My Memories of Another Papal Visit
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Thursday, 9.24.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 PRESS&DAKOTAN The Press Dakotan THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUndED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 CONTACT US OPINION OTHER VIEWS PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 NEWS FAX: Revealing Silence (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 On A Gay Nominee WEBSITE: www.yankton.net THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (Sept. 22): Five years ago, Eric ––––– Fanning would have been thrown out of the U.S. Army. Now he is SUBSCRIPTIONS/ CIRCULATION poised to lead it. Extension 104 That’s a stunning reversal. What’s equally stunning, and hearten- [email protected] ing, is that it’s no big deal. CLASSIFIED ADS When President Barack Obama nominated him to be secretary Extension 116 of the Army last week, Fanning became the first openly gay person [email protected] in line to lead one of America’s military services. While that is a NEWS DEPT. milestone for equality, it appears likely that his Senate confirmation Extension 114 will focus more on his credentials than his sexual orientation. [email protected] If it does, Fanning should win quick approval. He has served SPORTS DEPT. as undersecretary of the Army and chief of staff to Secretary of Writer’s Block Extension 106 Defense Ashton Carter. Before that he was acting secretary and [email protected] undersecretary of the Air Force, as well as deputy undersecretary of ADVERTISING DEPT. the Navy. Extension 122 Military experts call Fanning highly qualified. The man he would [email protected] replace, John McHugh (a longtime Republican congressman), My Memories Of BUSINESS OFFICE praised Fanning’s “sound judgment and insight” and added “Our Extension 119 soldiers, civilians and their families will benefit greatly from his [email protected] leadership.” Defense Secretary Carter called Fanning “an excellent NEW MEDIA: choice” and “one of our country’s most knowledgeable, dedicated Another Papal Visit Extension 136 and experienced public servants. I know he will strengthen our [email protected] Army.” BY RANDY DOCKENDORF We received far more than a glimpse of the COMPOSING DEPT. Perhaps what’s most notable about Fanning’s sexual orienta- [email protected] pontiff. Extension 129 tion is how little it has stirred up the typical swirl. The Republican We heard shouts from down the line, figur- [email protected] presidential contenders mostly have been quiet. House and Senate I won’t be in the audience when Pope Fran- ing the pope was within viewing distance. * * * members have not made it an issue. The Army Times didn’t even cis visits the United States this week. How- Instead, we saw his entourage head straight ever, I can relate to the experience of seeing a at us. MANAGERS mention Fanning’s sexual orientation until the eighth paragraph of its story about his nomination. pontiff in person. He was riding in his glass-enclosed Gary L. Wood While in college, a group of “Popemobile” — another reminder Publisher Sure, some conservative commentators have suggested Obama is playing politics by naming a gay Army chief. Mike Huckabee said friends and I talked about traveling of the security measures following Michele Schievelbein Obama cares more about appeasing gay-rights groups than main- to Des Moines to see Pope John the assassination attempt on him Advertising Director taining a strong military. Paul II during his 1979 visit. Then we — and passed within inches of us. “Homosexuality is not a job qualification,” Huckabee said. “The made a fatal mistake — we started He smiled and waved, then offered a Jim Gevens thinking about our commitments at blessing over us. Thankfully, I had the Circulation Director U.S. military is designed to keep Americans safe and complete com- school and elsewhere. presence of mind to snap off some Tonya Schild bat missions, not conduct social experiments.” We didn’t make the trip, and I im- photos. Business Manager Overall, though, the response has been notably muted to a move mediately regretted it. Then, I didn’t John Paul II continued down the that would have been unthinkable until so recently. Gays were make it to the Vatican during a study path, eventually reaching the mas- Tera Schmidt drummed out of the military for all of American history until 2011. Randy Classified Manager tour to Europe in 1980. I figured sive altar area for the Mass. At that In 1993, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law made it harder for the mili- I had blown the opportunity of a point, he became a distant presence. Kelly Hertz tary brass to target gay service members. Still, it referred to homo- lifetime -- twice. DOCKENDORF However, his warmth could still be Editor sexuality as “an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, But sometimes, you get a second felt among those who gathered for James D. Cimburek good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence and even a third chance in life, if you the event. Sports Editor of military capability.” Thousands of armed services members were show enough faith. In the same manner, the massive crowd discharged under that law. John Paul II returned to North America, reflected a truly “catholic,” or universal, gath- Beth Rye That ended in 2011, after a judge and Congress undid Don’t Ask, making a 1984 visit to Manitoba, Canada. ering of humanity. People of all ages, nationali- Digital Media Director Don’t Tell. Now, just four years later, sexual orientation is far less Not only was his appearance within driving ties, races and faiths – even people of no faith Kathy Larson relevant than Fanning’s record and vision for a military in flux. distance, but my father, youngest brother and – spent the beautiful day hearing the message Composing Manager We have a ways to go. Some folks think they can ignore Supreme I signed up for a bus making the trip. of a man headed for sainthood. Court rulings on gay equality. But the silence around Eric Fanning’s It turned out to be a far better journey than Pope Francis’ upcoming visit will take place nomination comes through loud and clear. I anticipated. in a different setting than John Paul II, with Our bus contained not only Catholics but the current pontiff’s visits to Washington D.C., * * * also non-Catholics who viewed the trip as a New York City and Philadelphia. However, a historic event. papal visit still generates excitement three DAILY STAFF In Manitoba, we arrived at what seemed decades later. Reilly Biel ABOUT THIS PAGE Cassandra Brockmoller like a massive site. After departing our bus, In many ways, Pope Francis has already Brandi Bue The View page provides a forum for open discussion of issues and we hiked the long distance to where pilgrims broken new ground coming from South Amer- Rob Buckingham interests affecting our readers. Initialed editorials represent the opinion gathered from around the world. The site pro- ica and with his words and actions. He has Caryn Chappelear of the writer, but not necessarily that of the PRESS & DAKOTAN. vided a beautiful setting for the open-air Mass, generated a large following not only among Randy Dockendorf Bylined columns represent the view of the author. We welcome letters on but security was also tremendously tight. Catholics but non-Catholics as well. Even Jeannine Economy John Paul II was known for reaching out to people of no religious faith are following his Rachel Frederick current topics. Questions regarding the Views page should be directed to Jeremy Hoeck Kelly Hertz at [email protected]/. others during his travels. He showed warmth, statements on peace, justice, climate change, Nicole Myers but his openness also provided a security income equality and a host of other issues. Robert Nielsen nightmare. The schedule for the upcoming visit calls Diana Smallwood John Paul II survived an assassination for a meeting of church and state. Pope Fran- David Stephenson IN HISTORY attempt in May 1981 while traveling by car cis will be greeted on his arrival by President Cathy Sudbeck through Vatican Square. The pope later met Obama, and they meet again at the White JoAnn Wiebelhaus By The Associated Press people before taking his own life, a day Brenda Willcuts Today is Thursday, September 24, the after he’d killed three family members. with and forgave his would-be assassin. House. In addition, the pope will deliver a Alissa Woockman 267th day of 2015. There are 98 days left Ten years ago: Hurricane Rita struck During our 1984 trip, we could see the im- historic address to a joint session of Congress in the year. eastern Texas and the Louisiana coast, pact of the assassination attempt. We needed and to the United Nations. Today’s Highlight in History: On causing more flooding in New Orleans. * * * September 24, 1890, the president of Crowds opposed to the war in Iraq surged to follow strict security protocols, including Unlike the 1984 papal visit, I won’t see this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day past the White House, staging the larg- the assignment to corrals set up around the Holy Father in person. However, I hope to Published Daily Saints, Wilford Woodruff, wrote a manifes- est anti-war protest in the nation’s capital open fields. After a certain time, we could no catch much of his visit in print, on radio and Monday-Saturday to renouncing the practice of plural mar- since the U.S. invasion. Vice President riage, or polygamy. Dick Cheney had surgery to repair aneu- longer leave our “pen.” television, online and through social media.