The Press-Dispatch
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D-2 Opinion Wednesday, May 18, 2016 The Press-Dispatch Many lasts coming for Otwell Elementary students Better future lies ahead with Donald Trump a tax collector." In this story, Jesus utilized a compare/contrast story line. The Pharisees were very self-righteous people who would split hairs over the law and held those not like them in contempt. On the other hand, the tax collectors were despised and considered social pariahs- and knew it. Both prayed to God, but each had a different attitude and prayer of confession. Luke writes, "The Phar- isee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." We would describe this man as pious and fanatical. We read that the oth- er man, the "tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner! ' What a contrast. Jesus was making a very important point about self- examination [and prayer]; He concluded "I tell you, this man [the tax collector] went down to his home jus- tified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted." One man knew that he needed grace, while and the other saw no need for it. This illustration demon- strate to us the genuine char- acter of each man. Their demeanors exposed their faults One man threw himself upon the mercy of the Lord crying "Have mercy on me a sinner;" the other boasted of his religiosity. One man offered no ex- cuses, no mitigating circum- stances for his conduct, and pleaded guilty as charged; the other man reminded God how much he was in synch with Him. Is not this how political candidates parade them- selves before us? I suggest each of us con- centrate upon our own short- comings and weaknesses and tune out the rhetoric of the candidates. The apostle John gives us the key to finding forgive- ness where he wrote, "If we confess our sins, he is faith- ful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 John 1:9]. Wouldn't it be refreshing to hear a politician say: yes, I did such and such…have mercy on me a sinner! Jimmy Carter said he knew that he lusted when he was running for president. God's peace and blessing as you think about it! MUD Continued from page 1 American working people cannot get those jobs. But, whether the academic in Santa Barbara agrees or dis- agrees with that analysis, it is no good for him, or for his students, to dismiss oppos- ing views by misrepresent- ing them. These are just a few sam- ples of the intellectual and moral dry rot on the many campuses across the coun- try where the groupthink of the left substitutes for edu- cation. Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institu- tion, Stanford University, Stanford. His website is www. tsowell.com. ACADEMIA Continued from page 1 since that decision, more than a million American households have been dis- placed, 29 percent of which were minority households and 32 percent poor house- holds. Yet, Donald Trump praised this decision, say- ing "I happen to agree with it 100 percent." The evidence is over- whelming that raising the minimum wage hurts the young and the poor. But po- litical opportunist Trump, like those on the left, sup- ports the minimum wage. His personal political calcu- lations are more important to him than the damage do- ne by bad policies. Nor will he talk about the $100 trillion in unfunded li- abilities in Social Security and Medicare. For sure, we can never expect Trump to champion private retirement accounts to replace Social Security, despite the great benefit this would provide to low-income Americans with little savings or wealth. President Eisenhower said in his first inaugural address: "A nation that val- ues its privileges above its principles soon loses both." The last thing the Repub- lican Party or the USA needs today is an unprincipled su- per-salesman appealing to the worst instincts of an un- happy electorate. It's why Paul Ryan de- serves all the credit in the world for his hesitation to endorse a corrupt candi- date who has intimidated even some smart people into believing he is what Ameri- ca needs. We have gotten where we are because Republicans have not stood ground and provided a real conserva- tive alternative to the party of the left. We cannot contin- ue this way. Millions of Christian con- servatives nationwide share my sentiments. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? I encourage Paul Ryan to stand tough. The only path to American greatness is the great principles and truths on which this nation stands. We must fight for them at all costs. Star Parker is an author and president of CURE, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Contact her at www.urbancure.org. Continued from page 1 RYAN vice witch hunts against conservative groups. On college campuses with ad- ministrators meekly bow- ing to angry demands that politically incorrect speak- ers be banned. In the push from state attorneys gen- eral to investigate groups that question climate change. Ask Lennart Bengtsson. In 2014, this well-respect- ed Swedish meteorolo- gist working in the United Kingdom joined a group called the Global Warming Policy Foundation, which questions some of the cli- mate change community's findings. Mr. Bengtsson did so simply because he was concerned that some of the computer-model pre- dictions didn't match up with actual scientific ob- servations over time. Big mistake. "Within a matter of days, he found himself in deep trouble," Mr. Holmes writes. "As happened to other scien- tists who question any as- pect of the global-warm- ing 'consensus,' Bengts- son was hounded by col- leagues to the point that he felt forced to resign from the think tank." Mr. Bengtsson cited con- cerns for his "health and safety," saying the pres- sure made "normal work" virtually impossible, and warned: "It is a situation that reminds me about the time of McCarthy." That's how far to- day's "liberals" have fall- en. They've become the very thing they once de- nounced. And so we wind up in a culture that punishes young children severe- ly for first-time, minor in- fractions under "zero tol- erance" policies. One with so many thousands of fed- eral laws that we prose- cute adults for commit- ting crimes that they didn't even know were crimes. "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Unless we all, liberal and conservative, find some way to recover this clas- sically American outlook, the climate of intolerance will only grow more sti- fling. How far do we dare push it? Ed Feulner is the founder of the Heritage Foundation (heritage.org). Continued from page 1 LEFTISTS Court Report CRIMINAL Pike Circuit Court Justin Tyler Graham charged with count I possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony; and count II possession of a controlled substance. Amber N. Shultz charged with count I making a false sales document, a lev- el 6 felony; and count II theft. TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR Pike Circuit Court Jeremiah Spencer Parker charged with theft. Daniel D. Horton charged with pos- session of marijuana. Evyn L. Fraley charged with disor- derly conduct. Nitasha Lemond charged with operat- ing a vehicle with an ACE of .15 or more. Damien M. Mans charged with count I resisting law enforcement and count II illegal consumption of an alcoholic bev- erage. Hope M. Quackenbush charged with count I domestic battery; count II refus- al to identify self; and count III operat- ing a vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more. Scott Uricek charged with possession of marijuana. Isaac J. Hoffman charged with illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage. Ashley L. Robling charged with driv- ing while suspended. Robert W. DeWeese charged with op- erating a vehicle with an ACE of .15 or more. Joshua J. Eager charged with count I possession of paraphernalia and count II possession of marijuana. In re: search warrant. In re: search warrant. CIVIL DOCKET Pike Circuit Court Portfolio Recovery Assoc., LLC sues Spencer K. Wheatley on complaint. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance sues Shane A. Garland and Misty Garland on complaint. Cody A. Willis sues Lee Za M. Willis for dissolution of marriage. Jamie Renee Poselwait sues Nathan P. Poselwait for dissolution of marriage. SMALL CLAIMS Pike Circuit Court D. Davis Properties, LLC sues Mar- ty Hughes and Valerie Hughes on com- plaint. INFRACTIONS Pike Circuit Court Breanne Alsman charged with speed- ing, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Jennifer Asbell charged with speed- ing, 49 mph in a 35 zone. Anna Blackburn charged with no val- id driver's license. Christopher Carter charged with speeding, 85 mph in a 70 zone. Michael Crummley charged with speeding, 71 mph in a 55 zone. Mariah Hart charged with speeding, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Zachary Johnson charged with speed- ing, 69 mph in a 55 zone. Keith Maddox charged with driving while suspended. Jeremy McCandless charged with no valid driver's license. Ginger McCandless charged with count I child restraint system violation and count II seatbelt violation. Kelsey Messer charged with speed- ing, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Crystal Porter charged with speed- ing, 69 mph in a 55 zone. Travis Reeves charged driving re- duced speed in left lane. Lindsey Shaw charged with speeding, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Aliciamarie Slack charged with speeding, 85 mph in a 70 zone. James Tempel charged with speed- ing, 71 mph in a 55 zone. Kaitlyn Truelove charged with speed- ing, 97 mph in a 70 zone. Shawna Watson charged with speed- ing, 77 mph in a 55 zone. Ian Weyer charged with speeding, 49 mph in a 35 zone. Michela Winters charged with speed- ing, 87 mph in a 70 zone. Byron Wolter charged with speeding, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Julie Xiao charged with speeding, 84 mph in a 70 zone. Gregory Alerte charged with speed - ing, 93 mph in a 70 zone. Richard Fosler III charged with speeding, 93 mph in a 70 zone. Kerry Hopf charged with seatbelt vi- olation. Gabriel Woods charged with speed- ing, 87 mph in a 70 zone. Katiedid vs... by Katiedid Langrock A nature lesson Letters to the Editor The wild has been calling to me. The days of yesteryear when I worked as an adventure tour guide in the Out- back have evaded me for too long. I seek out mud in my hair and caked dirt un- der my fingernails. I wish for the goose bumps that accompany sleeping under the stars while slightly underdressed for the night chill. I miss the excitement of having to shake out my sleeping bag to make sure no snakes have found a new home and the gentle ache in my belly from eating campfire ramen too many nights in a row. So when my old college friend of- fered us her lakeside cabin to vaca- tion in, it sounded like a dream. "No one has been inside in a few months. There may be a few creepy-crawlies." The more the merrier! I've done this before. And I've done it in the Outback, where everything eagerly awaits the op- portunity to murder you. And not like a kind murder with crushed-up sleep- ing pills but a slow, agonizing murder. I had conquered the Outback sleeping on my back. Surely, a cabin would hold no challenges. But I forgot one thing. When I took on such an adventure before, I was child- less. "It'll be fun," I told myself. "A learn- ing experience for the kids," I said. "Family bonding time," I said. I lied. I will never trust myself again. With my toddler and 6 -month-old in tow, I headed off for my adventure in the wild. I'd be like Thoreau, and this would be my Walden Pond. With kids. I spent the better part of the plane ride telling my son about how bugs are good. We spoke of ladybugs and light- ning bugs, and I encouraged him to catch them. Then I moved on to how to pinpoint snakes for when we would take our hikes, how to listen for their rustling and rattling and how to see their slither- ing. My son was intrigued - - enamored even. So I may have overdone it. What I forgot was that my child had only wit- nessed the wild through the glass of a zoo and in the pages of a book. A snake would be as real to him as Curious George is a monkey. When we arrived on the property, my husband took the baby in the cab- in while my toddler and I investigated the property. Snake! Snake! Snake!! My son ran over to me from where he had been at the water's edge and wrapped his arms around my legs. My senses went on high alert. I had been trained for this back when I was a guide. I scanned the property, looking for the snake. I saw a frog, so I knew the snake must be near- by, stalking it. I listened for the slither- ing or hissing, but it was hard to hear over the croaks. I started to get ner- vous. There was a snake in the grass - - possibly a poisonous one - - and I had no idea where it was. I picked up my son. If someone was getting bitten, it was go- ing to be me. I wanted to turn to leave, but too much time had passed since my son saw the snake. It could be anywhere. Before me. Behind me. Why couldn't I see it?! Where was the snake?! My son began screeching again. Snake! Snake! Snake! "Where? " I asked him. "Point it out to me! " He pointed. "By the frog? Where by the frog? To the left or right? " He kept screaming and pointing. And now I was screaming, too. My heart racing. "Where by the frog? Where? Where?! Oh, wait a minute. Do you mean the frog? " He did. He meant the frog. My city slicker 3-year-old was nearly crying be- cause he had seen a frog and thought it was a snake. I set him down. I picked up the frog. I made my son pet it. I took a deep breath. This was right. Visiting this cabin would be a good thing for us. My son and I walked inside. My hus- band looked at me, looking slightly sick to his stomach. "Darling, we've got com- pany." The floors were covered with dead spiders, wasps and cockroaches being torn apart and consumed by liv- ing ants, spiders and cockroaches. I spun in circles, taking it all in. This was the place where I was supposed to stay with my 6 -month-old and tod- dler. Toddler. Where was my toddler? I turned to see him holding a dead cock- roach. "Look, Mama! I caught a bug! " I may have to work on my nature les- sons. Like Katiedid Langrock on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/katiedidhumor. To the Editor: School days, school days, good old golden rule days. All of us have heard this, that is, if you grew up before the 1980s. How true this statement is. I always loved school growing up. At- tending a special school like Otwell, plus the fact I literally grew up in the school, nurtured my love of school. Those last days in May were and are special times. It is a busy time trying to fit in all of those special activities and celebra- tions into the school schedule. These are times of joy, but also times of sadness. So many folks count down the days until the end of a school year. I did not do that in elementary and high school. Seeing each senior class ahead of me graduate was sad. It meant I would not see these folks on a daily basis. It meant my time was lessened by another year at Otwell. I know the feeling the Otwell stu- dents are having as the school year comes to an end. I remember those feelings we all had in May 1974 when Otwell High School closed its doors. We still knew our elementary school would be there in another building. On- ly this current school year end is differ- ent. It is permanent. In May of 1974, I knew where I was headed in the fall for school. I know how the current Otwell students must be feeling. I was nervous and anxious as things were changing, never to be the same. Our class would be larg- er. I would not know all of my class- mates for the first time in nine years. Fortunately, I was a 15 -year-old soph- omore with a better chance to adjust. In my case, I had an extra advantage. My dad would be there every day, ev- ery step of the way. We were togeth- er in the same building for all twelve years during my elementary and high school time. I did not know what it was like to go to school without my Dad un- til I stepped onto the Indiana University campus. I never received special treat- ment from Dad, even when he was my U.S. History and Government teacher. It was the feeling of his presence that comforted me. In the next few days, there will be many lasts for Otwell students. There will be the last field trip, the last recess, the last lunch, the last walk through the school building, the last dismiss- al… the last day of school for Otwell Elementary. The difference between 1974 and 2016 – we still had a school in our community in 1974. We do not know what the future will bring, particularly in the next few months. My hope is for the Otwell stu- dents to continue to receive excellent educational opportunities. I had the op- portunity to attend Otwell School for nine years. This experience of a good education, life lessons and communi- ty spirit prepared me to be a responsi- ble parent and citizen. Looking back, I know I was blessed. I am still blessed. I cherish my memories and my lifelong Otwell friends of all ages. The Otwell School will forever be a part of me. Kim Anderson Elliott To the Editor: The only candidate putting forward policies to jump start the economy by lowering corporate tax rates, deregu- lating the economy, improving inter- national trade deals and wooing com- panies and capital back into America, is the outsider and establishment dis- ruptor, Donald Trump. We are lucky that we have an accomplished busi- nessman who knows how to do what is necessary to undo the damage Pro- gressive policies have inflicted upon our economy. It's even more fortunate that he has emerged at a time when the American people are angry and frustrated with the failures of an elite political class that perpetuates the Progressive es- tablishment's status quo, to the disad- vantage of the common man. Economist John Mauldin observed, "I was privileged to talk privately with Peggy Noonan this week, after which I listened to her speak, partly on what is clearly a major shakeup of the Repub- lican, as well as the Democratic Par- ty. Then I had a conversation with my friend Neil Howe, historian and gener- ational demographer, which provoked some even deeper thinking about the current generational shift. "For the first time since Reagan... we are seeing a significant political shift, and it is... what Peggy Noonan calls 'the uprising of the unprotected' and what Neil Howe thinks of as a clear generational shift that you see towards the end of what he calls 'the Fourth Turning... This is a phenomenon hap- pening all over the world...'" Mauldin concluded, quoting a Buf- falo Springfield song, "There's some- thing happening here/What it is ain't exactly clear/Stop, children, what's that sound/Everybody look what's going down." Ordinary people are waking up to the facts emerging around them that Progressive Policies are spectacularly failing. They now see this as extract- ing a big price on themselves. They are beginning to comprehend how this is hurting and threatening their families' well-being. What I have been saying, and Mauldin reiterates, is a big change is coming, as the old solutions are no longer working. A paradigm shift is oc- curring and a better future lies ahead if the Progressive status quo is upend- ed by Donald Trump. Michael Lewinski Dubois