Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Lear’s Lesson: Dividing Leads to War

By Robin Bates | Published: March 12, 2015

The politics in “King Lear” are currently being played out in attempts to sabotage negotiations with Iran.

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An Inspiring Speech Draws Upon Poetry

By Robin Bates | Published: March 10, 2015

Obama drew powerfully from James Baldwin, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Langston Hughes, and Walt Whitman in his Selma speech.

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Is It Time to Bring Out Twain’s War Prayer?

By Robin Bates | Published: March 4, 2015

The GOP and Netanyahu are trying to sabotage Obama’s negotiations with Iran. Could Mark Twain’s “War Prayer” knock some sense into them?

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The Virtues of a True Conservative

By Robin Bates | Published: January 20, 2015

Anthony Trollope’s thoughtful critiques of progressives can lead to constructive dialogues between conservatives and progressives.

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Invisible Men (and Women) No Longer

By Robin Bates | Published: November 24, 2014

Immigrants coming out of the shadows recall Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, who also emerges from darkness.

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Hunkering Down in Hard Times

By Robin Bates | Published: November 5, 2014

When your side loses in an election, be like Mary Oliver’s blue heron: hunker down, absorb the blows, and keep the fire of hope burning.

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The Race Projection behind the Killings

By Robin Bates | Published: August 29, 2014

Projection helps explain many of the killings of unarmed young black men. Ralph Ellison is an expert on how projection works.

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Obama Is No King Lear (Thank Goodness!)

By Robin Bates | Published: August 1, 2014

Those who want more militaristic posturing in our foreign policy should contemplate King Lear’s posturing.

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GOP Denies a Giant Problem

By Robin Bates | Published: June 3, 2014

Faced with climate change denialism, Obama has been forced to take executive action. Jonathan Swift would understand.

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