As COVID-19 made a tsunami-style landfall upon humanity, on its heels came cries of injustice just as global and unprecedented. Those who cry for justice demand their voices to be heard.
An effective starting point for reforming the criminal justice system would be allowing law enforcement officers to step down from the “hero” pedestal Americans placed them on after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Growing up in the Panhandle of Texas (Amarillo to be specific), I spent my childhood around some great friends, most of whom I later learned were probably Republicans. Then, moving to central Illinois while in high school, I made many other really good friends. And again, as time went by, I …
I wish to write about life and the paths that are endless
To the editor:
I recently finished a story I’d like to tell about.
To the editor:
In a recent column, I averred that the George Floyd death and protests-in-reaction represented a classic case of the powerful “us-versus-them” syndrome that is baked into the human brain. Racism is a subset of this syndrome.
SPRINGFIELD – Democracies have little tolerance for sore losers.
SPRINGFIELD — For the first time in my life, this week I put a “political” sign in my front yard.
RURAL DEWEY — At Society for Hooved Animals Rescue and Emergency, our aim is to give the rescued horses peace, care, love and the freedom to be a horse.
Some call it miserly. Some call it stingy. Some call it cheap.
This essay is not about who should be elected president in November, but about something arguably as important: How to avoid a sloppy election count, which could throw the nation into chaos.
George Floyd is beyond anyone’s capacity to hurt him now, but some people have made it their cause to insult him even in death. Among the misinformation now circulating over American fences and on social media is the grotesque lie that Floyd did not actually die last month, or that his death…
To the editor:
Many cultures encourage learning through traveling and reading. Sometimes people find it is more effective and fun to learn through travel than through the written word. For example there is a traditional Chinese saying, “It is better to travel 10,000 miles than to read 10,000 books.”
As I’ve been watching racial tensions escalate, my mind has wandered into the realm of poetry.
There are 4,000 degree-granting colleges and universities in our nation: community colleges, private liberal arts colleges, regional and urban public universities, and graduate research centers. I have taught within each type; each has its strengths and makes distinctive contributions to society.
SPRINGFIELD — Last week, two state Senate staffers were allegedly caught – gasp — drinking beer in the Capitol.
One day, I was traveling up north towards Chicagoland for a funeral. It was in the evening, and I had to leave straight from work.
To the editor:
SPRINGFIELD – It’s a tough time to be a hog farmer.
WOW was I wrong. Not totally wrong but wrong nonetheless. What can I say? COVID-19 is still a major part of our lives like it or not. But I’m an optimist, a person who believes in people.
WASHINGTON — In speeches during the 1960 presidential campaign, John Kennedy addressed Americans’ anxiety about national lassitude at the end of eight years under Dwight Eisenhower by mildly saying: “I believe we can do better.” Joe Biden, responding to national embarrassment about the least…
RURAL DEWEY — Yay, it’s May! We’ve made it so far at Society for Hooved Animals Rescue and Emergency.
Have you found yourself praying more since the coronavirus moved into our lives? Well, I have.
It’s been nearly two months since I’ve been to the cigar shop due to the pandemic quarantine. I have plenty of cigars but a big part of the enjoyment of cigars is being in the shop bantering with the others.
The coronavirus crisis has exposed critical fault lines in our nation’s bedrock, which must be addressed. I identify three below, but there are others, such as fiscal sufficiency for Social Security and Medicare, both programs taking a hit from the virus and our spending to combat it.
Since I came to the University of Illinois in the middle of the 1990s, every May had been the most exciting time for me because of the university’s graduation activities and events.
Americans deserve the proper response this crisis demands
How do you celebrate Mother’s Day? Most of my life, I recall my family spending Mother’s Day at my grandma’s house in Chicago.
RIVERTON — I stood in line at Dollar General and couldn’t help but notice the fellow ahead of me in line was buying 12 gallon-jugs of milk.
We will miss this year's RTHS awards night
After weeks of sheltering in place, I’ve started to run out of interesting ways to waste time while sheltering in place. So I Googled “things to do while sheltering in place.”
SPRINGFIELD — My wife cocked her head to the right, eyed the porcelain appliance with a bit of suspicion and asked, “What exactly is that?”
Empty meat cases and grocery store shelves are the first hint most people get that the coronavirus is impacting farmers. Those who guess the laws of supply and demand are in farmers’ favor would be wrong.
It’s been said that trying to get little kids to pay attention is like herding cats. But when it comes to my grandsons, cats may be easier to corral.
I am paying close attention to the time that we are living in and comparing it to what the Bible says will happen. It is all taking place just as He said it would.
By the time you read this, the COVID-19 or coronavirus will have peaked and the stock market will have recovered. Hopefully.
SPRINGFIELD – My daughters didn’t wear new dresses for Easter this year.
I was introduced to John Prine’s music in 1990. The self-titled album was nearly 20 years old, but it was new to me.
RURAL DEWEY — This is a trying time for everyone. In order to take care of our many horses, volunteers are still needed; they are so essential.
Our nation has had had it tough before
Since I don’t really want to think about what’s going on in the world today, I thought I’d take a look back at where I’ve been through the years and what I was doing.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole country is under the Stay-at-home order. In obeying the order, I have kept myself at home for social-distancing. In such an unusual circumstance there are two things I found most suitable to do: reviewing life and reading books.
In any other downturn, they could print out a stack of resumes, pound the pavement and press flesh. Not today. Entire sectors of the economy are comatose and “non-essential” workers stay at home. Illinois’ unemployment website is crashing under duress.
A time to reflect on salvation
To the editor:
We are being reminded daily about the state of the world we live in and the pandemic effects of a virus that has literally put a stop to most daily business.
