Unlike my colleagues in the Philosophy Department here at the University of Lethbridge, who are clearly experts in climatology, epidemiology, the pre-contact history of the indigenous peoples of this continent, the list goes on and on … I know nothing… Read More ›
Angst
ANTI-SEMITISM JUST AIN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE
(In my defence, my son handed me this title and then commanded me to write into it. Hence any liability is entirely his.) Growing up Jewish in western Canada, I regularly felt that I was other, but I can’t ever… Read More ›
OF DESPAIR
I can imagine there are moments – I suspect we’ve all had them – when life is such that one’s grown weary of it. If she’s lucky, which thankfully most of us are, that weariness passes, either because, thank God,… Read More ›
CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND THE COULEES
Back in 2003 the University of Lethbridge declined to honour its guarantees of confidentiality, and so for the last 17 years I haven’t served on any University-related committee involving that guarantee. In 2016 academic freedom was placed under constructive suspension… Read More ›
IN MEMORIUM
Today, January 27, marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps at Auschwitz. There weren’t a whole lot of people left there to be liberated. And of those who were there aren’t a whole lot still alive… Read More ›
RUMMAGING
The other day I happened to be looking out the window and I noticed someone in the alley rummaging through our garbage. He wasn’t one of, you know, those people. He was wearing a suit and a tie. And so,… Read More ›
LITTLE MOMENTS
Back in my misspent youth I met a young woman who told me a story I have no reason to think she made up. She was hitchhiking from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. She’d been standing with no luck for… Read More ›
TO THE HUMANS
Trans women aren’t women, and indigenous people aren’t indigenous. But they’re both people. So are white people. So are rich people. Start with that. And if you do, you’ll notice that all people get constipated, and when they’re not they… Read More ›
A CARTESIAN MEDITATION
For twelve summers, until this one, I’ve spent the lion’s share of April to September in a village overlooking the Amalfi Coast. If the borders reopen by next April, I’ll be able to carry on as before. But if not… Read More ›
MOMENTS
I was in a firefight once. I could tell you about it, but then I’d have to kill you. Besides, it was in my misspent youth. Still, to my credit I didn’t shit my pants until after the bullets stopped… Read More ›
Paulosophical Vimplications 