The thing I like about some old sayings is that they hold up. The truth still residing in "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely" can be seen in the mercilessly troll-like face of Dick Cheney. But not every saying holds its weight over the years. For example, "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is a base canard.
The ethnic, Irish-German-Jewish neighborhoods like the one I grew up in 50 years ago are basically no more. Back East there may be a few blocks of Italians, Jews or my fellow micks, but dimes to doughnuts the strain to see and feel the hearty working-class vibe I was raised amongst is killing.
The growth of the suburbs and the shrinking of the unions saw to my old 'hood and many just like it. Things have changed so much that working-class people themselves don't see that's who they are, preferring to call themselves middle class even if they spend every other week between paychecks trundling down to the payday loan places on every corner where taverns used to be.
Also, chivalry, at least where young women and cops are concerned, is a dead duck.
It hasn't been two months since Rebecca Griego was murdered on the campus of the University of Washington by an ex-boyfriend the univer-sity police failed to protect her from, despite her repeated cries for help.
Now an article has surfaced in The Stranger, of all places, detailing the very similar-sounding plight of another young woman who is being stalked by a crazed-seeming ex. Despite begging for help from the U cops, the girl has got nothing from the campus boys and girls in blue.
Worse, if the quotes in The Stranger are accurate, the campus cops are taking the low road in explaining their lack of proactive action.
Assistant Chief Wittmeir is quoted as saying that increased reports of domestic violence "are draining us."
They'd rather direct traffic and cadge doughnuts?
A young female student has been threatened repeatedly and the campus cops feel drained. But have no fear, The Stranger reported that a U-Dub spokesperson, one Norm Arkans, said a "peer [fellow students] escort service should be in place next fall."
Maybe the women being stalked now can just stay inside until September. But in this topdown, yuppicized world we live in here in Paul Allenville, the U-cops are on one special case.
Soon after Grieco's massacre, UW president Mark Emmert, a seven-figure salaryman, began receiving extra security because someone in Colorado, angered by the U's lack of protection for Grieco, sent the prexy an e-mail saying: "Her [Grieco's] blood is on your hands."
Let's review, kiddies.
A man living locally repeatedly threatens a young woman who is a student at our premier university. She gets nothing. But extra cops are assigned to protect the Big Boss from an e-mailer way back in Colorado.
Doesn't take a master's candidate to figure who is buttering Asst. Chief Wittmeir's crew's bread.
AND NOW FOR something completely different.
I am an agnostic. Hard-earned, since I started under the wing of a very Irish Catholic momma.
Atheists and rabid Muslims and Christians crack me up with their certainty. Nobody since Jesus (if he did make it back), not even Harry Houdini, has returned from beyond the pale to tell us what is on the other side. Yet religious folk (note I did not write spiritual folk - a different, much more respected, breed of cat) argue endlessly about whether heaven is full of virgins waiting for suicide bombers, or harpists playing 24/7 in honor of Jesus and His Big Daddy.
That being said, I pray, throwing my requests skyward to Whoever or Whatever might be listening. I figure it can't hurt.
And on occasion, it seems like Somebody up there is listening.
I got a prayer half-answered last week ... although I can't help but notice that homophobic-bigoted, "hurricanes-are-a-punishment-from-God" Pat Robertson is still alive.
But 50 percent is 50 percent, and from here on in to the barn, Robert-son is gonna have to shoulder the burden of keeping an eye on Tele-tubbies and dismissing global warm-ing as "hocus pocus" all by himself.
Thanks for listenin', Creator Spirit.
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