Wednesday, 7.8.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 Press&Dakotan The Press Dakotan

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CONTACT US OPINION PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 NEWS FAX: S.D. Adjusts To (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 A New Reality WEBSITE: www.yankton.net outh Dakota has never been viewed as one of the leaders in ––––– the evolution of the same-sex marriage issue in this country. SUBSCRIPTIONS/ Indeed, this state passed a law to define marriage in the most CIRCULATION traditional, heterosexual terms, and was willing to defend its Extension 104 Slaw in court once a lawsuit had been filed against it. That’s under- CLASSIFIED ADS standable and probably reflective of a majority of the people in this Extension 108 red state. [email protected] The Don Vs. The Bern But state officials must also be given credit — if you’re the kind NEWS DEPT. of person who’s willing to give such credit in this issue — for not BY KATHLEEN PARKER criminals. And, he added, “some, I assume, are Extension 114 digging in its heels in resistance to the recent U.S. Supreme Court © 2015, Washington Post Writers Group good people.” [email protected] decision that declared all same-sex marriage bans, including South Why, there’s a good one right over there — SPORTS DEPT. Dakota’s, unconstitutional. WASHINGTON -- Stranger things have hap- mowing Trump’s Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago estate Extension 106 When the court decision was handed down last month, the eyes pened in American politics, but the sudden surge lawn. Hola, Paco, que tal? [email protected] of county officials across this state turned to Pierre for guidance of Democratic/Populist Bernie Sanders and Re- Trump’s insulting tirade has had the dual ADVERTISING DEPT. on how to proceed in the wake of the ruling. In less than a couple publican/Pompulist Donald Trump puts effect of getting him fired from NB- Extension 122 one in mind of alternate universes. CUniversal, Univision, Macy’s (and of hours, the office of Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the counting) for comments unbecoming [email protected] go-ahead for counties to start issuing marriage licenses to same- And I don’t mean Miss Universes. BUSINESS OFFICE Both men are holding second place an icon and getting him feted as The sex couples in full compliance with the court decision. Shortly in some polls behind Hillary Clinton Iconoclast that Republicans have been Extension 119 thereafter, the state immediately announced that it had changed [email protected] and Jeb Bush, respectively. And both waiting for. If you’re a member of the the language on its marriage licenses to reflect the gender-neutral Republican base, a candidate can’t be NEW MEDIA: are steadily ascending in the polls at a nature of this new reality. greater pace than anyone could have too anti-immigration, too anti-Common Extension 136 Three days later, the state announced that same-sex couples Core — or too rich, apparently. [email protected] predicted — or imagined. could use the marriage license and other documents to change the Sanders, a socialist running on a Even as Trump’s various enterprises COMPOSING DEPT. names on their driver’s licenses. platform that should send shivers up are vanishing — and support among, I Extension 129 dunno, let’s call them “sane Americans” So, South Dakota wasted no time in complying with the federal the spines of most Americans, drew Kathleen [email protected] law, even if it conflicted (read: overrode) state law. the largest crowd of the season — is waning — he has doubled down on This is unlike a few other states where some officials have either nearly 10,000 — in Madison, Wisconsin, comments that could as easily have PARKER been retracted with an apology. Here’s * * * openly resisted the court decision or have not offered the same Wednesday night. The anti-establish- ment candidate, who wants to break a sample for future reference: “Of MANAGERS kind of decisive direction in guiding how local authorities should course, I didn’t mean that all Mexicans deal with requests for marriage licenses by same-sex couples. up big banks and redistribute wealth, Gary L. Wood makes President Obama (and Clinton) look like are rapists. I was upset by some of the statistics Publisher There are numerous other issues that must be dealt with as robber barons by comparison. I’ve read and just mouthed off without more care- South Dakota and every other state makes adjustments to the new Although Madison is a liberal college town fully considering the full impact my words could Michele Schievelbein court-mandated status quo. For instance, Jackley has joined with and Sanders’ record crowd could be rationalized have on others. I’m sorry.” (Warning: Do not add: Advertising Director other attorneys general to ask Washington for legal protections for accordingly, poll after poll shows him closing Some of my best friends are Mexican.) Tonya Schild people who have religious objections to same-sex marriages. But on the gap with Clinton. A Quinnipiac University But no. Instead, commenting on a 2014 Fusion Business Manager the broader canvas, South Dakota officials have shown they have poll released Thursday morning put him within story about Latin-American women being raped been quick, even aggressive, in making adjustments to the basic 19 points of Clinton among likely Democratic as they traveled to the U.S. across Mexico, “Well, Tera Schmidt issues. If you support the court’s decision or are impacted by it, caucus-goers in Iowa. Quinnipiac surveyed 761 somebody’s doing the raping, Don!” he retorted Classified Manager that’s a promising transition. likely Iowa Democratic caucus participants, with when CNN anchor Don Lemon gave him a chance Kelly Hertz kmh humans calling cell and land phones, and with a to think things through. “I mean, somebody’s Editor margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. doing it!” Trump said. “Who’s doing the raping? Meanwhile, A WMUR/CNN Granite State poll Who’s doing the raping?” James D. Cimburek put Sanders just eight points below Clinton in Trump has a point there. Someone is doing Sports Editor New Hampshire. the raping, assuming the Fusion story is true. IN HISTORY As Sanders remarked in Madison upon seeing And the same Fusion story that claimed that 80 Beth Rye percent of Central American women and girls are Digital Media Director the throng that greeted him, “Whoa.” By The Associated Press between the U.S. and Russia since the At the same time Sanders is on the zoom rail, raped as they cross through Mexico to the U.S. Kathy Larson Today is Wednesday, July 8, the 189th Cold War unfolded as 10 people accused mysterious things are happening around the also answered Trump’s question: “Perpetrators day of 2015. There are 176 days left in the of spying in suburban America pleaded can be coyotes, other migrants, bandits, or even Composing Manager year. guilty to conspiracy and were ordered candidacy of the Trumpster. Some of you may recognize him as the cartoon character eternally government authorities.” Sarah Lynde Today’s Highlight in History: On deported to Russia in exchange for the July 8, 1776, Col. John Nixon gave the release of four prisoners accused of spy- lost in a game of Monopoly, sort of the way Hmmm, so not necessarily those who then Circulation District Manager first public reading of the Declaration of ing for the West. Violent protests erupted Beetlejuice was confined to miniature quarters funnel into North America? Independence, outside the State House in Oakland, California, after a Los Ange- See? Logic isn’t so hard, but rant over reason (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. les jury convicted a white former transit in the movie of the same name. (No matter what On this date: In 1663, King Charles officer, Johannes Mehserle, of involuntary happens, do not say “Trump!” thrice in a row.) is so much more effective in attracting attention. II of England granted a Royal Charter to manslaughter (instead of murder) in the He is otherwise known for: the buildings he Trump’s fans say they like his blunt talk, that * * * Rhode Island. videotaped fatal shooting of an unarmed has named after himself; a couple of TV shows he says what they’re thinking. He’s BOLD! In- In 1853, an expedition led by Commo- black man, Oscar Grant. During an ESPN he has hosted, the names of which escape me deed. But bold and blunt wear thin after a while. DAILY STAFF dore Matthew Perry arrived in Yedo Bay, prime-time special, basketball free agent Reilly Biel Japan, on a mission to seek diplomatic LeBron James announced he was leav- now; his hair, which he recently averred is his And America, though keen to hear fresh Cassandra Brockmoller and trade relations with the Japanese. ing the Cleveland Cavaliers to join the own; his vast fortune, about which he can’t stop voices and ideas, isn’t ready for either a Robin Brandi Bue In 1889, The Wall Street Journal was Miami Heat. A world record tennis crowd bragging — and a proportionately small mouth Hood or a King John in the White House. Rob Buckingham first published. in Brussels watched Kim Clijsters beat for someone famous for having such a big one. Enjoy the show, everybody. But rest assured: Caryn Chappelear In 1907, Florenz Ziegfeld staged his Wimbledon champion Serena Williams To wit: His recent commentaries about This too — and these two — shall pass. Randy Dockendorf first “Follies,” on the roof of the New York 6-3, 6-2 in an exhibition umpired by Mar- Theater. tina Navratilova. Mexican immigrants as rapists, drug runners and Jeannine Economy In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson One year ago: President Barack Rachel Frederick received a tumultuous welcome in New Obama appealed to Congress for $3.7 Jeremy Hoeck York City after his return from the Ver- billion in emergency spending to deal Nicole Myers sailles Peace Conference in France. with the immigration crisis on the nation’s Robert Nielsen In 1947, demolition work began in southern border, where unaccompanied Diana Smallwood New York City to make way for the new children were showing up by the thou- permanent headquarters of the United sands (Republican lawmakers rejected Remember When Divorce David Stephenson Cathy Sudbeck Nations. the request). Washington became the JoAnn Wiebelhaus In 1950, President Harry S. Truman second state to allow people to buy mari- named Gen. Douglas MacArthur com- juana legally in the U.S. without a doctor’s Brenda Willcuts mander-in-chief of United Nations forces note. Germany handed Brazil its heaviest Alissa Woockman in Korea. (Truman ended up sacking Mac- World Cup loss ever with a 7-1 rout in the BY RANDALLWas BALMER DeemedForced Immoral? to acknowledge the reality of divorce Arthur for insubordination nine months semifinals that stunned the host nation. © 2015, close to home, pastors responded with compassion later.) Today’s Birthdays: Singer Steve * * * In 1965, Canadian Pacific Air Lines Lawrence is 80. Actor Jeffrey Tambor is 71. rather than condemnation; the words of were Published Daily Flight 21, a Douglas DC-6B, crashed in Ballerina Cynthia Gregory is 69. Actress Amid all of the overheated rhetoric sur- treated as an ideal rather than a mandate. Mega- British Columbia after the tail separated Kim Darby is 68. Children’s performer rounding the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing churches provided support groups for divorcees Monday-Saturday from the fuselage; all 52 people on board Raffi is 67. Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck same-sex marriages across the nation, evangelicals and then, later, those groups functioned for many Periodicals postage were killed in what authorities said was is 66. Actress Anjelica Huston is 64. Writer have alternated between defiance and a kind of as the evangelical equivalent of singles clubs. paid at Yankton, South the result of an apparent bombing. Anna Quindlen is 63. Actor Kevin Bacon is In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford an- 57. Actor Robert Knepper is 56. Rock mu- martyrdom. Although evangelical attitudes changed Dakota, under the act of nounced he would seek a second term of sician Andy Fletcher (Depeche Mode) is “It’s time to be a light in these dark times,” Jim incrementally over many years, it’s possible to March 3, 1979. office. 54. Country singer Toby Keith is 54. Rock Daly, president of Focus on the Family, said. Frank- identify the real turning point with a fair amount of Weekly Dakotian In 1989, Carlos Saul Menem was in- musician Graham Jones (Haircut 100) lin Graham declared that the court was “endorsing accuracy: 1980. established June 6, 1861. augurated as president of Argentina in the is 54. Rock singer Joan Osborne is 53. country’s first transfer of power from one Writer-producer Rob Burnett is 53. Actor sin” and that God’s “decisions are not subject to Not long ago I surveyed the pages of Christianity Yankton Daily Press and democratically elected civilian leader to Rocky Carroll is 52. Actor Corey Parker is review or revision by any man-made court.” Today, the flagship magazine of and Dakotian established April another in six decades. 50. Actor Lee Tergesen is 50. Actor Billy Echoing many other conservatives, Graham a bellwether of evangelical sentiments. Condemna- 26, 1875. In 1994, Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s Crudup is 47. Actor Michael Weatherly went on to say that churches and others who tions of divorce, which had been a regular feature in Postmaster: Send communist leader since 1948, died at age is 47. Singer Beck is 45. Country singer oppose same-sex marriage would be subject to dis- the 1970s, ceased almost entirely after 1980. address changes to Yankton 82. Drew Womack (Sons of the Desert) is 45. In 2000, Venus Williams beat Lindsay Comedian Sebastian Maniscalo is 42. Ac- crimination and persecution. A Fox commentator More telling, the “family values” movement, Daily Press & Dakotan, Davenport 6-3, 7-6 (3) for her first Grand tress Kathleen Robertson is 42. Christian declared that gay rights now trump religious liberty. which took off in 1980, largely ignored this once 319 Walnut, Yankton, SD Slam title, becoming the first black female rock musician Stephen Mason (Jars of And R. Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theo- crucial subject. Jerry Falwell and other conserva- 57078. champion at Wimbledon since Althea Gib- Clay) is 40. Actor Milo Ventimiglia is 38. tive preachers attacked abortion, feminism and son in 1957-58. Rock musician Tavis Werts is 38. Singer logical Seminary warned that “the majority in this * * * Ten years ago: Group of Eight lead- Ben Jelen is 36. Actor Lance Gross is 34. decision has placed every religious institution in homosexuality, but they rarely mentioned divorce. ers meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, Actress Sophia Bush is 33. Rock musi- legal jeopardy if that institution intends to uphold What happened? In a word (or two words): MEMBERSHIPS unveiled a $50 billion package to help lift cian Jamie Cook (Arctic Monkeys) is 30. its theological convictions limiting marriage to the Ronald Reagan. When leaders of the religious right The Yankton Daily Africa from poverty and pledged new joint Actor Jake McDorman is 29. Actor Jaden union of a man and a woman.” decided to embrace Reagan as their political mes- Press & Dakotan is a efforts against terrorism in response to the Smith is 17. deadly London bombings the day before. Thought for Today: “History must Evangelicals like to present their position as siah, they had to swallow hard. member of the Associ- Hurricane Dennis pounded Cuba, result- stay open, it is all humanity.” — William biblical and therefore immutable. They want us Not only was Reagan divorced, he was divorced ated Press, the Inland ing in 16 deaths. Carlos Williams, American author and to believe that they have never before adjusted to and remarried, a clear violation of biblical teaching. Daily Press Association Five years ago: The largest spy swap poet (1883-1963). and the South Dakota shifting public sentiments on sexuality and mar- As governor of California, moreover, Reagan Newspaper Association. riage. That is not so. signed the nation’s first no-fault divorce law in 1969. The Associated Press FROM THE Divorce — and especially divorce and remar- Having cast their lot with Reagan in the 1980 elec- is entitled exclusively riage — was once such an issue, an issue about tion, evangelical denunciations of divorce all but to use of all the local You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperish- which evangelicals would brook no compromise. disappeared. news printed in this If evangelicals can alter their attitudes toward newspaper. able, through the living and abiding word of God. 1 Peter 1:23. Portals But evangelicals eventually reconfigured their of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis. preaching and adapted just fine to changing histori- divorce, they can do likewise with homosexuality * * * cal circumstances. and same-sex marriage. Indeed, views may soften When I was growing up within the evangelical as LGBT evangelicals come out of the closet and, SUBSCRIPTION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR subculture in the 1960s, divorce was roundly con- like divorcees, make their communities confront RATES* their existence. Society (CSRS) and the American demned by evangelicals. Jesus, after all, was pretty (Payable in advance) Diving Safety clear on the issue. “And I say to you,” he told the Censure is much easier to pull off in the abstract CARRIER DELIVERY Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), James B. MacDougall, MD, Aber- Pharisees, “whoever divorces his wife, except for than face to face. Time and again throughout his 1-month...... $12.09 developed the following diving ministry, Jesus dealt with people one on one, and deen safety tips to minimize permanent sexual immorality, and marries another, commits 3 months...... $36.27 adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced demonstrated the principle that love always trumps 6 months...... $72.53 President, S.D. State Orthopedic neck and spine injuries. law, that acceptance is superior to condemnation. Society • If you have any doubt about commits adultery.” 1-year...... $133.09 Anyone who was divorced was ostracized in That is the radical — and transformative — power MOTOR ROUTE People are eager to cool off water depth, enter the water feet of the gospel. during hot summer months, mak- first. evangelical circles. In some congregations, mem- (where available) bership was rescinded, and at the very least the If Graham, Mohler and other evangelical leaders 1 month...... $14.51 ing trips and memories at local • Never dive into above- want to articulate biblical principles relating to lakes and other bodies of water. ground pools. divorcee felt marginalized. Any evangelical leader 3 months...... $43.53 who divorced his spouse could expect to look for a sexuality and marriage, they should probably focus 6 months...... $87.05 However, some divers plunge • Never dive into water that on divorce; Jesus was much clearer on that issue head first into rocky and/or shal- is not clear, where sand bars or different job. 1 year...... $139.14 Evangelical culture began to change in the than he was about homosexuality, about which he MAIL IN RETAIL low waters, placing them at risk of objects below the surface may be mid- to late 1970s, when the divorce rate among said nothing whatsoever. Trade Zone serious injury, paralysis or even obstructed or not visible. evangelicals approached that of the larger popula- If, however, they truly seek to follow the bible in 1-month...... $16.93 death. • Only one person at a time the much broader sense of following Jesus, I invite 3 months...... $50.79 Nearly 26,000 individuals are should stand on a diving board. tion. Some studies even suggested that the divorce rate among evangelicals was higher than average, them to exercise the Christian ethic of unstinting 6 months...... $101.57 treated in emergency depart- Swim away from the board imme- love. Should they require a proof text, allow me 1-year...... $148.82 ments, doctors’ offices and clinics diately afterward to make room although that claim was a trifle misleading since MAIL OUTSIDE evangelicals were more likely to marry in the first to suggest Matthew 7:1, from the Sermon on the for diving-related injuries in the for the next diver. Mount: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” RETAIL TRADE ZONE U.S. each year, according to the Orthopaedic surgeons put place. 1 month...... $19.35 U.S. Consumer Product Safety bones and spines back together The ringing denunciations of divorce emanating 3 months...... $58.05 from evangelical pulpits abated. No one outright Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest, is a profes- Commission (CPSC). after diving injuries. We want peo- sor of religion at . His most recent 6 months...... $116.09 That’s why the American ple to know the risks associated supported divorce, but it became less and less of 1-year...... $186.33 an issue as pastors found it more and more difficult book is “Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter.” He Academy of Orthopaedic Sur- with diving. Make smart decisions wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. * Plus applicable sales tax geons (AAOS), in conjunction this summer. Don’t wreck your to judge individuals within their own congregations for all rates with the Cervical Spine Research neck! — or their own families.