by Javier R. Garcia
Our local newspaper has been giving a lot of attention to a subject that is as ridiculous as some of the rest of the news we read happening across the nation which has to do with the removal of confederate symbols. Brownsville may be poor economically but it is rich in history and forgiving of those parts of our history in which all our ancestors were guilty of treating others unfairly so I digitally took apart piece by piece a letter written to the editor to address this individual's rant.
The two groups he may be referring to are members of the LGBT community and advocates for the West-end Hike & Bike trail. There's nothing wrong with organizations banding their resources to help each other make their demands heard. God bless America - Home of the Free. The museum he is referring to is only one block away from park where stone marker sits. I do not know if these individuals have raised the money it would cost to move the stone marker but the city should not have to pay for it's relocation. Should they? Are you willing to pay for that? If so please contact the rock haters.
This cannot be proven as a fact and I don't need to counter-prove it unless he is willing to confess another man's superiority or supremacy over him. There is no such thing as a white supremacist except in their own mind.
The young ones he is describing are probably a few social justice millennials. You know the type -- mindless, zombie-like, irresponsible, disrespectful of their elders, pot smoking, all-day video game playing part-time college kids living in that rebellion stage some of us in the above-40 category went through when we were up and coming in the world while facing little responsibility in life.
Their older supporters are in the West-end group and anti-Liquefied Natural Gas* (both groups) of which I have little or no disagreement with.
Here's where I come in. I responded to a college drop-out who verbally attacked me on our Facebook page "Bronsbil Estacion" and talked down to our readers by boasting how "highly educated" he was so I called him out and discovered he had not completed a formal education whatsoever by his own admission. As an administer for a tribute Facebook page with a few thousand readers and blog, I have experience with trolls - people who make insulting comments for cheap thrills. I beat them at their own game. It's really no big deal.
The writer is referring to me and another Mr. Garcia who does an outstanding job of sharing our history on his Facebook page "Yesteryear's Brownsville." I happily admit that posting photos does not qualify me as a "legitimate historian" but I pride myself of the knowledge about our local history where I was born even though I was raised in Pacoima, California. But the other Mr. Garcia is a long-time Brownsville citizen and a well studied self-motivated sincere and talented historian and artist in my opinion.
No need to be confused over which Garcia is which. We do not do what we do for name recognition. By the way did you know that Brownsville has TWO historical museums? That caused confusion in the past but now they are in the process of merging and working together. Anyway....
I think the writer should prove an instance where I or anyone "belittles young female" but this is just a manipulative ploy to gain sympathy for his cause and generate hatred for me (yes, I have haters) just like he did by whimpering in front of a camera videotaping him. If his sympathizers accuse me of having an agenda then my agenda is to promote our local history - not all of it - just the parts that I learn about so I know what I am talking about.
This is the part that interests me most - his use of the racial epithet "Whitewashed" used to describe people of Latin ancestry who have assimilated into the American culture. Picture Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz and you'll get the idea. Other insults these Chicano-type social justice warriors like to throw out there are: "Coconut" or "bollio" (bread roll) to describe the American of Latin descent for his or her skin color being brown on the outside while suggesting he is "white" on the inside. They will also call a person a "vendido" which is basically a traitor to their own race when they disagree with you or take the side of the "oppressor" whatever that is. I have also been called wetback - dirty Mexican - and beaner (I like that one) while growing up in California. Being called names does not bother me.
No need to waste time on his hystorical rant. The guy is a divisive person.... By the way, kudos to the BHA for ignoring him. The Herald sure loves to give him all the attention he asks for. People also hate on Brownsville's founder, Charles Stillman. There is a blog that constantly hates on the city -- sometimes to point out the blatant corruption -- and to criticize our founder which is just plain weird coming from a city as great as Brownsville but then again, there are some in Salt Lake City who do not revere Joseph Smith who founded the Mormons etc. so go figure.
There's talk -- just that. Talk. Empty talk actually. The BHA does recognize the history of Spanish land grant families and Mexican/Tejano contributors to our history. I know -- I'm still a volunteer for them. No one historic group is oppressing any other group in Brownsville.
Some history lesson, eh?
LoL - city pardon soldiers from 1906.... This person and his friends have harassed our commissioners to the point that they are no longer willing to listen to him. The Brownsville Herald still is because they want to join the mainstream media that thrives on controversy. This blog does not thrive on controversy and is only responding to attacks against our city, historical association and now, me.
The writer should apologize to the city and historical association for not coming to the table as a mature adult and politely asking to be heard and helped to find a resolution. A local businessman who is in agreement that the stone in the park should be moved offered $1500 start-up money but they will never see it because the "rock haters" started off by insulting everyone that did not agree with them. I hope the city continues to ignore them.
About 20 people showed up according to an anonymous source posting on another blog. I'll bet that insincere line about respecting "most people's day of worship" comes from an atheist. While atheists are capable of respecting religious views, this particular one doesn't respect the handful of historic-minded citizens of Brownsville and calls them racists and people of Hispanic origin who join or volunteer their time to promote our mutual history as "whitewashed". That is wrong - plain and simple.
Actually, only 20 people is not a lot. There used to be more but they finally got tired of the long winded social justice warrior but a few were willing to sit under the hot sun for nothing on Saturday.
Most people who have read this blog may not be accustomed to reading such drama here. This is mostly meant for those who know me personally and would like to know how I feel about said individual. Please do not bother to submit insulting comments on this page. They will be ignored.
*[No to LNG unless tax abatement offer is rescinded and LNG companies offer training and high-wages to our local citizens comparable to those earned for similar jobs across the U.S.A.]
