On This Thanksgiving Holiday, Here’s What I Would Like to be Thankful For

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

A wonderful dinner at a famous downtown Chicago seafood restaurant has been the highlight of Thanksgiving 2022 for this writer.  (Yes, a seafood restaurant. Turkey, which I opted for, was on the menu; so I started with a bowl of clam chowder and enjoyed a adaption of “surf and turf.”)

From another more encompassing perspective, I have very much to be thankful for — friends, family, relatively good health, a career that’s not over yet, a relaxing home in my home town of Chicago and lots more.

But, someday I would welcome the opportunity to add a few items to the “what I’d like to be thankful for” list. Here are some considerations:

• Peace in Ukraine. And, let me add the same request to the other needless, senseless wars that take place in many other parts of the world.  Ending war is perhaps a fallacy; yet we should never stop moving the bar toward peace. While I’m on the subject, let’s add swift justice for those monsters responsible for some of the reprehensible actions that lead to death and destruction.
• A Halt to Vitriol. From statements delivered in the halls of the U.S. Congress to exchanges made on many social media platforms, people across all demographics continue to use language and demonstrate behavior that embodies hatred and promulgates bitterness and pain. Rational, respectful communications between parties would help build a much better world.
• Automatic Weapons Ban. On the weekend before the Thanksgiving holiday, a deranged man used a weapon made for warfare to kill five people and wound many others. I won’t link to the story about the carnage; I trust you can ascertain the event I’m referring to. But I will link to this post from May of this year, where I argue for a nationwide ban on the kind of firearm legal and readily available in the United States, a weapon that continues to be used in horrific shootings across the nation.
• Return to Common Courtesy. I’ll site a recent example. Last week, I visited Chicago’s Millennium Park on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful late fall day, and there were scores of people enjoying the park, views of Chicago’s magnificent skyline, Lake Michigan and the Park’s star attraction, the Cloud Gate sculpture.  (Don’t get me started on why so many refer to the sculpture by that silly nickname, “The Bean.”) But along Michigan Avenue, some morons in modern hot rods were revving their engines between stop lights. Why? Why sully the experience for people enjoying the afternoon by showing off?
• Accurate Representation of Public Relations. As I’ve proclaimed in this space before, the practice of public relations frequently is misstated, misrepresented and misinterpreted within the media, on digital platforms and in general conversation. Back in November of 2018, I sought an answer, but the question still remains.

By now you’re wondering about the image above. It was taken earlier this month during a short visit to Lake Como, Wisconsin. I was thankful for the opportunity to catch the sunset, and as depicted in the image here, the early morning grandeur of the lake, sky and clouds.  Yes, I was thankful for this simple pleasure.

 

 

The Simple Way I Spent Election Day 2022

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

First, full disclosure regarding this post on Election Day 2022, a day that assuredly will shape the future of both houses of Congress, result in changes in many gubernatorial mansions, and perhaps even alter democracy as we have known it for more than 200 years. With so much controversy leading up to today, I had intended to draft a fictional humorous “conversation” between myself and a character named Joe Magaman. 

(Use your imagination to determine Mr. Magaman’s perspective on the state of the nation and which way he’s leaning politically.)

But after pondering the scenario — meeting Mr. Magaman while at the newly-remodeled Logan Square Starbucks — I opted for another, less caustic and more optimistic focus for today. Besides, it’s pretty challenging to blend politics and humor, at least for me.

The university where I work declared today a holiday, so my agenda was uncharted. Rising in the wee hours of the morning, I ventured to the rear porch and took in the stunning blood moon to the west, the last lunar eclipse until 2025. The sky across our part of Chicago was clear, providing a stunning lunar display and views of stars and planets rarely seen these days in the city.

Later, I did hike the eight blocks along the quiet streets of Avondale and Logan Square to Starbucks with today’s print issue of the Chicago Tribune to enjoy a small Pike Place roast (little cream, little sugar), reading news stories, and the balance of this fall  morning in November. Most trees had shed their leaves and there was a cool, fresh scent of fall in the air. Back home, I climbed the extension ladder and removed remaining leaves from the gutters; a final fall home care preparation.

Earlier this week, I voted on campus; but a short time ago, I accompanied Susan while she voted at the Chicago Public Middle School three blocks west. The gymnasium was converted into a polling place for the day, and there was a steady — but not overwhelming — number of voters. Election officials had things well under control, and there were no signs of voter intimidation.

So far, Election Day 2022 in Chicago was for me a very pleasant and relaxing day, one built upon enjoying simple things in life afforded by being an American citizen. Based upon who wins, will these freedoms be taken away tomorrow? I don’t think so.

While I do believe the persistent campaign messaging vitriol, outright fabrication of facts by some, and growing national schism will continue, tomorrow will be another pretty good day; certainly from my perspective, and hopefully for all Americans, regardless if they lean left or right. In fact, the forecast here calls for very mild days ahead before a cold snap this weekend.

As I prepare to publish, there are just under four hours left to vote in Illinois. So, if you are a registered voter and have not cast your ballot, please do so. Voting is simple, voting defines our American democracy.