Burt could stand to lighten up a little
Perhaps the answer to Burt Constable's question of "the value of kids missing school for McDonald's" is they can grow up to be a cynical cheap-shot editorialist for a suburban newspaper. What's the problem. Burt, afraid to take on the war on terror? Did Burt get the short straw and have to get up too early for a newspaper guy?
I am not a McDonald's fan and in fact usually hate their urban advertising. I have no school age children, don't work for McDonald's, Fox etc. I do believe the promotional gesture of Fox and the remodeled store in Arlington Heights did show a very good sense of community -- advertising or not. I'll bet it wasn't the only advertising money spent by McDonald's this week.
Reading Burt's column online, I waded through ads for Careers Concept, Reflejos, Beepcentral.com, U.S. Army Field band, Arbors of Barrington and Advocate General. I guess the "blurring" of those lines wouldn't matter to Burt. Those blurs pay his salary.
The kids from Hersey got to be on Fox and eat McDonald's. I don't care if it was a teaching moment, exploitation or respite from the carnage of "TV news." It was a moment that they will remember and their friends and family will remember. Not anything else. Please someone send Burt a Happy meal!
J. Kevin O'Donnell
Arlington Heights