Empathy Mining - Searching for empathy by mining multiple perspectives

Sometimes I Wish I Were a Conservative Christian

November 13, 2018 By Shane Phipps

My life could so much simpler–so much less stressful–so much more carefree. I live in Indiana. There are many things I love about my state. There are many things about it of which I am proud. But when it comes to politics, Indiana almost always breaks my heart. My state just might be the deepest red of any north of the Mason-Dixon Line. When it comes to politics, Indiana bears a much closer resemblance to Mississippi than Massachusetts. I guess… Read more

God, Let the Religious See How They are Being Manipulated for Political Gain

November 1, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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This week, Kanye West took another turn on his recent bizarre path into politics. Perhaps one of the most unlikely supporters of Donald Trump, Kanye has decided to hit the brakes and change directions. He tweeted that he has realized he’s being used to spread messages he doesn’t really believe in. When I read this, I felt a mixture of relief and frustration. I’m glad Kanye seems to have had this epiphany, but part of me wants to grab him… Read more

Who We Believe Doesn’t Matter, As Long As We Win

October 23, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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As I watch with numbed disbelief the ongoing bizarre events revolving around the Trump administration, one thought keeps banging around in my head; in the end, we are who we choose to believe and, to some people, as long as you win, that’s all that matters. Last week, in the wake of the death of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, much debate swirled about the details. Turkish officials issued a grisly detailed account of the death and said it was… Read more

Conservative Christian, the Voting Booth Can Be Your Confessional and Nobody Needs to Know

October 10, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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Forgive me America, for I have sinned. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, I fell victim to a grand scheme. I was made to feel it was my duty to walk in lock step with the political party that has hijacked the Christian narrative. They forced me to believe that there is only one way to vote and still be in the good graces of the church. I have helped elect the most unholy leader imaginable. Secretly, I cringe when he… Read more

Someone is Lying

October 3, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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I wasn’t planning to write on the Kavanaugh hearings, but then two things happened. First, I began to see some of my conservative Christian friends showing support for Kavanaugh and brushing off the accusations by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford. Then President Trump shot his mouth off at a rally in which he openly mocked Ford’s testimony. I’ll address my thoughts on Kavanaugh’s testimony a little later, but let me first get the President’s part out of the way. Donald Trump… Read more

What if Donald Trump were _______________?

September 26, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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Let’s face it, we have a president that might not be qualified to do most of our jobs. The last couple days I’ve been trying to imagine what it would be like if Donald Trump had my job, or yours. It got me to filling in the blank of the question I used to title this piece: What if Donald Trump were ____________? What if Donald Trump were a teacher? I’m not at all sure he could even be hired… Read more

When This is Over…

September 20, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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At some point, this is all going to be over. Eventually, this has to end. I’m hoping that when it does, things will go back to some sort of normalcy. Our nation’s history is a series of pendulum swings from left to right and back again. The nature of our nation, thanks to our Constitution with its checks and balances, is that we are always self-correcting. When we feel ourselves shifting too far in one direction, we always reel ourselves… Read more

Make Room for Doubt, It’s Not a Weakness

September 11, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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We live in an age where it increasingly feels like everyone has to be right. Perhaps this phenomenon is enhanced by the fact that nearly everyone now has a platform upon which to display their every thought and whim. Most people have a social media network of at least several hundred–often many more–friends and followers with whom they are all too willing and eager to share their views (I’m pointing the finger at myself here, too. I have over 2,000… Read more

Dear Donald, I Don’t Hate You

September 6, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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Dear Donald, You, sir, are in my head. I think about you an awful lot–probably too much. I’ve never thought about any other president–or any public figure, for that matter–as much as I seem to think about you. I’ve written so many articles about you that, frankly, I’ve long since lost count. I’m sure you’ve never read any of them, but quite a few people have. I’ll save you the search and just go ahead and let you know that… Read more

These Nikes on My Feet

September 5, 2018 By Shane Phipps

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I never gave them a second thought when I bought these shoes. It didn’t really matter what brand they were. I was more interested in things like comfort, look, and value. The fact that they are Nikes just meant that these shoes stood out as the best deal for me on the day that I bought them. Now they mean something more–something much more. Now, the fact that my Nikes are still intact and on my feet instead of in… Read more