Donald Trump as Willy Loman? Well, both are dreamers. Only one of them, however, is cruel.
Author Archives: Robin Bates
Would Willy Loman Be a Trump Supporter?
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
The House Speaker’s Théoden Moment
House Speaker Mike Johnson had a Théoden moment when it came to Ukraine aid. I explore the parallels.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Congress, Donald Trump, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Michael Johnson, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Vladimir Putin Comments closed
The World Calls to You Like Wild Geese
For Earth Day, an Oliver poem that lays out the first principle of environmental activism: love the earth.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Wild Geese", Earth Day, Environmental movement, Environmentalism, Mary Oliver Comments closed
Ask Not for Whom the Bush Burns
In this Passover poem, Chaya Lester calls us to have the courage to leave traumatic relationships.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Hear the Call", "Passover", abusive relationships, Chaya Lester, Exodus, trauma Comments closed
In a Dante-esque Prison of His Own Making
Trump’s suffering the the Manhattan courtroom is his own version of Dante’s Inferno.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged authoritarianism, Dante, Donald Trump, Fascism, Inferno, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Trump trials Comments closed
Mary Oliver on Frog (and Human) Sex
Mary Oliver captures the magic of April in these two sexually-charged frog poems.
Poetry’s Role in the 2019 Indian Protests
Poetry has been a powerful ally of Indian Muslims protesting Modi’s Hindu nationalism.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "On That Day", "You Will See", 2019 Indian Muslim protests, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Hindu Nationalism, Hussain Haidry, protest poetry, Urdu poetry Comments closed
