Monthly Archives: November 2019

Think of Trump Enablers as Wormtongue

By Robin Bates | Published: November 19, 2019

GOP legislators slavishly parroting Trump (and Putin) talking points in the impeachment inquiry reminds me of Wormtongue and Saruman.

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Charitable Chimps Pick Fleas

By Robin Bates | Published: November 18, 2019

In his parable “Seven Charitable Chimpanzees,” Scott Bates probes the reasons for charitable acts.

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Feuding Rom-Coms Can Save a Marriage

By Robin Bates | Published: November 17, 2019

Feuding couples comedies are still going strong since Shakespeare in films like “When Harry Met Sally” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.”

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The Real Temple Can’t Be Destroyed

By Robin Bates | Published: November 16, 2019

Like Jesus, George Herbert (in “Scion”) sees the temple, not as a physical structure, but as the human heart.

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Jordan: Mac the Knife without the Charm

By Robin Bates | Published: November 14, 2019

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan has all the effrontery of John Gay’s Mac the Knife, although none of the charm.

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Albee’s Play Explains Trump’s GOP

By Robin Bates | Published: November 13, 2019

To understand how the GOP was drawn into Trump’s orbit and sullied, read the account of the young couple in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.”

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Who’s Afraid of a Feuding Couple?

By Robin Bates | Published: November 12, 2019

Is Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” a feuding couples comedy? Perhaps yes if you add the adjective “dark.”

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Verbal Combat Trumps Soft Romance

By Robin Bates | Published: November 11, 2019

Shaw contributed some great plays to the feuding couples comedy genre, including Man and Superman and Pygmalion.

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Ask Vets to Tell You Their Stories

By Robin Bates | Published: November 10, 2019

For Veterans Day, ask a vet for his or her story. Scott Bates and Tim O’Brien convey the importance of such storytelling.

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