Clarissa's Blog

I’m not sure Trump is trying to be funny. He sounds just like he does during his speeches. 

Hey, the candidates’ funny dinner is starting! And for the first time in my life I won’t miss it. 

There is not a negligible chance that somebody in Russia will manufacture it. 

The talk went great, people. I slaughtered. It is very useful to talk about research because in the process of talking I realized something crucial about my favorite novel among the ones I analyze in the book. I never noticed it before the talk today. 

If I could teach what I study, I can’t even imagine how productive I’d be as a scholar. 

I got an email from somebody who says she is really looking forward to hearing me talk about Spain’s economic crisis today. The only problem is that I’m not going to talk about Spain’s economic crisis. Or about Spain. I’m going to talk about the nation-state, fluidity, and Governor Rauner, may the devil take him in all senses of the word. 

I’m giving my sabbatical talk today, which means I will finally get a chance to speak about my research at work. Freaky! 

And now I’m going to miss Klara’s first parent-teacher conference because I’ll be in Texas. 

Woman-haters are all the same. Here is a quote from a Catholic Archbishop:

In Philadelphia I’m struck by how many women I now see on the street wearing the hijab or even the burqa.  Some of my friends are annoyed by that kind of “in your face” Islam.  But I understand it.  The hijab and the burqa say two important things in a morally confused culture:  “I’m not sexually available;” and “I belong to a community different and separate from you and your obsessions.” I have a long list of concerns with the content of Islam.  But I admire the integrity of those Muslim women.

All he cares about is having a chance to treat women like stupid cattle. That’s the extent of his religion. He will gladly switch to Satanism tomorrow if Satanists promise him an opportunity publicly to shit on women’s faces.

According to Sonia Nazario, in her book “Enrique’s Journey,” in some parts of the United States, “the crush of immigrants has contributed to a decline of many public services, namely schools, hospitals and state jails and prisons.” She adds: “Classrooms are crowded. Hospital emergency rooms have been forced to close, in part because so many poor, uninsured, nonpaying patients, including immigrants, are provided with free care.”

Hey, here in Southern Illinois we are seeing a great decline in many public services. In all public services, actually. And it’s great to know that those nasty immigrants are to blame. Whew, what a relief! If it’s all about them, then the decline is temporary. As soon as we get rid of the pesky immigrants, our public services will flourish. So good to know!

Of course, there is nary an immigrant in sight but who cares if we can fool ourselves into thinking that the welfare state is coming back. The access to this comforting, pleasing illusion is tantalizingly easy.

After tonight’s debate, my whole Hispanic Civ class with its constant refrain of “you gotta respect the peaceful transfer of power” has acquired a very unintended meaning.