Monthly Archives: October 2015

Ryan as John Galt–Elect Him or He Shrugs

By Robin Bates | Published: October 21, 2015

Paul Ryan sees himself as Ayn Rand’s John Galt as he puts forth the conditions on which he will accept the Speakership of the House. The problem is that he is dealing with people who also see themselves as John Galt.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, Congress, GOP, Paul Ryan, politics | Comments closed

Literature as a Basis for Social Change

By Robin Bates | Published: October 20, 2015

Italian activist Antonio Gramsci believed that the common people have an unconscious philosophy that, if harnessed, can become the basis for social change. I argue that they also have unconscious literary taste that can also be harnessed.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Antonio Gramsci, class struggle, liberation movements, Literary Theory, organic intellectuals, Prison Notebooks | Comments closed

Waiting for Biden, Paul Ryan, & Reagan

By Robin Bates | Published: October 19, 2015

Some Democrats are waiting for Joe Biden and many Republicans are awaiting the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan. Samuel Beckett foresaw in all in “Waiting for Godot.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Democrats, Freedom Caucus, GOP, Joe Biden, Paul Ryan, politics, Republicans, Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot | Comments closed

The Rich Complain about Shaming

By Robin Bates | Published: October 18, 2015

Some wealthy Americans are receiving therapy to make them feel better about their riches. Swift would have something to say about this, as would F. Scott Fitzgerald and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to Her Hustand", F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, one percent, Rich Boy, Therapy, wealth inequality | Comments closed

On Sickness and the Power of Prayer

By Robin Bates | Published: October 17, 2015

In “War and Peace” Tolstoy gives a powerful account of how prayer and church attendance can help in the recovery process.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged church attendance, Leo Tolstoy, Prayer, ritual, sickness, War and Peace | Comments closed

Children Lit’s Changing Racial Landscape

By Robin Bates | Published: October 15, 2015

My mixed race granddaughters have children’s books with protagonists of color. It’s a far cry from the Dick-Jane-and-Sally books of my childhood and of the reality described by Toni Morrison’s “Bluest Eye.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bluest Eye, Childhood, Children's literature, racism, segregation, Toni Morrison | Comments closed

Trump, Prince Vasili, and Pure Cynicism

By Robin Bates | Published: October 14, 2015

Prince Vasili in “War and Peace” will say anything to come out on top. He’s a lot like Donald Trump.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Donald Trump, Gulliver's Travels, Hillary Clinton, Jonathan Swift, Leo Tolstoy, Marco Rubio, politicians, politics, War and Peace | Comments closed

Satanic Fury from the Freedom Caucus

By Robin Bates | Published: October 13, 2015

The Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives has been behaving like Satan in “Paradise Lost.” They would be advised to see what happens to Milton’s anti-hero.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Congress, Freedom Caucus, GOP, House of Representatives, John Milton, Paradise Lost, politics | Comments closed

Ellison’s Elegy for Innocent Police Victims

By Robin Bates | Published: October 12, 2015

The Invisible Man’s eloquent funeral elegy for his friend Tod Clifton, shot by a policeman, could be delivered over any of the unarmed black men who have been shot by police and vigilantes in recent years. It is relevant again as the city of Cleveland seeks to blame 12-year-old Tamir Rice for his death.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Black Lives Matter, Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison, Tamir Rice | Comments closed