Academic Rants

People moving out, people moving in Why? Because of the color of their skin Run, run, run but you sure can't hide An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth Vote for me and I'll set you free Rap on, brother, rap on Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to my nation Ball of confusion Oh yeah, that's what the world is today Woo, hey, hey The sale of pills are at an all time high Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky The cities ablaze in the summer time And oh, the beat goes on Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul Shooting …   Those are some of the words of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong from the Temptations 1970 hit, Ball of Confusion . The song still resonates some fifty years later. American cities are experiencing mass outward migration as people flee from th...

 Although many Americans watch the presidential conventions, a significant number find them boring. This year's experience is very different, and it may be the beginning of a new set of trends. Political conventions and the stuffiness of backroom deals and cigar smoke may become historical legend. For a host of reasons, the 2020 election season is must watch television. The campaign started the day after the 2016 election and it has never ended. Although an endless campaign should be boring, this one has daily twists and turns. It flows like a soap opera because it is one. We are living in Donald Trump's world. We are being fed his views and notions of America and his abrupt ways of governing are causing national headaches, joys and depressions. And it may be ironic that the convention season is assuming aspects of his personality. Almost instantly, President Trump developed a new campaign slogan ("Keeping America Great") and prepared to fight an unknown challenger. H...