HP_022218

hplandmark.com sound off
the highland park landmark | February 22, 2018 | 15
Social snapshot
Top stories:
From hplandmark.com as of Monday,
Feb. 19
1. Police Reports: Highland Park hit and run
results in arrest
2. Boys Hockey: Giants’ face tough Carmel
in postseason play
3. ‘Heathers, The Musical’ addresses real
world high school bullying
4. Boys Basketball: Giants hold Warriors at
bay in home win
5. Nachos include all the fixings along the
North Shore
Become a member: hplandmark.com/plus
On Thursday, Feb. 15, The City of Highland
Park posted this photo with the caption,
“Our hearts are with those affected
by the senseless shooting in Parkland, FL.
We have lowered our flags as we stand in
solidarity and honor the lives lost.”
Like The Highland Park Landmark: facebook.com/hplandmark
On Friday, Feb. 16, 58th District Rep. Scott
Drury tweeted, “Mike Madigan and the
political machine have come at me with
everything they’ve got – and lost. It’s time
for Madigan to act graciously in defeat,
and focus on real issues like the sexual
harassment scandal roiling his political
organization. #twill scottdrury.org/story/
drury-wi…”
Follow The Highland Park Landmark: @hparklandmark
go figure
14
An intriguing number from this week’s edition
The number of days it
took Scott Drury to be
put back on the Illinois
primary ballot, read
about it on Page 3.
from the editor
Support the local arts
Xavier Ward
xavier@hplandmark.com
One thing that was
often uttered
among musicians
I hung around during
college was “the scene is
mighty.”
They were often referring
to the local music
scene in a certain location,
but the “scene” is mighty
no matter where it’s
located.
The reason places such
as Chicago have such a
great reputation for music
is not simply because
good music exists there,
but because of community
support. Every great
music scene that existed
in any one place did so because
of the support it got
from the community.
Generally, these scenes
refer to counterculture efforts
such as rock and roll,
punk, soul and so on.
However, in Highwood,
the Midwest Young Artists
Conservatory helps bolster
local musicians and put
them on the path to success.
“We currently serve
one thousand students in
74 Chicago area communities.
All of the
money raised at Jazzed
Up Dining and Classical
Letters to the EdiTor
A call to end glorification
of guns
Those who blame the
problem of mass shootings
and gun violence on the
NRA highlight an enormous
problem, but also
oversimplify the problem.
The NRA’s stranglehold
on Congress and state legislatures
has blocked the
most common sense legislation
which would make
it harder for people to gain
access to guns. But if we
really want to get serious
about guns, let’s be honest
that is just part of the
solution.
First, let’s stop glorifying
guns. Let’s stop flocking
to the movie theatre to
see the latest “blow ‘em
up” hit. Let’s reject video
games where you win by
shooting, hurting and killing.
Let’s stop buying albums
and giving awards
to music artists who glorify
the use of guns. Let’s
stop including guns with
kids’ toys. I mean, does
the LEGO Duplo Batmobile
for kids ages 2-5 really
need to shoot a plastic
bullet? Let’s explain to
our kids why pretending
the spatula or pen (or anything
else laying around
the house) is a gun is not
acceptable. And let’s
reject those whose apathy
is rooted in the belief
that guns are OK because
they’re just part of the culture
of a neighborhood or
region.
As we all look for ways
to respond to what keeps
happening in our schools
and on our streets, these
are immediate things we
can all do in our homes
Cocktails will be given to
talented students admitted
to our program if they
cannot afford the tuition.
Many of our students are
from our own communities,”
Founder Allan Dennis
told The Landmark.
These kind of local
resources are not available
in every community.
Additionally, it affords
musical opportunities to
kids whose communities
may not have those opportunities.
There’s an attitude that
only popular music is
worth consuming, and
that’s simply not true.
It does take a little bit
of work to seek out new
music, but you find some
really great stuff doing so.
This doesn’t only apply
to local music programs,
and with our children —
today.
Simultaneously, we need
to demand our elected officials
pass laws that make it
harder for people get a gun
and get to the root of gun
violence. This includes 1.
increased funding - multifold
- to identify and help
treat those with mental illnesses,
while not unfairly
stigmatizing them; and 2.
developing real economic
development solutions to
create jobs and opportunity
in neighborhoods overrun
by guns and violence.
Gun violence is a complex
issue — and contrary
to the rhetoric from all political
perspectives, there
is, unfortunately, no single
cure-all solution.
David Goldenberg,
Highland Park
but it’s a great place to
start.
Popular music doesn’t
start popular. It becomes
that way after exposure.
That doesn’t just go for
music.
Local artisans create
great stuff you could use
to decorate your house or
furnish a space.
Sure, the price tag with
consuming local arts my
come at a bit of a price,
but you’re helping area
residents put food on the
table.
So look around at local
organizations and see
what’s out there.
Sure, it’s not necessarily
a “scene” in the way that
many of the popular music
or arts movements are,
but it is local arts, and it’s
worth checking out.
The Highland
Park Landmark
Sound Off Policy
Editorials and columns are the
opinions of the author. Pieces
from 22nd Century Media are
the thoughts of the company
as a whole. The Highland Park
Landmark encourages readers
to write letters to Sound Off.
All letters must be signed, and
names and hometowns will
be published. We also ask that
writers include their address and
phone number for verification,
not publication. Letters should
be limited to 400 words. The
Highland Park Landmark reserves
the right to edit letters. Letters
become property of The Highland
Park Landmark. Letters that
are published do not reflect
the thoughts and views of The
Highland Park Landmark. Letters
can be mailed to: The Highland
Park Landmark, 60 Revere Drive
St. 888, Northbrook, IL, 60062.
Fax letters to (847) 272-4648
or email to xavier@hplandmark.
com.