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.

Nationalism for Progressives

Posted on March 7, 2018 by hessd

The title points to a connection I am not comfortable with. I am going to try to get over that today. This essay rests on two pieces from the New York Times. On March 4 by Yasha Mounk; the other … Continue reading →

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How to thrive while living

Posted on March 1, 2018 by hessd

In May of last year, Carol Marat wrote a piece called “How to Thrive While Living Alone.” Nearly everything in my response to this lovely piece could be construed as criticism of it, so I want to take the time … Continue reading →

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Goodbye, Billy

Posted on February 22, 2018 by hessd

When Robert Dahl died some years ago, I wrote an essay I called “Robert Dahl, R.I.P” That seemed about right, but today, as I am saying goodbye to Billy Graham, it occurs to me that a big part of Robert … Continue reading →

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What to do while you are dying

Posted on February 18, 2018 by hessd

It’s a little more complicated than that title suggests. Not a great deal, but a little. [1] It will simplify things a great deal to make the distinction between “it,” the body that serves us well or ill by turns, … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Love and Marriage | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Lent and inconvenience

Posted on February 17, 2018 by hessd

If only we had more time, right? If only. If we had more time, we would…um…we would… OK, what would we do with more time? A professor of mine at Wheaton College [1] once told a story about himself that … Continue reading →

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Racism and Sexism, treated by The Good Doctor.

Posted on January 25, 2018 by hessd

If you were here, I would dearly love to turn to you, as I did to Bette, and say, “What just happened?” Here is what I think happened. In the first season of The Good Doctor, they have developed a … Continue reading →

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My next job

Posted on January 23, 2018 by hessd

This is a fantasy. If you don’t know me, you might wonder why I would write about what my next job will be. I have retired several times already and my final retirement was five years ago. If you do … Continue reading →

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Living with Seniors

Posted on January 20, 2018 by hessd

That’s what I do. I live in a Senior Center, being old myself. [1] But when I was an undergraduate in college, I lived with Seniors, too. And Juniors and Sophomores and Freshmen. I just thought of that today. It … Continue reading →

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Horizons

Posted on January 17, 2018 by hessd

All my life, I have been a sucker for horizons. “Horizons,” I once thought to myself, “are just the earth in profile.” With a horizon, you get beyond the welter of particular features and see the broad incontestable outline of … Continue reading →

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This is your id speaking. Listen up!

Posted on January 13, 2018 by hessd

I’ve been thinking about healthcare recently. I’m going to say some things I haven’t heard anyone else say. That is often not a good sign. As usual, I am going to start at several apparently unrelated starting points and as … Continue reading →

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