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StocktonAfterClass — Science
StocktonAfterClass

Ron Stockton was a professor of political science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for 48 years. His specialty was non-western politics and political change. He taught classes on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Religion and Politics, the Politics of Revolution, Non-Western politics, and American politics. He also taught in the Honors Program, focusing upon foundational readings from the 18th and 19th centuries. He has an interest in religion and politics and in the role of religio-ethnic groups in the political system. The listener can anticipate talks on Arab-Americans, Jews, African-Americans, the Scots-Irish, and Evangelicals. He has lectured and written on American politics, public opinion, and voting behavior and on the role of religious organizations and ideologies in the political system. There will be occasional discussions of books and films that address serious issues. And he has lectured and published and even taught a class on gravestones, especially those of different ethnic and religious groups such as Muslims, African-Americans, Jews, and Native Americans. The goal of the podcast series is to provide analysis and commentary by a political scientist to explain and make accessible political, historical, and cultural developments in the United States and around the world, and to give the listener analytical tools to understand those developments. It is also to entertain the listener.

Copyright: © 2021 StocktonAfterClass

Latest Episodes:

A Week Before The Election (2026) Oct 27, 2026

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Usually I have a text for a podcast. This time I just talked from some notes. I hope this works for you.

I did once say that Abdul ran for mayor when I meant governor.

And if you want to listen to my podcast on the South African genocide charge against Israel I think it is called "Israel in the Dock"

Also, I forgot to mention an important point. The policies of the "progressives" do not appear radical to the people who support them. When mamdani says he is going to provide nursery school starting at age 2, the moms sending their kids do not consider those politicies particularly radical or even "progressive." That is just providing their kids with education. And when he says he will cut the cost of public transportation, the people who ride the busses are very happy.

AND everyone out there has a friend or relative who lacks health coverage so calling for Medicare for All sounds very logical.

Ron's Talk on September 11 Sep 11, 2026

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The chancellor wanted to have a commemoration event on September 13, two days after Septembeer 11. He invited me to speak.

As I look back on my comments 25 years later, I am pleased at how I detected the dangers inherent in the political system. But I also realize how much I under estimated what was to come. We had a Republican president who went to the national mosque and declared Islam to be a religion of peace. He made it clear to his cabinet that there would be no retaliation against Muslims. How could we even imagine the regime to come, whose supporters openly call for the expulsion of all Muslims from the country?

But we do what we can in the moment presented to us. I look back on this talk with some satisfaction.

Abdul El Sayed Discusses Israel. And a Jewish response Aug 08, 2026

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This is from an article on The Forward, a Jewish newspaper. It draws from an interview that Abdul El sayed gave with the New Yorker a day before the primary election.

A Jewish journalist thought it deserved discussion so he provided key excerpts along with his comments.

If you are a supporter of Abdul, or his critic, you will find this of interest.

Sorry I posted this without music.

Bad Hair Day. Two Tens and a Five, please. A True Story, Just for Fun Jul 11, 2026

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This is a true story of a young woman cashier who was having a VERY bad day.

I really didn't mean to add to her problems, but stuff happens.

A Salvtion Army Graveyard and a Historic Poem by Vachel Lindsey. Jun 29, 2026

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I once visited a Salvation Army graveyard section. It was a very interesting experience.

Crazy Lady On The Phone: A True Story Jun 13, 2026

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This is one of those episodes in life that descend upon you like a mosquitoe that just keeps buzzing around. You can either let it ruin your night's sleep or you can view it as an opportunity. I chose to turn it into an anecdote.

By the way, there was a time, not long ago, when there were people called "operators." They were very helpful and were always available to help find a number or to reach a person. In time, the phone companies decided they could be replaced by on-line information. Then they started charging for on-line information. That is why some of you who are younger may be slightly confused by the "operator" aspect of this story.

Question Israel at Your Own Risk. The University of Michigan Graduation Speech, 2026 May 15, 2026

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Derek Peterson, Chair of the UM Faculty Senate, was asked to deliver remarks to the 2026 graduating class. He focused upon the tradition of protest on campus, going back to the period after the Civil War. Everything was ducky until he got to protests against the Gaza War.

Well, you can listen to what happened after that.

My approach was to read the statements of the various parties to this dispute, and to same my own thoughs until the end.

Update: In the end, I decided to read the full (rather long) statement by the 1100 faculty and staff rather than excerpts. My wife thought that any attempt to edit it down would change it in some way, and detract from its purpose. I agreed.

Last Will and Testament, 1717 style May 04, 2026

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Being my family historian, I bump into strange documents from time to time. A couple of years ago, I saw a will from 1717 that I thought might belong to an ancestor. It turned out that it did not, but the will was so fascinating that I wanted to discuss it with you. The logic and style are very different from what we know as a will today (although the goal is the same -- to allocate resources according to the wishes of the deceased, without tension).

Three small points

First, in a mistake, I once said an ell was 14 inches. In fact it is 45 inches.

Second, I suspect you know the term anno domini, which we commonly call A. D.

Third, a "share" of tobacco had different meanings. In some cases it was a negotiated amount, for example with a shareholder. The most common meaning was a full "hogshead" barrel, which was typically 1,000 pounds. It sounds as if that might be what was meant in this document.

This is a relatively short podcast so it will not cost a significant portion of your life to listen. And you might find it interesting.

At War With Iran! Everything You Wanted to Know but Were Afraid to Ask Mar 17, 2026

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This is a discussion of the historic context of this war, plus some thoughts on the strategic issues involved.

Note: At one point I referred to the end of the Gulf War when I meant to say the end of World War II.

Note: At this point (March 17) opposition to the war is about 53-41. Republicans are very supportive, Democrats opposed. The general pattern in public opinion, is that whenever your country goes to war, you support it, but then support falls off very quickly within a month or so. By 51-29 Americans think the war has made us less safe.

Stop Blaming God. When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Rabbi Kushner. The Story of Job, and the Lessons We Can Learn From It. Mar 05, 2026

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In 1981 Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote a book on suffering. He decided to write this when he learned that his beloved son Aaron had a terrible disease that would turn him into an old man even as a child. Aaron died at eight. Kushner reflected upon why an innocent child should suffer so much. Could God have prevented this? Kushner turned to the story of Job to try to understand.

If you like this podcast, I hope you will read the book.

And another book, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel. I also have a podcast on that book.

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