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The celebration of Christmas is a secular pleasure that has been with us for many years. That in itself can be a joy for both young and old alike.
There is also a need to be inspired by the true meaning of the holiday by visiting shrines and places of worship that proclaim the virgin birth of the Christ child.
Our world is truly in need of reflection of our spiritual lives, as all around us are wars, famine, civil unrest and personal hatred of others’ religious beliefs.
We have so much to be grateful for, with our military and first responders protecting our public safety and other enterprises allowing us freedom of choice in this great country of ours.
Try to include a simple task of attending a religious service and offering a prayer of thanksgiving before your holiday meal this year.
Merry Christmas to all.
— Bob Sweeney, Warwick, Rhode Island
Joys of ‘The Cinnamon Bear’
As a youth many, many years ago, before video games, cellular phones and even color television, we had a unique form of Christmas entertainment that would be unimaginable in today’s world. We tuned in for 26 evenings starting around Thanksgiving and ending on Christmas Eve to a radio program called “The Cinnamon Bear.”
Broadcast on AM radio, we followed the adventures of Jimmy and Judy who are sent to retrieve the Silver Star in their attic to place on top of their Christmas tree. While there, they notice a tiny Cinnamon Bear who speaks to them informing them that the star has been taken by the Crazy Quilt Dragon.
The program takes the children through a series of adventures in Maybeland meeting with characters good and bad in search of their quest for that Silver Star.
Originally airing in 1937, the program ran annually and even appeared as a television puppet show in 1951. But it was the radio setting that was most fascinating as youths honed their imaginations.
When our boys were born, I discovered that “The Cinnamon Bear” was available on compact disc. So the tradition was handed down as we listened nightly to the journey of Jimmy, Judy and Paddy O’Cinnamon.
The years have passed all too rapidly, but the disc has been maintained. So each night, one of the 26 episodes is played and relived in our minds. Along the way, we acquired our very own Silver Star.
And yes, the Silver Star is the last ornament placed on our tree on Christmas Eve.
— Bob Paszczyk, Tinley Park
Education and public safety
In 2012, then-Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said that then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel told her “that 25 percent of the students in this city are never going to be anything, never going to amount to anything and (that) he was never going to throw money at them.”
In February 2020, Jens Ludwig, director of the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab, told a City Club of Chicago audience that education is one of the most important things to keep people out of the criminal justice system.
In June 2023, Chalkbeat Chicago reported that 45,000 teens and young adults are not in school, college, or the workforce.
When Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union provide students who are not on a path to a bachelor’s degree a relative and practical curriculum, neighborhood crime will dramatically decrease in Chicago.
I hope Mayor Brandon Johnson’s community safety plan will have an immediate impact on decreasing neighborhood crime.
— Marc Sims, Chicago
Making early ed mandatory
Educating students starting at age 4 should be required in order to ensure the development of skills. However, in order to do so, we must increase our schools and staff.
It is crucial that kids are educated starting at a young age to prepare them for going into kindergarten. However, many kids are restricted from doing so due to the limited enrollment opportunities at early education centers.
Educating young children not only sets them up for success in kindergarten, but it also provides them with psychological development that will in turn decrease the rate of crime in the future.
I attended preschool for two years leading up to kindergarten, and I think it really benefited me to learn skills such as dialing a phone number and tying my shoes.
Illinois has the right to establish laws requiring parents to enroll children in early child care programs once they reach the age of 4. Additionally, Illinois can also expand schools and hire more teachers, to accommodate the influx of students.
I believe it should be law that children in Illinois are enrolled in early education once they reach the age of 4.
— Abigail Altergott, high school student, Wauconda
A Marshall Plan for Gaza
Regarding Uri Dromi’s op-ed “Gaza will need a Marshall Plan of its own to rebuild” (Dec. 15). The author thinks that an economic recovery plan for Gaza, such as the one Europe had following World War II, could resolve the current crisis. On the surface, the idea looks very attractive, but is it achievable? Let us examine the two postwar situations.
Keeping in mind the main objective of jump-starting economic recovery and generating self-sufficiency, we should compare both scenarios. Initial necessary financial investment should not be a problem: Both local and international resources should be available. However, one must develop a very effective monitoring system to control possible corruption. But will it be possible to ensure close cooperation among participating nations in the Middle East? Close cooperation of participating nations, of course, was one of the main principles for success in Europe.
Another criterion behind the success of the Marshall Plan was democracy. All participating countries were committed to human dignity and equal rights. Can Dromi ensure such behavior and mindset in addressing the Palestinian crisis?
The third factor for the success of the Marshall Plan was American supervision over all projects assumed under the plan. Will the participating states allow America or institutions such as the United Nations to play a similar role?
As a student of comparative civilizations and international relations, I will be optimistic about a Marshall Plan for the Middle East if these criteria are met.
Chicago Tribune Opinion
— Abdullah al-Ahsan, professor, Markham
Give Soldier Field to the people
I am in complete agreement with state Rep. Kam Buckner (“Soldier Field shuffle offers opportunity to Chicago, the Bears,” Dec. 10). Repurposing Soldier Field to accommodate Chicago citizenry and tourists is exactly what the Park District should do.
This is a chance to right a very-wrong wrong. Bringing back Soldier Field to its original design as intended would bring back the power of the structure and allow for spectacular views through the colonnade. When properly restored, Chicago could then reapply for national historic status and Soldier Field would be alive with activity and a must-see destination complementing the Museum Campus.
— Vincent Baggetto, Chicago
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