IN CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL DISCOURSE If you are involved in political debate, you are almost certain to be faced with Hitler...at least those who use Hitler and Nazism as a strategy to discredit what you are saying. Associating a position with Hitler and Nazism is a surefire way to silence that position. It is also easy,... Continue Reading →
A CLASSIC WITH CONTEMPORARY RELEVANCE Back in 2010, just over six years ago, I wrote this post about the frightening turn I was seeing among conservatives as they approached the midterm elections with bloodied claws. I was appalled by the level of visceral animus articulated by the newly risen Tea Party conservatives. There was something... Continue Reading →
A SCARY THEORY THAT LOOKS LIKE ITS COMING TO FRUITION A couple of years ago I noticed a disturbing analogy between Republican politics and H. G. Wells' brilliant novel, The Island of Dr. Moreau. In the novel, Wells' titular character creates an isolated world in which human/beast, hybrid monsters serve him and his human followers. It should... Continue Reading →
Religion, Sociology and the Lived Experience Back in 2009, for the first time in my life, I had the aweful experience of having to put a dog to sleep. Her name was Nilla. She was my dog through marriage. I never thought I would have a fluffy white dog, let alone a little dog as... Continue Reading →
REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE'S HISTORIAN Some time ago, one of my students, who is significantly more savvy about internet like-type stuff than I am, suggested that I start moving some of the posts from my old blog site, what is now called The Original Mad Sociologist, to this site. Meh. I'm really not one to rehash... Continue Reading →
