The Rock Island Argus from Moline, Illinois • 4

nr A4 HOCK SUM) MQUS WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER ft. 1996 OPINION Service clubs work wonders THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS1 G0raUi.T10r.EMrMAMr Hjgii d0ra Mumy W. Hatch. EMona Pp EdNor Ln N.

SmM. Charnun A mantar of Si SmiM Nawtpaa Group fine job keeping abreast or the bridge crisis. Maybe they would be interested in buying some peanuts at the next meeting. Getting involved can have an exciting side, too Augustanas annuil 'production ofOie entire Messiah11-is one of the few in tha world, and it to one of the best reasons fer people to come visit I have been In the audience every year since 1 became a Quad-Citlan. and every year it makes my eyes all wet Handd was an extremely gifted guy, and his "Messiah to a completely bntastic piece of music.

This year I have managed to sneak into the choir rehearsals. If the conductor doesnt read this column, I may manage to sneak into the performances, too. if you go this year you should, since you dont have anything bet-ter to do in December than plav pinochle with relatives you could take or leave look for the sobbing guy in the bass section. Youll know if I managed to sneak in. You may have figured out how to make the Q-C better for all of us while maintaining your cod exterior.

(If so. you might be decent enough to give the rest of us some tips.) You really can make the Q-c better than It to. and you can do it without giving up too much time Service clubs like the Kiwanis generally only ask you to show up fer lunch once a week or so and voinn teer about 10 hours a year. Most any activity you become involved In can take as much or as little time as you can spare. Although there to always the danger that you will find yourself chewing a huge bite.

Care to buy a box of peanuts? They're a mighty tasty mouthful. GUEST COLUMNIST HECTOR LAREAU America," said the Fledge of Allegiance, joined together in prayer, donated a dollar for the chance to share a little news and heard the weekly report from yours truly on the status of the Peanut Days event I may never give the final report Peanut Days la the emblematic ftuidraiaer for Kiwania dubs all over the universe. The idea is that some guy who didn't ibow up at the meeting geta saddled with the Job of Peanut Day Supreme Dictator. He orders several quintillion cases of Kiwanis peanuts. Then the Peanut Kid calls aU the members of the dub and signs them up to stand in front of stores to hand out peanuts and receive money from kind-hearted people.

If everything goes according to the Peanut Monarch's Handbook, two things should have transpired at the end of a coude of long days (spent filling in for the club members who were late or couldn't show up, dropping off peanuts to the ones who did show up, and picking up money). First, the kind people should have given enough money to cover cost of the peanuts and leave some left over for the worthy erases. Second, the peanuts should have been given away. AU of them. A Peanut Czar who cant get rid of the nuts is a disgrace.

Each week he has to stand up in front of the dub and teU the members that there are PLENTY OF PEANUTS still available. Then he has to ask them to dig out S2S for a whole box Nteutoiwotntwta IgKMfcft surraacF CMAPMSKWWNCe BMM softy AfTSTHC WWEIWSE gewe AB itpmmer- i iLSmOLfmidcni Danas S. Sawn. VtoftMNtont By Jim Berry EDITORIALS Air bags can be a killer Inflatable safety devices, better known as air bags, were first introduced in this country in 1988. The installation of the air bags in vehicles came after consumer advocate Ralph Nader following 19 years of controversy finally convinced the federal government the inflatable safety devices would save countless lives and prevent serious injuries in accidents.

Mr. Nader deserves credit for being absolutely correct in his prediction; statistics show that since 1990, when air bags were required to be installed in all new models, the number of deaths and serious injuries have declined dra- matically in all 50 states. Recently, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration came out with an air bag report which paints a totally different picture concerning the inflatable safety devices. Heres the crux of the NHTSA report: passenger-side air bags can injure or kill children. The NHTSA estimates that at least 28 children have been killed by air bags since 1993, many in fender-benders that should have harmed no one.

In addition, another 18 adults have been killed and most of them were as short as children. Warnings about air bags and children emerged last year, after some deaths of babies strapped into rearfacing car seats. The next wave of reports suggested that any kids not properly harnessed into seat belts were at risk: Finally, this fall, word spread about deaths even of children properly belted into front seats. The best way to prevent a child 12 years old or under from sustaining serious injury or death due to a crash? Have them sit in the back seat. The NHTSA has been urged to require warning labels in vehicles, telling parents to do Just that We support such a requirement We also support proposed studies which would look at reducing the speed at which the bags inflate, increasing the crash speed that triggers inflation, ami providing a turnoff switch for the passenger-side bag.

We are convinced that air bags make a difference. But we dont want to see young children seriously injured or killed because of them. It took regulatory action to get air bags installed in vehicles in the first place. If it takes federal leadership to help curb such danger to children, so be it Peace process sabotaged AftwtdaMaM. Olio, Nomqr (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahus gov-.

eminent has sabotaged the peace process. The Palestinian's cause is gaining ever broader international sympathy. The Arab world is united behind the peace process' that started in European sympathy (Palestinian leader Yasser) Arafat increases with its irritation over the Netanyahu government's unwillingness to abide by internationally guaranteed agreements. Vir-Y -1 The USA and Israel must understand that Europe stands firm on the Oslo process. There is no other way to peace in the Middle East vj' And the first step is for Israel to cany out the agreed 3 withdrawal of troops from Hebron.

of nuts (thats only 2Snti per bag. folksfk That doesnt work too well. My fellow Kiwaniant scatter in aU directions when they see me coming. I have become the Peanut Parish. So I recently unleashed the Uti- mate Threat IT we can! lellttier mainlhg outs, have to stand out in front of those grocery stores and junkf again ml tht weather Is getting cold I'm working on next week's Ultimate Threat There are still a few boxes of peanuts left My grave probably will be back-filled with official Kiwanis peanuts.

The nnnni Quad City Chamber of Commerce has been tougher to get involved in, and that is reaUy too bad. The chamber seems like a great institution to help make the My fallow Klwanlans scatter In all dire-tlons whan thsy aaa ma coming. I hava bscoma tha Psanut Pariah. QC as good as it should be. Its community agenda for the coming year Includes laudable items like: Make this area the best place to live and work; improve local education for everyone; and improve the transportation infrastructure.

Not too long ago, 1 signed up to serve on the transportation committee. It sounded great: I care about transportation issues, and they only meet a few times a year, so I wouldn't have to invest too much time. I have only attended one meeting. I always have to be in court on the other aide of tme state or the other whenever the committee meets. Im sure the members are all doing a MAM'S scram nr mtt FHtST FIRST Ttnoo achieve fruition.

1 wish I could go without paying my bills that long. Where is the commemorative booklet, naming me us participant I wu promised? Where to the definitive economic development plan? Where is the accounting statement of the Independent accounting firm, earnestly promised, for the over $1 million collected, in a way reminiscent of an old feshfoned tent revival? How can we be held to our promises when the promise-keepers fail so miserably? I am guilty of making promises welL However, I did return to the Quad-Cities along with my fellow Million Man Marchers and we at least are still keeping the spirit of the promised "revolution" alive. The real leaders of those involved in the Million Man March were the attendees, not the organizers. We are the ones who have been fighting the right fight Granted, it wu refreshing to see so many of my own kind in thought, spirit, and concerns attend the 1995 evenL All of those in my sphere of contact are still doing what they now best not settling for the status Hie tree kwyentf thr-pledgeswemade. uO.ttPHR Perhaps the "honorable minis-.

ter may use his damage control people to point outthe United States of America has no true viable Interest in the well being of African-Americans. They may propagate this myth by die government not allowing Farrakan to receive a S2SO.OOO "gift" for his humanitarian efforts by Libyan Mranmar GadaiyL Nor would the government allow Far-nkan to collect on the billion Gadafyi offered. (Ostensibly to better the plight of the black man in America). I thought the goals of the March were to do just that? I for one am tired of false hope and broken promises from the promise breakers and demagogues, who would set themselves up as demigods. So, while I sit atop the new home 1 for many African-Americans and others, for the next day, week, month, years and generations to come, one thought still reverberates hmysouL: The revolution shall stay alive, and we human beings shall rise.

John A. Canon, Rock Wand Membership helps to get involved in Q-C community "Get Involved." That was the commandment from one of the senior attorneys at the firm. Senior lawyers (we'll call this one Eric Schwarz, because that's his name) call direct orders like that one "suggestions for Improvement" Eric knew that he was telling me. the young pup at the firm, to give up some of my precious personal time. I was a bit grouchy.

Like almost everyone else I know, 1 don't have a surplus of time. And Eric suggested" that 1 get involved in (ACK!) a service dub and (ARCH!) the chamber of commerce. Service clubs seemed kind of dull when I first saw them in high school. And chambers of commerce seemed pretty stem and. well, businesslike.

But I have Joined a service dub, tried to participate in the dumber, and I've even decided to sing along with Handel. The time required isn't much, all things considered. And I've actually enjoyed getting involved, even though I am now in charge of enough peanuts to feed Kathy Sh-Boom for a month. The Rock Island Noon Kiwanis Club signed me up a couple of years ago, and the club's good works give me reason to remain a member. During this last fiscal year, our club of roughly 80 members raised and gave away over S20400 to same very worthy causes.

More than 75 percent of that money stayed right here in the community: the Quad-Cities will be a better place because of the did). Most of my fellow Kiwsnlans would probably agree that we take the hokey cake. But we wont eat it until we have sung the first vena of Illinois deliberately ersatss health hazard Dear Editor, The Argus: The following is an open letter to Gov. James Edgar As I understand it, whereas Canada Geese, even those surreptitiously referred to as resident." are protected under the Migratory Bird Tteaty Act of 1918, the State of Illinois is required to obtain a permit from the United States FUh and Wildlife Service to control" (Le. mercilessly slaughter) allegedly "Injurious" flocks of "resi-dents" (sic) Canada Geese.

It is further my understanding that, in order to do this, the geese in question must be shown, and presumably proven, to pose a threat to property andor public safety (i.e. constitute a public health hazard.) The problem with this already rather macabre concept to, it. would 4 appear that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is responsible for deliberately creating the very threat to property andor public safety (public health hazard) that la ostensibly in need of control; to wit An Investigation conducted by TIi2TYOle2irCIRkifl MAff pursuant to my efforts to sa a flock of Canada Geese at tyre Lake. Sherrard. has revealed that, at numerous sites throughout the State of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to actively engaged in propagating Canada Geese fer the purpose of increasing their -numbers to the point where they will pose a threat to property andor the public safety (public health hazard), in order to obtain the revenues derived from the sub-sequent "control" of said alleged public health hazard via the process of sport hunting.

They even go so fiur as to plant agricultural crops indigenous to the State of Blinoto and leaving them in the fields as food for their hapless victims. (Le The Illinois Department of Natural Re- sources to turning the State of Bli-nois Into one gigantic "baited Excuse me. governor, but if it isn't already illegal to deliberately create a public health hazard for flui andor profit, then it certainly should be. Think about it governor! It doesn't take a genius to figure out that, iC in feet, Increased numbers of Canada Geese are to be consid- -ered a threat to property andcr the public safety (Le. a public health PEOPLES PULPIT ct Rock Island Is Quad Cities attorney.

FUST CHIP- Help sought In teaming about local composers Dear Editor, The Argus: Two East Coast authors are working on a book they describe "a ragtime book Including many of the composers who have never been re-Searched before to make every area of the U.S. aware of its ragtime heritage. Those authors have asked us, ragtime bulb, to research two Moline composers of rag tunes: 1. FLiyd V. Swanson, who composed That Nekorna Rag" published in March 1914.

(The Moline City Directory of 1914 lists hto ad- dress as 419 4th AveJt and 2. E. Philip Severin who com- posed "Jungle Time" published to February 1902 and "Sky Rockets" published in June 191L (The Moliiv City Director of 1910 lists the addresses of Eric P. Severin at 1307 5th Ave and 1140 5th Ave. The 1907-08 directory lists an Eric P.

musician, at 1129 4th AveJ Our investigation, thus liar, has J)emunahle to discover a htrthrr death date for either of these gemie-men, so we have no target dates ta turn to in historic newspaper records. Records at the county cleik's office provided no insights, so we are hoping this letter will catch the at-tention of surviving family mem-bers or old fiends of Floyd V. Swanson and E. Philip Severin who can shed some light on their lives. Please call us at 797-4634 if you have information.

Let's hope we can give these the celebrity they probably didn't get for their artistry during their Doris Batzsr, DickBatzor, rr Moline Litters to tht editor from readers welcome Letters to the editor should be addressed to Murray W.Hancks. editorial page editor. The Rock Island 'Argus, 1724 4th Rock Island. 1L.6120L Letters can also be fexed to 309- -786-7639. fiERRYWORQf hazard), then the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (fondly referred to around here as Illinois' "Ministry of Death) should not be actively engaged In foe propagation of that particular species.

'Nuff said? Incidentally, If you think this situation is Just going to go away, you might want to crank up your gubernatorial WebBrowser and check out Promlgemakere don't. keep their promlso i Dear Editor, The Argus While sitting atop of a prison, (The Newton Correctional Facility, Newton kma) on the eve of the first anniversary of the Million Man March, held last year on OcL 16, in Washington. D.C a thought came to me. Are African-Americans any bet-, ter off since the march? Looking at the soon to be completed 750 bed fa-itjr, ean only see newer pens. Were we cattle, then this wouM be an Improvement Betferr- newer and cleaner pens.

Black on' black crime has showed no abate- ment although recent government statistics show a significant drop in We are still killing our lathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. We too, are burning down our churches. A line from the pledge we took, cranes to mind 1 will love my brother is I love myselt" This takes on a sense of surrealism, when, right here In our own backyards, blacks and whites still engage the mindless pursuit of unhappiness and the hick of freedom. The honorable? Minister Louis Farrakan recently took it upon himself to take the erklit for the drop in crime, via the Million Man March -and the pledge that was taken. Such unmitigated gall! If crime is down significantly, I don't see It, do you? Speaking of pledge-makers, the "honorable?" Minister Famkan promised those of us who attended and watched the march a foil accounting of all of the fluids collected when an offering was asked far.

As of now, one year later, 1 still have yet to see any of hto promises nowuii THURSDAY: SCANDALS AND THE FBI LJ J..