Dakota Beacon

Across America, high school classes of 1968 had a somber pall cast over the occasion of graduation. For many, just days before obtaining their diploma, the joy of the accomplishment was overshadowed by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson—a high school graduate in 1968—reflects upon the tumultuous events 50 years ago and how they shaped America. Hendrickson writes, “Indeed, 1968 was the year when many baby-boomers—and in particular all the high school classes of ’68 across the country—lost our innocence.”

Free speech has been on a razor’s edge in recent years.  Some think it’s safe - at least in America. Some think it’s not necessary any more.  Some think it’s dangerous. Others think it doesn’t exist. Some think it exists . . .  but only for some.  Free speech is the subject of our First Amendment.  Someone thought it was pretty important in 1791. What do you think?  In the coming weeks we’ll take a look at various aspects of this contentious topic - Free Speech 101.

Before vexation takes hold, check the definition of prostitution. The term “prostitute” broadly suggests more than a narrow sexual perspective. Prostitute (as a verb) -- To misuse something for gain. To use a skill or ability in a way that is considered unworthy, usually for financial gain. Any way you cut it, the etymology of the word connotes exactly what it says -- trading something for favors.

Here are blatant examples of senatorial buyoffs.

How are politics driving the climate change debate? In the latest edition of “V&V Q&A” we sit for an interesting discussion with economist and author Dr. Mark Hendrickson. His recent book—“The Big Picture”—explores the holes in the arguments of those predicting catastrophe due to climate change. Hendrickson says, “When I saw how uncertain science was being used to justify a radical political agenda and immensely costly changes to our society, it prompted me to sound a warning. My warning is basically this: The proposed cure could be far more harmful to human beings than the hypothetical problem.”

THE HEIDI DILEMMA; ND INDIANS ARE PIQUED;THE NFL IS A PASTIME; NY SUICIDE HAS ND CONNECTION; WILD INCREASES; WHO'S ON FIRST?; SD'S POPULATION GROWTH; ND HOUSING GROWTH; POOR COUNTRY COUSINS; WHAT IF? NOSTALGIA; GOING, GOING, GONE; THIS AND THAT; DAKTOIDS

Our freedom to speak is under assault.  "Political correctness" is eating out its substance.  

During a recent interview, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos discussed his philosophy on work-life balance. Bezos said, “If I am happy at home, I come into the office with tremendous energy, and if I am happy at work, I come home with tremendous energy.” In this article, Dr. James Thrasher examines the traditional theory of work-life balance and argues that our lives are multifaceted and cannot be placed into the traditional polar concepts of life on one end and work on the other end. Thrasher suggests that work and our callings should not be doing battle with each other. He writes, “The callings of life include family, vocation, church, and community (the common good of our neighbor). Our minds see them as rivaling commitments rather than elements in our lives that are interdependent and complementary.”

Memorial Day is a time for remembering. Even if we cannot visit the grave site of family members, nevertheless they are commemorated in thought. This is true for my deceased parents who are buried in Colorado. Both are interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in the shadow of the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

I’m pleased they are together again. Dad lived his life as an Army officer and it was a sad day when he retired. Having lost his own father early in life, he joined the Army as a young man during the Great Depression. In a way, the Army became a surrogate father to him teaching him life skills. When laid to rest at Fort Logan in 1997, it was as if he rejoined the ranks of those with whom he had spent so many years. Then, after living side by side as helpmates for decades, Mom joined him in 2008 in their final resting place together once again.

ZINKE IN ND; BAKKEN BRIGHTENS; CHARLIE KOURAJIAN; WHICH WILL IT BE?; USING THE BACK DOOR; ABOUT TO THRIVE; HAMID SHIRVANI; NOT ONE GOOD WORD; COBB IS LOOSE AGAIN; TOUGH STANCE ON IMMIGRATION; FRAUD IN CCAP; DAKTOIDS

As we celebrate Memorial Day this year, may we remember the sacrifice that millions of Americans have made to preserve our freedom and help promote peace and justice in our troubled world. In his article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson reflects upon those who “achieved an eternal victory by standing on the right side of history, the right side in the conflict between good and evil—the right side of life and liberty.”

On Memorial Day 2018 our fallen sons and daughters from all branches of the military from all wars including Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserves deserve heartfelt commemoration from a grateful nation. Special honor is due those who have fallen in the War on Terror.

If liberals were animals, if would be a marked improvement. For one thing, animals don’t lie.

The final irony here is that liberals tend to embrace godless evolution and generally believe that people are nothing but animals. Yet as the brilliant G.K. Chesterton put it, “Man is an exception.” He “is always something worse or something better than an animal[.]” So true. And I think we know which free-will-abusing people are keeping MS-13 gangsters company in the worse category.

THE BAKKEN IS BACK; IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN NORTH DAKOTA; WHO HAS IT?; HARDBALL; THERE'S MORE; WESLEY COLLEGE; HIJACKING; DRUG USE IN ND; MINNEAPOSLIS-ST. PAUL; SOCIAL ENGINEERING; MOSAIC; DAKTOIDS

We are doing this to ourselves.  We must be crazy.

The recent discovery of tax dollars shipped regularly from Minnesota through MSP to Al Shabaab should have us wondering 1) what else is going on with our money under our noses and 2) why we are putting up with it?

The recent discovery of tax dollars shipped regularly from Minnesota through MSP to Al Shabaab should have us wondering 1) what else is going on with our money under our noses and 2) why we are putting up with it?

A ghostly silence reigns. You don’t hear kids cheering in a backyard or the whap of a bat on a softball.  You rarely see kids in a wading pool in the yard. These are signs of cultural failure. No, it isn’t silly.  It is deadly serious.

The third Saturday in May is designated Armed Forces Day. For 2018 the date is set for May 19. The purpose is to honor men and women who have served the United States in the military. Unlike Veterans Day, this day is also designated to educate the public on various roles of the military and how each service plays a role in keeping America safe.

Unlike other Presidential cabinet positions, the armed forces and the defense of the nation is explicitly addressed in the US Constitution Article I, Section 8.

All the military services should expect a well-deserved salute from the public whom they protect. They merit a heartfelt thanks from a grateful nation. And, may we never take for granted the volunteers who serve.

Thirty years ago, President Ronald Reagan vetoed a bill proposed by Senator Ted Kennedy that sought to reverse language in the Supreme Court’s holding in the Grove City College v. Bell case. Kennedy’s legislation, dubbed the “Grove City Bill” by the media, changed Title IX and other federal civil rights legislation to allow more government control over higher education. Reagan saw the threat to freedom and the substantial compliance burden that could result and sent the bill back unsigned. Unfortunately, the House and Senate overrode his veto and the “Grove City Bill” became law. In this article, constitutional scholar Dr. John Sparks looks back at the events and demonstrates why Reagan was correct 30 years ago and why Grove City College remains correct today.

It is from the perspective of an immigrant from a land of long - and recent - experience - that Rafizadeh speaks to us, someone who has insight valuable to us, knowledge he would like to pass along to us that might save us from a terrible calamity.

Saturday marked the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. Today, many supporters of Marx argue that his philosophy was not the problem that led to tens of millions of deaths under communism but rather it was the aberration of the likes of Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, Castro, etc. who used the philosophy to murder. In this article that first appeared at The Wall Street Journal, communism scholar Dr. Paul Kengor argues that this type of this support for Marx is baseless because Marx “set the stage with his philosophy for the greatest ideological massacres in history.”

America today appears as divided as ever. It seems our divisiveness and disunity has never been worse.

Not so. America was born in discord and never outgrew it. This is as good a time as any to offer perspective – historical perspective.

BUSINESS CONDITIONS BRIGHTEN; PUBLIC PENSION PLANS IN ND; ND HAS TWO OIL REFINERIES; HART FAMILY; I RARELY MAKE PREDITRIONS; A VICTIM OF CRAFT-BEER; PUZZLING ND DEMOCRAT DECISIONS; THE NEW INCOME TAX LAW; ELEVEN ND COLLGES & UNIVERSITIES; END OF CATHOLIC RESETTLEMENTS; COINCIDENCES;DAKTOIDS

Tomorrow marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. Some around the world are celebrating with tributes, lectures, and even birthday parties. But is classical Marxism on the decline? In this article that first appeared at The American Spectator, communism scholar Dr. Paul Kengor argues that Marxism is alive and well but the focus of Marxism today is not economic driven as it once was, rather it has become a cultural ideology. Kengor writes, “It’s a form of Marxism so radical in its redefinition of human nature that Marx himself would blush and find it bewildering.”

The NFL has been a target of the left for decades. It is not what the NFL has done. It is what the NFL represents. The NFL represents masculinity, strength, talent, rugged individualism, excellence, winning, competition, and love of country – everything leftists, liberals, and progressives hate. The NFL has represented this great American game and the intolerant left cannot stand it. Liberals have attacked the NFL over and over pushing themes like global warming, domestic violence, homophobia, concussions, and demonization of Christians. Check this annual sampling.

And yes, it appears that Alfie was, indeed, euthanized.  With his mother, Kate semi-conscious, a nurse entered the room in Tom’s absence and administered four different drugs.  Within two hours the child was dead.

GOV. BURGUM TO SHAKE UP ND UNIVERSITY SYSTEM; IT’S THE ND GOVERNOR'S TRAVEL BUDGET, STUPID; ND INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION EMBARRASSMENT; SENATOR HEITKAMPS' ENFORCER; DAKOTA GROWERS PASTA; TWO LARGE ND FARMS BANKRUPT; ND AND ITS NEIGHBORS; YOU CAN’T JUST BE A BUFFALO; JAMESTOWN AND THE LURE OF BIG CITY LIGHTS; OHMDAHL JOUSTING WINDMILLS; MINORITIES SLIPPING BEHIND IN ND EDUCATION; DAVE OSBORN; FARGO' S BAD BOYS, BAD BOYS; DAKTOIDS

In 1976, the federal government sought a signature from Grove City College’s fifth president, Dr. Charles MacKenzie—they did not receive one. What followed were compliance proceedings, a law suit in Federal District Court in Pittsburgh, then to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and finally to the U.S. Supreme Court. In this article, constitutional scholar Dr. John Sparks takes readers through this important time in history for private higher education—a time that would lead, a few years later, to a battle between President Ronald Reagan and Congress.

And there it is, folks - the hammer.   Anyone caught posting (and you WILL be monitored) will be investigated and their communications and behavior, where necessary, will be acted upon.

Tom Brokaw’s “greatest generation” is thinning out on a daily basis. Last Saturday the world watched as much-loved First Lady Barbara Bush was laid to rest. In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson remembers Mrs. Bush along with a long-time friend who recently passed away.