If the shoe fits, throw it

By now, you've probably watched the video of the Iraqi journalist who chucked his shoes at President Bush.

And regardless of your political beliefs, there is one undeniable truth to it.

Human beings have an innate reaction to objects being hurled at them: they duck.

Why is this relevant now?

Because the Bush video made me think of some words of wisdom - and survival - recently offered to area high school students by Northern Illinois University Police Chief Donald Grady.

Grady, one of the first responders for the Feb. 14, 2008 shooting in which Steven Kzmierczak killed five students and wounded 16 before killing himself, offered blunt advice to students if a person ever barged into their class and opened fire.

Save yourself, Grady said over and over.

Run if you can, hide if you are able and fight back as a last resort using any means possible.

One option, Grady said, is to throw a book or a book bag at the shooter. If those items aren't around, try a shoe.

Why?

Because even though the gunman likely will take his own life in the end, his reflex still will be to duck. And that means he's not shooting for that moment or second - which can mean life or death.

So I when Bush ducked when the shoe came his way, I actually thought of Grady's session with high school students.

Grady spoke at Hampshire High School as part of an Advanced Placement English class project, but his words are relevant to students and their parents in Elgin and beyond.

A heck of a lot has changed since I graduated high school and it's a sad commentary on our society that people like Grady have to come out and talk about such evil acts.

But out of all the school activities I covered in my career, this was one of the most thought provoking.

Election season, again?

Just when things cooled down after the Nov. 4 Presidential Election, it's that time again.

Elgin voters on Feb. 24 will be asked to cast their ballots in a primary election for one of six candidates for a two-year city council seat.

After that, the field will be narrowed to four candidates, who will then appear on the April 7 ballot.

This is the way the law is written, but wouldn't it make more sense to narrow the field to two people? That way, at least the winner will receive a majority of votes.

The race for one of three full, 4-year terms is even more cumbersome. There won't be a primary for the 11 candidates, but if 13 or more filed, a primary would be held to reduce the field to 12 candidates.

So, let's get this straight: if 13 people filed, a primary would be scheduled and advertised, polling places designated, election judges paid and electronic ballots cast across the city to eliminate just one person?

Seems like a lot of effort to produce a ballot in which a candidate could conceivably garner less than 9 percent of the vote and win.