In today’s world most of us would concur with the wish that everyone could receive quality medical care. And who among us would not bring food to a neighbor in need? The very thought of someone in our neighborhood going hungry is simply unacceptable to us. We regularly pass on used clothing to those in…
John Andrist: Rediscovering Pieces of the Heart
Last week, together with 1,195 others, I spent a whole day listening to 22 short speeches suggesting we take a look at our world with new eyes. The event was not political, not anything for that matter, other than idea sharing. They call it TEDx, which stands for technology, education and design. The presentations were…
John Andrist: Searching for Civility Amid Conflict
A recent, brief visit with Tina Simonson Moe rekindled memories of her mom, Ailsa Simonson, and the special relationship we shared. Ailsa was a full-blown Democrat activist in her heyday, probably the strongest party leader Divide County ever produced. She rose to the position of state chairman of Democratic women during the party’s North Dakota zenith, at…
John Andrist: A Problem Which Defies a Solution
The score is even now. It’s a dead heat, and I think we are headed for overtime. When the Affordable Care Act was enacted with practically no study, the Democrats were determined to ram it through. They didn’t really care what. Remember, Nancy Pelosi made her infamous comment: “We have to pass it to see…
John Andrist: God Bless America
As a self-employed person I never cared much for holidays. When you work for somebody else your day is over at 5 o’clock, or whenever your work shift ends. When you are self-employed your day always ends with some work not being finished. Holidays complicated getting the paper to bed, or getting it delivered. So…
John Andrist: Free Speech for Me but Not for Thee
“It’s a free country; I can say what I want!” Indeed, almost all of us would say we strongly believe in the concept of free speech. Even as kids we learned to use that free country, free speech argument. Of course, in our generation it was pretty well bred into us that there would be…
John Andrist: Is Changing Your Mind Good or Bad?
Is a change of mind an admirable quality, a demonstration that you have continued to evaluate your position? Or is a flip-flop, a derogatory term for not holding true to a principle, through every conceivable means of resistance? Perhaps it depends if you were on the other side and have come to agree with my…
John Andrist: The Last Time Trump Saw Paris
They spend a lot of time these days fussing about climate change, particularly since President Trump walked away from the “Paris Accord” agreement. What particularly piqued my interest was a map of the United States published in USA Today, showing in color the temperature change over the past 22 years. It included most of northern…
John Andrist: Knowing Who Our Neighbors Are
“Who is my neighbor?” Almost as long as man has existed that question has been one we have pondered. In the tenth chapter of Luke it was asked of Jesus by a lawyer of that time. Our culture suggests that a neighbor is somebody special. One who needs special treatment or extra consideration. But we…
John Andrist: Are Privacy Protections Good or Annoying?
We are very much obsessed these days with things like security, secrecy, and privacy. All three of them are getting more elusive. That may not be good, but perhaps it’s also not all bad. Ponder with me for a moment what our world would be like with no privacy for you and me and no…
