The Not So Grand Jury: My Experience

Ellin Jimmerson — I recently served two weeks on Madison County, Alabama’s grand jury. For those who may not know, the grand jury is the legal agency which decides whether there is “probable cause” to indict. That means it is the grand jury which decides whether someone arrested for various criminal offenses, including misdemeanors and felonies, will face a jury trial. Wikipedia offers the following … Continue reading The Not So Grand Jury: My Experience

A Christian Border Patrol Agent’s Reflection on The Border Wall

Ellin Jimmerson — Now that Donald Trump has been elected president, immigration as a topic of Christian concern has re-surfaced—or, in some cases, simply surfaced. My mind often wanders to this encounter I had with a deeply reflective Border Patrol agent on an airplane between Tucson, Arizona and Guanajuato, Mexico in 2011. I had gone to the area on the US/Mexico border to shoot footage for my migrant … Continue reading A Christian Border Patrol Agent’s Reflection on The Border Wall

The Emperor Has No Balls: Are the Trump Statues Body Shaming or Legitimate Political Commentary?

Ellin Jimmerson — Last Thursday, something unusual happened in America. In a country uncomfortable with both political discussions and art which is not decorative, we heatedly discussed a statue. You know the one I’m referencing – the nude statue of presidential hopeful Donald Trump – depicting him as a pompous dictator with no clothes and no testicles and a very, very small penis. Commissioned by the … Continue reading The Emperor Has No Balls: Are the Trump Statues Body Shaming or Legitimate Political Commentary?

The Panama Papers, Free Trade, and the Offshoring of National Sovereignty

Ellin Jimmerson — As the Panama Papers began to be rolled out, many were wondering how they connect to the Panama Free Trade Agreement, technically called the Panama United States Trade Promotion Agreement, and how they relatet to the offshoring of national sovereignty. Now, I am wondering whether and how they also connect to Brexit. I don’t know anything about the European Union other than it was in … Continue reading The Panama Papers, Free Trade, and the Offshoring of National Sovereignty