JOE MOORE'S PREMATURE LEAP INTO WORLD AFFAIRS
December 4, 2002
Opinion: A premature leap into world affairs
by Chicago Sun-Times staff writer - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago - Oh, to live in the paradise of the 49th Ward! A place where there are no problems, at least not related to the city. Garbage is picked up neatly and on time. Housing is cheap and affordable. The schools work. Businesses get their licenses swiftly and politely, and problems--should a problem ever arise--are dealt with in a brisk and efficient fashion. And crime--what crime?
Or so we assume. Why else would the ward's alderman, Joe Moore, introduce in the City Council today a time-wasting and offensive resolution opposing the idea of a preemptive U.S. military strike in Iraq? It seems the aldermen--and some half dozen have co-sponsored the bill--feel they have completed the city's business, and are now ranging over the world, dispensing their wisdom. While admitting that the aldermen "are under no illusion about the influence that a resolution passed by the Chicago City Council will have on the Bush administration'' (you can say that again), Moore nevertheless hopes that this resolution, joined by councils in cities like Madison and Seattle that have already passed similar resolutions, will send a message that the nation is not behind its government.
What reasons are given in the resolution for this sudden plunge into foreign affairs from a group more typically focused on debating horse diapers and zoning variances? It might be easier to list what reasons aren't given. War would be premature, dangerous, not provide guaranteed results, against international law, offensive to the UN, expensive, time-consuming and not supported by many of our allies, such as France.
It's the sort of laundry list that half the Northwestern sophomores flung at their parents over Thanksgiving break. And at least the NU undergrads might actually list a couple of the real reasons for their opposition--they hate the president, distrust the administration and are uncomfortable with the idea of the United States taking any kind of action on the international stage for any reason whatsoever unless the entire world is gathered around it in an "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke" group hug of consensus.
We don't want to beat up on Joe Moore, who, the present resolution notwithstanding, is one of the more rational aldermen (which, we know, is damning by faint praise). And we realize that the City Council--in recent years gelded, co-opted and tied up in a bow by the mayor--is an easy target. But is it too much to ask that, on the rare occasions when they pause from thumb-twiddling, back-scratching, and singing "Hallelujah'' in close harmony to whatever the mayor suggests, they entertain themselves by acting on something related to improving life in the city of Chicago?
Stop piling on plates
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Louisiana can print "Choose Life'' on its license plates. The phrase, while ostensibly uncontroversial, is also a rallying cry for the anti-abortion movement. Expect such efforts to spread. State Sen. Patrick O'Malley (R-Palos Park) is already pushing for a "Choose Life'' plate that would raise money for adoption groups. We don't believe divisive issues should be fought on the back of our cars unless they're on bumper stickers. License plates are required by law, and should be controversy-neutral. It is time to eliminate all charity plates--whose proliferation already cause confusion to law enforcement. Let's keep Illinois the "Land of Lincoln'' and not, for instance, "Home to Joe Scheidler.''
Copyright 2002-2003 Digital Chicago Inc. Used with permission.
- E-mail us: Chicago's 49th Ward MudZappers > Ward49_MudZapper@Yahoo.COM
READ ALL ABOUT IT!!
The Chicago Tribune Endorses WHO?!
and
Joe's Dive into NUMEROLOGY
and
Joe's THEORY OF RELATIVITY
and
WINDY CITY TIMES GETTING IT RIGHT
and
WalWHO? Joe steps in it, deep.
and
Witchy City Times
and
JOE'S THE BEST FRIEND A COP NEVER HAD!
and
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS IN 49th WARD!
and
TOM BRADLEY - ONE SHORT YEAR AGO...
and
Sandy Goldman Rocks Rogers Park!
and
JOE SUPPRESSES FREE SPEECH! AGAIN!
JOE'S 2003 CHALLENGERS:
TOM BRADLEY
MICHAEL HARRINGTON
KAREN HOOVER
GRADY HUMPHREY
TOPICS ON WWW.FORUM49.ORG - 49th Ward Aldermanic Election - 2/25/2003
