Why did Sen. Rand Paul’s neighbor attack him. Novelist Thomas Berger’s “Neighbors” provides a possible explanation: “sinister banality.”
Monthly Archives: November 2017
The Assault on Rand Paul, a Theory
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Libertarianism, Neighbors, property rights, Rand Paul, Thomas Berger Comments closed
The Evangelical Rose Is Sick
Many rightwing evangelicals are selling their souls for Trumpism. William Blake would have something to say about that.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Holy Thursday", "Sick Rose", Donald Trump, London, rightwing Christianity, Roy Moore, William Blake Comments closed
Brecht Quatrains for Challenging Times
During World War II Bertolt Brecht wrote quatrains that speak powerfully to our own political times.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Adolph Hitler, Bertolt Brecht, Donald Trump, refugees, war, War Primer Comments closed
A Teacher, Lit, & a Jailed Student
In “Reading with Patrick,” English teacher Michelle Kuo works with a student in 8th grade and then later after he has killed a man. The story brings up questions about lit’s impact.
Fall, Season for Beautiful Depression
Those suffering from depression will find a kindred spirit in this gorgeous St. Vincent Millay poem about autumn.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Blue Heron", "To Autumn", Autumn, bi-polar illness, Depression, Edna St. Vincent Millay, John Keats, Mary Oliver, Seasons Comments closed
Tess, More Relevant Than Ever
Students find Hardy’s “Tess” to be only too relevant In the age of Trump, Weinstein, and Roy Moore.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Donald Trump, Henry James, Robert Louis Stevenson, Roy Moore, sexual assault, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy Comments closed
Roy Moore’s Obsession with Lolitas
To understand Judge Roy Moore’s predilection for teenage girls, read “Lolita.” Like Humbert Humbert, Moore is obsessed with purity.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Fundamentalism, Lolita, pedophilia, Roy Moore, Vladimir Nabokov, white Christian evangelicals Comments closed
God’s Prayer to Us: Live Kindly, Live
James Richardson’s poem “Evening Prayer” urges us not to narrowly constrain God within rules but to see God as something greater.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Evening Prayer", analysis, James Richardson, Prayer, Religion Comments closed
Twitter: Shorter Is Sweeter
Responses to Twitter increasing its character limit to 240 have often been quite humorous, including some limericks. And speaking of limericks and twitter…
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged J. K. Rowling, limericks, Matsuo Basho, Stephen King, twitter Comments closed
