Reclaiming Illinois Pride: Addressing the Loathing and Building a Better State

In my earlier post on the NBC Chicago documentary "Separation: A State without Chicago", we saw real frustration bubbling up across Illinois. The idea of downstate and suburban areas breaking away from Cook County and Chicago highlights deep divides—political control from the metro area, burdensome taxes, quality-of-life concerns, and debates over whether Chicago functions more as a fiscal drain than an economic engine for the whole state. Rural and small-town Illinois often feels overshadowed. These tensions feed into a broader sentiment: many Illinoisans seem to loathe the state or at least complain about it constantly.

This isn’t new. Back in 2022, the Geography King profile of Illinois noted a sense of self-loathing among residents—no one seems eager to defend the state. And during that year’s governor’s race, I shared thoughts on "IL Governor's race and trashing Illinois", observing how some political talk focuses more on tearing the state down than on fixing it and making the Land of Lincoln better.

For some folks, trashing Illinois has become a perverse pleasure https://t.co/tPAX9DJX6K

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) May 23, 2022

But why exactly does this persist, and what can we do to foster genuine pride instead? 

Capitol Fax: Illinois school district that called police on students “every other day” agrees to reform disciplinary practices

 I read through this and found this interesting. Should police be called for disciplinary issues at school?

This district is in downstate Illinois and it's a small district and often has far more arrests than they have students.  I may also recognize that many of these students come from backgrounds that isn't exactly conducive to better behavior.

What makes sense to me is that a school should be equipped to handle behaviorial issues and not have to rely on police to intervew.

Illinois school district that called police on students “every other day” agrees to reform disciplinary practices https://t.co/qdAaZkBTng

— Capitol Fax (@capitolfax) September 6, 2024

Via CapFax

Mr. Beat: Why we are so divided

 

[VIDEO] Our society is divided more than ever before - at least in my lifetime. 

We're so divided during the pandemic it was a political position as far as whether or not one should be vaccinated. Democrats seemed to have supported this and generally Republicans didn't.

Abortion rights was divisive. Democrats seemed to generally support the "right" to an abortion while generally Republicans didn't.

Or radical gender ideology. The divide is stark on this one and especially when it comes to children. There is one side who believes that one could determine their gender - regardless of what they were actually born with. The other side just believes it's an inherent trait.

When you hear some podcasts or YouTubers they talk a lot about anything from a "Civil War" to a "national divorce". That's how divided we are some parts of America wants to live or govern one way, and other parts wants to live or govern another.

Mr. Beat in the video above explores how Americans have become so divided and how do we become less divided?

Peter Santello: Breaking hood mindset, Jackson, MISS

 

[VIDEO] Tommie Mabry meets with Peter Santenello as he sees the real story around Jackson, Mississippi - the state capital. Mabry went to Tougaloo College and graduated with his undergrad and graduate degrees.

The lesson here is what does it take to turn around a depressed area? Are the people in depressed areas, depressed? How do we change the depression?

Another thing to look at is if we aren't exposed to new possibilities, how can we realize them? Say if you lived in an area that seems run-down, are you still able to see yourself living in a suburban area that is well maintained.

Oh and for those of you who are college minded. When Peter and Tommie tour Tougaloo College they meet with the school's provost and they talk about college financing. If you join an honor's society Phi Theta Kappa (ΦΘΚ) you can earn a scholarship. Do your first two years at a community college - or here in Chicago the City Colleges - join ΦΘΚ and possibly get a scholarship for your last two years at a university.

That should be motivation for those of you trying to figure out how to pay for college and getting your associate's degree shouldn't be that expensive. ;)

Think about it! 

"Black men deserve to grow old"

 I wanted to share this meme recently and ask how many of you are contributing to this for the men in your lives. Whether we're talking significant others, fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, nephews, uncles, brothers, cousins, or even friends.

This meme emerged in the outrage over the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, TENN. Well I overstated that, he was badly beaten by police officers and no one is characterizing this as a case of excessive force. The officers involved have been fired and charged with second degree murder. Sadly three days after being stopped & brutally beaten by Memphis Police in January Mr. Nichols died.

Nichols from some of what I read had crohn's disease and wasn't in robust health. He was over six feet tall but has been described as underweight compared to some of the officers involved with this incident. He leaves behind a son, who is now without a father. He was known as a free spirit who was into landscapes, paid no attention to stereotypes as a Black male, and he liked to skateboard. This is the kind of man you want to see grow old. It was sad to see him beaten and pepper sprayed by these officers call out for his mother.

To further interpret this meme, I had focused on say if the women who shared this meme have Black boyfriends or husbands. How would they contribute to the Black man in their lives to growing old? Is this something they believe beyond the current public outrages?

I suppose these meme, has a much deeper meaning to me. This shouldn't come out for the latest major story, especially when it comes to a case of police brutality. This should be an everyday thing.

Yes, Black men deserve to grow old. They deserve to be happy, treated with respect, and be surrounded by people who love them. That's my answer.

Valuetainment: The Fatherless Crisis in America

 

[VIDEO] Where are the men to be part of raising healthy children? Not all parents are perfect sadly, however, I do believe you need both a mother and father for children to be successful. That's not to say a single parent can't do the job, however, the job is much more difficult.

I've been following Valuetainment for a while now and Patrick Ben-David does some pretty good social analysis. The question to ask here is are fathers the key to getting America back on track. Getting men and women to form familial bonds is what it takes to keep our young people in school? To even keeping them out of the criminal justice system?

If you watched this over nine minute video, what are you thoughts on what Mr. Ben-David is saying?

Dave Ramsey's LIFE ADVICE will leave you SPEECHLESS

 

[VIDEO] I can't get over watching this video and seeing Dave Ramsey's old pics of him with hair.

He talks about how he was making good money taking vacations, buying expensive cars, owning a lot of real estate and then he became bankrupt. His marriage was hanging by a string even joking that his wife would've left long ago but she had no car.

Anyway, if you're struggling right now I hope his message helps you. His philosophy which he often expresses on his radio program (or you can follow The Ramsey Show YouTube channel) he might tell you to cut up all your credit cards, start paying off your bills, live on a budget or just live within your means. And of course he closes on generosity.

Hey I would like having more money in my pocket, however, I do wonder if one message rings true. Money makes you more of what you already are. If you're a jerk, you become more of a jerk. If you're a generous person now you're a philanthropist.

Here's hoping as Ramsey did once he hit rock bottom that you too will make a change in your life. It doesn't have to be financial but then it's a great start since Ramsey Solutions is about personal finances.

Black Handprint Mafia: John Gotti - 'I took myself out of the gutter. My life was dictated for me.'

 

[VIDEO] RJ Roger talks a bit about his own background and the lives of mob boss John Gotti and gang leader Tookie Williams. All come from a very poor background and while RJ Roger went to school and advertises that he has an MBA. Gotti and Williams went into the life of crime.

Roger doesn't mention it here but I will. Gotti died in federal custody after having been convicted in federal court and sentenced to life in prison. Williams on the other hand was executed in California for murder. For both men they might cite either a lack of a father in their lives or just a father who wasn't entirely able to provide for them.

I can somewhat relate this to perhaps some of my classmates in school. One lesson I should've learned then is everyone I went to school with aren't like me. Not to say I had it made, however, perhaps most of my classmates didn't have in their lives what I had.

There was one classmate that I recall was made fun of and it took me a few years to realize that he was in reality neglected by his folks. He was probably hungry because he was caught taking a sandwich from the teacher's lounge. He was often seen napping during class time. A few classmates complained about his hygiene. His grandmother was the only adult who seemed to show up at school for him and she seemed gruff. And he did have a brother who was a grade or so ahead of us so he had someone else who cared for him. One thing to remember about him was that he was not the one to trifle with either.

So I don't want to talk too much about him, but sometimes I wonder where he is in life now. My hopes for everyone is that even if they started life with difficulty that they've turned it around and made something of themselves.

Mr. Beat: When abortion became legal

[VIDEO] Roe vs. Wade has been in the news lately and thus we get to see Mr. Beat explain its importance. Earlier this week the public learned that a draft brief from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was leaked sparking protests mainly outside of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. As I've learned as most of us know the issue of abortion is a very polarizing issue that seemingly has very little middle ground. And one side or another on this debate has framed this in very simplistic terms.

I also want to add and not addressed in the above video since it's been over 5 years since it had been published is that there is an issue if a brief was leaked before the final finding of the court is rendered. The leak is under investigation. Time will tell if the S.C.O.T.U.S. will in fact overturn Roe vs. Wade.