Most of us are too busy scrolling social media and binging Netflix to read poetry, but NPR’s resident poet Kwame Alexander has made me a believer in the power and potential of verse. In this short segment he shares a poignant poem by @JerichoBrown “Bullet Points” about the killing of unarmed black men in our […]
One of my favorite podcasts is the “Hidden Brain” (it’s also a show heard on National Public Radio). It’s not only extremely well-produced but it’s a good example of how social science can shed light on important issues. As a public sociologist I respect host Shankar Vedantam‘s effort to bring social science to a wider […]
Less than an hour before it began, I posted a last-minute announcement on Facebook to alert my local friends about a rally to support immigrant rights and religious freedom in opposition to Donald Trump’s recent orders. No big deal, right? Well, maybe it was. My announcement about this local rally in our medium-sized Midwestern town, […]
Underdog political candidates often claim they are ignored by the mainstream media; and the Bernie Sanders’ campaign is no exception. His supporters are complaining that despite his string of primary election wins over Hillary Clinton, the media is not giving him the coverage he is due. I don’t put much stock in conspiracy theories, but […]
Today marks the 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 when 2,977 Americans lost their lives. As we pause to remember the tragic events of that day, and the senseless loss of life associated with it, now may be a good time to reflect on some of the losses suffered since then […]
Changes in AP history trigger a culture clash in Colorado – Washington Post
The Wilds of Education by Frank Bruni – New York Times. September 28, 2014 “There’s too much caution in too many schools” Here is a thought-provoking essay that asks questions about the true purpose of education.
A School Board in Colorado seeks to ban the teaching of dissent and protest in the public school curriculum in favor of celebrating free enterprise, respect for authority and a particular brand of patriotism. In response the students stage a walk out and protest. (Click here or photo for link) My students of social movements […]
Here is an interesting look from the Planet Money team at NPR at how our taxing and spending has changed little over the last forty years. It puts the current political debate over spending and taxes in perspective. http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/02/24/271558863/four-decades-of-taxes-and-spending-in-2-graphs
I live in a part of the country where it’s common to see billboards and bumper stickers proclaiming that: “Guns Save Lives!”. Recently, as I pulled into my local gun club where I practice before every season, it was emblazoned on the back bumpers of nearly half the vehicles in the lot. I’ve long been […]