Commentary

By Juanita Bratcher 

Three days ago, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced that he would not run for re-election. Certainly, it was a surprise inasmuch as many of us thought Daley would surely run for re-election. But Daley decided that 21 years as the City of Chicago’s Chief Executive was long enough, that it was time to throw in the towel, hang up the hat and ride off into the sunset and enjoy the fruits of his labor rather than to go through another four years of the same old same old.

It was a wise decision, because he can now walk out the door of City Hall knowing that he made the decision rather than being kicked out by the voters. However, I believe he would have easily won re-election. There’s an old saying: You should know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em. When making his announcement, Daley said “It’s time.”It’s not easy to walk away from a job that you truly love. And I really believe that Daley loves his job and the city of Chicago. He also has a passion for the city, and has a passion for the job. And there are many Chicagoans that felt comfortable with his leadership. No, Daley wasn’t perfect.  But show me a politician who is. Even when you feel that you’re doing the right thing, someone will balk or complain. But even with his missteps, he did more good for the city and its people than otherwise.

Former Illinois Governor James Thompson saw that quality in Daley some years ago when Thompson, a staunch Republican, gave his blessings to the mayor before Daley officially announced his candidacy for re-election. In CopyLine Magazine’s January 1991 Edition, it noted that “The governor’s (Thompson) actions ripped into the very fabric of electoral party politics – as we know it – in that it is highly unusual for a hard-line Republican Party faithful, or a hard-line Democratic faithful for that matter, to endorse an opposition party candidate. And, at a time when a Republican search committee was being formed to find its own mayoral candidate.

“In giving Daley a vote of confidence, Thompson said that it is his ‘honest belief’ that Daley has been an ‘outstanding mayor’, and that Chicago voters will respond at the polls on election day. In other words, it is a sure bet that the electorate will give Daley the green light for another four-year term.”

Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Democratic Candidate for Cook County Board President, in a prepared statement in regards to Daley’s announcement that he would not run for re-election, stated: “I want to thank Mayor Richard Daley for his years of service to the City of Chicago and the people of Cook County. I wish him and his family the best moving forward. If I’m elected Cook County Board President, I look forward to working with whomever succeeds him as mayor.”

Frankly, since hearing that Daley will step-down and not run for re-election, it’s hard to imagine who the next mayor will be and what it means for Chicago. But you can be certain candidates will be coming out of the woodwork to run for mayor. I think Chief Judge Tim Evans would make an excellent candidate for mayor. He once served as 4^th Ward Alderman, and subsequently had ambitions to be mayor. However, it led to a tough battle between Evans and Interim Mayor Eugene Sawyer, both African-Americans. It was a tug-of-war that split the Black community. Daley won the election.

Perhaps its wishful thinking but maybe Judge Evans will give it some thought, give it another try. However, it seems nil to none that he will do so.

In the meantime, CopyLine Magazine wishes Daley and his family well in his upcoming retirement.  

Just A Thought

By Juanita Bratcher 

There’s something evil and sinister about a Florida pastor’s plan to hold an “International Burn a Koran Day” in Gainesville, Florida, September 11. There’s no question, his anticipated actions are mean-spirited, toxic and dangerous! And the undercurrent fallout and repercussions from this pastor’s sinister act will create unnecessary havoc and open up the floodgates to undue chaos.

Pastor Terry Jones, head of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Church in Gainesville, Fla., has vowed to burn Korans, a Muslim Holy Book, as “a message of warning to the radical element of Islam,” he said, which absolutely makes no sense whatsoever.

Jones’ intention to burn the Quran has brought about an uproar in the religious community as well as with some public and elected officials because it is wrong…and of them contemplating the backlash it will inevitably cause.

General David Petraeus warned that Jones’ actions could endanger troops and could endanger the overall effort in Afghanistan. He said “It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it “Outrageous and distressful, a disgraceful plan, and gets the world’s attention.” Clinton suggested that the media should not cover the burning. I wholeheartedly agree with Secretary Clinton.

As a Journalist/News Reporter, it is obvious that the 58-year-old Jones weighed in on getting his 15 minutes of fame by concocting something so ludicrous and outrageous that it was certain to get attention. He has paraded all over the media making comments about his plan to burn the Quran. When some in the media asked would he call off burning hundreds of copies of the Quran, Jones said, “We have no intentions of canceling.” How asinine. If the media refuse to report it, he wouldn’t be able to get the rise that it appears he is looking for. From the outset, the media should have ignored his decrepit plan; but the media did an excellent job in getting the message out for him.

Jones’ “International Burn a Koran Day” is irresponsible at best. And one would certainly wonder: What God does he serve? What teaching does he follow?

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder called Jones’ actions “Idiotic and dangerous.”   

Reverend Harold Bailey, a renowned Chicago minister, weighing-in on the Jones’ controversy, said: “The scriptures state that ‘You will know them by the fruit they bear.’ Satan, the deceiver, comes in many fashions, and will mislead even the very elect, if possible.

“The word of God tells us that the deceiver will take to the pulpit and preach words of elegance and with them shall fool many. But in the end of that biblical presentation is merely words of destruction. Anyone claiming to be about peace when it is merely on the lips and not in the heart…the results are that the person comes only but to lie, steal, kill and destroy…we can see clearly that is not of God.

“The word also tells us to test the word via the word of God and see if it be – of God! Clearly, without a doubt, this misled person is not a Believer/follower of Christ, and is leading his followers to the open pit-of-Hell.”

Bailey added, “God is love. And love is God. The Prince-of-Peace is Christ, and it is He that has taught the essence of peace to those who would follow after Him.”

So far, no one has been able to convince Jones to cancel his plan to burn hundreds of Qurans, but if his plan goes on as scheduled, his irresponsible actions could end up endangering our troops and bringing unnecessary havoc to our country.

 Chicago, IL – Lonnie Ali, the wife of legendary world heavyweight boxing champion and social activist Muhammad Ali, heads the latest raft of high-profile names to confirm their attendance at the Beyond Sport Summit 2010 in Chicago between September 29-30.

In participating in the Summit, a unique event designed to celebrate, promote and drive forward the use of sport as a tool for positive social change, Ali will address the gathered delegates as part of a panel session on the power of sporting celebrities to do good.

Joining Ali, who is also the Co-Founder of the Muhammad Ali Center, on the panel will be Troy Vincent, Senior Vice President, NFL, his presence indicative of the US sports league’s ongoing support for the Beyond Sport movement.

Previously announced attendees Kathy Behrens, Senior Vice President, NBA and Multi-Olympic Gold Medallist Jackie Joyner-Kersee will round out the panel session which has been put together with the support of Athletes for Hope.

Also added to the 2010 Summit speaker list are Jeremy Bloom, two-time Olympian and 11-time World Cup Gold Medallist skier; Joe Banner, President, Philadelphia Eagles; Avraham Burg, Political Leader and former Speaker of the Israeli Knesset; and Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO, UNICEF USA.

These prominent individuals from sport, government and philanthropy will join the likes of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; HRH Prince Faisal Al Hussein of Jordan; multi-Olympic gold medallists Ian Thorpe and Michael Johnson; US Senator and former Presidential Candidate Bill Bradley; and Care USA specialist Dr. Auma Obama at the Summit 2010 to discuss ways to accelerate the positive impact of sport on communities.

Now in its second year, the annual Summit brings together those who use sport as a vehicle to create social impact and influencers from the world of business, government and federations whose attitudes and decisions can have substantial impact.

With over 750 individuals expected to take part the Summit, companies from across this spectrum of influence have already confirmed their attendance including Chicago Bulls; Cisco; HSBC; JP Morgan; NFL; NHL; United Nations; U.S. Department of Education; Women’s Sports Foundation, and many more.

The Summit also includes the announcement of the winners of the Beyond Sport Awards 2010 which celebrate the best initiatives from across the world that use sport to create social change. Selected from over 400 entries covering 115 countries, the winning projects will receive a substantial package of funding business support to help them grow and become sustainable in the future.

To view the full Summit schedule, list of speakers, participating companies and to find out details on how to attend the event, visit www.beyondsport.org.

Beyond Sport is partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, United Airlines, TIME International and UNICEF.

Core curriculum to include private instruction, combos, jazz musicianship, improvisation, and more

“The new Jazz Studies program adds an exciting new dimension to an already outstanding program at MIC,” said Morrison. “Our goal is to provide students of all ages and abilities with a knowledge, appreciation, and passion for jazz. We will give our students individual attention as they develop greater creativity, self-expression, and confidence through learning to improvise. We also plan to expand MIC’s role in the community to include jazz events of all types.”

The ceremonial kick-off for the Jazz Studies Program takes place Saturday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, with a concert by the internationally renowned Marcus Roberts Trio.

• Ernie Adams, jazz drums and Latin percussion, has toured with Ramsey Lewis, Stanley Turrentine, Dizzy Gillespie, and many other jazz legends. He is currently on percussion faculty at University of Illinois at Chicago and the Ravinia Jazz Mentors. 
• Art Davis, trumpet, has toured with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and others. He is a member of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, and the Red Rose Ragtime Band. He is a professor of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University.
• Victor Garcia, trumpet, has performed with Rufus Reid, Steve Turre, Harriet Bluiett, and Brian Lynch. He is founder and co-leader of the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble. He currently is on faculty at Loyola University.
• Jeremy Kahn, piano, has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, and many others. He is a graduate of New England Conservatory of Music. He is a member of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and pianist/conductor of Hot Mikado at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace
• Pat Mallinger, saxophone, has performed with Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Harry Connick, Ramsey Lewis, and many others. He is co-leader of the Sabertooth Quartet and a member of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, the Bobby Lewis Quintet, the Pat Mallinger Quartet, and others. He is a faculty member of the Ravinia Jazz Mentors.
• Stewart Miller, bass, has recorded with Judy Roberts, Orbert Davis, Russ Philips, and others. He is a member of Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and is on jazz faculty at University of Illinois at Chicago.
• Audrey Morrison, program director and jazz trombone, is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. She serves on the faculties of Columbia College Chicago, the Ravinia Festival, North Park University, and the Birch Creek Summer Jazz Academy. Morrison has toured and recorded with the Barrett Deems Big Band, the DIVA big band, and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble.