Week in Review
Toolbox
Published: August 30, 2008
Our thoughts on the news of the week:
Vermonters had front-row seats this week as history was made in Denver at the Democratic National Convention, when Barack Obama became the first black man ever nominated by a major party to run for president of the United States. The nomination says several things about our nation. First, while we have not overcome racial prejudice, we have moved far beyond our shameful 'separate and unequal' past to the remarkable present where 84,000 Americans filled a football stadium to cheer the nomination of a black man for president. The nomination also says to every minority child in the nation: You can achieve greatness; never believe otherwise; Obama's nomination proves it so. Much can happen between now and November, but nothing can take away the historic magnitude of this moment.
Vermonters literally had a front row seat at the Democratic convention in Denver this week. Thanks to the pull of former Gov. Howard Dean, now chairman of the Democratic National Committee, our delegates were front and center for the speeches, and the Vermont state sign was clearly visible as dignitaries spoke from the podium. Thanks to technology, Democrats left at home were able to follow the action as members of the Vermont delegation blogged from Denver, passing along tidbits and behind the scenes stories from the nominating convention. The convention was all Vermont Democrats could have hoped for. Now it's the Republican's turn as John McCain and his vice presidential choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, make their case for the right to lead this nation. No matter where you sit for these speeches or the upcoming debates and discussions, the 2008 presidential election is one of the liveliest – and most important – in many years.
The one cloud that hung over much of the Denver convention came from the die-hard supporters of Hillary Clinton, some of whom have unimaginably pledged to switch their allegiance to Republican McCain in the general election because Obama won the Democratic nod. Under the banner PUMA (Party Unity My A*#), the group managed to create a distracting controversy at what should have been – and ultimately was, despite their efforts – a unifying event designed to give the Democrats their best shot at taking back the White House. How could anyone supporting Hillary Clinton and the issues she espoused simply switch gears on a dime and support McCain, whose positions on key issues are markedly different? Electing a president in a time of war is an especially urgent responsibility. There's no room for games or worse, vengeance, in the 2008 election booth.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is leading a vigorous discussion about problems with Vermont's sex offender laws – and Vermonters are speaking out on the issue. About 50 people attended a public hearing Thursday night in Montpelier, including members of Brooke Bennett's family. Brooke was the 12-year-old Braintree girl who was murdered earlier this summer. The committee's work has made it clear that people want tougher sex offender laws. It has also become apparent that the Corrections Department has stumbled in its handling of some of these cases, and the state doesn't provide adequate information about these predators to organizations like the Vermont Boys & Girls Club that deal with children. The Judiciary Committee should continue its careful review of these statutes and suggest thoughtful – not reactionary – changes to lawmakers.
How unfortunate that a jury was unable this week to determine guilt and damages in the case of a Waitsfield man who sued the Roman Catholic Diocese for failing to protect him from a priest who records show molested boys in the 1970s. The jury deadlocked on several issues, which opens the door to the possibility of a new trial in the case. Not only would that be expensive for all parties involved, but it would reopen the wounds of past abuse once again. These are difficult cases for the victims, the modern day church and all Catholics. If a horrible wrong was done to the church's children, as one jury recently found in another case involving the same priest, it's past time for the Diocese to acknowledge those crimes and make fair financial amends. Only then can healing begin, for the victims and the church.
37