Trumpian disrespect for school personnel–no special emphasis on safe reopening–brings to mind Kipling’s “Tommy.”
Tag Archives: Rudyard Kipling
Memo to Teachers: Put Lives on Line
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Tommy", Betsy DeVos, COVID-19, Donald Trump, school reopening Comments closed
Our Embattled Health Care Workers
In Kaye’s “Far Pavilions,” the hero sees the British botching an expedition but joins them anyway. This is how I see our healthcare workers.
Giuliani, a Kiplingesque Fortune Hunter
Rudy Giuliani resembles the fortune hunters in Kipling’s “The Man Who Would Be King.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Man Who Would Be King, Rudy Giuliani, Trump Ukraine Scandal Comments closed
What Drives You to Go Forth?
Spiritual Sunday The prodigal son is one of Jesus’s most challenging parables. I once read about a rightwing Christian arguing that Jesus had it all wrong since the story’s outcome violated her views about who deserves to be helped, whether by God or the government. Writers have had their own interesting takes. Andre Gide, tormented […]
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Departure of the Prodigal Son", "Prodigal Son", André Gide, Edith Wharton, Rainer Maria Rilke Comments closed
Poems for Resisting Trump
New York columnist Roger Cohen suggests two poems for resisting Trumpism: “if” and “Harlem.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Harlem", American Dream, Donald Trump, If, Langston Hughes, resistance Comments closed
The Soldier Knew Someone Had Blundered
Donald Trump is refusing to take responsibility for the failed Yemen raid where a Navy Seal was killed, along with 30 civilians. The raid brings to mind the “Charge of the Light Brigade,” although more appropriate might be the Rudyard Kipling sequel, where the poet blasted England for failing to take care of the survivors.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Charge of the Light Brigade", "Last of the Light Brigade", Alfred Lord Tennyson, Donald Trump, Navy Seals, Yemen raid Comments closed
Kipling Perfectly Describes Brexiteers
A “Guardian” article applies Rudyard Kipling’s poem “Dead Statesman” to those irresponsible politicians who brought about Brexit. The poem applies equally well to Donald Trump.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Dead Statesman", "Epitaphs of the War", Boris Johnson, Brexit, King Lear, Michael Gove, William Shakespeare Comments closed
How Kipling’s Kaa Would Fight ISIS
ISIS resembles the Monkey People in Kipling’s “Jungle Book” in the way it craves attention. It is defeated by Kaa, but the authoritarian python brings his own set of problems, a fascist reaction to anarchy.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged authoritarianism, fasicism, Jungle Book ISIS, terrorism Donald Trump Comments closed
Kobe: The Lone Wolf Going Down
Kobe is both like and unlike Akela, the Lone Wolf in “The Jungle Books.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged aging superstars, Jungle Books, Kobe Bryant, NBA, Peyton Manning, Sports Comments closed
