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.

Madison v. Plato

Posted on December 28, 2016 by hessd

From the outside, you enter the rotunda of the Capitol in Salem, Oregon from the north. As you stand there, you face the information kiosk, where I have seldom failed to get the information I needed—including current gossip when I … Continue reading →

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Mug Shots

Posted on December 26, 2016 by hessd

You may not have noticed that there is a conflict of major proportions going on in this country. Very nearly anything can be turned into a weapon. If you are young, you will be surprised. If you are not young, … Continue reading →

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Two Cheers for Kristof and Keller

Posted on December 23, 2016 by hessd

Only two, though.  I am saving the last one for a better resolution of the dilemma. I want to think this morning about Nicholas Kristof’s column in the New York Times, which you can see here.  (For reasons I don’t … Continue reading →

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A White Male Working Class Tantrum

Posted on December 22, 2016 by hessd

There is no question in anyone’s mind, I am sure, that I am talking about the 2016 election season. Not the outcome of the election particularly. I could have made the same argument I am about to make if Hillary … Continue reading →

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David’s line–I’m just the driver

Posted on December 14, 2016 by hessd

I am teaching a Bible study with a couple of old friends.  That will happen in just a few hours.  My friend Fran has a dramatic flair and her idea for today was to pass out the parts of the … Continue reading →

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Depth in a Superficial Story

Posted on December 8, 2016 by hessd

I want to tell you two stories today. They are related, so I don’t want to put them into separate essays. The first is just personal. It has to do with the transition my mind made from a superficial made-for-TV … Continue reading →

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“This isn’t told for sentiment”

Posted on December 4, 2016 by hessd

Every other year, I study Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. [1] By happenstance (see footnote 1) the Luke years are the even numbered years, which means that I study Luke in the presidential years and in the midterm … Continue reading →

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Read this book

Posted on December 2, 2016 by hessd

Today is the beginning of my blogging year (Blogging Year 2017) [1] and I’d like to start by recommending a book. The book is Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild. … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving, 2016

Posted on November 25, 2016 by hessd

Whenever I begin to formulate a sentence about Thanksgiving, I think of my mother painfully contorting the sentence into “We have so much for which to be thankful.”  She was determined to avoid ending a sentence with a proposition if … Continue reading →

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Richard and Mildred Loving

Posted on November 22, 2016 by hessd

Peter Debruge in his May 16 review for Variety explains why the film Loving just didn’t have enough pop for him. In addition to the objection I am going to cite, there were other more technical criticisms that I accepted … Continue reading →

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