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I am writing in response to 33rd Ward Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez’s insulting and offensive comments regarding Italian Americans.
It was bad enough that she posted a Twitter poll that asked her constituents: “What’s the best way to honor Italian heritage?” The choices included “Italian ice monument,” “Bialetti monument” and “Columbus statue.” One person responding to her poll received praise from Rodriguez Sanchez for suggesting a cannoli statue. When asked about her comments, the alderman responded that she doesn’t have anything to apologize for. Really? The fact that she believes she has nothing to apologize for is just as offensive as her poll.
Rodriguez Sanchez’s indifference to insulting an entire ethnic community is another example of the divisive, unprofessional and total lack of quality representation that is eroding our political environment. As the son of an Italian immigrant, who came to the United States and contributed in every positive way to this country, I am alarmed by Rodriguez Sanchez’s ignorance. This is not leadership. If she said this about any other ethnic group, it would be just as disgusting.
Where are the comments from our city leaders? Has our political environment been so poisoned by the amateurs masquerading as statesmen that we begrudgingly accept their behavior as the way it is? Just like a child who does something wrong and is punished by their parents, Rodriguez Sanchez should be met with public repudiation from our mayor for insulting one of Chicago’s ethnic groups. Her comments should also be followed by her being censured in the City Council.
This shouldn’t be ignored. Like a cancer, it will get only worse. It’s well past the time that we stop being afraid of reprimanding those who say or do something wrong. A society cannot thrive on hatred and bigotry. We are better than this.
Chicago is a great city, consisting of communities of numerous ethnic groups that have continually contributed to our success. As a proud Armenian Italian who loves my city, I hope we can expect better from our leaders than the example provided by Rodriguez Sanchez.
— Charles J. Hagopian Jr., Chicago
Crime rate comparison
In extolling the virtues of the South, letter writer Rick Kyle repeats a canard about crime rates in Illinois that stubborn facts just can’t seem to eradicate (“The appeal of the South,” July 22).
He writes that the South in general, and Tennessee in particular, have lower crime rates than here. However, an internet search reveals that overall crime rates in many Southern states are higher than in Illinois. Even in his beloved Tennessee.
So he can crow about the weather down in Dixie (stifling heat and humidity, if you ask me), brag about low taxes (ah, who needs to pay for decent schools and social services anyway?), but on the issue of crime, he is just plain wrong.
— Matt Carey, Chicago
Don’t bring in Emanuel
Columnist Laura Washington’s idea of deploying Rahm Emanuel to “help” President Joe Biden is so far off base as to be laughable (“Memo to Biden: Put Emanuel to work for you in 2024,” July 24). Nobody in the Democratic Party has more negatives than our former (and disgraced) mayor. He covered up the police murder of Laquan McDonald for months to help his reelection campaign. He also closed 50 schools. Then with large, noisy protests against him, and efforts to recall him, we ran him out of town on a rail, hopefully never to return.
Emanuel would be damaging to the Biden candidacy for reelection. He has way too many negatives, which will be readily exploited by the lunatic fringe of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump, as well as by those he bullied as mayor.
I support Biden’s reelection as president. This election is too important to screw it up by involving our horrid former mayor.
— Roger Deschner, Chicago
Excusing migrant behavior
Regarding the editorial “Housing migrants in police stations a disaster waiting to happen” (July 19): Having spent 35 years employed in a high school, I agree that “teenagers ... like to get away from their families, let off steam and have fun with their peers.”
I disagree with the Tribune Editorial Board’s excusing the behavior of teenage migrants who are crowding the sidewalk in front of a New York hotel as tourists rush past on their way to a Broadway show. It’s wrong to suggest that “flashpoints involving sexual activity, drugs, partying, raucous behavior and other areas of conflict ... simply are inevitable.”
Migrant families made a conscious decision to make the trip in pursuit of the American Dream. Suggesting they were “unmoored from their prior communities of friends” as an excuse for unacceptable behavior is an insult.
A person’s country of origin does not matter. Abhorrent behavior should not be tolerated.
— Cathleen Bylina, Chicago
A case of opportunism
Another day, another lawsuit over hazing at Northwestern University.
Hazing is as old as the hills and, as such, has assumed a state of normalcy and become a rite of passage. Hazing has long been a part of athletics, fraternity life, boot camps and work sites. It is, of course, regrettable.
But what is also regrettable, in the age of political correctness in a litigious society, is opportunism by those who were hazed and by those who did the hazing who now see themselves as victims and by lawyers more than willing to represent them.
It will be interesting to see how this Northwestern University situation all plays out.
— Linda Burke, Indian Head Park
Israel a cautionary tale
Israel’s parliament and prime minister have taken a sharp right — against the will of the people — toward dictatorship, and we should all be terrified. This is exactly what the hard-line GOPers want in this country, and they are using Donald Trump as a pawn to get this accomplished.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
Make no mistake. It can and will happen here.
— Kirsten Vick, Glenview
Warped view of slavery
Instead of the usual lessons about mistreatment that include whippings, rapes, branding, forced separation of families and disfigurement, Florida schoolchildren will soon be taught that enslaved people learned skills that could be applied for their personal benefit.
Following this logic, perhaps a movement, formed by the descendants of Florida slaveholders, will start demanding reparations for their ancestors’ teaching illiterate, unskilled, and pagan Africans these valuable skills and introducing them to Christianity.
— Paul L. Newman, Merion Station, Pennsylvania
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