Columnists

Years and years ago, a YMCA basketball playing buddy remarked to me that he still read, every once in a while, a celebrated Detroit sportswriter's column.  He did that, he said, "to make sure he's as bad as usual."  I never cared for this particular writer, either, wondering how he made some "hall of fame" or another, how he so often just lifted columns from the Sporting News, and why he was considered so good.  I never saw it.

Clarence Page writes for the Chicago Tribune, his column syndicated throughout the nation.  I don't always agree with Page, but I always respect his opinion.  He's thoughtful, insightful, and, I think, well worth reading.  Again, years ago, I believe Page was the one who strongly suggested that, along with Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and other black heroes, Black History Month should include Harry Truman.  How insightful!  Last week, Page had another thoughtful column, playing upon the 150 anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation and the recently-released movie, Lincoln.  Page correctly assesses the vast significance of Lincoln's document, "which gave a human rights mission to the Civil War," that is, changed the nature of the war and, indeed, of the grand experiment in liberty called the United States.  It also led to the 13th Amendment, which, of course, Constitutionally abolished slavery.  Both points are often missed in current US History textbooks and teachers, often due to a misinterpretation and misreading of The Emancipation Proclamation by Richard Hofstadter about 100 years ago.  And, that misunderstanding of the importance of Lincoln's document has continued unabated until recently, the last few decades.  Page asks, "Lincoln freed us for...this?"  And then he points to "poverty culture," mostly affecting blacks.  The immediate target of his column is some reality show (and I still can't figure out how and why these things are called "reality shows") that "glorifies...a newer form of slavery that we impose on ourselves."  I guess the show focuses on some hippy-rock/rap singer (I use that term loosely here) who lives with the ten women with whom he has fathered eleven kids.  No, marriage isn't in the picture.  He takes the TV network to task for "shamelessly promoting a harem-like lifestyle as if it were a practical childrearing option."  Of course, Page shows concern for the children.  But he adds more.  He notes that figures from 2009, more than 40% of children are born out of wedlock, that the number rises to more than 50% for women under 30 years old who give birth.  For black women under 30, about two of every three babies are born to women without husbands.  Page notes that having a traditional marriage doesn't necessarily guarantee success in childrearing, but it increases the odds manyfold.  Yet, what sort of lifestyle is glorified?

I also read a column by E.J. Dionne.  I usually skip him, not wanting to waste my time.  For me, he falls into the category of my YMCA basketball friend.  And, this time, Dionne didn't disappoint, either.  It's the same old stuff with the guy.  He wrote of the "fiscal cliff" deal, how it can be a possible starting point for fixing the federal government's financial mess.  Yet, all he seemingly wrote about was raising revenues, that is, taxes.  Oh, the increase must come from the wealthy.  He ignores a lot of statistics that come from, well, the federal government's own accounting office.  But, that's OK with many of these writers/columnists.  They can just ignore facts when they get in the way of our politics and policies.

On another note, from last month, how interesting that the Republicans in Lansing ramrodded through several pieces of legislation during the state legislature's lame duck session.  Oh, they used closed door meetings and deals and late night/early AM votes...you know, all the things the Republicans criticized about passage of ObamaCare.  Again, I say, "a pox on all their houses/parties."