Monthly Archives: July 2013

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Posted on July 25, 2013 by hessd

I have heard it said that every story has an inner core of meaning—a structure of meaning.  I might have said it myself.  Yesterday. In fact, every story has as many narrative structures as there are people who know the … Continue reading →

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“That includes me:” Obama talks about race

Posted on July 21, 2013 by hessd

On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated as our first black president.  A lot of the early betting went against him as a candidate.  No one seemed quite sure if Democrats were ready for a black nominee of … Continue reading →

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Jesus and Rich People

Posted on July 19, 2013 by hessd

So how did Jesus feel about rich people?  That doesn’t sound too hard to answer.  I’ve got some proof texts right here.  I hope they are the same as your proof texts. We don’t have Jesus’s words to consider, of … Continue reading →

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Too Pretty to Work Here

Posted on July 16, 2013 by hessd

It is hard to write seriously about the Iowa dental assistant who was fired.  I am sure it is a serious matter for Melissa Nelson, the dental assistant.  It is probably about to become serious for James and Jeanne Knight … Continue reading →

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A Modest Proposal about Paternalism

Posted on July 12, 2013 by hessd

Today is a rescue operation.  I am going to try to rescue the term “paternalism.”  Very likely, I won’t succeed, but I have learned a phrase from my wife that I now use a good deal: “How bad could it … Continue reading →

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Fully and Visibly Engaged

Posted on July 12, 2013 by hessd

It has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world.  You are on camera frequently and you have to be visibly responding to what someone else is doing.  Yawning is out; napping is out; checking your watch is … Continue reading →

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Borrowing Bette

Posted on July 6, 2013 by hessd

Every metaphor you can think of is deficient in some respect and, regrettably,  that includes the metaphor I am going to use today.  I am going to treat the opportunity I have of living my life with Bette by the … Continue reading →

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Hannah Arendt

Posted on July 5, 2013 by hessd

Please go see this movie.  It will be good for you.  You will want to talk about it with your friends. Critics have not been very kind to the movie, Hannah Arendt, because it is a talky movie.  I don’t see … Continue reading →

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In a Larger Sense, We Cannot …Hallow This Ground

Posted on July 2, 2013 by hessd

The battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863: 150 years ago today.  Three days of unparalleled carnage followed.  Recent studies conclude that the Union army and the Confederate army each lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 soldiers in those … Continue reading →

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