Hawkeye and the Birth of the American Myth

From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Feb 17, 2026 This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, let’s not forget other important events that shaped our nation, not politically, but culturally. Two hundred years ago this week, one of the most important novels in American literature was published: “The Last of … Continue reading Hawkeye and the Birth of the American Myth →

What were we reading?

From the Lawton Constitution During this time of year, a popular topic for articles is looking back at the year that was. In that spirit, my editor asked if I would write a book review of one of last year’s top 10 best-selling books. I agreed, then quickly realized a problem. I hadn’t read any … Continue reading What were we reading? →

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’ →