Protesting… the Sears Tower?

July 17th, 2009

Did you know that 13% of human deaths are caused by cancer?

Or that 33.2 million people worldwide are living with HIV and any chance of a cure or vaccine is still many, many years away?

How about the fact that some 200 million people in Africa are malnourished?

And get this… 18 people were murdered in Chicago in the one-week period between June 29 and July 6.

Why is it then that there is a website devoted to stopping Willis Group from renaming the Sears Tower? This is almost as mind-boggling as the people who have picketed Macy’s for renaming Marshall Field’s. Folks – it’s a building. A well-known, iconic building, sure, but still just a building. There are bigger fish to fry here.

If you want to stay local, how about picketing City Hall for allowing that LAZ Parking takeover of Chicago’s parking meter system to go through. Or actually making some noise about the large number of other corrupt actions our government has taken. You could sign a petition or call your senator and encourage them to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Protection Act, otherwise known as the Matthew Shepard Act, without any amendments. There are so many worthy causes that would make a real difference.

But people are taking action to stop a deal that has brought a large tenant to a very vacant Chicago landmark because it involves changing the name. Personally, I’m ready and willing to sacrifice the sign outside the Sears/Willis Tower in exchange for a business deal that will help boost our local economy.

Tags: aids, cancer, chicago, corruption, hunger, llehcpa, matthew shepard, murder, really, sears tower, stupid people, willis tower, wtf

Posted in: Journal

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Art

I strongly support the boycott of Macy’s for renaming Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields has more to do with the identity of Chicago, and having something of our very own that was world renown. I haven’t shopped at a Macy’s since that happened.

Sears Tower I’m not so concerned with.
http://www.thatdorkjordan.com Jordan

I really think people, architecture, art, and history has more to do with Chicago’s identity than the name on the side of a department store. For that matter, the name Marshall Field’s is still there on the building’s exterior.

I understand the sentimental value of things like that. But I’d like to see anyone argue that protesting and boycotting the name change of a building or business is somehow more valuable than spending that same effort on something that might save lives, improve the education system, feed the hungry, get our budget under control…
Cara

Very well said, Jordan. I was going to bring up the Macy’s/Marshall Field’s thing too. I remember a few years back when it was more recent, there were ACTUALLY people outside Macy’s picketing/handing out info… and my reaction was very similar to yours. Yes, I miss Marshall Field’s too, but I could not believe people were spending their time on the street for something so unimportant in the longterm, ya know?
Thain

I still want to know what they did with Roebuck. I wonder if he’s in a vent shaft somewhere in the tower.