Published: April 05, 2009 10:20 pm      

Weekly wrap - Monday, April 6, 2009

Excerpts of recent editorials from Indiana newspapers:

On the president’s speech at Notre Dame:

Shortly after it was announced that President Barack Obama would speak and receive an honorary degree at Notre Dame on May 17, Bishop John D’Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese said he would not be attending the graduation, citing Obama’s views on abortion and stem cell research. Pro-life groups have pledged to hold a protest near campus on graduation day leading one senior to declare that he was “embarrassed to be a Catholic.”

The Rev. John W. Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, said Obama’s invitation doesn’t mean Notre Dame condones the president’s views and called the visit “basis for further positive engagement.”

Politics cannot be divorced from the educational process that culminates in graduation. Though Notre Dame is fundamentally a religious school, political issues are an everyday reality, as they are in all walks of life.

Some people may be bothered by the choice of speaker, but it’s good for the democratic process to listen and react to opposing views. We cannot shut ourselves into cocoons and be comfortable in our own beliefs. If freedom of speech means anything, it means to challenge and provoke and be returned in kind.

The spirit of free speech is alive and well on the campus of Notre Dame, and that should be celebrated.

– The Herald Bulletin, Anderson

On GM president’s ouster:

We found mention of the separation of powers, establishing an executive branch, a legislative branch and the judiciary. We found mention of elections. We found First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion.

But as we read through the U.S. Constitution and its accompanying 27 amendments, we found nothing about a presidential right to fire CEOs of any private firm with which a president is dissatisfied.

Maybe President Barack Obama didn’t exactly do The Donald by thumping his palm on his desk in the Oval Office, looking at General Motors President Richard Wagoner and saying, “Dick, you’re fired.” But the message was quite clear — find a new CEO or start working on those bankruptcy papers. Now.

There’s a problem when the government becomes so cozy with private business. It’s too much leverage, leverage and coziness that we find unacceptable and unconstitutional. Regulate business? Sure. The Constitution outlines the federal regulation of business, although we’d contend the less the better.

Could it be that the board of directors should have sacked Wagoner long before now? Maybe so. But that’s a decision best left with the board of directors and stockholders, not the president of the United States or one of his designees.

– The Tribune, Seymour

On dog in gymnasium during h.s. game:

Plymouth police went too far when they took a police dog into the gymnasium during a basketball game between Gary Roosevelt and Rochester high schools.

The incident happened at the March 14 Plymouth Regional. Some fans went onto the basketball court several times. The referee asked school officials for help, and the lone police officer providing security at the game called for backup. Four police officers responded, including an officer who brought a police dog.

The presence of the police dog was at best overreacting to the incident and was taken by many at the game to be a racial insult. Gary legislators said they will look into the issue, including possible litigation and possible legislation. It shouldn’t need to be taken that far.

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter and IHSAA Commissioner Blake Ress should pressure the police brass to apologize to everyone at the game. In addition, the police need training in the proper use of a police dog and in racial and cultural sensitivity. The police response was an embarrassment to the city and needs to be addressed quickly.

– The Times, Munster