Stephen Chapman, after his recent commentary ”Why are Chicagoans so rude?” ought to be lynched, a solution he himself suggested in his ridiculous sermon on how great Texans are compared with the ”boors” in Chicago. If he truly believes that people with bad manners ”would be socially ostracized, and probably lynched” in Texas, I suggest he return there–permanently–to witness the hangings.
It is extremely unsettling to readers of what used to be the very good Chicago Tribune to read Chapman`s irate and foolish ramblings about the good life he left elsewhere to make his fortune in boorish Chicago. Why doesn`t he leave? He certainly contributes little that is useful in the editorial department.
As a resident of Chicago`s South Side, I have seen daily courtesies, a few unsavory incidents and a caring for people, black-on-white, white-on-black and all the mixtures in between. I take cabs at least five times a week, and have met no discourtesies (a few language problems, however). I have seen people apologize to dogs when they bump into them, blind people are seldom in need of a friendly arm for busy intersections and bus drivers have done things far beyond what they have to.
I have traveled to Texas and never have had strangers say hello on the street. In Chicago it has happened often. If one develops a mindset against a city, everything bad registers and nothing good breaks through. Perhaps Stephen Chapman should go where his mindset wants to go. And take his faulty journalism with him.
