Political Place: December 8, 2022

I volunteered to be a poll watcher in the Drendel ballroom last Tuesday. 99.99% of the voters were law-abiding, respectful voters. But there’s always one who doesn’t want to play by the rules. She presented herself wearing a sweatshirt that read on the front “make Illinois great again,” and on the back “vote Republican”. The verbiage on the front is not electioneering, however the verbiage on the back is. We all know that electioneering within 100 feet of the door to the polling place is prohibited by state law. She knew that, but she did it anyway. She didn’t think anyone would protest. As a poll watcher, I did, but not strongly enough.

I brought her clothing to the attention of the head election judges: Joann and Chris. The voter commented, “what do you want me to do, take off my sweatshirt?” She was carrying a purse with an over the shoulder strap. Chris placed a piece of paper over the “vote Republican” lettering held up by the purse strap. It was a half-hearted attempt to resolve the situation. Thinking back on it, she should have been escorted out of the Drendel ballroom and off of the polling place. Next time she will be. I think it’s interesting that a Republican that espouses “law and order” broke the law and created disorder.

Just remember, the next time you’re going to Drendal to vote, leave your political clothing in the closet.

Phil Heil
Huntley resident

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“There you go again” was a one liner frequently used by Ronald Reagan to highlight other’s efforts to mischaracterize his comments or actions. Regan’s words resound as I read T. R. Kirth’s repetitious attempts to negatively pigeonhole people. “Get a life” is my usual thought response to Kirth’s redundancies, but with excess time on my hands this week as I recover from surgery, his banned book column intruded into my boredom.

I am going to bypass Kirth’s intent to say that: 1. Politically red states push censorship, 2. To suppress sexual expressions, 3. Led by narrow minded people. I am going to skip making comparative blue state book ban comments on Dr. Suess, or To Kill A Mockingbird as historical suppression tools. Instead, I will comment on thought control in general.

In 2016 I completed an undergraduate degree. It was something to do with post-retirement time on my hands. In the process I experienced Baby Boomer ridicule and took classes on ‘End of Gender”. People laughed when I told them about these things, but now these things are all the rage. In one

online discussion with a journalist student, I commented that the press wants to tell us what to think. He corrected me, saying that the press merely presents topics. My return comment was to acknowledge that the press may highlight storylines, but as they selectively do so their editorials tell us what to think. To be fair, compare CNN storyline/ editorials with Fox News.

In another student exchange, my credibility was questioned. My degree program was history, and my thesis project was US decision making in The First Indochina War. Because I am a Vietnam vet, a student said that I could not impartially interpret the war. This student trolled my exchanges with others and repeatedly challenged me. Then, this same student told another student that his goal was to be a good “Progressive” historian. My only comment was, “So much for having an unbiased approach to historical interpretation.”

Telling us what to discuss, and how to approach thinking about things is not unique to one political side or the other. Neither is the inability to discuss things without first disparaging and discrediting people. There was a time during my original undergraduate studies in the 1970s that minority views turned into extended conversations at coffeehouses after class. Kirth, though still can’t help himself, as he is a storytelling parrot prisoner of the condescending ill-discourse model. His column is better titled, “Here I Go Again.”

Doug Jenks
Huntley resident

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With his usual wit and wisdom, columnist TR Kerth makes a passable case for not “banning books” like Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer” graphic novel from public libraries, while still highlighting some reasons that some parents of grade school children may not find it age-appropriate for their kids. These include, in Kerth’s own words, “brief references to masturbation and oral sex that might make some parents cringe.” (After all, who could possibly object to that?)

But it’s obvious that Mr. Kerth is, as he admits, a retired high school English teacher and not a retired teacher of American government or political science. Because the hook for his entire column is his claim that “[a]ll over America, most notably in Texas and Florida, overzealous authoritarian governors have passed state laws banning books…”

Governors, like the President, do not “pass” laws.

Under the constitutions of all fifty states and the U. S. Constitution only we the people, acting through state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, “pass” (or don’t pass) laws. Unless they veto those laws and the vetoes are not overridden, it is then the duty of governors and the President, as the heads of their respective executive branches of government, to see that those laws are faithfully executed. But despite having a phone and a pen, they do not get to make or “pass” those laws.

Until all Americans understand and internalize this basic but fundamental principle, the danger that our children and grandchildren will find themselves living under an authoritarian form of government will extend far beyond the books they may find on their grade school library shelves.

David Applegate
Huntley resident

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After reading all the back and forth in the last several issues, I have one question. I would welcome a clear, well documented answer.

It seems to me that the entire controversy revolves around one question – when does human life begin. I know that plenty of people believe that it begins at conception. Can anyone document the source of that belief?

As far as I know, science has said nothing of the sort.

In my readings of the Bible, the only place where it specifically says a human life began is when God breathed life into the lump of clay that became Adam.

I’d like to know the origin of that belief. If you reply, please document the source, so that I can look it up myself.

I respect what other people believe. Our society is lacking a lot of that respect for others. Live and let live.

George Ciesla
Huntley resident

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