(Stepping things up a bit this week. I wanted to address the latest border rhetoric with a bit of context missing from the political discourse. We are doing everything we can, it seems, in Texas and among GOP conservatives in Washington, to alienate a nation that contributes greatly to our economy and culture. The border is being militarized and now America is saber rattling about invading to take on drug cartels after four of our citizens were kidnapped on a medical tourism trip. The same radical Trumpites who don’t want to help Ukraine are ready to bomb Mexico.
In the early 60's my uncle was a border guard in Eagle Pass and my aunt taught English across the border in Piedras Negras, Mexico. My parents would go down from Abilene for a long weekend or so. I remember the humid almost tropical environment. But more so I remember the friendly people. The grownups would settle in a sidewalk cafe with a cold cerveza and let me prowl the shops. 5-6 years old I hardly spoke English and not a word of Spanish, yet these people watched out for me. Any boy who didn't enjoy my adventures there was surely cheated of a part of his childhood.
Of course my Aunt and Uncle are long gone and so is that Mexico.
20 years ago I worked for a company in Laredo that picked up new trucks built in Mexico. I'd stay in a hotel near the border and hear the occasional gun fire.
I've had many good times in that country, but after my time working out of Laredo I haven't wanted to return.
I feel sorry for those people. We are fueling the drug fire and blaming Mexico.
I don't believe we're going to have a conservative army matching into Mexico, but we sure have one on this side of the border, shooting itself in the foot with every step.
I sure miss those good times in Mexico. Growing up is hard
In the early 60's my uncle was a border guard in Eagle Pass and my aunt taught English across the border in Piedras Negras, Mexico. My parents would go down from Abilene for a long weekend or so. I remember the humid almost tropical environment. But more so I remember the friendly people. The grownups would settle in a sidewalk cafe with a cold cerveza and let me prowl the shops. 5-6 years old I hardly spoke English and not a word of Spanish, yet these people watched out for me. Any boy who didn't enjoy my adventures there was surely cheated of a part of his childhood.
Of course my Aunt and Uncle are long gone and so is that Mexico.
20 years ago I worked for a company in Laredo that picked up new trucks built in Mexico. I'd stay in a hotel near the border and hear the occasional gun fire.
I've had many good times in that country, but after my time working out of Laredo I haven't wanted to return.
I feel sorry for those people. We are fueling the drug fire and blaming Mexico.
I don't believe we're going to have a conservative army matching into Mexico, but we sure have one on this side of the border, shooting itself in the foot with every step.
I sure miss those good times in Mexico. Growing up is hard