Author Archives: hessd

Unknown's avatar

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.

I feel so judged

Posted on February 5, 2020 by hessd

There was a time—even I remember it—when someone who was really good at something, was admired for it.  Or “respected;” it depends to a certain extent on what it was.  I don’t think we are entirely out of that era—not … Continue reading →

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

“Because I’m worth it.”

Posted on February 1, 2020 by hessd

It’s a powerful sentiment. No question about it. It is a sentiment, however, not a fact. I think it works as well as it does because it sounds like a fact. We are accustomed to statements about “worth” and this … Continue reading →

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

Songs of discipleship and impeachment

Posted on January 27, 2020 by hessd

On Sunday, January 26, we sang a really interesting hymn at our church. It was called “From the Nets of Our Labor.” I hadn’t ever sung it before and melodically, I don’t think it has much to offer. The text … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

You want transparency? I’ll give you transparency!

Posted on January 22, 2020 by hessd

Today’s essay is about a wonderful new pun.  It isn’t my pun.  It isn’t even my kind of pun.  I’m just a fan. I make a point of that because what I had in mind writing on today was how … Continue reading →

Posted in funny, Getting Old, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Telling the Truth about American History

Posted on January 14, 2020 by hessd

I hope that was a provocative title.  That’s why it is there.  Some will think that it is a simple and obvious standard and that “lying about American history” is the alternative.  Others will think it presumptuous to assert that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hello, Mark Galli

Posted on January 4, 2020 by hessd

I had never heard of Mark Galli before today.  He is the outgoing editor of Christianity Today, which is described—except by President Trump—as “an evangelical journal.” [1]  According to his interview with Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs in the New York Times, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

2019 in the rear-view mirror

Posted on January 2, 2020 by hessd

I freely grant that this end of the year reflection is an indulgence. [1] Except in the religious sense, we think of of that word in the context of “self-indulgent” mostly. That context puts many of these meanings (see the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy birthday, Dale

Posted on December 29, 2019 by hessd

One of the treasures of 2019 was an acquaintance with the word paraprosdokian. None of my online dictionaries has it, but Wikipedia—bless their hearts—has this. A paraprosdokianis a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, … Continue reading →

Posted in funny, Words | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All seated on the ground

Posted on December 23, 2019 by hessd

As I have been reading texts more carefully (the reasons for which need not detain us at the moment) I have found all kinds of little fragments of language that you can read right through or listen right through and … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Words | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

On being “woke”

Posted on December 21, 2019 by hessd

This is President Obama, at an Obama Foundation event this last October. The man makes so much sense. There is this sense [among some young people] that the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible … Continue reading →

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