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.

“You will govern in the interests of rage…”

Posted on October 29, 2019 by hessd

This week, Jenni Russell, a columnist for The Times of London offered some language I would like to think further about.  She was writing about Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his electoral strategist, Dominic Cummings, but I think that we … Continue reading →

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I wanna be a hero

Posted on October 16, 2019 by hessd

I don’t know how it is with girls, but there is a persistent attraction among adolescent boys toward “heroism.” It can take really ugly forms as well as really attractive ones. I think there is nothing good or bad about … Continue reading →

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

Catching Eli’s Attention

Posted on October 9, 2019 by hessd

The story of old Eli and young Samuel has been told a lot of times.  The story I have always heard is how Samuel learned, finally, to hear God’s voice.  It’s a really good story.  But lately, I have been … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Biblical Studies, Getting Old | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Greater Good and Its Rivals

Posted on October 1, 2019 by hessd

Of all the ways to “look at things,” I would like to explore one particular set that is currently bedeviling us. These ways of looking at things are based on value premises that are contradictory, if either is allowed to … Continue reading →

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

Shared “reality”

Posted on September 27, 2019 by hessd

The Crucial Text Most of the material below has been taken from Neal Stephenson’s novel Seven Eves.  My strongest interest in this small slice of the novel is the expression with which it ends.  It is: “consensual historical hallucination.” I … Continue reading →

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Impeachment 101

Posted on September 25, 2019 by hessd

I don’t have a view, myself, about whether impeaching Donald Trump (hereafter, CHEB, the Current Head of the Executive Branch) is a good idea or not. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said, when she authorized the first tentative step … Continue reading →

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8.6667

Posted on September 16, 2019 by hessd

The first time I saw this wonderful cartoon, I thought it was just funny, The second time, I thought it was witty and funny—not at all a common combination. I still think it is witty and funny—the whole Olympic gesture … Continue reading →

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Selling Providence

Posted on September 15, 2019 by hessd

In these brief comments, I reflect on the way Providence (formally Providence Health and Services) markets itself.  At every Providence site I have seen—and I have seen many in the Portland area—these five framed posters are displayed.  It is a … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A very good kind of place

Posted on September 1, 2019 by hessd

In Portland, Oregon, where I live, there is a section of North Portland called St. Johns.  St. Johns is a pleasant bike ride from my neighborhood and my brother, Mark, and I rode up there today with the idea of … Continue reading →

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Why hating “religion” isn’t going to help anything

Posted on August 31, 2019 by hessd

Timothy Egan posted a pointless rant in the New York Times today.  I don’t think it will do any damage because the only people who will get past the first several paragraphs are people who want to see a really … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Political Psychology, Society | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment