in Defense of Mayor Daley... ?? No, seriously.

There are pros and cons to everything.  I can't help but wonder if right now, as the world goes through these terrific financial convulsions, if we are not better off in Chicago with a savvy, proven Mayor?  He may not be perfect, but no one would tell you that he does not know what he is doing, or can't get anything done.  It might be more important to use his power for the city, than to stand on any supposedly higher moral ground.

I would never question his desire to do right.  You can read that on his face.  He does care.  I just feel like I come in here all the time only bitching about the Mayor, when that is hardly how I feel about him.  What is good for the city is good for the city, regardless of who's name is on the door.

I hope for him only the best....  Because, like the short story I wrote this morning, I am sick of having an opinion.  I used to have a roomate who would have nothing to do with the news, or reading about politics.  He had enough problems, he figured.  He told me had read the news for 25 years and it was always the same thing over and over.  He turned me on to the Nation, which opened my eyes a lot to the world around me with an onslaught of depressing news.

I think opinions are essential in life, of course.  We need to judge ourselves, others...  situations, strange dogs... hey, we have that faculty for a very important reason.   Odd though, most of the time I am not judging people, but then when I start writing, the very act of translating something into words brings value judgements into play.

There is no way to just say I HAVE NO OPINION all of the time.  BUT MOST OF THE TIME, THAT IS PROBABLY  THE MOST SANE REACTION TO HAVE.  When I drove cab, I tried to have no opinion of people.  I saw some things, heard some things, but unless I was in danger, I felt little reason to jump into their lives with my view.   I accept that there are all kinds of people, and that those people act all kinds of ways at different times, and it is easy to demonize someone with a couple anecdotes, but the total person is not really represented.

I would like to have this reaction to people I do not like, "I am sorry you are like that."  That is it.  No blame. Nothing.  Just acknowledged grieving over the human condition, coupled with the thought that forgiveness is forever available, even to the lowliest prison trapped alone with only his thoughts and his God.








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