I was born in Chicago, grew up in the suburbs and went to Notre Dame for undergraduate and law school. I completed a fellowship at Harvard University, and thought I know a thing or two about life. Like everyone, I had some great joys and some great heartbreaks. I practiced law, served in the Clinton administration, private equity, blah blah. I also have nothing short of an incredible daughter. I will spare you my heartbreaks.
My heroes growing up were baseball players, Bobby Kennedy and assorted rock stars.
A new chapter in my life was driven by a sense of regret of not going in the Peace Corps, or something like that. So, I received an appointment as a visiting professor at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, where I thought I could make a difference.
I was immediately struck by the maturity of the students and their awareness of the global politics around them. This generation came of age during a civil war, COVID-19 and a bomb explosion equal to a nuclear blast. Then the war started.
Can an American parent fathom sending their children to school every day in the middle of a war taking place in their city? Would American students attend classes when you hear bombs dropping during a class? I now know what courage and faith means.
Of course, everyone is scared; no one wants to die. But the spirit of the Lebanese people is something to behold. When every logical part of their brain says, “we had enough” or “it’s time to leave” something else kicks in that you can actually feel: “The only thing I want is a better future for my children.” So in that mindset, parents send their children to school, the kids show up, the professors teach, and everyone keeps focused on a future that definitely is not certain to be better.
I grew up where we did not deal with a war in our neighborhood. Wars were something that happened outside of our boundaries. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country. But what I see every day in Beirut is something different. Wanting a better life and everyone trying to pull together when the odds are so stacked against you runs through the veins of the Lebanese people. That is courage. That is perseverance. It is something I can’t say with certainty I could do.
So my heroes now are my students, their parents and my fellow faculty members. Guess we are never too old to learn a valuable lesson.
Joseph A. Cari Jr., Beirut, Lebanon
Harris’ words worthy of top billing
I cannot help but think and notice something was inexplicably missing from the Sun-Times/WBEZ coverage of the funeral of the Rev. Jesse Jackson: the vitally important message of former Vice President Kamala Harris’s eulogy — particularly since the weekend that followed landed on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Fortunately, I was able to attend the historically significant event at the House of Hope. Harris’ powerful message touched on what to do when “doors” are closed for women and people of color, especially in America’s political world. Her words were unforgettable, precisely because she profoundly honored Jackson’s teachings to effectively and intelligently force those doors open, particularly for future generations.
Without taking anything away from your outstanding journalism, which robustly covered the eulogies of three of our former presidents, our governor and Mayor Brandon Johnson — all of whom happen to be males, like myself — it would have made a huge difference, especially for little girls and young women in Chicago, Illinois, across the country and around the world, if your coverage included a broader acknowledgment of the words (and wisdom!) by Harris. She deserves more space, as she is not only the first woman of color to be a presidential candidate of a major party, but also, and, more importantly, the first female and the first Black person to become the vice president of the United States.
Alejandro Lugo, Park Forest
Playing to lose
Basketball is a team sport. The players on a team play together, each striving to play at the highest level in the hope that that will help win games. Coaches support these efforts by the players, and the front office supports the coaches and the players in these efforts.
According to the basketball writers at the Sun-Times, however, the Bulls should be playing to lose. To advocate this is immoral. These writers are good at their craft, and Chicago fans would be much better off if they would find some other subject about which to write.
The ultimate culprit, of course, is the system: the NBA draft. Since the existence of the draft encourages immoral writing and decision making, it should be abolished. The NBA should follow the example of the National Women’s Soccer League and eliminate its draft.
Bert Rice, Edgewater
Warm thoughts
If there’s one thing for certain, having lived in the Chicago area for decades, it’s that things never get boring — especially when it comes to the weather.
For example, on March 9, we saw the thermometer exceed 70 degrees, but as the week progressed, we were forced to endure hail, high winds and a snowstorm. Oh, the horror.
It is not magic, and it’s by no means humorous either. It’s simply early spring in the great Midwest. And with the baseball season commencing later this week, Chicagoans are preparing for a cold start to a very promising season.
In the meantime, we would all be wise to think of sunny days at Wrigley Field, suntan lotion, flip-flops and the words we’ve been longing to hear all winter: “Play ball!”
Bob Ory, Elgin