This mighty Casey doesn’t strike out in visit to alma mater

Let’s Be More Like George W. Bush. Seriously.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman

Demagoguery has always flourished during times of national unease. And so it is not surprising that while Americans grapple with the consequences of war and recession, media personalities and future presidential hopefuls are preying on their fears.

For the past several weeks, talk radio and cable news has been abuzz with the controversy regarding the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan, not far from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people and destroyed the World Trade Center.

Because of the hyperbole with which this topic has been discussed in the media, it is understandable—though regrettable—that many Americans have a negative reaction to the proposal. It is extremely unfortunate, however, that some of our would-be leaders are using this moment to fan the flames of division and intolerance.

The question of whether Muslims in New York have the right to build an Islamic Center near Ground Zero isn’t really a question at all: Of course they do; this is America. Religious freedom is one of the foundations upon which this nation was built. Every American has the right to worship how and where they see fit.

This principle, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, is one of many that make me proud to be an American. But others apparently think it should be revisited. For example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently suggested that when it comes to religious freedom, America should follow the lead of Saudi Arabia.

“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich is clearly hoping to ride this issue all the way to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, though I don’t know that suggesting that America take its cues from an Islamic theocracy is the best strategy.

Not all opponents of the New York mosque are making as radical a case as the former House speaker. Some have acknowledged that Muslims have the right to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, but say they should have the decency to refrain from exercising that right because of the attacks of nine years ago.

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This mighty Casey doesn’t strike out in visit to alma mater

By Felix Hoover

For Your News Columbus

Oct. 08, 2010

Photo by Terry Gilliam

For most people, capturing the attention of middle school students would be as challenging as catching touchdown passes in the National Football League.

Bernie Casey, who played receiver for six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and two with the Los Angeles Rams, held the attention of members of the 400 Club at Champion Middle School. He’s in the school’s Hall of Fame, having attended the old Champion Jr. High School en route to East High (Class of Jan. ‘57), Bowling Green State University and the NFL.

Casey’s appearance on Friday, Oct. 8, conjured images of the Champion that once boasted a faculty whose members had more advanced degrees than most, if not all, other schools in the district.

Hands sailed high when Casey asked how many of the students expect to attend college.

Casey didn’t talk down to the students, but rather engaged them with challenging vocabulary. Just to make sure they were keeping up with him, he asked students to define certain words.

Casey encouraged the youngsters to plan for the future, being mindful that interests and circumstances change. Learning to read and speak well are two of the basics for self-determination.

Talent and intelligence alone don’t translate into success, Cased said. Even more important, he said, is perseverance.

Casey persevered in developing many talents besides athletics. He has acted in wide range of film and television productions, including the original Brian’s. Song. in which he played J.C. Caroline. The real Caroline has suggested that he and his Chicago Bears teammates room together by playing position, an important step in racial desegregation in the 1960s.

Even though Casey received no encouragement for his artwork until he was in college, he has established himself as a painter. He has served as board chairman of Savannah College of Art and Design

Casey was in town as one of this year’s honorees at the King Arts Complex’s Legends & Legacies ceremony. The others were actor Hal Williams and poet and author Maya Angelou.

Williams spoke to students at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center while Casey was talking to those at Champion.