Monday, July 7, 2025

New Indiana Crimes! A Reading List! Religious Freedom! Improve Our Cities!

 As always, Indiana's General Assembly finds political gains in the criminal code: More than 10 years after criminal code reform, Indiana piles on new penalties (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Are you brave enough to read the uncomfortable, then check out Summer reading 2025 from Necessary Fiction.

A whole website for you to create your own reading list: Editor Eric's The Greatest Literature of All Time.

I am all for religious freedom, while I have doubts about how others define that freedom - is it freedom for them to impose their religious doctrine or freedom for all to follow their own faith according to their own consciences? Reflections from the International Religious Freedom Summit (Public Orthodoxy) does not free me from my fears, and may actually increase them.

The International Religious Freedom Summit highlighted both the progress and persistent challenges in protecting religious liberty. It revealed the tension between unity and honest engagement, rhetoric and action. While it affirmed the importance of defending faith communities, it also revealed how political interests can eclipse urgent human rights concerns. Religious freedom must be upheld not as a matter of convenience but as a core principle rooted in dignity. For Armenia—and all communities facing existential threats—the path forward demands more than recognition. It demands accountability. Harm cannot be resolved if it is still being perpetuated.

Will we use our own wits instead of following the advice of outside consultants? I can hope. What I would prefer is something organic, growing out of the people and their needs rather than a Bright Idea grown in a vacuum, but do read How do leaders improve our communities? Two former mayors have an idea (Indiana Capital Chronicle); maybe you will be less jaundiced than I am.

The Goldsmith Prize is about innovation in the broadest sense: rethinking outdated processes, forging creative partnerships, designing smarter policies and improving service delivery in ways that make life better for residents.

It’s about celebrating what’s working – and sharing it so others can benefit. What succeeds in Vincennes may also help Richmond, Bluffton or Brazil.

The winning community will receive not only recognition but also practical support: a graduate student with expertise in the project’s focus area will be assigned to help lead implementation in 2026. The position will be funded through the prize via a one-year stipend.

sch 7/5 

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