St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
6
Friday, April 26, 2013
Opinion
Our View
Community showcase is good addition to city Cities pride themselves on what sets them apart from their neighbors. Whether it’s a vibrant arts community, good schools, good roads or affordable housing, a city’s amenities and overall vibe is what makes residents want to live there and visitors stop in. The St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a community showcase. What better way to show off what St. Joseph has to offer? It was the first year for the event that was designed to introduce new businesses and allow residents to see changes in familiar establishments. About 30 businesses participated in what chamber board members hope to make an annual event. It should definitely be an annual event. Why not? As city officials talk economic development and ways to attract people to the city for longer than a day, an offering like the community showcase can show people why coming to town is worth the trip. During the past five years, 251 jobs have been added in the city. Of those, most were added from the expansion of business versus businesses starting up, according to data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, highlighted in the city’s 2012 annual report from the Economic Development Authority. More jobs were lost from decreases in business volume than the closing of businesses. In the first and second quarter of 2012, there were 1,798 employees, 125 business establishments and an average weekly wage of $666; all three are up from 2011, according to the report. These numbers were reflected in the businesses at the showcase. St. Joseph joins other cities in the area that hold similar events. The cities of Sartell and Cold Spring also host community showcases to share what makes those communities unique. Local vendors have an opportunity to share samples of products and attendees get to put a face to the business that’s just down the street. It was a good idea to host one in St. Joseph. Hundreds came out to support the event and their attendance symbolizes support. Chamber members took a year to research and plan how to pull it off. That year was time well spent. Next year is sure to be bigger and better with the support of local businesses and residents. While it can be hard to sustain events due to rising costs and/or lack of volunteers, this is one tradition that should be preserved.
Fairness and ethics
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The film ‘42’ proves some stories are worth retelling
The recent release of a documentary on legendary athlete Jackie Robinson has me ready to swing a bat and break out my old catcher’s mitt. Growing up, baseball wasn’t really my sport. I tried to play softball in a summer league but have to admit what I liked most was the ice-cream sandwich the team got after a win. Looking back, I think we might have gone out for icecream sandwiches even when we lost. It was an attempt to reward our efforts and bring the team together. I think it worked for us. The just-released movie, “42,” chronicles the life of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in major-league baseball. During its opening weekend, the movie took in $27.3 million, according to studio estimates from box office trackers Hollywood.com. It was predicted to bring in less money for a baseball film but exceeded expectations. In fact, the film scored the largest debut on record for a baseball film last weekend, according to media reports. Film experts say it set a record for a baseball flick in terms of straight dollars, topping the $19.5 million debut of “Moneyball” in 2011. Considering higher
TaLeiza Calloway Reporter ticket prices, the $13.7 million debut of 1992’s “A League of Their Own” would have been on the same level with “42” in terms of inflation-adjusted dollars. “A League of Their Own,” was a film about women in baseball. The film “42” stars Chadwick Boseman as Robinson and Harrison Ford as Brooklyn Dodgers boss Branch Rickey, who brought Robinson onto the team in 1947 as the major leagues’ first black player. While big names likes Harrison Ford often attract audiences, I think Robinson’s story is what drew millions to the film last weekend. It’s a story of hope and triumph despite adversity. A story like this is worth retelling. Robinson not only broke the color barrier in baseball but inspired and laid the foundation for others to follow in his footsteps. With Robinson, the Dodgers won six pennants in its 10 seasons.
He dominated games on the basepaths, stealing home 19 times while riling opposing pitchers with his daring unique baserunning style, according to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (http://baseballhall.org). Robinson was named National League Most Valuable Player in 1949, two years after he changed the game. He is also known for his advancements off the field. He was the first black television analyst in Major League Baseball and the first black vice president of a major American corporation. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-Americanowned financial institution based in Harlem, N.Y. Robinson made history, and his story is worth telling. And in this case is worth retelling. While other versions of his story have been documented in books and other films, “42” looks to be just as compelling. I have seen previous films about the famous baseball player but look forward to seeing “42” to see what I can learn from this rendition. I’m sure other sports fans and lovers of history feel the same way. Batter up!
Boston wins; terrorists lose – again What does Chechnya have to do with runners and spectators in the Boston Marathon? For that matter, what does Chechnya have to do with the United States or anything else other than Russia? The Boston bombings typify, once again, the insanely twisted thinking of terrorists. Everybody is wondering what was the motive of the two brothers who set off their bombs? I don’t like the word “motive,” especially when it comes to terrorist attacks, because it almost implies a motive can somehow explain away or minimize the appalling effects of mass violence. Still, I can’t help but wonder: Why did those two killers take out their rage on good fellow human beings – spectators and runners? Were they trying to exact revenge for what happened in their home country of Chechnya? Talk about misplaced rage! The sheer viciousness of killing and maiming people for any reason on that beautiful Boston day is beyond comprehension. Perhaps the brothers’ motive had less to do with Chechnya and more to do with extremist interpretations of Islam. In that case, they might have considered anybody non-Muslim (runners and their loved ones, as they stupidly assumed) to be the infidel, the “other,” the enemy to be destroyed. It’s the same demented line of reasoning used by al Qaeda, the Taliban and so many other “religious” sects that seem to worship violence, not peace.
Dennis Dalman Editor “Jihad,” an Islamic term for “struggle” (which can mean “spiritual struggle”), is often interpreted by violent extremists to mean “holy war.” Don’t these so-called religious adherents understand “holy war” is – or ought to be – an oxymoron? No, of course they don’t. Crusading Christians and Muslims in the Medieval Era didn’t understand that, either. Another possible “motive” is this: The brothers’ attacks had nothing to do with Chechnya or political/religious extremism. Maybe – who knows? – they set off their bombs for the rotten spite of it, for the “kick” of killing people for no particular reason. That seems to be a widespread “motive” these days, in what might as well be called the “Age of Random Hatred.” Investigators will spend a lot of time with the surviving terrorist. I’m glad he survived, only because experts may possibly discover more information, connecting more dots, so future attacks might be prevented. They might even uncover a motive, but rest assured any motive will be utterly criminal, with no basis whatsoever in the realm of reason.
What a lunatic irony these sly-butstupid killers never learn the catastrophic errors of their ways. We should be happy most killers are so stupid. After all the terrorist attacks since 9/11 (and even before), you’d think they’d learn their acts are not only absurdly futile but ultimately self-destructive, no matter what their motives, no matter what their causes. Their baseless violence makes victims stronger, not weaker. It’s almost symbolic that during their shoot-out with police, the younger brother, in his cowardly get-away attempt, slammed the accelerator of a hijacked vehicle to the floor and ran over his brother. It’s a symbol of how violence rebounds on killers and even destroys one’s own brothers. That’s a lesson al Qaeda is still not learning. Maybe some day, they will truly become enlightened through an “inner jihad” and learn how to love and respect all their brothers and sisters – worldwide. In the meantime, until that sadly distant day arrives, the Boston bombers, like their al Qaeda “brethren,” have won nothing and have proven nothing – well, that is, except for one thing: What rock-bottom losers they are. Just seconds after the Boston explosions, so many people on the scene demonstrated tremendous courage and a third-wind strength to help the wounded. Good people like that are the winners, and they will always be winners, no matter how many times stupid bloodthirsty spoilers throw their murderous tantrums.
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