It is interesting to note that the two presidents in the modern era that have been most invested in the rhetoric of “law and order” have been the most lawless and corrupt Presidents. Nixon and Trump were both elected on “law & order” platforms, but both struggled with ethics and legal violations throughout their presidencies. This just emphasizes that “law and order” rhetoric has little to do with maintaining any kind of organization and is really coded rhetoric for oppressing marginalized communities. “Law and order” has long been recognized as “dog whistle” politics that is really a message to supporters that a candidate will engage in as many suppressive tactics and policies as possible. [Read More]
The Privilege of Working
Those of us who can go for a day or two and not think about racism are living wildly different lives than our Brothers and Sisters of Color, whose days are defined by systemic racism. If you can live in your skin and not think about how your skin changes your relationship to the world, you are privileged in indescribable ways. [Read More]
Episode Six – The Postmodern President
Today we’re going to have a little fun and talk about some things that are kind of wild – we’re going to talk about post-modernity, conservatism, and the President of the United States. It may not be immediately apparent how all those things go together, but I’m hoping to weave a little tale for you that helps make sense of these things. This is the most political episode so far, and it’s bound to ruffle some feathers. [Read More]
Manliness
There’s a thing you’ve probably heard of, but is often misunderstood, called toxic masculinity. When we use the phrase toxic masculinity we do not mean that all males are toxic. We mean that there is a certain version of masculinity that IS toxic. Trump is the example par excellence of that brand of masculinity. [Read More]
Episode Five – Classical Education
Today we’re tackling what I think is one of the most important topics facing us as a society today – education. Now, I’m probably biased because I work in education and I come from a family of educators.
But let’s think about what education does for us for a minute. [Read More]