Every few years when I used to teach regularly, the first day of the spring term would fall on April 1st, the day we celebrate April Fools’ Day. I’m sure at some point in your life you played an April Fools’ prank on someone. I did. As a professor, I loved playing a harmless prank on my unsuspecting students. I would spend probably too much time modifying the actual syllabus into an elaborate “April Fools'” prank syllabus. Instead of writing five four-page essays I cranked it up to several twenty-page papers, an unachievable feat, especially for undergraduate students. I increased the number of books they were expected to read during the quarter. And I increased the number of tests. I would then pass out the syllabus, find a reasonable excuse to leave the room for a few moments, and then stand by the door and listen to the students gasp and groan at the ridiculous course requirements. I’d then return to the front of the classroom and reveal the truth, it was all an elaborate hoax in honor of All Fools’ Day.
To my surprise on Mother’s Day I read what I thought to be an April Fools’ Day prank in the spirit of my “joke syllabus,” when I was shown a full page ad in San Bernardino’s daily newspaper. The ad, paid for by the Friends of Joe Baca, highlighted a list of women the former Congressman endorsed for public office, appointed to public office, and recognized over the years during his time in office. After losing his Congressional seat to Gloria Negrete McLeod this last election cycle, he has decided to try to regain his position and is one of several candidates running for the 31st district seat. The ad was cleverly written in the style of a political endorsement ad and even included Eloise Gomez Reyes’ name twice, a fellow candidate in the same race, who the former Congressman evidently endorsed for appointment to the Colton School Board and recognized as a woman of the year when he was a state assembly member.
“Throughout my time in public office, I had the opportunity to support and award women who have chosen to serve our communities,” he said in wishing all women a Happy Mother’s Day. Anyone reading the ad has to read it twice to realize these women are NOT endorsing him for office. Hopefully the voters will see through this joke, because it’s far more harmful than my favorite April Fools’ Day prank if they don’t.