Local Opinion

Orwellian legislation that would seek to limit what can be taught in Indiana schools is terrible for a multitude of reasons — so bad that once again, the Indiana General Assembly’s work product has made the state a national laughingstock.

From: Caleb Tennis

From: Dennis Brooks

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s State of the State Address celebrated the state’s sunny fiscal forecast and presented a modest list of priorities in this non-budget legislative year. With $3.9 billion in state reserves, Hoosier taxpayers automatically will be getting a refund totaling $545 million.

Last semester the faculty and staff at Ivy Tech and IUPUC read “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together” by Heather McGhee. Using lots of research, McGhee shows how many policies and practices designed to hurt minorities also hurt the white majority. While I found all of her research fascinating, distressing, and quite eye-opening, what stood out to me was the need for all of us to work together to craft policies and practices that can help everyone.

One might believe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born with an innate ability to love against evil. But I’d argue it was a learned strategy curated through critical thinking, planning, and praying. Aside from King’s faith and leadership, one of the most inspirational parts about him was his mind.

There are lies, damned lies and public opinion polls.

Tomorrow, we mark a state and national holiday honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Doing so presents an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s past and look forward in the hope that someday, America will awaken to the vision of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. That someday, people will be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

Everyone will have a favorite piece of legislation to root for or against this session of the Indiana General Assembly, so there is a chance some of the lesser bills will escape attention.

Back in 1976, I read a short newspaper story citing French demographer and scholar Emmanuel Todd who forecast the collapse of the Soviet Union. In his essay titled “The Final Fall,” Todd deduced that the USSR suffered from stagnation, low birth rate and high infant mortality, rising suicides, alcoholism and worker discontent.