Wouldn’t it be nice if U.S. voters had a chance to vote for a political party with U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and Ralph Nader at the top of their ticket? Both are brilliant lawyer graduates of Harvard University Law School. The nation might experience some reform over political and corporate corruption since in those areas of American life they have become associated with a desire to make change.
Since they are both bachelors, the nation would not have to go through the masquerade as to whose wife is most qualified to be “First Lady.” First Ladies in our political system have become little more than “window dressing,” and “fall girls,” following an election for whichever candidate happens to lose.
When you look at the current landscape of our “way of life,” one does not have to be a brilliant scholar to see America is in need of some kind of reform that a Fitzgerald and Nader would be most qualified to make. So we stumble along, ending up with leaders with slogans like “Conscience of a Conservative,” which enable them to be elected, but their performance after being elected is out of harmony with the promise of their slogans.
When Daniel Barenboim ends his tenure as conductor and music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, there is a prospective candidate familiar to the world of music in the Oak Park-River Forest area and elsewhere. He is Maestro Paul Freeman, conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra that performs at Dominican University in River Forest and at Symphony Center in Chicago. In addition to Chicago Sinfonietta, Freeman conducts a Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic on a regular schedule. Prague has a high reputation for serious and other music?#34;theatre, ballet and opera. Freeman is well regarded in Prague because of his ability to inspire outstanding performances of the orchestra he conducts. Prague had a major influence on renowned composers Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and Czech native born citizens Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek and Joseph Suk. Suk was the son-in-law of Dvorak.
Freeman is steeped in composition and conducting in America and other lands. His achievements merit his consideration to replace Daniel Barenboim when Barenboim puts down the baton.
As an 80-year-old veteran of WWII, I am saddened about an issue which all Americans should be concerned about?#34;health care for all Americans. One can determine the state of civilization achieved in any society by the quality of health care citizens receive. Health care for Americans is in sorry condition.
After World War II, because of the toll of human suffering which took place during the war, citizens living in the U.S., Great Britain, and Soviet Union made demands upon governments to recognize the suffering people had experienced. In Great Britain the National Health Care System was introduced. The Soviet Union had introduced Socialist Health Care before WWII, following the Russian Revolution in 1917. Only our country has not produced a health care system of a civilized nature. As a veteran of WWII and a citizen, having so many resources and potentials for decent health care for all citizens in our land, it’s time for our leaders to provide Americans with a health care system commensurate with that of WWII allies Great Britain and Russia.
If Oak Park-born Ernest Hemingway were alive today, what would he have thought about America’s warmaking in Iraq and other places?
The World War I Memorial, located in Scoville Park, contains Hemingway’s name among others. Scoville Park is a place where he would have played because he lived nearby. Next to the park was the library which he used as a young person.
I would like to suggest that Hemingway would approve of replacing the military figures currently located on the statue with persons known for peace activities in this Atomic Age. As a suggestion, Eleanor Roosevelt, Coretta Scott King and Cindy Sheehan are people known for their peace advocacy. There is an urgency about the need for peace in the Atomic Age.
As warmaking increases in intensity, peacemaking should increase in activity. While Hemingway was involved heroically in wars and wrote about war, he essentially was a person for peace.
Recently I read of Oak Park Library Director Edward Byers’ decision to retire as executive director of the Oak Park Public Library. Byers did much to enhance the library’s quality. He helped to make it into a library of stature among all local U.S. libraries.
Fortunately, there is an outstanding replacement for Byers in Jim Madigan, our current assistant library director. Much recognition for construction and development of the library should be given to Madigan. He was an early advocate and worker in construction of the library when others demurred. He worked with Byers and staff members in developing interesting features.
I have lived a block away from the library for many years and watched the new library being built and seen its improvements. The books, programs, displays, personnel and positioning of special features have been well done.
In my opinion, Jim Madigan should be appointed executive director after Byers retires. Madigan would represent an important level of continuity on behalf of all lovers and users of our classically managed Oak Park Public Library.