While students are right to protest Israeli violence in Gaza, the authoritarian streak in certain extremists is disturbing. Blake reveals the danger in “The Grey Monk.”
Author Archives: Robin Bates
Blake’s Warning about Radicals
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Grey Monk", campus activism, Gaza, Israel vs. Hamas, William Blake Comments closed
Milton’s Sin as a Symbol for the GOP
A “Paradise Lost” phrase, delivered by the character Sin, sums up today’s GOP.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Charlie Sykes, corruption, GOP, John Milton, Paradise Lost Comments closed
They Shoot Puppies, Don’t They?
Gov. Kristi Noem boasting of shooting her puppy brings to mind the tragic dog killing by Gabriel Oak in Hardy’s “Far from the Madding Crowd.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Adam Serwer, animal cruelty, Charlotte's Web, E. B. White, Far from the Madding Crowd, Fred Gipson, George Orwell, Harper Lee, Kristi Noem, Old Yeller, Shooting an Elephant, Thomas Hardy, To Kill a Mockingbird Comments closed
Remembering My Eldest 24 Years Later
A Mary Oliver poem about grieving as I remember my eldest, who died 24 years ago on this day.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "No Voyage", Adonais, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Beowulf, death and grieving, death of a child, In Memoriam, John Milton, Lycidas, Mary Oliveer, Percy Shelley, T. S. Eliot, Waste Land Comments closed
Trumpian Darkness or True Light? Choose
Trump and many of his fans twist themselves in the perpetual torment of their resentment and anger. Henry Vaughan describes their state in “The World.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "World", Christopher Marlowe, Dante, Doctor Faustus, Donald Trump, Henry Vaughan, Inferno, Trump trials Comments closed
When Shepherds Fail Their Flocks
The Bible has multiple passages about shepherds who fail their sheep/ congregations. These two poems by Guite and Moss do the same.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Good Shepherd", "I Am the Good Shepherd", Church abuse, Church corruption, Falling church attendance, Good Shepherd Sunday, Malcolm Guite, Stanley Moss Comments closed
Would Willy Loman Be a Trump Supporter?
Donald Trump as Willy Loman? Well, both are dreamers. Only one of them, however, is cruel.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged American Dream, Arthur Miller, conmen, Death of a Salesman, Donald Trump Comments closed
Toad and Trumpian Politics
Many of Trump’s primary opponents have behaved like Toad after a motor car runs over his gypsy caravan.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2016 election, Kenneth Grahame, polarization politics, Ted Cruz, wind in the willows Comments closed
A Thieves Guild to Manage Crime
Pratchett uses his Thieves Guild to satirize those who think perfection in our society is achievable.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged crime in America, crime prevention, Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett Comments closed
