How many times have you watched some movie or TV show depicting the villain as extreme governmental control, with severe abuse of innocents as the cause of rebellion? We sit through these horrors, reassuring ourselves that this would never happen in America. Why? Because, we tell ourselves, we would never allow things to deteriorate to such a degree that the level of control and abuse we are witnessing could occur.

Well don't be so sure. How do you think those film scenarios were conceived? Certainly from lively imaginations, but also from history; mankind has a long tradition of cruel, suppressive conduct toward his fellow human beings.

Some of the last radio ads aired by Governor Rod Blagojevich's campaign were just about a perfect microcosm of the entire governor's race.

And if, as expected, Blagojevich won Tuesday's election - the Reader goes to press before the polls close - the ads show how to effectively twist an opponent's words.

"Listen as Judy Baar Topinka runs down those who honor our veterans," began one ad.

"I'm a veteran. Served in Vietnam. Proud of my service. I was shocked by what Judy Baar Topinka said. Running down people who honor our soldiers," started the other.

Julie Ann Smith

Augustana College

Saturday, November 11, 7 p.m.

 

The Amy Helpenstell Foundation has awarded grants to three local organizations: WQPT, Churches United, and Habitat for Humanity - Quad Cities. WQPT, the Quad Cities' PBS station, received a charitable donation for its "Ready to Learn Literacy Initiative." The $15,000 donation will support activities for the project, including the WQPT First Book Program, which has distributed approximately 85,000 books to children in the region since 1984; Family Literacy Workshops and the Ready to Learn Conference, which provide the latest information on early-childhood practices to area teachers and caregivers; and the Healthy Habits for Life Initiative focusing on healthy foods, exercise, hygiene, and rest. WQPT and its partners will work with child-care centers serving low- to middle-income families. The foundation also awarded $10,000 to support the construction next year of a Moline home by Habitat for Humanity - Quad Cities. The house will be located at 430 and 434 Sixth Street, on lots donated by the City of Moline. And Churches United's Winnie's Place received $15,000 from the Amy Helpenstell Foundation. Winnie's Place is an emergency shelter for homeless women with or without children.

 

Rock the Boat

Reader issue #605If you are an independent voter - that is, a person who does not identify with either of the major political parties - Democratic and Republican leaders would prefer that you did not vote on November 7.

Not only that, but they're doing everything in their power to keep you from voting. They might not break into your house and tie you up until November 8, but they do invade your home through television ads hell-bent on disgusting you with the campaigns, the candidates, and the process. They want you to turn off, tune out and drop out.

With Representative Jim Nussle not seeking re-election and running for Iowa governor, Iowa's First Disrict seat in Congress became one of the country's most-watched races.

But with so much attention and money lavished on the race for its national political importance - control of the House of the Representatives could be decided here - there's been much less focus on the candidates and their views.

The Reader recently interviewed Democrat Bruce Braley (an attorney from Waterloo) and Republican Mike Whalen (founder, president, and CEO of Moline-based Heart of America Restaurants & Inns) in five subject areas. The audio from those interviews is available at (http://www.qcspan.com), along with an interview with Pirate candidate James Hill. Independent candidate Albert W. Schoeman of Waterloo is also running.

This week's article by Jeff Ignatius, "Rock the Vote Boat," underscores the enormous weight of each American's vote. Ignatius concludes with a quote from The Broken Branch: "Citizens at the polls are the most powerful agents of change."

Thus begins my traditional election-time mantra: Get out and vote! Do it because (1) it's your civic duty as an American; (2) it's your constitutional right and privilege as an American; or how about (3) because it's the last thing the politicians want you to do. There's a reason for this.

The two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans, make it their political mission to encourage voters to stay home. Historical poll data clearly shows a consistent percentage of voters who cast ballots in every election. Sadly this percentage is less than half of all eligible voters, which means that the majority of voters consistently don't vote. And that is the percentage political strategists work the hardest to maintain.

Sergio Tiempo Pianist Sergio Tiempo and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven's third piano concerto as Beethoven never could - on a modern piano. But when the composer wrote the piece in 1800, that's certainly how he intended it to be played.

His Mozart-era piano couldn't sustain the heavy style of playing Beethoven envisioned; it actually snapped the strings.

"In a way, it is the first Romantic concerto which only found its true vehicle through later instruments," Tiempo said in an e-mail interview from Belgium.

The 34-year-old pianist has played the concerto for years, but he has yet to tire of the work. "It is one of those pieces that keeps growing inside of you throughout your life," Tiempo said.

Charlotte Martin

The Redstone Room

Saturday, November 4, 10 p.m.

 

 

Iowa has moved into the 10 smartest states in the nation, according to the Morgan Quinto Press, an organization that analyzes and publishes state statistics. Its Education State Rankings 2006 report places Iowa second in the Midwest and ninth among the 50 states in education, an increase of five positions over last year's rankings. Illinois is listed as the 35th smartest state. The organization also ranked Iowa first this year in per-capita personal-income growth, and named it the fifth healthiest state, the third most-livable state, and the eighth safest state. Morgan Quitno Press is an independent private research and publishing company located in Lawrence, Kansas. The Education State Rankings report, which includes the "Smartest State" rankings, looked at 21 different factors and assigned a score based on how each state performed. For more information on the report, visit (http://www.morganquitno.com/edpress06.htm).  

 

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