LEAVE IT TO PEEVER

 

Making nothing out of something

 

-Bumper sticker of the week: Urban Sprawl-Cut down all the trees and name streets after them.

 

-Quotes of the week: “Truth has a power of its own....A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution. Civil disobedience can arouse people and provoke us to think.” Howard Zinn

 

“Prayer is meaningless unless it is subversive, unless it seeks to overthrow and to ruin the pyramids of callousness, hatred, opportunism, falsehoods.”  Abraham Joshua Herschel

 

-Speaking of civil disobedience: I have been awe-struck by the demonstrations taking place in Iran over their recent election. Apparently, the current President of Iran  stole the election. Reminds me of 2000, when Bush stole the election here in the U.S. And what did us, the citizens do. Nothing. I applaud the Iranians for their, for the most part, nonviolent actions. They have much more courage than we here in the United States.

 

-Answering the e-mail:

     * Dear Peever: What do you think about the new mayor?   Bob

        Dear Bob: Haven’t heard much from him yet. I guess he’s getting adjusted, what with all the pressure that comes with the job.  I hear they’re doing some painting at city hall. Finding an appropriate color could take months.

    

     * Dear Mr. Weik: Where did you come by your left-leaning ways?  Lori

        Dear Lori: From my left-leaning mentor, who was a Marxist sociologist. He taught me a capitalist, free-market economy was incompatible with democracy. I was never quite sure of that until recently. Now I get it.

 

     * Dear Bruce: You write a lot about God, but I can’t figure exactly where you stand?  Ken

        Dear Ken: You are very much right. I talk a lot about God, wondering about the whole thing. If it’s a made up story, it’s a good one. If God is real, sitting on a cloud somewhere out there, directing this whole show, I figure I’m screwed.

 

     * Dear Mr. Peever: What do you think about Rush Limbaugh for President?  Carol

        Dear Carol: The same thing I think about Sarah Palin for President. Obama will be a shoo-in. If either should win, hello France. Or the United Kingdom. Or Costa Rica.

 

     * If you could have one wish for Galesburg, what would it be?  Harry

        Dear Harry: That it was Bloomington.

 

     * If you were to take a guess, what do you think will happen in Galesburg over the next 10-20 years?   Sally

        Dear Sally: Using the last 10-20 years as a guide, I would have to say, not much. But don’t get me wrong, things can get worse.

 

     * What do you think we need to do with our schools?  Lea

        Dear Lea: Close them and start over.

 

     * Dear Mr. Bruce: You seem pretty comfortable as a provocateur, constantly stirring the pot. Don’t you ever get tired of being the outsider, always telling the other side of the story?  Al

        Dear Al: No.

 

     * Dear Peever: Can you find anything good to say about Galesburg:   Gail

        Dear Gail: I’ll give you three things. 1. We must have the best gas in the Midwest, cause it’s always the most expensive. 2. We’re good at making nothing out of something.  3. When it comes right down to it, I’d just as soon live here than Iraq or Afghanistan. How’s that for being positive?