The Wild Olive

Two updates

2008-01-26T12:45:00.001-07:00

Be sure to check out two new blogs/sites on the sidebar: one from Dave Nevins, who leads a prayer/worship/fellowship group here in Alexandria. His site is worth perusing in some detail, as he lays out "Charismatic" (Catholic) Christianity in straightforward language. Ha, "Charismatic" and "Catholic" -- two terms sure to terrify many, especially in combination.

Also joining the blog roll is Marti Smith's site Telling Secrets. Marti led EC and I on a venture to Turkey a few summers ago with Caleb Project. In addition to being one of the most well traveled people I've every known (Marti is literally all over the world, all the time), she is a first-rate (and published) writer.

BC

Once upon a time, in Dublin

2008-01-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

A rare love story that doesn't peddle cheap sentimentality, Once is one of the best movies we saw this year. Not only will you hear good music, you'll also see great footage of Dear, Dirty Dublin. Cheers. -BC

Root and Branch

2008-01-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

After some thought and discussion, EC and I have decided to stop writing posts about politics and public policy.

The writer of this blog, which I read regularly, happened to notice The (humble and meek) Wild Olive, and offered to have us listed on his site's blog roll. Given the new office I am working in and, frankly, the general area in which EC and I work (politics, government, policy), we've decided to pull all political and policy-related topics from The Wild Olive, in the interest of safeguarding ourselves and our workplaces from any unwanted attention. And incidentally, we had to turn down the good man's offer for increased blog readership.

Instead, we will focus primarily on issues of religion and culture, especially as they relate to our own lives. If society (or a country, state or city) is like a tree, politics and policy are a bit like the branches. Religion is the root, and culture the trunk. If someone wants to improve a tree's health, they can do all the pruning of branches and leaves they want. But if the trunk, or worse yet, the root, is rotten or diseased, any pruning is largely in vain. If anything, the pruning is delaying the inevitable death of the tree. By focusing on religion and culture, at a personal level, I think we are addressing a more fundamental level of life than politics and public policy. As Christians, we know this to be true.

This is a difficult thing in an election year. But nonetheless we will avoid the low-hanging fruit of Presidential politics on this blog.

The first 1/3 of Plato's Republic consists of a debate over the definition of justice. Much of the heated discussion is couched in terms of the local politics of the day in Athens, including the politics following the Peloponnesian War that eviscerated Greek civilization.

After going several rounds of defining precisely what justice is not, Plato's character Socrates turns the discussion in a completely different direction: In order to discover the nature of justice, he says, we should build a city in our minds (or "with our words."). Only by seeing the ideal community in practice will we apprehend this slippery virtue, justice. Joining with a couple worthy students, Socrates verbally creates what he considers an ideal city from scratch.

I propose something similar. Every time I am tempted to discuss politics or policy on this blog, I'll try to see if the issue transfers to the more fundamental level of the family. For example, I had a blog post in mind for the next few days on education policy. Instead of public education policy, I will instead focus on what might be called family education policy. How should we educate our child(ren)? In order to prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century, what will they need to know, and what skills do they need to acquire? What would the ideal education of our children consist of?

Family policy over public policy. Of course we all know the former is more important than the latter. But at some level, it takes more work to discern the former.

If anyone wants to ask a direct question or start a direct discussion on politics, government or public policy, shoot EC and I an e-mail or drop us a line on Facebook. I know the change will annoy some (including me at times), but it's all for the greater good.

See you on the front lines,

BC

Breakin' up (a coalition) is hard to do

2008-01-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

Jonah Goldberg, mainstream Republican and intellectual rival of Crunchy Conservative Rod Dreher, wrote in Sunday's Washington Post a concise and funny summary of the current cleavages in American political conservatism, circa 2008.

Goldberg is grumpy because the Reagan Coalition is disintegrating. But coalitions are meant to be temporary, not permanent. That fusionist Republicanism held on this long is a bit surprising. Just a few years ago, Karl Rove was talking convincingly of a "permanent Republican majority." How distant that now seems. I suspect it's all for the best, as soul searching always is, especially for political types.

It's hard to say what direction post-fusionist political conservatism might take, but I for one do not want to join a populist movement. I think any new iteration of conservative politics could, as David Brooks said, "embrace capitalism but be suspicious of capitalists," without descending into the victimology of economic populism or delusional isolationism.

BC

"For this hour, and for this trial..."*

2008-01-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

As of this week, I have worked exactly one year in legislative government - one session with the Colorado state legislature, and the past six months on the Hill. After my brief months here, I've observed a Washington, D.C. composed of regular people from all over country, many of them in their 20s and 30s, who are exerting as much power as they can in their own little fiefdoms, their own little corners of the Beltway.

After hearing people's stories (either in the news or from colleagues), it seems most these run-of-the-mill young people work hard at their jobs, even if the work is sometimes aggravating, occaisionally seems trivial, or requires unreasonable hours for an unreasonable salary -- Though often, very often, at some point many of these folks find themselves at moments of tremendous consequence, when the decisions they make have national or international significance.

I notice this all the time now when I read the newspaper. The people in the pages are real - they are not fictional. And sometimes they fail. They didn't know they would be put in these critical and complex situations, but there they are all the same. It's a sobering realization.

EC has been auditing a Navy warship that Robert Kaplan thinks could play a role in determining U.S. military and economic power in the 21st century. I remember once EC told me who her team was interviewing for the week, and I had a moment of remarkable clarity -- she was interviewing him, and his staff? Any job quickly becomes routine, but at that moment I was struck with how important EC's team was, not just for us as a family, or just for her, but for the country.

Charlie Wilson's War, which EC and I saw recently, captures this phenomenon with humor and intensity. Charlie Wilson, a party-loving Congressman from East Texas ends up funding and prosecuting a covert war in Afghanistan in the early 1980s. His East Texas, all-female staff works with Charlie and a rogue CIA agent to supply the Afghan Mujahadeen with shoulder-fired missiles capable of bringing down Soviet attack helicopters. Wilson got elected because he was able to help elderly East Texans with their Medicare and Social Security. But he ended up with his fingers deep in a secret war in a faraway country.

It helps to remember that regular people put in extraordinary situations is nothing new.

On Spengler's elite forum (made up of academics, retired military, intelligence buffs and religious scholars), a young serviceman in Iraq -"Ehud" is his avatar- comments regularly, and is a youthful anomoly in the forum. Sagacious Spengler's words for Ehud follow:

Ehud, Stay safe. A lot of people are reading -- I am surprised how many and in what places. If there is any merit to what we do (and Providence will decide that, not us), it will take ten or fifteen years to have any impact. It won't be the present generation of power-brokers who pay attention, but young people starting their careers with a sense of dissatisfaction at what they have learned. As they rise through the ranks, these ideas -- if they are borne out -- very gradually will rise with them. I don't see how the Republicans can win this year's election given their poor showing in economic as well as strategic matters. That will give traditionally-oriented politicians four years to wander in the desert, with an open mind, and for a new generation to get involved.

Americans became complacent and underestimated the difficulties and the demands on them from the world of the 21st century. As always, they will have to learn the hard way. The one consolation is that they always have learned.

So here's wishing you a complete 2008.

There's nothing like a desert experience to focus the mind. As a wise man said a couple of nights ago in Alexandria, "God didn't just need to get the Jews out of Egypt, he needed to get Egypt out of the Jews." Amen. And here's to wandering.

* "I felt as if I were walking with destiny, and that all my past life had been but a preparation for this hour and for this trial." -Winston Churchill on his appointment as Prime Minister in May of 1940; The Second World War, Volume I : The Gathering Storm (1948)

BC

Republicans are so five years ago...

2008-01-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

...at least, according to the uber-respectable Pew Research Center, which calls 18-25 year-olds "the least Republican Generation."

BC

"The Republican Reformation"

2008-01-05T16:06:00.001-07:00

Wow! The only thing more shocking than Mike Huckabee's startling ascendancy in Iowa was the former Governor of Arkansas' wide margin of victory over Manchurian Candidate-like Mitt Romney.

As I was telling a co-worker yesterday, I support Huckabee and like him a great deal, but not enough to defend him on all counts (who could support a national smoking ban? Are you kidding me?). I think the criticism of his lack of foreign policy knowledge and experience is valid -- but seriously, did Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan or (ahem) George W. Bush have a lick of international affairs experience when they walked into the Oval Office? I think not. One way to remedy this problem and assemble a more bullet-proof ticket would be a McCain-Huckabee combo. Only a McCain-Huckabee candidacy would provide the necessary jump-start to what David Brooks (resident conservative columnist at the New York Times) calls the upcoming "Republican Reformation."

As usual, Brooks has his finger on the pulse of change -- this time on the upcoming Republican Schism. Last week, Brooks penned two columns -- one on Mitt Romney's "Power Point-mentality" and the other on the conventional-wisdom busting Huckabee -Obama victories in Iowa. Both are worth a read. From the Romney column:

If any Republican candidate is going to win this year, he will have to offer a new brand of Republicanism. But Romney has tied himself to the old brand...The leaders of the Republican coalition know Romney will lose. But some would rather remain in control of a party that loses than lose control of a party that wins. Others haven’t yet suffered the agony of defeat, and so are not yet emotionally ready for the trauma of transformation. Others still simply don’t know which way to turn.

And from the Iowa column:

Huckabee’s victory is not a step into the past. It opens up the way for a new coalition....A conservatism that recognizes stable families as the foundation of economic growth is not hard to imagine. A conservatism that loves capitalism but distrusts capitalists is not hard to imagine either. Adam Smith felt this way. A conservatism that pays attention to people making less than $50,000 a year is the only conservatism worth defending...Mitt Romney is now grievously wounded. Romney represents what’s left of Republicanism 1.0. Huckabee and McCain represent half-formed iterations of Republicanism 2.0.

The old guard, fusionist Republican will be crushed in the near future. Young people are turning against the GOP in droves. Immigrants, primarily from Latin America and seemingly a perfect fit for small government, traditional values Republicanism, are repulsed by the "Send the dark people home" rhetoric spewing from mainstream GOP politicians. (FYI: Most recent immigrants to the U.S. are socially and fiscally conservative -- they are not the enemy!). Political and cultural conservatives who dare to espouse a belief in, um, conservation -- are finding the life of an Independent, or even a Democrat, more palatable. The old three legged stool of economic liberalism, social conservatism and hawkish national security is populated by old men, who will all fade away in the next 20 years. That doesn't mean the old men are wrong -- but it does mean a new iteration of conservatism is necessary. Or maybe more accurately, a recovery of the older meaning of conservatism deserves some fresh faces. The Republican Reformation is still waiting for its Martin Luther, though Huckabee and McCain are probably forerunners to that candidate who will fully articulate the new conservatism.

BC

Two New Voices

2008-01-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Take note of two additions on the side column of blogs: Brother TC & and sister-in-law EC (another EC) have launched a couple of new sites: The Workman Project and The Lilly Awakens, both accessible from this site. As you, dear reader, have noticed, TC is a frequent commenter on this blog. I highly encourage you to join him in his fearless (and very welcome) commentating.

BC

Loving Dad

2008-01-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Joan Waithera Njoroge lives in Nairobi with her husband, Dan. I stayed at her house two years ago, where her mother made us chipati and peas, let us journal outside in her garden and take pictures of the monkeys in her trees ("those pests"). Joan, who joined two American women to travel to Sudan because she loved the Sudanese and wanted peace in Africa. Joan, my Kenyan sister, "Loving Dad," she always began her prayers when she prayed. Joan, a Kikuyu, married to a Masai. We talked about godly relationships, and about following Jesus. We played frisbee next to mud huts and laughed until our sides hurt.

Rhonda is in Eldoret with her husband and their baby who was born the same month as Hadassah Mae. Rhonda, an American missionary, married to a Kenyan missionary, a Luo. Rhonda, who let me bicycle with her through the shanties in Kakuma's refugee camp, who looked so small when our bush plane left her alone again in Sudan. We ate tex-mex over coals and talked about vanilla creamer in coffee. We prayed for peace in Africa.

The New York Times today reported 50 people burned alive in a Pentacostal church in Eldoret as part of the violence that erupted after last week's controversial presidential election. 50 Kikuyu, they said. One man they interviewed had the last name Njoroge, like Joan. The President elect, a Kikuyu, is suspected of corruption. The opposition, a Luo, is calling for 1 million to demonstrate in Nairobi's downtown streets.

I don't remember when my heart stopped hurting for Africa. One day I woke up and the headlines about Sudan didn't affect me the same way anymore. In grad school they call this "crisis fatigue." Maybe emotional preservation set in. I remember how I marched in front of the Colorado state capital and waved a flag for Darfur. That seems ineffective and far away now.

Today at work from my office in downtown D.C. I saw the number, 300 dead in Kenya. Kenya, the "safe" African country, falling apart at the seams. Joan, a Kikuyu, Rhonda, now part Luo.

And this time it's not sorrow I feel, like I did for Sudan, or a Christian "burden" to pray for peace. Tonight it is different. Tonight I feel afraid for my friends.

As much as anything in my life so far, the faith and fellowship of these women has shaped the woman I now am. So tonight I pray for peace in Africa. For Rhonda, for Joan.

Foxes Have Holes...

2007-12-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

As our plane descended last week, the South Dakota countryside looked like a white sheet of unlined paper – unscratched and inviting. There were no red lines of taillights; no cars trying to squeeze into a stream of speeding drivers. It was nice. We exited the airport and started to drive. And as we drove, for the first time in six months, my knuckles were not white. In the fading sun the snow on the hills turned pink and grey, and I reflected on the goodness of appreciating a place.

As a native Coloradoan, I can say that we are, at times, state-centric. We’ve joked about a Texan quota, bemoaned the implants from the west coast, and suggested drawing the state line along the Front Range. When we moved to Virginia, I was quick to notice the many (negative) differences: the heat, the rush-hour parking-lot traffic, the abruptness of the people, the shortness of tempers, and the lack of coniferous trees. I often sighed. It was so… East coast.

Then I came to discover that some people in D.C. did not appreciate that I was from Colorado. “It’s so empty,” someone said. “It’s okay if you like to be rugged.” I was told by a colleague about the GAO field office, “Honestly, I don’t know why we have an office way out there.” She emphasized that it was quite far from East-coast civilization, as if Denver were still filled with cowboys and saloons. Another co-worker pointed out that even though “remote,” one could survive because Denver did have a Banana Republic and several J.Crews.

Not long ago, I realized that as a Christian, I am perpetually far from Home. The book of Hebrews reminds us that like Abraham, we are sojourners until Heaven and the Kingdom come. This did not mean I was to be “homeless” and literally living on the street (although it could) but that my eyes were to be fixed on the heavenly, spiritual Kingdom of God. This revelation, and the ensuing struggle to relinquish control of the location of my temporary, earthly “home,” had not yet been tested. And then we moved.

And there I was, racing in my high heels for a spot on the metro. Every day jostling through the Chinatown morning crowds, walking in the shadow of D.C. with the nation’s Capitol building to my right, the Washington Monument somewhere behind me, federal buildings lining the sides of the street. It was here that my assertion was tested, and in the end, it could still stand.

Can you believe it, in its uniqueness, in its differences, even D.C foreshadows heaven. It is not filled with the pine trees of Colorado or the snow-covered hills of South Dakota. But it is its own place, and it is good.

I’m reminded of a statement by C.S. Lewis: “Heaven is that place where all that is and all that happens issues from God’s creative genius. In that sense, it is like earth, except that in our present earth even nature groans, waiting for its deliverance….”(Beyond the Shadowlands)

If we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and our hearts set on returning Home, we are liberated to follow Him… “wherever He goes.”

A Ham or an Artichoke for Dinner, Honey?

2007-12-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Only Spengler could pull this one off: In a Christmas column dealing with human-animal relationships, he works this money quote into the mix:

"Most cultures do not change; they persist until their best-used-by date, and then are destroyed by their enemies or die of their own despondency. Fundamental cultural change - a change as it were in human nature - appears in human history as a response to revelation."

The column is worth reading in detail, as is one of the essays Spengler references, Michael Wyschogrod's The Revenge of the Animals.

Wyschogrod (a conservative Jew) speculates that God "would prefer a vegetarian humanity." Diet, as it relates to our spiritual life, is an issue most Christians think little or not at all about. I am amazed at how fiery some Christians can get at the comment: "I feel convicted to become a vegetarian." Think of the reaction if the comment were: "I feel convicted to eat a strict kosher diet -- I don't believe Jesus abolished all dietary requirements in the law."

I think the key question is: When the risen Christ commands Peter to "kill and eat," is he aboloshing all dietary requirements (or even all dietary concerns) for Gentile Christians, OR is he more broadly exposing Peter's limited, ethno/nationalistic vision of what new Christ followers must do in order to be saved (i.e. follow the Levitical law)?

BC

Hucka-gotta-be a Communitarian?

2007-12-22T11:47:00.000-07:00

BC wonders if Mike Huckabee isn't an American version of Europe's Christian Democrats?

A New Batch of Mustard Seeds

2007-12-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Many of us who pray for unity in the Body of Christ don't do enough reflecting on what that unity looks like. I've speculated in the past that any future ecumenism in the Body won't come primarily from meetings, conferences and letters of agreement from church leaders -- though these are still highly significant, and historic, efforts.

Instead, we are more likely to see more what is occurring today -- what John Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Register (one of the most astute observers of Catholic Christianity, and global Christianity in general) calls "the ecumenism of daily life" -- detailed here in his recent column, "Springtime for Ecumenists: A Realistic Assessment." From Allen:

The great irony is...the ecumenical movement is actually among the most phenomenally successful currents in global Christianity in at least the last 100 years. It may not have achieved full, visible communion, but it has swept away centuries of prejudice and broken down denominational ghettoes in what can only seem historically like the blink of an eye.

Today, for example, Catholics and Protestants around the world pray together, work together, celebrate when their kids marry one another, and in general no longer see one another as bogeymen. While anti-ecumenical attitudes certainly persist (for example, in some sectors of the surging Pentecostal movement across the global south), the few remaining places where Catholics and Protestants are at one another's throats strike mainstream believers on both sides as not only anachronistic but almost incomprehensible. Much the same point could be made about Catholic/Orthodox relations.

If proof is needed, I offer the case of Hill City, Kansas, the tiny western Kansas town where my 93-year-old grandmother resides. Grandma, if prompted, tells stories about the time Protestants tried to stop construction of a Catholic church in town, not wanting the papists to get a toehold. (I have no idea how much truth there is to that memory, but the point is that reflects an era not so long ago in which such things were common.) Today, by way of contrast, her greatest point of pride about her pastor, Fr. Don McCarthy, is that he's well-liked by the Protestants too. There's almost no religious initiative of consequence in town that isn't ecumenical, such as the time in 2004 that the Ministerial Alliance, a coalition of the various Christian denominations, pooled $1,800 to rent the local cinema for free showings of "The Passion of the Christ." For three nights, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Lutherans sat shoulder by shoulder, then went out for coffee, pie, and conversation.

In microcosm, that tells the story of the runaway success of what experts have come to call the "ecumenism of daily life."

Our not-so-distant ancestors would be utterly shocked by the level of harmony among Christians today. For those of us who desire to see a more united Body, our current assessment reads like a GAO report: "Some Progress Has Been Made, but Much Remains to Be Done." (By far the best treatment of discerning a road to Christian unity is Peter Kreeft's message "Ecumenism Without Compromise").

But even after all the "ecumenism of daily life" you can handle, what is the dirty little secret behind greater Christian ecumenism? What will bring Christ-following Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox together irrevocably?

Persecution. And I'm not talking about having to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I'm talking about hard persecution, not soft.

I think TC's comment in the previous post is very relevant, because he highlights the trend of many young Christians ignoring fixed church buildings altogether, and meeting in homes, or gyms, or whatever structure they can find. The early Church did this because they had to in order to avoid imminent arrest, or death. Why are young people doing it today?

At least one (and many other) Christian leaders are predicting difficult times ahead, and preparing for a small, dedicated Body living in the world as a "Creative Minority."

BC

Putting the "Cult" back in Culture - Part I

2007-12-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Cult: Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus - "care, adoration," from colere "to cultivate"
1: formal religious veneration : worship 2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also: its body of adherents

Our little family lives just down the bike path from Cameron Station, a master-planned, neo-traditional development complete with its own main street, pre-school, farmer's market, large park and town hall where residents can vote and conduct other basic public business. Cameron Station has all the typical high points of "quality of life" - walkability, security, outdoor recreation opportunities, and so on.

Yet there's one thing I find missing as I stroll or drive around the community, making the place feel at best, lacking something, at worst, contrived. Cameron Station is missing a House of Worship.

Developments like Cameron Station are popping up all over the country, and I find this trend enormously positive. Make no mistake -- the "New Urbanist", neo-traditional community style generally produces very desirable places to live and work. Stapleton, Lowry and Belmar in Denver, Dawley Farm Village and Northern Lights Community in South Dakota, serve as examples. But the neo-traditional style is lacking a significant component of traditional communities: religion -- and by "religion", I refer to its original meaning, derived from and related to the word "relationship" (with God).

I realize the need for developers to turn a profit. They wouldn't be in the business if they couldn't earn a living. But the trend to eliminate the religious element from considerations of urban planning/development only contributes to the general spiritual corrosion in so many communities (for a series of wonderful examples, choose almost any country in Western Europe, where developers are in the business of converting unused Houses of Prayer to one-bedroom condos and dance clubs).

Cities across the U.S. are trying to attract the so-called "Creative Class" -- Young, single professionals working in IT, education, graphic design, writing, filmmaking, architecture, and so on. Like most ideas, this one has an element of truth: The new economy demands a healthy dose of Creative Class occupations in any locale that wants to advance, or even survive. This trend naturally leads to urban planning and development for singles: condos, edgy art districts, and uber-hip restaurants. What is left behind? Churches, schools and parks are ignored -- in other words, the things that often bind a family to a specific place are almost disregarded entirely.

So what happens to these hip-locales? Young, talented folks move in -- and promptly leave after a few years (maximum) when they are ready to settle down with a family. The "community" produced is temporary, transient and superficial. Joel Kotkin, urbanist guru, addresses this topic in his recent op-ed "The Rise of Family-Friendly Cities." It's worth a quick read.

I know, many of you are saying: BC is changing his tune now that he has a family. And many of you are absolutely correct, and let me make it clear that I have moved a full five times in the last five years. But hey, this isn't politics -- I reserve the right to change my mind.

BC

The Great Republican Schism

2007-12-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

Coming around the bend, in the fall of 2008 and beyond, we have the Great Republican Schism.

BC

"Maybe it's not what he wants from you either."

2007-12-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Huckabee must be a contender, if the respectable conservative National Review (which endorsed Mitt Romney) is spewing this type of invective -- try to choke down some of the venom emanating from Lisa Schiffrin:

Everything that happens, Huck, all those reporters are going to want you to say something, everywhere you go, 24/7. And lots of people will act based on what you say. And not all of them have lots of love in their heart, Huck. That bait shop on the lake — it's looking good. You'll be surrounded by nice neighbors, real Christians, and you can be the smartest guy in the room. You can go out running every morning. Remember Huck — Jesus wouldn't be dumb enough to go into politics.You were right on that one. Maybe it's not what he wants from you either.

Well, here's to high school politics. Go get 'em Huck (and by the way -- COOL IT on the Lou Dobbs-like rhetoric on immigration -- I thought you weren't mad at anybody? Stick with authenticity, not linking hands with scaremongers)

BC

Read, and Weep, All Ye Bluegrass Fans

2007-12-08T06:01:00.000-07:00

Nickel Creek, spunky bluegrass band from SoCal, recently concluded their farewell tour, which started here in D.C. and finished in Nashville.

EC and I had the good pleasure of seeing Nickel Creek perform at Denver's hallowed Fillmore Auditorium (on less-than-hallowed Colfax Avenue).

Also, music fans: Be sure to browse NPR Music beta, an enormously content-rich site full of public radio's best tunes.

BC

Governor Romney's Speech (follow up)

2007-12-07T05:53:00.001-07:00

Romney's Religious Conundrum

2007-12-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

Mitt Romney delivered his "I'm a serious-but-not-that-serious Mormon" speech today in College Station, Texas. Intending a JFK-like address on how his religion interacts with his duties as a public official, most of Romney's speech reads like a (well-written) civics lesson in religious pluralism.

And let me say at the outset: Romney could very well be a fine President (though I would certainly not vote for him in a primary). One of my biggest objections to Romney is that he seems to be the Republican version of John Kerry -- a stuffy, aristocratic fellow trying desperately to look like a common Joe -- who would ultimately be beaten soundly by the Democratic nominee.

One of the primary differences between JFK's and Romney's speech is that Kennedy actually declared he would resign his office if there was a fundamental conflict between his beliefs as a Catholic and the duties of the Presidency. That is a startling claim, and I couldn't imagine a candidate today making it. (Kennedy actually made a much more vigorous case for a bright line between Church and State than Romney - so don't take this as a full endorsement of JFK's Houston speech over Romney's more moderate stance).

But Romney's religious problem is intractable: Many of the voters to which he is appealing want a candidate whose actions as President are informed directly by their (Christian) faith. Because Romney is self-conscious about his religion (and broad public acceptance of it), he feels the need to make the opposite claim: that his Mormonism will not directly influence how he governs the country from the Executive Branch. How this furthers his cause with politically conservative Christians is not at all clear.

Missionaries Wanted - Location: Paris

2007-12-03T12:32:00.000-07:00

Via Spengler, a call for missionaries where they perhaps are needed most:

Secular liberalism, the official ideology of almost all the nations of Western Europe, offers hedonism, sexual license, anomie, demoralization and gradual depopulation. Muslims do not want this. In Africa, Christian missionaries go to Muslims and offer them God's love and the hope of eternal life. But I am aware of no Christian missionaries active in the Muslim banlieue (outskirts) of the Paris suburbs or the Turkish quarters of Berlin. By contrast, there is indeed a war with Islam, and it is being won in parts of the world where Christians wage it on spiritual grounds. No Christian army has had to march in its support. Europe, meanwhile, is losing ground to Islam because it declines to fight.

I agree. There are already thousands of Christian missionaries in sub-Saharan Africa, and most of them are Africans. Who would think to be a missionary (or "tentmaker") in majority-Muslim suburbs of Paris, Rotterdam and Berlin? Not many, apparently.

BC

"In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil."

2007-12-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

These words come from Robert McNamara, former president of Ford Motor Company, Secretary of Defense, and president of the World Bank. Whenever we watch the documentary of McNamara's career, The Fog of War, EC shakes her head when McNamara makes this statement. The Fog of War ranks as one of my favorite movies, of any genre or time period. It's a simple film: Documentarian Errol Morris simply asks McNamara to reflect on his life, and explain the lessons he's learned. McNamara comes up with 11:

Empathize with your enemy.
Rationality will not save us.
There's something beyond one's self.
Maximize efficiency.
Proportionality should be a guideline in war.
Get the data.
Belief and seeing are both often wrong.
Be prepared to reexamine your reasoning.
In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil.
Never say never.
You can't change human nature.

These sound like pithy, almost trite statements (practically from some MBA program), but taken in the context of the film and the background McNamara provides, each is powerful and has left a lasting impression on my mind. I don't agree with every conclusion, but the questions posed by such a towering figure of the 20th century cause me to reflect deeply on the lessons offered, especially as they relate to politics -- not "politics" as in running for office, but the old, "classical" definition: The common deliberation of how to best use public resources in order to achieve the good life.

The most startling of McNamara's lessons is number 9. (The most useful is number 1, but that's for another blog). McNamara was intimately involved in the eventual use of using incendiary bombs dropped by low-flying B-17s on Japanese cities during WWII.

Some argue the decisively destructive impact of this tactic on civilian populations sealed the victory for the Allied powers, sparing the U.S. the necessity of a D-Day-like land invasion of Japan, which would have cost thousands of American lives. Others argue it was an unnecessary and breathtakingly cruel crime of war. So McNamara poses the question: "How much evil must we do in order to do good?"

All of this came to mind last week when I saw an analysis by Anthony H. Cordesman, an influential but relatively unknown fellow in Washington. Cordesman lays out various plausible scenarios regarding conflict in the Middle East - specifically, a nuclear exchange between Israel and Iran. Some of Cordesman's conclusions of the possible devastation, summarized well here, include:

16 million to 28 million Iranians dead within 21 days, and between 200,000 and 800,000 Israelis dead within the same time frame.
Israel would need to keep a "reserve strike capability to ensure no other power can capitalize on Iranian strike."
This means Israel would have to target "key Arab neighbors" -- in particular Syria and Egypt.
Israel's options include a limited nuclear strike on the region . A full-scale Israeli attack on Syria would kill up to 18 million people within 21 days, making Syrian recovery impossible.
A Syrian attack with all its reputed chemical and biological warfare assets could kill up to 800,000 Israelis, but Israeli society would recover.
An Israeli attack on Egypt would likely strike at the main population centers, with a death toll likely in the tens of millions. A strike would destroy the Suez Canal and almost certainly destroy the Aswan dam, sending monstrous floods down the Nile to sweep away the glowing rubble. It would mean the end of Egypt as a functioning society.

An Iran-Israel nuclear exchange is only one of 11 plausible scenarios envisioned by Cordesman in the decade of 2010-2020 -- but the potential consequences of such a 2-3 week tit-for-tat would be fantastically devastating. As Cordesman telling states, "The only way to win is not to play." For all the cavalier rhetoric emanating from Tehran, Washington and Tel Aviv, Cordesman's scenarios should inspire sober meditation on the 11 lessons of Robert McNamara.

BC

The Prince of Darkness Breaks the News

2007-11-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

Robert Novak is shocked, shocked that Mike Huckabee is not a libertarian. It's a shame someone as learned as Novak would conflate the terms "libertarian" and "conservative."

But never mind Novak--Huckabee stole the show (again) at the CNN/YouTube Republican debate on Wednesday. From a purely oratorical standpoint (forget about policy for the moment) the former Arkansas governor had the crowd roaring, and the other candidates looking stiff.

I tell ya, I'd really like to see a Huckabee v. Obama race. It could snap the country out of a national political funk.

BC

Wind on the Way

2007-11-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Via the Jim River Report and South Dakota Politics, news today that Governor Rounds and Senator Thune will be in Aberdeen (SD) on Monday to announce the arrival of a new wind turbine facility.

I think it's probably time to establish a Mayor Mike Levsen Day in Aberdeen.

Cheers,

BC

The Aberdeen American News says: A wind turbine plant? You don't know that for sure. But probably, yeah, that's what it is. -BC

To the Wedding DJ...

2007-11-13T18:42:00.001-07:00

...all I'm saying is that you should've played this song at the wedding dance. That's all I'm saying.

BC

This Present Darkness

2007-11-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

"This is fundamentally a religious war...Under no circumstances should we forget this enmity between us and the infidels. For, the enmity is based on creed." -Osama bin Laden

"To win a gunfight, first you have to bring a gun, and to win a religious war, you had better know something about religion...None of the political leaders of the West, and few of the West's opinion leaders, comprehend this." -Spengler

"The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue." -Psalmist

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." -St. Paul

Have a great weekend, everybody.

-BC

Just Down the Road

2007-11-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

In The Wild Olive's first stab at guest commentary, we have a story from TC in Tea, South Dakota, just outside of Sioux Falls. As TC's account demonstrates, Biblical principles often appear clear on the page -- but in practice, moral choices on how best to further the Kingdom of Heaven are often difficult to discern. Read the account below and tell me -- what would you do in this situation, and on what basis?

Earlier this summer, an adult store, make that "super" store, was opened just a short mile outside of Tea on the way to Interstate 29. Much protest ensued from the locals over Olivia's, which touted itself as a good, upstanding, reputable business that would be beneficial to the local economy. It's actually a sister store to its Sioux Falls counterpart, Annabelle's.

A lot of people were making uneducated, emotional statements about how the store would ruin the community, hurt their children, and among other things, encourage drunken driving (apparently from the potential customers who would drive to the 24-hour store while 3 sheets to the wind during odd hours of the night). Lincoln county, and the city of Tea, currently have no restrictions or regulations on these types of adult businesses, so legally, everything has been done by the book, and the owner/manager has been fairly accommodating to local suggestions (he voluntarily changed the building color from bright purple to egg shell white, and changed his sign out front to display "Olivia's" in large letters, instead of "Adult").

Now, before you think I'm promoting places of this nature, let me just say that I am not personally in favor of a store like this opening anywhere, anytime. While it is a free country and people can do what they like within the confines of the law, verifiable studies have shown that these SOB's (that's Sexual Oriented Businesses, not Sons of... well, you know the rest) have secondary effects on a community such as increased criminal activity, property devaluation and urban blight. Even if all the evidence pointed the opposite direction (that such a store was actually good for the community), I would still, because of my own personal faith and convictions, not want a store like this open in my, or anyone else's, community.

Olivia’s is one of those “bold” types of businesses. But a few weeks ago, something equally bold appeared in the same vicinity. Olivia's is on the north side of 271st St, and on the south side of the road is a corn field. Directly across from Olivia's, on the south side of the road, just between the corn field and the ditch, popped up what appeared to be a large, 12-foot wooden cross (which is conveniently the very first thing Olivia’s customers see as they exit the store). At first I thought it might have been something to do with the electrical or telephone lines, but after driving by again during my lunch break, it was unquestionably the instrument used by the Romans to crucify Jesus Christ.

A number of thoughts crossed my mind, but here are two that stuck out...1) "What is the point? That cross is only going to add fuel to the fire for store advocates that think Christians are closed-minded, legalistic hypocrites." The other thought on the opposite end of the spectrum was...2) "Now that is encouraging to see someone taking a firm stand against such a deceptive and destructive business."

Unfortunately, thought number 1 may have been confirmed. A couple days after the cross was erected, it lay flat on the ground. Someone had apparently come by and taken it down. Not just pushed it down, no, this was a clean, chain-saw looking cut that left the cross lying in the dirt below with a 2 foot section still stuck in the ground. It lay there for about a week. It was almost depressing to see this symbol of hope and redemption lying there defeated, but at the same time I thought to myself, "Congratulations to whomever put that thing up because now you have someone that much farther from wanting to know Jesus."

Later in the week, as I drove by Olivia's on my way to work, I noticed that a skid loader and 3-4 workers were out messing around with the fallen cross and a second, deeper hole had been dug in between the power lines. I thought they must be getting ready to lay some wire, or do some other type of public utility work. But, when I came back for lunch, there stood the old rugged cross. Only this time it was a couple feet shorter with reinforced steel at the base and metal strips covering the center beam and cross-beam. No chain saw was going to bring this bad boy down! So, for now, there it stands, unless someone comes up with another clever way to bring it down, vandalize it, or who knows what else.

I don't know exactly what the person's original intentions were for putting up the cross or who it was directed towards (the owner, the customers, the drivers who pass by, etc.), but I do know this...

When I drive by the two symbols I thank God that I live in a country of free enterprise, and free speech. I thank God that I have another (better) option to look at besides the glaring adult superstore. I'm thankful as I drive through the middle of two very bold signs; one reminds me how fallen I am, along with the rest of mankind, and the other reminds me of how gracious God is, allowing me to be a member & participant in His eternal kingdom.

So, if you are a fellow disciple of Jesus, what are we to do with something like this? I think we ought to start by praying. Pray for the owner, workers and customers of the store, that they would encounter the one, true living God and be changed forever. Pray for those who put up the cross, the churches & Christians of this community, that they would be effective (not deflective) witnesses for the Prince of Peace. And lastly, pray for my safety as I drive by the two landmarks, deep in thought contemplating the meaning of it all, that I would pay attention to the road in front of me and the cars around me. I'm 10+ years removed from my last fender bender and I certainly don't need a new one on my record!

TC
A Local Update: This last weekend a neighbor reported there was a man with his wife and children standing together by the cross, facing Olivia’s in silence as the husband/father held a Bible outwards and upwards towards the store. Repelling the darkness, or repelling those who need the light? You decide and let me know.

The (Orthodox) Gladiator

2007-11-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Russell Crowe, welcome to the Body of Christ. The Eastern part, specifically.

BC

Faith in the Flesh

2007-11-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

Today over our post-church bagels I read an interesting article in Commentary Magazine that resonated with some experiences I've had at work. The article, entitled Faith in the Flesh, was written by R.R. Reno, a devout Christian and professor of theology at Creighton University. (Unfortunately the online version is subscriber only so I can't link to it here.)

Reno reflects on the complexity of outward faith as his observant Jewish daughter comes of age. Many of his thoughts are raw as he writes of watching his wife and children apply their Jewish faith to their physical bodies -- through circumcision and kosher lifestyles. He wonders at his own Christianity and his ability to apply his faith so tangibly to his life. He wonders if, in the Christian faith, nothing needs to be submitted to God "other than the fine sentiments of the heart."

"My daughter... however, could not eat cheeseburgers, and her friends found this remarkable. Her very mouth was trained and set apart, day by day. And me? Jesus teaches that what goes into the mouth is not important; what matters is what comes out. And yet what came out of my mouth seemed so generic, so easily molded into the progressive platitudes of our age."

Reno's observations got me thinking about a recent exchange with one of my superiors at work, who is Jewish. Over dinner on a business trip we were describing our religious backgrounds, and she told us about the tight community she has through her Jewish temple. Judaism, she pointed out, is based on community and is not focused on proselytizing. This made sense to me, and I told her so. After all, I said, the Jewish people simple are: they are God's chosen people. There is no going out to bring in more chosen people. As Christians, we are also sons and daughters of God, but we each have to ask to become adopted into that family, and we believe that anyone can ask. I understood the silent skepticism at the table. Indeed, Christianity is simple sounding. It is simple, says C.S. Lewis, but it is not easy. Or at least, it's not supposed to be.

Reno asks: "Has modern Christianity rejected the very idea that God's commandments can shape or control how we use our bodies?"

He quotes a passage from a book written by an Orthodox Jewish rabbi during the Holocaust:

"How many noblemen bowed down before the cross in a spirit of abject submission and self-denial, confessed their sins with scalding tears and bitter cries, and in the very same breath, as soon as they left the dim precincts of the cathedral, ordered that innocent people be cruelly slain."

If our Christian faith is as easy as confessing our sins with "scalding tears and bitter cries" and then marching out and proceeding to gratify the desires of our flesh... I cannot blame my Jewish colleague for her skepticism over "simple Christianity."

My Jewish colleagues are marked and known by their outward expressions of faith -- through circumcision and kosher lifestyles. People know they are Jewish because their lives literally look different. Reflecting on this has made "circumcision of the heart" a very interesting analogy. Yes, it sounds nice. But circumcision hurts. It leaves a scar.

And in the end, shouldn't it also make me look different?

-EC

What's your Walkscore?

2007-10-31T13:54:00.000-06:00

Our capacity in America to simply "move down the street" (or to the next subdivision) if we dislike our current neighborhood is limitless. Yet I have never heard complaints from anyone who lives or has lived in a community that is both safe and walkable -- that is, a neighborhood with wider than average sidewalks, clean and safe walking/bike trails, and accesible-by-foot-or-bike amenities, such as grocery stores, schools, restaurants and parks.

How walkable is your locale? Plug in your address at http://www.walkscore.com/.

Our neighborhood here in west Alexandria, Virginia registered a measily 45 out of 100, while our previous address in uptown/downtown Denver, Colorado scored an 89.

I would probably dispute the low rating for our place in Alexandria: we live adjacent to a clean, safe bike/walking path with easy access points to a library, pharmacy, large park, weekly farmers market, grocery store, restaurants, a gas station, dry cleaners and other services all within a 10-20 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride down a tree-lined path.

Most people think downtowns when they think walkability. But making new suburban developments pedestrian-friendly is a trend gaining momentum, says Joel Kotkin in his latest essay, The Suburban Archipelago, which calls for a "smart sprawl" strategy in future suburban and exurban (and beyond) development.

BC Becoming Catholic: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

2007-10-21T13:59:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I am planning to join the Roman Catholic Church, and am taking RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults) classes once a week at St. Rita church here in Alexandria. I know -- questions arise - and believe me that I am working through them myself. But here are a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and some preliminary responses. I suspect I'll be writing more about this topic in the future, and what follows is far from the summation of my thoughts on the subject. But please read on for an appetizer.

1. Why are you rejecting Protestant/ELCA/Evangelical/Charismatic Christianity? I'm not. I grew up as an Evangelical Lutheran Christian, and later migrated to a more non-denominational and Charismatic Protestant Christianity. I can personally attest that God is moving in a powerful way though many of these churches. And guess what? There is good news. I can be a Catholic without ceasing to be an Evangelical and a Charismatic - I am "Evangelical," in emphasizing the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and the need to be "born again" in his image, and an emphasis on spreading the Gospel, in both word and deed. "Charismatic" in pursuing and embracing real manifestations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, including prophesy, wisdom, knowledge, discernment, administration, tongues, interpretation of tongues, teaching, and so on. Many Catholics describe themselves as Evangelicals in the former sense, and of course the Charismatic Catholics have been around for a few decades now. So I do not reject my spiritual past. I reaffirm my desire for an Evangelical and Charismatic walk with Christ, in addition to integrating the contemplative beauty of the millenia-old Catholic Liturgy and Sacraments. In many ways I feel as though I am adding to my Christian faith by joining the Roman Catholic Church, not subtracting from it. EC and I love Church at the Gate, New Life Church, Power Invasion, Pathways Church -- how could we ever say we reject these churches? Never. At my Grandma Nelson's funeral last winter, I talked about the need for us, the grandchildren, to carry on the spiritual heritage Grandma Nelson helped pass to us - a deposit of faith rooted in the Bible, prayer and worship. I reaffirm that statement, even (and especially) as I join the Roman Catholic Church, an indisputabley significant piece of Christ's Body on earth.

2. What about all that Catholic-bashing you used to revel in? Many of my thoughts and statements about Catholic Christianity were repulsive and, most of all, ignorant. I've had to repent of backbighting and critical thoughts/words against Christians of all stripes. That I will call myself a Catholic Christian by next year is proof that the God we serve has an ironic sense of humor.

3. What about reverencing Mary and Saints, Purgatory and other "creative" theological concepts? They are not so creative as they initially seem. Even if you disagree with many of the concepts, you have to recognize that many of them are as old as any in Christianity, dating to the earliest days of the Church in the decades and centuries after the Apostles. Rumors swirl in Protestant communitites about "what the Catholic Church teaches". I recommend reading the Church's Catechism (a guide for clergy in teaching their local parishes) and the writings of the current Pope Bendict. Peter Kreeft (see sidebar), George Weigel and Scott Hahn are also exceptionally clear and reputaple sources. It's always better to hear from the horse's mouth than to "Google it" and hope for the best.

4. Are you really ready to submit to the Pope, and all that rigid hierarchy? It is true that the Roman Catholic Church is not a democracy. Submission to a Church has always been something I thought I would chafe under. However, I have to ask: "What am I actually submitting to?" The best way to accomplish this, again, is to go to the horse's mouth: the Catechism, the Pope (derived from the Italian word for father, "papa"). Many non-Catholic Christians looking for a Mary-worshipping, indulgence-peddling Pope are sorely disappointed by the current Pope Benedict, because he embodies Christo-centric Christianity (is there any other legitimate kind?). For a dose, check out his first book as Pope, Jesus of Nazerath, and his first encyclical, "God is Love."

5. Why are you embracing mindless, repetitive rituals? Don't you HATE the Liturgy? I remember disliking liturgy growing up. It seemed just that -- repetitive. But I've found the full Liturgy of the Catholic Church to be an enormously rich mode of worship. "Ritual" is a word that needs to be saved -- at the current rate, it could be disparaged out of existence in many Christian circles. Ritual is as old as the Body of Christ -- even older, as Jewish life has been fused with ritual-as-worship since its inception thousands of years ago. Surely there is a balance between ritual and the more spontateous acts of worship and prayer? I think so.

6. Is this because of Ted Haggard? No, we love New Life Church, and Pastor Ted - who clearly has some sin issues to work through in his life. God has used New Life in a powerful way, and is continuing to do so.

7. Is this because you are being pressured by EC's family/EC herself? Nope. In fact, EC didn't even know I was even considering this until about two months before telling other family and friends. The decision was made out of personal, private, secret prayer. I can't emphasize that enough.

8. You must be becoming a Catholic because you want family unity. Family unity will be a consequence, but is not the cause of me becoming Catholic. Don't confuse an effect with a cause.

9. Do you think ALL Christians should become Catholic? Only if God is leading you to do so - and this is discerned in prayer. If not, I wouldn't recommend it. Becoming Catholic for any flippant reason, even for the sake of marrying someone who is Catholic, is dangerous if it is not done in obedience to God. Obedience in all things, and above all things, folks.

10. Ok, so you are becoming a Catholic Christian. What do you have in common anymore with me, an Evangelical/Charismatic/Pentecostal/Protestant/Non-denominational Christian? We are priveledged to be members of the Body of Christ. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We have the same Head, and the same Bridegroom: Jesus Christ! What an incredible, unbreakable bond! Therefore: the only thing that would fully sever us from each would be if we choose to reject Christ, God made Flesh -- our very Head in Common. Theological differences will remain, and I would encourage debates amongst believers, so long as they are done in love with a common agenda for apprehending the Truth. Otherwise - are we to quarrel about opinions? NO. Body of Christ, pray for Unity!

I'd love to see comments posted, but if you don't feel comfortable doing that, feel free to e-mail me here.

BC

And now for something completely different

2007-10-17T19:43:00.001-06:00

From a good ol' band called Wilco, and a good ol' song.

BC

Another one...

2007-10-16T08:18:00.000-06:00

Ok, I need to stop reading the newspaper.

Any news columns out there about how nice, noble and decent Washington, D.C. is? Any at all?

BC

"Where the action is..."

2007-10-15T18:48:00.001-06:00

Oh my...something I read tonight written by a Georgetown professor laid another few pounds on top of an issue that already weighs heavy on my mind.

Today, I was just thinking this thought: Ultimately, at the political level of life, the greatest potential for affecting some sort of desired change -- "where the action is," so to speak -- is in two places:

1) At the "highest" level of national government: in foreign affairs, diplomacy, national security, defense and war -- and

2) at the "lowest" (or "most fundamental") level of government: the school board, the county commission, the city council, the mayor's office and perhaps even the state capitol (depending on the state and the policy issue).

Much of what lies between these two poles -- Congress, much of the Executive Branch, the scores and scores of regulatory agencies -- seem to me, at the present time, the embodiment of "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

p.s. Don't despair -- I really do like my job quite a lot, for this season of life -- ok that's enough ruminating for the night. ;)

DHE - Dept. of the Heavens & the Earth

2007-10-10T20:17:00.000-06:00

Via the Crunchy Conservative, here is a blog devoted to "green conservatives" (with Robert Cizik, government affairs guru at the National Association of Evangelicals, as one of the blog's contributors).

As EC knows, I hate the term "environment." Why? It's stale, boring and abstract. How about "the heavens and the earth"? It's worked for millenia -- why now do we refer to our natural world as "the environment"? Would Genesis 1 have the same poetic rhythm with "In the beginning, God created...the environment"?

How about it, GAO? From now on, the Division of Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) will be called the Division of the Heavens & the Earth (DHE)?

For a very intriguing, self-critical report from within the environmental movement, check out "The Death of Environmentalism." It's a fascinating case study on how public policy goals cannot be achieved in the long-term without a spiritual vision, moral imagination, or some kind of broad cultural narrative. Wonkish, technical policy/legal/budgetary proposals aren't enough -- you need the so-called "myth-makers" as well.

BC

A Shadowy Third Candidate?

2007-10-01T19:06:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of the day today, this story was barely a blip on the news ticker -- but by about mid-afternoon, the blogs (and major news outlets) were buzzing over a secretive conference held last weekend in Salt Lake City by the Council for National Policy, a small group of influential Christian conservatives including the likes of Jim Dobson and the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins. The fruit of the conference was a bit startling, and could have major political ramificatons:

"If the Republican Party nominates a pro-abortion candidate, we will consider running a third-party candidate."

Read: if Guiliani is the GOP nominee, we will draft our own candidate.

Who that candidate could be remains to be seen -- what also remains to be seen is if social conservatives are only raising a political storm now but will acquiese in support of a Guliani candidacy when push (i.e. "Hillary") comes to shove.

Interestingly, the drive for a third-party candidate came primarily from "a South Dakota businessman named Robert S. Fischer "was the driving force" behind the resolution." The Politico article notes he is based in Rapid City and owns a furniture business. Anybody have an idea who this gentleman is (any of our West River readers, perhaps)?

I've been saying (as well as others) for a little while now that a schism is coming in the Republican party -- primarily between traditional (crunchy?) conservatives and libertarians/classical liberals.

To be sure, the Dobson crowd represents an older school conservative -- a God, Guns 'n' Gays agenda, one might say. The latest iteration of traditional conservatism might be better represented by politicians like Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback and Christopher Smith, and commentators like Rod Dreher, or perhaps even David Brooks.

But Guliani doesn't quite fit either mold. He is bullish on security, economically and socially liberal, and restricive on Second Amendment issues.

In other news, Newt is out -- but both he and Bill Clinton think Mike Huckabee could be the GOP's dark horse candidate.

I like Mike. Who do you like?

BC

Snakker du Norsk?

2007-09-29T14:00:00.000-06:00

Last night EC and I finally got to watch Sweet Land (given to us by a Sweet Nanny). I won't say much here other than I highly recommend the movie, especially to those who grew up in the Upper Midwest -- Sweet Land is the anti-Fargo. Fargo was hilarious precisely because it took every stereotype of the Upper Midwest and multiplied by 100. Sweet Land portrays the region and its history with dignity, humor and beauty - as it is.

BC

"Out of balance."

2007-09-29T13:38:00.000-06:00

Talking about the war in Iraq is an inevitable powder keg for conversation. Certainly lessons can be learned by studying the lead up to the war, if done so by honestly assessing the complexity of the last 5-7 years, and of course without partisan slant. At the moment, Congress (and Washington in general) is strategizing, posturing and maneuvering like mad about how to proceed in Iraq.

In a hearing during last week's House Armed Services committee meeting, Army Chief of Staff George Casey and Army Secretary Pete Geren gave a sobering testimony, summarized here by Congress Daily. A few crucial words from Casey:

"the next several decades will be ones of persistent conflict" and the Army cannot accurately predict when and where the next war will occur, Casey said, "we are consumed with meeting the demands of the current fight and are unable to provide ready forces as rapidly as necessary for other potential contingencies."

and this, which the original Congress Daily story included:

"We could not, at the present time, respond to a full-spectrum conflict."

It was indeed a sobering testimony, especially given current buzz regarding Iran (would ground troops be necessary to ensure a strike on Revolutionary Guard headquarters and nuclear facilities was thorough?) and an increasingly widespread belief that the U.S. is on an inevitable collision course with China in the coming decades of the 21st century.

Some suggest Iran (and their Syrian allies) are, in fact, shaking in their shoes at the moment - especially given Israel recent strike DEEP in Syrian territory, which took out...what? No one really knows but speculation is all over the map. How deep and veiled was this strike? It sounds like the Israeli Air Force fighter pilots could've landed in Damascus, grabbed a coffee at Starbucks and kept rolling to their target without any Syrian taking notice.

BC

Sanctuary from Downtown

2007-09-18T13:08:00.000-06:00

Today for the first time I went to daily Mass at St. Mary's.
As it turns out, the little church changed the shape of the GAO.

According to GAO history, in 1941 after Congress had authorized $9,850,000 for the acquisition of a GAO headquarters building, the government purchased plots from individual property owners on the block and began to raze the structures. But St. Mary’s was so well established in the neighborhood that planning officials did not hold out much hope for buying the church property. In the end “the Commissioners of the District of Columbia closed and vacated G Place up to the point where the St. Mary's church property began. They designed the GAO building around the church.” Overhead pictures show the irregular shape this forced the building to become.

The church sits on the northwest corner of 5th and H Streets and is just around the block. As I turned the corner this afternoon to enter, I saw several other crisp and serious professionals striding to the front doors, entering quickly. Outside the D.C. world buzzed with traffic and panhandlers, with clicking high-heeled shoes and jostling crowds of people hurrying past with their heads down. Upon entering the church, that busy world was gone. The dark suits were kneeling, the clicking shoes silent. The service was quick – just 30 minutes of prayer, Scripture and fellowship. Soon I was back outside again, my high heels clicking. I was thankful for that church today as I slipped back into my chair, and I’m still laughing at God’s irony. In a building full of perfectionists the corners don’t quite line up….

Taking bets on the next 50 years...

2007-09-15T19:33:00.000-06:00

I got this brief interview from my brother a couple of weeks ago, and I need to blog about something after a long absence, so here goes. The subject of the interview is Jeremy Rifkin, who claims the titles "economist, philosopher and professor," and more generally, "social critic."

There is no shortage of people making predictions about the coming decades, and I try to pay some attention to these people -- and yes, that includes a near-religious devotion to reading anonymous "Spengler" every week. (sidenote -- Spengler is expanding his reach, writing an essay in next month's First Things titled "Christian, Muslim, Jew.")

Rifkin is certainly of a different stripe than Spengler. He addresses three general issues here, from a futurist's perspective: 1) Urban life, 2) The transformation of work, and 3) Europe.

1) Rifkin states,

"For the first time in history, a majority of human beings will be living in vast urban areas, many in megacities and suburban extensions with populations of 10 million or more, according to the United Nations."

This is certainly true. Megacities will get bigger and bigger, but many (including Joel Kotkin) see the most rapid relative growth occuring in smaller and mid-sized cities, with populations between 25,000 and 800,000. If you live in one of these cities in the next fifty years, get ready for a growth spurt, according to Kotkin. (For a couple of sobering, dystopian commentaries on the explosive growth of megacities, especially in the developing world, see John Robb's "The Coming Urban Terror," from last month's City Journal and a 1994 Robert Kaplan essay in the Atlantic, "The Coming Anarchy"). Rifkin also states:

"It’s no accident that as we celebrate urbanization of the world, we are quickly approaching another historic watershed: the disappearance of the wild."

This is a popular view, but I'm not sure it's based in reality. Much of continental Europe is returning to wilderness, where wolves sometimes outnumber humans. Central Africa is becoming increasingly wild, as wars and horrific natural conditions drive thousands to coastal cities. It's maybe more accurate to say that the wilderness around these new megacities, like Lagos, Nigeria, is being completely and irrevocably destroyed.

2) Rifkin has faith in technology to give the world a European-like 30 hour work week. In fact, Europe should be the model for the U.S. , according to Rifkin. Rifkin is an economist. He should know the nations of Europe are struggling and striving to keep up with (especially) U.S. and East Asian economic growth. They don't impose absurd mandatory 35 hour (maximum) work weeks either, a la our neighbors in France -- but Sarko might change this -- GO SARKO, GO).

3) Ok, I delved into Europe on number 2, and will again here. Again, Rifkin likes the European model. What he doesn't mention are plummeting birthrates, aging populations, and bloated bureacracies that make D.C. look like a well-oiled machine. Rifkin also makes this nebulous statement:

"The dream that’s emerging is the first attempt, as feeble as it is, to create something akin to global consciousness."

"The dream" he's talking about is the European Union, the same one that offered French and Dutch voters a 300-page constitution, only to have it soundly rejected.

Finally, Rifkin comments on Islam in Europe:

"I think the dream will succeed or fail based on the ability of Europe to integrate Islam. Europe’s dream is to be a global public square, with unity in diversity, where people of the world can live together with a common dream of inclusivity, sustainable development, human rights and building peace. However, to accomplish this, Europe must effectively integrate North Africa and the Middle East, and especially Islam. If it fails, the world is going to take a step back, and we may not achieve that kind of global consciousness. Then the question is who else can develop this dream, if it isn’t Europe?"

Rifkin is living in a cocoon of wishful thinking (or maybe I'm just cranky tonight, who knows).

Europe is facing an existential crisis, and will continue to do so for the next 50 years - it would face the crisis with or without radical strains of Islam within its borders.

And "integrate North Africa and the Middle East"? Europe? Really?

If this is your benchmark for success, Mr. Rifkin, I can predict the future for you: the world is most definitely going to "take a step back" in the next 50 years. Read the Kaplan article for the goods.

BC

DoD Invades GAO

2007-09-11T17:59:00.000-06:00

Learning from the fall of Rome

2007-08-16T08:32:00.000-06:00

A few nights ago BC, his sister and I ate out at a local pizza restaurant. We had leftovers, and as we filled the box with our slices someone pointed out that we should take the rolls, too. We laughed as we compared ourselves with my grandma, who would not only take the rolls, but the crackers and probably the creamer as well.

My grandma grew up at a time when wasting food wasn't just irresponsible, it was not an option. I've never known that form of want, but what about the next generation, and the one after that?

Saving leftover dinner rolls might not be the height of fiscal responsibility. But re-evaluating the mindset of present-tense living with long-term forecasting is probably something I need to re-learn.

It was also one theme in a recent report by my boss , who compared America today with the decline of Rome.

According to Comptroller General David Walker, "the Roman empire lasted 1,000 years, but only about half that time as a republic. The Roman Republic fell for many reasons, but three reasons are worth remembering: declining moral values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government. Sound familiar?"

He also said:

"In many respects, our quality of life has never been better. We're living longer, we're better educated, and we're more likely to own our own homes. But as many of you already know from your own families, we also face a range of quality-of-life concerns. These include poor public schools, gridlocked city streets, inadequate health care coverage...."

Starting next week I'll begin work for the GAO. According to Walker, my job will be in part to "take steps to ensure the American Republic is the first to stand the test of time." This means not only cutting budgets and identifying areas of government at high risk of "waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement," but addressing a long-term focus for fiscal responsibility in government spending.

It is, after all, the baby sleeping on my lap who will grow up in the America that Walker says is "in decline."

I suppose I better start with myself. Whether that means adding creamer to the box with the rolls or adopting a much more conservative family budget, I need to be thinking of Hada's children's children's lives, not just mine....

On top of my game

2007-08-15T19:39:00.001-06:00

For those of you I've talked to recently on the phone while driving with one hand behind the seat holding the pacifier while "listening" to you and saying, "uh huh, yeah," and trying to focus on the coversation and the crying baby and the D.C. drivers on the THAT'S MY EXIT road.... I'm sorry.

Motherhood: should require a Ph.D.

-EC

Gov. Romney Interview With Jan Mickelson

2007-08-10T18:06:00.001-06:00

As the Iowa straw poll looms tomorrow, BC and I have been discussing certain characteristics of Mitt Romney that we find interesting, and well, kind of creepy. His performance in several debates is eerily reminiscent of scenes from The Manchurian Candidate. David Brooks of the NYT said today, "I suspect the Romney campaign would do even better if it let the real Mitt Romney out to play." But according to Mitt, the "real" Romney must stay indoors, because, he says, "a candidate for president of the United States must always be 'on.'"
Does this mean that the "real" Romney has to stay "off" in order to win voters?
This video has been circulating as an example of a rare unplugged Mitt moment. The content of the exchange regards Romney's Mormonism.
Watch the clip. What do you think: When it comes to his Mormon faith, how should Mitt Romney "play?" And could it, indeed, should it have an effect on his candidacy for President?

-EC

Wrapped around whose finger?

2007-08-09T07:57:00.001-06:00

Hadassah is officially smiling now. She's coy, though, and she makes you work for it.

Excuse me, she says. I'd like to be fed, burped, rocked, changed, swung around in circles, serenaded in an alto, read to from periodicals, strollered beneath tree shadows... okay, NOW if you pinch my cheeks one more time with that goofy high voice...

And her mouth widens into the biggest grin you've ever seen.

Energy is suddenly not an issue.

Another round, Hada!

-EC

God v. Country?

2007-08-08T18:55:00.001-06:00

In the past, I've been frustrated with conservative critics who disparage Muslims' ability to assimilate into the United States. From their own interpretation of the Koran and the theology of Islam, these critics determine that Muslims cannot possibly be loyal Americans, because their ultimate allegiance is to Allah and Mecca (never mind that there is virtually no religious hierarchy in Mecca, or most anywhere else). Many of these conservative critics would also claim Christianity as their religion of choice, or at least a familiar American version of it.

So why am I frustrated? People who criticize Muslims for proclaiming ultimate allegiance to Allah over the State need to ask themselves a simple question: "Am I a Christian?" If the answer to that question is "yes," then at the end of the day, it is implied in the very nature of being Christian that your ultimate allegiance is to the God of the Old and New Testament, the One Triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- not to the United States.

If this sounds shocking (I can hear the shouts of "theocracy!" now), I suggest you ask yourself if you are serious about your allegiance to God (that's a hard statement, and I feel some conviction coming on). After all, any country, even the most righteous, will deviate from God's will from time to time. True, these two allegiances are most likely rarely mutually exclusive. Indeed, our goal as Christians is to bring the two into as close of alignment as possible (i.e. the will of God and the actions of America, in all of its many spheres of life).

To illustrate the point, I like to pose this plausible hypothetical: The scene is 60 years into the future. The U.S. has drifted into a thoroughly secular, anti-Christian culture. This secular, anti-Christian culture is pervasive in society, making the America of the early 21st century look like a Great Awakening. Christians are an increasingly persecuted minority -- churches must register with the federal government if they want to worship freely, and all sermons and readings must be cleared by bureaucrats in Washington. The soft persecution of the 2020s is rapidly developing into overt and state-sanctioned suppression of American Christians. Our children and grandchildren are feeling the brunt of Washington's heavy hand.

As America becomes godless, China booms with Holy Spirit-fueled fervor. The Communist Party crumbles under the weight of 1 billion Chinese Christians, whose decades of peaceful protests culminate in assuming seats in a newly elected democratic government in Beijing. China is the largest Christian nation on earth, and its economic and military power are preeminent.

Enter Taiwan, which the U.S. has for decades sworn to defend against any Chinese aggression. Taiwan, unlike the Great Dragon to the north, has gone the way of Europe and North America -- toward a godless, secular culture hostile to Christians in particular. After a few years of China attempting to exert greater control over Taiwan, the Taiwanese army decides to pick a fight, knowing it has Uncle Sam at its back. War commences between Christian China and atheist America.

Who do you want to win this war? Are you a patriot, or a Christian?

All this to introduce one of the most intriguing columns yet by anonymous Spengler:

"Christianity Finds its Fulcrum in Asia."

Read it twice.

BC

Water Buffalo and their Children

2007-08-08T18:53:00.001-06:00

Absolutely unbelievable video here from a safari in Africa...watch for Water Buffalo, Lions and Crocodiles...yes, they're all there, and they're all fighting for a little baby water buffalo.

BC

Landed in D.C.

2007-07-06T13:45:00.000-06:00

FYI: I officially arrived in Alexandria last Thursday afternoon, and am now headed to the airport to pick up EC, baby daughter and mom-in-law. I've spent the last day running errands, investigating the neighborhood, getting lost once or twice in Northern Virginia.

Before I sign-off: Michael Gerson, former Bush speechwriter and current fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote a clever little piece in this morning's Washington Post on the differences between a conservative and libertarian political philosophy.

The clever part? He uses two MMORPGs (that's "Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games") to compare and contrast the two political persuasions. One game is Lord of the Rings Online -- the other is Second Life. Both are enormously popular, though I don't think any have as many users as World of Warcraft, which, Gerson notes, boasts 8 million (yes, that's 8,000,000) players worldwide.

A couple of selected quotes:

Libertarians hold to a theory of "spontaneous order" -- that society should be the product of uncoordinated human choices instead of human design. Well, Second Life has plenty of spontaneity, and not much genuine order. This experiment suggests that a world that is only a market is not a utopia. It more closely resembles a seedy, derelict carnival -- the triumph of amusement and distraction over meaning and purpose.

Columnists, like frontier trackers, are expected to determine cultural directions from faint scents in the wind. So maybe there is a reason that The Lord of the Rings is ultimately more interesting than Second Life. Only in a created world, filled with moral rules, social obligations and heroic quests, do our free choices seem to matter. And even fictional honor fills a need deeper than consumption.

Read it all here.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there is a coming seismic shift in the Republican party that will pit Second Life-libertarians (who today wrongly call themselves "conservatives") against Lord of the Rings-conservatives, of which I think Gerson is one.

BC

Jeep, Don't Fail Me Now

2007-07-04T22:04:00.000-06:00

I am rapidly driving across our great and sovereign nation, so there is little time to blog. I really enjoy seeing the country, however -- it never ceases to amaze me how geographically massive and diverse America is. Tonight I am in Morgantown, West Virginia, a mountain town/college town tucked in between beautiful rolling Appalacian hills. Tomorrow I make the final descent into the D.C. Metro (known by some affectionatly as "Gondor" or "Mordor, depending on your perspective, though certainly not "The Shire").

As I'm sitting in my hotel tonight I got a chance to listen to a thought/prayer-provoking message delivered by Pastor Steve Hickey of Church at the Gate in Sioux Falls, SoDak, titled the Days of Noah. It's worth a listen, and I'd be interested in people's thoughts.

Also worth perusing is the link on the sidebar titled "Spengler"--a pseudonymous writer for the Asia Times, who has garnered something of a cult following for his fairly uncommon insights into world affairs. The trick is that people have been trying to figure out who he actually is for about four years now. Guesses range from "Orthodox Jew living in Australia" to "American Evangelical Christian" to "German philosophy/theology professor" to "Henry Kissinger."

Check out his fictional dialogue between Russian President Vladamir Putin and President Bush on Russo-American relations.

Both hilarious and disturbing, this Spengler.

BC

Kansas Cliches, Debunked

2007-07-02T19:38:00.001-06:00

Kansas, like its Midwestern cousin to the north, Iowa, sports a pretty bland reputation -- you know the drill: Whenever anyone wants to summarize the boring, the flat, or the prudish in America -- they reference Kansas.

Well my friends, I like Kansas. Specifically, I like Lawrence, home of the University of Kansas and lively Massachusetts Avenue (similar in character to Boulder's Pearl Street or Madison's State Street). The folks who cite Kansas as painfully mainstream or bland have probably never heard of Lawrence, where the dreadlocked and hipper-than-thou far outnumber the crewcutted and straight-laced (new words abound).

I wish I had brought a digital camera to post a few images of the prairie city of 80,000, but unfortunately (fortunately?) all our possessions have been boxed and prepared for the move to Virginia.

Before walking around the streets of downtown Lawrence a bit, I ate at the Free State Brewing Company, a bustling two-level brewpub housed in a historically-renovated building. If asked, "BC, what kind of eating/drinking establishment is your type of place?" I would probably respond, "A place like the Free State Brewing Company in Lawrence, Kansas." (Again, pictures would be useful here).

Gotta run, folks. Time to prepare for another day on the road tomorrow: Onward through America's Midwest, to Indianapolis, Indiana.

BC

On the move....

2007-06-26T21:23:00.000-06:00

We are gearing up for a move to Alexandria, Virginia next week, where EC and I are starting new jobs this summer. I'll begin as a Legislative Correspondent in the U.S. Congress (yep, somehow got a promotion before I started) on July 9th, and EC will start as an Analyst for the Government Accountability Office's Natural Resources & Environment division on August 21st.

Hada Mae is of course oblivious to all the moving boxes in our apartment. Quote from Hadassah: "As long as there is ample supply of milk and naps in D.C., I am strongly in favor of the move. And remember to vote Brownback and/or Huckabee in '08." (oops, she's been listening too much to her dad lately).

Therefore posting will continue to be light, probably for the next couple of weeks at least -- though I am entertaining the idea of a travel blog as I drive from Denver to D.C., stopping in Lawrence, KS, Indianapolis, IN, and Morgantown, WV before landing in Alexandria. We'll see how the trip goes.

Protestant Vs. Catholic Heaven

2007-06-20T15:40:00.000-06:00

Ok...one more...I can't resist.

After this, I promise, no more deviations from the economic development stuff.

BC

Brief Interlude: "Evangelical Catholics"

2007-06-20T15:39:00.001-06:00

Before proceeding with the economic development series below, these two links are worth checking out, one from GetReligion, and the other from the K Street Catholic in D.C.:

"What is an evangelical Roman Catholic?"

and

"Evangelical Catholicism," from Rev. Jay Scott Newman

BC

Northern Plains Economic Development, Pt. 1

2007-06-20T15:39:00.000-06:00

What better way to spend a late night with a restless 5 lb. baby than to write a few blog posts? Diaper changed? Check. Stomach full? Check. Burped? Check. Clean onesie? Check. Smack dab next to dad's chest? Check. Yet there is some life crisis happening, so *we* are both wide awake. Onward!

Much talk surrounds the future of the Northern Great Plains. Depending on who you are paying attention to, you may believe in either the inevitable decline and abandonment of the region, a slow bleed of America's northern interior -- or you may see an unprecedented economic, demographic and cultural renaissance on the horizon.

Given the recent biofuels boom and economic surge of cities like Fargo and Sioux Falls, most observers currently lean toward the latter. But the region is in a moment of both crisis and opportunity. Consequently, communities across the Northern Plains are vigorously planning for the distant future--something perhaps unthinkable only 15-20 years ago.

Most communities' economic development strategies today derive from two schools of thought:

1) The first is the "Creative Class" theory espoused by economist Richard Florida. Florida suggests successful cities possess "the three T's": Talent, Tolerance and Technology. "Talent" refers to young, single,"creative" professionals who thrive in the 21st century economy (everyone from graphic designers to writers, architects to university professors, software designers to folk musicians). These workers are attracted to places with a high level of outdoor amenities, third-places, music scenes and certain "Tolerant" attitudes: that is, broad acceptance and celebration of "diverse" individuals, especially those who choose alternative sexual lifestyles, whom Florida views as among the most "creative" and therefore most economically desirable. The basic thrust of Florida's idea is that cultural and recreational amenities come first -- and then a dynamic economy, as uber hip, "creative class" workers pour into your city limits.

2) A second school of economic development thought comes from Joel Kotkin, an urban policy and demographics authority with the New America Foundation. Kotkin's approach is essentially the opposite of Florida's: if you don't have quality schools, updated physical and high-tech infrastructure, low crime rates, decent home prices and economic mobility -- don't even think about spending thousands of public dollars on some annual local film festival designed to improve your city's "hipness."

That is, cultural riches follow economic success, and not the other way around. This cultural maturity will lead to even greater economic vitality, but it is not the primary driver of a city's success.

Over the next few days, I'll take a look at the following three approaches to economic development strategy on the Northern Great Plains, including: Aberdeen, South Dakota's "Creative Class" strategic plan, Kotkin's region-wide assessment of the Great Plains, and finally, a scenario planning approach proposed by Northern Great Plains, Inc, of Fargo, North Dakota:

1. "Creative Class" Strategic Plan for Aberdeen (by Florida)
2. Heartland Development Strategy (by Kotkin)
3. Meadowlark Project (Scenario Planning Approach for Policy Development)

BC

"Public Policy: Where law, business and politics meet."

2007-06-16T11:25:00.000-06:00

DU's Institute for Public Policy Studies gets a nod today on ColoradoPols, the insider-driven blog of note in the Rocky Mountain state.

I am not yet nostalgic for the rigors and hoop-jumping of graduate school -- but hey, graduation was only a week ago, so let's give it some time. PhD, anyone? I think I just heard someone who lives in our apartment mention the word "PhD", and it wasn't me....or our 3-week old daughter.

BC

Oh Gorilla, Grant Us "Energy Independence"

2007-06-14T08:21:00.001-06:00

As many South Dakota-based readers know, a deep-pocketed but anonymous entity has been trying to purchase large tracts of land near Elk Point in southeast SoDak for months. Clearly big development plans were afoot.

Code-named "Gorilla," the secret project had everyone from local landowners to the Wall Street Journal buzzing about what the new development might be.

Yesterday, the announcement came: Dallas-based Hyperion Resources is planning to build an "eco-friendly oil refinery," as reported here in the Argus Leader and here in the WSJ. Apparently the Elk Point site is preferred by Hyperion, but not necessarily the final choice.

From the Argus story:

"The project would refine 400,000 barrels of oil into low-sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel each day, enough to serve South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska, said Richard Benda, state tourism and development secretary. During four years of construction, the project would create an average of 4,500 jobs, Phillips said. Once built, it would employ 1,800 full-time workers earning between $20 and $30 per hour, he said."

As the article goes on to note, this massive "energy center" could coincide with another oil-related project in the state: TransCanada, a Calgary-based energy infrastructure behemoth, has plans to place an underground oil pipeline (the Keystone Pipeline) through eastern South Dakota. From the Argus:

"A Canadian firm, TransCanada, is planning a pipeline that would move 435,000 barrels of crude oil per day under South Dakota by 2009. Trans-Canada spokesman Jeff Rauh said Wednesday that the pipeline is not related to Hyperion, and the two companies have not met.He did say TransCanada always is looking for new customers and could expand its daily volume to 590,000 barrels. Rauh said a spur line of 30 miles or so to meet Hyperion's refinery would be possible."

The pipeline and its proposed route actually would pass over some Carson farmland west of Langford, SD. Needless to say, we will be paying attention in the coming months and years.

BC

Farm Bill, 2007 Iteration

2007-06-12T15:25:00.001-06:00

Any readers interested in tracking the progress of the 2007 U.S. Farm Bill, currently winding its way through Congress, should check out Farm Policy, a balanced, fairly comprehensive blog covering the bill's particulars.

The link can also be found in the right column under "Ag and Natural Resource Policy."

BC

Real "Energy Independence"?

2007-06-08T22:53:00.000-06:00

Politicians (typically congressmen and women) routinely cite "Energy Independence" as a laudable national goal. What exactly this glossy slogan means is another issue altogether. Most policymakers would argue that deriving all sources of energy consumption from domestic production is virtually impossible in today's globalized economic system. Renewable energy is highly touted, but for the foreseeable future, ethanol, biodeisel, wind turbines, solar panels and the like will cover a growing, but minimal level of our national energy needs.

Enter Western North America: specifically, Colorado, Utah and northern Alberta. Colorado and Utah have as much oil as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Nigeria, Kuwait, Libya, Angola, Algeria, Indonesia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates combined. Northern Alberta, similarly, holds more oil than all of the Arabian peninsula. The challenging part is mining and extracting the oil, as it not the slippery liquid kind, but the gooey, pasty or rocky variety. But the technology is evolving rapidly. Some estimates say the oil deposit in Colorado and Utah alone could supply U.S. energy needs for another century. Combined with the energy resources of our friendly neighbor to the north, a $20 per-barrel oil market could be just as likely in the coming decades as doomsday "peak oil" predictions. The geopolitical ramifications are, of course, enormous if Chevron, Shell and others pull off an inexpensive and efficient method of mining, extracting and refining the new black gold.

Remember the Middle East, and how we used to spend a great deal of time securing pipelines, production facilities and oil refineries there? Back in the good old days of the early 21st century?

BC

Hmmm...
Scroll a little further down in that linked article for the cons: "the techniques will drain water supplies, scar the landscape and require so much power the skies will be choked with smoke from coal-fed generators."
Yikes. I'm with the Western Colorado Congress on this one -- let's invest that money in research for renewable energy instead. I'm also with former Governor Lamm:"It doesn't excite me because I think they're about to indelibly change our state."
Nope. Not good. Not good at all.
EC

Huckabee on Evolution, and Creation

2007-06-06T22:12:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure if anyone caught the third GOP presidential debate last night -- EC and I just watched it tonight on CNN.com. We're finding it very difficult not to like Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee quite a lot. Part of me thinks: this guy is too reasonable, too grounded, and too witty...to be President of the United States. Check this video on Huckabee's eloquent response to a question about evolution and the Biblical Creation account.

BC

New Monastics and the St. Benedict Option

2007-06-05T13:58:00.001-06:00

Here's a fascinating interview (from Speaking of Faith) with Shane Claiborne, founder of the New Monasticism: Christians from a variety of backgrounds who chose to live in intentional communities, relocating to what they call "the abandoned places of Empire." Claiborne's community settled in poverty-stricken, hollowed-out North Philadelphia.

EC and I have a couple of friends moving from Colorado Springs to Minneapolis, in order to start just such an intentional community. We ourselves have been (and continue to be) tempted by this lifestyle. At the very least, the New Monastics' emphasis on simplicity and service we hope to incorporate into our own daily lives--even in extraordinarily non-simple Washington, D.C. What a challenge...

BC
p.s. New Monasticism seems in some ways to be the opposite of what Rod Dreher of the Crunchy Con calls "The St. Benedict Option"--that is, calling on Christians to intentionally leave cities and organize themselves into new rural communities.

All things new

2007-06-04T21:40:00.000-06:00

As is clearly evident, The Wild Olive is undergoing some tansitions. Among them are:

1) Brand new template, which I think looks a bit sharper than the dreary pastels of before, and
2) A different grouping of links on the right column, most notably into areas of policy interest/expertise for EC and myself.
3) A YouTube video feed at the bottom of the page, with random videos sorted by keywords "religion," "politics," "Islam," "Christianity," "campaign," etc....(we may regret this one, as we have little control over what pops up there).

Change is good. Why not spice it up a little?

BC

Oops.

2007-06-03T18:31:00.000-06:00

Correction: In this recent blog entry, I attempted to paraphrase a quote from Russell Kirk. Not only did I paraphrase the quote (which can be forgiven), I identified the wrong source of the quote (which can't).

The real source of the quote is Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and the real quote is this:

"The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself." -Daniel Patrick Moynihan

You can do with it what you like. Ironically, it could be argued that this quote could be reversed today, with liberals more concerned about the more subtle aspects of culture and conservatives running headlong into political squabbles.

-BC

Behold, the Queen

2007-05-31T17:42:00.000-06:00

At 1:42 a.m., early Pentecost Sunday morning, Hadassah Mae Carson was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver.

"Hadassah" is the original Hebrew name of the Biblical Queen Esther, who took a Persian name to conceal her Jewish identity when joining the King Xerxes (Ahaseurus) administration in what is now the Islamic Republic of Iran, about 500 years before Jesus Christ arrived on the world scene in Israel.

"Esther" (Hadassah) uses her position in the King's government to deliver the Jews of the Persian Empire from the anti-Semitic, Hitler-like Prime Minister Haman. *

Hada's name also takes inspiration from chapter 25, verse 2 of Proverbs, sometimes associated with the story of Esther: "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but it is the glory of kings to search things out."

And frankly, I think Mordecai's exchange with his newly royal niece in the Fourth Chapter of Esther is one of the most powerful in all of scripture.

At 4 lbs, 8 oz., Hadassah Mae is getting surprisingly scrappy. As EC describes her: "She is small, but mighty." I'm not sure we'll ever sleep a full eight hours again, but what a strangely satisfying way to spend one's sleepless nights.

BC

*I am also informed by a good friend that when Hitler invaded Poland, he forbade the reading of the Book of Esther and banned the Festival of Purim, a Jewish holiday celebrating the historical event. Turns out he didn't like how the story ended.

Baby C, on the way

2007-05-24T09:10:00.000-06:00

Life is about to change in a dramatic way: EC is being induced tomorrow morning at 8am. Needless to say, posting will be light--and no, there will not be a live , minute-by-minute blog feed from my laptop while in the delivery room.

See you on the other side,

BC

Movies actually worth two hours of your time

2007-05-22T09:13:00.000-06:00

EC and I are within just a couple of weeks before "Baby C" arrives, so naturally, we are catching about a movie a week on average, preparing for our extended time away from films. Three particularly good movies seen recently include:

1. The Lives of Others (by far the best -- we might buy this one. Recommended to anyone and everyone)
2. The Illusionist
3. The Painted Veil

The Lives of Others won't be out on DVD for a while, but either The Illusionist or The Painted Veil are good choices if you happen to find yourself wandering aimlessly around Blockbuster.

Hill Yes!!

2007-05-18T13:57:00.000-06:00

Fyi: I was just offered and accepted a job on Capitol Hill with this office.

I start July 9th.

God hears our prayers.

BC
*For more information* (or just give me a call).

Evangelical, but not a Protestant?

2007-05-17T09:16:00.000-06:00

Definitely worth a quick read, below is a brief interview in Christianity Today with former President of the Evangelical Theological Society Francis Beckwith:

"Q&A: Francis Beckwith: Former ETS president speaks about what he takes from evangelicalism back to the Roman Catholic Church."

One fascinating quote from Beckwith:

"I still consider myself an evangelical, but no longer a Protestant."

Read the whole interview for the context.

-BC

Elephantitis of the GOP

2007-05-16T10:42:00.000-06:00

I finally watched the second GOP presidential debate via MSNBC.com. This round was a bit spicier, with Rudy G. getting stern on 9/11 with loose cannon Ron Paul. McCain looked Presidential, Romney looked creepily polished, and Huckabee generally made a great deal of sense, but lacks the Presidential aura. (Does "Presidential aura" sound like an invented qualification? Consider that the last time we ignored it, America got Jimmy Carter).

The best one-liner of the night came from Tom Tancredo: "I trust in conversions on the road to Damascus, not conversions on the road to Des Moines" (in reference to Mitt Romney's newfound affection for conservative principles).

I'm still not committed to any candidate, though I do see 1-2 I could potentially get behind. But no one stands out at this point, and I am definitely not comfortable with front runner Giuliani as the Republican candidate. (This reminds me: I still have to comment on Newt Gingrich as a potential GOP candidate).

All this begs the question: Could 2008 be the year when a viable Independent ticket actually competes for the Presidency? We are probably years away from a successful Independent ticket of any stripe. But a political sea change is in the works, with traditional and social conservatives potentially exiled from a Republican party dominated by libertarians.

If Hillary wins the Dems' nomination, and pro-choice, establishment Republican Giuliani grabs the Republican nomination, who would you choose? Is there an Independent ticket you would support, and if so, who?

-BC

Agrarian Conservatism

2007-05-14T09:45:00.000-06:00

Below is one of the better rundowns of the political culture of South Dakota - distinguishing by region of the state as well as political philosophy. Typically, people either put SoDak in the "Red-State" camp (which it is, when it comes to electing Presidents and Governors) or in the Prairie Populist camp (which it often is, when electing Congressmen and women).

The writers' conclusion? South Dakota is an Agrarian Conservative state:

"The Contours of South Dakota Political Culture"

BC

The Stupid Party, continued

2007-05-10T10:17:00.000-06:00

For the sake of completeness, I'll wrap this up: a word on conservatism.

A person's political opinions are, typically, non-rational. Very few people I know use reams of stastical data to determine whether or not their political persusion should be mostly liberal, populist, libertarian, or some other stripe. Instead, these opinions bubble up from beliefs about what the "the State" or government's role should be in relation to individuals, families and communities. (These beliefs, to dig a bit deeper, are dependent on a person's fundamental view of the world: "What is the world for? Why do people exist? Is there a God, and if so, what is his relationship to human beings?").

Russell Kirk is typically thought of as the founding father of American Conservatism. He defines six primary beliefs conservatives hold that distinguish them from other political persuasions:

1. A belief in a transcendent order, which Kirk described variously as based in tradition, divine revelation, or natural law;

2. An affection for the "variety and mystery" of human existence;

3. A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;

4. A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;

5. A faith in custom, convention, and prescription, and

6. A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence (from The Conservative Mind)

But Kirk's conservatism seems a little alien to us today, accustomed as we are to a historical development called "Fusionism", which took place in the 1960s. To make a long story short: In the 1960s, both conservatives and libertarians were concerned about the rising tide of liberal, collectivist public policy (The New Deal, The Great Society, Soviet Russia, etc). Seeing the writing on the wall, conservatives and libertarians clasped hands in the Republican Party, opting for a united resistance against the expanding role of government in society.

Today, most who call themselves "conservatives" actually espouse a strange blend of libertarianism and traditional conservatism. One only has to turn on Fox News for a few minutes to catch this intellectual schizophrenia.

Readers may have noticed EC and I frequently (excessively?) citing Rod Dreher's "Crunchy Conservative" blog. Dreher's "Crunchy Conservatism" is, in his own words, a 21st century version of traditional conservatism, in the tradition of Edmund Burke (see pic above), Kirk and Richard Weaver.

Kirk said it is culture, not politics or economics, that determines the course of a society. And the primary rudder of culture is religion and spirituality. The idea that all the material world rests on a spiritual world is foundational to conservatism.

I believe this to be true.

Some people view modern universities, and especially graduate schools, as the breeding ground for liberal/leftist thought. I am actually leaving graduate school, and the state capitol in Denver, consciously conservative in my political persuasion.

One of my greatest concerns about becoming involved in politics was that I would come to hate "the other side." I don't. If anything, I have more respect for the other side than when I first walked up the Capitol steps in January. "The other side" (be they Republicans or Dems of libertarian, populist, or liberal ideology) is often brilliant, articulate, polite and compassionate. Regretably, I believe they are also frequently wrong about questions of public policy.

Legislative government is in many ways like an athletic event. You know your opponent's sole purpose is to defeat you. Frankly, you might not like anyone from the other team at all. But after several hard-fought skirmishes played within established rules, you see your opponent with a new level of respect. Not agreement, but respect.

BC

Sine Die = "The Last Adjournment"

2007-05-04T17:29:00.000-06:00

I know I've said some kind of cynical things about politics and government in the last couple of months, but now on the last day of the 2007 legislative session in Colorado, I can genuinely say that I will miss walking over to the Capitol for work every day. After the last four months, I might have only added fuel to the fire of my interest in politics, policy and government. It's an unfortunate condition, I suppose, but one that I should probably figure out how to manage now.

After spending a few months in belly of the beast, I have created a short Cliff's Notes-style taxonomy of political ideologies:

Libertarian: For this breed, the freer the market, the better. Vote against any tax of any kind, all the time. If a pure libertarian, vote pro-choice in abortion issues, anti-gun control, anti-industry regulation, and pro-gay marriage. Actively try to dismantle the government, piece by piece. Patron saint: Milton Friedman.

Liberal/Leftist: Well-meaning, good-intentioned, brilliant and well-educated. Horribly misguided. Attempts constantly to remedy social, industry and cultural problems with tax increases to fund more and more programs upon programs. Blissfully ignorant of their worldview's Marxist origins. Patron saint: Ted Kennedy.

Populist: A demagaugic, cranky and egalitarian lot. Resentful and inarticulate. Appeals to base human emotions. Patron saint: Lou Dobbs.

Conservative: To be continued...

All for The People!

2007-04-27T19:43:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure if anyone had the chance to see the Democratic Presidential Debate in South Carolina last night. EC and I watched it on MSNBC.com.

After watching the debate, I have a new least favorite Democratic candidate. You can say what you want about Hillary Clinton -- but at least admit she is extremely bright, politically astute, highly determined and overall, a strong candidate for the D's.

John Edwards (leading in most polls last time I checked), however, laid out a set of populist platitudes almost-but-not-quite-worthy of Orson Welles' semi-fictional character Charlie Kane, another extraordinarily wealthy white guy spouting populist, near demaguagic rhetoric, all in the name of "The People."

Reminds me of folks in Colorado who loudly support "direct democracy" efforts like the ballot initiative process, then tap their multi-million dollar campaign budget to run a ballot initiative that serves the interest of their own pet issue.

Ah, democracy.

We do not live in a democracy. Never have. This is a Republic, and I am thankful that this is so.

BC

From Chaput....

2007-04-24T18:55:00.000-06:00

From EC: At 6:30 on Sunday nights Archbishop Charles Chaput celebrates Mass at the Denver Cathedral.

The first time we attended the service it was packed out -- standing room only -- with college students and young families. The presiding priest informed the congregation that unfortunately, Archbishop Chaput could not be with them. I didn't think much of that statement then, but I do now.

Archbishop Chaput truly celebrates at church. When he prays, he's not just reading out of the prayer book. When he gives the sermon, he moves his lecturn down to the congregation level, and he speaks from the heart -- without notes and without attention to the time. His sermons are biblical, solid, and challenging, and they generally end with the Gospel message.

I was reading the Crunchy Con blog today, and Rod Dreher referenced a talk given by Archbishop Chaput last Saturday in Philadelphia. I was surprised to see his name on Dreher's blog.

Said Dreher: "Archbishop Chaput has written the most important thing you will read today."

I read it, and Dreher was right.

The talk was solid. And inspiring. And convicting.

Archbishop Chaput addresses the power of ideas, the power of free-will, and the courage it takes to follow Jesus Christ:

"The world doesn't need affirmation. It needs conversion. It's doesn't need the approval of Christians. It needs their witness. And that work needs to begin with us...."

Check it out: Religion and the Common Good.

From BC: Can I get an 'Amen???!!!' The Archbishop's speech is a tour de force. It's characteristic of his style: unpretentious, direct, brilliant and filled with the authority of the Holy Spirit.

Read the whole thing. Read it twice. I'd quote from it, but like the Crunchy Con says, I'd have to quote from the entire thing because it's that powerful, important and prophetic.

Another round of Thune v. Daschle?

2007-04-19T07:20:00.000-06:00

One gets the sense that John Thune and Tom Daschle will be squaring off in a nursing home someday. "The never-ending campaign" of 2004 for a pivotal Senate seat in South Dakota....may linger on yet more.

Could the duel play out on an even more prominent national stage this time around? It is possible, but only if you believe political rumor-monger Dave Kranz of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Kranz coins one of the more bizarre headlines of the week:

"Daschle might be Obama's Cheney"

Yes, some are speculating Barack Obama might opt for the politically seasoned Daschle as his Vice President pick. Given plenty of previous punditry suggesting John McCain may very well choose Thune for his number two man in the White House, we could have the following scenario in 2008's presidential campaign:

McCain-Thune v. Obama-Daschle.

Crazy? Yes. Implausible? Absolutely not.

Let the cosmic struggle continue.

BC

Colbert v. Land: Religion & Policy

2007-04-16T19:37:00.000-06:00

Too busy for beauty

2007-04-11T19:09:00.000-06:00

“All babies are born with the knowledge of poetry, because the lub-dub of the mother’s heart is in iambic meter. Then, life slowly begins to choke the poetry out of us.”—Billy Collins, from the Washington Post article below

On January 12, “one of finest classical musicians in the world” played “some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made” at the top of the L’Enfant Plaza metro escalator in Washington D.C.

The Washington Post ran the experiment to watch how morning commuters would respond to beauty in an unexpected place. Would they recognize Josh Bell, the world-renown violinist, winner of the Avery Fisher prize, and thousand-dollar-a seat musician? In the midst of coffee and papers and cell phones and morning-meeting rushing, would the context mute the music?

I first heard this story today on NPR, which profiled Josh Bell based on the article in the Washington Post. I then read the Post story. The article…and its outcome…paint a vivid picture. During the 43 minutes Josh Bell played, 1,097 people passed by. Seven people stopped. The rest hurried by.

I can’t blame them. I’ve been to L’Enfant Plaza. If there’s one tidbit to remember about D.C., it’s is: you do NOT want to impede the flow of traffic getting on or off the metro. You will be squashed by a mid-level bureaucrat.

Sadly, but honestly, I admit that I would be among the 1,090. The article incites reflection, however. The video clips, especially, are worth considering.

What would you have done?

EC

Wordsworth, thy name is Broin

2007-03-30T16:06:00.000-06:00

In the "you paid a consultant $80,000 to do WHAT?" category:

Sioux Falls-based Broin Ethanol, one of the largest corn-based ethanol companies in the country has changed their name to:

Poet.

Whaaaa?

I know we're entering the s0-called "creative economy," but come on--this is the fruit of their branding consultant's labor?

Summer filled with Waste

2007-03-28T10:40:00.000-06:00

I received word yesterday from a co-worker that the Government Accountability Office report I worked on all summer was finally released to Congress.
The scintillating topic: Low-Level Radioactive Waste.
Yep. All summer.
Don't be deceived -- this is a bona fide industry, complete with stakeholders, lobbyists, and their own conference that meets in a posh Chicago hotel once a year to discuss burial and disposal solutions.
Intrigued?
You can find it all online. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07221.pdf
And if you wade through all 110 pages my name is mentioned at the end.

Waste expert extraordinaire.

EC

"Render unto Caesar..."

2007-03-24T11:46:00.000-06:00

The other day at the Capitol I had a pastor who ministers to state legislators tell me: "I don't try to influence legislation. I just don't. Trying to change a man or a society by legislation is like compulsively re-arranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic."

Maybe it's because I am seeing politics from the inside lately, but I am growing increasingly suspicious of legislation and its ability to effect meaningful change in society (It really is like a sausage -- you don't want to see how a law is actually made).

Especially as a Christian, the pastor's comments are resonating with me more and more.

Claes G. Ryn writing for The American Conservative late last summer breathes fire on Christians and conservatives who are inexplicably obsessed with politics as a method to change America's national course. (note: Ryn is himself a conservative Christian). It's worth reading the entire article, but here are a few notable excerpts:

Modern American conservatism has been enthralled by politics. It should be obvious to all by now that this has been a debilitating preoccupation. Society’s long-term direction is not set mainly by politicians. It is set by those who capture a people’s mind and imagination. Conservative politicians and policy wonks have failed to reverse any of the main deleterious social trends of the last half-century not because they have lacked financial resources but because efforts like theirs have limited efficacy in the first place.

(snip)

To recover, American conservatism would have to reorder its priorities and most especially put politics in its place. America’s crisis is at bottom moral-spiritual and cultural. Though a new alliance of homeless political groups is desirable, a realignment would be unavailing in the long run unless the old obsession with politics were also broken. The issues most needing attention will make the eyes of political junkies glaze over.

(snip)

The problem, simply put, was lack of sophistication—an inability to understand what most deeply shapes the outlook and conduct of human beings. Persons move according to their innermost beliefs, hopes, and fears. These are affected much less by politicians than by philosophers, novelists, religious visionaries, moviemakers, playwrights, composers, painters, and the like, though truly great works of this kind reach most minds and imaginations only in diminished, popular form.

(snip)

I know His name gets invoked for all kinds of causes these days, but in reality, this was in many ways the approach of Jesus Christ. He made not one attempt to influence, engage or assume control of the politics of His day. He went straight for our hearts and minds. He knew His Father held the supreme power to transform people -- not Caesar (or your congressman, or a Supreme Court judge, for that matter).

-BC

Confession: 300 looks wicked cool

2007-03-21T16:59:00.000-06:00

I have to admit it: I can't wait to see 300, the comic-book/quasi-historical account of the Spartans versus the King Xerxes-led Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae, circa 480 B.C.

And yes, Christianity Today notes, that's the same King Xerxes who took Esther as his queen.

300 raked in a record-breaking $70 million in its first weekend.

Even serious-minded Classical Military scholar Victor Davis Hanson likes the movie for what it is:

"If critics think that 300 reduces and simplifies the meaning of Thermopylae into freedom versus tyranny, they should reread carefully ancient accounts and then blame Herodotus, Plutarch, and Diodorus — who long ago boasted that Greek freedom was on trial against Persian autocracy, free men in superior fashion dying for their liberty, their enslaved enemies being whipped to enslave others."

Iran is upset, however. It's "Cultural and psychological warfare," in Tehran's opinion. I'd like to tell them that Hollywood just ain't that subtle.

When we saw a preview for this movie a while back I said "COOL." EC looked at me with furrowed brow, in complete disbelief.

Night o' Music

2007-03-16T21:45:00.001-06:00

Given that we've given up movies for lent, EC and I are taking a mini-vacation next weekend from long nights laboring over stubborn Public Policy Memos and going to the Boulder Theater to see one of our favorites: Patty Griffin. This music reminds me of many things, but most of all it reminds me of late night road trips from Sioux Falls to Denver...and back...and forth...and back...

BC

"Odie! I'll send you to Abu Dhabi!"

2007-03-14T20:23:00.000-06:00

Remember when Garfield was always trying to ship Odie to Abu Dhabi? I remember thinking as a kid that Abu Dhabi was a made-up place, some fictional desolate country in the middle of nowhere.
Later I realized Abu Dhabi was in an actual country. But if Garfield was trying to send Odie there, it had to be a desert wasteland. Right?

Later still (a.k.a. "now") I realized that Abu Dhabi is in fact, not a desolate desert wasteland. In fact, if Garfield were to send Odie there now, Odie would have resort living, uber-modern architecture and ostentatious palaces to welcome him.

Frankly, Garfield probably couldn't afford to send Odie to Abu Dhabi these days.

Also as two signs of the times,

1) The legendary Louvre of Paris is opening a satellite museum Abu Dhabi and,
2) Halliburton is moving their headquarters from Houston, Texas to Dubai, next door to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The irony is that Abu Dhabi was a desolate desert wasteland not 50 years ago. Oh Globalization...how you turn the pauper into a prince overnight, and vice versa...

The Stuffy GOP?

2007-03-13T22:02:00.000-06:00

The Crunchy Conservative asks, echoing my recent post "The Stupid Party = Conservatives,"

"Why Can't Republicans Write Good Novels?"

Good stuff. Looks like he struck a nerve, with almost 70 comments on the post.

BC

Is Dobson drunk with power?

2007-03-12T18:54:00.000-06:00

Has Jim Dobson (or "SpongeDob") officially entered Caligula-mode?

Dobson has taken on cartoon characters head to head, but now he's attacking prominent Evangelical leaders who dare to utter the words "climate-change."

Dobson is calling for the resignation of Richard Cizik, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals after Cizik refused to waver on his conviction that Christians should actually be careful stewards of God's Creation.

I've always found Cizik to be a remarkably articulate and reasonable public voice for the NAE - and certainly not just on the issue of "creation care." Do Dobson, and his brother-in-arms Jerry Falwell, feel threatened?

I am currently agnostic on the issue of "global warming" or "climate change." It does seem the Earth is trending to the warmer side. But the human causes of this trend seem to be miniscule. I am no scientist, and I reserve the right to be flat wrong on this subject I know little about.

I still think Dobson needs to stick to his strengths - writing books about parenting advice. Politics has not been good to James Dobson.

-BC

Don't call it a comeback...

2007-03-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, after 68 years (who knew it had been that long???), Langford has advanced to the state B basketball tournament in SoDak.

Clearly, BC's 6-points-per-game career average laid the groundwork for this achievement.

;)

Go Lions!

Diversions...but Important Diversions

2007-03-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

V. cool site: www.mapsofwar.com, and two fascinating interactive maps:

The History of Religion

and

Imperial History of the Middle East

BC

"Hip" Downtowns

2007-03-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants a hip downtown these days.

Downtown revitilization is getting to the point where shopping mall construction was 20 years ago: if your town didn't have a major shopping mall, well sir, you must live in yokel-ville U.S.A., and you'd better get busy building a 10-square-block big box structure full of J.C. Penny's, Taco Bells, and Foot Lockers.

This may surprise many of you who know me as a major fan of lively, pedestrian-friendly downtowns. Let me assure you: I still am. I just hate bandwagons, and "downtown revitilization" is starting to look suspiciously like a bandwagon issue. Cities all over the country, big and small, really are making drastic changes to their city centers: restoring historic buildings, constructing residential space like apartments and condos, and forming downtown 'arts districts.'

I like all of this. I think it is a positive development. But again, the devil is in the details.

Cities really need to think: who do we want to live, work and play downtown? 24 year old hipsters? Retiring baby-boomers? Young families with children?

Most places look to lure the first two groups, not the last. I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Ideally, you would want to attract all three, with an emphasis on making the area amenable to young families.

New Urbanism is catching on. Denver is planning to build 70 - yes, 70 - New Urban-style suburbs in the metro area in the next 10-20 years. These will look a bit like current (and extremely popular) developments Stapleton and Lowry. They are pedestrian-friendly, kid-friendly, mixed-use developments, and they are nowhere near downtown Denver.

As I noted a post or two ago, many "micropolitan" cities across the Inter-Mountain West and Great Plains are picking up steam. South Dakota Public Radio recently had a two part series on downtown developments in Rapid City and Sioux Falls:

"Rapid Downtown Building Plans" and "Uptown at Falls Park"

The Stupid Party = Conservatives*

2007-03-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

Always in the mood for a discussion about politics and worldview, I ask - Is this often-quoted statement true, false or something else:

"The central conservative truth is that it is culture, not politics, that determines the success of a society. The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself."

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

If the statement is true, why are so many conservatives involved in politics? Why do they even care about politics? Shouldn't they be laboring in the cultural (and therefore more powerful) vocations of writers, pastors, musicians, professors, artists, film directors, teachers, and so on? Many would argue it is "liberals" who dominate and excel in these professions. Are liberals inherently more creative than conservatives? I'll leave that to you to decide...

Maybe before going on with any discussion like this one, we need to get past the cracked-out Fox News definitions of liberal and conservative.

*John Stewart Mill's assessment of the conservatives of his day

Viva la Micropolitan Revolucion!

2007-02-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

Two of my favorite commentators, Rod Dreher at the Crunchy Conservative and much-cited urbanist Joel Kotkin have connected this week via their respective blogs. The subject: Kotkin's recent article in the latest American Interest magazine, called "Little Start-Up on the Prairie."
Kotkin says what many of us already know about small-but-rapidly-growing cities (50,000 - 500,000) in the Great Plains and Inter-Mountain West:

...we have seen the emergence of a certain subset of smaller cities and towns, including in the Great Plains and the inter-Mountain West, that are absorbing much of the expansion. These represent Heartland “growth nodes”, places that have enjoyed rapid growth even while more remote communities continue to shrink. Some of these rural communities are high amenity areas—for example, the Rapid City/Black Hills region of South Dakota, Wenatchee, Washington, Bozeman, Montana, and St. George, Utah—that have grown largely due to their peculiar appeal to migrants from urban areas. Many of these communities are evolving well beyond tourism and developing more sophisticated, technology-based economies.

and

"In many other areas, smaller firms, often individuals working from home, are clustering in pockets of what researcher Amy Zuckerman has called “hidden tech.” These dispersed networks of knowledge workers, many of them refugees from large coastal cities, are particularly evident in places like Bellingham, Washington, the Rapid City area of South Dakota and the Pioneer Valley region of western Massachussetts.But perhaps no city epitomizes the dynamic Brain Belt more than Fargo."

and

Another type of Heartland growth could be described as re-emerging rural hubs. These are usually small and midsized cities that grew up during the period of agricultural expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and then began to decline or plateau as early as the 1920s. Prominent examples include Fargo, Sioux Falls, Des Moines and Boise. These communities are exploiting their lower costs, good public schools, universities and better quality of life for middle-class families to lure high-end professional service firms, information companies and diversified, often innovative small manufacturers.

Here are Dreher's comments on Kotkin's piece:

Micropolitans of the Heartland

More Wilberforce

2007-02-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

The L.A. Times has a great editorial about William Wilberforce, British Abolitionist and subject of the recently released (and highly recommended) movie, Amazing Grace.

An excerpt:

"Wilberforce sought to change hearts and minds, not just laws. So he organized boycotts and petitions, staged demonstrations and commissioned artwork to mobilize public opinion on a national scale. Wilberforce suffered many setbacks — his abolition bills were repeatedly killed in committee or defeated in the House of Commons — but he kept on.Most important, he was unafraid to invoke the moral obligations of the Gospel to challenge the consciences of slavers and their supporters in Parliament. In his "Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade," published in January 1807, Wilberforce placed the brutish facts of human trafficking against the backdrop of Christian compassion and divine justice. "We must believe," he warned, "that a continued course of wickedness, oppression and cruelty, obstinately maintained in spite of the fullest knowledge and the loudest warnings, must infallibly bring down upon us the heaviest judgments of the Almighty." A month later, on Feb. 23, the House of Commons voted 283 to 16 to abolish the slave trade."

This should cause pro-life supporters to take hope. Wilberforce fought for 20 years to end British slavery. Abortion is often called the "slavery" of today - after all, African slaves were commonly believed to be sub-human - not unlike a "fetus." The movie Amazing Grace displays Wilberforce's strategy to ending slavery: relentless campaigning, introducing a sure-to-be-killed-in-committee bill every year, and tireless debate. Yet it was an indirect tactic (please see the movie) that led to British slavery's demise. This is perhaps a fascinating lesson for today's pro-life strategists. Senator Brock Greenfiled's (R-Clark, SD) recent comments on South Dakota's latest abortion bill remind me of Wilberforce's own lesson on tactics 200 years ago.

A recent bill in Colorado, consciously styled after South Dakota's proposed abortion ban last year, garnered much debate among pro-life legislators in Denver. The debate was over strategy. Pro-choice legislators by far outnumber pro-life legislators this session. The bill would be largely symbolic, sponsored by a passionate pro-life freshman Senator - but, as expected, the bill would be smothered in committee, never seeing the Senate or House floor, much less the Governor's desk.

I myself uttered the words "issue fatigue" in reference to the debate. How much abortion legislation can the people take? Wouldn't it be more effective strategically to re-visit the issue in a few years, when the pro-life movement has a chance to re-group for a counterattack, and the issue once again becomes fresh in the public mind?

After watching Amazing Grace, I think the combination of the two strategies defeated British slavery: 1) relentless, direct campaigning and bold, but sure to die, legislation, combined with 2) opportunistic, indirect legislation that capitalized on the opposition's complacency. I think #1 laid the groundwork for #2, which ultimately succeeded 20 years later.

I believe being "pro-life" is more than just opposing abortion. The L.A. Times editorialist indicates some other modern-day "pro-life" issues that may have resonated strongly with Wilberforce, and should with us as well:

"This year, Britain is honoring Wilberforce's legacy with lectures and conferences. In the United States, the biographical film "Amazing Grace" opens in theaters Friday. Some will chafe at all the attention. Yet we face our own assaults on human rights — including the sexual trafficking of women and girls, genocidal violence in Sudan and the prison camps of North Korea. Surely we need more of Wilberforce's brand of faith today, not less."

Amazing Grace tomorrow night

2007-02-22T21:41:00.001-07:00

EC and I are looking forward to seeing Amazing Grace tomorrow night. As EVERYONE tells us: "Go to movies now, because once the baby comes, you won't see a movie in a theater for years."

Point well-taken. So off to the movies we go.

"The Old is Better"

2007-02-20T20:07:00.000-07:00

I love reading the Bible. Much of the Bible's teachings, histories and stories make some sort of intuitive sense to me, including the more inaccesible stuff in the Old Testament. Even if (read: "when") I fail to live up to the divine standards of scripture, I mentally and spiritually "understand", at some level, what the Prophets were talking about.

Not so with Jesus Christ. His teaching is baffling. Any time I hear or see someone saying "Well, what would Jesus do?", I have to reply:

"I have no idea. He was completely unpredictable in his three years of ministry. How on earth do you know what Jesus would do?"

There are some portions of Jesus' teachings that just plain don't get preached. I don't believe it is because pastors and priests are hiding anything. I think they really don't know what Jesus was getting at in some sections of the Gospels.

I join them in their bafflement of our Lord and Savior.

Example: At a Bible study last night we studied Luke 5*, when Jesus refers to "old wineskins" and "new wineskins."

I am completely fascinated by this teaching. Yet I have no definitive conclusions about what Jesus is actually talking about here. A few ideas:

1) The "Old Wineskins" refer to Judaism, and the "New Wineskins" to Christianity, the "Old Wine" the old Mosaic Law and Covenant, the "New Wine" the Holy Spirit and the New Covenant brought by Jesus.

2) "Old Wineskins" refer to any religious tradition, with "New Wineskins" referring to any new work of God that is not accepted by established religious structures.

3) As an extension of #1, "New Wineskins" are Gentiles--Greeks, Macedonians, Romans, Ethiopians and later all non-Jews--are now partaking in the "New Wine" offered by Christ.

A final implication: is Jesus condemning the Old Wineskins and the Old Wine, or is he just saying the Old and the New have different functions at different times? I think I used to believe the former, now I believe the latter. After all, old wine is in fact, good wine, right? It is rich and full of subtle tastes. New wine can be bitter, and needs time to age. How then can we reject "The Old Wine?"

Any thoughts on the matter are appreciated...

*33And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." 34And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"[d]

John Edwards...Feeling Pretty

2007-02-17T16:02:00.001-07:00

This is probably mean-spirited, and I will probably pay for this someday. I know everyone who has ever been on TV has to do stuff like this.

But come on. This is funny.

BC

It's a girl!

2007-02-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

Here comes a baby girl Carson....
Well, this is according to the ultrasound technician, anyway, who could decipher the wriggling grey matter on the tv-screen. After squinting at the movements for 30 minutes or so I gave up, but two technicians confirmed it: the feisty little puncher is a she.

We have our list of names, of course, but.... we're not telling. (sorry)

As a result of the silence, people are getting creative. So far the popular names in my office are, in order:

1. Kit
and 2. Scout

Apparently people are amused by the idea of a Kit Carson, and better yet, a Scout Kit Carson.

I had hoped that the announcement of a girl would dissolve the idea, but for those of you who read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, you know that Scout is indeed the name of a the female protagonist, which my co-workers quickly pointed out.

The news of the baby girl has created a flurry of e-mailing and creative deliberations among all - even the more stoic -- of the faculty and staff in Mass Comm. I'm pretty sure that these professors are half-convinced that this baby is partially theirs. Since Bryce and I met in a MCOM class, were introduced by our professor, and had a rather high profile engagement since I work in the office, -- I'm sure that naming our child is the logical next step.

The latest piece of advice came today: "Go gender neutral," one female professor said in a very knowing way.

"You know, like Ryan."

Ryan?

"Or," my supervisor called out from her office. "Like Scout...."

Contrast this with our Minimalist blog

2007-02-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out Lalachan's* aesthetically pleasing blog, now under the Preferred Sites list.

*(Former co-worker, Sioux Fallsian and prolific knitter...)

Small, Rural and...Cosmopolitan??

2007-02-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

I wrote a short editorial a year or so ago in the Aberdeen American News suggesting an economic development direction for the city based around Aberdeen's two universities: Northern State University and Presentation College.

This article from the New York Times caught my eye tonight, and reminded me of that idea:

"Rural Colleges Seek New Edge and Urbanize."

I'm not sure I'd call for more rurally located colleges to "urbanize", but I do think many of the ideas set forth in this article could, on some level, take in Aberdeen.

Let me know any thoughts, if you aren't afraid of the "Post Comment" tab.

BC

Equality: Everyone Reaching Minimum Goals

2007-02-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

I recieved this forward recently via e-mail, but got such a kick out of it that I'll post it:

"NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND---THE FOOTBALL VERSION
1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If, after two years, they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents.

ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. It will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind."

I Want My PS3 - Part 2

2007-01-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

Video games outsell DVD and movie box office sales combined. Think movies were a pain in the butt to monitor? The curve indicates strongly that video games are being consumed at a far greater rate by this generation than movies. And this isn't our 16 bit Nintendo games we're talking about. Video games now look more like elaborate, interactive movies, complete with multiple plot lines, complex characters, and of course, dream-like graphics.

The Economist has a quick opinion piece on video games, provocatively titled:

"Breeding Evil"

A few lines from the article:

"Scepticism of new media is a tradition with deep roots, going back at least as far as Socrates' objections to written texts, outlined in Plato's Phaedrus. Socrates worried that relying on written texts, rather than the oral tradition, would “create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves.” (He also objected that a written version of a speech was no substitute for the ability to interrogate the speaker, since, when questioned, the text “always gives one unvarying answer”. His objection, in short, was that books were not interactive. Perhaps Socrates would have thought more highly of video games.)"

This is a difficult argument to refute. Those of us who believe movies and video games are inherently inferior to say, books, need to come to grips with the fact that at every point in history when a new medium or form is introduced, it is attacked. Somehow, the medium later migrates into an academic setting as is lauded as high art.

and...

"Novels were once considered too low-brow for university literature courses, but eventually the disapproving professors retired. Waltz music and dancing were condemned in the 19th century; all that twirling was thought to be “intoxicating” and “depraved”, and the music was outlawed in some places. Today it is hard to imagine what the fuss was about. And rock and roll was thought to encourage violence, promiscuity and satanism; but today even grannies buy Coldplay albums."

True. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, today considered far too high-brow for anyone outside of a university setting, was lampooned as pop smut in its day.

and finally...

So are games good, rather than bad, for people? Good ones probably are. Games are widely used as educational tools, not just for pilots, soldiers and surgeons, but also in schools and businesses (see article). Every game has its own interface and controls, so that anyone who has learned to play a handful of games can generally figure out how to operate almost any high-tech device. Games require players to construct hypotheses, solve problems, develop strategies, learn the rules of the in-game world through trial and error. Gamers must also be able to juggle several different tasks, evaluate risks and make quick decisions. One game, set in 1930s Europe, requires the player to prevent the outbreak of the second world war; other games teach everything from algebra to derivatives trading. Playing games is, thus, an ideal form of preparation for the workplace of the 21st century, as some forward-thinking firms are already starting to realise.

Oh I don't read, I just look at the pictures - Part 1

2007-01-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

For those of us either with young children or expecting them soon, the problem of what to put into the little darlings' minds is a persistent concern.

Should we even have a TV in the house? Maybe TV but no cable? No TV before age 7? No video games...ever? Or maybe just "thinking games" or "strategy games"? Maybe we should have the kids transcribe ancient Latin liturgical texts as their sole form of entertainment and enrichment?

I don't know the answers to these questions yet. I do feel it is essential, especially these days, for parents to be up to speed on what their kids might encounter in the way of technology.

CNET is a great source for just such an overview of all things cutting edge. Today they posted an intriguing little feature article called "A New Crop of Kids: Generation We."

We Gen X'rs (pretty comfy with technology ourselves) have spawned what CNET describes as a generation that is utterly steeped in all things digital. From a strategist at Minneapolis-based Iconoculture, quoted in the article:

"Parents of Gen We's don't see technology as the enemy and don't need to moderate it as much: They see it (as a way to) help them with parenting. They see it as a bonding experience," Robinson said. "As a kind of media Sherpa, they're encouraging kids to not just absorb what media tells you, but to think about how you can change it."

and

"On the Net, geographic boundaries disappear--a teen can watch a scene in New York, and another teen in Nebraska can watch and comment on that same scene," and they can both create something new, she said. "The Net creates that community aspect."

This article is unabashedly optimistic about the future of what others are more cautiously calling "The Image Culture" (more on that later). I'd love to hear comments. Is modern technology (let's broadly define it as TV, Film, Video Games, Mobile Devices and the Internet) a part of your parenting in some way? Do you agree with this article's seemingly rosey conclusion, or is there something more subtle happening to the parent-child relationship, or even to children's brains themselves?

He's your President too

2007-01-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is a test. Please select the best answer, and defend your choice in at least one sentence. You have one minute. Ready....Go.

The President's State of the Union speech was:

1) Inspiring and powerful

2) Painfully dull

3) Infuriating, and made my bood boil

4) Shocking, in that Nancy Pelosi and Dick Cheney didn't spontaneously combust by sitting next to each other.

5) Didn't see it, for x, y, z, reason

BC

"The Lives of English Majors"

2007-01-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Rapid City Journal today for pointing out that there are some uses for us (or is that "we"?) English majors in utilitarian America.

One of the best reasons to become an English major is that you are almost guaranteed to learn about people as they exist in the world. Psychology, sociology, business, economics -- none can rival the study of English literature in penetrating to the heart of why people are the way they are. History may be the only other discipline that comes close.

The ability to write quickly and clearly is increasingly rare.*

I heard from my boss just today: "You're good at writing press releases, and fast." (I resisted the urge to correct him: "...writing press releases quickly," I could have said).

Will this earn me a hefty six-figure salary? I'm not counting on it. But it's good to hear someone else affirm that studying and writing about Shakespeare, Conrad, Eliot and Faulkner wasn't a complete waste of time and energy. It certainly didn't feel like it at the time.

*Clear, concise writing is never guaranteed on this blog. Stream of consciousness writing is fair game, as are truncated sentences and misspellings.