send us your feedback at sweditor@buglenewspapers.com
T h ur sday, M arch 12, 2015 | roM eovi llebug le.coM
7
column
It’s Smoke and Mirror Time Again
editorial
Nastiness in politics has been around for a long time
advertising
production
Laura KatausKas stewart warren • Mark GreGory • Mike Sandrolini
sales representatives Phil Besler
pbesler@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 107
Joliet, Crest Hill Lockport, Romeoville nicole austin
naustin@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 105
Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, Westmont, Woodridge & Lisle 4
enterprise newspapers, inc. 23856 Andrew Road #104 Plainfield, IL 60585 Phone: (815) 436-2431 Fax: (815) 436-2592 MON - FRI: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pat ryan
pryan@enterprisepublications.com 815.436.2431 ext. 106
Plainfield, Shorewood
Maureen vitacco mvitacco@buglenewspapers.com 815.436.2431 ext. 108
Niles, Morton Grove, Des Plaines & Park Ridge
advertising deadlines. Space and copy deadlines for display and classified ads is at noon the Friday before date of insertion. Email classifieds@buglenewspapers.com | Legals, obituaries and happy ads are due at 12 p.m. Friday. Email announcements@buglenewspapers.com. Email Legals@buglenewspapers.com editorial deadlines. Calendar & News: 3 p.m. Monday, three weeks before date of publication. sweditor@buglenewspapers.com
facebook.com/thebuglenewspapers twitter.com/buglenewspapers instagram.com/buglenewspapers EDITOR’S NOTE: The opinions expressed in guest columns, editorial cartoons and letters to the editor belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the The Bugle or its staff.
That was before social media. Now, the truth still would be looking for its shoes. Nastiness in politics has been around for a long time. Pharaohs had to be careful of the writing on the walls. Julius Caesar had a hard time By niCK reiher MaNaGING edItor watching his back. A lot of French nreiher@buglenewspapers.com kings and their families knew their @JolietILNews way around the blocks. Speaking of the term If it weren’t for the fact “nastiness,” where do you that the alternative is think that came from? dictatorship and chaos, I Old French and Dutch would say let’s skip all this people. election stuff. Thought I was going to say But enough about Thomas Nast the political Chicago. cartoonist, didn’t you? I almost Seriously, if you are ever reiher did, until a stepped over the feeling too good about niCK MANAGING EDIToR pile of urban legend. But the yourself or aren’t sure what guy who brought us caricatures your missteps and foibles are, run for election. You will find out of Uncle Sam, political elephants and stuff about yourself even you didn’t donkeys, and even good ol’ Santa Claus, likely contributed to the term know. I don’t know why people run. I don’t “nasty” with his political cartoons in know why people subject themselves the 1800s. For a time, and this seems like 100 – and their families – to scrutiny from their opponents. The media? Who years ago to me, there was an air of needs us to do anything now? All you respect given to candidates, at least need to do is find something nasty by the public and the press, if not about a person, that may or may not their opponents. But while opponents have one iota of truth to it, put it out got down and dirty, they rarely got on Facebook or Twitter, and off it personal. Maybe because they were afraid of what people might find goes. More than a century ago, Mark rattling around in their closets. I don’t expect most candidates Twain said, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is to tone down the hyperbole and borderline slander during the putting on its shoes.”
March 14
TROOP 75 BOLINGBROOK 2ND ANNUAL CHILI SUPPER. 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the first presbyterian church of Dupage, 180 n. weber road, Bolingbrook. enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun with your family and friends. watch some college basketball on a big screen, enjoy a bowl of chili, beverage and dessert and help support the scouting program. tickets are $6.
March 21.
ABOUT BOATING SAFELY. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bolingbrook fire station #5, 1900 rodeo Drive, Bolingbrook. the coast guard Auxiliary will be offering the 8 Hour ‘About Boating safely’ class. this beginner boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain their safe boating certificate and card. the class will cover new boating laws, equipment, navigation, trailering, water skiing, and safety guidelines. Beginning
Jan. 1, 2016 anyone born after January 1, 1998 will need a safe boating class to operate a boat of more than 10 horsepower. A must course for the 12 to 18 year old and a good refresher course for the old salt. contact Darryl Haefner at 815-293-1262 or jlyrrad@ comcast.net for information. cost of the class is $30 per person, this does not include lunch.
March 22
BREAKFAST WITH THE EASTER BUNNY. 8 a.m.to noon. at shanahan’s, 1999 75th st., woodridge. the woodridge Jaycees on behalf of the metropolitan Family services present this event. Hop on in for the breakfast and a photo with the easter bunny. cost: $7.50 for adults, $5 per child (ages 4-12) and children under 3 eat free. proceeds will be used to support the woodridge rotary’s shoes for Kids program. For more information, visit www.woodridgejaycees.org.
campaigns, but they should know sometimes people pay more attention to a whisper of truth than a bellowing lie. While most people may not know whether a candidate is lying, or at least stretching the truth, they do know what their streets look like. They do know, or should, how good their schools are or where they are lacking. They know who they can call in their towns or school districts if they need something, or should. It’s usually all on a website … if you haven’t met your particular representative personally. But see, that’s part of the problem. By the time we get to the elections, many voters who haven’t paid attention for the past two, four or six years have to cram for the test. Those who feel disenfranchised will be looking for messages from candidates or opponents that say “tax hike,” “Increased spending,” “Bad snow removal,” etc., without knowing the whole story. It’s like the “Family Guy” episode where Lois wins an election by just repeating “Nine Eleven” even though her race had nothing to do with the tragedy. Really. Are we that gullible? Some candidates think so. Others hope we aren’t watching at all. For years and years, I asked you – implored you—to vote. And I still do. But for Pete’s sake, ask some questions.
aPril 15
MYTHBUSTERS JAMIE AND ADAM UNLEASHED. wednesday, April 15th at 7:30pm at the rialto square theatre, 102 north chicago street, Joliet, il 60432. http://www.rialtosquare.com. the allnew, live stage show “mythbusters© Jamie & Adam unleashed,” starring Jamie Hyneman and Adam savage, cohosts of the emmy-nominated Discovery series mythbusters©, promises to be an unexpected evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, rocking video and behind-the-scenes stories. fans will join Jamie and Adam on stage and assist in their mind-twisting and not always orthodox approach to science. “mythBusters© Jamie & Adam unleashed” brings you face to face with the curious world of Jamie and Adam as the duo matches wits on stage with each other and members of the audience.. for tickets please call the rialto square theatre box office at 815-726-6600.