The Art of Tetman Callis

Some of the stories and poems may be inappropriate for persons under 16

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Entries from May 2019

As it often does

May 31st, 2019 · No Comments

“Very early in life, even before the infant can speak, its conduct is constantly being subjected to approval or censure. According to circumstances people are pleased with baby and smile at it, or else frown and leave it to cry, and the very inflections in the voices of those that surround it are alone sufficient […]

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Tags: Politics & Law · Science

You call that equitable

May 30th, 2019 · No Comments

“Distributive justice can be reduced to the ideas of equality or equity. From the point of view of epistemology such notions cannot but be regarded as a priori, if by a priori we mean, not of course an innate idea, but a norm, towards which reason cannot help but tend as it is gradually refined […]

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Tags: Other Stuff · Science

Diogenes as a child

May 29th, 2019 · No Comments

“Cheating is a defensive reaction which our educational systems seem to have wantonly called forth in the pupil. Instead of taking into account the child’s deeper psychological tendencies which urge him to work with others—emulation being in no way opposed to cooperation—our schools condemn the pupil to work in isolation and only make use of […]

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Tags: Other Stuff · Science

What it is

May 28th, 2019 · No Comments

“America is a great, unwieldy Body. Its Progress must be slow. It is like a large Fleet sailing under Convoy. The fleetest Sailors must wait for the dullest and slowest. Like a Coach and six—the swiftest Horses must be slackened and the slowest quickened, that all may keep an even Pace.” – John Adams letter […]

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Tags: Politics & Law

Unless we’re dead

May 27th, 2019 · No Comments

“Our towns are but brick and stone, and mortar and wood. They, perhaps, may be destroyed. They are only the hairs of our heads. If sheared ever so close, they will grow again.” – John Dickinson letter to Arthur Lee, April 29, 1775

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Tags: Economics · The American Constitution · The Forever War

Not much to choose from

May 26th, 2019 · No Comments

“Choosing the lesser evil is choosing evil.” – Behzad Molavi, X

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Tags: Lit & Crit

A careful choice of words

May 25th, 2019 · No Comments

“1924, July 26: Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon, a black physician, is turned away from the East El Paso Fire Station when he tries to vote. This sets in place a chain of legal challenges that do not end until they reach the United States Supreme Court. “1927, March 7: The rights of Dr. Lawrence A. […]

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Tags: Politics & Law

The boys’ club

May 24th, 2019 · No Comments

“1908, January 10: The Women’s Club of El Paso has served notice that it objects to the aggregation of idle men basking in the sun on the Oregon Street side of the Plaza. The men ‘take delight in surveying the women as they pass and making remarks about them.’ “ – Leon Metz, El Paso […]

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Tags: Politics & Law

The cooler head prevailed

May 23rd, 2019 · No Comments

“1882, May 27: El Paso City Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire meets with the city council to discuss his dismissal. The big marshal walks into the conference room twirling his six shooter and saying, ‘I can straddle every goddamned alderman here.’ The meeting was adjourned. “May 29: Stoudenmire sobers up and resigns.” – Leon Metz, El Paso […]

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Tags: Politics & Law

The two-party system

May 22nd, 2019 · No Comments

“1871, August 7: The Mesilla riot occurs. As the liquor flowed, Democrats and Republicans paraded in opposite directions around the Mesilla, New Mexico, plaza. A collision took place, and that sparked the fighting. When it ended, nine men lay dead and between 40 and 50 were wounded. No charges were brought.” – Leon Metz, El […]

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Tags: Politics & Law

Salt to die for

May 21st, 2019 · No Comments

“1870, December 7: The Salt War explodes as politicians begin killing each other on the streets of El Paso. Attorney Ben Williams is drinking and ranting in Ben Dowell’s saloon when Colonel Albert Jennings Fountain walks in. Fountain is shot twice, his life saved by a pocket watch stopping one of the bullets. Fountain alerts […]

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Tags: Politics & Law