HEPL [FN1] Fishers’ board of trustees (“Bd”) canceled “executive sessions” 4 8/21 & 8/23 but an 8/24 gen’l meeting is 3 pm. HEPL-Fishers was set up on 9/8/22. A backdoor appointment put Micah Beckwith [FN2] on the Bd w/a 4-3 majority he loses on 9/1. He said he’s after porn. 1/9

With no proof books harmed anyone since a Fishers library was opened in 1993, the Bd required books to be removed from a teen section, reviewed by library staff and, if a book violates standards the Bd…

This morning my friend, John Schmitz, objected to comments/behaviors of some ppl (including me) who oppose recent policies of the directors of HEPL [FN1.] One objection is to “spying.” To “spy”: “to observe secretively or furtively w/hostile intent.” [FN2] I think he refers to 1/9

a post fr 8/18, re-posted by author John Green [FN3]: “I stopped into my favorite local coffee shop today around 3:15pm. Imagine my surprise to see HEPL board member Ray Maddalone, soon to be former HEPL…

Machiavelli would be disappointed w/Micah Beckwith. [FN1] Beckwith says he’s running for IN Lt Gov in the GOP, but state conventions, not primary voters, nominate Lt Gov & usually vote 4 the person party’s Gov nominee wants. Beckwith is telling ppl how to become delegates 1/8

to the GOP convention. Machiavelli usually is cited as an example of the worst aspects of pursuit of power as such set out in “The Prince.” [FN2] and, were he alive today, might nod in approval about Beckwith…

Micah Beckwith’s [FN1] imagination = his thirst for political power. HEPL [FN2]: his antics after he was appointed show why even GOP primary voters don’t like him. Beckwith sd nada re: he & his pals losing a 4-3 majority at HEPL. Instead: “As your next Lt Governor, I will work 1/12

to restore” parental rts & “get teachers back to basics, not pushing a sexual agenda.” Beckwith’s agenda always is sexual (i.e., porn, trafficking but never evangelical ministers’ antics). He’s said…

“A,” your loved one, has an infection & drugs prescribed don’t seem to work. Do you want A treated by a physician who was taught from grade 1 through med school that evolution is only a “theory”? “Bacteria can rapidly EVOLVE resistance to antibiotics. [] rise of resistant 1/8

'superbugs' threatens our ability to use antimicrobials like antibiotics” [FN1] Science: “theory” is not a guess, but a “well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate…

News arrived shortly after I crashed. Sometimes “boring” is good. Dramas in cockpits, surgeries or most aspects of everyday life are great for movies or theatre. Libraries are supposed to have on their shelves fantastic stories (fictions), journeys into who we are & what the World is 1/3

(sciences), and info purely for amusement. Who and how a library is run should be mundane. The president of Hamilton East Public Library was replaced last night by (according to info that’s been…

Micah Beckwith? John Jay NEVER wrote: “Providence (God) has given to our people the choice of their ruler, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” Who was John Jay? 1/7

1) Jay was not a delegate to The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

2) 85 papers titled The Federalist argued for The Constitution; Jay wrote 5, but none concerned religion (2-5, Dangers from Foreign Force and…

Conclusion: Ham Co preacher/GOP library board member Micah Beckwith on his claims “God” authored or “inspired” Constitution. Unlike Beckwith I gave sources for points I argue (check the footnotes in last few days’ blog/tweets.) (Sorry if this is a bit long) 1/8

1) “God” as author/inspiration is not invoked/mentioned in 2//21/1787 resolution for convention

OR EVEN MENTIONED in Const’n.

2) Only mention: “religion” (Art. VI) is inconsistent w/ “God” as author/inspiration.

3)…

“To advance knowledge” is not one of the reasons Ham County preacher/political wannabe Micah Beckwith sought a seat (& got it via the back door) on Ham Easr Library Board. In February he hyped a course he was teaching about The Constitution, and added “stay away from higher 1/6

education and [its] secular progressive bias” & claims training/ed’n on constitutional law from “Hillsdale College as well as a plethora of private studies and research.” Beckwith wants a lot of books…

This message is serious. If (1) a candidate for elective office (2) claims “God” talks to him (3) on a regular basis about (3) political issues, we should be wary. That (4) candidate (5) is a preacher who (6) has weapons training for ppl in his church. Need a crystal ball? 1/6

Inevitably the candidate will say he carries out Orders from “God.” Ham County preacher/IN Lt Gov wannabe Micah Beckwith is the candidate just described. He’s declared his candidacy for Lt Gov in Indiana’s GOP.…

“God” neither wrote nor inspired The Constitution. Sources, if applicable, will be listed at the end of this blog/tweets. 1) “God” as author/inspiration is neither invoked nor mentioned Congress’s 2//21/17 resolution to have a convention. [FN1] 1/8

2) “God” as author/inspiration is neither invoked nor mentioned in The Constitution.

3) “God” as author did not need a convention.

4) Convention was set to start 5/14, but quorum wasn’t reached until 5/25. [FN2]. “God” shouldn’t…

Of the Constitution of the United States, some claim (1) “God” wrote The Constitution; (2) if not, then people who wrote The Constitution were divinely “inspired”; and (3) either way, the USA is & always was meant to be a “Christian” country. The Constitution is a specific document. 1/7

Courts look at wording and relevant history of a constitution to interpret or apply its provisions. In Congress’s February 21, 1787, resolution in favor of a convention, no mention is made of any…

Civility in social media is full frontal tonight on “Mouthwash,”(Tues, 8/8, 9 pm, Facebook) John Schmitz’s podcast. Conversation will focus on Ham East Public Library, & a policy 4 of the 7 trustees adopted moving books from a teen to an adult section & that controversy. 1/10

Ham County preacher Micah Beckwith (the Lloyd Ruby of local politics) will be on a panel with Jocelyn Vare (Fishers City Council) and Alexandria librarian Brad Sowinski. Compare/contrast Beckwith in The…

A flick, “The Sound of Freedom,” inspired at least one member of the 4-3 majority of the Ham East Public Library board to move books out of a teen section for review & possible placement in the adult section of the Fishers Library. This costs $$$, although HEPL board member 1/13

Tiffanie Ditlevson said an earlier review of children’s books didn’t cost an add’l penny. Either the section was extremely small or the review sought was more narrow than the current project. A quote fr a…

As kids there were books, plays & movies we were told not to read or view.. History is not kind to people who censor writings & other forms of art. One person thought Shakespeare went too far. (Look up “bowdlerize”) Our laws are based on notice that a thing is illegal. “Ignorance 1/5

of the law is no excuse,” but whether something violates the law is different. People can try to define “pornography.” The closest: “I know it when I see it.” Jacobellis v Ohio, 378 U.S. 184, 197…

Tony Kinnett (The Daily Caller 5/23/23) was angry “[l]ocal media began writing about the [Ham East Library] board’s ordering ‘shelves emptied’ in a project ‘expected to cost $300,000'” due to the GOP gaining “seats on the public library’s board of trustees.” An Indy Star reporter’s 1/6

description of the “review” by the library as “book banning” was wrong. Kinnett says “None of those claims is true.” In an April mtg the libr director said $300K “was a ‘misquote’” & included costs…

Ham County preacher/GOP IN Lt Gov candidate Micah Beckwith said in an FB post on 8/2, “Our rights are not products of man-made law, but are considered to be God-given.” The people who wrote The Constitution would have been surprised to here that. First, no “god” was invoked

to attend the 1787 Convention. Second, Franklin’s suggestion each session begin w/prayer was ignored. Third, there is no mention of any “god” or of Jesus Christ in The Constitution. Fourth, Madison makes no mention…

Ham County preacher/political wannabe Micah Beckwith wished everybody Happy Natl Choc Chip Cookie Day & referred to principles we hold dear as “Christians [&] Const’l conservatives.” Here’s a time line. 2020: he lost the GOP primary INCD5. 2023: Beckwith “won” w/o notice 1/6

on the agenda, a seat on Ham East Library Board. Books he hasn’t read, but objected to, were moved (est cost: $300K) to the library’s adult section.. 2024: he’s running 4 IN Lt Gov & has a chance since…

"Why can’t we have civil discourse!?” Discourse consists of talking and listening. Key elements: 1) Format allows each person the same amount of time to speak; 2) No one interrupts the speaker w/o the speaker’s consent; & 3) A person to moderate. Over the past few days discussion 1/5

of a live broadcast shifted to the social platform formerly known as Twitter. The lively discussion concerned the Hamilton East Library Board, censorship & what many see as efforts by the far…

John Schmitz started his podcast “Mouthwash” over 2 yrs ago on Facebook (Tuesdays at 9 p.m.) As director/host, each week he has to line up guests, research topic(s), confirm regular panelists, and publicize it all. John wanted people of any political views could talk in civil fashion.1/5

I’ve been a guest & have a weekly spot, smalltalk, on Mouthwash. John and I disagree on most issues. Mouthwashtalkshow is John’s handle on Twitter & yesterday he had a series of exchanges…