Thinking A Good Idea To Death

This column was first published here on January 31, 2011.

Edited versions were subsequently published, with permission of the author,

in print and online editions of community newspapers across Chicago.

Government---especially the federal government---has a way of taking a good idea and thinking it to death.

That's my concern with the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding gays and lesbians serving in the U.S. military.

As you may recall, I wrote about DADT in my first column of last December, entitled "Grow Up, Get Over It."

Now comes word that the Pentagon will take until at least the end of 2011 to have the training materials ready to implement the repeal.

I find that highly suspicious. Training materials? What, to teach heterosexual soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines how to act like something other than a homophobe around their openly gay brothers and sisters in arms?

How about a simple "Knock it off! That's an order!"

And it should also be said that while implementation of the repeal of DADT is being worked out, there are still members of the military up for discharge for no other reason than their sexual orientation. Why is there no immediate moratorium on that?

Rest assured, the Obama Administration's repeal of DADT has not changed the hearts or minds of Pentagon brass who oppose gays and lesbians serving in the military. My suspicion is that, under the guise of deliberation and implementation, the Pentagon will try to think this to death in the hope that President Obama will lose his bid for re-election in 2012 to a conservative Republican who will be hostile to gays and lesbians in the armed forces and undo what Obama did---setting gays and lesbians (and the entire nation, frankly) back 25 years.

Could happen.

So the take-home message is this: If you support civil rights for all Americans regardless of sexual orientation (and I hope you do), don't assume that the DADT repeal is a done deal. Stay on your U.S. senators and congressman and make sure they keep the pressure on the military brass to follow through quickly and efficiently to put an end to discrimination in the armed forces.

See you next week....

Joan Hadac is a Chicago news/feature reporter, editor and columnist.

Read her online at citymomchicago.blogspot.com

Gery Chico is the Right Choice for Chicago

This column was first published here on January 24, 2011.
Edited versions were subsequently published, with permission of the author,
in print and online editions of community newspapers across Chicago.

Despite being a lifelong City Girl---and a City Mom for the last 20 years---I’ve never been very political.

A little strange, I know, in the most political big city in the nation.

But well over a week ago, I got political---at least in terms of the mayor’s race. I volunteered for the Gery Chico campaign.

It was a combination of two things. First, my brewing anger over how the downtown news media continues to ignore Rahm Emanuel’s sexist “tampon” comment.

If you have not heard: Jonathan Alter, Newsweek’s highly-respected national-affairs columnist, wrote a book chronicling the first year inside the Obama White House. Regarding Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Alter had a number of observations. As reported in New York Magazine:

Emanuel’s continual F-bombing is also well documented, if not exactly surprising. During the campaign, according to the book, Rahm told Bill Clinton to "stop acting like the f***ing hack-in-chief." Even Bo, the Obamas’ dog, was a recipient of Rahm’s rage. "A few weeks after the first family got a dog, Rahm Emanuel ripped into Bo, whose household accidents were consuming valuable presidential time in cleanups." Alter reports Rahm saying, "I’m going to kill that f***ing dog." In one meeting with a male staffer, Rahm apparently yelled: "Take your f***ing tampon out and tell me what you have to say."

It’s bad enough that Rahm is a behind-the-scenes bully and crude potty-mouth. But I am truly offended by men who equate womanhood with cowardice. Does Rahm talk like that at home, to his son, in the presence of his wife and daughters?

Most women in the city are unaware of Rahm’s sexist “tampon” comment, thanks to the news blackout by the Loop media. I think if every woman in the city became aware of his sexism, his poll numbers among women would plummet, appropriately.

The second reason the City Mom got political: my increasing respect and admiration for Gery Chico, a straight-talking candidate who has more relevant executive experience, more innovative ideas and more promise of greatness than any other candidate in the race for mayor.

I have always been impressed with his leadership of the Chicago Board of Education. Together with Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, he took a laughingstock school system and transformed it into a “turnaround” model of success.

I like his plans to thwart crime in the city---starting with choosing a new police superintendent from within the ranks and then putting 2,000 additional cops on the street. These steps, along with his plan to ensure that police receive the pensions they have earned, will boost police morale and result in more and better protection for everyone.

Gery Chico has a number of common sensical, well thought-out plans for the City of Chicago. I want him to have a chance implement those plans because I believe they will benefit the men, women and children of our great city.

And to my suburban readers, that benefits you, too. A healthy, thriving, forward-thinking Chicago has a positive impact beyond Harlem Avenue. So while suburbanites can’t vote in this election, you can get involved. You don’t have to be one of Emanuel’s Hollywood mega-millionaires or Washington fat cat friends. You can just be yourself---a nice person from Summit or Justice or Brookfield or Lyons or Oak Lawn or Berwyn or Naperville or wherever. Just check out gerychicoformayor.com and find other ways to get involved. Tell them City Mom sent you.

See you next week…

Joan Hadac is a Chicago news/feature reporter, editor and columnist.

Read her online at www.citymomchicago.blogspot.com

Resolving to Build a Better 2011

This column was first published here on January 5, 2011.
Edited versions were subsequently published,with permission of the author,
in print and online editions of community newspapers across Chicago.

Well, now that most of us have broken our New Year’s resolutions…

OK, kidding. Sort of.

It seems to me that most New Year’s resolutions involve personal behavior: lose weight, stop smoking, exercise regularly, etc.

But fewer resolutions involve social behavior---that is, changing the way we act in our neighborhoods, city, state, nation and world.

With that in mind, here are 10 social resolutions I suggest all of us think about.

In 2011, resolve to:

** Introduce yourself to six neighbors you currently do not know. By “six” I mean six households---not the mom, dad, two kids, dog and cat living next door. By “introduce” I mean something more than a smile, wave or head nod. Invite them over to dinner---or meet them at one of your local restaurants, who could certainly use the business.

** Support your local newspaper, especially the one you are reading right now. Buy a gift subscription for your neighbors. Patronize the paper’s advertisers and let them know you saw their ad. Community newspapers are an important part of the local social fabric, and they offer something important that the downtown papers can’t possibly give. A community that loses its local paper is a community in decline.

** Live your faith. If you are a believer, support your local house of worship with more than lip service. Participate in services regularly and contribute your time, talents and treasure to give glory to God.

** Send someone flowers or a fruit basket. Just once in 2011, send a gift to someone you have never sent a gift to before---preferably someone taken for granted by others. A crossing guard, a school or church secretary, someone like that.

** If you are eligible to vote, register to vote and vote in every election. Ever wonder why some city wards seem to get more attention than others? They produce votes---regularly and in huge numbers. Like 15,000 ballots, compared to 5,000 in other wards. Also, cast an informed ballot. Know the issues and the candidates.

** Support your local police. They can’t be everywhere, and they need extra sets of eyes and ears to keep them informed. If you see something, say something.

** Consider adopting a dog or cat from a local shelter. In addition to saving the life of an animal that might otherwise be killed, a good house pet can actually improve your physical and spiritual well being.

** Attend and support local public events. Granted, it’s never easy shoveling down Cub Scout pancakes, Boy Scout spaghetti, or pot luck whatever----but these are the types of events, small as they are, that help build and strengthen the fabric of our neighborhoods.

** Shop locally. The small businesses within a mile or two or your home pay local taxes, employ local men and women, and donate to local organizations like schools, churches, Little League, Scouting groups and more.

** Finally, resolve to smile, laugh and spread cheer among people you meet---whether you’ve known them all your life or whether you met them five minutes ago.

See you next week…

Joan Hadac is a Chicago news/feature reporter, editor and columnist.
Read her online at www.citymomchicago.blogspot.com