Dakota Beacon

I have a confession to make.  I never made it to higher education.   Whatever plane it was on, I missed it!  And as many air miles as I’ve flown in my lifetime, that is one plane I always wanted to be on.

So maybe I should stop and think before I write another e-mail about a subject that is above my level to discuss. But that has never stopped me before, so here it goes.

I feel like I’m in good company with this thought.    Both Abraham Lincoln and Jesus made the same observation:

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

The contexts were different—Lincoln’s “House Divided” was pre-civil war and given in 1858 speaking about a divided country.

Jesus was answering naysayers who said he was under the Devil’s influence as he cast out evil spirits.

I’m attempting to speak out in regards, to the direction of the Republican party in ND.

There are differences that can lead to division in all areas of life:

In the family, discord unresolved can lead to divorce.

In business, disorganization and chaos can lead to dissolution.

In politics, loss of influence and power.

In a country, a breakdown of democratic principles, civil war and anarchy.

But is this really what we’re facing?

If you listen to the leadership of the Republican Party in ND you might think things are a lot worse than they are –or at least what’s going on calls for more radical and even ridiculous measures to “keep things under control.”  

What am I referring to?

For starters, name-calling and marginalization of some of the conservative voices of the party.  

It is downright disheartening to hear groups called “a clown show” or even “anarchists”!  

And if that’s not bad enough, having a "code of conduct" to adhere to which discourages disagreement and debate and calls for individuals to report “unruly” behavior to the chairman! 

This is not a scene out of some conspiracy—it’s actually happening and I want to publicly call these people out!  We’re not even going to get into a host of other questionable actions by the Republican leadership.

Our principles and platform are the foundation of this party and always have been.  We who value these tenets of freedom believe that these are strong enough and have weathered the test of time and will continue to do so.  

Therefore, if someone has a question or a challenge, bring it on.  

But don’t tell us to be quiet.  Don’t tell us we have to agree on every detail or that we have to “get along” or to be soft-spoken in the face of error.   

I have had this quote of Thomas Jefferson’s over the entrance to my living room for years:

“Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.”

I have more to say about the history and hallowed nature of vigorous debate, but it can wait for another day.