Month: March 2021

My difficulties with Mildred Plew Merryman´s poem began with its titling. The way it is presented (especially in a book surrounded by poetry that is not exclusively Mildred´s) made it seem as though it was genuinely observed at an Indian Grave. The first warning signs to otherwise actually came before I did any research. The usage of ¨Indian¨ along with ¨Seminole¨ seemed counter intuitive; why use two separate identifications – each broad – in such close context. If self Identified, I imagine the people the poem aims to imitate would more accurately label themselves. After all, the term ¨Indian¨ has … Continue reading Difficulty

When looking at the opposite views of oneself, it is easy to fall victim to dehumanizing those who express contradicting opinions. I believe that to effectively debate and persuade, opposition research and empathy are required traits. This post is not at all intended to preach centrism or working across the aisle, but rather point out that cancel culture is a mostly ineffective means of converting others to what I would consider a more just world view. Ignorance is a word used far too little in political discourse. In its place we levy futile insults towards easily condemnable people: racists, bigots, … Continue reading Cancelling