Speeches offering differing political views should serve students well

Many parents and community members who believe that Riverside Brookfield High School should never have invited Bill Ayers to speak on campus proclaimed a small victory a few weeks ago when they organized an appearance by talk radio personality Michael Gallagher.
In the late 1960s Ayers co-founded a domestic terrorist organization called the Weather Underground. The group protested [...]

Patriotic holidays always make me reflect on one special veteran

Memorial Day always makes me think of my father.
First of all, my dad served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. There is this great photograph of my dad and his older brother who had a chance meeting during the war.
My dad’s unit had pulled into a town in Belgium in 1944, [...]

Let’s get Cook County moving forward by impeaching Todd Stroger

It seems as though Cook County Board President Todd Stroger wakes up every morning with one goal mind: Making me angry.
And he’s accomplished this just about every day this week. In fact, Stroger has made a career out of annoying me.
Let’s start with the obscene manner in which Stroger got his job. His father, the [...]

Madigan proposes firing thousands of Ryan, Blagojevich appointees

Here is a developing story in Springfield from our GateHouse News Service:
* * *
Breaking News: Speaker Madigan says Quinn, Cullerton don’t object to firing Ryan, Blagojevich appointees
State Capitol Bureau
GateHouse News Service
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.
12:50 p.m.: Speaker Madigan says Quinn, Cullerton don’t object to firing Ryan, Blagojevich appointees
House Speaker Michael Madigan says he has no objections from other [...]

Isn’t there some state he doesn’t live in where Keyes could run for public office?

Perennial political candidate Alan Keyes eagerly awaits being thrown into jail for his planned protest of President Obama’s speech at the University of Notre Dame.
To the chagrin of many Roman Catholics, Obama will receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address May 17 at Notre Dame. Opponents believe Obama’s stance on abortion, which contradicts [...]

J.Lew to showcase his comedic talents at Arcada Theatre this weekend

I could hardy believe my eyes when I read about this in one of my company’s newspapers last week.
Jerry Lewis — the King of Comedy — will appear live on-stage at 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles. All I can say is, “My dribble glass runneth [...]

Sam Adams Alliance, Illinois Review to offer workshop on blogging, new media

“Bloggers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your obscurity.”
OK, that wasn’t the wittiest paraphrase of the old socialist war cry. But it seemed like an opportune way to transition from May Day to an upcoming conference on blogging and new media.
The Sam Adams Alliance and Illinois Review will present the Illinois [...]