“An All-American Family” by Joel Spriing!

 

Dear Commons Community,

My colleague, Joel Spring, just published his first novel, An All-American Family.  The story opens with aging hippies John Brader and his wife Joanie traveling from New York to Oklahoma in search of John’s Native American roots and find a twisted family tale of cruelty, greed, hallucinogenic Indian medicines, and lost wealth. In Oklahoma, John discovers he is the sole heir of his grandfather’s oil lands, which sends him looking for his grandfather’s lost deeds.  Weaving together satire, historical time and place, and family drama, the story opens up multiple and unique ways of seeing history, racism, religious zeal, and American culture.

All in all, a great read.

Congratulations, Joel!

Tony

George Zimmerman Found Not Guilty in the Death of Trayvon Martin!

Dear Commons Community,

The media are reporting that George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, igniting a national debate on racial profiling and civil rights, was found not guilty late Saturday night of second-degree murder. He was also acquitted of manslaughter, a lesser charge.

After three weeks of testimony, the six-woman jury rejected the prosecution’s contention that Mr. Zimmerman had deliberately pursued Mr. Martin because he assumed the hoodie-clad teenager was a criminal and instigated the fight that led to his death.

Mr. Zimmerman said he shot Mr. Martin on Feb. 26, 2012, in self-defense after the teenager knocked him to the ground, punched him and slammed his head repeatedly against the sidewalk. In finding him not guilty of murder or manslaughter, the jury agreed that Mr. Zimmerman could have been justified in shooting Mr. Martin because he feared great bodily harm or death.

The jury, which had been sequestered since June 24, deliberated 16 hours and 20 minutes over two days. The six female jurors entered the quiet, tense courtroom, several looking exhausted, their faces drawn and grim. After the verdict was read, each assented their agreement with the verdict.

Tony