Journalist – Historian – Speaker
There’s a vibrant sub-culture of people who practice “Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA).” This is not the Society of Creative Anachronism, though surely there’s plenty of cross-over in North America, but people learning how to use European weapons to fight. As I’ve been writing about, any sub-culture that engages the imagined European medieval past can …
I wrote a story about my son watching the third Harry Potter movie, signing “deer” during the Patronus scene, and his engagement with stories. It’s a fairly serious piece, wrapped about some tearful and sweet moments, about presuming competence in an ableist world. Here’s why all this matters. Presuming competence is a fine concept, but …
Last week I wrote about “The New Blood Libel,” a wave of anti-semitic mythography following the election of Donald Trump. Earlier in the week, bomb threats closed Jewish Community Centers across the Eastern seaboard. I’m afraid it’s going to get worse. Meanwhile, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, an Orthodox Jew, is rising in the ranks of …
It’s almost impossible right now to keep up with all the stories circulating. Congress is defunding the ACA. The Republicans voted down an amendment against mandating coverage of people with pre-existing conditions, condemning millions of people to an early death, if that actually ends up being law. Donald Trump’s banana republic press conference demands a …
It is, incredibly, my son’s 10th birthday today. All I can say is … You read the story about Nico and Hamilton, right? And you saw that Lin-Manuel Miranda liked it? Cause that was pretty, um, awesome. Wow. .@Lollardfish @washingtonpost Thank you for this. That was my favorite “Awesome Wow” EVER. And our sons have …
I wrote for Pacific Standard on the sexual assault of a disabled black teen by white classmates, after months of racial harassment. Neither sex nor racial hate charges are being brought. Chicago: White victim’s disability intensifies horror. Idaho: Black victim’s disability means rape was “bullying.”https://t.co/FlNWCOEKmG — David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) January 10, 2017 I also …
Four stories. 1) ALEC is meeting with legislators and talking about pulling funding from public colleges and universities if they don’t include more conservative views. But meanwhile, ALEC is meeting and saying: “pull funding from schools perceived to be limiting discourse.” https://t.co/zNI9e2OGYE@conor64 pic.twitter.com/OtlnTarNgL — David M. Perry (@Lollardfish) January 8, 2017 The academic freedom PC …
I have a new piece at Pacific Standard, my first column for them since signing on as a regular contributor. It’s called, “The New Blood Libel.” It’s not the piece I expected to be writing. I thought I’d write first about DeVos and disability education under Trump, or maybe healthcare and mortal risks to vulnerable …
Big case coming up next week about education for people with disabilities. “Special education” is mandated by the federal government but funded from the states and localities, and is often a place where school districts try to cut corners, provide the absolute legal minimum of services, and otherwise shirk their obligations. Here’s SCOTUSblog on the …
Dylan Roof, the murderer of 9 black people in South Carolina, rejected a psychiatric evaluation and mental health defense because psychology is a “Jewish invention.” It’s an important example of the way that hatreds intersect. Obviously, his hatreds manifested in acts of violence against black worshipers in church. He didn’t, say, attack a synagogue. But …