I just found out that I belong to "The Dumbest Generation." In Sunday's Washington Post, "Millennials Rising" author Neil Howe, in an article titled "The Kids are Alright, but their parents ...," says Americans born from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s "have performed the worst on [...]
You knew this was coming: "Gun club, police chief indicted in boy's Uzi death." The kid should not have been handling a loaded Uzi.
[...]"Poliovirus infects only a few kinds of nerve cells, but what it infects it destroys. In the most dreaded cases, the virus spreads from the bloodstream into the neurons of the brain stem, the cells that allow you to breathe and swallow. To stay alive, a person has to [...]
I'm no expert, as Lawrence Cheek is, but I like our new airport just fine, so much more than other airports I've visited, and such an improvement over our old outdated one.
Cheek is the Seattle architect who critiqued the design of the new $1.1 billion terminal of [...]
A couple of The Star's conservative syndicated columnists recently cited, with appropriate outrage, a new study showing the alleged civic illiteracy of Americans.
You know, more of us can identify the "American Idol" judges than a line from the Gettysburg Address. That sort of thing.
It probably never occured to them [...]
State-sanctioned religion claimed another victory Nov. 17 when the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that purchasers of the "In God We Trust" license plate are rightly spared the $15 fee slapped on users of other specialty plates.
With nearly one-third of the state's 6.4 million vehicles bearing the American flag-bedecked tags, [...]
When a store owner in Decatur, Ind., displayed the American flag upside down as a sign of distress shortly after the Nov. 4 election, he called it an act of solidarity with John McCain who, like he, was a Vietnam War veteran.
Did it occur to him, or those who interviewed [...]
I've been away from Alaska for 20 years, but the elevation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the GOP VP candidate took me back, figuratively, to the Last Frontier. I tried to remember if I ever saw her when she was doing local TV in Anchorage. (I didn't.)
Amid all the [...]
I've been away from Alaska for 20 years, but the elevation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the GOP VP candidate took me back, figuratively, to the Last Frontier. I tried to remember if I ever saw her when she was doing local TV in Anchorage. (I didn't.)
Amid all the [...]
You can count me out of the crowd of people willing to part with $22 to see the "Bodies" exhibit in Downtown Indianapolis.
It's not the exhibit necessarily that gives me the creeps, but the way the bodies were obtained. The remains, the Star reports, are "unclaimed bodies from the [...]
Cable TV news went nonstop, full tilt with its coverage last Friday after the news got out that "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert had collapsed and died while at work at NBC. Understandably, NBC used Sunday's "Meet the Press" time slot to pay tribute to the late journalist with [...]
The latest buzzword in the 2008 presidential campaign is "appeasement." President Bush used the term, complete with imagery of Nazi tanks rolling into Poland, in his speech from Israel last week. The comments have been widely understood as a veiled attack on Barack Obama, who has suggested he would be [...]
Seven score and three years ago, one of our distinguished forefathers spoke of divine retribution visited upon America for its treatment of black people.
You may have heard about this one in school. Here's an excerpt:
"If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the [...]
Hoosiers, uncharacteristically greedy for glory, hoped to ice their long-awaited cake of a contested Democratic presidential primary by making it decisive.
I'm saying they did just that, or should have, and the stubborn Clintons need to make it happen.
Say it ain't so, Hillary. You didn't win Indiana, not when you consider [...]
A Doubting Thomas spoke up in an online comment about last Sunday's editorial about illiteracy in Marion County. He couldn't believe that one in five of his neighbors is functionally illiterate. Maybe one in 20, he wrote, but even that seemed high to him.
The figure [...]
The Democratic candidates who could be the first woman or first black president are fueling the unwinnable argument of whether Americans are more sexist or racist. One presidential race won't end that debate.
But recent news stories show that throughout the world, throughout its many cultures, the evidence is [...]
Because "we" -- and I mean the media -- stand accused of giving Libertarian candidates short shrift, I'd like to compliment Sean Shepard for racking up impressive performances as he campaigns for the special election in the 7th Congressional District.
Our hourlong Editorial Board meeting with Shepard was most engaging. Shepard [...]
Some issues seem to defy rational debate. Sadly, it seems that illegal immigration is becoming one of them.
State Sen. Mike Delph this year introduced a flawed but hardly draconian bill that would target businesses that knowingly employ illegal immigrants.
Delph has been willing to [...]
In today's IndyStar.com: The Fishers School Board accepts the resignation of Fishers High School Principal Scott Syverson, suspended after a drunken driving arrest in December. Considering he worked with youth, it's really the only plausible outcome.
Also, from NPR's morning program, another reason to not [...]
In today's IndyStar.com: The Fishers School Board accepts the resignation of Fishers High School Principal Scott Syverson, suspended after a drunken driving arrest in December. Considering he worked with youth, it's really the only plausible outcome.
Also, from NPR's morning program, another reason to not [...]
State legislators won’t be winning any Oscars for their recent performance as “insulted” politicians (see today's editorial).
Indignant, state senators rejected a bill, offered by Sen. Patricia Miller, that would have required legislators to wait one year after leaving office before they could become lobbyists for the [...]
State legislators won’t be winning any Oscars for their recent performance as “insulted” politicians (see today's editorial).
Indignant, state senators rejected a bill, offered by Sen. Patricia Miller, that would have required legislators to wait one year after leaving office before they could become lobbyists for the [...]
America lost one of its true-to-the-bone poets in January when John Stewart succumbed to an aneurysm at age . . . could John Stewart have been 68?
Afraid so, fellow boomers. Our balladeers are old enough to leave us by way of natural causes nowadays; and the California kid who sang [...]
America lost one of its true-to-the-bone poets in January when John Stewart succumbed to an aneurysm at age . . . could John Stewart have been 68?
Afraid so, fellow boomers. Our balladeers are old enough to leave us by way of natural causes nowadays; and the California kid who sang [...]
Maybe I just need to move to a monastery or a mountaintop in Idaho. But I couldn't help feeling a sense of dread over recent stories about the effect of recession fears on consumer behavior.
My dread is not about any recession.
The Star quoted frustrated sellers and prospective buyers of fancy [...]
Maybe I just need to move to a monastery or a mountaintop in Idaho. But I couldn't help feeling a sense of dread over recent stories about the effect of recession fears on consumer behavior.
My dread is not about any recession.
The Star quoted frustrated sellers and prospective buyers of fancy [...]
Emotions likely will run high next week as the nation marks the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Plenty of pundits will wax on about what it all has meant, and still means, for a nation that has endured more than 50 million abortions since 1973.
To [...]
Emotions likely will run high next week as the nation marks the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Plenty of pundits will wax on about what it all has meant, and still means, for a nation that has endured more than 50 million abortions since 1973.
To [...]
Two babies and their mothers are killed, and we shake our heads and wonder and worry. Listening to callers on local radio Tuesday afternoon, I heard desperation and concern.
Dan Carpenter, in his column today, "When Answers Escape," does a great job of capturing our feeling [...]
Two babies and their mothers are killed, and we shake our heads and wonder and worry. Listening to callers on local radio Tuesday afternoon, I heard desperation and concern.
Dan Carpenter, in his column today, "When Answers Escape," does a great job of capturing our feeling [...]
We receive plenty of letters blaming the lack of parental involvement for failing students and schools.
But how do you get parents to become involved? IPS’ School 57 is going to make them sign a contract. It will become the first “fundamental” school in IPS. Fundamental [...]
We receive plenty of letters blaming the lack of parental involvement for failing students and schools.
But how do you get parents to become involved? IPS’ School 57 is going to make them sign a contract. It will become the first “fundamental” school in IPS. Fundamental [...]
If you don’t have a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops or a master bedroom with a spa bath, double sinks and his-and-her walk-in closets, you must live in a real dump.
At least that’s what some real estate agents, TV shows, home builders and retailers tell us [...]
If you don?t have a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops or a master bedroom with a spa bath, double sinks and his-and-her walk-in closets, you must live in a real dump.
At least that?s what some real estate agents, TV shows, home builders and retailers tell us [...]
It’s easy to take democracy for granted here in the United States, where we’ve enjoyed mostly smooth transitions of power for nearly 220 years. But the headlines from Pakistan and Kenya demonstrate just how fragile democracy can be.
As Kenyans kill each other based on tribal differences, and as that [...]
It’s easy to take democracy for granted here in the United States, where we’ve enjoyed mostly smooth transitions of power for nearly 220 years. But the headlines from Pakistan and Kenya demonstrate just how fragile democracy can be.
As Kenyans kill each other based on tribal differences, and as that [...]
Is the community outraged enough over the death of TaJanay Bailey? Of course. This month, we’ve received many letters to the editor about the murder of the 3-year-old, and we’ve published 37, including Saturday and Sunday letters. Some express anger while others make thoughtful suggestions for protecting kids.
TaJanay spent her [...]
Is the community outraged enough over the death of TaJanay Bailey? Of course. This month, we’ve received many letters to the editor about the murder of the 3-year-old, and we’ve published 37, including Saturday and Sunday letters. Some express anger while others make thoughtful suggestions for protecting kids.
TaJanay spent her [...]
Ryan White would be turning 36 on Tuesday, but — as we know — he was only 18 when he died in 1990 at Riley Hospital with his family and pal Elton John at his side. Ryan had become an international celebrity for his courageous campaign of addressing the stigma [...]
Ryan White would be turning 36 on Tuesday, but — as we know — he was only 18 when he died in 1990 at Riley Hospital with his family and pal Elton John at his side. Ryan had become an international celebrity for his courageous campaign of addressing the stigma [...]
When I first voted in 1980, it seemed possible that soon I’d be able to vote for a woman for president. Twenty-seven years later that hasn’t happened, but now there’s Hillary Clinton fighting for the Democratic nomination.
Her candidacy offers endless fodder for columnists; each day The Star’s wire [...]
When I first voted in 1980, it seemed possible that soon I’d be able to vote for a woman for president. Twenty-seven years later that hasn’t happened, but now there’s Hillary Clinton fighting for the Democratic nomination.
Her candidacy offers endless fodder for columnists; each day The Star’s wire [...]
The condescension with which some liberal types greeted Marion County tax protesters is puzzling, because it shows impatience for the democracy we thought they embraced. And it’s disturbing, because not even the visible and hard facts about crime, abandoned houses, etc., can diminish the contempt for middle class concerns.
The condescension with which some liberal types greeted Marion County tax protesters is puzzling, because it shows impatience for the democracy we thought they embraced. And it’s disturbing, because not even the visible and hard facts about crime, abandoned houses, etc., can diminish the contempt for middle class concerns.
News that researchers have discovered how to reprogram mature human cells to act much like embryonic stem cells has been hailed as a huge breakthrough.
It also should be seen as vindication for those who argue that standing up for ethical principles is not the same as standing in [...]
News that researchers have discovered how to reprogram mature human cells to act much like embryonic stem cells has been hailed as a huge breakthrough.
It also should be seen as vindication for those who argue that standing up for ethical principles is not the same as standing in [...]
Sixty years ago this month, the newly founded United Nations unknowingly laid the groundwork for a miracle of sorts. The fulfillment of Biblical prophecy made thousands of years ago. They voted 33 for, 13 against with 10 abstentions, to enact UN Resolution 181 which divided Palestine into two entities: One [...]
Sixty years ago this month, the newly founded United Nations unknowingly laid the groundwork for a miracle of sorts. The fulfillment of Biblical prophecy made thousands of years ago. They voted 33 for, 13 against with 10 abstentions, to enact UN Resolution 181 which divided Palestine into two entities: One [...]
Tuesday’s Democratic debate in Philadelphia was a sharp reminder of why Hillary Clinton has always had high negatives in the polls.
In a question to the former First Lady, moderator Tim Russert noted that President Clinton had requested all White House communications between the First Couple not be made public [...]
Recently comments on this blog were posted by a Star staff member, which included offensive, insensitive and wholly inappropriate words in reference to Indianapolis/Marion County City-County Council President Monroe Gray. Those comments have been removed. These comments absolutely did not meet the Standards of The Star. I apologize to Council [...]
Robert Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University, who has assisted The Star Editorial Board on numerous editorials and projects on the state's dropout crisis, has a report on dropout factories out today. Let's just say that Indiana's usual suspects are on the list. Yours truly will discuss this tomorrow [...]
"Worthless." "Pathetic." "A blatant slap to the face of Star readers." As anyone would expect, there are people disagreeing with this editorial page's endorsement of Mayor Bart Peterson for another term, along with the first round of endorsements in the city-county council races. They will have [...]
One would have thought the minstrel shows, those race-baiting productions in which Blacks were stereotyped as lazy, shiftless and dumb, went out with the end of Jim Crow segregation. Not at all. And worse, it comes courtesy of Black people ourselves.
One can see it daily on Delaware [...]
One would have thought the minstrel shows, those race-baiting productions in which Blacks were wrongly stereotyped as lazy, shiftless and dumb, went out with the end of Jim Crow segregation. Not at all. And worse, these latest productions come courtesy of Black people ourselves.
One can see it [...]
One would have thought the minstrel shows, those race-baiting productions in which Blacks were wrongly stereotyped as lazy, shiftless and dumb, went out with the end of Jim Crow segregation. Not at all. And worse, these latest productions come courtesy of Black people ourselves.
One can see it [...]
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What you do speaks so loud, I can't hear what you're saying." That quote came to my mind recently when I pulled up behind a car at a stoplight. The car sported one of the new "In God we trust" license plates and in the back [...]
Why do we pay attention to Paris Hilton? What has she done in her life that warrants our attention? Her claim to fame is her last name, her looks and her bad behavior.
Parents, if you don't want your kids to grow up and become like her, then you have [...]
Why do we pay attention to Paris Hilton? What has she done in her life that warrants our attention? Her claim to fame is her last name, her looks and her bad behavior.
Parents, if you don't want your kids to grow up and become like her, then you have [...]
Based on the immigration de?bate in Washington, you’d think the U.S. actually has control over
what’s happening.
How ethno-, geo-, ego-centric can we be?
America’s newest immigrants didn’t ask our permission to enter our country. We couldn’t stop
them, and now we couldn’t re?verse the flow if we [...]
Based on the immigration deď€bate in Washington, you’d think the U.S. actually has control over
what’s happening.
How ethno-, geo-, ego-centric can we be?
America’s newest immigrants didn’t ask our permission to enter our country. We couldn’t stop
them, and now we couldn’t reď€verse the flow if we [...]
From Barack Obama’s alleged “audacity of hope,” to Rudy Giuliani’s declaration last week that the federal government “should be accountable” – whatever that means – all the aspiring presidential candidates are promising a revolution, an overthrow, essentially, an end to the lack of restraint, fiscal and otherwise, that typifies the [...]
From Barack Obama’s alleged “audacity of hope,” to Rudy Giuliani’s declaration last week that the federal government “should be accountable” – whatever that means – all the aspiring presidential candidates are promising a revolution, an overthrow, essentially, an end to the lack of restraint, fiscal and otherwise, that typifies the [...]
1) City-county council boss Monroe Gray's move to not stand up during the Pledge of Allegiance wouldn't be a problem if he were either a Jehovah's Witness or had ever expressed qualms about the admittedly archaic and outdated notion of swearing loyalty to one's nation. Both reasons would be sensible. [...]
1) City-county council boss Monroe Gray's move to not stand up during the Pledge of Allegiance wouldn't be a problem if he were either a Jehovah's Witness or had ever expressed qualms about the admittedly archaic and outdated notion of swearing loyalty to one's nation. Both reasons would be sensible. [...]
Yours truly will be discussing local issues with Abdul Hakim-Shabazz on his show tomorrow morning, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WXNT-AM 1430. Check it out and come back to Expresso to discuss.
[...]Yours truly will be discussing local issues with Abdul Hakim-Shabazz on his show tomorrow morning, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on WXNT-AM 1430. Check it out and come back to Expresso to discuss.
[...]All the focus on Indianapolis Public Schools this week has been on the computer security blunder that led to the leaking of medical data and other sensitive data on some 7,500 of its students. As embarrassing as that revelation is to the district, its 2006 annual performance report is a [...]
All the focus on Indianapolis Public Schools this week has been on the computer security blunder that led to the leaking of medical data and other sensitive data on some 7,500 of its students. As embarrassing as that revelation is to the district, its 2006 annual performance report is a [...]
To news side colleague Andy Gammill: Great job uncovering this blunder.
To the district's IT staff: Great job would not be an apt description of this release of sensitive teacher data all over the 'net."
To Eugene White: Methinks some housecleaning -- and some new technology -- are in [...]
To news side colleague Andy Gammill: Great job uncovering this blunder.
To the district's IT staff: Great job would not be an apt description of this release of sensitive teacher data all over the 'net."
To Eugene White: Methinks some housecleaning -- and some new technology -- are in [...]
1) While Gov. Daniels certainly needs to clean house, the departure of Budget Director Chuck Schalliol is one that will definitely hurt the governor's administration. Not only has Schalliol been good at minding the fiscal numbers -- his key job -- but he has been crucial in moving through such [...]
1) While Gov. Daniels certainly needs to clean house, the departure of Budget Director Chuck Schalliol is one that will definitely hurt the governor's administration. Not only has Schalliol been good at minding the fiscal numbers -- his key job -- but he has been crucial in moving through such [...]
The sad reality is that all violent crimes are in some way born of hate. I am sickened at the thought of any human being acting out in violence against any other human being. Thankfully, our society decided hundreds of years ago that acts of violence perpetrated against innocent individuals [...]
The sad reality is that all violent crimes are in some way born of hate. I am sickened at the thought of any human being acting out in violence against any other human being. Thankfully, our society decided hundreds of years ago that acts of violence perpetrated against innocent individuals [...]
"Why are the taxpayers forced to pay for private organizations choosing of candidates?"
-- Brad in Greenwood, in response to The Star's reports on snafus during this year's primary election.
""I feel like the inspectors are better prepared than they have ever been."
--Marion County Clerk Beth White, to [...]
Apparently city-county council President Monroe Gray is none too happy with the investigative work being done by The Star's Brendan O'Shaughnessy. How do we know? The council leader, already given a slap on the wrist by the city's ethics commission for failing to reveal his relationship with a prime contractor [...]
"Why are the taxpayers forced to pay for private organizations choosing of candidates?"
-- Brad in Greenwood, in response to The Star's reports on snafus during this year's primary election.
""I feel like the inspectors are better prepared than they have ever been."
--Marion County Clerk Beth White, to [...]
Apparently city-county council President Monroe Gray is none too happy with the investigative work being done by The Star's Brendan O'Shaughnessy. How do we know? The council leader, already given a slap on the wrist by the city's ethics commission for failing to reveal his relationship with a prime contractor [...]
One must wonder whether Marion County Clerk Beth White was advised to watch "By The People," the 2006 film featuring her predecessor, Doris Anne Sadler. And if she was told to do so, one must wonder if she took the advice.
Because if White did, she may been able to [...]
One must wonder whether Marion County Clerk Beth White was advised to watch "By The People," the 2006 film featuring her predecessor, Doris Anne Sadler. And if she was told to do so, one must wonder if she took the advice.
Because if White did, she may been able to [...]
As an incumbent facing little in the way of challenge this year, these should be the best of times for Mayor Bart Peterson. But it isn't. From the eighth consecutive year of rising crime to the latest defeat of his Indy Works consolidation plan, His Honor hardly has reason to [...]
As an incumbent facing little in the way of challenge this year, these should be the best of times for Mayor Bart Peterson. But it isn't. From the eighth consecutive year of rising crime to the latest defeat of his Indy Works consolidation plan, His Honor hardly has reason to [...]
For those thinking about yesterday's immigration march, here are some thoughts on the whole issue of illegal immigration from March of 2005. The points made in it still apply:
Before 1882, there really was no such thing as illegal immigration. Save for prostitutes and ex-convicts, an emmigrating Mexican or Chinese [...]
For those thinking about yesterday's immigration march, here are some thoughts on the whole issue of illegal immigration from March of 2005. The points made in it still apply:
Before 1882, there really was no such thing as illegal immigration. Save for prostitutes and ex-convicts, an emmigrating Mexican or Chinese [...]
Now that I'm back from working on The Star Editorial Board's series on chronic truancy, here are some thoughts about events of the past few weeks:
1) State Sen. Luke Kenley's original property tax reform plan -- which would have transferred school funding and part of the child welfare funding [...]
Interesting piece in The Washington Post about news media policies that shield the names of alleged sexual assault victims. Many news outlets still are not publishing the name of the accuser at the center of the Duke lacrosse team story, a rape story that proved not to be true. The [...]
While Beth Murphy wrote about our response to crime in Indy, I'm writing about our response to global hunger. The same fix for both is to overcome the mind-set that the problem is too big for the average person to make a difference. After reading Jim Morris’ article (coming Sunday [...]
“Do something about the crime” has been the mantra in our world-class city as of late. But another feeling often creeps into a resident’s psyche: apathy.
What can we do when a neighborhood Crime Watch captain is held up at gunpoint while walking her kindergartener home and the principal has to [...]
I write this on Good Friday, and as a Christian my thoughts are on the death and resurrection of Jesus, who is at the heart of my religion.
I don’t want to force my beliefs on others, who must follow their own paths. But in this spring season of renewal, I [...]
How frustrating! Indiana’s chance to take a stand against the genocide in Darfur is likely lost because two state senators decided to flex their muscles. This, despite widespread support for a bill that calls for divestment of state pension funds in companies doing business with Sudan.
A state Senate committee [...]
Tony Snow, Elizabeth Edwards, many of our loved ones, friends and neighbors -- all diagnosed with cancer. If this disease were contagious, the media would call this an outbreak. Although first thoughts for those newly diagnosed with cancer -- or with recurrences in the case of Snow and Edwards -- [...]
Even though the government of Sudan denies it, the rest of the world knows well that genocide is occurring in that African nation, where more than 2 million Darfuris have fled to refugee camps and some 400,000 are dead in the conflict that pits rebels with government-backed militias. The killings, [...]
What Indianapolis really needs right now is a great advertising campaign to lure residents into its favorite neighborhoods. Estridge home builders took the names of Indianapolis communities, such as Irvington and Lockerbie, and now markets these “collections” in areas outside Marion County. Have you seen those commercials? The neighborhood [...]
A glance at the Page One graphic in Friday’s Star shows how Central Indiana hospital systems have been expanding to the edges of Marion County and beyond. The latest to announce a new facility is St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, which will build on the Far Southside.
Clarian [...]
U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer accuses the Democrats of politicizing the issues involving the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. How, Mr. Buyer? By holding hearings that revealed the neglect, indifference and incompetence that resulted in grievously injured Iraqi war vets being warehoused in squalor?
When the Republicans controlled the House, Buyer [...]
Beating up homeless people, as reported on in The Star by Will Higgins and Rob Schneider on Saturday, March 3, is an old and ugly sport commonly attributed to neo-nazis, gangbangers and other bad actors.
But respectable society gets in its licks as well. In fact, law-abiders just might be the [...]
