This article covers a range of topics, from the challenges of being a youth sports official to the Turkish government’s human rights abuses and the renaming of military bases. The author begins by discussing the difficulties faced by Little League umpires and other youth sports officials due to the abusive behavior of parents and spectators. The author then shares a news report about a youth baseball league that sentences fans who mistreat umpires to do the job themselves, which the author applauds as a good idea.
The article then shifts to the topic of the Turkish government’s Office for Human Abductions and Executions, which kidnaps Turkish critics in exile and forces them to face imprisonment or death. The author notes that Turkey remains the largest jailer of journalists in the world, yet the regime is allowed to get away with a lot. The author also highlights the close relationship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who have teamed up to block Sweden’s NATO bid.
Next, the author discusses UNESCO and the United States’ membership in the organization, which has been a contentious issue over the years. The author shares a humorous story told by Bernard Lewis about Israel’s suspension from UNESCO and argues that taking Confederate generals’ names off U.S. military bases is not political correctness but rather a morally sound decision.
The article concludes with some photographs of Chicago landmarks and a garbage can with a message endorsing recycling. The author encourages readers to sign up for Impromptus by email to receive links to new columns.
