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Letter To The Editor: It Is Time to Overturn Obergefell 

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It Is Time to Overturn Obergefell 

by Richard Moss MD

AUGUST, 2022

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion, the Supreme Court ended recognizing a constitutional right to abortion and returned the matter to the states, where it has always belonged.  With this, it is reasonable to reconsider the Obergefell decision of 2015, which legalized homosexual marriage throughout the land.  Obergefell v. Hodges decided on June 26, 2015, in a split 5-4 decision (Anthony Kennedy joined with the four liberal justices), determined that same-sex couples had a fundamental right to marry based on the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.

Here too, as in Roe V. Wade, unelected lawyers in black robes, functioning as a supreme legislature, acting against our nation’s history, culture, and traditions, imposed upon the land, the fifty states, and their democratically elected legislatures, and more than 300 million people, a mandate to redefine the most fundamental institution in society.  What was at issue here, however, was not due process or equal protection, which our constitution guarantees, but redefining an institution that in five thousand years of human history, has always required sexual complementarity.  The decision undermined all notions of federalism, states’ rights, the Constitutional order, and basic democratic practice.  The nature of marriage is not mentioned in the Constitution.  Deciding its definition is not a power of the federal government.  It is left to the states and the people.  This is not government by law or democratic process but by judicial decree.

Nobody of five unelected lawyers, regardless of the status of that body, even the Supreme Court of the United States, should have the power to decide and redefine for a nation the nature and definition of an institution, especially one so unalterably crucial to that society.  In Loving v. Virginia, in 1967, the court properly decided that anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional based on the equal protection clause, thus allowing interracial marriage. In that decision, there was no attempt to redefine marriage. It simply removed an unconstitutional impediment to interracial marriage, a violation of the 14th amendment; but it did not alter the nature of marriage nor the requirement for sexual complementarity.

“Gay marriage” is not a “right” but a distortion of a sacred and critical institution, that of marriage.  Beyond that, the notion of “gay marriage” is irrational, an oxymoron.  Gays cannot marry because they are sexually the same.  Whether they love one another and plan to spend the rest of their lives together does not matter.  Marriage cannot be twisted, bent, or folded to suit personal preferences.  A proper understanding of marriage falls outside the realm of “rights,” for it is a descriptive term, a matter of logic, natural law, and biology. 

Marriage, by definition, is between opposite sexes and must be as such.  Sexual complementarity has always been a requirement of marriage, and the reasons are not difficult to fathom.  They are rooted in biology, and we are, in the end, biological creatures.

All of our organ systems, digestive, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and so on, are complete within each of us, save one: our reproductive system.  This one system requires a mate of the opposite sex to complete. The marital act, indeed, is defined as coitus.  Marriage is consummated by coitus, the union of reproductive organs, between a man and woman.  That this must be is self-evident.  Members of the same sex cannot perform the marital act.  They cannot marry. 

From marriage and the marital act comes the world and all that is within it: civilization, history, culture, science, and so on.  Without the marital act, there are no children, and the universe of relationships that arise from it: parents, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and grandchildren; it is through the institution of marriage that total strangers are joined to form new families and relations.  It is how the two houses of humanity, male and female, unite to bring children into the world.  

The traditional, married family is the domestic unit upon which society depends; without it society cannot function and will eventually collapse.  New life cannot issue from the “union” of individuals of the same sex; it is for this reason that traditional marriage is sanctified and given special legal and moral status. 

To recognize gay marriage (and all other “models” that would follow) would blur the significance of traditional marriage, desanctify and weaken it, and render it just another lifestyle choice.  Already a battered and weakened institution, marriage should be bolstered and upheld, privileged and elevated.  While gays enjoy the right to free speech, due process, and equal treatment before the law, there is no “right” to transform fundamental institutions to suit elite tastes or enhance gay self-esteem.  Society must tolerate gays but is not obligated to endorse their activities or goals.

But leftists support gay marriage.  They see society as an oppressive, patriarchal, “heteronormative” oligarchy and seek to tear it down. Traditional married families, furthermore, are autonomous islands that generally perform well enough without government assistance; as such, they thwart the leftist agenda.

Liberalism thrives on social failure and collapse. It feeds on broken families and dysfunction. The destruction of the family has been a long-standing project of the left: the sexual revolution, feminism, gay marriage, and now, of course, transgenderism, are tools to overturn the traditional family and civil society in general.

But with the Left and its media appendage, it is always about narratives, long-term goals, and the seizing of power.  Beneath the smiling patina of the charming news host or glib politician, the façade of tolerance and broad-mindedness, leftists pursue their radical agenda with grim single-mindedness, censoriousness, and, when necessary, violence.  Indeed, the homosexual agenda (along with its counterpart, “feminism,” and, more recently, transgenderism) is but another arrow in its quiver by which to undermine society, fracture and uproot its time-honored institutions, and, particularly, chip away at that great bulwark against collectivism, the traditional family. 

Obergefell was also an assault not just on Christianity but on all faiths, our culture, and on American civilization, which is based on the Judeo-Christian tradition. It was an attack on common sense, federalism, separation of powers, and the constitutional order. We live in a post-constitutional age, under attack by the progressive (regressive) Left that seeks to flip our culture on its head, and undermine the two great impediments to centralized government, the traditional married family and the church. These are the twin pillars of civil society, which stand between the individual and the central government.

Obergefell was another salvo of the sexual revolution and its war on the family and Christianity. Abortion, radical feminism, gay marriage and now transgenderism is all of the pieces.  

But five leftist judges cannot redefine marriage. It remains a union between a man and a woman, an organic institution based on nature and biology that precedes the political order. Its purpose is to civilize the mating process and provide the best environment for children to grow. It is about creating new life.  It is not about validating the adult relationship of your choice or satisfying elite opinion.  

We must defend traditional marriage. It is time to overturn Obergefell.

FOOTNOTE:  Richard Moss, M.D., a board-certified surgeon, was a candidate for Congress in 2016 and 2018. He has written “A Surgeon’s Odyssey” and “Matilda’s Triumph,” available on amazon.com.  Contact him at richardmossmd.com or Richard Moss, M.D. on Facebook, YouTube, Rumble, Twitter, Parler, Gab, Getty, Truth Social, and Instagram.

The City-County Observer posted this article without bias. or editing.

Vincennes University Jasper Scholastic Excellence Award Luncheon

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WHAT: Vincennes University Jasper Scholastic Excellence Award Luncheon

WHEN: 11 a.m. (ET), Wednesday, August 10, 2022

WHERE: Vincennes University Jasper, Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing, Room 230, Jasper, IN 47546

DETAILS: The luncheon will recognize recipients of the VU Jasper Scholastic Excellence Award. The VU Jasper Foundation awards the recipients one-year full tuition at the VU Jasper Campus and a $1,000 VU Jasper Bookstore stipend for books and supplies. The University is also providing Scholars with a laptop computers.

2022 graduates of high schools in Dubois, Martin, Orange, Crawford, Perry, Spencer, and Harrison counties are eligible for Scholastic Excellence Awards.

Learn About The Discovery Of An Underwater Castle In Scotland

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EVANSVILLE, IN (08/04/2022) Have you ever wondered what it’s like to discover an underwater castle? Did you know there even was such a thing? Registration is now open for a free, virtual chat with Dr. Emily Stammitti, a British-American underwater archaeologist. During this event, Stammitti will share her personal experience of finding a lost castle in Scotland and the treasures it revealed.

This virtual chat will be held on Thursday, September 8, from 12:15 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. and is offered by the University of Evansville (UE). There is no cost to attend, and you can register at any time at evansville.edu/lostcastle.

Stammitti serves as a faculty member at Harlaxton College, a Victorian manor that houses UE’s living and learning center in Grantham, England. She joined the college with 15 years of experience and has taught extensively across Scotland and England. During this time, she also worked as a professional archaeologist and heritage consultant. She now directs the Master of Arts in Innovative Leadership in Heritage Management program at Harlaxton, and she recently led an inclusive archaeology field school on the manor grounds.

The University of Evansville empowers students to think critically, act bravely, serve responsibly, and live meaningfully in a changing world. Through an innovative academic curriculum combined with practical hands-on experiences, UE students engage the local and international community in meaningful ways. With a diverse student body from 44 states and 48 countries, students choose from an array of majors in business, engineering, arts and sciences, and health science. UE graduates engage the world and workplace with the tools and skills to excel in fulfilling careers. For more information, please visit evansville.edu.

Biden-Harris Administration Launches EPA-USDA Partnership To Provide Wastewater Sanitation to Underserved Rural Communities

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Historic Funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Will Help Address Lack of Basic Wastewater Infrastructure in Rural America

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (August 2, 2022) – At an event in Lowndes County, Alabama, where a significant number of residents lack access to wastewater infrastructure, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative. The new initiative will be piloted in 11 communities across the country where residents lack basic wastewater management that is essential to protecting their health and the environment. EPA and USDA will jointly leverage technical assistance resources to help historically underserved communities identify and pursue federal funding opportunities – including from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – to address their wastewater needs and eliminate harmful exposure to backyard sewage.

“The America that we all believe in is a land of opportunity. But, for historically marginalized communities from Alabama to Alaska, that opportunity is stolen when basic sanitation doesn’t work—exposing adults and children to backyard sewage and disease,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By partnering with USDA and leveraging funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is working to restore dignity and opportunity to rural communities here in Lowndes County and across the country.”

“Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA believes hardworking people in America’s small towns and rural communities should have the infrastructure they need to be healthy and to provide for their families. We recognize that there are still people who have been going without the basics,” said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “Access to modern, reliable wastewater infrastructure is a necessity, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to doing everything we can to ensure every family and every child in America has access to these vital services. By combining USDA and EPA resources and taking advantage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can restore to these communities a sense of economic vitality and social dignity that the people living there deserve.”

“President Biden has been clear—we cannot leave any community behind as we rebuild America’s infrastructure with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said White House Infrastructure Coordinator Advisor Mitch Landrieu.  “This includes rural and Tribal communities who for too long have felt forgotten. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $11.7 billion in loans and grants to communities for a wide range of water-quality infrastructure projects, including wastewater solutions for these communities.”

“Many rural communities in our region face tremendous challenges in providing needed wastewater infrastructure services for their residents,” said Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, particularly Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative, presents a historic opportunity to collaboratively address these needs. These communities will reap economic, environmental and health benefits from this initiative that will help generations to come.”

“Access to adequate wastewater infrastructure is a basic human right, but for too many of my constituents, generations of disinvestment have led to broken and failing wastewater systems that put the health of our communities at risk,” said U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (AL-07). “Since coming to Congress, I have made addressing our wastewater crisis a top priority, working to secure funding and direct resources to areas in need of help. Now, thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration and transformative investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more help is on the way. This joint initiative between the EPA and USDA will be instrumental in our fight to improve wastewater infrastructure for our most underserved communities.”

“The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is pleased to see these Alabama communities participate in this new pilot program,” said ADEM Director Lance LeFleur. “Access to proper-functioning sewer service is an issue throughout Alabama’s Black Belt, where the combination of nonpermeable soil, low population density and low incomes creates challenges. We are working with communities to provide assistance and available funding to address these issues. This pilot program complements those efforts.”

“Decades ago, Lowndes County led the charge for voting rights – today we are leading the call for wastewater equity. Most Americans couldn’t imagine raw sewage pooling in their yard just outside the kitchen window, or worse, backing up into their home when it rains too much,” said Catherine Flowers, founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice. “I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for committing to help us find a solution. Today, we are taking a big step toward achieving a more just future for the people of Lowndes and rural communities across the U.S.”

An estimated 2.2 million people in the United States lack basic running water and indoor plumbing. Many more live with wastewater infrastructure that is ineffective and puts people’s health at risk. Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative will help communities access financing and technical assistance to improve wastewater infrastructure. EPA and USDA—in partnership with state, Tribal, and local partners—are launching the initiative in:

  • Lowndes County, Alabama (White Hall Community) – White Hall currently has inadequate wastewater infrastructure. USDA has initiated an initial wastewater infrastructure project that can be a foundation to build on to fully close the wastewater access gap in and around White Hall. Local challenges include failing septics, straight pipes, and inadequate centralized sewer capacity.
  • Greene County, Alabama – Black Belt soils in Greene County and other parts of Alabama are difficult from a wastewater septic standpoint. Local challenges include failing septic systems and the use of straight pipes, resulting in raw sewage on the ground, surface water, and seepage into groundwater. The rural nature of the county, combined with economic conditions, has also made investing in centralized wastewater systems a challenge.

Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative will allow EPA and USDA—in close collaboration with these communities, our state and Tribal partners, and on-the-ground technical assistance providers—to leverage technical and financial expertise to make progress on addressing the wastewater infrastructure needs of some of America’s most underserved communities. Each community or Tribe will receive direct support to address wastewater infrastructure shortcomings that have lasted generations including developing wastewater assessments with technical engineering support, developing wastewater community solution plans, identifying and pursuing funding opportunities, and building long-term capacity.  State governments, Tribes, and water agencies have committed to working with the EPA and USDA to support these communities.

Wastewater infrastructure challenges exist in communities across the country. Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative will be a roadmap to scale up efforts in the rest of the country. EPA and USDA each offer technical assistance that can help communities access funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other government programs.

Several of the communities chosen for this initiative are also participating in the Biden-Harris Administration’s recently announced Rural Partners Network. The USDA-led network brings together twenty federal agencies and regional commissions to help rural communities create economic opportunity by accessing resources and funding that match their unique needs and priorities.

UE Cross Country/Track Adds Michigan State Transfer Helder

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Brooks LeCompte has announced the addition of Michigan State graduate transfer Melanie Helder (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) to his 2022 roster.  Helder is the first addition to LeCompte as the head of the Purple Aces program.

“I am excited to have Melanie representing the Purple Aces beginning this fall, as my first signee at the helm of the program,” said LeCompte.  “I think she will add immediate attention to our program and begin a culture of high-level competitiveness for us at the MVC and NCAA levels.”

Helder was a 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection at Michigan State while being a 1,500-meter qualifier for the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Round.  Helder placed 34th overall at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the 1,500-meters and owns a personal-best time of 4:18.09 in the event.

Meanwhile, in cross country, Helder was a part of two Big Ten Championship cross country programs and posted a personal-best time of 21:37.2 in the 6-K event in October for the Spartans.   While she did not compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships hosted at Evansville last November, she did compete in the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships, posting a 6-K time of 21:57.6.

Helder also excelled in the classroom at Michigan State, posting a 3.98 cumulative grade point average in kinesiology, while minoring in health promotion.  She was a four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a five-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient.  Helder received the Big Ten’s Postgraduate Scholarship this past June.  She will be a part of UE’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program academically.

Hoosier History Highlights: Babe Pierce Born in Freedom

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August 7 – August 13

The Week in Indiana History


Taylor

1899     Marshall “Major” Taylor of Indianapolis won the one-mile world championship in bicycling in Montreal.  He was one of the first African American world athletes, setting numerous records in bicycle racing.  The open-air velodrome in Indianapolis is named for him.


Pierce1900     James H. Pierce was born in Freedom, Indiana. Nicknamed “Babe,” he played Indiana University football before moving to Hollywood where he appeared in many movies.  His most famous role was that of Tarzan in 1927.  His wife, Jane Burroughs, was the daughter of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, who had created the original “Tarzan” stories.

bus1908     The Delphi, Indiana, Wagon Works Company began making wagons and plows.  Later, the firm, established by Fisher and Bradshaw, built the first school bus.  Called a “school hack,” it was a closed-body horse-drawn school bus.  It was made until the 1920s when vehicles became powered by gasoline engines.

Ball1929     Ball Memorial Hospital opened in Muncie.  The building accommodated 142 patients and featured modern innovations such as a surgical amphitheater, laboratory, x-ray facility, emergency room, and the option of private patient rooms.

Pan1987     The Pan American games opened in Indianapolis.  Participating were over 4,300 athletes from 38 different countries.  Over 1,000 medals were awarded in 30 sports in 23 venues in and around the city.  The major international event was carried out with the help of 37,000 volunteers.

quarter 2002     The United States Mint released the Indiana State Quarter.  It was engraved with a race car, a map of the state, 19 stars, and the motto “Crossroads of America.”

Follow this link to subscribe to Hoosier History Highlights and to view archived editions

Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Visitors are welcome at the Indiana Statehouse Monday through Saturday.  For more information, please contact the tour office.

(317) 233-5293
touroffice@idoa.in.gov


quiz

Match the description to each name below.

1.  She was a Hoosier author who lived in her home called “Limberlost.”

2.  She was an actress from Dale, Indiana.

3.  She was the first woman to serve as Indiana Lieutenant Governor.

4.  She is a singer and songwriter from Gary.

A. Kathy Davis   B. Gene Stratton Porter   C. Janet Jackson   D. Florence Henderson


fair

Take an “armchair tour” of the Indiana Statehouse

Statehouse Virtual Tour


Answers:  1. B   2. D   3. A   4. C

Squirrel Season Opens August 15

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It’s that time of year again! Indiana’s “Squirrel Season” opens on Aug. 15 and runs through Jan. 31, 2023.

A small game hunting license is required to hunt squirrels in Indiana, and the bag limit is five fox or gray squirrels per day (total for both species) with a possession limit of 10.

Squirrel hunting is an early opportunity to get out in the woods and enjoy time with friends and family, and we’d love to see you out there! Gear up and purchase your hunting license.

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

 

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

MEDIA

 

HOT JOBS

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Free access to multiple on-site fitness centers. This position has responsibility for assisting departments with supply requirements and budgetary cost…
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Flexible work schedules; full-time/part-time/supplemental – Day/Eve/Night. Level 4 children’s enrichment centers. Provides security assistance to vehicles.
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Free access to multiple on-site fitness centers. Flexible scheduling to accommodate your life (Full Time, Part Time & Supplemental positions).
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Specimen Processor I
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This position has responsibility to provide efficient and effective administrative support to the Benefit Solutions service line, providing a high level of…
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Flexible work schedules; full-time/part-time/supplemental – Day/Eve/Night. Level 4 children’s enrichment centers. Must be able to travel to Evansville, IN.
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Aces all-time home runs leader Tanner Craig signs with Evansville Otters

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EVANSVILLE – After five seasons of delighting Aces fans, University of Evansville slugger Tanner Craig will stay local to begin his professional career, signing with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League.
One of the best to ever put on an Evansville uniform, Tanner Craig concluded his Aces career with his best season. Craig finished the season with a .305 batting average, the Scottsburg, Ind. native led the MVC in doubles with 24 and RBI with 61 and recorded 18 home runs, the fourth-best total in the conference, while ranking in the top 10 in seven other statistical categories. Craig’s 47 career home runs are the most ever by an Ace and his single-season totals for doubles and home runs both sit second in UE history. For his efforts, Craig was named second team all-MVC.

Craig’s professional career began on Friday night, batting sixth in the lineup and going 1-for-4 at the plate in a 9-7 win over the Gateway Grizzlies.