A Time For Adults To Be Adults
A Time For Adults To Be Adults
INDIANAPOLIS—Someday—soon, I hope—the fever will break, and we will find ourselves asking the same questions about this delirious, delusional age.
Why were we so crazy? we will ask.
Why did we have to be so mean?
The saga of the 10-year-old girl who was raped and had to travel to Indiana from Ohio to get an abortion serves as evidence of just how insane we have become. It is a tale in which too many adults behaved like children—and ill-bred children at that—and the real child was victimized, again and again, by grownups who should have served as her defenders and safety net.
The story is a sad one.
A 27-year-old man in Ohio raped a young girl who just turned 10. Because, in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade, the Buckeye state rushed to ban almost all abortions, even in instances of rape, the 10-year-old and her family came to Indiana to end the pregnancy.
Indiana has not yet banned abortion, but the General Assembly is hurrying into a special session to do just that.
Anti-abortion activists and their cheering sections in elected office and the media rushed to denounce the 10-year-old’s story when The Indianapolis Star first broke it. They asked why there was no documentation and why no arrests had been made. They wanted someone punished—either the journalists who reported the story or the doctor who cared for the girl—immediately and harshly.
Then, authorities in Ohio did arrest the man who raped the little girl. He confessed to the crime.
That didn’t calm the fury.
Conservatives then directed their rage at the doctor who treated the 10-year-old.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita did what he always does. He joined the pack of jackals and then did his best to scurry to the front of the pack, where the best camera angles can be found.
He appeared on Fox News and vowed to investigate the doctor. Without offering so much as a scrap of evidence to support his insinuations, the attorney general hinted that the doctor had committed a series of malfeasances.
The doctor, understandably, took offense. She hired well-respected lawyers, who issued a statement saying they would be considering ways to hold accountable those who had maligned and defamed the doctor for their actions and statements.
The lawyers’ statement singled out Rokita for special attention.
Thus, a first-rate donnybrook about the issue of abortion began to take shape.
Lost in the shouting—in the charges and counter-charges—was the humanity of the tragedy.
A little girl was raped. Because of that rape, she and her family were left with a hard and horrible choice to make—one that likely will affect her and those who love her for the rest of their days.
I know abortion is a deeply divisive issue.
I support reproductive rights myself, but I have known many people who oppose abortion whose sincerity and integrity I respect. The best of them are anti-abortion because they have a deep and abiding concern for the most vulnerable among us.
Surely, this 10-year-old rape survivor falls into that category.
One of the most distressing things about this age in which we seek to elevate every disagreement into a holy war is that it becomes easy, oh so easy, to overlook the suffering of real human beings who wander into the ideological, partisan and cultural crossfire.
This is particularly the case when politicians possessed by an ambition for advancement and a hunger for self-aggrandizement as great as Todd Rokita’s get involved. They do not care who gets hurt, so long as they get the attention for which they lust.
One of the defining qualities of maturity, though, is exercising restraint, especially when others might be affected by our actions.
This is even more true when those who might be affected are young and vulnerable.
Like a 10-year-old girl who has been raped.
This little girl had a right to think that adults would act like adults. She had a right to expect that we would put aside our differences long enough to make sure she was safe and cared for before we started trying to score points in some grand debate.
Because that’s what adults should do.
To do otherwise isn’t just crazy or mean.
It’s wrong.
Plain wrong.
FOOTNOTE: John Krull is director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism and publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. The opinions expressed by the author do not represent the views of Franklin College.
Help For Hoosier Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
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Due to the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many homeowners fell behind on their mortgages or slipped into financial hardship in order to make payments. To help Hoosiers avoid displacement and foreclosure, forgivable loans are available through the Indiana Homeowner Assistance Fund.
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Funded fully by federal dollars, the IHAF can help cover overdue mortgage payments for eligible homeowners. Help is also available for payments on property taxes, insurance and homeowner fees. Once approved, funding goes directly to the mortgage loan servicer. To qualify for the IHAF, applicants must live in a single-family home, a condominium, a 2-, 3- or 4-family dwelling, or a home permanently affixed to real property. Applicants must also have experienced financial hardship because of the COVID-19 pandemic, like job loss or familial care. Applicants must also meet the program’s income limits. Hoosier families who need help are encouraged to apply at www.877gethope.org. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 211 to get help paying bills, finding food or locating other resources close to home. |
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A CONVERSATION WITH OLYMPIAN ANNE AUDAIN SPONSORED BY THE SHOULDERS LECTURE SERIES
A CONVERSATION WITH OLYMPIAN ANNE AUDAIN SPONSORED BY THE SHOULDERS LECTURE SERIES
Legendary Diving Coach Hobie Billingsley Passes Away
Legendary Diving Coach Hobie Billingsley Passes Away
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Athletics and its swimming and diving program is saddened to share the passing of legendary IU and USA Diving coach Hobie Billingsley on Saturday (July 16) morning. He was 94.
Billingsley’s legacy is that of one of the important and influential personalities to grace the sport of diving while earning the reputation as one of the sport’s greatest ever coaches.
Billingsley coached at Indiana from 1959-89, winning six NCAA and 23 Big Ten team championships in that span. He coached individuals that combined for 115 national titles, 22 Big Ten Championships and six Olympic medals.
For Team USA, Billingsley coached the 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980 Olympic teams. He returned to the games in 1992 and 1996 as a diving judge, and in 1996 also had the honor of reciting the Olympic Oath.
An outstanding diver himself, Billingsley earned All-America honors at Ohio State in 1945 and then again from 1948-50. As a freshman, Billingsley won NCAA titles on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. As a Buckeye, Billingsley competed alongside teammate Doc Counsilman, who would later become his swimming counterpart at IU. The coaching duo shares the namesake of the current IU swimming and diving facility, the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center.
Following his freshman season at Ohio State, Billingsley joined the Armed Forces and served in Japan during World War II.
Billingsley is a member or the International Swimming Hall of Fame (1983), Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame (1994) and in 1994 was presented the Sammy Lee Award, the most prestigious award in the world for the sport of diving.
New Report Maps 3,090 Artworks You Can See From Public Spaces
New Report Maps 3,090 Artworks You Can See From Public Spaces In Marion CountyExcerpt from an article by Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis StarFor the first time ever, almost every single piece of public art in Marion County has been counted and mapped. Working block by block, a team scouted all of the artist-made work — including the most visible commissioned sculptures and smallest personal memorials — that someone can see from public streets and alleys. The result is the 85-page report, called “Public Art for All: Marion County Public Art Inventory,” came out Thursday. It redefines public art, which has traditionally often been considered to be large commissioned sculptures and murals that are in highly visible areas. The Indy Arts Council and City of Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission joined with Rokh Research & Design Studio, which works on cultural equity as it fosters connections between people and places, to put together the report. The total number of works? An astounding 3,090 as of August 2021. It’s a major departure from the Indy Arts Council’s Public Art Directory which had 616 county public art listings at the same time. “When a lot of people are thinking about public art, sometimes it’s very narrow. But when we took on this study, some of the work we were finding didn’t fit into such a narrow category, but we recognize it as art. You know it when you see it,” author and lead researcher Danicia Monét Malone of Rokh said. “So we had to broaden the definition so as to have that sense of equity in the study itself. There’s no way we could have a conversation about spatial justice or spatial equity if we were looking at it through such a limited lens.” Read the full article and learn more about the report.Â
Indiana Limestone Symposium participants pose with statues carved from limestone. Image Courtesy The Herald Times. Limestone Month invites experienced and new artists to learn carving skillsExcerpt from an article by Luzane Draughon in The Herald TimesCarving something in stone makes it more permanent than other forms of media, something participants in the Indiana Limestone Symposium know well, since many travels to Ellettsville year after year to chip away at limestone to better learn the craft. Sturgeon said Indiana limestone is the best building stone for three reasons: the amount of stone, its versatility and its uniformity. The beds of limestone are thick, meaning large pieces can be carved from one block. It’s durable enough to be on a building but soft enough to have intricate designs. Finally, its uniform texture is appealing and smooth. “There’s really no other natural material from such a limited geographic area that’s made such a big impact,†she said. “So it’s really special to our community. It’s also impacted who we are as a community, our local heritage.†Learn more about the Indiana Limestone Symposium here.
Bob Buchanan, Arlon Bayliss, and Mark Buchanan look at designs for one of the RAB sculptures. Image Courtesy Carmel Monthly Magazine. Arlon Bayliss and bo-mar Industries: Creating an Artistic Tribute to Classic Cars of IndianaExcerpt from an article in Carmel Monthly MagazineIn the early 1900s there were more than 100 automobile manufacturers in Indiana. Many of them are recognized as iconic expressions of invention and ingenuity in the history of the American automobile. The city of Carmel commissioned Bayliss and the bo-mar team to create four RAB sculptures that will celebrate Indiana’s classic cars in an unprecedented display along the 96th Street Corridor—each [unique] sculpture will feature artistic interpretations of the classic cars Marmon, Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg (ACD), Stutz and Studebaker – each of which were designed and built in Indiana during the first half of the 20th century when America first began its affinity with automobiles. “Great public art is an important part of our mission in Carmel to create a city that stands apart for its beauty and quality of life,†said Mayor Jim Brainard. “As this corridor is home to so many automobile dealerships, we felt it would be appropriate to celebrate the beauty and genius of Indiana’s classic cars and the remarkable contributions they made to the industry.†Learn more and see the sculpture designs here. Dates and opportunities to keep an eye on:
Job Opportunities:
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Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Click here to update your email preferences. The Indiana Arts Commission is dedicated to the vision of the arts everywhere, every day, for everyone in Indiana. The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) is an agency of State Government funded by the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. @INArtsCommission facebook |
Hoosier History Highlights: Jessamyn West Born In North Vernon
July 17 – July 23The Week in Indiana History |
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   “If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.†—Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009)    Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. He was dubbed the “King of Pop” and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Take an “armchair tour” of the Indiana Statehouse
Answers: 1. b  2. b  3. a  4. a  5. b Answer to “Hoosier Guess Who”:  Actress Carol Lombard, born in Fort Wayne on October 6, 1908, died in a plane crash returning home from Indianapolis on January 16, 1942. |
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1919   The United States Army motor convoy arrived at Fort Wayne.The 60 vehicles were escorted into the city where the trucks were parked and inspected by the public. The transcontinental trip of the big convoy was one of the greatest publicity stunts attempted in the history of the country. Its purpose was to boost the good roads movement and to stimulate recruiting. The convoy was to demonstrate the purpose of long-distance motor transportation.
1946   The Indiana Bell phone company ran newspaper ads urging customers to “please use long distance sparingly.â€Â Local distance calls were at an all-time high. The company said there were just not enough facilities to take care of all calls properly. Although new switchboards were being added as quickly as possible, there were current shortages of the metals, textiles, rubber, and lumber that were required by the telephone equipment. Customers were advised to avoid calling long distance unless it was really necessary.
1966   President Lyndon Johnson made two visits to the Hoosier State.  In Indianapolis, he spoke at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on the Circle.  He then traveled south to Vincennes and designated the George Rogers Clark Memorial a national park.  “This is going to be a very beautiful park,†the President said, adding that “it will include the memorial to George Rogers Clark that the people of Indiana built, with federal help in the 1930s.† A walnut table used by Johnson was a special historical item used by former President William Henry Harrison during his term as territorial governor.
1968   The singing group called The Jackson 5 left their home in Gary to go to Detroit to audition for Motown Records. They were signed by famed record producer Berry Gordy and within a year were gaining national attention.  They had four consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. They also had 16 Top-40 singles. As a group they sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
THE LAST PERFORMANCE FOR “SPONGEBOB” TODAY AT 2:00
OLD NATIONAL Events Plaza And The EVSC Foundation & EVSC PRESENT “SPONGEBOB”
(SHOW STARTS AT 2:00 TODAY)
The Summer Musical provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in fine arts and culture through a Broadway-style production. Beyond receiving exposure to the arts, students who participate also develop confidence, character, teamwork, and many other valuable lifelong skills.
One of the coolest things about the Summer Musical is that all proceeds of the event fund scholarships, grants, and professional student experiences—further enhancing public education in our community! Together in 2021, the EVSC Foundation and PEF raised more than $1,343,000 (combined) for these important student and teacher programs in the EVSC.
This year, we are pleased to announce that our 34th annual show will be “The SpongeBob Musicalâ€, held July 14-16 at 7 p.m. and July 17 at 2 p.m. at the Old National Events Plaza. The program runs for approximately 6 weeks, and students from 7th – 12th grade can participate in the cast, orchestra and crew. Students interested in auditioning or being part of the crew or orchestra can click here for applications and other pertinent information. If you want to keep up with our latest news and updates on the musical, follow us on Facebook.