Not really, but that probably got your attention , right?
So I'm out for a run on Tuesday and I suddenly start seeing all these lawn signs opposing the proposed construction of a new condo tower in downtown Evanston. Apparently it's going to be 150 feet taller than the current tallest building in Evanston, will displace some 140 office professionals since the new building won't have any office space, and also use about $3 million in public funds for its construction. OK, fair enough. So how do they choose to get this point across on a lawn sign? "Save Evanston. Stop the Tower." To put it lightly, this seems like just a bit of an exaggeration. Maybe I'm wrong though. Maybe once the tower gets built I will walk out my front door and see the Four Horsemen riding across the sky, or there will just be a giant crater where Evanston used to be, or suddenly the entire city will be populated by drug dealers and gang members. If that happens, I'll apologize for not taking this dire emergency more seriously.
This is a perfect illustration of the kind of muckraking that I can't stand. It is most prevalent in politics, although it certainly is not limited to that arena. From one side we get to hear that "John McCain admitted he knows nothing about the economy" (he actually said "I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues") and that he "speaks of a 100 years war in Iraq" (he actually said that he would be fine having a troop presence there for 100 years "As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed."). Then from the other side we get to hear that "al-Qaida would be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11" if Obama gets elected, and that he is a Muslim who attended a Madrassa (a radical muslim school) as a young boy (he lived in Indonesia and briefly attended a Muslim school that was not a Madrassa and he has always been a Christian). Most people chalk up this kind of behavior to a necessary evil of politics, but it's only necessary because people don't reject it. I think Jon Stewart said it best when I saw him live about a year ago (and I'm paraphrasing here): the people that march and go to protests and get on the news are always the extremists, because normal people are too busy with their own lives to go around holding up signs that say "Be Reasonable". I think there's a lot of truth to that. Every issue seems to get radicalized and set up as a "you're either with us or against us" choice rather than the far more productive "you're over there and I'm over here so let's come up with something we can both live with." I mean, why sacrifice a good misleading sound bite just for the sake of reasonable debate?
So, I say to my fellow citizens of Evanston "can't we do a little better than this?" I'm not asking for much. How about just "Save the Evanston Skyline" or "Say No to Taxpayer Funds for Private Construction"? Must we over exaggerate to the point of ridiculousness just to get people on our side? Can't we lead by example?
Oh well, it was worth a try . . .
Sources:
McCain quote on the economy: http://tinyurl.com/7pfca
McCain quote on the 100 years war: http://tinyurl.com/5qfkka
Accusation that al-Qaida wants Obama to win: http://tinyurl.com/2l4qmc
Article that Obama is a Muslim: http://tinyurl.com/yqat77
Debunking of the above article: http://tinyurl.com/2ktpjh
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
When I saw those signs my first thought was what will happen to our resale value when Evanston turns into a crater/ghetto/death hole.
Personally I think you are taking this way too lightly. I plan on attending the next rally with a sign that says, "THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!" and a picture of a tall skyscaper smooshing a baby. I am certain that will resonate with the people.
Christy, whoo! I just fell on the floor from laughing. Very funny you are.
I think your sign should say "Save the clocktower!"
Post a Comment