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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:

Darn it, Kamala. I told you there was an iceberg just ahead. I even told you how to avoid it. Why the heck did you not listen to me? Feb 05, 2025

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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.

Classified Documents Taken By Trump. Case dropped by Trump Administration. Reposting. Jan 30, 2025

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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 highly partisan judge who was in charge of that case had ruled that the Justice Department was wrong in pursuing charges. Special investigator Jack Smith had appealed against this ruling, knowing that Cannon had made kooky rulings before and had been overruled by higher judges. Most observers though the higher courts would support Smith and reinstate the case. By dropping all further actions, the case is now ended.
This was the original posting I did on this case, discussing the Smith document charging Trump and his co-defendants and the logic of those charges.
We still do not know what Trump planned to do with those documents,, which would have been of exceptional value to foreign intelligence agencies.

Anti-Semite? Bigot? Enemy of Israel? Reactions to Jimmy Carter's book, Palestine: Peace or Apartheid. Jan 15, 2025

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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 Carter made in his book, and why the response from Israeli support groups was so intense.

RIP Jimmy Carter. Citizen, Patriot, Peacemaker, Visionary, Christian. Dec 30, 2024

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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.
When Jimmy was sent home from the hospital a year or so ago, and turned over to the care of hospice nurses, I wrote this tribute.
Over the years Jane and I have read or listened to most of Jimmy's books. The one that stands out is his childhood memoir, An Hour Before Daylight. Do yourself a favor and get an audio version of that book. It is unique.

Thoughts on Syria (December 27, 2024) Dec 27, 2024

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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 things, you might go online to find the maps I discuss.
Update: A Syrian friend reminded me that I first visited her country in 1991 rather than 1993. Thanks to her for that helpful reminder.

Adam and Eve (And the Snake). A Creative Re-Telling (just for fun). Dec 21, 2024

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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.

Temporary Protected Status. How to Stay in America (at Least for a while) When Your Home Country Falls Apart. Dec 05, 2024

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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. on a visa, maybe visiting or as a student, and something goes wrong back home so that returning could put you at risk, you (that is, everyone from your country) can be granted a waiver to remain here until things are stable. This is called Temporary Protected Status.
There are currently 17 countries that have TPS. Shehad explains the law and policies around TPS and what the future may hold.

Shall We Zoom? An Invitation for Sunday December 8 at 2:00 Eastern Standard Time Dec 04, 2024

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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 to discuss one of the previous podcasts, or maybe you just want to chat about the weather. Whatever.
I am guessing we would go on for an hour or so, but the last time I tried this there were some very intersting people (and talkative) and we went on longer than that.
If you are interested you have to let me know so I can sign you in. Please send me an email to
rstock@Umich.edu
And if the time comes and I have not started the meeting, please be patient. I am a bit of a klutz where zoom stuff is concerned.
And if you wanted to join in but are not allowed by the time the session starts, please send me an email. I probably did something wrong.
See you on Sunday, December 8 at 2:00.

Arrest Netanyahu? For Real? Here is a Summary of the Charges Submitted to the International Criminal Court, complete with Evidence and Points of Law. Reposting in Case You Missed It First Time Around. Nov 23, 2024

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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 our fair city, he will be arrested.
That would be interesting.
Note that this is the first time that calculated starvation has been listed as a war crime.

Lincoln was Far More Discouraged Than You have Ever Been. He Thought God had Turned on America and had Brought its Affliction as Punishment. Stop blaming someone else, God said. Look in the Mirror, God Said. The Second Inaugural Address. Nov 19, 2024

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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
That'll change your mind.
This is a reposting. Because we may need to think of these things.

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