The Story Behind the Stories: Unlocking Western Literature and History

From Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.D.One of my all-time favorite movies, “Hoosiers,” is a perfect example of a David and Goliath movie where a small-town basketball team in Indiana makes it all the way to the 1954 State Championship to take on a big-city team. As the team is getting ready to leave the … Continue reading The Story Behind the Stories: Unlocking Western Literature and History

Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause

From Southwest Ledger On Dec. 21, 2023, the United States House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress. Doing so was the first time a member had been expelled without a prior conviction of a crime since the Civil War. While Santos eventually would plead guilty to identity theft and … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause

Reviewing Tony Horwitz’s ‘Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War’

From Southwest Ledger Possibly the most misunderstood and controversial character of the Civil War is John Brown. As a child growing up in Virginia, I was taught that Brown was the enemy; a religious fanatic who was bent on violence to stop Virginia’s way of life by any means necessary. It was almost the same … Continue reading Reviewing Tony Horwitz’s ‘Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War’