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.

Dumbo’s Dilemma

Posted on October 17, 2016 by hessd

OK, let’s talk about Dumbo. Remember? The little elephant with the big ears? A helpful circus mouse (Disney, remember?) points out that if he opened up his giant ears he could fly and thus become a big star. Dumbo, being … Continue reading →

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

Look like what you mean

Posted on October 13, 2016 by hessd

The great thing about fighting a war with intercontinental ballistic missiles is that you don’t have to know a lot about your enemies. You load up a barrel full of destruction and heave it off to “do bad things” to … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Biases, folded in and folded out

Posted on October 7, 2016 by hessd

Where on earth did we get the idea that we ought to be unbiased? Or that we could possibly be unbiased? I have never understood that. [1] There was a time, not all that long ago, when everyone in the … Continue reading →

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

Yesterday when it is past

Posted on October 4, 2016 by hessd

Today I would like to tell you about some surprises I have encountered in moving from one kind of life to another. That sounds more momentous that it would really need to but I am going to start with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Both Sides Now

Posted on September 30, 2016 by hessd

There are 127 apartment units at Holladay Park Plaza. [1] I Three of them have both an east view and a west view. Bette and I live in one of those. We can see “both sides now.” The sunset picture … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Official Sexism

Posted on September 29, 2016 by hessd

As you can tell from the title, I have a grievance in mind for today. After such a long struggle for gender equality, it grieves me that we have given it up so easily.[1] Ah well. This morning, I had … Continue reading →

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

New Life, New Categories

Posted on September 28, 2016 by hessd

The time it takes me to go from “having an experience” to “having “a kind of experience” has gotten perilously short. I don’t think I have put anyone in danger yet, but the transition from the one to the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Living My Life, Paying Attention | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

“One plucky leper”

Posted on September 18, 2016 by hessd

I have been a fan of Gary Trudeau’s work for a long time.  He does a lot of current political things.  I’m pretty sure, for instance, that there will be a caricature of Donald Trump in today’s cartoon.  But a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

“Estate” is a noun. Sigh.

Posted on September 13, 2016 by hessd

No one “estates” anything to anyone. The language won’t allow it even if the tax codes would. The defining feature of an estate, in the modern sense of the word, is that it belongs to you. On the other hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Jesus supports my political program

Posted on September 7, 2016 by hessd

Today, I feel like Yaskov, the Russian spy in Howard Neame’s 1980 movie, Hopscotch. He says of his opposite number, the American spy, “I do like him, you know. One can’t help it.” The opposite number in Hopscotch is Miles Kendrick, … Continue reading →

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