Eighteen Ways to Consider John Brown
Author’s note: I wrote this piece when I was painting John Brown’s portrait back in 2012. It was my attempt to sort out the complex
August 15, 2025
Rob's Blog
On Being Woke
The justification for erasing America’s historic injustices, claiming that knowing them causes kids to feel guilt or shame, is a high priority for our current
August 12, 2025
The Gravity of Narcissism
“. . . an act of cruelty . . . was the ancient irresistible rejoicing of power over weakness.” – Tony Hoagland “You cannot follow
August 4, 2025
Ask the Right Question
I intended to write about immigrants. About our government’s demonization of immigrants. About the reasons people flee their homes, abandon their extended families and communities, take enormous risks and
July 13, 2025
Rain at 4 am (then War)
Some people use a recording of rain’s soothing white noise to put themselves to sleep. I like to be woken up by the real thing. My
July 1, 2025
Standing in Black
Yesterday afternoon, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., 17 men and women dressed all in black, stood in a line on the street in the little
June 12, 2025
To Recognize the Fact
I call it cruel and maybe the root of all crueltyto know what occurs but not recognize the fact. – William Stafford, from A Ritual to
May 30, 2025
Astonished by Water, by Cruelty, by Kindness
A friend asked me to write a little essay about being astonished. Astonished? . . . My first thought was a glass of cool water.
April 19, 2025
On the River with Huck & Jim, the King & the Duke, Elon & Donald
“It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.” — Huck Finn
February 21, 2025