Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

Strong women

Posted on May 12, 2020 by hessd

Where I live, people want women to be “strong.”  That is the official sentiment, at any rate.  That seems to me to be asking for too little.  Maybe I can introduce my concern by coming at it from the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, Society, Sustainability, Words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rhetorical mastery

Posted on May 6, 2020 by hessd

We have gotten accustomed to the kind of rhetoric we hear from Henry V before the battle of Agincourt.  It is gorgeous!  It is so stimulating that it is hard to pay attention to just how it works, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Political Psychology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Below the surface of Genesis

Posted on May 4, 2020 by hessd

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time recently reading scholarly analyses of the first three chapters of Genesis. I will leave until later the question of whether this is the best use of virus-generated free time. What I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Paying Attention | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The First Ten Years, Part I

Posted on May 3, 2020 by hessd

I posted my first blog on May 30, 2010. It would be fair to say, in some ways, that I have been just sitting here [1] writing essays ever since. Over the ten years, I have averaged about 180,000 words … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

“Spiritual therapy”

Posted on April 26, 2020 by hessd

I have no idea what spiritual therapy is.  I haven’t even consulted Wikipedia.  I do have some idea about physical therapy, however, and I want to approach “spiritual therapy” using that analogy.[1] Physical Therapy Here’s what my experience with physical … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Sustainability, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Staying Busy

Posted on April 19, 2020 by hessd

This is a COVID—19 sort of speculation. [1] The COVID pandemic and our plan to bend the curve of new infections downward has led to a lot of urging that people stay home. To help us stay home, the management … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, sociability | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The two logics

Posted on April 15, 2020 by hessd

So let’s see. There is a competitive logic. Whoever is best prepared and works the hardest wins and everybody else loses. Fair is fair. You knew that when you signed up for the race. And then there is a communitarian … Continue reading →

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Viewing the virus

Posted on April 9, 2020 by hessd

You get such a different sense of just what the virus means when you look at it generally than when you look at it locally,  And, of course, you get a different sense entirely when you focus on what it … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What keeps me up at night

Posted on March 31, 2020 by hessd

It’s not just worrying about things. I get roused out of sleep by new ideas, too. And I don’t really mind that. I wish I got more sleep, but I would hate to miss out on the ideas. I’m better … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Society | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Foul is Fair

Posted on March 29, 2020 by hessd

Why do we keep falling for this? Is it because we don’t understand anything at all about symbolism? Is it that we so dearly love making fun of the nation’s Chief Buffoon that we are willing to hand him the … Continue reading →

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