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.

I saw it with my own eyes

Posted on April 5, 2017 by hessd

April 4, 2017 I didn’t hit any serious theory about how we see things until I hit grad school. Then we paid a great deal of attention to Gestaltists—illustrations, explanations, and most fun of all, experiments. I liked it all, … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Last Word

Posted on March 29, 2017 by hessd

I am married to a librarian and every now and then she dips into whatever bag of tricks librarians have and produces just the right observation. That happened last weekend and I want to tell you about it. Telling you … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Movies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What you said is so misunderstandable

Posted on March 22, 2017 by hessd

The current political climate is so polarized and so hostile that “misunderstanding” is almost taken for granted. What I say presupposes not the common context of communication, but only my own or those of the group I belong to. Liberals … Continue reading →

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

Thy rod and thy staff…

Posted on March 17, 2017 by hessd

…they comfort me. That’s the way the psalm goes. It is Psalm 23, very likely the most famous psalm in the world. [1] I got to thinking about it the other day and, like so many other things I think … Continue reading →

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

What the composer intended

Posted on March 14, 2017 by hessd

I want to tell you about a really powerful experience I had yesterday. I won’t be making an argument of any kind. I am going to be relying on a series of analogies that came to me all in the … Continue reading →

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

It’s only natural

Posted on March 10, 2017 by hessd

“It’s only natural” seems like an easy thing to say. I hear it a lot. Most of the time I attend only to what it does–it excuses things– rather than what it means.  Today, thanks to a comment by Scarlett … Continue reading →

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

God is a liberal Democrat living in Princeton

Posted on March 8, 2017 by hessd

Quite a few member of the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem) [1] released a statement that they say represents their views, not the views of the seminary at large. [2] I was glad to hear that because I am … Continue reading →

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

Resilience and its precursors

Posted on March 6, 2017 by hessd

So far as I have heard, everyone likes “resilience.” Especially in March. Only the good basketball teams wind up in their conference finals, and half of those good teams lose that game. And then they go on to play in … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Living My Life, Love and Marriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

And all the residents are above average

Posted on March 4, 2017 by hessd

When Bette and I completed our plan to move to a retirement community last August, we knew that we were going to “reside” there. That was the point after all. Neither of us appreciated the exalted status that would imply; … Continue reading →

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

I know exactly how you feel

Posted on March 2, 2017 by hessd

Well first, can it possibly be true? Can anyone who is not me know just how I feel? No. It cannot be. But it can be largely true? Yes, and it almost certainly is. I am going to think a … Continue reading →

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