Round Rock Reads!

Do You Feel Lucky?

Jan Triplett observes that picking up a rock in Texas provokes one of two likely consequences: "there is going to be a snake under it" or "oil is gonna gush out from under it" (Texas in Her Own Words, p. 166). Acknowledging extremes of good and bad fortune, we may concede that the harsh, tragic, reptile-producing end of the spectrum is what ultimately molded the Texan character.

rattlesnake Clint Lynch, Director of Research for Texas State Cemetery, concurs: "I always thought Texas was founded in failure" (p. 170). He lists Houston's alcoholism, Travis' marital troubles and debt, Crockett's lost re-election bid, and Bowie's land fraud charges as proof of the alchemy that has often wrought dignity out of disaster. Sarah Guerra (p. 161) offers a more recent example. Recalling earlier times when she was denied service in restaurants and segregated from Anglo children at school, she reflects, "That love that I didn't get from white people when we were growing up, that probably gave me the courage to love everybody."

Consider this ongoing character-building opportunity: the controversy over Austin's Barton Springs. The first program in Round Rock Reads! 2008 series, a screening of The Unforeseen, showcases the conflict between real estate developers and advocates for the environment. Director Laura Dunn's award-winning film not only chronicles the battle between land investors' interests and the Save Our Springs alliance but also foreshadows the aftermath of unimpeded development.

Film critic Kenneth Turan labels this 2007 Sundance Film Festival selection a "whodunit, with the Earth itself being the victim of the crime." Mark your calendar for 7:00 P.M., Monday, April 7, when Round Rock Higher Education Center will host this special presentation of The Unforeseen. Could the lessons of Barton Springs produce yet another Texas triumph over impending failure? Watch and decide for yourself.

Posted: Mar 26 2008, 02:03 PM by Linda Sappenfield | with 1 comment(s)
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Comments

Tweed said:

First and foremost, I want to thank Linda Sappenfield for the wonderful job she's been doing on the blog post. She has really gone through Texas In Her Own Words and captured the flavor of this book magnificently. I must admit, even though I wrote the book, I'm still taken by these people in it. I still read through it from time to time. The one advantage I have is that I was there when the words were spoken. I wish I could adequately tell you about the depth of feeling these folks had as they spoke about Texas. It is a deeply personal place. I found that no two people feel exactly the same way about Texas. It's that personal. do get a sense of that kind of pride when you travel to other states?  

 I plan to go see the 'The Unforseen' on the 7th of April. i hope to see you there. I found it interesting after watching the trailer that one of the people in Texas In Her Own Words is in the movie too. He is Marshall Kuykendall--a man I consider a good friend and someone I admire greatly. he's a Texas icon is far as I'm concerned.

# April 2, 2008 9:57 AM
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