Editor-In-Chief
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The most popular myth about this town and its failure to progress has it that someone buried the Grand Plan deep along a harsh piece of ground, left some mish-mash of a map and then, laughing, beat feet out of town. Apparently, it would take a giant shovel to dig down far enough to find it. Brownsville stumbles along, dependent on who knows what for fuel and without an idea of where it's going or how to even prepare for the momentous - if it ever comes.
The war raging in neighboring Matamoros, Mexico is the latest example of how Brownsville hopscotches across broken glass it could easily help gather to smooth out the journey at hand. But it doesn't. Brownsville's collective brain is such that to simply sit around and wonder about the flying bullets is enough of an activity to say it knows Waz Zappenin' in the 'Hood.
Brownsville could be called a pathetic town. Its leaders worry much more about others elsewhere. Earlier this year, those same leaders adopted a resolution against an anti-immigrant law in far-off Arizona. Yet, there has been not one peep about Matamoros and the strangling it is enduring at the hands of the vicious regional drug cartels. Why not say something? Why not go on record as saying you stand by the neighbor's desire for peace? Nothing, nothing is Brownsville's response.
You would think that at least one resident would rise against the violence, would be brave enough to say that Matamoros is a member of the neighborhood, would scream damnations at the killers, perhaps drawing them into some sort of area battle. Things won't change anytime soon for Matamoros, and we all know that Brownsville apparently is fine with that. Its history is heavy with outsiders coming in and stealing lands, building monuments and writing its more-dramatic border tales.
It's a thoroughly Mexican thing.
Not my fight, so...
Not my family, so...
Not my street, so...
Not my children, so...
The Mexican brain, slowed by maize and queso, will not respond. It can't, 'cause it won't. This is the proverbial yearlong Siesta in town. We suspect that the biggest worry for its residents at present is when and where to buy that frozen turkey for the Thanksgiving Dinner.
How anyone in Brownsville could ever believe that they have the right to give thanks is the mind-blower. Of course, everyone also knows that cowards can blow-off a whole lot and still sit down at the dinner table for a plate of tamales, even as the wife is out submitting an application for a second job, even as the kids ask about new shoes, even as the boss says, "Hey, Julio, come on back to work..."
At some point, Brownsville will have to engage in some form or fashion.
Until then, it remains the so-called Coward Of the County...
- 30 -
6 comments:
Good Music, The King himself and Gordon from Canada, just read your post on mleadernews about a holiday for everyone, not just the Vets.
I agree, most of my family are veterans, but they hardly ever speak about it. None of them fly flags outside there homes, well execpt the one that lives in Denton Tx. He flies the flag occassionally.
Anyway, good write up, Peter Paul and Mary also have a version of the song request.
ANONYMOUS:...Yes, Gordon Lightfoot thanks Peter, Paul and Mary for recording his song. I prefer the version by Elvis, although the song is the song. As for our veterans, I only wish that they would re-frame their argument for a VA hospital in the Valley, so that they do not come off as perpetual whiners. In any case, thanks for the kind words... - Editor
I saw Gordon Lightfoot and his band in the late 60s at a Rhode Island Folk's Music Festival, Joan Baez, played at the Festival, sang a couple of protest songs, it was during the Viet-nam war. I was station in upper New York. Nice country, it gets cold during the winter though.
Lots of people were at the concert, I have never seen anything like it down here. This Valley is way behind the 8 ball.
The local newsmedia is reporting some classes were cancelled at TSC/UTB beause of the violence in Matamoros.
Marshall Law in Matamoros might be such a bad idea. And House to house investigations need to take place.
And Americans need to stop buying weed and quit selling guns to the Cartels. America has to do their share to combat the crime. We are contributing to the Misery in Mexico.
I quit visiting Matamoros sometime back. I normally go to Nuevo Progreso. Everything is within walking distance. The soldiers pretty much walk around, and never bothered the citizens.
The way things are going, I won't be visiting Mexico in a long while.
It is true, America and it's addicted population is what keeps the Cartels fighting for control. Sad but true, if we didn't consume the drugs, there would be no war.
If greedy anglo saxons and the manufacturers weren't selling guns to Mexico. The cartels would have no weapons to hurt the population.
We don't like to admit it, but we do bare some responsibility.
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