Random news comments

Small thoughts about news items:

-- Sorry to see Billy Preston died. I would have put him on the front page of the paper. Anyone associated with The Beatles gets an automatic A1 bid in my book. Oh, well. Nothin' from nothin' leaves nothin' ...

-- I read here in West Michigan that Fred Meijer, owner of the grocery giant Meijer stores, may finally get his name on a nature trail. He was going to donate a bunch of money to the White Pine Trail project -- it has a bike path! -- but only on the stipulation that his name be put on the trail. The state has a policy against this, so it was a no-go. But now the governor is proposing changing that policy so Fred Meijer can have his ego stroked.

How humble of Fred Meijer! Only giving money if his name can be attached to a public project. Oh, I bow before Fred Meijer! My tiny little existence wilts (like your store's lettuce) before your greatness, Fred Meijer! Please grace me with your name!

Sorry. This is a West Michigan manifestation. You must prove yourself a good Christian by giving your excess money to someone ... but only if you get your name on it. Thank you, Van Andels and DeVoses. I'm not worthy of you.

-- Several shootings on Grand Rapids Southeast side. The victims must be black males because TV hasn't shared their names or photographs. You see, in West Michigan, black males do not get stories on them if they get murdered. It's like it's no big deal. Sometimes a black female will get a story, but her plight must rise above the drug user and welfare mom. White males have a 50-50 chance of a story, but a white female getting shot is full-blown coverage.

The TV media is racist beyond belief and continues to victimize minorities by dehumanizing crime victims and those who commit crimes and assuming that minority males are all bad, in need of some state program to help them, or recovering from alcohol or drug use.

Thought: Will it go round in circles. ...