I saw Mark "The Bird" Fidrych pitch at Tiger Stadium five times during the summer of '76. He brought a lot of heart and joy to a city that was already starting on a downward trend. The sold out stadium was raucous on those nights and everyone wanted a curtain call whether he pitched a complete game or left early. The only time I remember the stadium being that much fun was the game where Denny McLain won his 30th game.
Mark made the game fun, not only for those in attendance, but for his teammates, as well. He kept the Tigers in almost every game he pitched that season with a 19-9 record and 2.34 ERA. He pitched 24 complete games that year. That is a career for many of the coddled starters in today's game. Hair flopping, mound grooming, and ball talking were just a few of the styles he brought to the field. None of it would have mattered if he hadn't pitched so well, though. It was a competitive nature and pinpoint accuracy that made him what he was that year.
Unfortunately, fame can be fleeting. He injured his knee jumping over the dugout railing (there was that juvenile streak in the fair-haired boyish charm). He tried to come back too soon and with his mechanics off, he then injured his shoulder. The Bird would only go 10-10 the rest of his career only showing glimpses of the brilliance of 1976.
Just like Mark "The Bird" Fidrych left the game too soon, so did he leave this life too soon. There may be no second acts, but there can definitely be fond memories. Godspeed, Bird, may you fly high, throw straight and bring such joy to the next life.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Other "R" Word
The following column appeared in the Freeport Focus the week of August 19, 2008 about the time of the release of the movie, Tropic Thunder. It is being reprinted here as today is the Day of Acceptance for people of all abilities. Please click the title link above for more information from the Special Olympics. In light of the condescending remarks of our President on the Jay Leno Show recently, this is indeed a teachable moment for America and the world. Remember to be kind to all you meet.
The Other “R” Word
By
Roland Tolliver
“As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others.”
--Robert Schuller
“The best comedy of the Summer,” scream the headlines in the entertainment industry.
“Film critics stand firm against “Tropic Thunder” protests by advocates for the disabled,” states another in The Los Angeles Times.
There are no protests scheduled outside of the Lindo Theater. At least not that I have heard and there doesn’t need to be one. People have every right to view a movie, just like they have the right to sending in there letters to the editor or saying what they want to in the privacy of their own homes. It apparently doesn’t matter that large groups of people are offended or that a derogatory word has become so pervasive in our society that it is regularly used by students and teachers in our school district to refer to anyone who may be a “little slow.”
Just don’t say it in front of me, please. I’m not sure what it is in our society, but people have a tendency to marginalize those that are different from them. There have been endless struggles in our country to excise the cancerous language of prejudice in our society. The Chinese and others of Asian descent were not allowed to marry a Caucasian until well into the 1940’s, when we allied with China during World War II, even though thousands of Chinese died helping to build the Transcontinental Railroad. The Irish were thought to be here only for their brawn during the same time period.
The Japanese were forced into internment camps during WW II, even if they were born in our country. Polish jokes were commonly told to indicate that they were stupid. The African-Americans in this country suffered years of indignity, which is why I cannot comprehend their wanton use of the “N” word in rap songs. I was incredibly surprised by the use of the word “uppity” when a letter to the editor in The Journal-Standard was used to describe Senator Barack Obama. It has such a disparaging connotation that I expected a much more vigorous protest to that particular letter.
That brings us back to the people that have become the most marginalized in our society and the ones that are least able to defend themselves. The assault on people who are mentally challenged in our society is reaching epic proportions. When school-aged students regularly call people “retards” it shows a total lack of understanding. They can, perhaps, claim ignorance. When teachers use the same word in like fashion, it shows a lack of compassion. When Hollywood perpetuates this negative stereotype without regard to the consequences, it shows a level of mean-spiritedness that will only exaggerate the problem. This is where “Tropic Thunder” has crossed the line.
Much of the early press about the movie was for the Robert Downey, Jr. character, who undergoes a “pigmentation process” in order to portray a Black actor in the movie. While this certainly sets another low standard for the industry, it pales in comparison with the discriminatory social commentary in regards to people that are mentally challenged.
The most disturbing aspect the producers and director, Ben Stiller, make with their movie, is that they know it will appeal to young adults and teens, who themselves are still impressionable, and their “Don’t Go Full Retard” mantra will likely become this summer’s movie catchphrase. How does a parent or a sibling or a relative of someone who has brain damage, epilepsy, Down’s Syndrome, autism, or a variety of injuries, illnesses or hereditary conditions that affect the brain explain the rude comments made by the insensitive about them?
Have any of these people ever lived with a child or an adult who “doesn’t fit in”? Have the insensitive people ever been in a store when someone’s brain-damaged child or teen is throwing a temper-tantrum in the middle of an aisle? Do people think that seeing a T-shirt with the above slogan helps the situation? Or are people that unconcerned with the feelings of others these days? It truly makes me sad that people can be so unkind.
I know from which I speak… I’m not a prude. I don’t go around pretending to be the captain of the politically correct police. I have enjoyed some of the movies of Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and the other actors in this movie. I have even seen the mentally challenged in some of their movies portrayed in a positive, sensitive light. What I don’t get, and I admit that I am refusing to see the movie, is how or why their portrayal has gone astray. Are producers and directors that hard up for material that it is now acceptable to denigrate the people in our society who are least able to stand up for their own rights?
Decide for yourselves what to do when it comes to the movie, everyone is in their rights to do so, but think about the implications of encouraging this prejudicial movie to be a financial success. Think about how its message seeps into the brains of the most impressionable segment of our society and how that venom then spews forth in our schools and our community. Think about all of the people that have fought for generations to eliminate social prejudice in our society and how much still exists. Then think hard about giving your hard-earned money to people who still “don’t get it.” Maybe, just maybe, they will get the message we are sending. And then maybe our children, family members, friends and acquaintances will know compassion, understanding and respect in their schools and communities. Maybe!?
Dr. Roland Tolliver is a freelance writer in Freeport. He has been fighting the good fight with his wife and family for their daughter, Claire, and others with mental and intellectual disabilities for more than a decade. He may be reached at rtolliver@kastlepublishing.com or through the blog “Pretzel City Logic.”
The Other “R” Word
By
Roland Tolliver
“As we grow as unique persons, we learn to respect the uniqueness of others.”
--Robert Schuller
“The best comedy of the Summer,” scream the headlines in the entertainment industry.
“Film critics stand firm against “Tropic Thunder” protests by advocates for the disabled,” states another in The Los Angeles Times.
There are no protests scheduled outside of the Lindo Theater. At least not that I have heard and there doesn’t need to be one. People have every right to view a movie, just like they have the right to sending in there letters to the editor or saying what they want to in the privacy of their own homes. It apparently doesn’t matter that large groups of people are offended or that a derogatory word has become so pervasive in our society that it is regularly used by students and teachers in our school district to refer to anyone who may be a “little slow.”
Just don’t say it in front of me, please. I’m not sure what it is in our society, but people have a tendency to marginalize those that are different from them. There have been endless struggles in our country to excise the cancerous language of prejudice in our society. The Chinese and others of Asian descent were not allowed to marry a Caucasian until well into the 1940’s, when we allied with China during World War II, even though thousands of Chinese died helping to build the Transcontinental Railroad. The Irish were thought to be here only for their brawn during the same time period.
The Japanese were forced into internment camps during WW II, even if they were born in our country. Polish jokes were commonly told to indicate that they were stupid. The African-Americans in this country suffered years of indignity, which is why I cannot comprehend their wanton use of the “N” word in rap songs. I was incredibly surprised by the use of the word “uppity” when a letter to the editor in The Journal-Standard was used to describe Senator Barack Obama. It has such a disparaging connotation that I expected a much more vigorous protest to that particular letter.
That brings us back to the people that have become the most marginalized in our society and the ones that are least able to defend themselves. The assault on people who are mentally challenged in our society is reaching epic proportions. When school-aged students regularly call people “retards” it shows a total lack of understanding. They can, perhaps, claim ignorance. When teachers use the same word in like fashion, it shows a lack of compassion. When Hollywood perpetuates this negative stereotype without regard to the consequences, it shows a level of mean-spiritedness that will only exaggerate the problem. This is where “Tropic Thunder” has crossed the line.
Much of the early press about the movie was for the Robert Downey, Jr. character, who undergoes a “pigmentation process” in order to portray a Black actor in the movie. While this certainly sets another low standard for the industry, it pales in comparison with the discriminatory social commentary in regards to people that are mentally challenged.
The most disturbing aspect the producers and director, Ben Stiller, make with their movie, is that they know it will appeal to young adults and teens, who themselves are still impressionable, and their “Don’t Go Full Retard” mantra will likely become this summer’s movie catchphrase. How does a parent or a sibling or a relative of someone who has brain damage, epilepsy, Down’s Syndrome, autism, or a variety of injuries, illnesses or hereditary conditions that affect the brain explain the rude comments made by the insensitive about them?
Have any of these people ever lived with a child or an adult who “doesn’t fit in”? Have the insensitive people ever been in a store when someone’s brain-damaged child or teen is throwing a temper-tantrum in the middle of an aisle? Do people think that seeing a T-shirt with the above slogan helps the situation? Or are people that unconcerned with the feelings of others these days? It truly makes me sad that people can be so unkind.
I know from which I speak… I’m not a prude. I don’t go around pretending to be the captain of the politically correct police. I have enjoyed some of the movies of Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and the other actors in this movie. I have even seen the mentally challenged in some of their movies portrayed in a positive, sensitive light. What I don’t get, and I admit that I am refusing to see the movie, is how or why their portrayal has gone astray. Are producers and directors that hard up for material that it is now acceptable to denigrate the people in our society who are least able to stand up for their own rights?
Decide for yourselves what to do when it comes to the movie, everyone is in their rights to do so, but think about the implications of encouraging this prejudicial movie to be a financial success. Think about how its message seeps into the brains of the most impressionable segment of our society and how that venom then spews forth in our schools and our community. Think about all of the people that have fought for generations to eliminate social prejudice in our society and how much still exists. Then think hard about giving your hard-earned money to people who still “don’t get it.” Maybe, just maybe, they will get the message we are sending. And then maybe our children, family members, friends and acquaintances will know compassion, understanding and respect in their schools and communities. Maybe!?
Dr. Roland Tolliver is a freelance writer in Freeport. He has been fighting the good fight with his wife and family for their daughter, Claire, and others with mental and intellectual disabilities for more than a decade. He may be reached at rtolliver@kastlepublishing.com or through the blog “Pretzel City Logic.”
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Special Olympians Deserve Better
Our President's off-handed attempt at a joke about his bowling has turned into a minor firestorm. I understand that his bowling is pretty weak, but then again so is his recent attempt at being humorous. For those of us with children who have participated in Special Olympics, the comment was another example of how people with special needs are viewed as less worthy of respect. There is a good chance that this is not how he really feels, but oftentimes the true colors of one's opinions come out in the unscripted moments. Grandma used to say that someone can be book smart, but dumb as a piece of coal when it comes to common sense. Looks like this is one of those moments. We can hope that some good comes out of the Presidents' gaffe.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Where Have All the Children Gone?
It doesn't seem possible, but the children do move on. Our friends, Steve and Petra, let us know recently that their son, Jason, has moved to California. He has been interested in writing screenplays and found some people to live with in the L.A. area and has taken the chance to follow his dream. I wouldn't be surprised to see our daughter, Veronica, do the same thing in a few years (once she graduates from college, please!).
When our oldest daughter, Mary, went off to college, it happened so soon after her high school graduation, that in some ways it didn't fully register. She came back with her degree and her fiance, David. They will be married two years in June. Yes, they do grow up much quicker than we imagine. Sometimes, they come home. Sometimes, they move on. I have now lived in Illinois for almost 28 years, though I still feel that Michigan in many ways that it it is still my home state. One of the recent reminders for me was when I went to see the movie, "Gran Torino". The movie was filmed primarily in the Detroit area with the closing scene taking place along Lake Shore Drive/Jefferson Avenue along Lake St. Clair. There were so many memories brought back from that one scene alone. Driving along the lake. Biking along the lake. Running along the lake. Going north toward the last town where I lived, St. Clair Shores, before moving to Chicago in 1981.
The landscape of Detroit has changed so much in the past two decades. Most of these changes began in the 1960's and 1970's after the riots of 1967. The great "White Flight" took homeowners and longtime residents out of the city and to the ever-developing suburbs that were taking shape. The migratory patterns have continued over the years with movement continuing farther north into Oakland and Macomb counties. The farm land of our youth is now the next mall or subdivision. The areas around Lincoln High School and the Van Dyke School District are now lower income housing areas in many cases and the once middle-class is now the lower middle-class or even lower income areas. The school district is now much more integrated than when I left the area in 1981.
We don't get back "home" much anymore. Travel is more difficult with a special-needs daughter and an active family. When I do go home, the old haunting grounds look so different, but the streets remain about the same. I go on auto-pilot and get around just fine, but the landscape is very different, especially the farther out I go. The tract of land where we used to ride our motorcycles has been developed and the woods are mostly gone. The "corner store" is long gone and the mega-stores are taking over the area. What has changed more recently is the vast number of homes for sale, foreclosed or being auctioned off. It was recently announced that approximately an additional 17,000 jobs will be lost in Warren, where I grew up, due to the closing of automotive plants and cost-cutting measures by GM and Chrysler. There will be more than that, though, as the ancillary companies that are related to the auto industry.
Rolling Stone Magazine recently profiled Detroit and the ghost town that it is becoming. Large tracts of land, where even coyotes are now seen roaming, loom desolately between abandoned or run-down houses. Large factories and warehouses sit idly by with broken windows and grafitti-filled walls.
So, where have all the children gone. Whether it is in Northwest Illinois where jobs are becoming more scarce or in my hometown, Detroit, area, the children are moving to where they can make a decent living. We have two younger children still at home. One day they will have to make a decision. Where will the children go?
When our oldest daughter, Mary, went off to college, it happened so soon after her high school graduation, that in some ways it didn't fully register. She came back with her degree and her fiance, David. They will be married two years in June. Yes, they do grow up much quicker than we imagine. Sometimes, they come home. Sometimes, they move on. I have now lived in Illinois for almost 28 years, though I still feel that Michigan in many ways that it it is still my home state. One of the recent reminders for me was when I went to see the movie, "Gran Torino". The movie was filmed primarily in the Detroit area with the closing scene taking place along Lake Shore Drive/Jefferson Avenue along Lake St. Clair. There were so many memories brought back from that one scene alone. Driving along the lake. Biking along the lake. Running along the lake. Going north toward the last town where I lived, St. Clair Shores, before moving to Chicago in 1981.
The landscape of Detroit has changed so much in the past two decades. Most of these changes began in the 1960's and 1970's after the riots of 1967. The great "White Flight" took homeowners and longtime residents out of the city and to the ever-developing suburbs that were taking shape. The migratory patterns have continued over the years with movement continuing farther north into Oakland and Macomb counties. The farm land of our youth is now the next mall or subdivision. The areas around Lincoln High School and the Van Dyke School District are now lower income housing areas in many cases and the once middle-class is now the lower middle-class or even lower income areas. The school district is now much more integrated than when I left the area in 1981.
We don't get back "home" much anymore. Travel is more difficult with a special-needs daughter and an active family. When I do go home, the old haunting grounds look so different, but the streets remain about the same. I go on auto-pilot and get around just fine, but the landscape is very different, especially the farther out I go. The tract of land where we used to ride our motorcycles has been developed and the woods are mostly gone. The "corner store" is long gone and the mega-stores are taking over the area. What has changed more recently is the vast number of homes for sale, foreclosed or being auctioned off. It was recently announced that approximately an additional 17,000 jobs will be lost in Warren, where I grew up, due to the closing of automotive plants and cost-cutting measures by GM and Chrysler. There will be more than that, though, as the ancillary companies that are related to the auto industry.
Rolling Stone Magazine recently profiled Detroit and the ghost town that it is becoming. Large tracts of land, where even coyotes are now seen roaming, loom desolately between abandoned or run-down houses. Large factories and warehouses sit idly by with broken windows and grafitti-filled walls.
So, where have all the children gone. Whether it is in Northwest Illinois where jobs are becoming more scarce or in my hometown, Detroit, area, the children are moving to where they can make a decent living. We have two younger children still at home. One day they will have to make a decision. Where will the children go?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
No Exit
Veronica was in her first major performance at North Central College this past weekend at the new Madden Theatre. The play was No Exit by Jean-Paul Satre and was directed by third year student, Abby Stark. The cast of four performed with zeal for this psychological drama about three people stuck in hell, which is defined as "other people." The following photos were taken after the play and identifies the major characters: Sean Driscoll as Garcin; Veronica Tolliver as Inez; Kathryn Bauer as Estelle; and Kati Riess as the Valet. They should all be proud of the show and their performances.
Friday, February 13, 2009
NIU Moving Forward
The following column was published last year, days after the massacre on Valentine's Day at the DeKalb campus of Northern Illinois University. It is reprinted now as a memorial to those who lost their lives and as a tribute to those who continue to carry on despite the tragedy. God bless.
How Do We Understand the Incomprehensible?
By
Roland Tolliver
“It often happens that the real tragedies of life occur in such an inartistic manner that they hurt us by their crude violence, their absolute incoherence, their absurd want of meaning, their entire lack of style.” --Oscar Wilde
I’m tired of moments of silence, lighting candles and makeshift memorials. Don’t get me wrong. I understand the reason behind them, but I’m just mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained by the need for them. I’m tired of the senseless murders that are happening on our campuses and in our streets. I’m tired of feeling the tightening of the encompassing circle of death, especially as it comes ever closer to home. I’m tired of having to read headlines about deranged or mentally ill individuals who feel that they have to go out in “a blaze of glory” by taking innocent victims with them. Aren’t you tired of it, also?
This time it hit particularly close to home, not only geographically, but personally. One of my daughter Mary’s best friends was scheduled to be in that room for a 3:30 p.m. class. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of students from northwest Illinois attending Northern Illinois University. We keep hearing the refrain, “It isn’t supposed to happen here,” but it has and we feel helpless to stop it. We hear suggestions to arm the instructors or that we should allow concealed weapons, so that students can protect themselves. How? Do we have ROTC members standing in each class with rifles loaded and ready to defend our rights to be educated? Would the massacres at Virginia Tech or at NIU have happened if we had surveillance cameras in every classroom with guards standing ready to intervene?
I feel like I know the instructor who was shot and then chased by the gunman. I’ve known his grandmother for years and she has shared with me his many accomplishments in the world of paleontology. Joe Peterson is working towards his doctorate in a field that most of us probably don’t understand. His passion has been shown at the Burpee Museum and in the discovery and excavation and recovery of Jane, the dinosaur. He was married last summer and was settling into his academic life at Northern. His grandmother always speaks glowingly about him. She says that she doesn’t always understand what it is he does in paleontology, but she has always supported him. I can imagine that one of the last things she would have been worried about was that her grandson would find himself running for his life during a class. He was shot in the shoulder, but what kind of scar will actually be left, knowing that five of his students are dead. Five students who minutes earlier had probably been watching the clock looking forward to Valentine’s Day or to the weekend or just finishing class so they could go to the bathroom. Then all hell breaks loose and the only thing on the mind of more than a hundred students is, “How do I get out of here?” How does a teacher or anyone comprehend this?
What I’m sensing, and this doesn’t come from exhaustive psychosocial analysis, but from just a curiosity about human nature, is that we have moved into a phase of “disconnect” when it comes to this type of senseless killing. Have you noticed the way in which the killers burst into rooms with guns blazing and they start just wiping out innocent victims? Go back to Columbine or Virginia Tech and now to NIU and many other incidents in between and you have this vigilante mentality that permeates the killers. Now, look at the types of video and computer games that have been prevalent among the age-group that has been predominantly responsible for these attacks. These games, like Grand Theft Auto, often depict a person who has the ability to kill without conscience and when you are “killed” in the game, you just start over. I don’t know if the NIU killer was a “gamer,” like the Columbine murderers were, but there are frightening patterns developing among the ones who have killed so many of our students. Boys and young men, especially, seem to lose the ability to separate virtual reality from reality and when one adds mental illness into the equation, it becomes even more volatile.
NIU’s president, John Peters, was very forthcoming in a press conference the day that these innocent students were slaughtered when he said that sometimes there is just no way of preventing this type of tragedy from occurring. When someone is determined enough, they tend to find a way to carry out their plan. And it had to have been planned for him to sit in a hotel room in DeKalb for three days, to purchase the guns in advance, to mail the items and the letter to his girlfriend, and then to proceed to the lecture hall with the concealed weapons. Mental illness or not, he had the wherewithal to follow through with his plan.
How does a bright individual like a Kazmierciak or even a Kaczyinski go from amicable to annihilator of human life? What mental buttons are pushed that lead to such a drastic and tragic transformation? How can one person say he was “just the sweetest guy” in retrospect when he has just blown away unsuspecting people in such a cavalier way? What are we missing here? What piece of the story doesn’t make sense? How do we get to the underlying questions in everyone’s minds: “Why did this happen?”; “Why does it keep happening?”; and “What can we do about it?’
There are no immediate answers, just like there are no easy answers. Those that have stained our innocence often leave us clueless, because they take their own lives before any answers are forthcoming. Those that are left behind, like Joe Peterson, the wounded, those that escaped, and the families of victims are left to painfully ask, “Why?”
How Do We Understand the Incomprehensible?
By
Roland Tolliver
“It often happens that the real tragedies of life occur in such an inartistic manner that they hurt us by their crude violence, their absolute incoherence, their absurd want of meaning, their entire lack of style.” --Oscar Wilde
I’m tired of moments of silence, lighting candles and makeshift memorials. Don’t get me wrong. I understand the reason behind them, but I’m just mentally, emotionally and spiritually drained by the need for them. I’m tired of the senseless murders that are happening on our campuses and in our streets. I’m tired of feeling the tightening of the encompassing circle of death, especially as it comes ever closer to home. I’m tired of having to read headlines about deranged or mentally ill individuals who feel that they have to go out in “a blaze of glory” by taking innocent victims with them. Aren’t you tired of it, also?
This time it hit particularly close to home, not only geographically, but personally. One of my daughter Mary’s best friends was scheduled to be in that room for a 3:30 p.m. class. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of students from northwest Illinois attending Northern Illinois University. We keep hearing the refrain, “It isn’t supposed to happen here,” but it has and we feel helpless to stop it. We hear suggestions to arm the instructors or that we should allow concealed weapons, so that students can protect themselves. How? Do we have ROTC members standing in each class with rifles loaded and ready to defend our rights to be educated? Would the massacres at Virginia Tech or at NIU have happened if we had surveillance cameras in every classroom with guards standing ready to intervene?
I feel like I know the instructor who was shot and then chased by the gunman. I’ve known his grandmother for years and she has shared with me his many accomplishments in the world of paleontology. Joe Peterson is working towards his doctorate in a field that most of us probably don’t understand. His passion has been shown at the Burpee Museum and in the discovery and excavation and recovery of Jane, the dinosaur. He was married last summer and was settling into his academic life at Northern. His grandmother always speaks glowingly about him. She says that she doesn’t always understand what it is he does in paleontology, but she has always supported him. I can imagine that one of the last things she would have been worried about was that her grandson would find himself running for his life during a class. He was shot in the shoulder, but what kind of scar will actually be left, knowing that five of his students are dead. Five students who minutes earlier had probably been watching the clock looking forward to Valentine’s Day or to the weekend or just finishing class so they could go to the bathroom. Then all hell breaks loose and the only thing on the mind of more than a hundred students is, “How do I get out of here?” How does a teacher or anyone comprehend this?
What I’m sensing, and this doesn’t come from exhaustive psychosocial analysis, but from just a curiosity about human nature, is that we have moved into a phase of “disconnect” when it comes to this type of senseless killing. Have you noticed the way in which the killers burst into rooms with guns blazing and they start just wiping out innocent victims? Go back to Columbine or Virginia Tech and now to NIU and many other incidents in between and you have this vigilante mentality that permeates the killers. Now, look at the types of video and computer games that have been prevalent among the age-group that has been predominantly responsible for these attacks. These games, like Grand Theft Auto, often depict a person who has the ability to kill without conscience and when you are “killed” in the game, you just start over. I don’t know if the NIU killer was a “gamer,” like the Columbine murderers were, but there are frightening patterns developing among the ones who have killed so many of our students. Boys and young men, especially, seem to lose the ability to separate virtual reality from reality and when one adds mental illness into the equation, it becomes even more volatile.
NIU’s president, John Peters, was very forthcoming in a press conference the day that these innocent students were slaughtered when he said that sometimes there is just no way of preventing this type of tragedy from occurring. When someone is determined enough, they tend to find a way to carry out their plan. And it had to have been planned for him to sit in a hotel room in DeKalb for three days, to purchase the guns in advance, to mail the items and the letter to his girlfriend, and then to proceed to the lecture hall with the concealed weapons. Mental illness or not, he had the wherewithal to follow through with his plan.
How does a bright individual like a Kazmierciak or even a Kaczyinski go from amicable to annihilator of human life? What mental buttons are pushed that lead to such a drastic and tragic transformation? How can one person say he was “just the sweetest guy” in retrospect when he has just blown away unsuspecting people in such a cavalier way? What are we missing here? What piece of the story doesn’t make sense? How do we get to the underlying questions in everyone’s minds: “Why did this happen?”; “Why does it keep happening?”; and “What can we do about it?’
There are no immediate answers, just like there are no easy answers. Those that have stained our innocence often leave us clueless, because they take their own lives before any answers are forthcoming. Those that are left behind, like Joe Peterson, the wounded, those that escaped, and the families of victims are left to painfully ask, “Why?”
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Over the Funk
It's been more than a month since posting here and I think that part of it was the melancholy felt by losing another outlet for writing. It was sad to see the demise of The Freeport Focus. There were a number of good, hard-working people who really wanted to see the paper succeed. Unfortunately, the economic downturn and the paucity of regular subscribers cut into the chances of the paper making it. They brought a sensibility to the community and fulfilled a need in covering school board and district issues, community government, county government, and definitely highlighted local athletics and arts.
The Journal Standard picked up the pace with some of their coverage and have done a much better job with their coverage on the web. I especially like what Joe Tamborello has done with the video presentations and his photos tend to be of high quality. There are still too many generic columns by GateHouse contributors that have little to no bearing on our area. There is still a need there that needs to be filled.
How many events have happened since the beginning of the year?! A new President, a miraculous water landing in the Hudson River, a pork-filled "stimulus" plan, further deepening of the recession, and the birth of octuplets. Oh yeah, and Illinois has a new Governor! Blago's gone, but he won't let us forget him, because he is on t.v. every few hours.
There has been no scarcity of faux pauxs in the early days of the Obama administration. Just today another choice for Commerce Secretary has withdrawn his name. Why weren't all of these people truly vetted, especially in the Treasury Department when it comes to who has and hasn't complied with the tax laws? There is also something inherently wrong about having lobbyists or those who have received large donations being nominated for positions like Secretary of Health and Human Services, nee Tom Daschle. And please, President Obama, it comes across as a sign of weakness by declaring, "I screwed up." How about something along the lines of, "I apologize that this candidate was not fully vetted. We have asked him/her to step aside, because we will not tolerate these indiscretions in my administration. We will work to make sure that this does not happen again."
For any regular readers of the newspaper columns, I'll try to stay more up-to-date with postings at this site. Drop me a line and touch base.
The Journal Standard picked up the pace with some of their coverage and have done a much better job with their coverage on the web. I especially like what Joe Tamborello has done with the video presentations and his photos tend to be of high quality. There are still too many generic columns by GateHouse contributors that have little to no bearing on our area. There is still a need there that needs to be filled.
How many events have happened since the beginning of the year?! A new President, a miraculous water landing in the Hudson River, a pork-filled "stimulus" plan, further deepening of the recession, and the birth of octuplets. Oh yeah, and Illinois has a new Governor! Blago's gone, but he won't let us forget him, because he is on t.v. every few hours.
There has been no scarcity of faux pauxs in the early days of the Obama administration. Just today another choice for Commerce Secretary has withdrawn his name. Why weren't all of these people truly vetted, especially in the Treasury Department when it comes to who has and hasn't complied with the tax laws? There is also something inherently wrong about having lobbyists or those who have received large donations being nominated for positions like Secretary of Health and Human Services, nee Tom Daschle. And please, President Obama, it comes across as a sign of weakness by declaring, "I screwed up." How about something along the lines of, "I apologize that this candidate was not fully vetted. We have asked him/her to step aside, because we will not tolerate these indiscretions in my administration. We will work to make sure that this does not happen again."
For any regular readers of the newspaper columns, I'll try to stay more up-to-date with postings at this site. Drop me a line and touch base.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
A Girl and Her Dog
Claire and Shia, Then and NowFive years ago, while listening to NPR, I heard a story about service
dogs for children with autism. They were called "companion dogs" and
some of the children were making good progress with social
interaction. While Claire does not officially have autism, she has
symptoms that are similar. We looked at some of the options available.
My wife wasn't too keen on going to Spain for a dog, which is where
the NPR story took place. I would have loved to have gone, but
pragmatism often rules around here. The other locations we found were
in Ohio and California. Ohio's program had a 5-6 year waiting list.
California, well, it might as well have been Spain.
A friend of ours, who knew that we were looking for a companion dog
for Claire, found out about a place called "Working Class Dogs." It
was in McHenry County, Illinois and run by Julianne Taylor, who had
worked at the California location previously. We made an appointment
and about six months later, we were approved for a dog for Claire.
That was about five years ago and after Shia was trained, and we were
trained to handle Shia, she came home with us and our lives have not
been the same since.
What can I say about a dog that seems smarter than I am some days?
Okay, most days. She has this sense of when to seek attention, when to
ask for assistance and when someone just needs to pet her, which is
pretty much any time she is not working for Claire. She is by Claire's
side or at her feet most of the time when they are home together. When
Claire is in school, Shia is just like any other household dog with a
substantially higher dog intelligence level. And when Claire is home,
we'll find Shia right by her side. Whether it is during dinner and
Claire is trying to sneak Shia something off of her plate, or while
watching a movie with the two of them cuddling under a blanket, we'll
typically find one if looking for the other.
Early mornings, when Claire intuitively knows it is time for school,
she'll arise and head to the bathroom. Shia, arouses and heads to our
bedroom, where I feel her cold nose nudging my hand. I'll pet her head
a few times and try to roll back over to go to sleep for a few more
precious minutes. Then I'll feel a paw on my back or at the back of my
head, as she'll try to crawl up into the bed. "Down," I'll say, and
she'll lay on the floor waiting patiently for the next subtle movement
in the bed, knowing that it is time to go out and then time for
breakfast.
Yes, Shia knows the routine, as do we. She has trained us as well as
we have trained her. She will cuddle with anyone who is sitting on the
couch or come and lie at our feet, just to be near someone. She has
her moments when she goes to her kennel for some quiet time, but
bounds down the stairs when she hears someone coming in the door or if
she hears a voice in the kitchen.
So, as I write my last column for The Freeport Focus, I wanted to take
a few minutes to let everyone who has asked or thought about asking
about Claire and Shia, that they are quite the pair. Each day they
bring some joy and laughter into our home. It is hard to remember the
days before Shia came home to be with us, much as it is difficult to
realize that Claire has been free of seizures for more than eight
years. As she celebrates her "Sweet Sixteen" birthday next week, it is
with awe and amazement that I realize how wrong the doctors were about
Claire those many years ago. And as I look at the two of them,
sleeping side by side, I know that there is magic between a girl and
her dog.
And that magic is called love.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
'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.
Monday, December 22, 2008
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 ...
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 ...
Monday, December 15, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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....
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, December 04, 2008
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?
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?
Monday, December 01, 2008
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.
So, welcome to the winter (though it is still officially autumn) in Northwest Illinois.
Monday, November 24, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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.
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.
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