StocktonAfterClass

Send us a text

Today, June 15, is not only Father's Day.  It is also Trinity Sunday.  To me, the concept of the Trinity is incomprehensible.  Which is why I am the perfect person to explain it to the rest of you.  

This podcast started twenty years ago when one of my Muslim students asked me to explain it to her.  She should have asked me to explain E=MC Square. Oh, I can do that:   "Matter exploded equals energy and this led to the atomic bomb.  Is that right?"  Well, Einstein probably had a bit more to...

Send us a text

In June of 2024 I spent eight days in occupied Palestine, i.e., the West Bank. It is now a year  later and I thought this report might deserve a reposting.  

 I went with a group of people who had religious connections.  I was the only secular academic.  I found this a valuable approach, to be with people who saw this conflict in such a different way.  This is a report on what I saw and what I concluded.  

Note that this is Part I of my report.  There is also a P...

Send us a text

This is the last lecture I delivered in my academic career.  I discovered that I had miscalculated the end of the semester and that I had an extra class.  I did have a regular academic topic but my wife said, "You are a senior professor.  You have taught 48 years.  Your students see you as someone who has had a life time of experiences.  They will forget an academic lecture but they will not forget your personal stories.  Why not tell them about the famous political leaders you encountered during your lifetime."  

So thes...

Send us a text

Why I Killed Gandhi  by Nathuram Godse 

Two employees of the Israeli Embassy in D. C. were shot to death this week (May, 2025) . The Manifesto of the shooter shows him to be very distressed by the mass death in  Gaza.  He felt what is called "the moral imperative to act."  So did the person who killed Gandhi. This is a discussion of that person's manifesto.  

Gandhi was assassinated in 1948.  In the two movies I have seen, the assassin is portrayed as a deranged bearded scary-looking fanatic.  Some of those...

Send us a text

I was amazed at how much information is available on the internet about this election.  Of course, biographical information is public, but the cardinals swear an oath of secrecy before they go into the conclave.  And yet somehow information leaks out.  I wish I could say I had a cardinal-friend who shared insights with me, but all of this 2025 Conclave stuff comes from the internet. 

Please forgive me for mispronouncing the name of the Cardinal of Jerusalem.  I practiced it but then at the moment of truth, fumbled.  Blah.

<...

Send us a text

This was an orientation lecture in my course on Religion and Politics in 2020. It does have a few of those classroom comments ("don't forget to turn in your papers" sort of things), but otherwise it has quite a bit of information about sometimes confusing topics. 

Don't forget to check out my recent podcasts on Leo XIII and my own candidacy for pope.  I did not get the nod but you can see that I raised the right issues (and maybe even influenced the outcome).  

<...

Send us a text

Are you interested in why the new pope took the name of an old pope?  Is he sending us a message?  

Leo XIII was a modernizing pope whose most famous encyclical (1891) was called Rerum Novarum (New Things).  This is a class lecture that I delivered on that encyclical.  I discussed key passages and why it was so important. 

ps.  Don't miss my last podcast on why I am running for pope.  It is not what you might think.  Perhaps it should have been named "Things I would li...

Send us a text

Back in 2013, when Pope Benedict stepped down, I was concerned for the future of the Church and threw my hat into the ring.  I am not sure how many votes I got but the vigorous insistence of the Vatican that they had never heard of me convinced me that my impact was real.  There were even rumors that my candidacy had been received better than some had expected.  At that point I thought my religious career was over but when I heard that President Trump had declared himself a candidate I reconsidered and dec...

Send us a text

My former student, Amine Zreikh, contacted me about an archive of deeds from pre-1948 Palestine, and the effort to create a site where those could be stored.  I conducted three interviews on this project.  One with Zreikh and two are with Adel Bsesio, the custodian  of those documents.  He tells how he created the site and how researchers and other interested people can have access to them.  

This is interview ONE of THREE.  

Send us a text

This is a duplicate n interview with Adel Bsesio regarding the Bsesio family deeds and documents, now an archive.  

This family had extensive holdings in southern Palestine that were confiscated by the Israelis in 1948.  They are now housed in an archive avilable at the Columbia University library.  

This is a fascinating story. 

Sorry I posted this twice. 

Send us a text

This is interview three on this remarkable project.  The frist interview was with Amine Zreikh who made me familiar with this historical cache of documents -- deeds, maps, contracts, etc.  Adel Bsesio is the posessor of his family archive.  It is now in an archive in Columbia University, universally accessible to anyone who wants to use it for research or educational purposes. 

This interview focuses upon the archive itself, and the rich store of materials that it holds. 

This was made as a zoom interview with images and illustrations of th...

Send us a text

Just after being released from the hospital, where he nearly died, the Pope issues a pastoral letter to the American Bishops.  He urged them to focus upon Christian principles, and to support immigrants as they face the actions of the Trump administration (which they did not identify by name).  He said that a policy not rooted in proper values will start badly and end badly. 

This is a short letter, just 2 and 1/2 pages long.  I offer some explanatory comments along the way. 

I hope you find this of interest.  As the...

Send us a text

There is a new book on the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut in 1983.  241 people were killed as they slept.  It was the greatest single-day death toll for the Marines since Iwo Jima.  The decision to put these Marines in Lebanon in the middle of a civil war was veery controversial.  The Joint Chiefs and the National Security Council were on opposite sides.  

 Jane and I attended a talk on this incident by the author of the book.  I was able to ask a question which was really me quoting myself...

Send us a text

This is an IDF assessment of what happened on October 7, 2023, what went wrong, and why.  It is a military report, not a political assessment, but it is very interesting. 

Send us a text

My colleagues and I held a Faculty Forum when the Ukraine War started.  It was done soon after Russia grabbed some  provinces and the Crimean peninsula in 2014.  This is my contribution.  I listened to it when the current war started and found it still worth the time. 

With the current confrontation, and the Trump shift towards Russia, it may be of interest to see some of the long-term issues. 

This was reposted once before, about a year or so ago, but people found it useful.  Perhaps you will also. 

Send us a text

President Trump has proposed annexing Gaza, clearing it of Palestinians, and turning it into a resort area. 

He seems to be deadly serious. 

This is a discussion of what would be involved in such a development. 

Note:  There was a slight disconnect with the sound.  After the introductory music, you may have to turn up your volume.  

Also a Glitch:  When I was discussing a public opinion poll 15 or 20 minutes into the podcast, I said 46 to 31 when I meant to say 46 to 43. 

Just as I thi...

Send us a text

After struggling for three months to try to figure out why Kamala lost to Trump, I finally figured it out.  Is this explanation too simple, or is it exactly on target?  If you are willing to devote 20 some minutes of you life, you can judge for yourself.  

Send us a text

The Mara-Lago Classified Documents Case seemed to me to be the strongest of all the cases against Trump.  Those were highly sensitive documents.  Some were so sensitive that even their classifications were classified.  As a private citizen Trump had no right to any of those.  Moreover, he had tried to hide them, had urged others to deny they were there, and and had lied to the FBI when they came to collect them. 

In late January, 2025, the new Trump administration dropped all further actions on this case.   Eileen Cannon, the incompetent and hi...

Send us a text

When Jimmy Carter published this book in 2006 he was subjected to a barrage of vilification.  As we look back on this book today, we might well ask ourselves, "What was the problem?"  In fact, as we looked at the book when it was published, we might ask the same question.  The problem, it seems to me,  was that Carter was challenging the pro-Israeli narrative which presented Israel as innocent, committed to peace, sharing values and interests with the U. S., and fully embracing religious freedom.  

This podcast outlines the main arguments that...

Send us a text

Jane and I were on our way from Mobile (where her family had originated) to Andersonville,  the terrible Confederate prison camp where both of us had lost relatives.  She realized that we would be very close to Plains.  Not only that, Jimmy would be teaching Sunday School that day.  We went to that service and watched a Baptist Deacon teach a lesson on the diseased woman that Jesus cured.  There were a couple of hundred people in the audience but our teacher used a traditional discussion format and managed to connect with each of us...

Send us a text

I have visited Syria several times, running or participating in academic programs.  These are my reflections.  

I noticed a couple of glitches along the way, but nothing that will not be obvious to you.  (If the Israelis withdrew from the Golan, they would be replaced by Syrians, not Israelis.  Sorry for that).  

Twice I discussed maps.  One was of Syria, the other of what is commonly called Greater Syria, including all of the areas controlled by the Ottomans before WWI. 

If you are not good at conceptualizing such th...

Send us a text

Back in 2009 Jonathan Goldstein wrote an entertaining book entitled "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bible!"  For those looking for orthodox teaching, it might veer a bit off base.  But for those looking for 15 minutes of entertainment, maybe you will like this.  

Send us a text

This is a different type of podcast.  It is not me explaining someting to you.  It is my former student, now an immigration attorney, explaining something to me. 

Shahad Atiya has practiced law for several years.  She knows the ins and outs and how the system actually works.  Temporary Protected Status is an exceptionally important policy, relevant to people whose home country has had a sudden disaster:  maybe a war, maybe civil unrest, maybe an earthquake or hurricane that leaves the capital destroyed. Under those circumstances, if you are in the U.S. o...

Send us a text

Well, I'm feeling good about StocktonAfterClass.  We just passed 60,000 downloads.  That is not many compared with media Superstars but to me it is an impressive number.  And you are from over 130 different countries.  

I am not told anything about any of you except where you live but in the past when I have had zoom sessions, I have found those who checked in to be very interesting people.  

Would you like to join us?  There is no agenda.  Whatever you want to talk about is good with me.  Maybe you want...

Send us a text

In late November, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his Defense minister Gallant.  Also for one of the remaining Hamas  leaders the Israelis had not assassinated. 

This is different from the Genocide Accusation before the International Court of Justice. 

Note:  The U.S. is not a signatory of this court so we are not obligated to obey its order.  But almost all of the NATO countries ARE signatories. 

Also Note:  The Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, where I live, has announced that if Netanyahu comes to...

Send us a text

I can hardly read this address without getting emotional.  Lincoln believed God was stretching out America's affliction because we as a nation had allowed grievous injustice in our land. Our punishment was a protracted Civil War that took 700,000 lives.  

Or to borrow from the great British song, The Streets of London

How can you tell me you're lonely
And that for you, the sun don't shine
Let me take you by the hand 
And lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something

Send us a text

Bernie was a legendary professor.  He was the senior political scientist when I was hired and was beloved by his students.  Bernie was famous for his anecdotes into how the political system actually worked.  And for his jokes, one of which got him in trouble.  He had been the Comptroller of the City of Detroit under the famous Jerry Cavanaugh during the Detroit Riot of 1967.  He won the Distinguished Teaching Award in the 1980s.  He was an early victim of the pandemic. 

I could tell you more, but why not just spent 1...

Send us a text

This is posted October 31, 2024, just before the Presidential Election.  This is the most intense and polarizing election in my memory.  It is also the closest election since 1960 when Nixon and Kennedy went down to the wire.  I have never revealed my vote preference before, but this is not a time for caution.  

Note  This is not an endorsement but a discussion. 

Send us a text

For those of you who have never had the privilege of having a Palestinian friend, this memoir will give you one.  Terry grew up in Ramalla, a famous city about 9 miles north of Jerusalem.  Hers was a life filled with parents, grandparents, sisters, and friends.  Terry was a tomboy.  How could she leave for church on Sunday morning in her sparkling dress and arrive at church, two blocks away, covered with dust?  Did it have something to do with soccet or maybe playing marbles or climbing trees?  Hers was a wonderful life for ten ye...

Send us a text

Several students and friends asked me to discuss Hezbollah.  I did not feel I was the best person to do this, but agreed to share what insights I had.  I hope you find this podcast useful.  

I have a Hezbollah flag in my attic.  A student gave it to me in 2000 when Hezbollah, under the leadership of Hasan Nasrallah,  beat the IDF after  a deadly 18 year-long fist fight.   It was the first time that an Arab army had beaten the IDF.  

I cannot tell what is going to come next.  I...

Send us a text

This is a global study done by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  The headlines have changed but I think the patterns are still valid.  And there are some interesting issues, some raised and some not raised. 

Send us a text

With J. D. Vance chosen by the Republicans as their Vice Presidential nominee, his memoir, Hilbilly Elegy has been thrust back into the political limelight.  I read this when it came out in 2016 but decided to re-read it in 2024.  These are my thoughts in two phases, one phase from 2016, one phase from 2024. I hope you find this of interest. 

ps.  Sorry I forgot the music. 

Send us a text

Today is September 19,2024.  Israel has blown up pagers and walki-talkis in Lebanon and is bombing inside of Lebanon.  Hezbollah is firing across the border.  It appears that bad things are afoot.  Alas, I do not have a podcast on the 2006 Lebanon War.  Israelis (and neutral observers) generally see that Israel lost both of those wars, or at least left with serious wounds and its goals not achieved.  

It appears that both sides are prepared for an extensively damaging conflict if this escalates. 

Send us a text

Somehow I seems appropriate to repost this podcast.  That was a day that changed American History (and maybe world history). 

It is based on notes I made at the time, so it is very accurate about how we felt at the time.  

Send us a text

This is what can happen when you get out of the neighborhood 

In fact, I did once encounter a situation where some security issues were at risk.  A friend in intelligence told me how many nuclear weapons the Israelis had.  This was probably 30 years ago.  He said I could never repeat what he told me because he could be imprisoned for revealing such secret information.   I was not at risk but he was.  I kept quiet. 

Send us a text

Some of the people involved in the Uncommitted movement, especially Arab-Americans, feel betrayed by the Democrats and are planning to abandon them.  Many will vote for Jill Stein.  Others are trying to engage the Democrats to see what leverage they can use to extract concessions.  These are not easy choices.  This is a discussion of some of the issues and arguments in this debate. 

Send us a text

Just yesterday the Israelis bombed a mosque with a school.  It was filled with refugees who had hoped that Israel would not bomb such a place. They may have killed 90 people, although they say the numbers are fabricated and anyway that was a terrorist command and control center, and anyway why were all those people there, and anyway we had warned them. 

Killing people during war, even innocent people, is not in itself genocide.  It takes more.  This is a discussion of the South African document last fall, accusing Israel of Geno...

Send us a text

Clarification:  Under international law the Golan Province is Syrian territory.  It was conquered in 1967.  The Israelis consider it a part of Israel itself.  They claimed it, and then Donald Trump recognized it.  They even created a settlement called Trump Heights to show their appreciation.  The population of that province (apart from Jewish settlers) are Druze.  Majdal Shams, where a rocket from Lebanon hit a playing field and killed 14 Druze children,  is in the Golan Province 

 There are Druze in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.  Hezbollah is trying to improve their relations with the Lebanes...

Send us a text

This was written three days after Trump was lightly wounded in an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.    It is based on patterns of violence rather than hard knowledge.  I hope it helps. 

Send us a text