Dakota Beacon

As a much-needed respite from all the politics, we at the Center for Vision & Values wish all of you a happy Memorial Day weekend with your families, courtesy of this fun piece by Dr. Marvin Folkertsma. In this article that first appeared at Ricochet.com, Folkertsma describes a recent weekend visit that proved to be, “A most delightful and wonderful experience, thankfully devoid of politics, and bursting with the joys of life, why it is worth living—family, children, grandchildren, love, competition, laughter, exhilaration, goofiness all around, plenty to share, and memories that will never fade.” 

GOV. BURGUM TELLS COLUMNIST; 'WE'RE IN CRISIS MODE"; WILLIAM J. BROTHERTON; JUST MADE IT; NEW LIFE IN THE OIL PATCH; HWY 2 BLUES; THE MIDDLE CLASS; HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES; GRATEFUL BEAST; DON'T WANT TO GO HOME; A STATE OF DYSFUNCTION; DAKTOIDS

President Donald Trump met with Pope Francis. Nearly 35 years ago, President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II met for the first time at the Vatican. In this article that first appeared at Stream.org, author and scholar Dr. Paul Kengor details the Reagan-John Paul II meeting and argues that the Trump-Francis meeting may not produce a “grand historical-spiritual vision” and partnership between the two leaders.

On Memorial Day we honor the men and women who served their country militarily and who have passed on to their final reward.

The war on terror ushered in a new era. A new generation of veterans made the ultimate sacrifice. This is a war like no other in modern times. Islamic fanatics from many countries wish to harm the West generally, and the United States in particular.

On Memorial Day 2017 America’s fallen sons and daughters from all branches of the military including Active Duty, National Guard and Reserves join their fallen comrades from other conflicts in deserving a heartfelt commemoration from the rest of us. Special honor is due those who have fallen in the fight to defend America from Islamic terrorists.

A new book has raised a thought-provoking question: How should Christians live in a post-Christian age? In this article, Dr. L. John Van Til reviews Rod Dreher’s book, “The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in A Post-Christian Nation.” Van Til examines the options and data in the book and suggests it is a worthwhile study “if you desire to understand how your children and grandchildren can survive in the hostile, pagan culture that now dominates America.”

Not all news is covered by the mainstream media. Those items in particular that are omitted by editorial boards are items that do not fit the liberal progressive narrative. What follows represents stories not typically seen by consumers of the dominant media.

DON’T CLING TO OLD MODELS; ANTICIPATE DISRUPTION; NEWSPAPERS ALSO MUST ADAPT; A GRAND MUDDLE; THE ND ECONOMY; THEY’VE GOT THE MONEY; HE WHO PROTESTS TOO MUCH; PHYSICIAN COMPENSATION in ND; FOREIGH DOCTORS AND VISA PROGRAMS; DAKTOIDS

Liberals in general and Democrats in particular are unbelievably jealous of Donald Trump’s win. It should have been Hillary. Progressives and far left extremists need to learn how to win if they are ever to recuperate from their sizable losses at all government levels over the past decade.

Recently, Harvard University revised the curriculum in the music department. Music theory and counterpoint—once the bedrock of the degree—are now optional. In this article, Dr. Joshua F. Drake, professor of music and humanities at Grove City College, looks at the change and argues “Having rejected the traditional view of musical judgment, it is easy to see why Harvard was pressed to reject its own curriculum.” 

Enter one squirrel oblivious to his trespassing upon grackle turf, so to speak. Unaware of his pending fate, a better choice of bird feeders in the yard might have saved him some embarrassment. If only he knew what was in store for him.

These market-driven solutions must come from the above identified conservative subgroups of the Republican party despite the media and Trump's suggestions that the replacement be bi-partisan. Do you really think the Democrats would be for free market solutions and publicly oppose “single-payer” government run healthcare? Has a mixture of socialism and capitalism really worked in the Nordic countries? The answers are “No” and “No”. The Nordics have a total per capita GDP (including all government programs) that is 2/3 that of their American cousins.

How to Proceed; The Challenge to Insure a Future for Our Grandchildren;  Real Health Insurance “Intervention”; What may we expect from the Left?

THE 65TH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY; THE BIESIOT ACTIVITIES CENTER; THE UND LAW SCHOOL; NORTHERN PLAINS NITROGEN; THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS; DOLLAR DOUG DEAL; SENDING MONEY TO ND; IT DIDN’T HAPPEN; MINOT AIR FORCE BASE; BUSY BORDE; BACKFIRE; BRING DOWN THE MINNEAPOLIS SKYWALKS; DALTPODS

“Does it matter whether the Bible is studied alongside other intellectual influences on the founding fathers who established an independent constitutional republic committed to liberty and representative rule by the consent of the governed?” American University professor Daniel L. Dreisbach answers this question and many more in his article that examines the role the Bible played in the founding of the United States of America. 

As tensions mount between the Unites States and North Korea, some pundits are calling for more aggressive military action. In this article, foreign policy scholar Dr. Earl Tilford argues that U.S. forces may not be the ideal strategy in this situation. He writes, “The use of American military force could prove devastatingly expensive in blood. The Trump administration’s best alternative is to ratchet up pressure on China to affect regime change in Pyongyang.”

Any excuse is reason enough to produce wall-to-wall racial incitement by the leftist media. Race becomes fake news, a phony ginned-up issue when the outcome does not fit the race baiters’ narrative. When the eyewitnesses and testimony do not support the racist narrative all that is left is to dredge up sympathy and divisiveness stemming from America’s past wrongs -- slavery.

Here is the line of reasoning never highlighted by the dominant media. Any economic, social or political event that does not conform to the progressive narrative justifies being branded as racism. Reason? Racism somehow always plays a part. Why? Racism runs deep and wide in our contemporary culture. Reason? Blacks have been mistreated since the days of slavery. Result? Blacks can never receive fair treatment in a White-dominated society. This is typical fare for those who make a living exploiting racial division.

THE GREAT FLOOD; FLOODING IN ND AND NEW ORLEANS; "NORTH DAKOTA NICE REPLACED NORTH DAKOTA NICE; SONY PURDUE; BRUCE GJOVIG; SALLY SMITH' NOT SURPRISING'NEED A ROOM?; BUMPS IN THE ROAD; AN ANNUAL RITUAL; NUCLEAR FOOT PRINT SHRINKING; DAKTOIDS

The great vice of liberal thinking is its failure of imagination with respect to Christians. For all their preaching of “sensitivity” and “multiculturalism,” they are belligerently ignorant of Christian culture and Christians’ feelings.

People who do not consume left wing, i.e., mainstream media, may have missed the following tidbits.

DEVASTATED; REBIRTH; WHO’S POPULAR?; PRICY WINGS; LEVERAGE; THE LEGACY FUND; MINOT TAKES IT ON THE CHIN; SAD STATS; MORE LOSSES; AN EARLIER ERA; DAKTOIDS

The present misuse of these taxpayer-funded programs gives huge incentives to developers, members of city councils and the building trades to support them. It is a gross distortion of the marketplace and free enterprise as well as abuse of taxpayers. Another word for "taxpayer", under our Declaration of Independence, is "voter".

During Lent, the 46 days from Ash Wednesday to the day before Easter, many Christians focus on giving up or doing without something. While these acts of personal sacrifice are valuable, Christianity also exhorts us to work to help those in need. In this article, Dr. Gary S. Smith encourages readers to look beyond personal sacrifices this Lenten season and reflect upon ways to do “something to improve the lives of one or more of the world’s precious children.” 

One could regard Easter as just another time for fun and food. Bunnies, eggs and candy tend to mask the essential reason for celebration.

Explicitly, as any true Christian knows, the holiday celebrates the return to life of Jesus Christ from the dead to reconcile a broken and rebellious humanity to their Creator. This belief is central to the Christian faith. Without the resurrection of Jesus the man, His life and death would be an ordinary event bearing little significance. There would be nothing unique about His moral teaching. Similar teachings had been spoken by sages before and after Him. Beyond the historic fact of His resurrection, borne out by a multitude of witnesses, His claims would be outrageous. Only a madman would claim He was the Son of God. By any historical account, however, He was not mad. Without the resurrection there would be no Christianity, no overcoming of death, no rebirth, no reconciliation with God the Creator.

How to Proceed; The Challenge to Insure a Future for Our Grandchildren;  Real Health Insurance “Intervention”; What may we expect from the Left?

JAMES ROSENQUIST; BILLBOARDS; POOR DEAL FOR ND TAXPAYERS?; TOO MUCH SPENDING?; JOCELYNE AND MONIQUE LAMOUREUX; TOO MANY SCHOOLS; HEALTH OF COUNTIES; SO THERE!; CONSIDER ANOTHER LINE OF WORK; HARSH EVOLUTION; NO COMMENT; THE LONDON TERRORIST ATTACK; 
DAKTOIDS

U.S. warships launched dozens of cruise missiles into Syria targeting Shayrat airfield—the suspected origin of a chemical weapons attack upon civilians earlier this week. What does this strike mean on the global front? In this article, Dr. Earl Tilford, military historian and fellow for the Middle East & terrorism, argues that the U.S. strike on Shayrat signifies that America is on the path to “recovering world leader status.” Tilford writes, “Adult leadership is back in charge at the White House and intent on reclaiming America’s exceptional role in world leadership.”  

It was autumn 1949. A family drove north from Cheyenne across Wyoming headed for North Dakota. To the right-front just off the right-of-way along US Highway 85 south of Chugwater a series of small wooden signs bore the message of the first brushless shave cream.

The over-60 crowd will remember Burma Shave. Younger generations may need help. Back when the highways were just two lanes the white and red signs were a welcome sight. Jingles offered safe driving tips concluding with “Burma Shave.” Here are some samples:

CHICKENS COME HOME TO ROOST; KEEPING SCORE; LATE OIL NEWS; WOMEN SKATE AWAY; GF HERALD REFUGEE ANALYSIS; RECESSIONS IN FARM INCOME; THEY WANT RESPECT; CRAIG COBB; DR. TOM AMBERRY (94); LITTLE HOUSE OF HORRORS; IS THERE ANOTHER DETECTION METHOD?; THE BISMARCK-MANDAN RAILROAD BRIDGE; BOOSTERISM; WINS ACADEMIC LOTTERY; BOB DYLAN; N.D. TALL TREES; DAKTOTOIDS

President Duterte said criminals have declared war on good and honest citizens. He has declared war on drug criminals. They are terrorists and enemies of the state. Innocent citizens will no longer be easy or cheap pickings.

Duterte has declared that the price to be paid by drug pushers and violent criminals is the ultimate — eradication. It’s about time.

The status quo political class squeals, wrings its hands, and expresses shock and horror at the fact that an elected national leader is actually engaging in a real war on drugs and violent crime. This same political class cares little for the suffering of innocent citizens at the hands of criminals.

The reality is that the Christian norm has been to spread the faith by the word; the Muslim norm has been conversion by the sword.

And perhaps this was reflected in a very interesting German study involving 45,000 young people. Released in 2010, it found that while increasing religiosity made Christian youth less violent, it made Muslim youth more violent.

There simply is no Christian analogue, in all of history, to today’s Islamic terrorism. It only exists in the minds of quislings who, wittingly or not, have become the propaganda arm of global jihad. 

If you follow trends on social media it may seem like America has become deeply divided. But has our country always been this way and what did former presidents do to bring the nation together? In this article, Dr. Gary Welton looks at the psychological dynamic identified as “group polarization” and calls for a “stronger input from centrist America.”