Random Thoughts November 2015

Three news stories recently have captured the headlines. All of them tragic in their own ways........ The strange and shocking disclosures of fallen Fox Lake police officer Lt. Joe Gliniewicz that has rocked the public. We all know that he died on duty. But, how was always foremost in everyone's mind. The rumors of it being a suicide started almost immediately, along with rumors of dirty pool in the activities of Gliniewicz. Now, we know the stories were true. Here was someone, at least on the surface, who appeared to be a heroic cop, someone the police force takes pride in. That he was no such person is a stunner. With each passing day comes new revelations---- threats to kill, extortion, sexual harassment, stealing---- all are making headlines. It can be safely said that this guy was no hero. He was a scumbag, someone who tarnished the good name of police officers everywhere. He is best forgotten from public view, a sad, black eye in law enforcement. However, what must be remembered about this story, is that in no way should his actions be attributed to the dealings of most police officers. For the past few years, the media, and several self-interest groups, have targeted police everywhere and are trying to paint cops as evil. Sensible people realize this is not true. But, there are many people living in the world who are not sensible people. They believe what the media, and some race hustlers like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, tell them to believe. All cops are bad, so the haters say, so, there should be open warfare against them. The fact that police officers deal with the underbelly of human behavior is of no concern to those who have preconceived notions. And, so, police officers everywhere--- those heroes that walk in everyday life in danger so that we live a little more safer---- are under the microscope and on the defensive. Here is what I would say to the misguided who protest against law enforcement: all of you gather in a safe place. Then, we will all go down to the heart of the West Side of Chicago on a Friday or Saturday night around midnight. I will drop the protesters off at a unfamiliar corner. Now, you are on your own to survive. No police will come bail you out, because, you preach, they are the true enemy here. Try to survive. Try to get along without any law protection. And, hopefully, some sense will seep into their closed, hateful minds, and realize what the police--- and the behavior they put up with daily from some animals who dare to call themselves human beings---- really are about......... Which leads into the second story. It is the tale of Tyshawn Lee, the 9 year old boy who was lulled into a alley and shot in cold blood. By the accounts that have developed, it seems the little boy's father is a gang member, and so, it appears, that the boy was shot by a rival gang. This is beyond horrible. A little boy lying in blood. The father refuses to cooperate with the police [they are the enemy, remember] because that is the code of the street. The mother, who seems like a piece of shit herself, has taken the donations from a generous public and bought herself a new car because that was ''what Tyshawn would have wanted.'' Her justification is that the little boy would want his Mother to be safe and not ride public transportation. The fact that she bought the car only a few days after her son's death speaks to the type of woman she is---- uncaring, selfish, easily swayed from her ''grief'' by the largesse of green currency. Meanwhile, there will most likely be more bloodshed, if the ''code'' of the street among gang members will be exercised. Retribution will fall, along with more human bodies. The circle of muder goes round and round......... And, finally, Patrick Kane walks away from another incident unscathed. The District Attorney has decided to drop the investigation into the allegation of rape by a woman Kane picked up in a bar. The woman claims that she does not have the heart to go forward and press charges. Did she make the story up? Perhaps. There are the gold diggers out there that run after famous, rich people. She could be that type of woman and the D.A. saw this and declined any further involvement. Could the rape have happened? Perhaps. Kane has a history of violent behavior. Rumors of his rough treatment of women have become quite common conversation in these parts. The woman could have been raped but, because of pressure from his attorney--- and the Hawks organization--- she did not want to face the public backlash that, incredibly, rape victims incure from our faulty legal system and an unforgiving public that does not want their heroes tarnished. What happened that night is only known between those two. Kane denies it. The woman says it happened. What follows now should be an interesting telltale conclusion to this. If she was not raped [and, we hope she wasn't because no woman should have to go through the horrible trauma of sexual abuse] will the woman be prosecuted by the District Attorney's office for false charges and the money spent investigating her allegation? If she made this up, she should be prosecuted and rape support groups should call her out for her actions. And, if there is some compensation from Kane to her----basically, shutting her up by buying her promise not to prosecute him---- will Kane's worshipful public turn against him? After all, if one is innocent, you would scream to the heavens proclaiming it in the public court of opinion......... Donald Trump hosted ''SNL'' this past weekend. To say it was a trainwreck would be an insult to trainwrecks. I am not in the corner of Donald Trump, never have been. A recent blog by me explains why. But, entertainment shows are part of how we elect Presidents these days [imagine Lincoln, if he were alive, on ''Dancing With The Stars?'']. Trump was his usual gas bag self, a shameless and egotistical self-promoter who can be dangerous in some quarters. Even the most insane people occasionally spout common sense rhetoric. And, Trump, to give the Devil his due, knows how to sell the sizzle and not the steak. That is why his appearnce on ''SNL'' was much ballyhooed. But, it is not that he was bad--- he played himself, love him or hate him---- but, once again, how badly ''SNL'' has fallen from grace. Throughout the years, the show has gone up and down with quality, both from the performers and writers. Past casts would have made the Trump show work. They would have let Trump be himself, but, the show would have both applauded him and condemned him in one big swoop. Satire, the combination of reality mixed with a mean twist of humor, was what was needed. The current cast could not pull it off. Trump is a walking joke, so, there was no need to play up his public persona. Instead, what they should have done, was gone the other way and make him more bearable. It is like if everyone is waiting for a certain type of joke and you don't give it to them because that is the easy laugh. Instead, you feign left and go right, as they say in football, and go classy and highbrow. Why not a sketch where Trump is trying to cross the border with illegal Mexicans? Why not a song and dance number where Trump declares his love for Rosie O'Donnell? Why not a sketch where Trump is not really rich and has to work a second job at Wendy's as a night manager? There were many opportunities for the show to feign left and go right. But, they dropped the ball in the end zone....... I miss the Cubs. I haven't said that for years, since I was a teen. Yes, it was fun watching and cheering for them this past year. The fact that this team is good, very good, is why I am so high on them. Sure, they lost in the playoffs but who expected them to go that far? It wasn't luck that got them there but good, old-fashioned talent. And, this team is loaded with talent, perhaps, more than any other Cubs team in my lifetime. They will only get better. Now, the free agents out there see what they could be a part of if they come here to play next year. The selling tool for the Cubs is simple: come play with us and be a part of history. Unless the baseball experts are very wrong, this Cubs team, ably managed by the great Joe Madden, will be in the World Series soon, possibly, next year. The Cubs organization has the job of saying to whomever, ''the entire world will be watching. Not only will you be famous in baseball history but in history itself!'' The entire world will be rooting for the Cubs when they reach the Series. It will happen. Even the most die-hard White Sox fan must concede this to be true. But, in the meantime, I must wait, along with my fellow Cubs fans, a little longer. Its like waiting for a great meal that is being made. You smell the aromas, the taste is in your mouth. All that remains is the waiting for it to come out of the oven. Ah, the taste of victory will be so sweet........