why parables are so frustrating and offensive

You can see a version of a prior post on Hilary and Barack
at Theolog. My friend Jason, an editor at the Christian Century,
oversees this blog. You will also see a few responses to the brief reflection. My intention with it: to help us move beyond the tired categories that limit the imagination in assessing current events (liberal/conservative, accusation/rebuttal, experienced/novice, victim/oppressor). It seems to me that this was a part of the genius of Jesus' use of parables, and contributed, to be sure, to the frustration and offense among those who listened to them.