Author Archives: Robin Bates

Biden and Harris as Earthsea Characters

By Robin Bates | Published: July 25, 2024

Le Guin’s “Farthest Shore” has insights applicable to the Biden-Harris succession.

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Biden, Macbeth, and Passing the Torch

By Robin Bates | Published: July 24, 2024

An MSNBC commentator cited a line from “Macbeth” to characterize Joe Biden’s decision not to run for a second term/

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Shakespeare Stood Up for Immigrants

By Robin Bates | Published: July 23, 2024

As Trump and MAGA call for mass deportations, Shakespeare asks us to see the world from the immigrants’ point of view.

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Trump Allies Dream of Unbouncing Tigger

By Robin Bates | Published: July 22, 2024

After the shooting, some Trump allies wanted to believe it had softened him. And Rabbit thinks Tigger can be unbounced.

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Beowulf Biden Steps Down

By Robin Bates | Published: July 21, 2024

“Beowulf’s understanding of issues around aging leaders helps us negotiate Biden’s campaign withdrawal.

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Hearing the Celestial Voices

By Robin Bates | Published: July 20, 2024

Two shepherd poems to mark the shepherd references in today’s lectionary.

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Tourist Reenacts Euripides’s Bacchae

By Robin Bates | Published: July 18, 2024

A female tourist in Florence was recently photographed humping a statue of Dionysus. Euripides would understand.

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J.D. Vance Dreams of Gilead

By Robin Bates | Published: July 17, 2024

Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance makes “Handmaid’s Tale” more timely than ever.

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A New Trump Is Like a New Pap Finn

By Robin Bates | Published: July 16, 2024

Will a softer Trump emerge after the shooting? It’s as likely as Pap turning over a new leaf in “Huckleberry Finn.”

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