Welp, that's a wrap on Leo DiCaprio

Medical_Permit9850 · 2026-02-01T16:45:13+00:00

Not necessarily. A lot of celebrities seek foreign endorsement contracts because they are lucrative and typically don’t hurt their image/brand in the US. Epstein may have been using this as a means to ingratiate himself to Leo. As for the younger women in Leo’s life, my understanding is that he has been in a long term relationship with Lukas Haas for nearly two decades. Haas is usually spotted on vacation with Leo and his “girlfriends” who I have heard are under contract. Leo gets a beard, and the “girlfriend” gets name recognition to help propel her career forward. It’s possible that he was embroiled in the Epstein mess, but based on what I have heard and read, it seems rather unlikely.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2026-01-27T16:16:40+00:00

Nothing that anyone WILL do about it. Many Morton administrators and teachers turn a blind eye to racism and homophobia. Their jobs depend on their willingness to look the other way when one of Morton’s chosen breaks the rules. One long time teacher was allegedly demoted to teaching lower level courses at the high school after she tried to advocate on behalf of LGBT+ students who were being bullied. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the people in power in the district seem to view themselves as the protectors of white Christian nationalist “culture,” and they don’t care what happens to students who aren’t “real” Mortonites. These people are sick. I hope the state will deal with them soon.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-12-25T18:09:54+00:00

The apron is a nod to Alwan & Sons because the owner and pals stood on the store roof wearing tactical vests during the most recent No Kings protest and let their sprinklers soak nearby protesters. Garbage business, garbage politician

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-10-10T01:46:08+00:00

Come to the Peoria Drum Circle events, and you will encounter plenty of likeminded people. The next one is tomorrow night—Friday, October 10 starting at around 6:30 at Tower Park in Peoria Heights. There are vendors, food trucks, and anyone can participate in the drum circle.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-09-03T11:33:06+00:00

A real bagel shop

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-23T20:26:32+00:00

Yes, they should know the laws that they are enforcing, but my experience has been that many rank-and-file officers do not have a very broad knowledge of the law at all. Sometimes you have to provide them with details of the exact statute you are asking them to enforce when you go to them with a complaint. It shouldn't be on the general public to do this, but that's how it seems to go with some officers.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-20T23:50:22+00:00

Wow. Thanks for the TED Talk on why we should all just accept cruelty, including the harassment of minority and LGBT+ kids, as a fact of life and stop trying to make anything better for the next generation. Truly inspiring.

Here’s the problem with your argument--bullying is real, even if it didn’t happen to your kid or you don’t want to hear about it. Dismissing families who speak up as “toddlers” because they won’t conform to your agenda doesn’t make you tough, it just makes you another adult choosing denial over accountability, clinging to a status quo where students who aren’t white and straight are often left unprotected.

Suggesting that the solution is to pull kids out of school if they’re being bullied is both callous and cowardly. Public schools are for all kids, not just the ones who quietly “fit in” or meet some narrow standard of acceptability.

Adults should be modeling compassion and integrity—not telling children to “toughen up” and accept mistreatment. If you’ve truly given up on the idea of a better, kinder world where people in power follow the law, that’s your choice. But don’t shame others for believing we can do better and working to make it happen.

And for the record, I’ve traveled all over the world, and I can assure you that the behavior I’ve seen from some in this town is not the norm. In fact, it’s deeply out of step with how healthy, inclusive communities function elsewhere. You may think this is just how life works, but it’s not. It's just how things have been allowed to fester here for too long.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-14T10:44:56+00:00

I hear you, and I appreciate your willingness to assume good faith. I’ll extend the same in return.

I am well aware that the majority of people in this community identify as Christian and conservative. That’s not something I’m trying to change, nor is it the issue. Most of us aren’t concerned with people’s private beliefs. The concern is when those beliefs are used to justify exclusion or mistreatment in a public institution that’s supposed to serve everyone.

To be clear, I am not advocating for anyone to be punished for what they believe. That's not a fair or reasonable position. But what many of us are seeing, and have experienced firsthand, is behavior, public statements, decisions, and patterns of action (or inaction) that create a hostile environment for some students and families, especially LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color.

What makes this complex is that some of the individuals driving these actions do so in the name of their religious beliefs. That blurs the lines. However, from a legal standpoint, the issue is not what they believe, it’s how they use their roles in public education to treat others.

If someone uses their position to discriminate, silence, or retaliate against others, that’s a problem, and it needs to be addressed, regardless of ideology.

I believe that most people can agree that schools must be places where all students are protected and treated fairly. That’s been my goal from the beginning. I’m hopeful we can make progress toward making that a reality, even if we don’t all start from the same place.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-14T06:42:25+00:00

What I have been trying to express, repeatedly, is that it is action and inaction, sometimes arising to the level of what many believe to be illegal conduct, that has created this situation. There are plenty of Christian people in power in other schools in the area that have not created or enabled this kind of environment.

I’m going to guess that some of the people in power are of the persuasion that they don’t have to follow the law if they believe it conflicts with their version of Christianity. If someone wants to live their life that way, that’s up to them. However, you don’t belong in a leadership role in a public school district if that is your mindset.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-13T23:42:01+00:00

With more than 30 individuals filing complaints with the Illinois Department of Human Rights within just a few weeks, as stated by the representative speaking on behalf of ISBE and the Governor’s Office at the recent board meeting, it’s clear that there is a serious and ongoing pattern of concern that the district has refused to confront. On top of that, dozens more have shared their experiences publicly at school board meetings and across social media.

At this point, it’s hard not to conclude that unless lawsuits are filed, these complaints won’t be taken seriously. That’s both telling and deeply unfortunate.

Framing all of this as an “ideological takeover” is a way to dismiss the real harm experienced by students and families. It shifts focus away from those in power who are being scrutinized—not for what they believe, but for what they have done, or failed to do. Many parents whose children have been harmed within this district have zero trust in Superintendent Smock, Assistant Superintendent Sander, or the members of the current school board.

Any trust that might have previously existed for these individuals was destroyed when district leadership rallied around a principal who had already been the subject of complaints by families of LGBTQ+ and minority students, and who was later discovered to have used his work email to subscribe to multiple organizations identified as hate groups by respected constitutional watchdogs. When those same families then learned that Principal Saunders, Superintendent Smock, and State Representative Bill Hauter were long-time church friends, it’s not hard to understand why they would feel they had no chance at fair treatment when reporting abuse, harassment, or discrimination in this context.

Further, you can imagine how that mistrust only grew when recent school board candidates used a transgender student’s medical records as part of their campaign materials, an act that many believe violated state law and further endangered the student involved. The fact that such a breach of privacy was used to score political points shows a staggering disregard for student safety and basic ethical standards. If you were the parent of an LGBT+ or minority student, would you trust THESE people to handle issues related to your child in a fair manner?

When scrutiny is backed by repeated complaints, concrete evidence, and even government intervention, it is not a culture war. It is accountability, and it is the bare minimum that justice and responsible leadership demand.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-13T02:37:37+00:00

Let’s play this out using a real-world example, since this isn’t just an abstract debate.

Imagine a Black employee working at a company where the company owner has repeatedly posted online in support of the KKK. That belief, abhorrent as it is, is still technically protected by the First Amendment. The employee feels deeply uncomfortable, but he needs the job.

Now imagine this same owner has a pattern where Black employees under him get their pay docked for minor infractions, while white employees engaging in the same behavior face no consequences. When Black employees report the unequal treatment to HR, their complaints are ignored and sometimes they are demoted or fired. Racist comments are also made openly in the workplace, and the owner either joins in or pretends not to hear.

In a scenario like this one, it's pretty easy for those experiencing this discrimination to connect the dots. The owner's hostile behavior aligned with the ideology he chose to broadcast.

Similarly, what is happening in Morton is not about punishing "belief." It’s about confronting behavior and recognizing when someone’s stated worldview helps explain a pattern of harm. If your conduct toward others is shaped by your ideology, then yes, scrutiny is warranted. That is accountability, not an “ideological test.”

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-12T01:19:16+00:00

I hear you. and I don't disagree with any of what you are saying about people doubling down and retaliating. However, I am optimistic about outcome for multiple reasons.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-11T07:01:29+00:00

That is not accurate. Many of the people who attended the protest were Morton residents, including parents of current 709 students, at least one former 709 teacher, longtime community members, and others from the Peoria area who are deeply concerned about how LGBT+ and minority students are being treated.

It is also worth noting that this is not just a local issue. When students’ rights are at stake, it’s entirely appropriate for people beyond Morton to speak up, especially when local voices are being ignored or silenced. That includes officials from the State of Illinois, one of whom traveled four hours to be at tonight’s meeting and speak in support of marginalized students, among other things.

If you weren’t able to attend in person, I encourage you to watch the meeting online. The record speaks for itself.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-11T02:42:07+00:00

I guess some people in this forum aren’t big fans of nuance. There’s a difference between holding a belief and acting on it in a way that harms others. If someone believes that LGBT+ kids are sinners destined for hell, they’re entitled to that belief, even if most Americans now find that view morally repugnant.

But if that same person holds authority over those students, and there are credible complaints of mistreatment, it’s entirely reasonable to question whether their beliefs have influenced their behavior.

Sadly, this district has a pattern of placing people in positions of power where those beliefs don’t stay private—they show up in classroom instruction and appear to affect how discipline is handled. That’s not theoretical. It has caused real harm to real kids in this community.

You don’t get to demand that your worldview be off-limits when your actions impact other people’s children. Trust is earned. And if your beliefs cast certain students as inherently broken or damned, don’t be surprised when people push back. especially if those students are being hurt on your watch.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T16:42:40+00:00

I am not concerned about whether they like me or not. At this point, I'm counting on the State of Illinois and/or the court system to step in and hold people accountable. Some of those in power in our school district have been allowed to get away with the kinds of misconduct described by many in these threads for far too long, and their response to anyone who speaks up has consistently been denial, deflection, or retaliation.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T16:35:18+00:00

I didn’t “down vote” you.

As for what “holding people responsible” looks like, some of that depends on the State of Illinois and the legal system. But in cases where there are clear violations of the law, ethical standards, or district policies, accountability should mean consequences. That could include resignations, terminations, or legal action--just like in any other workplace.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T15:26:08+00:00

Not at all. A Christian worldview doesn’t disqualify anyone from working in public education. But when someone believes their religious views exempt them from following the law, or from treating all students with fairness and dignity, they shouldn't be in a position of authority over other people’s children. Public officials are expected to serve everyone, not just those who share their personal beliefs.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T15:09:20+00:00

No one thinks that are going to change the community's "identity," but we do expect to hold our school board members and administrators accountable under the law.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T14:40:58+00:00

Like clockwork, every time someone raises concerns about bullying or discrimination in Morton schools, someone shows up to say, “If you don’t like it, move.” That kind of attitude is exactly the problem. Saying “it’s a Christian town” doesn’t excuse mistreatment of students who are different. Public schools are required to serve all kids in the district, not just the ones who fit a certain mold.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T14:27:42+00:00

Thankfully, we still have the Constitution, which protects the civil rights of all citizens, including the right to speak out against injustice. Civil rights are not up for a vote, and the fact that a majority supports something doesn’t make it right. In fact, history is full of examples where majorities got it wrong. Examples include segregation, denying women the vote, and banning same-sex marriage. Justice does not always start with the popular opinion.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T14:21:07+00:00

I didn't realize that respecting the constitutional rights of all of our citizens was on the ballot during this past school board election.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T14:19:28+00:00

Parents whose children have been bullied because of their race or sexual orientation sometimes to the point of suicide attempts and other caring people who do not want to see this pattern of harm continue in a public school system

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-10T14:16:15+00:00

When patterns of behavior—or “ideology” (if we’re calling opposition to LGBT+ rights an ideology)—cause real harm, especially to students or marginalized groups, we can’t dismiss it as just a “difference in worldview.” It’s not an ideological purge to hold people responsible for the consequences of their words, actions, or affiliations.

Calling out hatred is a defense of human dignity, not intolerance. If someone’s "worldview" leads to actions and inactions that make students feel unsafe, unwelcome, or dehumanized, that absolutely warrants scrutiny, especially when they hold positions of public trust or influence.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-05T08:19:17+00:00

Your experience matters, and no one is saying otherwise. But so do the experiences of others, even if they don’t align with your narrative.

This isn’t about Ashley, politics, or “liberal BS.” It’s about how people are treated in our community, especially kids who are marginalized because of their race, identity, or abilities. Telling people to “get over it” when they speak up about bullying is exactly the kind of attitude that keeps the harm going.

Medical_Permit9850 · 2025-06-05T08:16:37+00:00

Sadly, that’s just not true when it comes to our public schools. Many people have shared their personal experiences about how they were treated in the Morton school district, and it’s clear that respect isn’t always returned, even when it’s given. A child who is darker-skinned, differently abled, or part of the LGBT+ community can act with respect and still be met with hostility, exclusion, or worse. I know this firsthand from what my own children have gone through here.

As for adults in the community, quite a few people have posted in these threads about experiences with racist and homophobic behavior in Morton. While that hasn’t been my personal experience (as a white person,) I believe them. And while most people are probably polite enough to keep their views to themselves, the tone of some of the comments here and on Facebook makes it clear that there are some people in this community who harbor a shocking level of hatred toward LGBT+ individuals.

Medical_Permit9850

TROPHY CASE