The deadline for Young America's Foundation's essay contest on A Conservative History of the American Left is fast approaching. If you are an undergraduate, or a high school senior, you are eligible for thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. I urge you to enter the competition by submitting an essay of 1,200 words or less by December 1. Here are the rules and relevant information. Here is the essay question: "Can there be an American Left? Since Robert Owen made his July 4, 1826, Declaration of Mental Independence from the trinity of the most monstrous evils--private property, traditional religion, and marriage--the Left has crusaded against numerous American cultural markers. Freedom, faith, family, and flag seem essential to the American experience but are often under attack by the Left. Using examples from Daniel J. Flynn's A Conservative History of the American Left, craft a 1,200 word essay outlining ways that American leftists have at times sought to conform to the surrounding culture and at other times rebel against it, ultimately answering the question: Can there be an American Left, or must radicals--by virtue of an alien ideology--be forever consigned to operating outside of the American mainstream?" First prize includes a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC. If you're a student, you'd be a sucker not to submit an entry. Good luck.