Speak Out - Daily Southtown

Speak Out

Mario Marchese, center, gathers with members and supporters of Chicago’s Italian American community during a rally at Arrigo Park commemorating the one-year anniversary of the removal of the Columbus statues on July 25 in Chicago. A separate group in support of the Columbus statues’ removal protested the gathering outside the park. Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune

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What’s Speak Out?

Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 120 words and give your first name and your hometown.

As an Italian American, I am confused and disturbed about Columbus Day. The city and various citizens decided that the statues of Columbus had to be removed throughout the city. If that’s the case, why do all the city workers, county workers, continue to get the day off as a holiday? If they were true to character, they would work and say they don’t want to celebrate such a horrible man. Of course he wasn’t a horrible man, we’re judging him by 2021 standards. He was the first recognized European discoverer.

Joe, Oak Lawn

Thanks to Ted Slowik for his column about the Jan. 6 insurrection. It’s about time people realize you should believe what you see with your own eyes rather than what Donald Trump and the autocratic Republicans tell you to believe, everything from the election was stolen to there were tourists walking through the Capitol. What utter nonsense. Thank you and I’m sorry about the naysayers that write in the Speak Out.

Janet, Tinley Park

To Ken of Burbank, nice to know you don’t think treason and the violent overthrow of the government is as bad as wrecked property. Glad to know it’s better to threaten to hang the vice president than to destroy property.

Mark, Orland Park

President Joe Biden says Republicans should get out of the way. What have they been doing? They have been out of the way for the past few years. They should stay out of the way and don’t interfere with whatever the Democrats are doing to themselves.

Bill, Plainfield

If the difference of the President Trump years versus the nightmare first year of Joe Biden could be illustrated in song titles, the playlist would look like this. For Trump, it would start with “God Bless America” by Kate Smith, then Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” and finally “I’m Winning” by Carlos Santana. For Joe Biden, it would start with the Temptations “Ball of Confusion” then the Beatles tandem of “Helter Skelter” and “I’m a Loser.” Like the Budweiser ad, that says it all.

Leo, Oak Lawn