Special to The Tribune
BROWNSVILLE, TX - The story goes that a tourist came here looking for something new and different, and when he left what he said was that it appeared locals saw entertainment as merely standing around, as in, his wife went on, "...people just there, just being there, only there is no there there."
What is it about Brownsville that draws harsh descriptions from outsiders? Why is it so easy to pluck this chicken's feathers? We could simply laugh and get on down the road, but there has to be something about Brownsville to allow for an occasional good word. What would that be, however?
Can you crow about the anachronistic bars seemingly straight out of some Border Narco-Movie? Can you raise your voice and note that high school soccer is huge here? Can you waltz up and down downtown streets and say, no scream, that here, here!, anyone can feel the essence of both the U.S. and Mexico from one street to the next? What is it about Brownsville? Juan N. Cortina's adopted hometown? Is that the ethnic schtick here, that and a monthly uttering about some unique anthropological connection to anything Aztec? What? Where, Tlacaelel, where?
Who can say what this town's claim-to-fame may be? That its low-flying politics is hilarious? That anyone can be a star in anything local, the so-called Big Fish in a small pond? What is it about Brownsville? What dreams live here, if any? Who will answer?
In many ways, it is the perfect country & western town - one sad, alcoholed song after another.
Maybe that's it. Maybe that's what this town is - a song about Ma, about beer, about trains, about rain, about dogs, about pickup trucks. Play it. Throw in an excitable accordion so that you can feel that tight connection to the local culture, absolutely...
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24 comments:
There is nothing wrong with Brownsville, it's a border town, they are all the same.
Does that city promotes itself as tourist attraction???? I don't know that is why I am asking.
Your comments could apply to the entire valley, thats why all the young poeple pack up and leave. After they graduate from high school. There is nothing for the young, middle age and even the elderly.
ANON (1.) Brownsville fancies itself the Jewel of The Rio Grande. It hosts an annual celebration of the Mexican Charro and without exception practices Mexico-style politics and Hollywood-style marriages. Why? Well, we do not know why...ANON (2.) It is not like all other cities and towns of the Rio Grande Valley. Brownsville lives as if Bigger-Than-Life, yet its day-to-day existence is one mid-torso push after another... - Editor
Hadn't really noticed anything good about Brownsville, other than lots of places to eat, and lots of stores. There is no night life, there are some wealthy people, that's about it. College town, mostly adults. Just a very ordinary town.
Anon, thanks for that honesty. You - and our readers - should know that we have received upwards of a dozen comments we will never post, because they largely resort to name-calling, profanity and wildly provincial thinking. We wish for a conversation whenever we post a new story, always wanting to get intelligent thought about the topic. If you feel Brownsville is fine as it is today, then write that. But don't come at us with childish cursing that says nothing about the city but a lot about the commenter... - Editor
I have never use profanity in any of the blogs I make comments on, i just read the article and state my opinion, sometimes, I just read the article.
It's true brownsville is just a plain jane town.
like the idea of Pena and Ernie filling in the questionaire, I saw Mr. Pena post on your blog.
John wood is been working the phones, like crazie, had two calls from the Wood campaign this week-end. Eddie might just loose the Northorn Cameron county if he doesn't start hitting back.
Anon, well we think we offered thoughtful questions to Mssrs. Hernandez and Pena. We'll see if they avail themselves of the opportunity to go beyond the cliches. Would someone shoot us Email addresses for Co. Judge Cascos and Judge candidates Eddie Trevino and John Wood... - Editor
Hey how about some stevan Jordan, he wrote a ballad during the onion strike in Rio Grande back in the 60's. I heard it on a law enforcement class.
Anon: Stevan Jordan? Never heard of him, but we'll look for it. Song's name always helps. You heard in in "law enforcement" class? In what context?... - Editor
It was on a Culture sensitive class. It is a class on how to deal with different people, during traffic stops, or investigation, family violence, etc.
Interesting. And, tell us, how were you taught to deal with Hispanics?... - Editor
Well you always speak to the men, when you are dealing with a couple.
You have a sequence, you must follow; Say for example I would iniate a traffic stop.
I will first identify myself as officer, so and so, and the reason that I stopped you, is because you didn't do a complete stop at the intersection at Harrison and 12th street. May I see your driver license and proof of insurance.
Then you would advice him, whether you are either going to issue a citation or gve him a warning.
A citation is like personal bond, all it is that you agree to present yourself in court to answer the complaint.
If you get a warning, you are pretty much free to go.
The majority of the time, if you are cordial with an officer, he will be cordial to you to.
And no they don't donuts like people accuse police officer, there are reports, to write after evey incident, wrecks, family violence reports long and detailed, it is just a lot of work.
In a family violence encounter, the first thing you do is seperate the couple, and speak to each privately.
Anon, well, that we kinda knew. I think it applies to all stops, no? Our question: How were you taught to, as you said, deal with people in that "culture" class, i.e. how were you told to deal with, say, Hispanics. Differently?... - Editor
No, you treat everyone the same in a respectful manner.
Sometimes, people make wise remarks and you are told in the academy to ignore the comments, it's the young police officers that have short fuse, that don't take to kindly to wise cracks that get them in trouble. El Paso police had an interesting case when some loud mouth referenced the police officers mom on a comment, and the officer re-acted. The courts rule that as police officers you peace cannot be disturbed by comments.
Most of us treat everyone the same, the law is suppose to be blind, or at least thats what I learned in he academy.
You break the law, you get arrested, black, brown, yellow, European, white, mestizo, American native, rich,poor,etc.
Anon, perhaps I am not making myself clear. I ask about your Culture Sensitivity class. Why was that even considered necessary? Was there something in the course study that addressed law enforcement as applied to the various ethnicities, i.e. cultures? If so, what? That's what strikes me as odd... - Editor
The state legislature mandated cultural diversity and Sexual family violence.
Many of the law enforcement officers from North East Texas, West Texas, PandHandle area, were expierencing many problems when dealing with hispanics, and Asians.
Citizens were filing grievances against the police dept.
The class deals with customs, Mexicans. You are invited into a home and offered food. typical custom. Well in other ethnic groups
walking into someones home is considered bad manners, that type of stuff.
So the legislature mandated training on cultures.
I will give a an example:
The female and male officers from Iowa, complained that Mexican officers from Texas are use to doing an Abrazo as a form of good will.
WEll that's "not" part of the Anglo culture and they found it offensive.
So training was provided for both the south tex officers and the Iwoa group. about the culture, down here where, it is common to do an abrazo to someone else. And ofcourse, after that no abrazo,
just a handshake. ( Many of the Anglo officers didn't know mexican culture.)
Mr. Editor, I thought you were describing the city of brotherly love, oops I meant harlingen, on Mondays through Sunday the streets are empty.
Just a few coffe shops, mostly old empty buildings.
Hey, that song, is beer drinking music, good music selection.
You all Can Have Brownsville, If I Have a Chance and probably will, I will leave tranquill, quiet, shy and boring palce to you all to enjoy for the best and rest of your lives; thanks, but not thanks.
See You all Never.....Vamonos !!!!
Anony: You are not going anywhere, you are probably going to the 1-2-3 lounge or el siete mares and get drunk like everyone in Brownsville.
Put some money on the old juke box and listen to Los Traileros del Norte and shoot a little pool.
And dance with the hefty women that patronize those places.
You are Rigth, I am Not Leaving this Ejido, unfortunally, I had become just another negative stadistic for enything that's is compared outside of this remote, abandoned and isolated wasted reservation for the Outcasts.
Is that Dude / Bato from the top picture, over smoked with marijuana. or is he taking a Dong while standing, and pretending to be asleep or staring at that bag full of cocaine... typical of the Brownsville 's downtown "La Marketa - Alleys " ?
El Cholo:...we're told that is an undercover BPD officer working the Ropa Usada Black Market. But, really, it could be anyon ein town... - Editor
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