Don Hall 6/22/20 Don Hall 6/22/20

I Believe… [Enforcing Rights Instead of Culling Privilege]

I believe… that it doesn’t make sense to focus on privilege and trying to eliminate it; it would be far more logical and healthy to focus on rights and trying to enforce them.

Don Hall 6/22/20 Don Hall 6/22/20

A Legacy of Half-Assing It: A Case for Reparations

Ending slavery was an essential good. We should feel pretty solid about that. But the reneging of promised financial help to those newly freed slaves is a debt this country owes and we should be like the Lannisters of Westeros and pay our fucking debts.

Don Hall 6/18/20 Don Hall 6/18/20

Meetings with Mayonnaise and White People

My guess is that if Senator Joseph McCarthy had had a Twitter account, his damage to the individual lives he publicly destroyed would’ve been a thousand times worse.

Don Hall 6/16/20 Don Hall 6/16/20

If Non-Binary is the Goal, Why Fight So Hard for Binary Labels?

What confuses me is the insistence, after so successfully arguing against binary labels, that TransWomen are Women and TransMen are Men. If non-binary is the goal, why fight so hard to keep these binary labels?

Don Hall 6/15/20 Don Hall 6/15/20

I Believe… [Dolezal Was Ahead of the Curve]

I believe... that if “whiteness” becomes a catch-all for “oppressor,” one avenue to pursue is for white people to start doing what Rachel Dolezal did.

Don Hall 6/13/20 Don Hall 6/13/20

The Fallacy of Relying Upon Lived Experience When Dealing with Societal Issues

Common sense would tell you that anecdotal evidence or lived experience is by far the most accurate form of information. These people lived it so how could it not be on point? Common sense would be, as it often is, dead wrong.

Don Hall 6/11/20 Don Hall 6/11/20

Ripe for Indoctrination and Thirsty for a Glass of Ice Cold Kool Aid

“Oh, Don. I’m so happy you’re asking. You would be such a powerful witness for Christ.” And she held my hand for a moment that, in my head, was instantly underscored by some awful Christopher Cross song. I was hooked.

Don Hall 6/9/20 Don Hall 6/9/20

Recycling the Past: We Have Been Here Before

Decades of inequality. A viral pandemic. Government intervenes with economic shutdown to contain the virus. Sudden massive unemployment. Riots. Protests. Authoritarian response.

The pattern is disturbingly familiar.

Don Hall 6/8/20 Don Hall 6/8/20

I Believe… [Political Science]

I believe… that science should always be apolitical.

Don Hall 6/6/20 Don Hall 6/6/20

Resolve of the Righteous: What to Do Once the Protests are Past

I hope these historic protests give us a new narrative frame. I hope, instead of laced with rage and hurt, it is scented with optimism and inclusion. I have nothing but respect for the Grand Dreamers and every black person out on the streets of cities across the globe are grand and courageous and inspiring.

Don Hall 6/3/20 Don Hall 6/3/20

I Could Be Wrong, But…

I’ve been struggling with my ability to openly communicate with the Other Side of Things. The realization that I tend toward debate and trying to win the argument isn’t serving any pragmatic purpose, I’m looking to truly communicate with people whom I disagree. Carl is an opportunity to practice.

Don Hall 6/1/20 Don Hall 6/1/20

I Believe… [Permanent Desk Jockey]

…that a police officer with a history of brutality complaints should, just like a domestic abuser, be legally prevented from carrying a deadly weapon of any kind. That officer should be permanently assigned to a desk job and not be allowed to work with the public in a person-to-person capacity.

Don Hall 6/1/20 Don Hall 6/1/20

Staged Conflict and the Downward Spiral of Communication

“Oh, I’m not trying to change your mind about anything.”

Then what the fuck are we doing here?

Don Hall 5/28/20 Don Hall 5/28/20

We’ve All Become Karen

Minding your own business and taking care of your own behavior has become a thing if the past. Today, everyone is looking for someone else to break some sort of rule, make some cultural faux pas that can then be thrown up online to incite the public pileup.

Don Hall 5/25/20 Don Hall 5/25/20

I Believe… [Smile. Nod. Ignore.]

…that I’m starting to adopt a “Smile and Nod and Ignore” more and more people clamoring for attention these days. “COVID was created by Obama!” Smile. Nod. Ignore. “All white people are oppressors.” Smile. Nod. Ignore. “I don’t have to wear a mask at CostCo. It’s a free country!” Smile. Nod. Walk Far Away. Ignore.

Don Hall 5/23/20 Don Hall 5/23/20

The Devastating Experiment in Televised Reality

As Marshall McLuhan famously stated “The message is the medium.” The medium today is the internet and the unfettered access for a fully democratized series of messages supported by a distribution model bolstered entirely by appealing to the lowest common denominator.

Don Hall 5/19/20 Don Hall 5/19/20

I Like to Watch | Game of Thrones (All Eight Seasons in Three Weeks)

…if Martin were trying convey some sort of overarching message it was not that power corrupts but those who pursue power are corrupted by the pursuit.

Don Hall 5/18/20 Don Hall 5/18/20

I Believe… [Brandon Stark in 2020]

I believe… that I don’t need the presidential nominee to be exciting. I’ve had nearly four years of exciting and I’d like a nice, competent president that I only know about when he (or she) passes some quality legislation that helps the country. Maybe someone like Brandon Stark.