YouTube - Yanni - Felitsa (HQ Video)
In a world of absurdity, there are times only my pen makes sense. Today--March 11, 2011--Kingsville, Texas lost its sweetest voice. Esperanza "Hopie" Alaniz passed into the next world this morning. She was technically my cousin, but as life and age would have it, I considered her a dear and beloved aunt. She was a faithful member of Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church here in Kingsville and part of the Coro Del Buen Consejo, the gospel choir formed by the Alaniz family. Her voice captured the sweetness of angels and the pain of humanity humbled before the throne of God. No Mass could ever be complete without their music and her voice...her voice. Their harmony edified and uplifted and made vividly present the Word the Priest could only try to tell us about.
Many, many memories burn all the brighter now that her presence has been taken from us. So many summers that she would drop off Jay, doughnut holes in hand, at my house while she went off to work in Corpus. Or the many times I awoke to Fraggle Rock on the TV on my sleep-overs there. And her breakfasts, My Lord, her breakfasts. Fit not for Kings, for they are not worthy, but the laborers and servants that made a King's life so beautiful and so attractive.
She was a grand story teller. She captured characters like no one else I've ever known. He voice would fold and undulate, creek and crawl into the varied personages and the story would come alive! Especially her ghost stories! Stories that many times had Jay and I (or whomever happened to be sleeping over) trembling on the blanket set for us on the floor.
She will be dearly missed by all who loved her and were touched by her presence and vitality. Today, the clouds have gathered and made a bright day dark. And the people, her family and friends, fight for the sun to return.
R.I.P Nana--Say hello to my mom, Tia Rachel, Tio Juan and those others who have preceded us in death. Say hello for us who still ache for them.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Pressing Questions, Pervasive Issues
Kingsville is in need of an enema: a thorough cleansing of the inside so as to better understand the external changes that time has wrought. There was a time when the city thrived in the context of the King Ranch: The westward expansion of the Easterner looking for a better life, the 'Wild Horse desert' carved out of the space created by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the inculcated Mexican and the legacy of the Kineño; all focused upon the region's figureheads of commerce and commercialization: the Kings and the Klebergs. It is more complex than this simplistic picture of course, but the foundation of tourism for the city and, indeed the region, is not interested in the accuracy of history so long as the mythic narrative supports and justifies the inflow of money. Simplicity and stereotype are the life blood of tourism.
Over the last 20 years or so, Kingsville has experienced a growth of daunting proportions. The University and the Naval Air Station have changed the complexion of our city. The demographic make-up consists of more than the ethnic trinity of the by gone era, namely peoples of Anglo, Mexican and African descent. A more robust and accurate picture reveals Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, and Filipino population growth, to name only the most visible. And yet, recent literature about Kingsville continues to focus upon the same tired narrative of ranch life and cowboy culture. Again, largely for the sake of tourism. The fact remains, when we look at the recent trends in business the "foreigner" seems to dominate. Whether we look at convenience stores, hotel/motel industry or restaurants, the clearest entrepreneurial spirit is to be found within the immigrant community. As the country is cast head long into a wider global culture, and Texas along with it: Where is the literature taking them into account? Where is the literature that even mentions their existence?
There is a host of complex relationships when we take into account these other cultures. Aside from the pure economic aspect, the religio-political-historical dynamics are fascinating. The mixed bag of experiences bring to light a Kingsville that is far more variegated, interesting, and relevant than the sleepy township of Ranch Hand breakfasts and Posada parades would have us believe. If we would take that into account and seriously contemplate the possibilities of this reality then maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't have such a large portion of the young people of this city itchingly eager to leave it. Maybe, just maybe, we could celebrate the richness of the multifaceted culture we have available for us to learn from and experience. And maybe, just maybe, therein lies the path for further growth and progress within a larger pluralistic society in which we find ourselves. This would be the heart and the engine of a tourism industry of which we can be proud; quite outside the tired narrative of the King Ranch and the Cowboy.
Over the last 20 years or so, Kingsville has experienced a growth of daunting proportions. The University and the Naval Air Station have changed the complexion of our city. The demographic make-up consists of more than the ethnic trinity of the by gone era, namely peoples of Anglo, Mexican and African descent. A more robust and accurate picture reveals Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, and Filipino population growth, to name only the most visible. And yet, recent literature about Kingsville continues to focus upon the same tired narrative of ranch life and cowboy culture. Again, largely for the sake of tourism. The fact remains, when we look at the recent trends in business the "foreigner" seems to dominate. Whether we look at convenience stores, hotel/motel industry or restaurants, the clearest entrepreneurial spirit is to be found within the immigrant community. As the country is cast head long into a wider global culture, and Texas along with it: Where is the literature taking them into account? Where is the literature that even mentions their existence?
There is a host of complex relationships when we take into account these other cultures. Aside from the pure economic aspect, the religio-political-historical dynamics are fascinating. The mixed bag of experiences bring to light a Kingsville that is far more variegated, interesting, and relevant than the sleepy township of Ranch Hand breakfasts and Posada parades would have us believe. If we would take that into account and seriously contemplate the possibilities of this reality then maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't have such a large portion of the young people of this city itchingly eager to leave it. Maybe, just maybe, we could celebrate the richness of the multifaceted culture we have available for us to learn from and experience. And maybe, just maybe, therein lies the path for further growth and progress within a larger pluralistic society in which we find ourselves. This would be the heart and the engine of a tourism industry of which we can be proud; quite outside the tired narrative of the King Ranch and the Cowboy.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Dream of a Common Language. Sueño de un Idioma Común. :: Texas Monthly
A timely article in Texas Monthly from 2009. We cannot fail to see that English and Spanish are implicated so intimately that to fail one is to fail the other, thereby a detriment to any citizen of Texas, the United States and indeed wider world.
Dream of a Common Language. Sueño de un Idioma Común. :: Texas Monthly
Dream of a Common Language. Sueño de un Idioma Común. :: Texas Monthly
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Top Gear's "Three Stooges"
"...hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way."
The comments on *Top Gear* arise from a deep and abiding self-hatred. Because any student of history can see, England has never actually had a culture of their own which is why Imperialism/Colonialism ran (runs?) so deep with them. It is also the main reason why their literature *was* so powerful! And in any case, why Mexico often decided to emulate France over "Great" Britain.
The Dark Empire of Granbretan–Spiritual Home of Top Gear’s Three Stooges
The comments on *Top Gear* arise from a deep and abiding self-hatred. Because any student of history can see, England has never actually had a culture of their own which is why Imperialism/Colonialism ran (runs?) so deep with them. It is also the main reason why their literature *was* so powerful! And in any case, why Mexico often decided to emulate France over "Great" Britain.
The Dark Empire of Granbretan–Spiritual Home of Top Gear’s Three Stooges
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Egypt
To the right, on the list of blogs I follow, you'll see *The Musings of Thomas Verenna* I highly recommend ANY of his posts as they are always learned, insightful and often highly entertaining. I would, however, like to make a special mention of his most recent post about the events in Egypt titled Egypt: Not Chaos, But a Display of Humanity and Solidarity. He makes an excellent point that none, to my knowledge, have taken the time to mention, namely that what we see coming out of that country is, yes, chaotic and revolutionary, but also highly emblematic of humanity. This is something that needs to be stressed again and again in my humble opinion. And although this blog is technically about South Texas, I think it fits well within confines of my caption: existentialism, modernity and the sweep of history. So head on over to his blog and take a look; and after, take the time to peruse his other posts!!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Elsewhere in A Somewhere World
Elsewhere, South Texas 2011
Amidst new tests scores released today that indicate Texas' 8th graders scored higher on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) science exams, a few local parents have taken this opportunity to dispel a few other commonly held stereotypes about Texans, first of which is the boot-wearing-cowboy-hat-donning simpleton who grew up on a backwater ranch. Said one concerned citizen of Elsewhere,
"I think it's time we do this, you know, that we have this stigma lifted."
It is perhaps ironic that this news comes on the heels of recent moves by the State Board of re-Education (SBOrE) to curtail and control the information Texas children are taught in school. References to Islam and their ilk, Mexican-American leadership and heroism, wider global culture and history, and other such 'gobbledygook' have been voted out of State textbooks.
"We need to be about the future," said R. Lubbock Curse, spokesman for the SBOrE,
"Clearly science and technology are where the nation and the world are headed, these test scores prove it. We can't afford to get bogged down by issues of the past, no Sir. A people who remember their history are a hindrance to the future! 'Sides, most of their names are too long to remember anyway."
Attempts by local leadership to persuade State officials about a state wide "Free the Cowboy" day, in which no one wears boots or a cowboy hat for a day; instead opting for "Carl Sagan" or "Bill Nye the Science Guy" attire, have been met with comical silence. Door signs and digital voice mail recordings of many State legislators have been reported as saying, "Sorry Elsewhere, we're somewhere else." This cold indifference has angered a few of the more thin skinned natives.
"We have every right to be angry! Boots and the Cowboy hat are symbols of tyranny and oppression. My great grandfather lost his land and cattle to a man in boots and a cowboy hat, damn it! That, barbed wire fencing, and the law! If we're gonna be about the future--let's do this!!"
Local residents have given the increasingly vocal leadership the moniker "St. Elsewhere 5," a reference their town, yes, but also to a likely forgotten TV drama about doctors who actually save people. This reporter has learned that, sadly, this TV show too has been left out of Texas history books.
"No one really knows what these test scores mean," informs Dr. Enrique Philemon Johnson-Smith, professor of Science and Technology at UT
"For all we know," he continues, "this could be the beginning of a kick ass gaming trend for Wii and XBox where kids cure cancer and develop sustainable clean air solutions for the world's energy problems! You know, instead of stealing cars, amassing wealth in Mafia gangs and those dancing games."
Amidst new tests scores released today that indicate Texas' 8th graders scored higher on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) science exams, a few local parents have taken this opportunity to dispel a few other commonly held stereotypes about Texans, first of which is the boot-wearing-cowboy-hat-donning simpleton who grew up on a backwater ranch. Said one concerned citizen of Elsewhere,
"I think it's time we do this, you know, that we have this stigma lifted."
It is perhaps ironic that this news comes on the heels of recent moves by the State Board of re-Education (SBOrE) to curtail and control the information Texas children are taught in school. References to Islam and their ilk, Mexican-American leadership and heroism, wider global culture and history, and other such 'gobbledygook' have been voted out of State textbooks.
"We need to be about the future," said R. Lubbock Curse, spokesman for the SBOrE,
"Clearly science and technology are where the nation and the world are headed, these test scores prove it. We can't afford to get bogged down by issues of the past, no Sir. A people who remember their history are a hindrance to the future! 'Sides, most of their names are too long to remember anyway."
Attempts by local leadership to persuade State officials about a state wide "Free the Cowboy" day, in which no one wears boots or a cowboy hat for a day; instead opting for "Carl Sagan" or "Bill Nye the Science Guy" attire, have been met with comical silence. Door signs and digital voice mail recordings of many State legislators have been reported as saying, "Sorry Elsewhere, we're somewhere else." This cold indifference has angered a few of the more thin skinned natives.
"We have every right to be angry! Boots and the Cowboy hat are symbols of tyranny and oppression. My great grandfather lost his land and cattle to a man in boots and a cowboy hat, damn it! That, barbed wire fencing, and the law! If we're gonna be about the future--let's do this!!"
Local residents have given the increasingly vocal leadership the moniker "St. Elsewhere 5," a reference their town, yes, but also to a likely forgotten TV drama about doctors who actually save people. This reporter has learned that, sadly, this TV show too has been left out of Texas history books.
"No one really knows what these test scores mean," informs Dr. Enrique Philemon Johnson-Smith, professor of Science and Technology at UT
"For all we know," he continues, "this could be the beginning of a kick ass gaming trend for Wii and XBox where kids cure cancer and develop sustainable clean air solutions for the world's energy problems! You know, instead of stealing cars, amassing wealth in Mafia gangs and those dancing games."
Monday, January 3, 2011
What the hell...I'll post!
I've ignored this long enough. With the new year, of course, comes new promises and one of those is to un-neglect this blog. I've been keeping my writing for another blog: sarcophilia.blogspot.com but I figured, as the title clearly states, what the hell...I'll post!
The New Year was an amazing time of family and friends. I realized that as I get older nothing gives me more pleasure than to watch my grandnieces and nephews enjoy life. They danced and laughed and danced some more; were pains in the rear end of us grown ups and the cause of our greatest laughter outbreaks. Precisely what they're supposed to do: remind us that life will go on without us! But I'm a pessimist and laughter can last only so long.
2011 brought along its little rub: my truck is kaput and I'm left with the first major decision of the year; get a new vehicle or get a bike. Were I in a larger city, a vehicle would be indispensable. But as I find myself in Kingsville, a bike isn't such a bad idea. Certainly more pros than cons!
I was reading about the, ok I'll call them phenomena, in AR. Apparently, within a week's time thousands of birds and possibly hundreds of thousands of fish have been found dead or dying. Surely, there's a reasonable explanation but it got me thinking about some blog ideas alla the Onion: humorous takes on the Apocalypse. What if the apocalypse began in AR and moved west into OK. And wouldn't it be funny if it (yes, I'm personifying the Apocalypse) came to a crossroads: Do I go North into KS or South into TX? OR maybe a game show where contestants try to distinguish between a "Seal" a "Trumpet" or a "Plague" and when/if they guess wrong (as their final answer) then the given plague would befall the earth! "Answer: The Daily Trouble!!"
So yeah, that's my thought process today: my first day off of 2011!
Cheerio!
The New Year was an amazing time of family and friends. I realized that as I get older nothing gives me more pleasure than to watch my grandnieces and nephews enjoy life. They danced and laughed and danced some more; were pains in the rear end of us grown ups and the cause of our greatest laughter outbreaks. Precisely what they're supposed to do: remind us that life will go on without us! But I'm a pessimist and laughter can last only so long.
2011 brought along its little rub: my truck is kaput and I'm left with the first major decision of the year; get a new vehicle or get a bike. Were I in a larger city, a vehicle would be indispensable. But as I find myself in Kingsville, a bike isn't such a bad idea. Certainly more pros than cons!
I was reading about the, ok I'll call them phenomena, in AR. Apparently, within a week's time thousands of birds and possibly hundreds of thousands of fish have been found dead or dying. Surely, there's a reasonable explanation but it got me thinking about some blog ideas alla the Onion: humorous takes on the Apocalypse. What if the apocalypse began in AR and moved west into OK. And wouldn't it be funny if it (yes, I'm personifying the Apocalypse) came to a crossroads: Do I go North into KS or South into TX? OR maybe a game show where contestants try to distinguish between a "Seal" a "Trumpet" or a "Plague" and when/if they guess wrong (as their final answer) then the given plague would befall the earth! "Answer: The Daily Trouble!!"
So yeah, that's my thought process today: my first day off of 2011!
Cheerio!
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