Dakota Beacon

I am a birdwatcher and am always excited as I catch various birds migrating through or deciding to spend the summer. This past week I discovered an app that I downloaded on my phone, and I became a bird-listener!

I heard the sound of what the app identified as a Northern Mockingbird. They are found in a variety of habitats from brushes to trees, and in neighborhoods to pastures. It mimics other birds, car alarms, wind chimes and other noises in its song, often repeating a phrase 5-7 times before switching to it next set of notes.

The Northern Mockingbird reminded me during this political season of a blogger from northern North Dakota Another radio show host on a large AM signal out of Bismarck also came to mind. As the mockingbirds are all mimicking some other bird or sound, so, too, the mocker, and I’ll call the other one the chirper.

They have the same message but with specific phrases for certain candidates. Rick Becker is an extremist. We need to be sure we don’t elect him because he is going to do some pretty bad things when he gets to Washington, D.C.

Or Cara Mund ought to get out of the race because it hurts the chances of Julie Fedorchak winning. Could it really be just because she’s a woman?

As you listen to the guests on the chirping radio show host it is apparent there is an agenda served by the industry that is supporting the radio show. To understand who is behind the message, hear from the sponsors of the show, and you’ll get a picture of the narrative the mimics are wanting all of us trying to decide to believe. Identify the source. 

While I have been encouraged by some of the candidates willing to be on a stage with their opponents to debate the issues, it’s mildly disturbing that Lt. Gov. Miller and Public Service Commissioner Fedorchak have opted out of two recent debates.

It’s enough to make anyone ask themselves, “Why?” Is it so they can hide behind a PAC’s ads or their own ads that weave their own tale and not expose their short comings? 

As I feed birds to attract a variety, I always enjoy the various sounds coming from the prairie. It is the melody of the diverse sounds that brings enjoyment and color to a harsh world knowing that the longest day of the year is barely a month away.

As we listen to the prairie winds of this campaign season, I would suggest that you get out your favorite bird book and identify the various birds by observing their flight pattern, their color, shape and even what sounds they are chirping.

Listening carefully is helpful. Look past the noise of the wind that blows across the prairies, which is sometimes pretty intense, and hear what the birds are saying. As with the mockingbird, sometimes the sound isn’t real but just more noise to lead you astray!

Emineth is a North Dakota native businessman and political activist. He is a former executive director and chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Emineth has served on the Republican National Committee and chaired numerous presidential campaigns in North Dakota. He is the host of “The Legislature Today” and “Open Range” daily TV shows on BEK. He is a serial entrepreneur and has 40-plus years of business experience with multi-national companies. He has traveled the world extensively and has served as CEO and president of mid-tier companies.