. Does that mean we are now on the nice list?
Signed,
THE BIG (but getting smaller) THREE

Dear Not So Big Anymore Three,
Santa has been flying to his locations for years. Of course, it is my job to give, rather than receive, so people don’t complain about my flights. Besides, I don’t leave much of a carbon footprint, unless you count reindeer gas emissions! Ho! Ho!
P.S. Get your acts together or you’ll be getting the “Bridge Loans to Nowhere” in your stockings.

Dear Santa,
How is it I got away with murder, but now may be spending 15 years or more in prison for kidnapping for some sports memorabilia? Do you remember when I used to be a Hall of Fame running back? Doesn’t that count for anything? By the way, have you seen my other glove?
Insincerely,
O.J.

Dear One Glove,
You must not have remembered the story of Al Capone, did you? He got away with murder, but went to jail for tax evasion. One way or the other bad karma will catch up to you! As your friend and attorney once said, “If you did the crime, you must do the time.” Or was that on an episode of Seinfeld?

Dear Santa,
I refuse to admit that I am on the naughty list. I am a major political figure and do not deserve to be in “Club Fed”! I am an old guy with diabetes and miss eating at the fancy restaurants in Chicago where I dined regularly with major political donors and cronies. So, why am I still in prison? Could you spring a Presidential pardon for me under the Christmas tree this year?Unrepentantly yours,
George Ryan

Dear Father of the Bribe, George,
I’m not usually a vindictive Santa, but you deserve to stay right where you are. There are six children up in Heaven with the last name of Willis who will never see another Christmas with their parents. You at least are well “fed” (sorry, couldn’t help that one!) and have a place to sleep. I will send a personal letter to President Bush on behalf of those children to ask that he leave you where you are. Perhaps, we’ll have a few more Illinois politicians, maybe even another governor, joining you in the near future. Seems like Illinois governors have a propensity for ending up behind bars, don’t they?

Dear Santa,
We’d really like to attend classes without the threat of violence or disruptions in our schools. We know that most of the focus is on the high school, because of the number of incidences here, but we know that there have been problems at the junior high and other schools, as well. If it wouldn’t be too much to ask, do you think you could bring us a more peaceful 2009 school year, so that we can concentrate on getting an education and not have to worry about graffiti, fights, weapons, and threats?
Thank you, Santa.
Praying for Safe Schools,FHS Students and Parents

Dear FHS Students, Parents and Staff,
You may not know this, but Mrs. Claus and I, have been praying for you and other schools throughout the world. We know that prayer isn’t allowed in most schools, but in these trying times we could all use a few extra words with the “Big Man on Campus” for all of us. I can’t offer any guarantees, but consider those that are causing all of this trouble to be on the “naughty list” and know that they’ll get what is coming to them. In the meantime, keep studying and I’ll keep you all on my personal “honor roll!”

Sometimes letters are answered in mysterious ways. Yes, Governor Blagojevich, there is a Santa Claus, and he will be bringing you a lump of coal and an orange jumpsuit.

Who Will Buy this Senatorial Seat?

So, Rod the Mod finally gets his comeuppance. Patrick (the Elliot Ness of today) Fitzgerald and his crack team of investigators and prosecutors have once again put faith into our system. More than two years ago I wrote about the Governor seeking a way out of an indictment and the column was censored by the Journal Standard, because he wasn't "charged" with anything at that time. There was plenty of evidence at that time that he was being investigated, but no charges were forthcoming ... yet. One can clearly speculate that the investigation would one day lead to enough evidence, but the editor at that time was unwilling to allow an opinion to be voiced. Of course, that editor, as well as the publisher and much of the staff there are no longer there.

I wasn't prescient at the time, only well-read and well-versed in Illinois politics. The situation was being followed closely, despite the fact that Illinois voters once again voted a probable criminal into the office of governor. Didn't he learn anything from George "Fed" Ryan? Didn't our citizens learn anything about Chicago politics and the machine that continually produces the "above the law" politicians that screw over the citizenry in order to line their pockets with as much cash as they can take in.

What brashness, hubris, "testicular virility", or ignorance by a member of the government! He should be taken from office as soon as legally possible. This man has created a travesty for our state and the office of governor. What part of a sworn oath to uphold the office of leader of this state did he not understand?

Please, please take him to join George Ryan as quickly as he can be driven to Club Fed. Extortion for money for "green lanes" with a state contractor. Withholding money from Children's Memorial Hospital for shake-down money from their CEO. Threatening to keep money away from the Tribune Company and the sale of Wrigley Field unless editorial board members are fired. Asking for a union position to guarantee a $300,000 a year salary once he is out of office. Selling the Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Obama to the highest bidder. 76 pages worth of the brash acts of a village idiot and his stooge, John Harris.

The criminal complaint against Blago and his chief of staff shows the depths to which this elected official has sunk and how far down he is willing to take this state with him for his personal gain and for his wife. Heaven help us!

How Safe Are Our Children?

So, now the school district has decided that video cameras are a good idea in the high school? When we asked why these were only being installed in the "special education" classrooms this past Spring, we were told it because they only had enough money to put them in these classes. Did it have anything to do with the complaint filed by one of the aides against a special education teacher, who was cleared of any wrongdoing, but nonetheless is no longer working in a job that she loved? When we pointed out that there were more incidents in the hallways, gym classes, cafeteria and even in the lavatories, we were categorically rebuked and my spouse was made to look foolish for suggesting that cameras were needed in the above mentioned locations.

And now, at last night's board meeting, we were informed that "security consultants" were being contacted and that they were looking for the best deals on security cameras and that they should be able to be tied into the existing intranet system in the school. Why does it take events like those that have happened in the past few weeks to finally get our administrators to take action? Couldn't an effective discourse on the subject taken place when the idea of cameras in certain classrooms was being proposed? It is the old "lock the barn door after the cows are out" mentality that seems to permeate our community at times.

Tim Connors, the speech and drama teacher/coach at the high school presented a letter signed by 71 teachers asking the board to provide three concrete steps in an attempt to rectify the current problems at the high school (and it does run into the junior high, as well). The three primary that he conveyed on behalf of the teachers were:
1. The installation of video monitoring cameras in the appropriate locations throughout the school, including entrances/exits, hallways, and cafeteria among other places and the installation of metal detectors at entrance points;

2. Stricter and consistent disciplinary actions for students that disregard conduct codes and school regulations, this would include expulsions where indicated;

3. The training of security personnel to monitor the school, including additional support personnel.

The teachers have indicated their willingness to work with the administration in an attempt to curtail, and potentially eliminate the onslaught of potentially harmful actions by certain students (and in at least one case a parent and other adult).

The disruption for our students is unprecedented in the eighteen years that we have been residents of this community, including having two children graduate from FHS and one currently attending the school. Not only do I not wish to see any harm come to her, but neither do we wish to see any student, teacher or staff member injured, or worse. The illicit actions of a few are creating an atmosphere of fear, distrust, and in no way is conducive to teaching our children. How can one learn when there is constant distress and duress?

Let it Snow

Early morning in Freeport and apparently salt really is in short supply. Try getting to the junior high or high school when a semi-trailer is stuck at the intersection of Empire Street and West Avenue. There were a few locations where sand had been spread at the intersections, apparently not near the schools, however. This is only the first snowfall and already we are in transportation turmoil in our fair city. I'm sure that the new snow parking restrictions will make everything just hunky-dory, though.

So, welcome to the winter (though it is still officially autumn) in Northwest Illinois.

Going the Extra Mile

Just read this post from the Freeport School District Newsletter. There are definitely some exemplary teachers and "retired" teachers in our district. Heidi Downing is one such example. I was fortunate enough to have a daughter, who had her for a teacher. A good time to accenutate the positive:


Hooray for Heidi
From the Desk of Danielle Summers, Principal of Center School
Early last week (two weeks ago), Heidi Downing* subbed for Barb Kerr in the
afternoon. Students were finishing up, a quite intense and extensive, project.
On Thursday, Heidi was on her way to Rockford to spend time for herself by shopping.
(That is what retirement is all about.)
On the way, Heidi became more and more upset by the article she read in the paper that morning. The article was information on the Equity Data Presentation from Wednesday night. What bothered her most was the information on the district’s African American males and how they begin to fall behind early in their school careers. Heidi turned her car around and came to Center School. From subbing earlier in the week, she knew three African American boys were behind in a project. She spent three hours working with these boys to complete their project. The finished project was amazing. In addition to the project, Heidi read the equity article with the boys and talked about the young African American man on the front page, who is a former HAPP student and who has accomplished much.

It is that kind of dedication to students and desire to see students succeed that makes our district so wonderful. And especially makes Heidi so wonderful.
Heidi: Thank you so much for making a difference!

* Heidi retired from the school district a few years ago after a dedicated career as a teacher, HAPP leader, FEA leader and strong proponent for equity issues. Thankfully, she remains involved in our school district.
There are a number of such examples that often are overlooked due to the other issues within our district. I still question the wording of the administration in their response to the high school falling below the state standards, "because of the special needs" children and their test scores. As the parent of a child with "special needs" who cannot take standardized tests due to a low intelligence quotient, how does this factor into the scoring by the state. Are all children with IEP's put into the same category? Does a child with ADD or ADHD, who can test with certain accommodations get put into the same category as a child with severe mental retardation or altered cognitive abilities? How are these differences accounted for within the district and with state standardized tests, that are used to determine state funding for the schools?

No Chiild Left Behind has been a blatant failure for our district and for the country. There is no way that one standard can be used for all students.

The Day After, Locally

It has become apparent that in Northwest Illinois we are staunchly Republican on the local level. The overwhelming victories by Sen. Bivins, Congressman Sacia, and U.S. Representative Manzullo. The election in Stephenson County mirrored the national percentages in voting for Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain. This is the first time that I am aware of that our county has voted in favor of a Democratic presidential nominee over a Republican.

The City of Freeport, which is extremely slow to change or to accept new concepts and ideas, voted overwhelmingly (65% to 35%) to stay with the Mayor-Council form of government instead of looking toward the future of our economic livelihood and strongly consider a City Manager-Mayor-Council form. We either embrace our candidates for their outgoing personality, even if the city is eroding around us, or kick them out if our taxes are raised to an uncomfortable level.

What does any of this portend for our local economy in a time when our major employers, such as MetLife, let more employees go, including ones that had been there for more than 40 years and had dedicated their lives to the company? We see the bright and shiny new retail stores like Wal-Mart, Menards, and the refurbished Farm and Fleet, but these are not "new" businesses to our area. These are expanded companies, who are now letting their new hires go as the economy continues to slide and the stores reach a point of balanced business (the initial traffic flow has leveled off).

We are landlocked in Freeport with no major expressways nearby (think Rochelle and I-88 and I-39) and no four-lane highway to our West. This has severely limited our ability to grow in population or in business. We are now at a 6.9% unemployment rate compared with 4.8% one year ago, as of September. Of course, this isn't helped by the 8.9% rate in Winnebago County, where many of our residents work. How many more unemployed do we have that are now on other forms of subsidized income who no longer qualify for unemployment benefits?

There are many aspects of our city and county that are in need of assistance, whether through the government or local business initiatives. There is definitely a need for the two to be working together for the area and not have people so consumed with personal approval ratings or image, but who get things done with the general good of the economy and standard of living not taking a backseat to the next election.

Thoughts on the Day After

Found this while looking through various blogs about the election. Thought it was an interesting post which highlights the symmetrical and cyclical nature of American politics:

Conservative blogger Rod Dreher notes:

1. The modern conservative movement began with the crushing defeat of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race. The modern conservative movement ends with the crushing defeat of Arizona Sen. John McCain -- who took Goldwater's Senate seat upon his retirement -- in the 2008 presidential race.

2. Modern liberalism began its implosion with riots in Chicago's Grant Park at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Tonight, modern liberalism is reborn at Chicago's Grant Park, where a black Chicago Democrat will celebrate winning the presidency.

Obama Wins Election

As the final days of the campaign ran its course, there was the distinct feeling that Senator Barack Obama of our state of Illinois would win the election. In another online discussion group, I predicted that Sen. Obama would win 338 Electoral College Votes. While I fully supported Senator John McCain for his abilities in National security issues and especially for his stance on the pro-life issue, I am an American and appreciate that the country of Lincoln fought for the rights of any American of the appropriate age to run for President. There is to be no encumbrance to race, color or religious affiliation when running for the highest office in the land.

I wish Senator Obama well. I do hope that he moves more toward the centrist, conservative demeanor that he displayed at Harvard (according to Professor Ogletree his former mentor at Harvard Law School). It came down to the primary reasons of the economy (doesn't it usually?) and the ability to link Senator McCain with the Bush presidency.

Now there is the hope that the Senate does not become a supermajority with 60 Democrats, or perhaps that would be a good thing, because then we can see if the Democrats can solve the nation's woes and not have partisanship to blame for any failures to "change" our country for the better.

I am guessing that no one will mispronounce his name like I predicted almost four years ago prior to President Bush's second inauguration in 2005, when Senator Kennedy called him Senator Osama.

We'll see if we start moving in a positive direction.

It Is Time to Vote

Column first appeared in Village Voices on October 28, 2008

At the Crossroads
By
Roland Tolliver

“Life is lived forward, but can only be understood backwards.” --Søren Kierkegaard

The nation is at a crossroads. Oil prices fluctuate and long lines at the gas pumps are happening in parts of our country. There is turmoil in the Middle East with continued concerns about Iran. The Republican candidate is a balding, white male, military veteran, who is trying to distance himself from a President with an abysmal approval rating. Saturday Night Live has lampooned a national candidate to the point of turning the party representative into a mockery. A vice-presidential candidate was selected to appease the conservatives. On the other side, a smooth talking liberal candidate is the nominee from the Democratic Party. He has little experience at the national or international levels, but has brought in a long-term U.S. Senator to cover his weaknesses. The economy is in the dumps with the possibility of inflation and depression both looming large. The Presidential election is just days away.

The year was 1976. Gerald Ford, the man who was appointed to the Presidency, was running against the upstart Democratic nominee, Jimmy Carter. The nation wanted to distance itself from Richard Nixon, and anybody associated with him. Walter Mondale, the long-time Democratic Senator from Minnesota, was nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate, seen as someone who could shore up the party’s ticket. Gerald Ford was lampooned by Chevy Chase of SNL, who made a career out of his one-note comedic bludgeoning of a single misstep on a runway in Austria, dismissing the fact that Ford was probably the most athletic President in history. Senator Bob Dole was the V.P. nominee, who appealed to the more conservative constituency.

It was my first election. I had turned eighteen that year. I was a political junkie from the time I was in the fourth or fifth grade, even to the point of charting the Electoral College votes the night of the 1968 election. My parents thought I was prescient when I predicted that Nixon would name Gerald Ford from our home state of Michigan as his Vice President when it was apparent that the disgraced Spriro Agnew would be leaving office. I was also torn in trying to make my first major decision as a voting adult.

Today we find a number of parallels to 1976. We have a tested politician who has chosen a more conservative candidate to be his running mate. We have an untested, but smooth-talking candidate, who has chosen a long-term Senator as his running mate to balance his inexperience in foreign affairs. We have the coming inflationary economy that is in a recession. Gas prices are fluctuating on an almost daily basis. Iran is threatening Israel and there is continued instability in the Middle East. And not the least is America’s desire to distance itself from an unpopular President and the other party doing its best to connect the Republican Presidential nominee and the current President for their own political gain.

The four years of the Carter administration were most-likely one of the lowest points in the history of our country’s standing in the world. We were perceived as weak. Our military was decimated by the desire to try and be the anti-war nation, having been disillusioned by the Vietnam War. Our economy soured and gas prices skyrocketed with long gas lines and rationing. The one international event that stands above any other during that time was the Iranian Hostage Crisis with the subsequent tragedy in the ill-fated rescue attempt. “Carter’s Blackest Day” was the headline in the daily paper in Munich (where I was studying) on April 25, 1980, the day after the failed “Operation Eagle Claw” and the death of eight of our finest soldiers in Iran the day before. And now Senator Biden informs us that if his running mate is elected President, he will be tested with an international crisis within the first six months of his Presidency.

The parallels are many and we have been informed many times throughout the years by Winston Churchill and others that if we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Despite President Bush’s misgivings and shortcomings, there has not been another attack on U.S. soil since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We have not located Osama Bin Laden and perhaps we never will regardless of who is elected President. We are in an unpopular war, but when is war ever popular? The current candidates want to stop genocide and other atrocities in other parts of the world, and that was accomplished to a large degree in Iraq with the capture and ouster of Saddam Hussein, but due to the misguided pretenses of attacking terrorists in Iraq, this fact is often overlooked.

There is still much work to be done with the economy, in fostering world peace, in protecting innocent lives here and abroad, and protecting our own shores. Despite the campaign rhetoric and baseless promises for change, the winner will still have to work with Congress to pass any sweeping changes. As a country, we move more at the rate of an ocean liner than a speed boat when it comes to change. There is no modern-day prophet or single individual who accomplishes all he or she sets out to do and definitely not in four years’ time.

I voted in 1976 based on my enthusiasm of the moment. I went with the new guy, against my deeper gut feeling that I should vote for President Ford. I listened to the promises and the rhetoric. I was young and highly impressionable. I learned a valuable lesson that I have taken with me each subsequent election. I vote independent of party line locally, but have voted for a Republican for President since that impetuous decision in 1976. I have a feeling we may have another difficult lesson to learn in the next few years, but as a country we will survive either way.

Presidential Candidates' Health

Column first published in Village Voices, October 14, 2008

Fit for Office

By

Roland Tolliver

"John F. Kennedy has not, nor has he ever, had … Addison's disease." --Dr. Janet Travell, President Kennedy's Personal Physician

In this, the age of HIPPA laws and medical disclosure issues, Americans want to know about the health status of their elected officials, especially the President. This has now carried over, and with good reason, to the candidates who are running for President of the United States. The health of the candidates for Vice-President also presents intriguing questions, but not to the same extreme. The forthrightness of past nominees has been questionable at best, including several Presidents whose near-incapacitation or inability to lead were masked or hidden by their doctors and personal assistants.

The above example for then Senator Kennedy is one of the most blatant and glaring in regards to Presidential candidates. While JFK is often revered as one of our great Presidents, he most likely would have never been voted in if there had been full disclosure of his health problems. It has been revealed that he was thought to be addicted to painkillers because of chronic back pain. He had full-blown Addison's disease (a condition that affects the adrenal gland and requires cortisone to allow the body to function) since 1947, but that fact was hidden from the public. There were multiple other medical conditions that afflicted Senator Kennedy, but these were hidden from the public in his campaign's desire to project a youthful, energetic candidate to the country. The first televised debate in 1960 only accentuated that persona to the public and allowed JFK to become President.

Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, was initially just as secretive, by minimizing a heart attack in 1955 and downplaying his gall bladder attacks. He did eventually seek counsel from President Eisenhower, who had had multiple medical problems during his two terms in office during the 1950's. He instructed President Johnson to let the American people know about his medical status. LBJ went so far as to reveal his "gall bladder surgery scar" during a press conference.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower not only suffered a heart attack in 1955 during his first term in office, but had severe Crohn's disease, which required surgery in 1956 and had a stroke in 1957, which left him with a slight speech impediment.

It has been well-documented that President Ronald Reagan developed Alzheimer's disease, which many people have determined probably manifested toward the end of his second term. It is also well-known that his successor, President George H. W. Bush, has Grave's disease, which affects the thyroid gland.

Throughout the history of our country, as well as country's around the world, the health of many nations' leaders has come into question at different times. Fidel Castro, Boris Yeltsin, and Kim Yong Il among others have been or were kept out of the public eye when seriously ill in order to "protect" them from those who had suspicions of their ability or inability to lead. While dictatorial countries and communist regimes often operate under a veil of secrecy, our own government has done this over the years when it has come to our own presidents' health concerns.

The questions concerning our current presidential candidates' health continue to be asked by journalists, physician panels, and the electorate. Is John McCain, who will be 72 on Inauguration Day, too old for the presidency? Does his history of hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and previous bouts with melanomas lead one to believe that he may not survive even one term in office? Will people take into account that current actuarial tables (while only an indicator and obviously not a prognosticator of actual lifelines) indicate that he will most likely live at least another twelve years? Do voters look at the fact that his mother is still living vibrantly at age 96? Will we stop to consider that he has survived a Vietnamese prison camp and has now led a full life of service to his country? Of course, the job of President of the United States has taken a toll on the last two Presidents. Just look at photos of Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush before and after taking office.

Most people look at the Democratic Presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama, and imagine that he is the picture of health. He is slim, plays pick-up basketball regularly, and is said to eat relatively healthy food choices with little or no excess fats or junk food. What is often overlooked is his addiction to nicotine and his frequent relapses in regards to the use of tobacco. There have been many people in their forties and fifties who appear healthy, that succumb to the effects of smoking, including heart attacks, cancer of the throat, mouth, and lungs among other types, as well as emphysema and related breathing disorders. His mother died of cancer at the age of 52.

There are many issues on which this presidential campaign will be decided. There are also many questions about a candidate's health that are legitimate. Few journalists will dig very deep into the 1,500 plus pages of medical information that Senator McCain released, just as few will go beyond the one page "I'm normal" news release that came from Senator Obama's campaign headquarters. If there are underlying medical conditions that truly affect one's ability to lead the country and make the critical decisions that are required on a daily basis, then these should be fully disclosed, because it is important when making the choice at the ballot box.

If the non-issue health concerns are blown out of proportion only for the chance to question one's ability to lead, then these need to be critically addressed by qualified individuals in order to substantiate the findings or to discredit them, whichever provides the true answer. We can no longer fall prey to the whims of a candidate's handlers, who in the past insulated the candidate and his medical conditions from the general public, and vote blindly. If it is of no consequence, then vote for the best man and/or woman. If it is, and we don't know until after the fact, then we better be sure that the Vice-President's health is in order.

Cubs Playoff Woes

First Appeared in The Focus on October 9, 2008

I Can’t Believe I Watched the Whole Thing!

By

Roland Tolliver

“Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar tissue.” --George Will



The year was 1968 and I was helping to head up the mock election for President in our elementary school. It was the year of Richard M. Nixon and Hubert H. Humphrey. It was also, for all of us living in Michigan, “The Year of the Tigers.” As crucial as the upcoming election was, and believe me, the campaign lasted nowhere near as long as the current one, life was put on hold for Carlson Elementary School. I know it is ancient history for some, but this was in the days before a television - complete with cable - in every classroom. It was the only time during my thirteen years in public education that a television was brought into the room in order for the class to watch the World Series games involving the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Mr. Kemp allowed us to hang on every pitch, as the games were played during the daytime then. Television didn’t control the schedule in those days.

This past week, we once again put a political campaign on the backburner, the Palin-Biden debate notwithstanding, in order to watch hometown teams compete in the Major League playoffs. The Tigers faded this year faster than a complete sentence by Ron Santo when the Cubs make an error. Not since 1906 had both the Cubs and the White Sox been in the postseason at the same time. Chicago and Illinois were gung-ho a week ago. The Cubs had won the Central Division and had the best record in the National League and with it, home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Sox took two extra days to secure a place among the final eight teams.

And then a strange feeling a déjà-Blue came over Cub fans throughout the area and the country. We watched the first game and cheered when Mark DeRosa hit a two-run home run into the right field bleachers. Ron Santo continually reminded us that “this is the year!” We were given that hope, that belief, that thrill of anticipation that we were on our way. Ryan “Home Field Rules” Dempster was on the mound and the wind was blowing in. Somehow, some way, though, the wind seemed to blow the ball every which way but over the plate. Walk the bases loaded and then … Loney Tunes … James Loney (who?) launches one over the center field wall and it is the “grand salami.” Bases cleared, Cub fans sigh, and we never lead again in the entire series. I watched each inning, staying up until late in the night, hoping, wishing, cajoling, and the end result was another year without a playoff win.

Only four teams have been swept two years in a row in the playoffs. The Cubs are now one of them. Only two teams had the best record in the National League and then were swept in the first round of the playoffs. The Cubs are now one of those two. The games were disheartening, disappointing and devoid of any of the fun-filled action that they displayed throughout the regular season. We couldn’t pitch when we needed to. We couldn’t hit when men were on base. We couldn’t field when the ball was hit to us.

I know that “we” weren’t on the field or at the plate or in the dugout, but “we” have been behind the team during this magical year, hanging on every curve ball, every home run, every anxious moment. And “we” were the ones that couldn’t afford playoff tickets and sat home and watched each pitch and garnered a greater and greater feeling of dread whenever Alfonso Soriano came to the plate or when a runner was on base and we could sense the impending double-play ball would be hit by one of our players. We could see the Cubs sitting on their hands with their heads down while on the bench or see them with their gloves up when the ball was down when they were on the field.

No matter what superstition or lucky charm or magical field was invoked or which god was prayed to or how many times the dugout was blessed, a team has to be able to hit, throw, and catch a baseball better than the other team. The Cubs didn’t do that and once again we must “wait till next year.” Now it is 101 years and counting.

The Tigers went on to stun the Cardinals in the 1968 World Series after being down three games to one. Hubert Humphrey won our school’s mock election, though not the real one. Denny McLain, who would be the last pitcher to win 30 games in a year, would eventually leave the game in disgrace after being traded to the Washington Senators, as would the winner of that year’s election, Richard Nixon, who was ironically also dismissed from Washington, D.C. in disgrace. Some events in life are difficult to predict, much like trying to figure out when the Cubs will win their next World Series.

Now, it is back to the election season (though the White Sox just won to stay alive in the playoffs as I write this on Sunday evening) and there is once again a major decision to be made about leadership in our country. But before that day arrives … “Hey, Lou! Why didn’t you put Fontenot at second to start the series and put DeRosa in right? Could you talk to Soriano about not swinging at everything within his sight line? Why didn’t you take out Dempster and put in Marshall after Ryan’s fourth walk? Will ‘Big Z’ ever grow up? What’s up with Derrick ‘Double Play’ Lee when a man’s on base?” So many questions, so much off-season time …

We've Got Questions

The Following Column appeared in The Freeport Focus on September 24, 2008:

We've Got Questions … Do They Have Answers?

By

Roland Tolliver

"In many ways what they've done is created a world for real presidential debates in which the candidates have an opportunity, to a larger audience, not to engage each other, but to give another version of their stump speech." --John Wells



We'll take the opportunity today to play moderator for this week's debate between the presidential candidates for the two major political parties. Our condolences to the obscure Party candidates, Cynthia McKinney, Bob Barr, Tom Millican, and Chuck Baldwin who were not invited, but they invite you to read their position papers on the major issues at their respective web sites, if you can find them. So, let's present the questions and maybe someday we'll be able to hear the "real" answers.

We flipped a coin and Senator Obama called heads. Yes, heads it is and Senator Obama has chosen to receive … the first question.

Moderator: Senator Obama, it is indeed an honor and a privilege to sit here "thisclose" to you. I love your campaign and all that you stand for, but as a non-biased news anchor, I am compelled to ask you some tough questions. Our first question is, "What is it like meeting Oprah? I mean, OMG, she is the one we all strive to be like."

Senator Obama: Well, Mr. Moderator, it is truly an honor to be here and we represent change that you can believe in. I met Oprah at church with Reverend Wright where I never heard anything about hating America or subjected my family to any such vitriol. We would meet for coffee and cookies and talk about shopping at the local Jewel.

Moderator: Thank you, Senator, for your insightful and awe-inspiring answer. What is your favorite cookie, by the way?

Senator Obama: White chocolate with macadamia nuts or a good oatmeal raisin.

Moderator: Thank you for being here, Senator McCain. Let's start with a simple question. "What can you tell us about Charles Keating and the problems that bedeviled the savings and loan industry?"

Senator McCain: Charles Keating. Charles Keating! You ask him about Oprah and cookies and I get Charles Keating. Did you know that I spent five and a half years as a POW in Hanoi? Why didn't you ask him about the $126, 349 he received from Fannie Mae in the past four years? His staff has consulted with the deposed chairman of this pseudo government organization and you ask me about the savings and loan industry? I am the real change agent here.

Moderator: Senator McCain, please just answer the questions. This isn't Fox. Keith Olberman and Chris Matthews wrote the questions, so you know they are fair. Senator Obama, how did you and Michelle meet? You are such a lovely couple and your girls are just adorable.

Senator Obama: Thank you, sir. Michelle and I were working at a Chicago law firm and she was my advisor. We went to see Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" on our first date. I told her she was the 'right thing' for me. Now we're a happy family and this campaign is like our third child.

Moderator: That is so sweet, Senator. Senator McCain, how do you account for not knowing how many houses you have?

Senator McCain: How did he meet Michelle? Did you know that they were married by Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who the Senator no longer acknowledges? How many houses do I have? Ask my esteemed colleague how he managed to have real estate shenanigans with Mr. Tony Rezko, who is now in jail awaiting trial for illegal campaign fundraising activities. How much money did he raise for the Senator?

Moderator: Senator McCain, you are not sticking with the topics, you have one more chance. Senator Obama, may I call you Barack?

Senator Obama: Yes, sir, you may.

Moderator: Thank you, Mr. Presiden…, I mean, Barack. My final question of the night for you is, "If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?"

Senator Obama: As I intuited in my book, "Dreams Of My Father", a New York Times bestseller, by the way, I would have liked to have gone to Kenya to meet my father, whom I never really knew. I was raised by my loving grandparents in Kansas and I'm just a small town kid at heart. Otherwise, I'd like to meet Osama bin Laden and say, 'shame on you' for what you did to this country and to tell him that he ruined my name, because people keep confusing his and mine, like Senator Kennedy when he introduced me to the Senate.

Moderator: Yes, a good tongue lashing ought to teach that bin Laden character that we mean business! Mister, I mean, Senator McCain, you have supported the war in Iraq since the beginning, while Senator Obama was against it, even though he wasn't actually in the Senate when it started. How do you justify America not just packing it up and calling it a day?

Senator McCain: He wants bin Laden to apologize? Get real, will you? Just like his friend William Ayers apologized? Ha! What kind of debate is this, anyways? You know darn well that I'll follow that terrorist to the gates of hell. I may be old enough to be my opponent's father, but I'm tougher than nails. I actually had to eat nails once when I was in Viet Nam. I needed the iron from the rust on them.

Moderator: That's enough, Senator McCain. I am going to turn this one over now to the pundits who will tell Americans what they think and how the people should think. They all believe that the typical American voter doesn't know how to think for themselves and they have a lot of airtime to fill. Bye, Barack. Are we still on for coffee tomorrow morning? Give my best to Michelle and the girls.

Heard off camera: Hey, you're still on the air! They'll think that we're supporting one candidate over the other. Turn off your mike, will ya?!

House Call for the Spin Doctor

The following column appeared in The Freeport Focus on September 18, 2008.

House Call for the Spin Doctor

By

Roland Tolliver

“The political spin in Washington is revolting, just revolting. It’s a callous political game.”

--Rob Bishop

Two weeks ago I would have given odds that Senator Barack Obama would be the winner of the general presidential election the first Tuesday of November. A few years ago I coined a term, “politainment”, in which the new word was defined as being the melding of politics and entertainment. It has become ubiquitous in our society that the issues are only marginally brought forth, but the perception of a candidate’s personality is front and center when campaigning. This is primarily related to national politics where the “big money” is spent on television advertising and the faces of the candidates’ are ever-present.

When one goes back to 1960 for our general presidential elections there is a distinct pattern of the “better looking” candidate winning the elections. For those of you who recall the first presidential debates in 1960, those who were listening on the radio were sure that Vice-President Richard M. Nixon had won with more salient points, but as we know Senator John F. Kennedy won the general election. Many ceded that his election victory was sealed during that debate, which was also televised. He was photogenic, eloquent with his speech, and was not sweating like a pig (one without lipstick) during the debate. Nixon on the other hand lacked Kennedy’s charm and was sweating like a pig (his makeup was probably running, too). This was the start of the “politainment” period in American politics.

Each subsequent election has seen similar national predilection for the candidate that was perceived to have more camera appeal, though one could argue that Nixon vs. Humphrey or Nixon vs. McGovern was a “visual” wash and it could also account for the “hanging chad” closeness of the Bush vs. Gore election. One could argue those, but I won’t. Suffice it to say that the more photogenic candidates are typically the general election winners for president.

That leads us to this year. Here we have Senator Barack Obama, the thin, handsome, gifted speaker of a candidate, who came out like gangbusters during the primaries, only to almost lose what seemed like an insurmountable lead, but hung on for his party’s nomination. On the other side of the coin, we have the more “seasoned” candidate, Senator John McCain, who seems stauncher, less talented at conveying his message from a podium, and a trifle rougher around the edges.

America is always on the lookout for something new and exciting to come along. We give our television shows a few weeks to “wow” us and if it doesn’t grab enough ratings fast enough, the shows are yanked off of the air. We tend to be the same way about our politicians running for national office. We give them the opportunity to smooth talk us into believing that they are all about change or hope or reform or whatever buzz word is commissioned by the campaign managers and people pulling the candidates’ strings and then we try to decide who we like the best, or who we like the least.

This campaign season, however, has seen a wrench thrown into the boiler. While the one candidate has the GQ looks and suave demeanor going for him, he also has a long-winded, perennial politician without a hint of “change” in his profile as a running mate. The other candidate, who has served his country for fifty-some years, is trying to project an image of change, which alone he could not achieve. He has, however, changed the perspective of the race by asking a fresh new face to the national scene to be his running mate. Where one candidate says he is about change and didn’t back it up when he had a chance to make a distinction with a running mate, instead of highlighting his own shortcomings with his choice, the other made it clear that it is he who will be running the country if he wins, and that the vice-presidential nominee is there to support his leadership.

The fact that she is just as photogenic, if not more so, than the Democratic presidential nominee, is where the wrench comes in. America has not typically had an election season where a presidential candidate has spent so much time and energy in comparing himself to the vice-presidential candidate for the other party. Where experience is lacking, quite frankly in all of the candidates, the quality of leadership should fill in that void. So, the question becomes not who has the experience to lead, but who has the ability to lead, to make the tough decisions, and with whom to consult in order to make those decisions.

The next fifty days or so will be a blur to most of us. We will see political attack ads. We will hear enough spin to make our heads spin and we will in typical fashion most often hear only what we want to hear. The majority of Americans have already decided who they will vote for. The messages that will be sent over the next weeks will be geared at swaying those that are sitting on the proverbial fence. Many will vacillate depending on their personal stance on certain issues and how they perceive that the candidates match up with their positions. Others will see who appears to show the qualities they deem necessary for the leader of our country.

What many will not do, will be to see beyond the political spin, to dig deeper into a candidate’s qualifications and to make an informed decision. Many will look at the candidates’ appearances on the television screen, listen to the pundits, and vote based on the presentation of the packaging of the candidates. The polls will be like watching to see how well a movie is doing at the box office or a television show in the ratings. Many will jump on a bandwagon depending on any given day’s results. This is the type of political entertainment that has been perpetuated since 1960 and now has grown with the advent of 24/7 news coverage into the “politainment” monster that everyone knows, but few want to recognize.

Politics shouldn’t be about which candidate comes across best on television. It should be about who is best suited to lead our country. Alas, that seems to be a forgotten factor.

Watching the RNC

Last week's column in The Freeport Focus is presented here for a "fair and balanced" account of the other national convention.

Watching the RNC

Or Being Embedded with C-SPAN

By

Roland Tolliver


“Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much.” --Every speaker at the RNC after their introductions.

Our media maverick, Al Bebach, spent the last week embedded with C-SPAN, otherwise known as Continuous Sarah Palin Action News, this past week during the Republican National Convention. He is a little blurry-eyed after his back-to-back convention attack, but he was willing to share his thoughts with us again this week. (If you missed last week’s convention coverage, it may be viewed at http://pretzelcity.blogspot.com/).

Roland: Tell me, Al, how was this convention compared to the DNC in Denver?

Al Bebach (AB): I didn’t see as many celebrities. There was Pat Boone and Jon Voight, but no Arnold or Clint. Nothing like the DNC with Oprah, P. Diddy, or a host of Hollywood’s biggest stars, who were all clamoring to touch the hem of Barack Obama’s garment.

Roland: How was the mood of this convention?

AB: Much more businesslike for the first couple of days. There was a rush of enthusiasm for Wednesday night, though. Everyone was waiting for the main speech of the convention.

Roland: Do you mean Mike Huckabee’s or Fred Thompson’s?

AB: No, you silly goof. I’m talking about Sarah “Barracuda” Palin.

Roland: What did she have to say to the adoring crowd?

AB: I didn’t follow the words at first, so I had to watch it a second time on You Tube.

Roland: Why didn’t you watch her speech the first time?

AB: Because I spent the entire time just watching her. She’s like Lois Lane, I was just waiting for her to take off her glasses and let down her hair. If Obama should be on GQ, Sarah will end up on Vanity Fair or something like that. McCain looked like a doting grandfather when they were on stage together.

Roland: What about the content of the speeches, though. Any unusual revelations like you noticed last week?

AB: Let’s see. There was Mike Huckabee who told a long story about students not having desks. I guess that was relevant for children’s left behinds.

Roland: I believe that is “No Child Left Behind” and he was talking about our veterans’ earning the right for us to have a free education.

AB: You don’t really know Huckabee’s sense of humor, do you? Then Fred Thompson spoke of alligators and swamps. I think he was referring to King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Probably some off-handed reference to Sarah Palin’s dad, Michael, and his friends from Monty Python. I loved the Knights who say “Ni!” “Bring me a shrubbery!”

Roland: Michael Palin is British and is not Sarah’s dad. That would be funny, though, come to think of it. How did her speech go over?

AB: She was definitely the star of the convention. I don’t know that she laid any new policy information on the line, but she laid into the media and told us she did say no thanks to Simon and Garfunkel.

Roland: Simon and Garfunkel?

AB: Sure, she said, “Thanks, but no thanks for the Bridge Over Troubled Waters.”
Roland: That was the Bridge to Nowhere and she did support it at first when Senator “I’ll Fight My Indictment” Ted Stevens tried to get the appropriations for his state.

AB: Whatever. She was dynamic, eloquent and did I say, good looking?

Roland: Yes, you did, but what does that have to do with anything? If she was a man, you wouldn’t even bring it up, would you?

AB: You obviously missed last week’s column. Barack is the Rock Star and Sarah is now the Rock Goddess, though she wouldn’t like that title. You know? No false gods before me and all that. She made the main speaker seem shaky and unsure of himself by comparison.

Roland: You mean, Sarah Palin.

AB: No, Rudy Giuliani.

Roland: I was surprised that it took him almost to the end of his speech to mention 9/11. I realize that this week mark’s the anniversary of that most tragic day in American history, but surely he must have done something besides that in his life.

AB: You mean besides enjoying finding attractive women to marry?

Roland: Yes, besides that. What about the women who spoke other than Sarah Palin? Cindy McCain and Laura Bush were there, weren’t they?

AB: Yes. Cindy McCain had on an outfit complete with full accoutrements to the cost of over $300,000. Laura Bush ensemble was a mere $4000 or so.

Roland: Does that mean anything?

AB: The differences should tell you something. One comes from money and isn’t afraid to let it be known, no matter how many houses they have. The other one has served her country admirably and would probably like to return to a home on the range.

Roland: That brings us to the final night and the most anticipated event of the night.

AB: Obama being interviewed by Bill O’Reilly?

Roland: Ha! Ha! No, I’m talking about Senator McCain’s acceptance speech. Did he hit a “home run”?

AB: Let’s just say that he has served his country and that age shouldn’t matter as much as the American media makes it out to be of significance. On the other hand, he should probably be like most successful mates in a relationship and let Sarah do the talking from now on.

Roland: Thanks, Al. I can’t wait to hear your input over the next sixty days leading up to the election.

AB: It has felt like sixty months since this year’s election process started. I’m going to bed and hibernate until Christmas. Wake me when it’s all over.

Roland Tolliver is a freelance writer and contributor to The Freeport Focus and Village Voices. You may read additional writings and view photos from the Sesquicentennial celebrations at http://www.pretzelcity.blogspot.com/.

The Quiet Morning Sky

I lay in bed yesterday morning and heard the planes flying overhead. There is a distinct pattern of flight from points west to O'Hare Airport that goes directly over Freeport around 6:00 a.m.. I could set my alarm to the early morning drone of the jets. Yesterday marked the seventh anniversary of the day the jets quit flying for several ominously eerie days. The nation was at a standstill while the impact of the terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 were felt throughout our country and the world. It was the day the skies stood still.

All of the articles about "Where were you?" have been written to commemorate the date. The politicians put away their animosities for a one day truce. The memorials were held and the names of the victims were read and the bells tolled for those who gave their lives that day. Taps were played from the roof of the Pentagon and the sad refrains from the bagpipes echoed through the courtyard.

Local ceremonies were held throughout the country and law enforcement officers and fire department personnel were asked for their views on the tragedy and how it has affected our nation over the past seven years. Schools held moments of silence or stood at attention for "Taps" or the national anthem. Some said prayers for the victims and their families. Others went about their day, as if it were just another day.

I looked at the sky and wondered how something like that could happen and could it or would it happen again? Are there enough safety precautions now at our nation's airports, rail stations, and bus terminals? How much difference does it make if we take our shoes off or are strip-searched? Do we feel safer for ourselves and for our children? How much lip service has been given and how much actual action to ensure our country's protection has been taken?

There are plenty of reasons to question the war in Iraq and how it actually has affected the fact that there have been no more attacks on U.S. soil since September 11, 2001. There were legitimate reasons to go to Afghanistan and yet, Osama Bin Laden has still not been located. We've lost more soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq than died on 9/11 and we wonder to what end.

We are coming to an election and the "change" that is being touted is not really about true change in the way things are done, but in a change of the face of leadership. Will it matter much whether it is McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden if there is no change in the Congress? Once either one gets into office, the first term is about not screwing up too badly in the first two years, so that the next two years can be spent trying to stay in office with the next election.

Whether lipstick on a pig is an issue or who is the real agent of change really matters are left to public opinion, but it is really about having a vision for our country and the ability to convey that message to the citizens who are the ones whose lives are affected. Take away the TelePrompters and you still have human beings with doubts, human faults, and an occasional idea that takes us beyond the rhetoric and into a real sense of desire to accomplish something. Bring it to the level of everyday citizens and they might even find that their message resonates into community action.

We remember. We live. We go on. We move on. And in another year, we'll remember again. We should remember each and every day, though, about the days the skies stood still and our lives were changed. Forever.

Watching the DNC

Watching the DNC
Or How to OD on the Democratic National Commercial
By
Roland Tolliver

“Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you all very, very much.” --Every Speaker featured on Primetime Television’s version of the long infomercial known as the DNC.

We put our friend and pundit in front of C-Span for four straight days to get his interpretation of the Democratic National Convention this past week. Our man of the hour, the pugnacious prognosticator of the press, Al Bebach, spent considerable time not only deciphering the double-speak and diatribe (don’t worry, in all fairness, he’ll report on the Republican National Commercial, er, Convention, if it is held next week), but reading “between the lines” or tells you what was not said, or at least omitted from the highlight reels.

AB: Should I start with the big speech?
Me: You mean, Senator Obama’s?

AB: No, you silly man. I meant the one by the woman in the tangerine travelling pant suit.
Me: Sure. Go ahead. What did she say?

AB: It wasn’t what she said. It was what she left out. “I’m here tonight as a proud mother, a proud Democrat … as a proud senator from New York … a proud American … and a proud supporter of Barack Obama.”
Me: So. What’s the problem?

AB: Don’t you think it was a little, well, rude of her not to mention being a proud wife? Bill is sitting there mouthing his little, “I love yous” and she doesn’t even acknowledge him.
Me: Maybe she was getting back at him for that Monica Lewinsky thing in the White House?

AB: Perhaps, but that had to be embarrassing for the former President. Then she brings up her support of Senator John McCain when she said, “Know the way. Know the how. Know McCain!” and then the whole crowd started shouting, “Know McCain!” I mean, wasn’t she at the DNC?
Me: I think she said, “No way. No how. No McCain.”

AB: That’s what you think. I had a chance to see a draft of the speech and I think she was subliminally trying to support McCain. She plans on taking her 18 million voters with her and going home to … now where did she say she’s from? New York, Illinois, Arkansas, Washington, D.C.?
Me: What else do you have?

AB: My favorite line was about the most important job being taking care of our families and to “help every child live up to his or her God-given potential … ”
Me: That sounds like a good idea to me.

AB: The most important line must have been cut from the telecast, though.
Me: And that was …?

AB: … except the ones that we never want to give the chance to be born … Every human life deserves a chance to reach his or her potential, but there is no chance if there is no birth. What is God-given about that?
Me: I see your point. How about any of the others? What about Joe Biden?

AB: Let’s see. “Barack and I took very different journeys to this very destination, but we share a common story …” What he left out was that he’s shared a common story with others before.
Me: What do you mean?

AB: Don’t you recall how he used the story of British Labor Party Leader, Neil Kinnock, even plagiarizing his words as his own during a speech at the Iowa State Fair during the 1988 presidential campaign? He did the same thing when he was in college, but it was only “stressless scholarship” then, whatever that means?!
Me: So, he’s told a few lies. That shouldn’t disqualify him as a politician.

AB: Touché, sir. Touché! Then there was his line “My parents taught us to live our faith, and to treasure our families.” He, like Hillary, keeps leaving out the caveat, except the family members that don’t get a chance to live in the first place.
Me: I’m getting the impression that you are pro-life, Mr. Bebach.

AB: Well, Mr. Biden and the rest of the speakers are definitely on the opposite side of the fence on that subject.
Me: That is a major part of the Democratic platform. It does seem to go against the grain of the faith that Mr. Biden was alluding to, doesn’t it? How about Bill Clinton’s speech? Any insights?

AB: I think he said it all pretty much in his second sentence, “Now, in the end, my candidate didn’t win.”
Me: I didn’t think it was the end, but isn’t it the beginning of the final stage of this race?

AB: Yeah, of course. What was in his mind’s teleprompter went something like, ‘Now I don’t get to go back to the White House. Man, I had some fun there, but if Obama doesn’t win the general election, then McCain will be really old, and Hillary can run again and … why did I get the primary process changed … why did we let Barack Obama speak at the DNC four years ago? Why? Why? Why? … and …’
Me: And, what?

AB: I don’t know. He went on so long that I fell asleep and when I woke up there was a sustained applause when I think he said something about concluding his speech.
Me: And then there was the spectacle of the final night and the historic nomination of this country’s first African-American for a major party candidate for President.

AB: Yes, there was. And it was a truly momentous occasion in our country’s history. But then he, like Hillary, managed to commend a variety of occupations, but with a plan for national health care, both failed to mention the people who will be providing this health care.
Me: The clinics at Wal Marts and Walgreens?

AB: No, though it may come to that. I’m talking about doctors. I guess they don’t fall into the category of “ordinary men and women” who “found the courage to keep it (the American dream) alive.”
Me: I suppose it is just reward enough to keep people alive.

AB: Yeah, I’m sure that’ll fit nicely on a placard. I have to admit that Senator Obama has a way with words, but he sure uses the words “I will” a lot. He seems to forget about a Congress that has to be dealt with, though he’s only actually spent about 150 days there since he was elected as an Illinois state senator, and there is the issue of actually winning the election first. Then he keeps referring to shows like “Eight is Enough.” I wonder if Dick Van Patten will have a place in Obama’s cabinet?
Me: I’m exhausted just listening to you. How did you stay awake to see all of those speeches?

AB: It was the politicians and speakers abilities to keep offering everyone in America so much hype!
Me: I think they were saying, “hope.”

AB: You don’t know much about politics, do you?

Dr. Roland Tolliver is a contributing writer for the Freeport Focus.

Sesquicentennial Ball

Sesquicentennial Parade August 30, 2008

Debate Sesquicentennial Freeport 2008

Lincoln Douglas Sesquicentennial: Part 2

Additional photos from the Lincoln-Douglas Sesquicentennial Debate re-enactment from Freeport, Illinois on Saturday, August 30, 2008 in Freeport's Debate Square. Click on the photos to enlarge the picture.

Lincoln Douglas Sesquicentennial: Part 1

The following photos were taken from the Lincoln Douglas Sesquicentennial that took place in Freeport, Illinois on Saturday, August 30, 2008. George Buss portrayed Abraham Lincoln and Tim Connors is Stephen Douglas. Click on the photos to enlarge the pictures.

Dr. Ed Finch as Captain Silas Terry