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.

All I ask…

Posted on May 5, 2019 by hessd

“All I ask is that you let me feel my way.” Kaitlyn Tiffany, a writer for vox.com, is the reason I know about the new Burger King ad campaign. Take a look.    It opens with a black guy sitting … Continue reading →

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

Nicholas Kristof interview me

Posted on April 22, 2019 by hessd

Not really, of course.  Why would he care how I answer his questions?  Still, he asks a lot of people these same questions, so I thought I might just take my turn.  And it is, after all, the day after Easter. … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Theology | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Jesus washes the feet of Judas

Posted on April 20, 2019 by hessd

Each of the accounts of Holy Week gives a different account of the relationship between Jesus and his disciple, Judas Iscariot. I want to puzzle a little today, in the time between the Maundy Thursday service and the Good Friday … Continue reading →

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

Being who you are

Posted on April 16, 2019 by hessd

If you were once an important person, it is hard to give it up. I already knew that. I live in a Senior Center [1] where I see people struggling with it every day. For example, I see people who … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Something happened

Posted on April 15, 2019 by hessd

The bad thing about the NBC show New Amsterdam is that it isn’t very realistic.  On the other hand, it is well done and week after week, manages to surprise.  In this essay I am going to tell you about … Continue reading →

Posted in sociability, TV, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What should the 2020 election be about?

Posted on April 8, 2019 by hessd

I know that, properly speaking, I should justify a time bomb work like “should.”  I’m not going to.  By the “should” in the title, I mean only that I prefer the non-referendum form myself and I think it is better … Continue reading →

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

Playing the Angel Card

Posted on April 3, 2019 by hessd

Let’s start with the silly question approach.   Q: Why did Luke not write that Jesus was comforted by an angel after his testing in the wilderness after his baptism? A: He needed an angel to comfort Jesus in Gethsemane … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

God, are you still there?

Posted on April 1, 2019 by hessd

Not much of a question, from a theological point of view.  Yes.  God is still there.  A God who is everywhere is “there,” whatever you had in mind when you used that word. But the question is not very often … Continue reading →

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

Healing the Homeless on the Cheap

Posted on March 28, 2019 by hessd

Very often it seems that one of America’s tribes want to see the vulnerable (undeserving) cared for (coddled) and the other wants to spend as little tax money (government resources) as possible on the nanny state (compassionate social programs). And … Continue reading →

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

The Sixth Commandment in Shetland

Posted on March 23, 2019 by hessd

I’d like to share with you today a small exchange that has caused me to smile for several days now.  These four lines (below) are from a show that Bette and I have come to like a good deal.  It … Continue reading →

Posted in funny, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment