Serving our country is a public service

It would be wonderful if there were no conflict in our world – no need for a military. But history has taught us otherwise, and we would do well to pay heed to its continuing lessons.

I was impressed last week by an editorial piece written by William McGurn in Atchison, Kansas for the Wall Street Journal. The commencement speaker at Atchison’s Benedictine College, McGurn contrasted the small heartland school with Harvard University, which has not allowed ROTC on campus since it “was booted off” during the Vietnam War. He reflected upon the nurturing pride that Benedictine showed its ROTC graduates.

McGurn noted that opponents of the Iraq war frequently express the view that they oppose the administration’s policy – not the troops. In fact, most public sentiment overwhelmingly supports the troops. He told of how tiny Benedictine College has embraced its ROTC graduates, recognizing that these young people may soon be put in harm’s way to defend the liberties we Americans enjoy. It was his opinion that Harvard would do well to emulate Benedictine.

McGurn’s observation that the military is one of our nation’s “most open and diverse institutions” rang true. Those of us who have served know all too well that the military is far from perfect. Like all huge organizations, it often succumbs to stupidity. Notwithstanding the views of those who focus upon the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals (http://www.bertrandrussell.blogspot.com/), the United States military remains near the top of those organizations where you’ll find a modicum of openness and diversity.

Offering ROTC on campus is a good thing. I still subscribe to the notion that our country would do well to require that all able-bodied young people be required to perform two or three years of public service for their country. It might be the Peace Corps, a CCC-type domestic program, or the military. They – and our country – would be the beneficiaries of such a plan.

In the meantime, Harvard should go back to school and study the wisdom of embracing ROTC students on its campus.

Rupert Murdoch....pay attention!

Lost in all of the election rhetoric permeating the media this week was a rather quiet but important vote in the United States Senate. The American public sent a message to Rupert Murdoch and other corporate barons – delivered by our elected U. S. Senators – that we’ve had enough media consolidation in this country and that it’s time to put a lid on it.

It was a roll call vote, so there’s no way of knowing who voted for or against Senate Joint Resolution 28, but we understand that it was a near-unanimous decision. The resolution effectively rebuffs the Federal Communications Commission ruling last December allowing more cross ownership of newspapers and television stations in this country.

As we have opined in the past, growing media consolidation has several negative outcomes, including fewer and fewer truly local broadcast outlets. Left unchecked, the race for bigger bottom lines would further erode what we used to have abundantly in this country -- really good local media services. There are other problems, too, and a few are spelled out in this New York Times story of May 16, 2008.

Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota spearheaded adoption of SJR 28 and deserves much credit for its passage. It’s interesting to note that Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are among the 27 co-sponsors of the resolution. It should be recognized, however, that this was a bi-partisan effort.

The next battleground is in the House of Representatives, and we’ll be looking for South Dakota Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin to step up and support HJR 79, introduced by two Washington state Congressmen, Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Dave Reichert.

We’re contacting Representative Herseth Sandlin with our views supporting HJR 79 and hope others will do the same.

Rounds legacy -- a shroud?

Mike Rounds has done a pretty fair job as Governor of South Dakota. While he doesn’t have a stellar record regarding education issues, I was impressed with his creativity and diligence in helping to breathe new life into the old Homestake Mine in Lead. Economic development issues seem to be his forte’.

But if there is a lingering blemish on his tenure, it’ll surely be his reluctance to support open government – despite his claims to the contrary. This contrast is painfully vivid in his May 7, 2008 essay in the Rapid City Journal. He was responding to the question: “Why did you veto HB 1233, an act to create a web site making certain state government financial information available?”

The Governor contended that the bill was not an open government bill – it was, instead, “an accessibility bill.” Surely he understands that unless one has access to public documents, it really doesn’t make much difference whether records are open or closed.

Governor Rounds concluded his piece by writing “I am committed to a practical approach to put the state’s financial information on the Web, in a form that does not create needless expense.”

I take that as good news. It would suggest a turnaround from his approach last year of virtual non-participation with the Attorney General’s task force established to deal with open government. The most public participation contributed by the administration seemed to be their last-minute appearance at legislative committee meetings to speak out against open records measures like SB 189. Of course, that doesn’t count behind-the-scenes maneuvering to sabotage efforts to bring real transparency to South Dakota government.

The Governor said that the folks who wrote HB 1233 “don’t fully understand the structure and operation of the state of South Dakota’s finances.” While I don’t know who wrote HB 1233, I do know that that our state “chart of accounts and classifications of expenditure” cited by the Governor – as well as other state government operations – need not be all that complicated. But keeping a veil over these activities creates the illusion of complexity.

Those who control accessibility should understand that they are temporary custodians of public records, and that these documents – just like the State Capitol (and the Governor’s Residence) – belong to the people of South Dakota.

I hope that the Governor’s professed commitment to open government means that he’ll be working with both sides of the aisle in a genuine effort give South Dakotans better access to the process of government. His input and support could help ensure a positive step forward for open government. It would be a shame for his accomplishments to be overshadowed by the larger cloud of political secrecy.

The Fox joins forces with The Rush

It’s a step up for Rushmore Radio’s Fox 100.3 to affiliate with the new regional hockey team, the Rapid City Rush. Public announcement of the broadcast arrangement was made this week. We’ll likely be hearing more about The Rush in coming weeks. Perhaps we’ll also be reading more about it on the “Classic Rock 100.3” web site – a site now populated with little more than scantily clad damsels (what they call their “Babes of the Day.”)

We hadn’t seen hockey until we moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania in 2001 and happily enjoyed watching the Hershey Bears play. We hope The Rush will bring the same kind of excitement to the Black Hills region, and we’ll be visiting the Rush web site from time to time.

Affiliation with The Rush should add a bit of class to The Fox. Their web site could sure use it.

Looking for world news

I’m sorry. I’m just a bit old fashioned and think the media in general -- and newspapers, in particular -- should do a better job of providing us with world news.

In general, television news has become increasingly glitzier and full of fluff – but that’s nothing new. Radio news, except from public radio, is on the endangered species list. And newspapers have shriveled news content perceivably, particularly world news.

Most of us now acknowledge that we live in a global economy – but you’d never know it reading the front page of the Rapid City Journal.

Never mind that tens of thousands of people were killed by a cyclone in Myanmar this past week. In the minds-eye of the Journal, that story wasn’t worth putting on the front page. Instead, we found stories about:

· Hillary Clinton speaking at a Sioux Falls airport hangar
· A non-fatal vehicle accident in north Rapid City
· Students making pancakes for Teacher Appreciation Week
· Retailers baiting shoppers with rebate specials
· A tourism consultant focusing on “locals” for a city makeover
· An enticement for the Journal’s newest feature – “Page Too”

The front page of the Journal did an excellent job covering the blizzard that wreaked havoc on much of western South Dakota, and other important stories with decidedly “local” angles. But if Christ were to make a second coming, it would be relegated below the fold on page 7.

After considerable public outcry, Journal editors appear to have eliminated the routine front-page placement of area sporting activities and relocated it to the front-page of the sports section. Good move.

Now if they’d only acknowledge that world events deserve a shot at front-page coverage.

The subtle relegation of important world news to the back of the paper is like being shoved to the back of the bus. If it’s out-of-sight, it soon becomes out-of-mind. And a whole new generation of young Americans will continue to know the floor plans of most U.S. Wal-Marts, but won’t have a clue about what’s going on in the rest of the world.

In the past, we’ve justifiably been able to blame television for much of the dumbing down of America. Newspapers – at least the Rapid City Journal – seem to be a witting co-conspirator.

Not much of a strategy

We’ve stomped on writer Thomas Friedman a time or two in the past as he has dwelled on the misguided notion that global warming is caused primarily my mankind. This week, however, Friedman authored an excellent op-ed piece in the New York Times about U.S. energy policy – or lack thereof.

Friedman’s column, “Dumb as We Wanna Be,” rightly observed that our government should be raising taxes on things it wants to discourage --- gasoline consumption and gas-guzzling vehicles – and lowering taxes on things we want to encourage, like renewable energy production. He lamented that the Congress can’t seem to get its collective act together to renew the investment tax credits for solar and wind energy producers.

He’s right on target.

We also appreciate the suport of U.S. Senator John Thune, who cosponsored an amendment to the 2008 Housing Act that would extend the credit through 2009. It’s not as much as we’d like to see, but it’s better than letting the credit lapse…..again.

The entire South Dakota delegation has been supportive of the big Minn-Dakota Wind Farm in Brookings County. The facility came on line in December.

One only need spend a little time in our fair state to appreciate the fact that South Dakota has enormous potential for developing a robust wind energy industry. As I write this post, the wind outside my window in Spearfish is howling up a storm. Of course, even after high-wind warnings have abated, we have ample evidence of just how valuable this resource can be.

Take a look at how South Dakota – as well as other states – stacks up in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

At W$J -- more international news

As a Johnny-come-lately fan of the news coverage and features contained in the Wall Street Journal over the past few years, I’ve been concerned about the 2007 acquisition of the Dow Jones Company (publisher of the Wall Street Journal) by business tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

No wallflower, Murdoch has a reputation for taking charge and meddling in the day-to-day activities of the various journalistic enterprises that he’s bought and controlled.

An unabashed opponent of big media consolidation, I didn’t much like the idea of the W$J having a new owner – especially Rupert Murdoch. I still don’t. But a feature story in the New York Times today, slugged as Murdoch’s Head of Content, assuages my fears…..a little.

It seems that Murdoch’s top lieutenant, 47-year-old Robert Thomson, is making waves as publisher of the paper – and so far, they’re soothing waves. He says parent company News Corporation will plow some $6 million into the Wall Street Journal, allowing the paper to add four pages of international news.

At a time when newspapers are struggling to stay afloat financially, that’s a significant investment. It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold.

Something about The Six

I’m glad that KEVN (Fox-7) has moved its suppertime newscast on weeknights to 6:00 p.m. The Six, as they call it, gives many of us an opportunity to get a different take on the latest happenings throughout the Black Hills. And if they were going to change anything, the time of the cast was probably most important, but they tinkered with a few other things, too.

Having talent stand rather than sit behind a desk is one of those changes at The Six. It’s a technique intended to provide a sense of energy and involvement that many news consultants have recommended over the years. I don’t object to it, but it’s largely a cosmetic tool – one you can employ when other things (like staff size and other resources) don’t seem to help in the ratings race.

We’re still talking about a measly amount of time – less than 20 minutes nightly for news, sports, markets and weather, after you extract the commercials. Of course, if you’re really looking for depth, you’re probably over at KBHE-TV (PBS, Ch. 9) watching the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (or turning to the Rapid City Journal for local content with more meat).

KCLO-TV (CBS-15) airs its local news at 5 p.m., but repeats it again at 6 o’clock. However, since it originates in Sioux Falls, there’s not much that’s “local” for Black Hills viewers. Like public broadcasting, they lay claim to a statewide audience and sell advertising statewide, so their “local” news is largely Sioux Falls with tidbits from the Black Hills and the rest of the state.

KOTA (ABC-3) outclasses KNBN (NBC-21) at 5:30 p.m. and seems to have an edge on all of the stations because of its seasoned experience in the market. Simply put, Duhamels have been in the market a long time, and they know the market.

While I still occasionally hear about Nielsen ratings -- even among public television folks -- I’ve never put much stock in them, particularly here in sparsely populated South Dakota. I consider it a blessing NOT to have to deal with them or pay much attention to them. Our personal taste for local broadcast news/weather/sports gravitates toward KOTA, probably because it has a great lead-in with ABC’s Charlie Gibson. But KOTA Territory’s local presentation is rock solid – if not original.

I plan to watch The Six a bit more in coming days – and NewsCenter1, too -- in an effort to get better acquainted with their talent and how they go about their business. I’ll probably spend some time with KELO-land, too.

The best change for The Six is its new time slot.

Disappointing Interview

After watching the Bill Moyers interview with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright tonight on PBS, I was reminded what a real gentleman Bill Moyers is. He is gracious to a fault in person and on the air.

Reverend Wright, you’ll remember, is the black minister whose “damning” of America from the pulpit several weeks ago caught media attention, particularly because Wright is the pastor of Senator Barak Obama’s home church in Chicago.

The hour-long interview on Bill Moyers Journal demonstrated what we all should have known anyway, that Reverend Wright – like all of us – is more complex than can be reflected in a 30-second sound bite.

Nonetheless, I was sorely disappointed tonight by the lack of incisive questioning from Bill Moyers. Not so much over Wright’s “damning” of America statement, but his vitriolic statements about an unfeeling America that has killed innocent people in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

That innocents died – on both sides in these wars – is undeniable. That our troops, our government, and our nation did so as a matter of policy and with no feeling is blatantly untrue. Why did Bill Moyers not challenge Reverend Wright on this point?

Reverend Wright’s snipped comment about God “damning” America made national news, and Senator Obama promptly distanced himself from his old pastor. How, Moyers asked, did Reverend Wright feel about that?

In fresh candor, Reverend Wright acknowledged that Senator Obama is “a politician” and must say to his audience what is necessary; and as a pastor, he (Reverend Wright) must say to his audience what is necessary. Wright speaks at the National Press Club next week. I think I smell a book in the writing.

How unfortunate that Bill Moyers did not do what HIS audience expected: ask insightful questions and challenge the guest. Instead, it was kind of a “good ol’ pastors discussion down at the seminary.” Giving Reverend Wright 60 minutes to paint his own portrait on C-SPAN would have been equally revealing.

Bill Moyers has done some great interviews. This was not one of them.

Some people just "Vanished"!

It’s hard to believe that innocent citizens could be swept from their homes in the middle of the night and tossed in jail…..then transferred to a “detention camp” and held for months – even years – as “prisoners of war.” But it happened during World War II all across the United States.

The Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 had been enacted 140 years earlier, at the end of the American Revolution. It was later modified and only its “Alien Enemies” provision remained. But after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, heightened fear broke out across the United States, and there was great suspicion that aliens – even people who just “looked” to be an aliens – might be enemy spies or even saboteurs.

Because of their obvious difference in physical appearance, oriental persons were easy targets. It’s estimated that more than 120,000 Japanese-Americans were interned under the Alien Enemies Act during World War II. Most of the internees, probably about 80 percent, were U.S. citizens.

Less well know is the fact that between 11,000 to 15,000 German-Americans were whisked off to detention camps during World War II. Their story has been little known, but thanks to an exhibit aboard a reconditioned bus called the BUS-eum, we’re finally getting a glimpse of this frightening era in American history. Entitled Vanished, the exhibit uses posters, photographs, and old films to help tell the story. German-Americans were interned in camps all across the country. The nearest to our part of the world was Camp Lincoln, located near Bismarck, North Dakota.

I first learned of the exhibit earlier this week, while it was traversing the state. Alas, before the bus could make it to Spearfish, a cracked engine cylinder put the vehicle out of business. Fortunately, the exhibit was shipped on to Black Hills State University, where it was exhibited for a few hours today in the Student Center.

The Director of the exhibit (and bus driver) is Iowan Michael Luick-Thrams, whose passion for the subject is obvious. He told our small assemblage at BHSU, that the Bus-eum has visited 1,015 communities across the country and has been seen by more than 100,000 people.

Vanished tells another sad but important story in the history of our country. While tens of thousands of internees of World War II thought it couldn’t happen to them, we are left wondering: could such a thing happen today?

A good question….and this exhibit helps us better understand this chapter of U. S. history. If you’re interested in learning more, I’d recommend visiting the Vanished web site. An even better site, in my opinion, is that of the German-American Internee Coalition. To get to that web site, just click on GAIC.

As a grandchild of German-Russian immigrants, I appreciate the passion brought to this project, and I support efforts to learn more and better understand the circumstances surrounding these internments. Knowing our history will always stand us in good stead.

And while it is appropriate for the GAIC to try to get the U.S. government to “review and acknowledge” the violation of civil rights perpetrated on Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, and others, let’s hope it stops there. Document this experience. Understand it. Never forget it. But avoid the pervasive victimization mentality that cloaks much of our country and stop short of seeking reparations.

Better that we focus our vigilance upon open government and fight to ensure that civil rights of all citizens are doggedly protected. We should learn from the past, act in the present, and focus on the future.