Round Rock Reads! - All Comments

Studying the T chromosome

Reader's Exchange — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:47:37 GMT

The KUT news story about Bob Bullock Museum's upcoming oral/visual history project caught my attention

cp cerebral

cp cerebral — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:02:25 GMT

We are committed to bringing the benefits of bioscience to our patients, by providing umbilical stem cells of the highest quality possible.

re: I Am Not Making This Up

Tweed — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:42:47 GMT

Tweed again, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the Round Rock Public Library and the citizens of Round Rock for you support of Texas In Her Own Words. It really was like a dream come true to have the city choose this little book that could. We have been so blessed by its acceptance. I congratualte the efforts of the staff as I know they have worked very hard to bring you quality programming. Dale, Linda, Michelle et al. for the Round Rock residents, you are blessed to have such a fine caring facility in your midst. You have a treasure right there in downtown. I'm sorry to see the program end....this just means I have to go write another book. By the way, Dale thank you for the suggestions, Zee and I talked about it on the way home from Barnes & Noble...Which reminds me, I'd like to thank Frank Campbell at Barnes & Nobles at LaFrontera for all his help too. This man is a class act and great for the literary community. he's become a good friend too. Again, from from the bottom of my heart, thank you for teh honor of being chosen for the 2008 Round Rock Reads program. I hope to work with y'all again.

re: I Am Not Making This Up

Tweed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:21:15 GMT

I'd personally like to invite everyone to come out for the Round Rock Reads book discussion of Texas In Her Own Words, Thursday night at 7pm at the LaFrontera Barnes & Noble. I'd be happy to answer any of your questions and talk about the publishing business. Bringing this book to life is a fascinating story in itself. I could write a book about how the book became a book. Come on out and join in on the fun. I'd love to meet you.

re: I Am Not Making This Up

Tweed — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:14:46 GMT

You're right Linda. One of the themes that comes out of Ttexas In Her Own Words is that Texas is about pride and people. Texans are a welcoming bunch. They know how to treat people right. I think much of that comes from their heritage. Texans have always been needy people. You needed your neighbor and your neighbor needed you. Texas was such a brutally tough place to be. You couldn't make it here alone. Texans came together for the common good. It ws true then and it's just as true today.

re: What's in a Name?

Brooks Bennett — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:13:52 GMT

I was able to attend "Round Rock in Her Own Words" and am greatly appreciative for the time the panelists took to talk about their experiences in our great community.

Each speaker had a unique perspective, and their spirit embodies what makes Round Rock such a great place.

re: Do You Feel Lucky?

Tweed — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:57:36 GMT

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.

re: Why Great-Grandpa Went to Texas

Tweed — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:58:06 GMT

I believe Mr Bennett is correct about the essence of Texas. It has always been a melting pot but that diversity has become one of it's inherent strengths. I'm sure that is one of the things we'll discuss when we get together at Barnes & Noble in La Frontera on April 24th at 7pm. I have some pretty firm ideas what Texas is all about.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has either read or is reading Texas In Her Own Words as part of the Round Rock Reads program. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of this little book. It has connected with people from all walks of life throughout Texas. I would also like to personally invite you to join us at the Barnes & Noble discussion in April. I'd love to hear your ideas. If you have any questions you'd like to ask or discuss, we can do it here. I want to thank Linda Sappenfield at the Round Rock Public Library for givng us this venue to connect and discuss the book or anything else about Texas you wish. So don't be shy. Dive in! One thing you'll find is that I am quite accessable. Let's talk.

re: Why Great-Grandpa Went to Texas

Brooks Bennett — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:07:35 GMT

I claim an ancestor by the name of George Fisher.

You can read a little about him at:

en.wikipedia.org/.../George_Fisher_(settler)

There was a recent piece of historical fiction written based on his life called "The Immigrant. The Judge Fisher Story" ( http://www.judgefisher.com/ ).

I think the tag-line for the book captures the essence of what it is to be a Texan...

"...Hungarian by birth, Serbian by ancestry, American by conviction, Mexican by choice, and Texan by desire."

re: The author speaks

Candy Moseley — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:53:08 GMT

Sarah,

I am so glad Mr. Urrea replied to your email questions with his gracious answers. Reading this book was so facinating, eye opening and for some even heart changing.

For the survivng men and all of the men's families the suffering continues and the "immigration issue" has trancended our attempts at understanding. Mr. Urrea was a well deserved Pulitzer finalist.

re: Panel Wrap-up

Santana — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:07:28 GMT

Though I don't know much about US immigration law, yet I can only suggest that if the law need to be reformed for the sake of US people then it has to be done as asap. Daniel has told the exact fact. Immigration has now become a worldwide problem. People are migrating from one country to another in hope of a better future. But here I would like to mention that not every people. And after the 'WTC' terrorist attack I think US officials have become more concerned about these immigrating people. So I think it need to be reformed for the sake of humanity...

re: Panel Wrap-up

Daniel — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:44:06 GMT

Immigration has now become a worldwide problem. Different countries have implimented their own immigration law. Thats why I think this law need to be reformed.

re: Panel Wrap-up

GilT — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 02:13:12 GMT

The immigration panel discussion sponsored by the Round Rock library on Monday in the City Hall council chambers confirmed my observations involving this topic: The notable absence of the spirit in secular and religious sources revered by Americans.

How did we come to a point in our history when we purport to put an issue such as immigration in perspective without consulting or referencing these ancient documents; the Declaration of Independence and the Bible?

Some of the sound bites included, "Man made borders, not God", "It's a matter of legal or illegal". What these suggest is both, lawgiver and law in back of the collective American and Christian mind. Despite the seeming cut-and-dry clarity on the subject for both parties there is a lingering paradox best addressed by those notably absent sources.

Americans believe they know what needs to be done. Americans would do it. Americans are not doing it.

Our Founding Fathers spoke to us in that American secular document, the Declaration of Independence, "All men are created equal. . .with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Did our Founding Fathers speak of Americans, only? Americans living within America's territorial boundaries, but not to be so included when abroad?

When God spoke to Israel (a sovereign nation with borders) to "show your love for the alien in your midst" can a Christian conclude the immigrant in our midst is not the intended recipient of his/her love?

The reason our nation has a judicial system is because despite all the laws not everything is cut-and-dry. Yes, laws are to be enforced, but they must first be interpreted lest a nation or an individual be absolved by the letter of the law while violating its spirit. Those who would say, "Don't interpret it, just enforce it" would act first and justify or absolve themselves later. It is the reason Israel had elders and other wise men to discern and judge the matters of life.

Jesus repeatedly exposed, reproved and instructed his disciples and the church throughout the ages on their attitude toward their despised neighbors, the Samaritans. The spirit of God, in the written word, is able to reveal what is in the hearts of men even when they appear to do justice. Our Founding Fathers did no less.

The law tells us what to do justly. The spirit stirs our hearts to compassion whether one acts as an American or a Christian.

re: Panel Wrap-up

jocktamson — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 01:02:27 GMT

"Civilized and respectful" maybe, but I thought the audience was one-sided and at times just plain mean. Some folks' grasp of the facts seemed a little shaky, like the guy who said the border had existed for thousands of years, and the other gent who claimed that the border was ordained by God. Even the old Aztlan chestnut was brought out for an airing. Puh-leese, guys! As you say, there wasn't much heat in the discussion, but there sure wasn't much light either.

Where were the good people of Round Rock? Most of the audience seemed to be Houston supporters of some of the speakers. Perhaps a greater Round Rock presence would have led to a more balanced discussion. Are RR people too comfortable - don't they care?

Having this discussion was a great idea - not your fault it was kinda depressing.

re: Beginning our Journey

GilT — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:04:39 GMT

Americans take pride in our early political heritage such as the Declaration of Independence. Pride is often mixed with faith in God and that document of faith, the Bible. Why, then, the marked absence of these venerable documents in the immigrant debate? Immigration, some say, is man-made, not God-made and as such not open to discussion

However, when Our Founding Fathers wrote,

"All men are created equal,

and that they are endowed by their Creator

with certain unalienable rights,

that among these are

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness"

what do we discern concerning, the "certain unalienable rights"? Are these rights limited to American citizens living within our geographic boundaries, only? What do we discern about care for, "the foreigner in your midst" in the Bible? How can an American or a Christian disregard these admonishments with respect to immigrants, today?

Immigrants are said to be violating America's laws and as such subject to deportation no questions asked. We Americans have two instances in our history when our ancestors acted against government and against our own laws.

First, the Pilgrims fled religious persecution. However, Pilgrims and colonists together rebelled against the king of England for the economic conditions and laws to which he had enslaved and oppressed them all. A war broke out. A nation was born. The United States of America was born.

Second, when our country enacted prohibition laws in the 1920s it did not stop either the production or drinking of alcohol. Individual Americans chose to ignore a duly legislated law. The law was repealed, eventually. It was a defiance of law, _ not for one's family, personal well-being, love of country, but for nothing more than alcohol.

Despite these national experiences we are lost to fathom the immigrant's need and will to care for his own family. How the need overrides national boundaries, laws and natural obstacles, and, that without weapon in hand, but with humility, respect and support of their host country. Has their presence and labor taken bread from our children's mouth while they seek to feed their's?

Someone has served up a most patronizing, condesending call to Americans: We can deport all ten million immigrants if we set our mind to it. Americans can do anything to which we set our mind to do, goes the call. Somebody else has said: Lets make the situation here so absolutely horribly intolerable to where no one would want to come here. Was this the secular or spiritual perspective of America's Founding Fathers?.

The truth is immigrants, especially from Mexico and other Latin American countries no more want to come here than the did the Pilgrims. They would much rather be back in their country, in their homes with their families.

We reject the ugly tendency to blame an entire race of American citizens when one of their members commits a crime of enormous proportions. It is no less acceptable to embrace such thinking in matters concerning immigrants merely because they are not citizens. What would we have allowed ourselves to become were we to "put our minds", to deporting immigrants? We can choose the high road of less pride and more humility, instead.