Dakota Beacon

Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed a major budget deal into law to avoid a government shutdown. The bill increased federal spending by nearly $300 billion above the already-rising limits stipulated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. Have we seen this before? In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson argues that this process isn’t new to the federal government and that the lessons to be learned are clear.

What started as a civil war in Syria nearly seven years ago may be escalating into a larger conflict that could have ramifications for the entire Middle East. Last weekend, tensions mounted between Israel and Iran and military force was used. In this article, foreign policy scholar Dr. Earl Tilford details the events and argues that the situation could get a lot worse—and it could happen quickly.

Grabbing the guns of law-abiding citizens will only skew the percentage of gun possession toward the criminals.

We don’t know the student’s name, but we do know that he hit a nerve — in fact, he hit a whole bunch of them. Identified only as a boy of Asian descent at C.K. McClatchy High School in California, the teen’s recent science-fair project, “Race and IQ,” propounded the thesis that differences in groups’ average intelligence influence their academic performance. He couldn’t win, though, because his project was removed after parents, staff and other students became “upset” and one girl said she felt “unsafe and uneasy.” The irony?

A project on evolution would no doubt have been well received — even though an assumption of racial differences is implicit in evolutionary theory.

The persecution of Christ does go on today, and if we’re talking about either scale or intensity we have to look first at the Communist world.

James Hitchcock has identified … the Dirty Little Secret of liberal Catholics: the perduring Communist war on religion.

Sergei Kourdakov used to kill Christians; then, revolted by his life, he fled the Soviet Union and became a Christian himself, trying to warn the West against the evils he had helped perpetrate.

Every generation must learn eternal truths for itself or lose perspective of its heritage. God, after all, has no grand kids.

The first and foremost concern of the American founders was not education, climate change, or health care. It was fear of the concentration of power in the hands of government.

Constraining power is the great challenge of any political system. Collectively, we may have forgotten our roots. Idiomatically speaking, we’ve come a long way baby but the question is, “In which direction?” It is as if there was no effort whatsoever to constrain federal power.

Individually and corporately we would benefit by re-grounding ourselves in the principles upon which our nation was founded. No original thinking is required. Mining the nuggets of our heritage might be a formidable task, but the rewards are timeless.

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. During the post-game ceremony, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson thanked “my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.” Tight end Zach Ertz, who scored the winning touchdown, and quarterback Nick Foles, who was named the game’s MVP, both gave glory to God. In this article, Dr. Gary S. Smith looks at faith in the NFL and argues that the religious commitment of many coaches and players will impact the league for years to come.

BROWERVILLE, MINNESOTA; BOLD NORTH; WENTZ ADMIRERS; FLARING; PRAIRIE PUBLIC TV; HOSPITALITY MOGUL; NORWAY’S OLDEST MAN; CHURNING; HOW MANY FREELOADERS?; KEEP THEM OUT OF PRISON; HOMELESS IN FARGO; GARRISON KEILLOR; YOU WON’T KNOW; THE MINNEAPOLIS CEDAR-RIVERSIDE AREA; DAKTOIDS

With storied statues having come down from sea to shining sea the past year, it’s time for the same to happen with something somewhat newer: the socialist-born plaque in the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. 

Oh, don’t worry, I’m not proposing it be destroyed. To echo the opponents of Confederate monuments, it can be put in a museum — where it belongs. 

We live in challenging, even turbulent, times. Sorting out fact from fiction, truth from lies, adds to the challenge. Take health care for example. The fix is far from in. Here are some phony claims muddying the water.

BUDGET BOOGEYMAN; VISION AND VOICE; “THIS WAS THE SOUL-CRUSHINGEST OF THEM ALL”; SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENED; IT’S NOT UNUSUAL; DENTAL THERAPISTS; KELLY RUSCH, NDSU; LIFE BEYOND BREAKING EVEN; ND’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION INVITES; IT’S A SLIPPERY BUSINESS; MIGHTY CORPORATE CENTER; GO TO JAIL CARD; DAKTOIDS

One view of a college education is that it leads to higher paying jobs. While this may be factual, should it be the sole purpose of attending a college or university? Today, many college seekers are shopping around to buy an education as a "transaction" to purchase a job. In this article, Dr. James Thrasher, senior fellow of career services at Grove City College, argues that there is much more to a college education than obtaining a piece of paper and a good job. He writes, “College graduates should not be viewed as round pegs to go into round holes, but as individuals who have the hearts, souls, minds, and skills to make a difference in the lives of others and the world.”

Regrettably some gullible Americans buy into liberals’ campaign rhetoric and mainstream media advocacy while nevertheless behaving conservatively in their personal affairs. This in spite of the discrepancy some politicians promise to “fix” but never seem to resolve “poverty,” “education,” “energy,” “health care,” ad infinitum.

The late William F. Buckley, Jr. stated his faith in American conservatism. He once remarked, “I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the [liberal] faculty of Harvard University.”

That says it all. Conservatism lives.

As we begin year two of President Donald Trump’s leadership from the White House, it is significant to look back and ask: What has the president done to help America’s economy grow? In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson examines the past year and notes specific actions and policies the administration has put into place to make year one an economic success.

THE MAIN STREET ND SUMMIT; HIGHER OIL PRODUCTION; CARA MUND; “THEY ARE NO LESS DESERVING”; A GOOD INTENTION; THERE’S AN ECHO; ACTOR OR FOOTBALL STAR?; RED FAWN FELLIS; WANT A PRESTIGIOUS JOB?; MONSTER SNOWPLOWS; DEADLY BORDER; THE MORE THE MERRIER: DAKTOIDS 

The National Review Years, September 4, 1981 — Two decades ago the Berlin Wall went up nearly overnight, the most brutally unequivocal symbol of the division between our awed civilization and the clumsy barbarism that threatens it. In August the occasion was commemorated by two major American publications.

it is sobering that the Free World’s capital’s single newspaper — one of the two or three leading newspapers in the nation, the one most of our federal officials read every morning — sees fit to mark the anniversary of the Berlin Wall with a flippant defense of the Wall. Rosse and the Post are no doubt entitled to attitudinize lightly about American of officialdom. But to turn this sort of urbaner-than-thou “irreverence” toward official rhetoric into a total derogation of the freedom of East Germans, penned inside a huge political prison — that’s different. That’s serious — no matter how bantering the tone, how glancing the apology for the men who keep the prison.

The Drudge Report, that titan of news-aggregator traffic loses out because of an area in which it may be without peer: providing eyeballs for left-wing websites. More on that momentarily.

It’s not hard to put your finger on what makes Whatfinger stand out: much more news, more conservative news and better views.Whatfinger is well organized and above-board, presenting headline news from various sources, categories for right-wing and left-wing outlets (with the latter far smaller!), and a prominent video section.

Growing tensions between the United States and North Korea have many people on edge. Such was the case over the weekend in Hawaii when a ballistic missile warning caused panic after being accidently sent to residents. Is the possibility of a war with North Korea increasing? In this article, military scholar Dr. Earl Tilford details what the current administration can do to prepare for escalating threats from North Korea. Tilford writes, “Military force must be the last resort, but if it becomes necessary, it must be used overwhelmingly to reach a decisive and rapid conclusion.”

In May 1940, western civilization hung in the balance. Pressure was high to negotiate with the Nazis in Great Britain but Winston Churchill stood boldly and refused. Recently, Dr. Paul Kengor watched the new biopic “Darkest Hour.” In this article that first appeared at The American Spectator, Kengor discusses “Darkest Hour” and writes, “This powerful film portrays what [Churchill] was up against and how he prevailed—a rousing lesson from the time and for the ages.”

As for Trump, his alleged potty-mouth moment was reported by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a scoundrel with a history of lying about White House meetings, according to Daily Wire. But whatever the president said, he said in private. This is far different from Durbin, who introduced the story. It’s far different from ex-California Democratic Party chairman John Burton, who led a “F*** Donald Trump!” chant at California’s Democratic Party convention in Sacramento early last year. And it’s far different from CNN and the rest of the effluent-stream media, which, like an exhibitionist, just revel in the chance to flaunt publicly what excites them privately.

They are despicable. May they be the first to drown in the wave of tyranny they invite.

Those prone to castigate capitalism as a greed-based economic system would do well to look past demagoguery and invoke objectivity. Historical precedent will help.

Capitalism may not be perfect, but millions of individual decisions based on self-interest in a free society beats relying on a government bureaucracy, committee, commission or politburo deciding who gets what, when, how much and at what price in the distribution of goods, services and accumulated wealth.

THE NCAA FCS CHAMPIONSHIP; SMALL TOWN BIG DREAMS; AN INCREDIBLE ASSET; ANOTHER PIPELINE; YES, IT’S STRANGE; PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE; “THE HOSPITAL’S BOARD ALL LEFT”; THE ENCHANTED HIGHWAY; ND’S COMMODITY-DRIVEN RECESSION; ND FARMERS; DEPARTMENT STORE CLOSINGS; HENRY; DAKTOIDS

Roger Stone, a longtime Trump advisor and confidante, certainly knows his way around Washington, having worked as a senior campaign aide to Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Senator Bob Dole as well as having held many other political positions. This proximity to the Deep State is what makes his claim, expressed in a recent wide-ranging interview with The New American magazine’s Alex Newman, that much more eyebrow-raising. Stone outlined three plans the Deep State has for eliminating the president.

Liberalism has succeeded in imposing its verbal prescriptions on the whole population: everyone must now mind even his or her pronouns, or face obloquy.

“Discrimination” now betokens not a fine mind, but a character flaw: one that makes you Politically Incorrect

In spite of opposition from Democrats, the mainstream media and never-Trump Republicans, President Trump is succeeding beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. The libs and never-Trumpers fear the next 3 years – much less possibly 4 years beyond. This is hardly the product of a lunatic as portrayed by the mainstream media. Given the opposition to Trump, his success is delicious to watch.

In effect, President Trump is deconstructing liberalism and unravelling the administrative state! What follows is a comprehensive list of Tabor’s points. Space does not permit an exhaustive list.

GF HERALD PERSON OF THE YEAR; CHRIS KLIEMAN; SALLY SMITH; ISSUES PENDING FOR GOV. BURGAM; THE BIGGER THEY FALL; MAKING A SILK PURS OUT OF A SOW'S EAR; CUBAN OPPORTUNITY; BRRRR!; BREATHE FREE; HAPPENINGS IN MINNEAPOLIS; DAKTOIDS

Recently I reported on the firing of Mateo Rueda, now an ex-art teacher after showing 10 and 11-year-olds nude “artwork” at Lincoln Elementary School in Hyrum, Utah on Dec. 4. Normally I would have let this story go by now, but Rueda continues playing the victim, aided and abetted by complicit reporters; libertines the world over; and, unfortunately, some good people who don’t realize that the media have mischaracterized his trespass.

Rueda, a native of Colombia, demands an apology, even as he condemns his fellow Cache Valley residents as “cultural dead-ends” and members of a “narrow-minded community.” He also said, “I was overqualified[;] I took the [teaching] position with an open heart to make a difference in a predominantly[] Mormon community where there isn’t much culture.” My, charitable as well as charming! Yet his defenders — who’ve called people such as me puritans, prudes and even Nazi-like book burners — should know that Rueda himself confessed that the nudes were out of bounds.

DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROTESTS; GOVERNOR’S FIRST YEAR; HIGHER EDUCATION; ND ECONOMY; REFUGES; SELF-DEFEATING POLICIES; RETAIL SHAKEOUT; A RIVER OF DRUGS; MINOT - LEFT HOLDING THE BAG; CARA AND CARSON; F-M FLOOD DIVERSION

A quote for the passage of time: “Lost yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.” How appropriately Horace Mann expressed the passage of time.

Another year has passed forever. A new year dawns and with it brings another chance to redeem our time in 2018. Mom used to advise not to wish time away. The end of time will come soon enough for every person. Wishing away time is poor stewardship of a valuable resource.

Let the pundits recap 2017. To gain a better feel for the magnitude and speed of change one need only to glimpse at the past thousand years. Change and the passage of time go hand-in-hand. They impact the tempo of our lives and over the past millennia that tempo increased radically. Historical factoids illustrate that fact and provide context for understanding follow-on events.