Elizabeth A. Garcia
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What about Love?

3/15/2016

13 Comments

 
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I have tried to stay quiet on what is happening in and to my country. Every time I start to write something for my blog, I end up in a rant. Who needs that? I don’t want to add to the collective anger, and I sure don’t want to be a political pundit; we have too many as it is. I want to make people laugh, and I want to spread love and hope. That is still my desire, but now things have gone too far for me to stay silent. A cowboy pushed me over the edge. You know the one because I’ve written about him before; my last name is his last name. 

Last week, he came to Alpine and I met him for lunch. Before we even established our health and all that polite stuff, he said, “Beth, I want to ask you something.”

He sounded so serious it scared me, and I’ve not written anything about him in ages, so it couldn’t be that. What he wanted to ask me completely broke my heart.

“If a Republican becomes President, do you think I’ll have to go back to Mexico?”

His question stunned me. I couldn’t get one word to come out of my mouth. My heart had become wedged in my throat.

He mistook my silence. “You don’t know if I’ll have to go or not, do you?” He glanced around as he spoke, as if armed enforcers were already advancing.

My god, people! This man has lived and worked in peace and hope, and within the law, in the USA for forty-five years. Yet he feels the climate of hate all the way down in out-of-the-way, edge-of-the-country, Terlingua, Texas. Think about that for a minute.

“No,” I finally managed to say. “Why do you think you’d have to go back?” Of course, I knew the answer to my question. I was just stalling for time, trying to think of some way to take the horrible sting out of my country being shamed by a front-stage, hateful sham of a man who is not even worthy of polishing my cowboy’s boots.

And I knew that going back to Mexico wasn’t what upset him. What had upset him was being lumped in with an entire group of people who are now being called rapists and murderers. “All Mexicans are rapists and killers.” That is just as stupid and ridiculous as saying, “All white people are educated and think for themselves.” Ha! We all know how untrue that is.

How about this unbelievably stupid statement? “The Mexican government is smarter, much smarter, and more cunning. And they send the bad ones over because they don’t want to pay for them. They don’t want to take care of them.” This is a direct quote. There are so many things wrong with this statement I don’t know where to begin.

I’ve only loved one adult immigrant male, so I can only speak to what I know. Cowboy is not a rapist or killer. He doesn’t even cheat on his income taxes. He is so morally straight-arrow that in all the years I’ve known him, I never admitted to him that I tried all kind of drugs in the 60s. He lectured our kids until I thought they’d go out and become narco-trafficantes just for spite. Of course, they didn’t. They heard the angst and passion in his voice when he spoke of the harm done to Mexico by drug cartels.

No country sends their citizens to the United States. The overwhelming reason people come to this country is for freedom, for a chance to improve their lives and their children’s lives, for work. Work is the reason my cowboy came here, and it was the reason my grandfather came from Austria ever-so-long-ago. He did not come to rape and plunder. He wanted to work. He died in an explosion because unsafe factory work was what was available to immigrants at that time. Fortunately for me, he left behind a tiny son who would grow up to be my father. My grandfather was considered a lowlife, and he was WHITE. So imagine how people of color feel.  

Okay. Rant over. I’ll get down off the table now.
​
As I studied my ex-husband’s face, a face I adore, I thought, please, please let love win. Love is the only thing that can. If love doesn’t win then we all lose; every one of us, no matter our color. 

13 Comments
Alice Wildermuth
3/15/2016 10:22:52 am

Beth, this is one of the most beautiful and, heartbreaking, things I've ever read. It's not a rant, it's a prayer. We must not allow anything that will force our immigrants, or anyone for that matter, to live in fear. Because fear is contagious and soon everyone, except the extreme elite, will be living in fear.

Reply
Beth
3/15/2016 02:26:01 pm

Thank you, Alice.

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Virginia J Brotherton
3/15/2016 04:18:37 pm

I think the extreme elite live in constant fear....of someone taking away everything they "own"....they want to project that fear on the rest of us and make it our "fear". Beth, this was a gut wrenching scenario that you just went through, but all too true here along the border. Trump scares me and I think everyone who just thought him running for president was funny are beginning to get it....this psychotic man could possibly become a President. But hopefully, all who would oppose him will get off their duffs and not allow this to happen. Thank you for this insightful heart-wenching story.

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Beth
3/15/2016 06:09:51 pm

Thank you, Ginny. I agree about Trump. And I appreciate about your kind words.

Tommye
3/15/2016 02:24:34 pm

Your cowboy is one of the nicest people I know, and I count myself very lucky to know him. I hate that he even has to worry about such a thing. It's a sad statement about the atmosphere of hate and divisiveness in our country that it comes to this.

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Beth
3/15/2016 02:27:21 pm

Thank you, Tommye. I happen to know he thinks the world of you.

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Jeanine
3/15/2016 03:44:19 pm

Beth, I always enjoy your writings and this post just hit right in the heart. How awful that someone you care about has to be subjected to such horrible attitudes. I'm sure you lift him up and he is lucky to have you to put things in perspective.

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Beth
3/15/2016 06:14:36 pm

Thank you, Jeanine. I really appreciate your kind words.

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Michael Arnold
3/15/2016 05:04:22 pm

Ma'am, I live here in FD. Born & raised in TX..NM...AZ...& CA. Spent most of my life as Marine, and a soldier. Been around the world... a couple of times. Been to war...twice. Been an active participant in the "War on Drugs", too. I've had a somewhat unique opportunity to view " life", as an American, from a different perspective than many. Being the "muscle" for America's "interests." I don't recall which came first, the "war on drugs", or the massive influx of illegal immigration. They both are intertwined, regardless. Back in '75, President Carter brokered a deal with Mexico... for a guaranteed price on Mexican oil...for the US. Recall that we were in the midst of an "oil crisis" back then. At that time, Mexico was involved in an insurgency with the people of Chiapas...over the land. Mexico wanted to exploit the timber and resources that belonged to the indigenous Meztizos. Mexico was adamant, and their would be a large displacement of Meztizos. The Meztizos are generally looked down upon in Hispanic cultures...South of our border. Part of the deal...for oil, the US would turn a blind eye to Meztizos illegally entering the US. The first "wave" began in the early 80's. It was only going to be a small number of displaced people...it turned into an open door. This is the reason why the Government hasn't done anything about the border... we get a real good price on Mexican oil. Reagan gave amnesty to the first bunch. He was a Republican. I believe the second bunch got it through Clinton. Bush did nothing, and Obama wants to legalize the next bunch. The American people see an ineffective bunch of politicians, who by the way, use the issue as political ammo against each other, who refuse to stop illegal entry into the US. For 30 years, Americans have been festering over this...both sides of the political spectrum... not just one. Along with that, we have a whole spectrum of "issues" within our nation that have been adding to the festering wound. Those issues have been deliberately pushed upon the people by professional politicians. These are the same pols who know very well about Mexico, oil, and illegal immigration. The media will not ask the question...because they're owned by those who profit from such deals. It doesn't matter that the American people suffer. It only matters to those who feel wronged. Our nation has come to a head...a very dangerous one at that. People are tired, fed up, and now they're angry. It doesn't bode well when people become angry...en masse. Trump was a tactic for the Republican Party... to rule up those the Party felt weren't involved enough. Unfortunately, they figured they could control the issue...and failed. The Dems are tired, fed up, and angry (albeit not on the surface as Repubs are). And they have Sanders, who cannot provide anything more than Trump, when it comes down to it. Ma'am talk is cheap, it takes money to ride the train. Neither Sanders or Trump have the fare. Congress runs the country. Corporate America & Wealth run/own Congress. The wild card these fools have disregarded are the people. Because when it comes right down to it, Ma'am... we're the ones with the last word in the matter. Our "leadership" has corrupted our system of governance. They have proven themselves as corrupt and criminal. They have put the onus of responsibility for fixing the wrongs, upon us. We have allowed ourselves to be divided by theses cretins, and they have lost control of "handling" us. Pandora's box has been unsealed. With passing of every day, that lid opens wider. Once open, it will be the devil to pay. A collossal mistake for those who created it, and those who allowed it...We the People. As a gesture of assurance, for what it is worth, your cowboy will not be forced to return...no one here would sit for that...not even me, and I don't even know the man.

Reply
MichaeArnold
3/15/2016 05:12:55 pm

By the way Ma'am, I don't support Trump... or any other crook running for office. And I apologize for the long rant.

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Beth
3/15/2016 06:13:47 pm

Michael, thank you, sir.

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Martha Waltman
3/21/2016 07:34:43 pm

Excellent writing ....Let there be more love, less fear, politicians with open hearts...love flowing out to all the people and cover the earth!

Reply
Beth
3/21/2016 07:51:07 pm

Yes, Martha! I love you!

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