Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Politics and Beowulf Wish Fulfillment

By Robin Bates | Published: May 2, 2013

People who think a modern Beowulf can come in and fix our political problems are delusional.

By Robin Bates | Published: March 8, 2013

Is the GOP filibuster like a Sam Spade-Kasper Gutman negotiation? Is Obama like the Queen of Hearts in his drone program?

By Robin Bates | Published: February 12, 2013

Why does a president well versed in literature and philosophy engage in targeted assassinations?

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged drone attacks, Teju Cole | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: February 11, 2013

Karl Rove and Barack Obama have both “created monsters” (in the Tea Party and drone strikes respectively). Mary Shelley would understand.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 29, 2013

Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” has an urgent message for us in today’s political battles.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 24, 2013

Like Ellison’s Invisible Man, Obama may have started off naive but he’s wised up.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 22, 2013

Obama’s “star that guides us”–the ideals in “The Declaration of Independence”–are, in “Beowulf,” the sword used to kill Grendel’s Mother.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 21, 2013

Richard Blanco’s poem “América” shows that he is well chosen as this year’s inauguration poet.

By Robin Bates | Published: December 11, 2012

Morrison’s “Song of Solomon” has advice for Obama in the fiscal cliff confrontation: Leap!