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.