From Digby, we have another example of what I call the cult of compliance. In Springfield, MO, a panhandler in a Walmart parking lot, Eric David Butts, was confronted by a police officer, Jason Schuck. Butts turned to run away and Schuck drew his weapon and shot him in the back. Later, he claimed that he…
Unexpectedly, Eden Foods became my big story of the last few weeks. It introduced my writing to thousands of new readers, for which I am grateful. I came to this topic because it’s about language and power. Like any consumer, I wrote Eden to complain, got their response, and thought, “grotesque,” now there’s an interesting…
As I continue to write about language, politics, and ethics, I thought it would be useful to place statements all on one page, without comment. Eden Foods, Whole Foods, The Wedge Co-Op, Willy Street Co-op. I also have links to major reporting on the topic, especially from a year ago when their first suit was…
“I respect you very much as a woman for your accomplishments. I even read that you studied medieval history, which I think will come in handy with trying to defend the Republican war on women.” Liberal Radio Host Stephanie Miller to Carly Fiorina, failed Republican Senate Candiate, on CNN State of the Union, 7/6/2014. On…
Copyedits for my academic book arrived in my email yesterday. My blogging will likely be a little sparser for the next three weeks. Or I’ll write twice as much. There is no middle ground! Today is quick. Medieval metaphors are flying around these days, as medieval is a shorthand in our national discourse for “bad,”…
When I was a graduate student in Minneapolis, and I had any extra money, I’d head to the Wedge Co-op to take advantage of their outstanding food. Even today, our close friends with whom we stay when we visit are just a few blocks away from The Wedge, and we love shopping there. As with…
Last week I wrote the story of our son’s diagnosis with Down syndrome. Lots of people read it, for which I am grateful. There’s another story here, though, and one that might matter even more than ours – the stories of our friends who supported us. Each of us is more likely to confront a situation…
Every Sunday I post a roundup of my writing from the blog and any external media. Next week, by the way, I am expecting copyedits of a scholarly book, Sacred Plunder: Venice and the Hagiographies of the Fourth Crusade. I’m excited, but it may limit my blogging for a few weeks. The end of the…
My piece on Eden Foods has been pegged to the top of the recommended list on DailyKOS for a day now. What I like about DK is that it’s a hugely discursive community always ready to wade in with debate and discussion. The comments are worth reading (no, really. I know, it’s the internet, I’m…
Yesterday I began following the story of Eden Foods (this is a good place to start), an organic food company whose products are beloved by many friends, especially my vegetarian and vegan friends (they make beans and soy milk, among other products). In 2013, the company and their chairman and sole shareholder, Michael Potter, sued…