Opinion Paper: Comm 337

Basing your opinions on the facts is the most significant piece of advice taken from this story. Mary Schmich did an awesome job collecting tons of facts to create an angle for this dramatic and heartbreaking story. The article clearly states her opinion in the last statement.  Schmich says, “But what happened to the Harrises should not have happened, not this way. To banish a family from its longtime home, so abruptly, without mercy and without help and with no proof of great crime, is simply wrong. It divides a divided city even more. Chicago is better than that.” Although a proper journalist is not supposed to mix feelings with work, I think this works well. She plainly incorporated her opinion in the last couple of sentences yet it was not openly reflected throughout the article.

This is a very interesting article choice. This entire situation is absurd. The article is extremely well written and captures real life moments from Mr. Harris and his family. As I began to read the article, the tone was set once I read the statement “Mr. Harris, standing in the middle of the house that he bought 41 years ago, that has lodged his large family through the neighborhood's gentrification, kept thinking: All you had to do was knock.” Forty cops showed up, barged in with guns and smoke bombs, and destroyed the house because of accusations from neighbors who just wanted to buy the land their house set upon. In the article, Mr. Harris stated, “Houses weren't just real estate. They were homes.” He was talking about the past when he and his family moved in some 40 years ago. You could feel the heartache through the written word.

Schmich collected a quote regarding the incident.  It stated, “This is an excellent example of the police and citizens working together." This statement implies that the working together was positive.  Well, I’m not quite sure that the gathering of 40 cops to destroy a house with smoke bombs without evidence can be described as a positive act of citizens working together.  I believe it was a waste of state money to “attack” citizens solely based on a rumor from dreadful neighbors. And, the article confirms that there was no evidence to support the neighbors’ accusations. The article specifically states, “No drugs, No guns, No dog fighting.”

As Schmich pieces together this story fact by fact, she discovers that not all neighbors believed this nonsense as truth.  Wendi Taylor Nations, one of the neighbors, says, "I've petted a couple of those pit bulls, who is active in animal-rescue causes and whose front window looks out on the tot lot and the Harris homes. I've never seen abuse, had there been, I would have been ahead of the police. We're just heartbroken for them." Another neighbor, Chris Swindells, states, "They're good people, I'm just so sad."  I’d like to know why an investigation didn’t take place before the police took action.  It is sad to me as well.

Fortunately, the mentality in Chicago is changing. The article depicts the stages of change.  It states, “What you've got is a different way of life, an old Southern way, or the old South Side of Chicago way. Now it's surrounded by the new way of life. It's a real collision of cultures." The unfortunate part is that families like Mr. Harris’ have to deal with the humiliation until the government morphs into a better organization. The article says it well, “no amount of money will erase the humiliation they went through.” Forcing a family out of their home is just absurd! They should have the right to stay and not be pressured by their awful neighbors and useless government. As Schmich said before, “Chicago is better than that!” Mr. Harris humbly revealed, “Sometimes, you just have to move on.” He is a very wise, 80 old man who has been treated with utter disrespect!

In Tim Harrower’s tips on how to write an editorial, he gives seven tips that work.  Keep it tight, keep it relevant, take a stand, attack issues and not personalities, don’t be a bully, control your anger, and write a strong lead with a solid finish. Schmich followed these ideas in a way. She kept it “tight.” While the article was a tad long, it was right to the point with short quick paragraphs. It was very relevant to the Chicago area. She defiantly took a stand by reporting this article and giving her opinion tagged to the end. Issues were discussed and personalities were displayed for characteristics; however, they were not attacked. Schmich was in no way being a bully in any ounce of what she wrote. She controlled her anger; she set her personal feelings aside and told a story based on researched facts. She wrote a strong lead and finished solid with her opinion.

            Don Murray is an inventive writer. I believe he would categorize Schmich’s writing as a form of craftsmanship. She put together an epic story using real facts and characters that defined her finished piece.  She followed each step in making sure her piece was successfully stitched together for the final outcome. Schmich used a different angle with this story as she unfolded four different sides of the story. She started with the Harris family, preceded to how the neighbors responded, entered into the police point of view, and finally, ended with her own opinion. There, definitely, was an issue that was handled in a wrong manner. When articles like these are published, it helps the public to see how the government is addressing issues.  It also allows the public to work towards changing policies for the better.  In addition, it gives the organization with the issue to take a look into their business practices and decide whether or not revisions need to be made.  In this case, the police department was the guilty party.  To diminish public humiliation, they can choose to take a look at their investigative practices and make a conscience decision to change for the better.  Once revisions are in place, they can publish another article informing the city of the changes in hopes of rebuilding their reputation.  All parties involved would benefit from the publication of Schmich’s article.  In a perfect world, all parties would agree that the publication is a benefit.