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Published weekly...or so--usually on Friday.
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Hype Machine Obscures Facts
By ANON. SUBMISSION
As a Chicago neighborhood-based journalist, I find it rather comical to see how the Sun-Times news editors have chosen to play/hype the exclusion of St. Sabina School from a local athletic association.
Their ranting, raving, perspiring, shirt-ripping, "aren't all white people terrible (other than my enlightened self)" posturing is a hoot. It's always funny to watch elitist white liberals "discover" that racism exists in Chicago. The quoting of Jesse Jackson-wannabe Michael Pfleger, of the wounded and insulted St. Sabina staff, of tut-tutting Archdiocesan officials, of university-based "experts" who talk about the mindset of white parents as one would talk about the mindset of a serial killer, are all part of the coverage driven by Loop journalists who think of themselves as free of racism (perhaps because they say "Hi" every day to a black guy who lives in their Near North Side/Evanston/Oak Park building, etc.), and who would rather be pushed off a bridge than be publicly accused of racism.
Predictably, the Sun-Times made a weak effort to talk to the parents who voiced concern about sending their children into one of the highest-crime neighborhoods in the Chicago area. Any number of them would have gladly talked (most off the record, a few on).
There are two key points about the St. Sabina situation that the Sun-Times completely missed (or perhaps "ignored" is a better word).
First, apply a simple litmus test to see if the white parents' actions are motivated by racism or by legitimate fear. Do the white parents in question allow their kids to play in other neighborhoods that are predominantly black yet do not have the crime that is found at 79th and Racine? If the answer is yes, then the charge of racism is unfounded and unfair. As it turns out, these white kids DO travel to such non-white neighborhoods (through their league and through special tournaments) and compete at places like St. Thomas More, St. Denis and St. Barnabas. But reporting that would not fit the Sun-Times quest to demonize the white parents.
Second, Michael Pfleger has made a career of complaining about how drugs, alcohol, prostitution, gangs, guns and violence run rampant in St. Sabina Parish. The news media have reported the numerous death threats made against him by gangbangers and they reported the death several years ago of Pfleger's adopted son, gunned down by gang crossfire. Given all that, how on earth is it surprising that when people think of the St. Sabina area they think "danger"? But again, posing that question to Pfleger in the middle of his bluster would not fit the Sun-Times' agenda.
Here's what I'd like to see: the Sun-Times editors and reporters to gather their children into several athletic teams and drive them over to compete in and near St. Sabina on a regular basis (including night games), with no media coverage, no extra police, nothing-the same conditions that other parents are faced with.
WFLD Takes the Next Step!
By: JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Oh, happy day!
My questions were answered this weekend...by Channel 32 news!
First, on Friday's 9pm newscast, Walter Jacobsen read the full-screen chyron of crimes reported within a 2-week period last month. The breakdown was:
St Sabina: 252
St. Mary Star of the Sea: 61
Christ the King: 50
St. Bede: 30
Wow! I thought some of the schools would be CLOSE to St. Sabina's number-I didn't realize how bad it is! I guess I was wrong.
Last night, WFLD had even MORE comprehensive crime stats, from 1999:
Orland Park: 0 murders, 3 robberies, 22 assaults
6th police District: 30 murders, 1208 robberies, 1877 assaults
Holy Crap! Maybe those parents DID have a point, eh?
Kudos to WFLD for taking the logical route and publicizing those crime stats-something the Sun-Times and their screaming headlines has yet to do. Speaking of screaming, Cardinal George criticized Fr. Pfleger for taking this story to the press rather than to his bishop, which is what he should have done. Do we need more proof that Fr. Pfleger is a grandstanding blowhard who puts his own interests over anything else?
It looks like media opinion is swinging back toward sanity and away from the Sun-Times sensational shouting. Even their own columnists are taking a step back and questioning the hysteria. Mary Mitchell, who I believe sees racism in everything from animals to the weather, wrote an interesting column today about her experiences with the neighborhood around St. Sabina and that even members of her own family moved out because it got to be too dangerous there.
I call that concrete evidence. Maybe the good Rev. Sharpt...um...Pfleger needs to apologize himself.
Empty Facade
By: JOHN F. KUCZAJ
The Sun-Times finally removed the banner on the side of their building that said Sears on State was opening up May 23rd. I believe it went up on May 16th, and was taken down on June 4.
Technically, 40% of the time it was up--it was "news"
60% of the time, it was "old news"
100% of the time it was "tacky"
Take a look at the previous issue: Friday, June 1
Take a look at the issue before that: Thursday, May 31
Published weekly...or so--usually on Friday.
If you'd like to contribute, e-mail your article to the editor
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