Peace and Pekoe - If I can’t have one, I’ll have a cup of the other.

The Romantic Myth of the Ethno-National Underdog

April 20, 2018 By Kate Cousino

The basis of the idea of ethno-states is the assumption that coexistence and pluralism pose some sort of risk to culture. But culture is, of course, the one thing nobody CAN take from you because culture is the customs that arise as we live in communities. Culture is not static; it is the byproduct of living-with-one-another and changes as the individuals who make up a community change with each birth, death, marriage, move, season; each change in geography, political or… Read more

What a fictional wizard taught me about fear, faith, and friendship

April 6, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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This is a post about a wizard named Harry, and a lesson I needed to re-learn. (No, not the “you’re-a-wizard-Harry” you’re probably thinking of. A different wizard named Harry.) I’ve been reading an urban fantasy series, the Dresden Files. Re-reading, actually. The joy of re–reading a familiar book is the mental space it creates for appreciating or critiqueing the author’s craft and depth (or shallowness) of insight. The first time around, I’m just enjoying the story. The second time around, I… Read more

It’s Not About You

February 28, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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*NB. Plug in just about any other parenting choice within the range of normal and non-abusive practices, and this entire rant applies. This just happens to be the topic that pushed itself forward today. Can we get something straight, moms? Women who ask for epidurals and other pain relief during childbirth aren’t wimps or control freaks. They are individuals with their own experiences, priorities, and perspectives who are facing birth in the way that works for them. It isn’t… Read more

Data-based Gun Policy Links

February 22, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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This is a clearinghouse post for interesting, data-based links I run across online. There’s a lot more heat than data on gun control, especially for my US-based friends. This is my small contribution to enabling real conversation. Effects of Policies Designed to Keep Firearms from High-Risk Individuals https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031914-122516 An analysis of studies conducted between 1999 and 2004, by public health and gun violence researchers Webster (Johns Hopkins) and Wintemute (University of California). Excerpt: Finally, it is surprising that prior studies… Read more

Lovely in Eyes Not His

February 19, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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I loved Mr. Rogers when I was a child. Simcha has a lovely reflection up about Fred Rogers. She says that, when she was younger, she felt uncomfortable with his show. She ridiculed it as boring and resented the familiar way Mr. Rogers spoke to his audience. And, Simcha says, I couldn’t deal with his face. I just didn’t want to look at it. He had that smile of extreme simplicity that you see in people who have gone… Read more

Running Away to Ahch-To

January 26, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. — GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy… Read more

The Rise of the Fratriarchy

January 19, 2018 By Kate Cousino

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The New Republic, musing over the political Right’s embrace of Donald Trump and his libertine lifestyle, concluded Wednesday that, It’s easy for liberals to decry the hypocrisy of Republicans, the putative party of family values, embracing Trump as its avatar. But there is no real hypocrisy here. The core value is patriarchy, which can take different forms. There is an older patriarchy which wears the mask of chivalry, and offers women protection in exchange for submissiveness. But the age of… Read more

The Stable of Our Hearts

December 25, 2017 By Kate Cousino

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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who… Read more

The Mindful Mutt

December 14, 2017 By Kate Cousino

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I feel like I’ve been going a dozen different directions this Advent, trying to be ready for the holidays and catch up on everything neglected while I was focused on immigration stuff in November. Then, in the midst of this nuttiness, we added a new layer of crazy and brought home a puppy. I’ll be honest–I was enthusiastic about getting a dog, but not particularly excited. That sounds confusing, doesn’t it? It’s really fairly simple. I am not a dog… Read more

Seven Takes in Seven Words or Less (sort of)

December 1, 2017 By Kate Cousino

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1. Thoughts during the Santa Claus Parade Good riddance, November! December already? Ack! 2. At The Personalist Project I muse about identity and community. 3. Good things about December Sinterklaas comes soon. Time for speculaas! 4. Buy my stuff, please? Order my clay characters! Discount code: STNICK. 5. Thought inspired by Pence-rule debates Schmoozing workplaces discriminate against people I’d trust. 6. I love my weird kids Christmas Lego competition entry: “Alien Santa Auditions.” 7. On navigating boundaries and generousity Give… Read more