Logansport Pharos-Tribune from Logansport, Indiana • Page 4

Page A4 Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Indiana, Friday, December 4,1998 OPINION EDITORIAL Domestic Violence Preventing more senseless tragedies One of the oldest sayings associated with law enforcement is that criminals always return to the scene of the crime. That is sadly true with respect to cases of domestic violence a crime that continues repeatedly when batterers are allowed to intimidate, threaten and destroy the lives of their family members. They commit what society calls a crime, and they return to the scene their own homes if their acts are not reported. Domestic violence is not a popular issue to talk about. Its victims face plenty of humiliation before they make the first phone call to a counselor or relative for help or to authorities for protection.

But there are reasons why those calls have to be made, and a series of articles written by Kris Baker this week in the Pharos? Tribune point to them. The encouraging news from this series is that families can be healed. The tragic news that makes the best case for reporting domestic violence and seeking help for it is characterized by stories of people like Kayla McKean. Columnist Myriam Marquez of the Orlando Sentinel recently detailed the story of her short life. On Thanksgiving Day, her father called 911 to report her missing.

Later, he confessed to killing his 6-year-old daughter and burying her. As Marquez notes, most children who are found dead of abuse are killed by a parent or relative not a gun or an illicit drug. Marquez describes the girl as "passed around from one home to another, beaten up like a raggedy doll sometimes she had black circles around the eyes like a sad raccoon." But her 24-year-old father blamed the marks on a bicycle accident and their dog, not the man he saw in the mirror. Her injuries were reported at least three times, but even as social workers investigated Kayla's father, a man with a violent, criminal record, laws in Florida sided with the parents and not the child. Kayla was doomed to a death sentence.

Stories such as Kayla's give reason to seriously support initiatives that address domestic violence. This week, Gov. Frank O'Bannon proposed lengthening sentences for convicted sex criminals who strike a second time. Perhaps more importantly, O'Bannon proposed that the amount crime victims can receive in Indiana be raised from $10,000 to $15,000 to include the costs of paying for counseling for children who witness violent crimes. A three-year backlog of victims' cases has been eliminated, but the state fund for victims is dry.

Much has to be done to address domestic violence, and talking about it is necessary. The 1999 session of the Indiana General Assembly shqujd produce a budget that adequately provides funds tirns; penalties should protect having to live repeat offenders. serfseless tragedies willfaofbe easyfbu't the legislature has to give local officials more tools to intervene. It's a call legislators have to make so that Hoosier victims can call for help and get it in the future. CLAIRE INCH: (District 25) SSatehouse, (toll 232-8728; Rl- MttNMLB.

SntDfe (District 16) Statoi (toll ftee); P.O. Box 1, Phone, (800) 2135 phone, (800) 47944 46202; phone, PHAROS JkmUNE -Founded 1844 517 E. Broadway, P.O. Box 210, logansport, IN 46947 (219) 722-5000 PHAROS-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD Heather Nava Dave Kitchell THOUGHTS IMAGES vr lUl Berry's World by Jim Berry GEE. DOC, I YOU'D Give AAE A PiU.

OR rWAyee AH NOT COMIVIEMTARY Plethora Of Issues Make Politics Unengaging puniliis constantly concoct new trends thai ituiur," history and common sense. Our lines! invention is the idea that Americans 'have i 1 limn more selfish and imJilTer- ent to national life than ever, Commentators' on the righi are appuli-xt thai ihe public isn't so outraged by President Clinton's behavior to want him impeached Commentators on tlie le'i decry a public so thai it won't support vast new social programv The shared beliel' is that self-absorbed are smothering democracy. Golly, voier turnout in the last congressional election, at 36 percent, was the lowest since I 1 W2. Do modern Americans deserve this Not really. Recent I in The A't'ir York Tinicf Magazine, the joiinialisl Nicholas Leinann proclaimed the airii al uf "government of, hy and lor the comfortable," I'-vpie believe, he wrote, "that government has a 'iy serious obligation lo the middle class (hiit i ihe middle class is in no way obligated to commit lime or money to larger national Me ignored the awkward fact that federal are near historic highs.

21 pen-en i national Then lie "WguetftlfartpriMk-n! hdiel's ROBERT SAMUELSON Syndicated Columnist were alone in ihe world." In the 1880s, most Americans felt "the less government the better," uhscrved James Bryce of Britain. It's also wrong to see voter turnout as the main indicator of public-spiritedness. True, voter iui nout was much higher (often 75 to 80 percent) in ihe 19th century. But comparisons are strained, as Mjdologist Michael Schudson of the University oi California at San Diego shows in a superb new book. "The Good Citizen." For starters, many couldn't vote.

Women couldn't vote in national elections until the ratification of the 19th in Except "The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to hep that right: and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." THOMAS JEFFERSON that nuncm can asjjMJV and B'usrofits as it resources to do tin Lountry's business." What this? It's. not the American' tradition, with hi-Jlorie emphasis on individua'l-' ism and suspicion oi' government. In the the Frenchman dc Tocqtieville wrote that' "an American n.i his private affairs as if he we now call "the issues" was narrow. "The more politics could be understood as team sport and the rivalry of social groups, the more enthusiastically people participated," writes Schudson. But parties weakened with the rise of mass entertainment (vaudeville, movies, baseball) and civil service reform, which cut patronage are you goin' to interest our young men in the country if you have no office to give them when they work for their party?" George Washington Plunkitt, a 19th-century political boss, once asked.

Here lie the deeper causes of receding voter turnout. As politics has become more earnest and abstract it has also become less engaging and less directly connected to people's personal self-interest. There are so many issues that even conscientious citizens can't stay abreast. Democracy requires oversight, but this job increasingly falls for good and ill to interest groups and the press. They devote themselves full time to watching government.

It's doubtful an increase in voter turnout would hjsult in dramatic changes in government policy. indifference, i after the Civil War, it also served as popular entertainment and a job bank. Political parties organized, torchlight parades and sponsored glee clubs. Victorious parties rewarded sup- with government jobs. The postal service was a vast source of on what Reser vfete: Duty, Honor; OPINION PAGE POLICY Latins for publication In Public to PuMlcFonm, P.O.

tovZlO, logmpQrtfF be taxtd at (219) 732-8070. All totters, MmthNj to 400 words and must Intitule Bra writer's addcm and a Tu to PuWlc Forum may month. The Ptanft-TrtbuM rewrwthe right to for publication ami IMf ttw aumbor of lottm tow. Form let- tsra are not accvptod. Bunt will to tot must include a wrHer'sadttm and daytime numbor.

Only and hometown will LEGISLATOR ADDRESSES SENATE RICHARD L06AR: 10 W. Market HSO.MafketTqWf, Indianapolis, IN, phone (31 7) 226-5555; 306 Hart QWaBuJWtoQ. Washington, DC '20510; phone (202) 224-4814. i HOUSE STEVE BUYER: 204A N. Mam Monticsllo, 47960, phone (219) 583-9819, 215 W.

Sycamore Kokomo, 46901, phone Room 326 Cannon, Washington, DC 20515; phone (202) JH9 MorttMltoand Kokomo offices are to 5 p.m. fifth, DIslflct Web site is INDIANA SENATE THOMAS WIATHERWAX: (District 18) StatehomWanapolis, 46202, phone (800) 382-9467; (toll free during session); 32 9420 3012 Woodland Drive, loganspM (2W) 7w-9p. KATIE WOLF: (District 7) Statehouse, phone, (800) 382- 94S7 (toll free); Pfl Box 766, Monticello, 583-4758. MHQE OERY: (District 22) Statehouse, phone (800) (toll free); 530 Robinson West Lafayette, 479'pone (317) 232-9643. MHAM HOUSE MCNMBCUUN; (District 24) (toll free on weekdays during I ant writing to vou in regard lu a Public Forum letter that appeared on Tuesday Nov.

24. headlined "Hcxervisis Fleecing Us." The only 'Tlccrc" I can see arc the poultry feathers between u- writer's ears. The writer' only uses panial iacts to make bis far fetched and obscuret! points. The poor writer must be one of the.nusiiH'otnicd from Pern who thought that Grtssom Air Base was' complexly- closed so he UL-cided to see just hnw fast his corvette would go -ind he drove it down active.runvyay The blue and red. lights the police vehicles said differently.

Mr. Alfred claims that reservists are ripping you off because' when they are deployed to places like Busmrrfconsidered a war zone) they are paid for Sitiu.n. Sundays and holidays. Let's examine hc facts, When people are deployed to a war or areas of they are no longer rovwNts. They have either been ordered duty have been invited to volunteer to'-mei active duly.

When on 'active LEROY A Guest Columnist only, they are members of the active military until released from active duty by the commander-in-chief, orders "expire. While on active duty in' a war zone, all military are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a. week, depending on the mission.requirements commanders give personnel time off at their Vliserction when the mission will permit 1 would like Mr. Alfred to please explain to us all how a reservists can make $6,000 tax-free above and beyond normal pay. and allowances.

If this is theiway he would have you the line to the recruiting office.at Grissom would stvetch all the way from downtown clown town, circus city" (Peru) to the base. Perhaps he means ihat when one is in a war zone, cine may (circum- receive hazardous duty Hlirai People devote most of their time to what matters most to them (their jobs, families and leisure); politics suffers in this competition. Who is to say they are wrong? Robert Samuelson is a columnist for Newsweek. What They Get combat pay. That has been true since World War so what's your point, Mr.

Alfred? At Grissom, we have nearly 30 vacant slots in civil (combat) engineering. Need $6,000, Mr. Alfred? We have an opening for you. Finally, no one sends officers or high ranking NCOs to war zones on one-day tours to check on people. Perhaps someone needs to come and check on you.

Let's see, just where is Peru. Oh, yea, that's in South America, isn't it? When I go on deployment, I don't stay in five-star hotels. They're called GP medium wall tents. I've been to Vietnam and some other not so pleasant places serving this country. I take strong offense at "whiners," "gripers" and "complainers" such as yourself.

No, it's not unfortunate, because duty, honor and country do mean something to me and my fellow reservists. I think Mr. Alfred is living in a vacuum. He is entitled to his opinion. Thank you for your opinion, Mr.

Alfred. Please get a life. Leroy A. Millett is a United States Air Force staff sergeant who resides in Logansport. THORNS ROSES ifiiil a weekly feature rlitil ognizesthc bcsijind mirst of the it cck Suggested irefm run he calnm; Dave Kiichetl at 722-5000.

Roses To Jell' Ihe Logansport High School gradual': who took lime from his sched- ule to speak to aiea students about his lo Antarctica, Jeff lias been to the point in the world where compares stop pointing south, but his compass has always pointed homewaid To city officials who are doing their part to renovate ihe Ivy Tech Stale College campus in E'astgaie Plaza. Through the support' of local govcj'nweMi. more students could be earning college degrees soon, and more homes may be built for low-income students thanks'to a special programmiade available through'Ivy Tech 'and the Area Five Council on Aging and Community VTo Josh Ronch and Brian Bhune.fiie two Pioneer Junior High musicians were recently named to ihe All-Region Band. Not enough young people like you refrain from being distracted tomusicians. To Four County Counseling Center which played a vital part of sponsoring a conference on Wot Id Aids dialogue'fliey helped create is one Uiat has to be heard in all communities i nd heat by more people-Progress is being in ide in the right against the spread of AIDS and HI V.

but remarkably, many still do not know the difference between the facts and fallacies associated with the dreaded.disease. To St. Joseph College studepis who are per- foi ming a benefit for the Mm nmasiar Girls Home. For years, funding 1, im the late Frank McHale has helped students at the Rensselaer campus. Rensselaer campus is helping his old home town.

Fkinny how kindness is a gift that always comes back to To the North White Vikings. These Vikings didn't plunder in Indianapolis when they lost to Sheridan 56-33 in last Friday's'Oass A state championship, but they didn't blunder either. They lost lo the team with the most football championships in state history, and ironically, it was the team they defeated in the state rite game only four years ago, Maybe.ihe resurgence of the Minnesota Vikings is a good omen. To fanners who are enduring some of the worst pork prices Even in rimes whin the economy is strong, the hurt for fanners can be great Still, food prices are one reason the American economy continues to hum while economies in other countries are stalling. To the Caston elementary spelling team which won first place at its district competition.

Could the Cass-Fulton County line be a proving ground for a state Spell Bowl champ sometime in the future? To Cass County Health Department officials who are working extra hours to compensate for the cutbacks in immunization programs. Their efforts will help generations of young people, and they are making it easier for parents to get the necessary shots for their children. To Jean Fry, who helped an elderly couple with a flat tire on Tuesday night after a driver forced the couple into a curb about 6 p.m. on Logansport's boulevard. Thorns To the Central Hockey League team in Georgia mat has taken nouveau sports franchise names to a new low.

The Macon Whoopee. That's right No kidding..