You can raise our taxes, our parking meter fares, our gas prices -- but you can't raze our parade!
Mark my fiery Kaegan words: The city of Chicago will see two Irish parades in 2010. And a few unruly hooligans shouldn't have the ability to scare away this proud tradition.
We, as a community, should fight back. Perhaps what we need is a trio of saintly vigilantes to partake in a neighborhood watch during the parade. Or maybe a Blackwater helicopter could patrol over hot zones. Who knows?
But I suppose it is easier for some to throw the baby out with the green bath water:
Planners pull plug South Side Irish Parade.
If nothing else, we must remember the dying words of Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins:
"Never cancel a parade!"
And for those who missed the SSI event for the past 31 years, you can at least enjoy this video of the March 15 celebration:
Herald News staffer Brian Delaney reportedly works behind the
scenes as a page designer/copy editor and is a delegate for The Newspaper
Guild. He is a graduate of NIU and holds a yellow belt in Korean martial
arts. When Delaney is not cutting invasive brush at Midewin or crashing his
mountain bike in Chicago, the self-described "billionaire playboy" uses his
uncanny Photoshop abilities to entertain a worldwide audience.
Brian,
Welcome back to the Blog. I am with you in getting our parade back. Let me know what needs to be done.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I will need all the help I can get from noble residents and civic leaders. Together, we can restore pride in the South Side. As a token of my appreciation, I will see that you are elected in April. A little blog payola never hurt anyone.
BD