Posted on 09/18/2009 8:16:42 AM PDT by EveningStar
State Highway 9 is a two lane strip of asphalt that cuts across the northernmost tier of counties in Iowa, from Larchwood to Lansing. If you drive its 320 miles, as I have done many times, you will not be dissuaded from the stereotype of Iowa as a flat boring expanse of cornfields. The few points of interest include Lake Okoboji and the headquarters of Winnebago in Forest City. It takes you near Mason City, the model for "River City" in Meredith Willson's The Music Man, and the site of the plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly after a February 1959 concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. About an hour of cornfields east of there, when you reach the outskirts of Cresco, you will see a sign welcoming you to the hometown of Norman Borlaug.
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One of the most awesome articles I have read in a very long time.
The creative, autonomous individual - not “the people,” the “public interest,” or “democracy” - changes history for the exponentially better yet again.
Norman Borlaug
Tobi: You know who I really would like to be?
Tobi (2): My all-time favorite personal hero, Norman Borlaug.
Panel 2 Close two-shot of Bert and Ernie.
Bert and Ernie in unison: Who?
Panel 3 Focus on Tobi, with the others gathered around him.
Tobi: Who was the Cambodian leader who murdered over a quarter of his countrymen? Everyone else in unison: Pol Pot!
Panel 4 Switch angles, now Tobi's back to us and we can see everyone else facing him.
Tobi: And what two 'world leaders' shared the distinction of having murdered their own countrymen somewhere in the eight-figure range?
Everyone else in unison: Stalin, Mao!
Panel 5 Medium close-up on Tobi, holding up a professorial finger.
Tobi: So you know these monsters who spilled an ocean of blood, but you don't have a clue about the hero who was the Green Revolution. The man who saved the lives of over a billion fellow human beings.
Panel 6 Group shot, put Ernie on the left and Tobi on the right.
Ernie: Uh, I'm guessing 'Norman Borlaug?'
Tobi: You should look him up in the Tanglepedia. It's inspiring.
Outstanding tribute from Iowahawk! R.I.P. Norman Borlaug. America’s finest BUMP!
And they’re still doing it. It is a crime that elites, particularly European elites, have foisted the false religion of “organic farming” on the developing world. I have traveled to Africa with a man who runs highly productive farms here in the US. In fact, he specializes in taking marginal land, and through technology, turning it into incredibly productive land. The potential for improving productivity in Africa through technology is staggering, but the powers that be in the Third World are stuck on the ridiculous idea that “organic” farming is superior.
In this modern world of irrationality, some moral invalids would decry Mr. Borlaug as a villain for making it possible for so many human beings to survive. I feel certain that he is currently standing in the light of God’s glory.
Borlaug's work debunked the Malthusians and population bomb criers of my generation-- the same sorry group of people who are the global warming profiteers of today.
Borlaug was also a very humble and God-fearing man who gave the credit for his work to a higher power.
I don't even recall reading about his passing. If the local fishwrap carried it at all, it was probably buried somewhere in the obit page.
Damn shame considering all the coverage and half-mast flags for Teddy Kennedy who, in the eternal scheme of things, never amounted to a polyp on Norman Borlaug's rear end.
“some moral invalids would decry Mr. Borlaug as a villain for making it possible for so many human beings to survive.”
Pete Singer?
Who knew Iowahawk could write without sarcasm.... very nice article.
Well said.
An excellent point and a connection that few make. I am also of that generation and glad I outgrew my naivete in those matters. Kudos to you! I am also in admiration of your comparison of Teddy to a polyp.
He was truly a great humanitarian, his work saved millions of people all over the globe. His work enabled crops to produce more yields in set areas.
Grew up in the area, farm after farm producing food for all the world’s table.
God Bless Him.
Great article. I don’t read every Iowahawk column, but I don’t think I’ve ever read one I didn’t admire and enjoy. Even this one has a bit of joking about sports teams, but it’s exactly right.
I first learned about Norman Borlaug when I took an upper division agronomy class in college. His work ought to be taught to kids in elementary school.
That’s a sad one, thanks
Exactly, in the paragraph right after Gregor Mendel. Their work, along with those that toil in the seed research labs at universities and seed companies, are the reason we all eat today. These people are the real "greenies" - the rest are just pretenders.
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