Franke: The Pledge of Allegiance
by Mark Franke I saw a recent news report of a school classroom in Tennessee that got a very practical lesson in why America has an official Pledge of Allegiance. A substitute teacher was surprised that most students remained seated during the school’s recitation of the Pledge. Confused, he asked them why. Most couldn’t provide Read the full article…
The Outstater
A BSU Prof’s Defense of Islam CERTAIN PUBLIC POSITIONS are so poorly reasoned that it is best to let them just sit — let them sit moldering as events unfold. Such is the widely published defense of Islam by Dr. Michael Hicks, the George and Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ball State University and director of its Center Read the full article…
Book Review: ‘Rage and the Republic’
by Mark Franke Why has rage become the dominant form of political expression? Why has violence against persons and property become acceptable to a growing percentage of our young people? And how are these excesses against law and justice claimed to be done in the name of democracy, and with a straight face? More importantly, Read the full article…
The Outstater
A Teenage Work Ethic Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yipSha-na na-na, sha-na na-na na (Ba doo)Sha-na na-na, sha-na na-na na (Ba doo)Sha-na na-na, sha-na na-na na (Ba doo)Sha-na na-na, sha-na na-na na, baYip yip yip yip yip yip yip yipMum mum mum mum mum mum, get a job. — “Get a Job,” the Read the full article…
Eichenberger: The Victim Mentality
by Dan Eichenberger MD, MBA In every era, people face hardship. What changes is how societies respond. Ancient cultures — especially Greece, Rome and early Christianity — emphasized agency, resilience and personal responsibility. Today, many of our institutions promote the opposite: a victim mentality that externalizes blame, demands validation and weakens character. History suggests that tough love — Read the full article…
Franke: Insanity Defense
by Mark Franke To listen to typical conversations these days, one can easily get the impression that most issues have simple answers. It seems that no matter the question at hand, the responses are quick in coming and declarative to the extreme. One friend of mine ends his strongly opinionated statements with “Period!”. That is Read the full article…
