Category Archives: Uncategorized

President Obama Doesn’t Get It

Posted on November 8, 2014 by hessd

This essay is going to wander into some disreputable places, so let me start with the easy stuff.  First, I’ve been blogging for several years now and I have learned that “President Obama Doesn’t Get It” is a better headline … Continue reading →

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

Is Forgiveness a Good Idea?

Posted on October 21, 2014 by hessd

I want to begin with as simple a phrasing as I can.  Things are going to get so messy that I want to have something to look back at, as I would look back at my own innocent youth if … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Uncategorized, ways of knowing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“Eating Right”

Posted on May 28, 2014 by hessd

There are lots of other ways to say that.  One of the common ones, “eating healthy,” I reject on grammatical grounds.  It means “eating healthfully,” but no one says that anymore and saying it just changes the subject from “food” … Continue reading →

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

Racism and Sin

Posted on March 28, 2014 by hessd

Am I a racist?  No.  I’m not. There.  That takes care of the substance of the matter.  I have blasphemed in public and I will be chastened by a lot of people whose social and political views are very like … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Politics, Theology, Uncategorized, Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Too Pretty to Work Here

Posted on July 16, 2013 by hessd

It is hard to write seriously about the Iowa dental assistant who was fired.  I am sure it is a serious matter for Melissa Nelson, the dental assistant.  It is probably about to become serious for James and Jeanne Knight … Continue reading →

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A Modest Proposal about Paternalism

Posted on July 12, 2013 by hessd

Today is a rescue operation.  I am going to try to rescue the term “paternalism.”  Very likely, I won’t succeed, but I have learned a phrase from my wife that I now use a good deal: “How bad could it … Continue reading →

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Hannah Arendt

Posted on July 5, 2013 by hessd

Please go see this movie.  It will be good for you.  You will want to talk about it with your friends. Critics have not been very kind to the movie, Hannah Arendt, because it is a talky movie.  I don’t see … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Property and Privacy

Posted on February 18, 2013 by hessd

I’ve been thinking about civil liberties.  Civil liberties are the things the government(s) aren’t allowed to do to us.  Being Americans, our minds go right away to freedom of speech and assembly; of guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment and … Continue reading →

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What is God like?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by hessd

This is one of those “Why is the grass green?” kinds of questions.  I do want to try to answer it in the third of the pieces that make up this blog, but I have two prior questions. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Uncategorized, ways of knowing, Words | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How are the prospects for President Obama’s second term in office?  Pretty good, I’d say, all things being considered.  The President is duly aware of what he calls “locusts”—unforeseen events that swarm the political landscape and destroy the prospects for … Continue reading →

Posted on January 21, 2013 by hessd | Leave a comment