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.

The President Should Be Free to Choose a Response to the Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Posted on September 6, 2013 by hessd

That title is my thesis.  I’m going to make the best case for it I can, then I’m going to read that case several times and see if I am still willing to go along with it.  I will say, up … Continue reading →

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Vengeance is His

Posted on September 3, 2013 by hessd

I have long thought that Lincoln’s second inaugural address was one of the most powerful pieces of English prose ever written.  I still think that.  But I am beginning to wonder whether I have misunderstood his message.  Here is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Politics | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

What Steven Pinker Should Have Said

Posted on August 24, 2013 by hessd

On August 6, The New Republic published “Science Is Not Your Enemy: An impassioned plea to neglected novelists, embattled professors, and tenure-less historians,” an essay by Steven Pinker.  It was an attempt to claim the word “scientism” for scientists and … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Psychology, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Grants Pass (rhymes with Alas), Oregon

Posted on August 14, 2013 by hessd

For some time, I have been pitching a schema that relates society, economy, and polity.  The goal of this device is to explore ways of keeping issues away from the polity, as small government advocates have been proposing. In Grants … Continue reading →

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Secularism 2

Posted on August 12, 2013 by hessd

It came to my mind, as I was reflecting on “secularism”—my son, Doug, remarked in passing that he was a “secularist” and I got to thinking about how good a term that is—that it was an “extent of time” word, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Living My Life, Words | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Secularism 1

Posted on August 10, 2013 by hessd

My son Doug has taken to calling himself a “secularist.”  I think it is the perfect word for him, but he used it very casually in a conversation we were having about something else (the influence of Norman French on … Continue reading →

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

Still Mine

Posted on August 5, 2013 by hessd

I am not honestly sure whether this is a really good time for movies about old people or whether I have just started to get interested in movies about old people.  I think it’s just a good time.  When Ron … Continue reading →

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What Pope Francis said

Posted on August 3, 2013 by hessd

How shall we understand the new pope, Pope Francis? “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Francis told reporters, speaking in Italian but using the English word “gay.” … Continue reading →

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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Posted on July 25, 2013 by hessd

I have heard it said that every story has an inner core of meaning—a structure of meaning.  I might have said it myself.  Yesterday. In fact, every story has as many narrative structures as there are people who know the … Continue reading →

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“That includes me:” Obama talks about race

Posted on July 21, 2013 by hessd

On January 20, 2009, Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated as our first black president.  A lot of the early betting went against him as a candidate.  No one seemed quite sure if Democrats were ready for a black nominee of … Continue reading →

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