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.

When fathers are teachers

Posted on June 5, 2016 by hessd

I’ve decided this year to celebrate my experiences of being a father. Not all of them deserve to be celebrated, of course. I still regret the time I punished one of my kids for an offense another kid later confessed … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Living My Life, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Memorial Day Reflections

Posted on June 1, 2016 by hessd

What does it cost to use a U. S. citizen in the U. S armed forces? That’s the question I want to ask. I know it cannot be answered in the form I have first asked it, but I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Paying Attention, Politics, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

My blog is 6 years old today

Posted on May 30, 2016 by hessd

Today is May 30, 2016. It is the sixth anniversary of my birth as a blogger. Or six years after I gave birth to the blog.  It’s a question of perspective, I guess.  And after six years of this, I’d … Continue reading →

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

Authoritarianism III

Posted on May 28, 2016 by hessd

I set the table for myself this time. Here is how I ended the previous post—number two in this set of three. But by far my most vivid contact with these dilemmas has not come as a person, but as … Continue reading →

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

Authoritarianism II

Posted on May 26, 2016 by hessd

Since this is the second of a proposed three-essay set, I am bound to a certain extent by the promises I made in the first essay. I suggested some divisions in using the word “authoritarian,” so that I could say … Continue reading →

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

“It’s in the Book”

Posted on May 24, 2016 by hessd

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Matthew 7:6, KJV. As you can almost tell, even with the … Continue reading →

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

Authoritarianism I

Posted on May 23, 2016 by hessd

I really wanted the title “If Authoritarianism is Trump, We Need a New Deal.”  Alas.  It was too long to use. It is a presidential election year in the United States. A Summer Olympics year everywhere else. This year, more … Continue reading →

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

A New Home, but still “Home”

Posted on May 20, 2016 by hessd

I commented earlier on our “going home plan,” i.e., the arrangements we need to have in place before we die. [1] But if I want to think of where Bette and I choose to live as a place we will … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Bad Moment at a Good Party

Posted on May 12, 2016 by hessd

Luke Timothy Johnson has recently written a book about the Apostles Creed.[1] The first job of any writer is to give potential readers a reason to read the book. I think Johnson does a terrific job of that. Here is … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, sociability, Theology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Do you want a party or a nominee? Choose.

Posted on May 9, 2016 by hessd

On May 3, the New York Times editorial board published a piece with the title, “It’s Donald Trump’s Party Now.” They were referring to Trump’s convincing and unexpected win in the Indiana primary, so I know what they had in … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments