The Blog

No, you're not wrong. But, do you really think that more than a handful of citizens gives a fuck, really gives a fuck, about what happens to anyone other than themselves? Do you really think that these kinds of proposals are for any other purpose than to distract attention from the real business going on behind closed doors? Said business being the systematic plundering of our city and county coffers, said coffers consisting solely of the taxpayers' dollars? Distraction is the primary skill of the magician. The 'magic' being performed here is the disappearing of our tax dollars, with little to show for their misuse. If anything, Mick, recycle the many egregious, and yet still under accounted for, misuses of our money. I, for one, know that to drive a nail fully into the wood, you usually have to smack it multiple times. Don't be shy about repeating yourself, most of our fellow citizens need to be smacked with the truth multiple times, before they begin to understand that they're being fucked by the fuckers who do the fucking.

Thats great. Now, how do we protect the pensions from the Daley family ?

I was involved in the divestment campaign when it began years ago (frankly, I'm surprised that it's still chugging along after being summarily shot down). And while you do have a valid point after the city getting its own house in order, I think the University, which should serve as a beacon of humane values, has more of a moral obligation than the city to divest from Sudan. The city is a government, and its first obligation is to look after its own people. But in its highest aspirations, the constituency of a research university is the whole world, so it should be trying (in vain, perhaps) to have concern for all, without distinction. The University is right to point out the value of free inquiry as paramount to its mission, but ending slaughter should trump free inquiry since people being slaughtered don't have much time or use for freely inquiring. I applaud the city council for bringing this issue up. They can deal with potholes in the afternoon.

I have been following this story for the last year or so. After listening to the recording of the hearing which is available at http://chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=19851 and reading the actual resolution which is available for public review, I am surprised by some of what you have written. First, there is no demanding of the University of Chicago to divest. The resolution is non-binding and merely lets the U of C know that City Council denounces their Board of Trustees for their decision to maintain investments in companies that do business with the Sudanese Government. Second, I agree with you that all contractors associated with the City should also be accountable. Given the fact that the U of C is the largest employer on the south side and is a reputable institution of higher learning that bears the name of the city, it seems like a good place to start. Am I wrong? A little more accuracy and less opinion might diminish the number of blogs complaining about it being some sort of distraction as your foul-mouthed supporter seems to think that was all this was. Also, the blogger that thinks she is being a victim of "property tax genocide" should look the word up in the dictionary and then spend some time in Darfur. I gaurantee she will forget about her higher taxes. The murder of almost 1/2 million people, the displacement of 2.5 million more, and the raping of women are serious issues that should be addresed by any individual, organization, and government that could make some difference even if its minimal. It is unfortunate that the U of C is so elitist that it can't even see the immorality of its decision. They are partially funding the murder, rape, and torture that is taking place in the Sudan. I too applaud the Council for addressing this issue as well as the student/faculty activists. If they can encourage an elitist institution like the U of C with all of its power and money to divest, then persuading others to do the same will be a lot easier.

"I too applaud the Council for addressing this issue as well as the student/faculty activists. If they can encourage an elitist institution like the U of C with all of its power and money to divest, then persuading others to do the same will be a lot easier." What world do you live in? '....persuading others to do the same will be a lot easier."? Who do you think really gives a shit about what the Chicago shitty council thinks or does? Or about what the U of C thinks or does? If you really want to do something to affect this travesty, you'd start by compiling a list of as many of the businesses doing business with the Sudanese, then compile a list of as many of the products and services these businesses sell to the consumers of same, then post these lists on every blog that will permit you to, with the express purpose of encouraging as united a boycott of same as possible. That would get more attention and response than posting a feeble criticism about 'foul language' and that bullshit about 'applauding' the fucked up city council that passes itself off as intelligent leadership in this city. Oh, before I forget, fuck you.

Nice response to David. Perhaps you should sign up to run for alderman. Your feeble grasp of the English language would barely qualify you to be an elected official, in somewhere like Darfur. Yet, even with your feeble mind, in this democracy, we allow you to exist.

What part of my language was feeble? The part about posting a list of businesses invested in Sudan? The part about identifying the products and services sold, by these businesses, to the American consumers? The part about encouraging a boycott of these products and services, as a means to apply pressure to the Sudanese, for the same end goal as the truly feeble, and feeble-minded nonsense the Chicago shitty council, with the applauding of 'david', has used to attempt to distract from their actual duties, said actual duties they regularly fail miserably at fulfilling? Or are you merely one of those whose pockets are so deep that you don't even notice the picking of same? Or maybe you are one of those fuckwads doing the pilfering? You'd think that, by now, a grown man or woman wouldn't be so specious as to focus solely on the use of 'foul' language, when said 'foul' language is the most appropriate language to describe the actions, and inactions, of the mealy-mouthed motherfuckers involved. Or maybe you're just one of the mealy mouthed motherfuckers. Maybe that's it. Maybe you, and 'david' should get together and console each other, lamenting the use of such 'foul' language, while you continue to increase your portfolio's value, the suffering, torture and slaughter of human beings thousands of miles removed from your doorsteps being an 'out of sight, out of mind' experience for you and yours. As for "Yet, even with your feeble mind, in this democracy, we allow you to exist.', well, what can one say to this perspective that's more appropriate than: Fuck You. Now, go wax Da Mare's bung hole.

I just want to thank you for validating my point. People use profanity when they do not have anything intelligent to say. No offense "Carpenter", but your comments are self-defeating. If you knew more about City Council and what its jobs are, you wouldn't make such ridiculous comments. FYI there is a growing movement among investment companies to divest http://investorsagainstgenocide.googlepages.com/ The U of C is increasingly becoming isolated in its social irresponsibility and moral bankruptcy. Unfortunately, there are a few people like yourself who seem to think this is ok. BTW, if you don't think getting the U of C to do the right thing will influence others, you are seriously mistaken. When Harvard and Yale divested, it set off a chain reaction in which other universities followed suit. It unfortunately did not affect the U of C. You seem to have some serious issues with the City, so why don't you move? Perhaps to Darfur where you can see what a really screwed up government looks like or quit whining and do something meaningful. Also, I can say with 100% certainty that I do not have any investments in companies that do business with the Sudanese government. In peace, David.