a Yank, lived abroad for decades. His initial journey was required — war —but thereafter, he went willingly. He returned to the homeland for college (L.A. and San Francisco) and later grad school (UT-Austin, then a fellowship at Hawaii’s East West Center, where Obama’s parents met), then he was gone again.
He learned in college that “deracination”—to lose one’s roots—is how science labels the expatriation process. Yet he doesn’t see the process as one of subtraction, but rather addition. His roots are intact, enhanced via exposure to cultures unlike that into which he was born.
Duffy is also the author of Bar Kafka, the captivating story of Joe Nickerson’s adventures after serving in Vietnam, which was featured in Season 1 of the PenDust Radio podcast.
written by Francis Duffy
In the short story Unlearn, Francis Duffy’s main character reflects on a boyhood steeped in dogma, patriarchy, and racism. His alcoholic father is often absent, and his admiration is for his “lioness” of a mother who never missed work, and put three kids through parochial schools. Before welfare, Ms. Magazine, and #MeToo.
Other stories on PenDust Radio by Francis Duffy: Bar Kafka
© 2021 Francis Duffy | Recording © 2022 Rivercliff Books & Media. All rights reserved.
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He learned in college that “deracination”—to lose one’s roots—is how science labels the expatriation process. Yet he doesn’t see the process as one of subtraction, but rather addition. His roots are intact, enhanced via exposure to cultures unlike that into which he was born.
Duffy is also the author of Bar Kafka, the captivating story of Joe Nickerson’s adventures after serving in Vietnam, which was featured in Season 1 of the PenDust Radio podcast..
Q&A with Francis
Tell us about your story...
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What's your favorite word?
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Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
No mention of Eve… until Genesis 2:8-22, when she’s not created but rather jury-rigged like an afterthought. And her life’s purpose?
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Adam needs a “helper,” so rather than Eve being fully created on par with him, she’s made subordinate to a male whose sparerib was used by a male deity to sanctify male dominance, according to the writings of male theologians.
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FICTION | PATTY SOMLO
A former dancer and about-to-retire choreographer is surprised to receive a letter from a foreign country. The short, handwritten note rekindles memories of a love affair, and a separate friendship, decades before in Nicaragua. Her recollections spark insights that hadn’t been apparent to her so long ago.
Unlearn
FICTION | FRANCIS DUFFY
In this beautifully told story, Francis Duffy’s main character reflects on a boyhood steeped in dogma, patriarchy, and racism. His alcoholic father is often absent, and his admiration is for his “lioness” of a mother who never missed work, and put three kids through parochial schools. Before welfare, Ms. Magazine, and #MeToo.
Kicked Out of the PTA!
AMY FERGUSON
This humorous story is about all of the masks we wear to fit in with people whose masks look a little bit shinier than ours under the library lights at a PTA meeting in the affluent neighborhood of Encino, California. And it’s a story about how, deep down, we are all insecure middle-schoolers. This is a fictionalized version of true events.