Mike Levin: “the Sundance Channel recently aired a documentary entitled ``Nimrod Nation.'' This eight-part series explores the world…”

“the Sundance Channel recently aired a documentary entitled ``Nimrod Nation.'' This eight-part series explores the world of small-town American life through the lens of the town of Watersmeet, MI, and their local high school basketball team. Small towns have always been an important part of our country's cultural heritage. The communities and institutions that make up small towns are an essential and enduring aspect of the political, economic and social fabric of our nation. Nearly one quarter of all Americans live in rural areas, approximately the same percentage as live in central cities. With only 1,400 residents, Watersmeet is a rural town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The town is surrounded by the Ottawa National Forest and the Cisco Chain of Lakes. It is located in a region with a high concentration of Nordic descendants and Native Americans. In an area with not a single movie theater, the residents turn to, among other things, pastimes such as hunting, fishing, and cheering on their local athletic teams.”