Dakota Beacon

“Those who claim to support the Palestinians ought to put up or shut up. Instead of constantly attacking Israel for its imperfections, they ought to be urging Arab and Muslim nations to help the Palestinians in material ways. These would include demanding the end of incitement to violence and the end of the Palestinians’ murder-for-hire ‘pay-for-slay’ program, which incentivizes terrorism by paying the terrorists’ families for life if they murder Jews.”

Dershowitz succinctly articulates a defense for Israel’s actions. Unfortunately, the legacy media long ago betrayed America’s trust by not telling us both sides of the story.

Election integrity is in far better hands with citizens like Lydia Gissele than with members of Congress.  If you doubt this, read on.

Since the ouster of Joe Biden, a lot of people are asking "who is really in charge"?

You just never know . . . .

The cost of living is going UP!

The Olympics has been something of a shambles so far.  Perhaps the most disgusting feature has been putting women in a boxing ring with men.

We all love a Venn diagram.

Given our penchant for political correctness rot, we Americans have sugarcoated and whitewashed the threat of Islamic imperialism. Am I a racist for even broaching the subject? In the eyes of the DEI crowd, of course I am. After all, I was born Caucasian. In their view, what else matters?

But seriously. Our issue is not about race. It is about culture. It is about demographic decline and the unsustainability of the Western democratic system.

Consider the gradual conquering of the West by Islam through reverse assimilation, gutless multiculturalism, and the exploding Muslim baby boom. If 100 percent of the population believes in pluralistic democracy, what difference does it make if 50 percent are “white”, and 45 percent are “brown?” But it makes a huge difference if part of the population believes in pluralistic democracy and the other part does not. When the mullahs take over, my “conservatism” may remain, and I’ll keep my head down (and on). But it will be the feminists, gays, and transgenders who will suffer. For example, with a Muslim majority on any state supreme court, what are the chances of that court consenting to “gay marriage” or any behavior outside their belief system?

The motto of the United States Secret Service:  "worthy of trust and confidence".  

The wrong questions are being asked.  Are we going to see a Warren Commission type of “investigation”, where the people behind this make the rules of the investigation?  Because a lot of people won’t accept this. 

July and the celebration of America’s Independence would not be complete without a bit of authentication from the halls of history about the Father of our Country. A little-known narrative about George Washington should not go unnoticed.

I first came across the following account in Peter Marshall’s book “The Light and the Glory,” Revell Company, 1977. Marshall, as some will recognize, was the son of the late US Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, Sr. His mother was Catherine Marshall. Peter Marshall (son) graduated from Yale University and Princeton Theological Seminary. He co-authored his book with David Manuel, formerly an editor at Doubleday and executive editor of Logos. He was also a graduate of Yale. These authors were not too shabby.

Our legal system is not meant for use as a club to beat people into submission or to blackmail them - just as our banking system is not meant for use to crush our freedom.  These issues are distractions. 

The fix seems to be in now.  The way we can tell is that anyone who asks a normal kind of question is immediately labeled a “conspiracy theorist”, which is to say, some sort of lunatic.  And yet these questions are quite normal ones to ask, and, in fact, are constructive - that is, if the goal is to find the truth about the events of July 13. 

The story of the week - indeed of the summer - is not the Republican National Convention’s coronation of Donald Trump as its nominee once more for President, but rather the dramatic and shocking incident immediately preceding the Convention.  The following are my impressions as of the Tuesday following the event, so it’s still early, but that said, it’s not too early to ask some pertinent questions.

America celebrated Independence Day in fine fashion this year. Of course, 1776 made up an entire year and not just a single day. The ebb and flow of America’s revolutionary fervor occurred throughout 1776 both before and after the Declaration of Independence was signed. At the risk of being a contrarian, however, one might ask, “Did anything else happen in 1776 besides the American Revolution?” As will be shown, much more was taking place around the globe. The late eighteenth century gave rise to the ideological, technological, economic, and philosophical developments taking place beyond America’s shores. Historians see the period as the beginning of the post-Christian era.

But first, here are some American actions during 1776. The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge was a minor conflict of the American Revolution fought near Wilmington, North Carolina, on February 27, 1776. However, the victory of the North Carolina militia over British governor Josiah Martin's reinforcements at Moore's was a turning point in the war. American independence was declared less than five months later.

I don’t always vote my philosophy. Sometimes I go with my instincts—my “gut” you might say. That I was the first delegate from North Dakota in 2016 to come out in support of Donald Trump for president is a recent example.

I chose Trump because his rhetoric and his actions flew in the face of the political correctness sanctimoniously wielded by the left. And as fate would have it, the unbound delegates in ND were instrumental in putting him ‘’over the top” with their votes while Trump was in Bismarck as the keynote for the ND Petroleum Conference.

I believe North Dakota could have a significant impact on Trump’s bid for election in 2024. Part of that is because of Sen. Kevin Cramer’s close relationship with Trump.

Another reason for North Dakota’s impact in this election is the possibility of Gov. Doug Burgum as Trump’s running mate.

Two hundred forty-eight years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence folks still think about our nation’s ostensible quest for freedom and liberty. A contradiction has arisen in the minds of the citizenry. If the ideas of freedom and liberty are so dear to us, then how do we account for an ever-expanding federal government extending more and more authority and control over our lives and property?

Our Founders were not stupid. They certainly understood the difference between freedom and liberty. “Don’t they mean the same thing,” one might ask? In a general sense, yes. They could be used as synonyms. Today the terms are used interchangeably. But the Founders were struck with a special respect for the concept of liberty. They understood the decisive and delicate distinction between freedom and liberty and were not ignorant of the history of the terms.

As a civil engineer who worked in city government for 4 different cities, Grand Forks (5 years) and Bismarck (5 years), ND, Yuma (1 1/2 years), AZ, and Colorado Springs (5 1/2 years) CO… and as an employee of a private coal mining firm (15 years), a private engineering and surveying firm (10 years), and an environmental firm (2008 -present), I have extensive engineering experience in municipal government engineering, the coal mining industry, airport planning, design & construction, and environmental compliance (Writing Oil Spill Prevention,. These experiences have provided me with extensive knowledge of the differences between private enterprise and government. There are few commonalities between the two, save the cherished relationships with co-workers. As government grows it becomes less efficient while as private enterprise grows, it becomes more efficient.

It’s not hard to understand why Caitlin Clark, the record-setting white ex-NCAA women’s basketball standout, is enjoying attention and endorsements like no WNBA player before her. And, no, it’s not because of (mythical) “white privilege.”

It’s just as how Tiger Woods — who brought legions of new fans to golf the way Clark is doing for women’s hoops — was treated like royalty in the late ’90s for being the first dominant “black” (he calls himself “Cablinansian”) golfer. It’s just as how Danica Patrick became the golden girl of auto racing, even though she was perhaps best known for crashing, because she was a woman in a man’s arena. It’s just as how Gerry Cooney was much ballyhooed in the early ’80s for being a “great white hope” in heavyweight boxing, a category where for decades the champion had almost always been black.

It’s called novelty.

America’s political elites, with the help from the Pentagon, are destroying America’s military. Such a warm thought as we approach the 248^th Independence Day celebration!

America’s military cannot survive the intentional dispelling of good order and discipline in the name of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” Today’s military endures mandatory training in Critical Race Theory, gender policy, and “domestic extremism.” Whether the population mocks the military, or the government derides it, the effect is the same. Those who once loathed the military now hold power and are hellbent with neutering our armed forces.

My Response to the outcome of the 2024 Primary: I’m doubling down.  

Doubling-down is commonly known as a strategy in a card game.  

Practically, it means to strengthen one's commitment to a particular strategy or course of action, typically one that is potentially risky. 

He betrayed us all back in 2020 with his "Operation Warp Speed".  It should not surprise us that he is dangling Bill Gates cohort Doug Burgum as a possible running mate in 2024.

The English language moves and lives and has its being as a fascinating and engaging language. Its construction, usage, and evolution offer hours for etiological investigation. So why abuse our language when it is possible to express oneself quite precisely in fine nuanced English? Good question. The answer (drumroll please…) to follow.

Consider clichés. A good dictionary definition of a cliché is a trite stereotyped phrase or term that attempts to express a popular thought or idea, but which has lost its originality through overuse. Such phrases and terms are reduced to mere bromides and platitudes.

Just a few thoughts on the puzzle of why Putin has not decimated all of Ukraine.  It has been observed that Russia (Putin) does not want to overrun and occupy Ukraine.  This is not a territorial war at all.  Otherwise Putin would have been swift and sure and it would have been over with long ago.

For those not already familiar with the term, a “putsch” describes a revolt or a sudden and decisive change of government, a coup. Now, hold that thought.

Set the scene by identifying the players. In the crassest scenario think of the protagonist as the president of the US. Then, think of the antagonists or perpetrators of direct action. Different names apply, some more descriptive than others: deep state, administrative state, shadow state, bureaucracy, civil servants. Think in terms of unelected government employees. Imagine this loose alliance regarding themselves as anointed custodians of power.

To better grasp this entity, think of more than 450 federal agencies staffed by 2.7 million bureaucrats consuming billions of tax dollars. Making matters more problematic, the incestuous relation between these bureaucrats, the media, lobbyists, and leading universities create a focus of power feared by our Founders.

We should by now be aware that our campaign to antagonize Russia to the point of open warfare with the West is beginning to bear its deadly fruit.

There is a fracture in the Republican Party; it is real and about to split the party into pieces. It is no more apparent than watching the primary battles play out June 11. The main factions fall into a variety of categories, but it can be best identified by the candidates. John Hoeven, Doug Burgum, Kelly Armstrong, Rick Becker, and Kevin Cramer are where most of the battle lines have been drawn.

Shakespeare said, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” This line appears in “Hamlet” (Act I, Scene IV). Specifically, this refers to political corruption and uncertainty. Curious? Let readers check the context for themselves.

See what reputable authors are writing about the state of America’s cultural decline.

Shakespeare again: “’Tis time to fear when tyrants seem to kiss.” “Pericles” (Act I, Scene II). He gives fair warning about deceptive appearances and hidden threats from those in power.

Learning to be Grandpa is like reviving old tricks with an old dog. Fortunately for the grandkids, my tricks are easy to learn. They are tailored for an age group on both ends of the spectrum.

Then a segue in time and topic sneaks up almost unnoticed. The first grandkid graduates from high school. Then another. Wait a minute! Weren’t we just playing with toys in the back yard? Unbelievable! I could say something trite like, “My, how time flies.” But what’s the use? I am slowly being surrounded by young adults I once knew as kids.

“Grandpa, what was it like when you were…?” the grandkids ask. And we drift off into a bit of reverie as I reminisce. They’re amazed at my tales! I’m amazed at my memory! Happily, this Grandpa has found another niche.

Only Grandpas can be Grandpas, and a wise Grandpa will find his niche whatever his age.

I’ve often wondered over the years if Cleo Nordquist realized the impact she had on me (and many of her other students in her fifth and sixth grade classes) with her tireless work as an American Legion Auxiliary member during the annual poppy drive and poster contest.

Through her commitment to the memory of those who served in WWI, WWII, and Korea, she taught me the significance and importance of acts of commemoration in the service of memory.  

Let’s face it. We humans have short memories that need reminding.