In the cold pre-dawn of February 2nd, my husband and I drove to the neighboring town of Woodstock and joined the crowds scurrying toward the iconic Square. The classic movie, Groundhog Day, may be set in Punxsutawney, but it was filmed in Woodstock, and for the last three decades the …
Years ago, I read two different news stories about two different girls. Both girls lived in poor and violent neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago. Both girls were 18-years old, and about to leave high school. The Chicago Tribune did not connect these stories; the stories are only linked …
Forty percent of our nation’s young people—those born between 1997 and 2012; Gen Z— believe that the founders of the United States are better described as villains than heroes.1 Clearly, they haven’t attended a production of the musical, Hamilton. I am being only somewhat facetious. I think this 40% statistic …
Last summer the Chicago Tribune reported on a bakery that was harassed and vandalized after scheduling a “family-friendly” drag show at their shop. The owner was quoted as saying, “…people who haven’t been exposed to this need to learn about it and be more accepting.” (emphasis mine) Must I? For …
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II brought to mind the final scene in the movie, Twelve Angry Men. The 1957 film stars Henry Fonda as one of twelve jurors debating the guilt or innocence of a defendant who has been charged with murdering his father. With two brief exceptions—the opening …
