Next Friday the 28 marks the beginning of my 50 year high school class reunion.… MORE
Category Archives: Opinion
WJBC Forum: How do you come out of a death spiral?
The term “death spiral” originally described the path of an airplane as it’s about to crash.… MORE
WJBC Forum: The Confederate flag
I am a middle child.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Let’s quit trash talking Bloomington
Like a parent berating a child, one often hears said of Bloomington, “why can’t you be more like Normal?”… MORE
WJBC Forum: Donald Trump
Several polls conducted in the last couple of days show that Donald Trump is still in the lead among all the contenders to be the Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential race.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Jon Stewart
My forum today may be described as an open fan letter.… MORE
WJBC Forum: School daze
I’ve talked about this subject before, but it’s been some time ago.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Do the right thing
I don’t often espouse causes in my Forums, but…… MORE
WJBC Forum: Mitsubishi workers deserve our support
The Mitsubishi closing announcement this past week was sad news for our community.… MORE
WJBC Forum: The hit list
Remember when a “hit list” was the top 40 songs or the mob’s list of people to bump off? … MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…