Opinion

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Matthew 10:24-26)...

Do you have any idols ... those that you think are cool, have a great job or have done something you admire? I am going share three of mine. I think that Richard Engel has an amazing job. He is a journalist and NBC News chief foreign correspondent. Anytime there is anything major newsworthy around the world, whether that be an earthquake, terrorist attack or good old fashion war he is immediately on a plane traveling to the scene of the history-making event. ...

It is often said that, "those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it." That saying is especially poignant this year as our nation commemorates the 100th anniversary of the armistice of World War I. The destruction and carnage of the First War World reached unprecedented levels as military technology advanced and trench warfare left an indelible print on history brutalizing and killing more than 16 million soldiers and civilians...

DES MOINES — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistical Service. The report is released weekly from April through November. “Farmers have now harvested 83 percent of corn and 94 percent of soybeans, which is three and four days behind average, respectively. ...

In late August I wrote a column entitled “Drafting rhythm” which mostly contained shameless self-promotion and bad puns but also touched on how I did the bulk of my fantasy football draft in the Northwest Iowa Publishing But Also Some Other People Too League while playing drums during band practice...

I’ve been a fan of “Saturday Night Live” since it was my slightly-risque late-night television viewing of choice as a preteen back in 1976 when it debuted. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before. It was bawdy, timely and rip-roaringly funny. It launched stars and introduced comedic geniuses and musicians to the world at large. It also propelled cultural touchstones into the universe...

One of the early monologues of the 1999 film “Fight Club” (I chose to reference the film and not the book due to not being able to remember the wording of the novel verbatim, forgive me) revolves around the narrator’s approach to his constant traveling for work. ...

Recently I received an email invite for a fund raiser for Prevent Child Abuse Iowa. As I was reading the colorful, eye catching advertisement offered along with food, games and silent auction was a cash bar. What a conundrum, I thought, since one of the leading causes of child abuse in the nation is alcohol and drug abuse...

Aaaahhhh. That’s a sigh of relief in case you’re wondering. Relieved that the midterm elections are behind us and we have a couple of weeks off before the conga line of 2020 presidential hopefuls begin parading on the highways and byways of Iowa seeking to gain favor with residents in coffee shops and pizza places across the Hawkeye state...

I am a Ted-head. That is what I learned that the Theodore Roosevelt Association members call themselves. The Ted-heads had their annual meeting recently at the Harvard Club in New York City ... the first such meeting that I have ever attended. It is hosted by Tweed Roosevelt, the former president's great-grandson...

In response to the article written by Nate Shaughnessy published on Oct. 29: If you have never attended one of the Clay Central-Everly football games, I will fill you in on what you would observe. First, you would see the passion. The 18 boys we had on the field were different in many ways, but they all had one thing in common: the love of the game. ...

I feel compelled to write this article about the dog “rescue” that occurred north of Terril in September. I agree that the pictures of the frail dogs are very graphic, but some important facts are missing. Snowball, the 14-year-old white pit bull, had a long medical history. ...

Stop it! Just stop it! Would that it were that easy. However, it is that simple. The solution to all the expressions of hate, distrust and violence is to cease and desist! But, you say, what to put in its place? How to change the narrative and the acting out? It comes down to gentleness, and I'll tell you how that works, if you'll stay with me...

Colin Van Westen's opinion piece in the Oct. 18 SDR ("Forging Forward") was an example of motivational journalism. A "manifesto" if you will. However, we start to part company, when in paragraph two, Colin tips his hand by use of the phrase "how wealth is distributed.” I fear he is already on the way to promoting a brand of socialism I'm not buying into. ...

The second amendment to the constitution of the United States of America states: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Also: 1 — The founding fathers were devoted to the military...