LEAVE IT TO PEEVER
Tomorrow
will be better
-Bumper
sticker of the week: Lies are what the world lives on.
-Quote of
the week: ŇThe Knox County board surfaced as a potential leader in our economic
development, for all of about two weeks, mainly because they didnŐt meet during
that time. In the end, they folded like an accordion. Out of 15 people, none of
them have any idea of what we might do in place of GREDA. So they throw another
$30,000 at the problem, pretending to at least do something. In the end, not one of them could
verbalize such a simple idea as: How about we do nothing? We would get exactly
the same results as we are. And people wonder why we are in the shape weŐre in.
ItŐs all a joke, unfortunately, on us.Ó The Peever, Going Down
-Fish is
one of the best local providers of help for people who need a lift in these
hard economic times. This holiday season remember to donate some food or money
to help bring a little brighter holiday season for our neighbors who are
struggling. Fish needs to expand their services. They need to provide
continuing support to individuals and families, not just on an emergency basis.
In Galesburg, food shortages are an ongoing issue. It is an ongoing emergency,
which we, for the most part, have created. Citizens deserve our ongoing
support.
-Speaking
of emergencies: We need emergency leadership in the city and county. We keep
electing mayors who are unwilling, or unable, to take a leadership position.
Some are under the impression that our manager-mayor-alderman form of
government is to blame. I think it is the people we elect. A mayor needs to
have a vision for Galesburg, and convince four alderman (woman) to follow him
or her. ItŐs as simple as that. A mayor who can lead and four alderman that can
trust him or her. That ainŐt asking too much. As for the county, I would
suggest a council of one, or merging with DuPage County. Either way, it would
be an improvement.
-To
continue to support the same economic development strategy that we have been
using over the last 30 years shows a complete lack of imagination, creativity,
commonsense, and/or sanity. It should be obvious as our population falls below
30,000; as unemployment hits at least 15%; and as businesses are closing faster
than they are opening, that perhaps, just for the hell of it, we might want to
try something different. That should not take a Ph.D. to figure out. So the
question becomes: What should we do? And the answer is: Anything else.
-It is not
enough to call oneself compassionate. ŇDo unto others as you would have them do
unto you,Ó is not an armchair slogan meant for the faint of heart. It is the
boiling down of all the great religions into an elixir for a better world.
Treat one another like you would like to be treated is a call to action. It is
the dirt out of which all goodness grows. If there is a hungry person, feed
her. She doesnŐt need your sympathy or cute platitudes, she needs a meal. If a
person is living on the street, in a car, or in some filthy or drug infested
slum, he doesnŐt need your pity or pleasant scriptures, he needs a place to
live. If I am killing my enemy and destroying his home and family, he doesnŐt
need my explanations or a copy of my ideology, he needs me to quit. Preaching
that the poor will get their reward in heaven is of little value to a person
here on Earth who is burdened with injustice and oppression. It is a morally
devoid position taken by irresponsible preachers. We have been called to
respond compassionately to our fellow human beings, now. The calling has come
to us. We are the chosen oneŐs. It is time for us to step forward. Now is the
time. Promises of a better tomorrow are not worth much today.