TERRE HAUTE —
Smoking ban a hypocritical law
John 8:32 reads, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The majority of our Indiana citizens have sheepishly accepted the Indiana smoking ban law, never questioning the legislature’s true motives.
On July 1, 2012, Indiana, a state ratified on the principles of self-rule, equality before the law, and honoring the private property rights of its citizens, passed a law completely contrary to these time-honored principles.
Section 23 of the Indiana Constitution reads, “The General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens.” But instead of the legislature sponsoring equal justice before the law and honoring the Constitution by passing a bill that uniformly applies to everyone, the legislature has given rise to the power of dispensation.
Just like the Roman Catholic Church set aside law in particular cases for its favored elite, the Indiana legislature has set aside the smoking ban law for its favored classes, such as the horse racing industry, fraternal clubs and casinos. But for the legislature to grant privileges to its special interests is to admit that the law was not based upon necessity or righteousness but only hypocrisy.
I have no compassion for a government that will use force to impose its ideals of morality upon a society. I don’t care if the bureaucrat tells you that the smoking ban was passed solely for the benefit of the public.
The truth is that this law is just another revenue-generating scheme for the government. Just because the smoking ban can make the government payroll swell doesn’t mean the legislature should view it as progress. I mourn for the old veteran, the addicted and the poor small business owner who will be subject to the excessive smoking fines of this law. The government will measure the revenue this bill will generate but the government cannot measure the economic and social pain this bill will cause to the citizen.
The truth is this law was written to increase the power of the state over individual liberty. The Indiana business owner will now be forced to put up nonsmoking signs and remove individuals who refuse to put out their cigarette. And if the land owner doesn’t comply with these regulations, he or she could face $1,000 charges. Smoking is a legal activity and it should not be prohibited on private property.
In a free society the private business owner would have the power to allow or not allow smoking on the land which he has title. I’m not a smoker, but I’m willing to stand up for a man’s right to live his own life. This prohibition by the nanny state will undermine respect for the law because it fines behavior many Hoosiers engage in.
This is a country of freedom, and a country of freedom should tolerate a man’s free will; not coerce him with threats in order that he lives another individual’s will.
— Clarence Leatherbury
IU law student
Indianapolis
Local ‘Y’ shows support for group
We would like to extend our appreciation to The Terre Haute YMCA for providing a room for the monthly meeting of the Wabash Valley M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis) Self-Help Group. We meet the third Thursday of every month, except January, at 6 p.m.
We approached the YMCA when searching a new location for our monthly meetings. They welcomed us with open arms. We invite any interested persons, individuals with M.S., and caregivers to join us for fellowship and conversation concerning questions and any new information concerning M.S.
We are preparing for our annual Wabash Valley M.S. Walk on Sept. 15 at St. Mary-of-the-Woods campus at 10 a.m. We welcome anyone interested in walking or volunteering to contact 1-800-FIGHTMS.
Again, we would like to thank the YMCA for its continued community support and support of our organization.
— Connie Hinsenkamp
Facilitator of Wabash Valley
M.S. Self-Help-Group
Terre Haute
Opinion
READERS’ FORUM: July 24, 2012
- Opinion
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Mark Bennett: High-profile mural connects historical dots from city to river
At 96 feet wide and 2 stories tall, the power, impact and value of the Wabash will be evident.
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EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
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READERS' FORUM: May 19, 2013
• Flawed reasoning on gun checks
• A hint of things yet to come?
• Are the ‘makers’ doing the ‘taking’?
• The ‘Obamination’ is finally revealed
• Pondering effects of Obamacare
• Fantasizing on the ‘Apocalypse’
• Another view of Hinduism
• Great experience for HCMS students
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FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
Given the nature of politicians, grand claims of accomplishments and overblown rhetoric about “historic” efforts are to be expected at the close of any legislative session.
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RONN MOTT: Mushrooms = Hoosier happiness
Someone wrote or said a few years ago a statement that would define the word “Hoosier.” According to this urban legend, a Hoosier is somebody dribbling a basketball around the Indy 500 while eating a fried, morel mushroom. It did not define me, at the time.
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EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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READERS' FORUM: May 17, 2013
Hinduism doesn’t deserve ridicule — Shefali Purohit, Terre Haute
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RONN MOTT: Israel’s Air Force
Recently the Israeli Air Force bombed and rocketed a convoy leaving Syria going to Lebanon with rockets that were going to be used to attack Israel. It did not get there. It was destroyed.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
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Readers' Forum: May 16, 2013
Moving Deming folks sounds ‘nuts’
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Readers' Forum: May 15, 2013
Participants rise to the challenge: I would like to write a letter congratulating all the Wabash Valley Roadrunners that competed in the One America Indianapolis Mini Marathon.
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RONN MOTT: Media merry-go-round
Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows. That isn’t a unique phrase to this writer or to this era in time. But, when it comes to the musical chairs of broadcasting, it certainly applies.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops
Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?
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READERS' FORUM: May 14, 2013
ISTEP failure exposes flaws
Community hasn’t changed its spirit
Egregious threat to nation’s defense
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READERS' FORUM: May 13, 2013
• Women’s group criticizes Bucshon
• Let’s hope this doesn’t come true
• Many get thanks for fest success
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MARK BENNETT: Life at face value: Mom’s simple advice still presents a valuable daily challenge
Most moms don’t base their advice on scientific research.
(Unless, of course, your mother is a scientific researcher. If so, carry a No. 2 pencil and take good notes.) -
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
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GUEST COLUMN: Nursing more than medicine and bandages
Being a nurse … Like most nurses, I chose this profession because I had a strong desire to help others and no other career would allow me the opportunity to touch lives the way I have been able to through nursing.
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READERS' FORUM: May 12, 2013
Vigo Youth Football, entering 45th year, seeks new support
Media ignoring important case on abortions
Proud to be old-fashioned
Guns in school? What’s next?
Promoting hate not a ‘brave’ act
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FLASHPOINT: Again in 2013 General Assembly, middle class generally ignored
Last year, the people of Indiana entrusted the Republican Party with some of their most precious possessions.
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RONN MOTT: ‘Raccoons II’
In the Algonquin Indian language, raccoon means “working with hands.” They are really cute little fellows until they injure a child, or a pet, or leave feces around where you certainly do not want it.
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Readers’ Forum: May 11, 2013
I just wanted to express my disappointment at the lack of response shown by President Obama after the Boston Marathon bombings.
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Readers' Forum: May 10, 2013
CANDLES event plants new seed: On April 26, CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center hosted an event called “Sowing Seeds of Peace: A Celebration of Spring” at the Apple House. Our purpose was to introduce people to our concept of forgiveness as a seed for peace.
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RONN MOTT: ‘NRA Convention’
At the recent NRA Convention in Houston, Texas, where the right-wing political hot air almost lifted the convention's building off its foundation, the NRA trotted out the forever yours political dame of the right wing, Sarah Palin. Sarah did not disappoint.
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EDITORIAL: Memo to U.S.A.: You can ‘SPPRAK’ just as we do in Vigo County
Our kids, truly, are ‘Making a Difference’
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Some words in praise of boring government — Indiana’s
A conservative Republican governor has super majorities in both branches of the legislature. One might suspect such one-party government leads to major changes in public policy. This did not happen in 2013 in Indiana.
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EDITORIAL: Doc’s prescient prescription
Viewed through a 2013 prism, Doc Bowen’s response to the AIDS epidemic looks merely prudent, routine.
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RONN MOTT: ‘Heritage gone’
The last high school I attended was being torn down just a few days ago. I didn't learn about it until I saw classmate Dick Mills on television and a display he had put together about State football championships in the middle 1930's. I began elementary school with Dick Mills. That was Matthew South Elementary School on South Sixth Street in Clinton, Indiana. After seeing Dick on TV, it dawned on me that all schools I had attended in Clinton have been torn down.
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LIZ CIANCONE: We always want more than we need
Washington seems more preoccupied with the unemployment rate than they are about the constant stalemate. Still with thousands out of work and the unemployment rate hovering somewhere between 7 percent and 9 percent, it does deserve more than a passing nod.
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FLASHPOINT: Indiana lawmakers reinforced school safety mechanisms
Nothing is more important to me than the safety of my children. Every parent has felt that instant, apprehensive rush when their child plays too close to the street or falls down while playing soccer and it is our responsibility as parents to implement every safety mechanism we can muster to protect our kids.
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