Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you there’s something you’d like to comment on in Elgin or beyond, send an email to [email protected]. Please include “speak out” in the subject line.
Suck it up, buttercup: I just listened to a young airline traveler on TV who reached his destination but was complaining. His plane had no running water, it took a long time for workers to de-ice the plane, and his biggest complaint is they couldn’t give him his morning coffee. Well, suck it up, buttercup, I thought! Hundreds of people are stranded on roads and in airports all over the country because of this horrible weather and you’re angry because you didn’t get your damn coffee. People like him are going to be our country’s leaders in the future, and I’m wondering if they’ll really have what it takes! Ugh.
Winners/losers of ’22: Since no one asked here are my votes for biggest stories of 2022. “Person of the Year” goes to Ukraine President Zelenskyy, followed closely by Lynn Cheney. “Biggest Non-Story” remains a tie between the “Red Wave” that never happened and the “Great Blizzard of ’22? that never occurred last week. “Personality of the Year” is almost certainly Ron DeSantis, who now leads Trump in the latest polls by 20 points. “Biggest Political Comeback” belongs to Joe Biden, who not only got key legislation passed but helped avoid the catastrophe that was predicted for his party in the November election.
No “I” in team: The White Sox need to go to spring training with a motive to make an effort to learn how to bunt and improve fielding. Games were lost last year because of their poor effort. They need a manager who should hold everyone responsible. No prima donnas. It’s not what you can do for yourself, it’s what you can do for the team to win.
No child should be hungry: A one half page ad in the paper was for the Greater Chicago Food Depository and showed a young girl with the headline stating one in four children is facing hunger. This is a tragedy in a wealthy country like ours, especially since most employers are seeking additional help. Where are the parents of these young people that are facing hunger? Why are they not working, feeding and supporting their children? Additional burdens and guilt are being placed on the rest of us by irresponsible parents that choose not to take care of one in four children.