Editor
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The joke in town is that maybe, just maybe, the warring cartels across the Rio Grande here will take a few days off and come join this bordertown's annual paean to the lonely, but romantic Charro. Beer kegs are filled; residents can only hope.
What could dusty Brownsville do - cancel it this year?
Nope, that wasn't even a consideration. Backers of the weeklong pachanga note it was held last year and the year before that, and wasn't the war ongoing then? Plus, colorful floats are ready. Bands are tuned. Speeches have been written. Mexican clothing hangs pressed in closets across town. Send in the strolling Mariachi. Noche de Ronda is upon us. May God help the innocent victims caught in the Mexican gunfire. El Grito alone will free us! Eh, loco, pasa la botella. Brownsville will party and that's that.
Everyone loves a fiesta. Mardi Gras returned to New Orleans as soon as it could following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. The French wasted little time in recapturing their gaiety after being freed from Nazi occupation during WW II. Berlin is once again a joyous place, having rebuilt its bomb-shattered skyline that was flattened by Allied bombers. Yeah, things do get back to normal. It is the flair of the Human Spirit.
But something is askew when a bordertown only blocks from its Mexican neighbor can't even stop for one minute to pay its respects to residents of Matamoros felled by cartel bullets. Everyone knows most Matamorenses know Brownsville well, especially its businesses. Some even have relatives on this side of the river. The connection is more than just geographic. If Brownsville were ceded to Mexico, few would spot any differences. Brownsville is Mexico. Brownsville wears Mexico. That is the essence, the raison de'etre, as the French would say, of the Charro Days Fiesta.
It's not going to happen.
Brownsville must unfurl its celebration, mix its cocktails, have its feast, light the gala and enjoy its ball. It is said that humans party best when under the darkest clouds, when the threat of mortality paints the sky blood-red, when the thought enters the brain that, absolutely, I'll die for my next beer, my next dance, my next romp in the sack. Hey, leave me alone, vato. "No, no quiero saber nada de pinche Matamoros. Not this week."
Welcome to misery dressed in a black Charro suit...
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54 comments:
What a great article. It's true. I won't go to charro Days this year. Doesn't seem like the time for it. The Tribune tells it like it is!
I don't know what it says about Brownsville, but it makes me wonder. Good story.
the city has too much invested in charro days to postpone it. You're right, people buy charro outfits and the like. doesn't excuse the city for forgetting about the cartel crap, however.
Let them party. It's all they have. Pobres locos. Clean the town, gente!
hey, love the song at the right of the story. it fits. excellent article again. thanks
I went to the dance last year at the community building down by the brdge. The music was great and the women looked gorgeous on Mexican dresses. Everybody had a blast. But this year, I don't know, even my niece began taking inter-net courses after she heard gun shots accross UTB.
I hope the gal on the side bar, puts a smile after the charro days begins. with that sad face, she might be ask to leave the party.
Brownsville will party even when the end of the world is coming. That town is all about booze, from the mayor to the trash colectors. they won't close the bars on 14th Street, man. and they should. Maleducados!
there's an old saying in Mexico that says El que la hace, la paga. Brownsville is flirting with disaster. These drug cartels guys like to throw a grenade here and there. Lookout below!
I hear you, bro. Don't be surprised if some bullshit doesn't happen. poor children if it does. And poor mayor. they should have cancelled it this year. Pero no, son borrachos todos!
It's just a party. let'em enjoy it. it's back to work after the last dance. why worry too much about it?
To the editor, don't even think about going anywhere near Btown. If you do go very disguised. I'd hate to be anywhere near you if you get recognised.
What? Someone is threatening Alcatraz? are we that sensitive? Truth will set you free, bro!
Alcatraz has nothing to worry about. he'll be welcomed like anyone else, especially if has a beer in his hand.
They're really sensitive in Brownsville. But that's the poor for you. all they want to do is drink and dance. Pobres. A poll in the local newspaper had more people saying they will not attend Charros Days than those who would. End of stupid threat against Alcatraz.
So now we're threatening journalists to restrict negative comments and limit free speech? Just another connection with Brownsville's sister city. M
was it a threat or was it a suggestion? Anony, please clarify your point.
It's an okay fiesta, but not exactly Big Time. Some people from matamoros come over, plus the Mr. Amigo guy who is always from Mexico. Don't know who it is this year.
Come on people lets don't scare or threatened any one. The editor, writes what he sees and about the current atmosphere. And everyone knows, it is dangerous in Matamoros.
Journalist, have an obligation to report.
Maybe Mr. Amigo will be Pat Auhmada, he does like to bend the elbow quiet a bit. Or maybe Juanito Montoya, he likes to drink bruskies regularly, El siete Mares, La Movida Bar, 1-2-3, plenty of watering holes. Or maybe Carlos Ortiz, Carlos Cascos, who knows.
Anony, be glad Brownsville is being exposed for what it is, "a has been town," just like Harlingen, puro pinche old guard bro.
Okay, lets put this crap behind us, and everyone drink and be marry. Hey, life is short.
Alcatraz, I think they sell wine in some of the bars in Brownsville, so get down here and bring the girlfriend, drink be merry, drink and be merry, untill your heart is content.
So, how was it. Fun or no fun? anybody get hurt? Arrested? No? Well, let's geat on with the Fiesta!
It still is obvious that Brownsville is oblivious to what's hapening in Matamoros. No one disputes that. Think about it, bro.
Nothing but family fun. Lotsa food and booze. Kids dancing. Not exactly Mardi Gras, but a community party Valley style. As they say, it coulda used more salsa!
Kori Marra should resign today. She's setting a bad example for Harlingen. No brainer taxes must be paid. But she won't resign. that's okay, we'll vote her out!
Marra is a victim of the low standards we have for elected officials. She however fits better in Brownsville. Let's trade her for some mariachi over there.
Hey, she may just be tired of the BS. Being a public official puts the spotlight on you.
Looks like commissioner Marra's lost blogger Jerry Deal's support. that may be BIG. we'll see.
Heck, Jerry is asking her to resign, and now some of her enablers are defending her. Esa vieja esta bien safada. She is one crazy, angry woman, that blames everybody for her problems, how about Melissa Zamora for Korri.
Well, if K/M layed of the booze, maybe she could pay her taxes. Just an observation.
Adios Palomita, a echar pulgas a otro lugar.
You mean Korri drinks, I have seen her pictures on the chickenbuckets web-site, sitting near a bucket full of bruskies. Korri, please, you are a married woman, with kids, you know better.
Oh Well, time to pay the tax-man as the beatles to use to say.
It's about time for her to think of something else to do. Nothing to cook, Kori?
The next big move will be if anyone on the city comission calls for her resignation, which they should do. Violating tax laws is serious business.
Go Korri go, quit, korry quit, Please resign. please, please, okay pretty please, but resign.
Alcatraz, how about the Tax-man by the beatles for just today, to our lovely Korri Marra. "Tax evader"
It must be nice, Tony Sanchez has money to throw around. Qhe loco,ese, too much mula for me. Way too much. Ni modo
Anon, I don't think Korri, wants to hear any music, especially the tax man. Wheewwwww wiiii, tax time baybii, time to pay baybiiiiiiii, now you are cooooking, baybiii.
The taxman don't take no crap.You gotta bill, you gotta pay. the poor know it. Marra should know it. she files evvery year, don't she?
If she's not countering Jerry Deal, Kori Marra is gone. She's not fighting his demand that she resign. Adios, baby!
The resignation of Kori Marra is more complex than any of you may think. It is up to her cosntuengts in her district, more than it is up to any blog. So, she resigns. then what? Harlingen needs to evaluate things before it goes off on a messy roll. Marra will likely thunk it over and do what she wansts to do. She has time left in her term. A call for her to resign is just noise. She's an "elected" official, not simply someone who will bend over for a blog. Get over it!
owing taxes is not a good enough reason to resign. everybody owes at one time or another. Unpaid taxes is. Does Marra owe taxes? If she does, she should resign. If she doesn't, then there is no reason for her to resign. that's fair, isn't it?
"The resignation of Korri is more complex", come you guys quit defending this drama queen. She needs to go, she needs to go now. Today, is way too long. Korri, you are an embarrassment to District number 3. Leave, leave, leave now, please, even Deal wants you to leave.
"Owing taxes is not enough reason", bro what planet are you living in. Look, she can't even keep track of her business, and Korri wants to over see city operations. What screwed up city in West Texas did she come from??
She gets around $125.00 for gasoline from the city a month. Heck, she could pay on her taxes. She is broke, she thinks and acts wealthy, but the woman is broke. What a shame.
fairness says she must be given a chancev to explain herself. And not just by that fool Tony chapa. HE ISN'T EVEN FROM THE u.s. IS WHAT i hear. Is he?
"fairness must be given a chance", Anon, I don't think anyone on this blog likes Tony Chapampaneco, no ones trust this midget as far as we can throw him. He is a self center, poor of an excuse of a midget that runs a rag line blog. What we are expressing is our views, on an elected official, that keeps messing up. And we believe Harlingen has too many black eyes, and doesn't need another one.
We want Korri to do the right thing and resign.
HEAT is meeting tomorrow at Tila's Rest. at 9:00 am. public is invited. Tila's Rest is located at 902 South Dixieland in Harlingen.
The VMS finally wrote a piece of the Marra's financial problems, a day late and one dollar short.
The VMS finally wrote a piece of the Marra's financial problems, a day late and one dollar short.
Kori must have a conscience. That's what will lead her to do the right thing - resign immediately. Chapparo chapa is just pissing in the wind.
Chapa means squat. Marra hates him and won't give him the time of day. If it was just about that dwarf she would squat down and piss on him. Chapenco is the most hared man in Harlingen. he knows it. Big Dawg told him so.
Champaneco, doesn't go out anymore he sends spies. And they report to him. The dawg hates his ass.
He is asking for Korri to resign. But getting few comments, Chapparro just won't give up. He is no more than a helper in a cheap beer cantina, like the 1-2-3 bar in Brownsville. Pobre chapparron.
Good song, just right for Korriana Marrana, yep I agree with Anon, Marra, hates Tony and Yolanda, she made unking comments about Ms. Shoffeit. Too many hurt feelings, but hell, that is politics. Remember Korri, the tax-man is looking for you.
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