The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1089368
The Press-Dispatch Opinion Wednesday, March 6, 2019 B- 5 ing, saying that "the Trump-Pence ad- ministration has aggressively target- ed the ... rights and bodily autonomy of people of color." There was a time in our nation's his- tory when the rights and bodily auton- omy of people of color were aggres- sively violated. But as vile a sin slavery was, those that committed it did so by choice. Americans who wanted no part of it weren't forced to participate as slave owners. This isn't the case when taxpay- er funds are channeled by the feder- al government to abortion providers. According to the most recent Gal- lup polling, 75 percent of those who attend church weekly and 56 percent of those that attend church monthly are "pro-life." Their reverence for the sanctity of life flows directly from their faith. It is inconceivable that an Ameri- can citizen who believes and under- stands that abortion is the destruc- tion of human life should be forced to fund, with their tax dollars, those who perform it. Although it is currently legal for women to have abortions for whatev- er reason they want, it is repugnant to think that as a nation we would pro- vide further moral authority for abor- tion by allowing federal funds to sup- port it. The loss of reverence for the sanc- tity of life, and the culture of mean- inglessness that it fosters, comes at a great price for our nation's soul. It's evident in a new survey of Amer- ican teens, ages 13-17, by Pew Re- search. Seventy percent of these young Americans say anxiety and depres- sion is a "major" problem among their peers. Fifty-one percent say drug ad- diction is a "major" problem. Although 95 percent say "having a career or job that they enjoy" is "ex- tremely" or "very" important, only 47 percent say getting married is ex- tremely or very important, and only 39 percent say having children is ex- tremely or very important. According to research of John D. Mueller of the Ethics and Public Poli- cy Center in Washington, "legal abor- tion is the main cause of family break- down, including specifically in the rise of rates of divorce, illegitimacy, and crime." Thus, this new rule-making strikes at the heart of what is wreaking hav- oc in urban America. It is sadly ironic that those on the left, who favor abor- tion and hence the social destruction it cultivates, label the Trump admin- istration racist. According to Gallup, sentiment is rising against abortion. When Gal- lup first surveyed the issue in 1995, 56 percent were "pro-choice" and 33 percent "pro-life." Today, it's even at 48 percent for both. The fight against legal abortion on demand will continue. But for sure, taxpayer funds should not be going to abortion providers, particularly not to corporate giants like Planned Par- enthood. Star Parker is an author and presi- dent of CURE, Center for Urban Renew- al and Education. Contact her at www. urbancure.org. effort. It is impossible to mention ev- eryone's name who faithfully serve in all these various capacities, for fear I will miss acknowledging them. The Good Lord knows who you are and may you all be blessed for the work you do. • • • One of the things I notice is how the staff interact with each other. There is just so much love and respect and joy that you can see in all of them. For more than 20 years, these differ- ent volunteers have kept the place go- ing. Some have passed on to their next journey, some have retired from giv- ing their great share of help , some have continued on serving for such a long time. Bless their hearts. I have to mention as well there are so many organizations and individuals and churches who keep coming and bringing their unique help. There are some who faithfully give their finan- cial help, yet they would rather remain anonymous. One of the things that de- lights me is during summer and part of fall, vegetables and fruits home grown locally pour into the place to the delight of those who are able to en- joy the extra boost of nutrition. There is something that satisfies the soul when a person or persons who are able to share something of value leaves the place. You could see it in their faces. It is hard to explain this joy that is palpable as they come in into the building and carry their precious cargo. And as well there is much joy to hear when clients repeat- edly thank everyone as they leave the building and load up the items that will sustain their nutrition and health. Ah, there is indeed great truth in the saying..." It is indeed so blessed to give and to receive." • • • So I feel this amazing story should be told and shared with our commu- nity and the outlying areas. I know I had featured this amazing Place a few times in the past, consider this endeavor as a quarterly report so it will be remembered and recognized. This organization is indeed the fulfill- ment of the commandment " to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome the stranger," and "to love one another." By the way, you never hear discus- sions about politics or religion. Every- body just works in great peace and hu- mility and caring. It's like the spirit of the Lenten season soon to start with Ash Wednesday on March 6. Continued from page 4 SOMEBODY net edition yeah, it's that fast! Z M www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe It's The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. Delivered every Wednesday morning! Add it for $5 to your current print subscription or stand-alone for $35/year. Court Report CRIMINAL Pike Circuit Court Michael D. Warner charged with count I battery with bodily injury to a public safety officer, a level 5 felony, count II battery against a public safe- ty official, a level 6 felony, count III re- sisting law enforcement, count IV op- erating a vehicle while intoxicated and count V operating a vehicle with ACE of .15 or more. Brian Bye charged with count I pos- session of methamphetamine, a level 5 felony, count II maintaining a com- mon nuisance-controlled substances, a level 6 felony, and count III posses- sion of paraphernalia. Kevin L. Catt charged with count I stalking, a level 5 felony, count II in- vasion of privacy and count III false informing. Lisa Tipton charged with count I driving commercial vehicle after disqualification, a level 6 felony, and counts II and III operating a vehicle with ACE of .15 or more alcohol. TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR Pike Circuit Court James F. Bishop charged with pos- session of marijuana. Genesis J. Chambers charged with count I reckless driving and count II possession of paraphernalia. Jariles Lucius charged with driving while suspended. Carl J. Drucker charged with driv- ing a motor vehicle without ever re- ceiving a license. CIVIL Pike Circuit Court Norton Hospitals Inc. & Communi- ty Medical Associates, Inc. sues Fran- cis Perry, Jr. on complaint. LVNV Funding LLC sues Peggy Price on complaint. LVNV Funding LLC sues Yoko Swanson on complaint. LVNV Funding LLC sues Eddie Gerber on complaint. Midland Funding LLC sues Natalie Ramirez on complaint. Onemain Financial Group LLC sues Larry Smith, Jr. on complaint. Midland Funding LLC sues Mach- elle Carnahan on complaint. First Financial LLC sues Autumn Isaacs on complaint. Lucas Myers sues Audre Myers for dissolution of marriage. Sheena Niccole Schmitt sues Chad David Schmitt for dissolution of mar- riage. SMALL CLAIMS Pike Circuit Court Chella Stenftenagel sues Deric Steward and Crystal Norwick on com- plaint. INFRACTIONS Pike Circuit Court Brittney D. Kirwer charged with speeding. Logan P. Parrott charged with speeding. Michael R. Jefferson charged with stopping, standing or parking where prohibited. Alex S. Neukam charged with speeding. Brian J. Rainey charged with speed- ing. Jean C. Jorelus charged with count I no valid driver's license and count II improper or no tail or plate light. Matthew H. Bennett charged with speeding. Joshua N. Tetteh charged with speeding. Dylan W. Bortner charged with speeding. John P. Wharton charged with speeding. Brian J. Riggle charged with speed- ing. Jeffrey B. Byars charged with speeding. Tera D. Zazzetti charged with speeding. Emily K. Purdue charged with speeding. James D. Hupp charged with speed- ing. Donald W. Overton II charged with speeding. Gregory K. Elenbaas charged with speeding. Gerold W. Peay charged with speed- ing. Sandra Rosario Diaz charged with speeding. Kristin L. Riddle charged with speeding. itive receptions from other governments. They don't like being told what to do any more than we do. And let's face it — even if they did, they aren't enough. We need to do more. "The U.S. needs a posi- tive alternative to the Chi- nese model," Mr. Gingrich says. We can't compete on the same terms as a state- directed economy can. Nor would we want to. "To counter this, we should play to our own strengths," he adds. "A cul- ture of innovation, the pow- er of price discovery, and deep and liquid financial markets." Mr. Gingrich recom- mends we move quickly on a public-private partner- ship that would make shared spectrum available for a car- rier-neutral, wholesale-only, nationwide 5G network in the next two to three years. "This could be a kind of wireless moonshot (but with private capital) that will spur microelectronics manufac- turing here at home, acceler- ate the deployment of next- generation networks, and show the world that Chinese wireless dominance is not inevitable," he adds. Another leader not con- tent to let the microchips fall where they may is Sen. Mar- co Rubio of Florida. His lat- est report — "Made in Chi- na 2025 and the Future of American Industry" — goes beyond the fight over 5G to address changes in the 21st century economy that have left workers reeling. Labor markets have been disrupt- ed, and China's record of in- dustrial espionage is mak- ing things worse. Mr. Rubio, like Mr. Gin- grich, is trying to get a much-needed conversation going — followed by swift action, one hopes — to strengthen America's posi- tion. As the senator said in introducing his report: "Americans understand that something has gone wrong, and the failure of Washington to respond is one of the underlying cur- rents in our nation's dis- unity. Something needs to change." It certainly does. And, just as with our smartphones, speed is of the essence. Ed Feulner is founder of The Heritage Foundation (heritage.org). Continued from page 4 PHONES the obligations of the Law and tithing. He takes giv- ing to the center of the dis- ciple's heart: "Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of neces- sity: for God loves a cheer- ful giver." Jesus and the disciples went beyond giving mon- ey and stressed {in addition to offerings] working in the kingdom using the talents that you have and partici- pate in acts of charity. During Lent, the faithful should participate in alms- giving, which means donat- ing money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of assistance. The New Testament Church continued the prac- tice of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting and it not only has a place in Lent, but al- so daily life. The practice of charity, prayer, and fasting is the theme in the observance of Lent. Each element has a specific focus: prayer fo- cuses on God, almsgiving focused on others, fasting focuses on one's self, and a fourth daily scripture read- ing focuses on the soul. Incorporating all four practices during Lent serves as means to move the disci- ple toward a closer and more intimate relationship with Christ. To observe Lent does not demand that the disci- ple practices uncontrollable mourning or oppressive pen- ance, or to view it as a time of trivial abstinence. Lent should be practiced as a solemn commitment to set aside one's life and carnal desires to reflect on Christ. The disciple needs to con- sider what Christ has done for him or her; on preparing for the joy of His resurrec- tion and on living a life "wor- thy of the calling" the Chris- tin has received. By observing Lent, the disciple is appealing to God as one with a broken heart and contrite spirit. In seek- ing a humble spirit, the par- ticipant can become as a pil- grim, who is seeking a bet- ter resurrection in the King- dom that is made by the Hands of God. Lent is not undertaken as a ritual, neither as a work of righteousness, but a self- imposed discipline to bring one closer to God through Christ. Choose Wiseley- Choose Life Think about it! Continued from page 4 SOUL Continued from page 4 LOST letes, but from adults who were talking behind the lads' backs. There is certainly no shortage of cowardly adults. Seventeen states permit gender-dysphoric boys to compete against girls, no questions asked. Another seven permit it if the boys have taken some kind of hor- monal therapy or surgery to transition, and several have no policy at all. In Texas, a high school girl crushed her female wrestling opponents last year for the second con- secutive year while taking testosterone as "therapy" to transition to male identity. Spectators greeted her victory with boos. "Boo all you want," said Mack Beggs. Her opponent Chelsea San- chez came out second in the state tournament two years in a row, unable to overcome the testosterone-flushed Beggs. We have truly lost our minds. the posting of KKK signs, the sending of racist notes and the writing of racist graffiti on a black person's door with the words "Go Home Boy" and "Whites On- ly." A black man was caught on camera spray-painting doors and vehicles with ra- cial slurs, vulgar words and swastikas. Even professors create hoaxes. Indiana State Uni- versity professor A zhar Hussain sent bogus anti- Muslim emails to himself, according to police, "trying to gain sympathy by becom- ing a victim of anti-Muslim threats which he had created himself." He was arrested for filing a false police report. Here's the good news about the racial hoaxes on the nation's college campus- es: Left-wing college stu- dents have a difficult time finding the actual racism they claim permeates col- lege campuses. Thus, they have to invent it. Though it has not been proved yet, these students may have sup- port for their racial hoaxes by diversity-crazed admin- istrators, who nationwide spend billions of dollars on diversity and a multicultur- alist agenda. Racial discord and other kinds of strife are their meal tickets. Black people, as well as homosexuals, should con- demn these hoaxes, but so far, most have remained si- lent. If police are right that Smollett's claims were a dastardly hoax, it will cause doubt to be cast on future real claims of assault based on race and sexual orienta- tion. It also will have a nega- tive impact on race relations. This is not something to be taken lightly. If Smollett is found guilty of a felony as he is charged, he should suffer heavy penalties, including jail time. There's a lesson to be learned from one of Ae- sop's fables, "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." Walter E. Williams is a pro- fessor of economics at George Mason University. Continued from page 4 HOAXES Continued from page 4 PROTECT LIFE SUBSCRIBE TODAY! We're not afraid to shed some light on the truth. 812-354-8500