I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

From Southwest Ledger Being that this has been a tumultuous year for many, I thought I would share a Christmas message of hope. It is not a happy message per say, but one of peace. As an American Civil War historian, one of my favorite Christmas songs is, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” … Continue reading I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day →

Dorothy’s Incredible Journey To Oz Is Much More Than A Fun Story

From Southwest Ledger As I sat in the theater with the rest of the nation this past week watching “Wicked,” I was happy to see the movie pay homage to its past. Whether it was the stars of the original Broadway cast of “Wicked” getting cameos, seeing the movie title in the same font as … Continue reading Dorothy’s Incredible Journey To Oz Is Much More Than A Fun Story →

Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture

From Southwest Ledger During my travels this summer I made my way across Ireland and Scotland and fell in love with the beauty and the rich history of these countries. During my stay, by far my favorite evenings were the ones where we were treated to nights of songs, dance, and stories. While every nation … Continue reading Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture →

Constitution 101: House Vacancy, Impeachment Clauses

From Southwest Ledger Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution is all about the House of Representatives. While the first three clauses attract most the attention and discuss the setup of the House, the last two clauses are equally important and deal with vacancies in the House and that body’s role in impeachment. It … Continue reading Constitution 101: House Vacancy, Impeachment Clauses →

WITH THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR, WE ALL LOST

From Southwest Ledger Coming off a divisive election, the highly anticipated fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul could have been the perfect opportunity to unite us once again. The event brought in young people who seem to worship anyone who can make videos on TikTok while also drawing in the older crowd who wanted … Continue reading WITH THE FIGHT OF THE YEAR, WE ALL LOST →

Tyranny of the Majority

From Southwest Ledger Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has announced that State Question 832 will be included on the June 16, 2026, ballot. This will be a difficult question for Oklahomans as, if passed, it will raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029. Proponents for the initiative argue that wages have fallen … Continue reading Tyranny of the Majority →

Trump, Harrison and Presidential Do-Overs

From Southwest Ledger It’s not often in life that we get a do-over, and in politics it’s even rarer. Most of the time, once a candidate is associated with defeat, they are never considered for office again. What is even rarer is a president losing reelection and getting a second shot. In fact, that has … Continue reading Trump, Harrison and Presidential Do-Overs →

Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day

From Southwest Ledger As Americans gather at the polls this week to choose our next president it may look a bit different than it has in the past. For good or bad, early voting and mail-in voting has become much more common, meaning the lines may be shorter. But at what cost? I have previously … Continue reading Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day →

Off-the-cuff: unscripted comments that sank presidential campaigns

From the Southwest Ledger At the time of writing this column, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is currently leading in most polls to win the Presidency of the United States. With only three weeks before the election, the worst thing that could happen for the Harris campaign is a snide, off-the-cuff remark that could sway voters … Continue reading Off-the-cuff: unscripted comments that sank presidential campaigns →

A WAR ON TWO FRONTS: The History and Goals of Hezbollah and Hamas

From Southwest Ledger Over the past year I have written several articles dealing with the war between Israel and Hamas. While that war is still ongoing, a more recent conflict has begun between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. While Hamas and Hezbollah have a shared goal to destroy Israel, they are very different organizations and populated … Continue reading A WAR ON TWO FRONTS: The History and Goals of Hezbollah and Hamas →