Category Archives: Sustainability

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 →

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Civil Discourse is our “Commons”

Posted on August 29, 2016 by hessd

Did you ever have that terrific feeling when you pick up an article that makes brilliantly, the case you have been making poorly for years? I just had that feeling. How I missed “The Coddling of the American Mind” by … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Politics, Sustainability, Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 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

Michael Moore on “Where to Invade Next”

Posted on March 21, 2016 by hessd

The United States (hereafter “we”) look really bad in the recent Michael Moore movie, “Where to Invade Next.” That’s not a headline. We don’t look good in any of the Michael Moore movies. It’s just a statement about what I … Continue reading →

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Is the U. S. “anti-immigrant?”

Posted on November 26, 2015 by hessd

Not exactly. But “anti-immigrant” is just a political spitball. It is not intended to and it does not, in fact, help anyone understand what is at stake here. Let me start with the passage that helped me start thinking about … Continue reading →

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The Moral Minority

Posted on October 6, 2015 by hessd

Molly Worthen writes in The New York Times (see the column here) that Donald Trump’s candidacy has exacerbated a split among evangelicals. She describes it like this. What is most striking is that Mr. Trump’s campaign has exposed a rift … Continue reading →

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Men learn from Hobbes and Women from Rousseau

Posted on July 20, 2015 by hessd

OK, so it’s never going to replace Mars and Venus. Also, it’s not precisely true. But it is mostly true—more often than not—and it has the same principal virtue that John Gray’s Mars/Venus books have. It teaches that there are … Continue reading →

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Accountability and Trust

Posted on April 21, 2015 by hessd

I am going to say a few words in favor of accountability here.  Nearly everyone I know who is a fan of “accountability” will be disappointed by what I have to say and some will feel betrayed.  I don’t think … Continue reading →

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Gladly Teach and Gladly Learn

Posted on February 26, 2015 by hessd

Let’s say you are young and idealistic and haven’t been married even once. Please accept my sincere congratulations and condolences. You have emotional heights before you that I can remember only with disciplined memory. A dark and quiet room would … Continue reading →

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Mosquitoes in Heaven

Posted on December 13, 2014 by hessd

Pope Francis is having the same kind of trouble the apostle Paul had.  It’s hard to be a pastor and a theologian at the same time.  And if any remarks you make are going to be seized upon by the … Continue reading →

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