Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater had a method with phrases, typically the incorrect method. “Extremism within the protection of liberty isn’t any vice. Moderation within the pursuit of justice isn’t any advantage,” he acknowledged in his 1964 acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination. The group roared, however throughout America, the response was extra muted whereas viewers puzzled, “Huh? Extremism’s okay? Is that what he mentioned?”
Then got here a marketing campaign advert that unfairly painted Goldwater as a warmonger. There’s extra: Illinois Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen led a Republican caucus that included Goldwater and New York Democratic Sen. Jacob Javits, whereas Democratic senator and majority chief Mike Mansfield led a Democratic caucus with liberal Hubert Humphrey and conservative Strom Thurmond. Sure, that Strom Thurmond.
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Regardless of their disagreements, they obtained issues completed by compromise and a communication method you will have heard of: listening.
In the event you’re too younger to recollect what was attainable, even within the turbulent Sixties, or wish to be reminded, lookup the PBS Newshour Barry Goldwater and George McGovern 1988 dialog on divisive politics. It’ll heat your coronary heart and break it on the similar time.
Right here’s why: We had leaders like Mansfield, Dirksen, and Goldwater. At present now we have Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz.
Extremism? In 1964, we didn’t know what that phrase meant. We do now.
Jim Newton, Itasca
Altering harmful driving habits
It was heartbreaking to learn in regards to the lack of Jennifer Flores’ daughter to a driver charged with DUI.There also needs to be a brand new felony referred to as DWD: driving whereas distracted.I see it on a regular basis.Folks sometimes are on their telephones whereas stopped at visitors indicators.The sunshine adjustments to inexperienced, they usually’re late resuming their drive, in order that they compensate by dashing, some whereas nonetheless wanting down at their telephones.And it’s getting worse.
What scares me most is after I see pre-teens and youngsters beneath 16 driving bikes with their heads of their telephones.These are the drivers of tomorrow. God assist us in the event that they don’t change this harmful behavior!
Gary Charles Metz, LaGrange Park
Bears’ stadium plans are hardly ‘transit-oriented’
The 2 saddest components of the Bears’ presentation of their stadium plans had been apparent.The primary was the rendering of the “mixed-use” district, showingthe Chicago skyline method off within the distance.The second is looking this a “transit-oriented” district.
The Bears ought to in all probability not focus consideration on simply how far this boondoggle is from the inhabitants and exercise middle of our area. Additionally, you want much more than one Metra station and a few current Tempo bus routes to be thought-about transit oriented.
Don Anderson, Oak Park
A query on immigration
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s transfer to ship undocumented immigrants to Chicago and the town’s acceptance of them is paying homage to Chinese language Premier Deng Xiaoping’s assembly with President Jimmy Carter in Washington in 1979.
Carter scolded Deng about China’s restrictions on the rights of its folks to to migrate and steered that extra folks be allowed to depart.The Chinese language chief supposedly replied, “Why definitely, President Carter.What number of thousands and thousands would you want?”
John Hogan, Northalsted
