My relationship with technology is strained. I miss the days when I could write in peace, without constantly being offered “suggestions” from a program created by a C-student in English. I also resent the expectation that we must all purchase personal phones that track our every move and keystroke, then
As we watch the new Donald Trump Administration defy accepted norms for behavior and implement what look like extreme measures and chaos, it does not serve us to spend our time insulting fellow Americans who have different views, when there is so much research to be done in understanding which
Following what might be the most selfless act in the history of American politics, there is a space on the Democratic Party ticket in the upcoming election. I have a suggestion for filling it. Saturday we were having lunch with my son, Alex, in Peoria. He asked whether I thought
For many years I’ve been concerned about plastics in our environment. Recently, I read about a study that tested for micro plastics in human blood. It found that 57% of the 257 patients tested had micro plastics in the lining of their blood vessels. It noted that there seems to
For weeks students have protested the Israel-Hamas war. I have watched with mixed feelings about both the conflict and the protests. There are a few observations: The war between Israel and Palestine has gone on for thousands of years. According to tradition, it originated with the family dysfunction of the
Last week my son walked away from his teaching career to manage valet parking services at a hospital, so the headline: “Illinois still suffers shortage of teachers,” on the front page of the March 28 issue of The Voice, caught my eye. With many friends and family members who are
The expulsion and reinstatement of Tennessee House of Representatives members, Justin Pearson and Justin Jones, becomes more troubling the more we learn. Sure, I understand the importance of following protocol in legislative sessions. Pearson, Jones, and Gloria Johnson, should not have approached the podium during a session without being recognized.
In the November 24 issue of The Voice, David Hoehne wrote a letter to the editor challenging John and Nisha Whitehead’s “apparent elevation of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers paramilitary group as an icon of free speech or First Amendment rights.” I want to thank him for that
Many of The Voice readers know the name Diane Nilan, formerly of Hesed House, who has spent the years since her tenure there bringing attention to the problem of homelessness across the country. A name you might not recognize is the name of another unsung hero, Pat Van Doren. Pat,
Many voters, such as I, make their best efforts to cast an informed, researched, ballot. If you are filling out a mail-in ballot, it’s easy to know which candidates and referenda need to be the subject of your research. But if you are casting your ballot in person in Kane
Maybe you’ve wondered what is going on when you’ve watched teachers, or airline pilots on the picket line recently, or noted the narrowly-averted strike last week of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. There are two fairly simple reasons: • Reasonable days off; The Locomotive Engineers who nearly walked
August 4, 2022Dear editor; In the June 30 edition of The Voice, Deena Sherman wrote “Change in Roe v. Wade requires understanding and action.” She mentions “The God of the Christian Faith does not work through the law, but through the Gospel of salvation through grace.” God does deal with
I love it when Aurora is on the cutting edge of something great. A few weeks ago I met Norma Peterson at the Farmers Market in Aurora. She is the sister-in-law of the infamous Drew Peterson and has devoted her life to helping those who are victims of domestic abuse.
Friday of last week there was a seismic change in United States law because the 50 year old Roe v. Wade ruling, guaranteeing access to safe and legal abortion, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. There were cheers from everyone who has been fighting for this moment for years,
There was a celebration of the life of Wayne (Red) Kaufman Sunday, May 1 at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. The beloved Aurora barber, who served the community for 63 years, was remembered by his family and friends who could not gather when Red died of COVID-19 at the height
You probably have heard discussions on various newscasts about how differently Americans are reacting to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. With refugees from Syria, Central America, or Afghanistan, opinions varied widely in the United States about how much we should help. For refugees coming over our southern border, there has been
I have been a lifelong hockey fan. From playing pond hockey and listening to the newly franchised Buffalo Sabres on WGR in the early 1970s, to sitting in the United Center in Chicago cheering on my adopted Chicago Blackhawks, I have loved the game for as long as I can
Homelessness is one of those subjects no one really wants to talk about. It’s not as salacious as a crime story, or as fertile ground for heated partisan debate, as many other topics in the news, which is why it is seldom in the news at all. Consequently, it’s seldom
There was a day when I lost sleep over debates about things such as politics, religion, and grammar. I once believed it was important to try and persuade everyone to see things as I did. That was back when debates were generally civil and the majority of participants actually listened
We have grown accustomed to watching young women and little girls, in uniforms that expose their bottoms similar to ill-fitting undergarments, flip through the air at international gymnastics competitions. They make it look effortless, so we forget the cost. That is, until someone with the clout of Simone Biles reminds
