Mayor’s Row…………by Ned Mitchell

            There is a fine line that news media people have to walk to stay within the boundaries of what is politically correct lest we be tagged with a label that is not flattering in the profession.  Often we have to tip toe around various subjects for fear that we might step on someone’s toes and make a life long enemy.  Never mind the fact that almost everyone thinks each of us has the right to an opinion and the right to voice that opinion.  That is until that opinion differs with their opinion or that we actually have the nerve to say what is on our mind.

            In this column I have reported behind the scenes activities in the past at Rend Lake College, Rend Lake Conservancy District, SIUC, Franklin County government, Franklin Hospital, various local politicians, schools, that great reformer/unreformer Governor of ours and a whole host of other folks.  Columnists point out things they feel are wrong in the world.  We fill a void where the main stream news media cannot go because if they report shady dealings they run the risk of losing advertising dollars and after all that is who pays the bills at the newspapers we read, the television we watch and the radios we listen to.

            We all have our loyal readers or listeners and that just drives some of the folks we write about nuts.  Every now and then I am out and run into someone who is not too fond of my journalistic talents but for one reason or another don’t want to get into the fray.  In making casual conversation of a polite nature it is usually not too long until someone else, most often a complete stranger who comes up and says how much they enjoy reading this column.  While it would not be polite to just laugh out loud, I for sure am smiling on the inside as the person who is not too fond of the writing hears words of encouragement from a complete stranger.  Now it always helps if the person handing out the compliment is a person of a professional nature.  You see some folks who are in the sights of a columnist like me really think they might just put their pants on a little differently each morning than the rest of us.  They don’t seem to care if a blue collar common sense person has a thought or not.  That is of course until they need that person’s vote!

            I’ve said all of that to say this.  Those of you who know me well know that I am not much to tip toe around anything.  I have an opinion that is sometimes right and sometimes wrong and I enjoy expressing those opinions in this column.  Readers have the option to read this column or not read this column.  They can write their own column to disagree or agree or voice their thoughts to me.  We should all have the same rights.

            So today I’ll walk the fine line in presidential politics concerning the woes surrounding my friend and candidate Senator Barack Obama.  One has to be careful here lest he be accused of being a racist.  Nothing I say about Senator Obama is based on his race.  I am increasingly concerned about Obama’s minister of the last 20 years.  From what I am reading and hearing this man of the cloth has made a lifetime ministry of some very radical statements from the pulpit.  First of all my thoughts on ministers is that mainly they should concentrate on the Good News of the Bible and if they get too far off course as an older friend of mine used to say, “he has quit preachin’ and gone to meddlin’.”  I don’t really have any need for a minister to call people of Italian heritage “garlic noses” such as Rev. Wright has done.  I don’t need a minister to stand in the pulpit and shout “God damn America” either and I am deeply disappointed that Barack Obama has not addressed this before now.

            A lot of my Italian friends are good decent people who are active in the Catholic Church.  What if their priest was prone to stand in front of the congregation and make racial remarks about people of color?  I’ll tell you what, most of the Catholics I know would not tolerate such remarks inside or outside the church, and none of my Catholic friends are running for president.

            Then I read over the weekend in both major Chicago newspapers that Rev. Wright of Obama’s church is retiring and his church is building him a $1.6 million dollar retirement home complete with bar and indoor swimming pool located on an exclusive golf course in Chicago.  The first thing that jumps out at me is what on earth would a minister need a bar for?  What would a minister need a $1.6 million dollar home for?  How much will it cost the church to heat, cool, and maintain this mansion?  Is it tax exempt as church property?  How many inner city students could go to college on that amount of money?  How many hungry and homeless folks would that money help?  You talk about sending the wrong message, these folks have written the book on it.  Without exception every minister I know is not in the business to retire in a million dollar plus mansion.  They have accepted a life of helping others and being moderate in everything they do.  We have outstanding ministers in this area and not a one of them is making crude comments from the pulpit.  Not a one of them is in their profession for the money it will bring them.  Rev. Wright reads the same Bible I do, you know the one that advises us to steer clear from laying up treasures on this earth.

            I had the unique opportunity to serve the good folks of the 59^th State Senatorial District for a year and a half.  I am probably one of less than 100 individuals who sat in the Senate Chambers and served with then State Senate Barack Obama.  I know him on a first name basis as do all of the other men and women who served with him.  I am disappointed in his choice of the church he attended for 20 years and listened to the garbage spewing out of the mouth of Rev. Wright.  Barack, what were you thinking?

            Sesser-Valier students of Dana Laur’s class packed the Opera House last week to promote safe driving in a contest they are in as they attempt to win $3,000 for their program.  We offered a burger, fries, and drink buffet for $3.00 and after everyone got full we moved to the theater and listened to kids perform songs they had written.  It was a fantastic event and the kids did an outstanding job.

            Kudos to the Sesser Masonic Lodge, members of the VFW, Joyce Gunter and Connie Flowers who put together a poker run for the Arthritis Foundation.  The successful day started with the Masons donating a pancake breakfast to raise money and the VFW helping with a spaghetti dinner that evening.  It was a tad bit chilly for the motor cyclists and a lot of hard work but it was very successful.  Black Diamond Harley Davidson folks were deeply involved as were many others.  We appreciate these people as they make Sesser a great place to live.

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