Mercutio’s words, “A plague on both your houses,” can be damaging if applied to our current two political parties.
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Monthly Archives: April 2026
Mercutio’s False Equivalence
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged factionalism, false equivalence, mainstream media, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Leave a comment
Ravenous Wolves in the White House
The archangel Michael in Paradise Lost foretells how people like Pete Hegseth will cite Jesus while behaving like “grievous wolves.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Iran invasion, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Pete Hegseth Leave a comment
Measure for Measure and Our Religious Hypocrites
Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, about a pious but corrupt judge, captures many of our own political figures that are brandishing their religion.
Hungary’s Freedom Poet
Hungary’s 19th century poet Sándor Petőfi played a role in Hungary’s election Sunday.
The Croaking Chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes
We are currently enjoying nightly frog choruses, which brings me around to Aristophanes’s “The Frogs.”
Octavia Butler and Hungary’s Liberation
Looking back at Hungary’s authoritarian rule, Octavia Butler helps us understand why such people rise to power and why the resistance we saw in the Hungarian people can be effective.
A Stone Has Rolled from My Mind
An Easter poem by R.S. Thomas expresses doubts but finds them answered in an unexpected way.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Denial", "Answer", Easter, George Herbert, R. S. Thomas Leave a comment
Sterne’s Uncle Toby and My Own Toby
In which I reflect on the name I gave to my youngest son, linking him back to the kindly Uncle Toby in “Tristram Shandy.”