Papers by Warren J. J . Blumenfeld
Self Published, 2025
Many of us who believe in the power of the democratic principles of social justice are shocked th... more Many of us who believe in the power of the democratic principles of social justice are shocked though not necessarily surprised by the right-wing direction of many liberal democracies including the United States and the second election of Trumpov as President. Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld suggests possible action strategies to counter the trends, to resist the backward sliding of our democratic republic and the backlash against the progress we have made in our long and hard-fought struggles for civil and human rights, for freedom and justice?
The Good Men Project, 2025
If we think about it, the solutions to most of the problems in the United States, in the best of ... more If we think about it, the solutions to most of the problems in the United States, in the best of all possible political and social environments, are quite simple. But when placed in the context of the sharp divisions and deep gaps in power, impact, and prestige between the socioeconomic and social classes, serious problems become very difficult if not virtually impossible to solve. Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld proposes solutions to aid the United States in getting onto the path of living up to its promise of “liberty and justice for all.”
The chapter serves as a case study focusing on the impact of a pervasive Christian culture and cl... more The chapter serves as a case study focusing on the impact of a pervasive Christian culture and climate at a large Midwestern state-supported land-grant university. The chapter is founded on the conceptual organizers of McIntosh's concept of dominant group "privilege," Gramsci's notion of "hegemony," Foucault's
In recent decades, increased attention has been turned to tensions and conflicts between African ... more In recent decades, increased attention has been turned to tensions and conflicts between African Americans and American Jews. The current study employed a qualitative research methodology and identified, described, and analyzed intergenerational Jewish perceptions of the concepts of "race" and "white privilege", and perceptions of African Americans and the relationships and conflict between African Americans and Jewish Americans. The study had as its theoretical foundation a taxonomy of intergroup conflict theory based on four distinct though interrelated levels: Realistic-Group- Conflict Theory, Sociopsychological Theories of Intergroup Conflict, Social Identity Theory, and Theories of Cross-Cultural Styles in Conflict. Research participants included sixteen Jewish Americans (primarily of Ashkenazi heritage), with an equal number of females and males of disparate ages (from 19 to 56), and across a wide spectrum of Jewish religious affiliations (from Orthodox Hasidic to Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, to those approaching Secular).
The Good Men Project, 2024
For an almost incalculable number of years spanning centuries, and in more modern times, tensions... more For an almost incalculable number of years spanning centuries, and in more modern times, tensions between Arabs and Jews have spilled over into the streets and onto college and university campuses in the United States and throughout the world. While each campus has unique strengths and weaknesses, and regarding possible strategies, no one size will fit all, I list some short- and longer-term actions that can be considered to lessen tensions:
What follows is an investigation of issues, strategies, and resources in understanding and managi... more What follows is an investigation of issues, strategies, and resources in understanding and managing campus pressures and needs in the context of ongoing tensions and hostilities between Palestinians and Jews on college and university campuses. Since there are no “one-size-fits all” strategies, I have included a multitude of perspectives and actions used on a variety of campuses for review.
BRILL eBooks, 2009
Debates about Christian privilege today often center on whether the United States was founded as ... more Debates about Christian privilege today often center on whether the United States was founded as a Christian nation.
Investigating Christian Privilege and Religious Oppression in the United States, 2009
The Good Men Project, 2024
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a philosophical and educational model founded on princi... more Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a philosophical and educational model founded on principles of freedom, justice, equality, equity, and the empowerment of human agency, integrity, and dignity as illuminated in respective key documents, including the United States Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights. With most social change efforts, however, opposing forces have launched a fierce and sustained backlash to turn back progressive social change, which we are seeing now toward DEI initiatives.
Self Published, 2023
As the saying goes, “We’re only as sick as our secrets,” which means that a secret kept in the da... more As the saying goes, “We’re only as sick as our secrets,” which means that a secret kept in the dark grows and expands to become more harmful to ourselves. Once we expose it to the light, we can release it and its power is lost. The author shares a horrific family secret that has haunted family members who have keep it throughout their lives, a piece of queer history that the author consider must be exposed and remembered as a testament to the capacity for human cruelty and the resilience of the human spirit. Dr. Blumenfeld cautions those who read this article of some graphic discussions of violence.
The Good Men Project, 2023
As a political observer, I have recorded Republican talking points and agenda items since the 202... more As a political observer, I have recorded Republican talking points and agenda items since the 2020 election, and I developed a preliminary and continually expanding list of items they will initiate if they hold majorities in Congress and in the State Houses across the nation. As it turned out, the list is composed of items that the Republicans will delete or take away rather than provide to the residents of the United States:
Self Published, 2023
Pope Francis and his Church have restrained the human and civil rights of LGBTQ people. The Catho... more Pope Francis and his Church have restrained the human and civil rights of LGBTQ people. The Catholic Church constructs barriers while speaking in doublespeak saying “we love you,” “we welcome you,” “we offer you ‘Christian love,’” and “we are here to help you change your unwanted attractions and gender identities and expressions,” which we, by the way, construct as “gravely and intrinsically disordered” and incongruent with Catholic teaching. This articles exposes the Vatican's reversals and hypocrisy on topics of LGBTQ people related to identity and place within the Church.
The College Student Affairs Journal, Apr 1, 2007
Journal of Social Issues, Mar 1, 2012
Based on Peggy McIntosh's (1988) pioneering investigations of white and male privilege, we can, b... more Based on Peggy McIntosh's (1988) pioneering investigations of white and male privilege, we can, by analogy, understand Christian privilege as constituting a seemingly invisible, unearned, and largely unacknowledged array of benefits accorded to Christians, with which they often unconsciously walk through life as if effortlessly carrying a knapsack tossed over their shoulders. This system of benefits confers dominance on Christians while subordinating members of other faith communities as well as nonbelievers. These systemic inequities are pervasive throughout societies of many nations across the globe. They are encoded into the individuals' consciousness and woven into the very fabric of their many social institutions, including schools, having enormous implications on all students. The current exploratory qualitative study investigates the relative level of awareness of Christian privilege among preservice teachers who self-define as "Christian" at a large Midwestern United States research university, and situates this awareness and level of resistance upon Watt's Privilege Identity Exploration (PIE) model (2007, 2009). Based on McIntosh's (1988) pioneering investigations of white and male privilege, we can, by analogy, understand Christian privilege as constituting a seemingly invisible, unearned, and largely unacknowledged array of benefits accorded to Christians, with which they often unconsciously walk through life as if effortlessly carrying a knapsack tossed over their shoulders. This system of benefits confers dominance on Christians while subordinating members of other faith communities as well as nonbelievers. These systemic inequities are
Independent, 2023
The history of the Middle East, and especially between Palestinians and Jews, abounds with blame,... more The history of the Middle East, and especially between Palestinians and Jews, abounds with blame, recrimination, and retaliation, and an escalating perpetual cycle of mistrust and violence. Can we at least suspend blame for a while? By suspending blame, we are not forgetting the histories, but rather, we are engaging in an emotional ceasefire for a time. This article proposes ways forward out of the conflict.
Independent, 2023
There is a virtually endless list of ways to engage in humane and civil forms of civil disobedien... more There is a virtually endless list of ways to engage in humane and civil forms of civil disobedience to call attention to one’s plight, to attract allies, to end the oppression, and to establish true justice and equity. Acts of terrorism, however, are not in any realm of “protest." By engaging in these forms of terror, one loses any moral ground one may have had. One must be held accountable for these actions. This article address the line between legitimate acts of civil protest and terrorism.
Self Published, 2023
Though a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with U.S. gun laws in which 83% support expanded ... more Though a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with U.S. gun laws in which 83% support expanded background checks on sales of all firearms, and a majority support other gun safety measures like “Red Flag” laws and the banning of semi-automatic weapons, the Republican Party follows the interests of the firearms industry and its lobbyist while failing to listen to its constituents. Through parody, Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld exposes the anti-democratic intentions of the leadership of the Republican Party in opposing common sense gun reform.
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Papers by Warren J. J . Blumenfeld