RE: [ranchos] Re: Dialog of the Dead --> with the Living

["Peggy Delgado" <peggydee@...>]

Daniel Reveles wrote three books about the border town, Tecate, Mexico, in which each chapter is it's own story.  In the second or third book, "Tequila, Lime and Salt", page 95, the story is called, "Big Caca's Revenge".  Big Caca is the Mexican border patrol agent.  He's big, mean, and his last name happens to be Cacabellos.

He extorts money from people coming into Mexico with goods brought over from the U.S., throughout all three books, he does this, (first book is "Enchiladas, Rice and Beans" and the other is "Salsa and Chips". ) 

 

Well, in the last book Big Caca finally finds love and begins to court this woman.  He takes her into the U.S. into Temecula for a romantic weekend.  While there, they get acosted by a U.S. Customs agent demanding their "papers" allowing them to visit the U.S.  Big Caca has his, but his lady-love, Lizette does not, the papers are back at the hotel. Needless to say they deport her back to Mexico ending their little romantic getaway.  Big Caca is furious!

He goes back to Mexico with revenge on his mind.  Now, mind you, living in this sleepy little town are all the Americans who wanted to set up their businesses, cheaply, hire workers, cheaply, and live the good life in Tecate.  You've also got retirees who wanted to live where the cost of living is way low.  Now, of course, these Americans, when entering Mexico, did have papers, but never updated them.  Big Caca knows this and when he gets back to town, he starts asking all the Americans for their citizenship papers that say they could stay in Mexico legally.  He picks up the factory owner, Jerry, and deports him back to the U.S.  He sees sweet old retired  Millie, and asks her for her papers.  When she can't produce them, he takes her to the border, groceriers and all, back to the U.S.  Here's a quote from the book:

 

    The little grandma was now genuinely frightened.  "But you just can't pick me up off the street and throw me out of the country.  Fred's at home waiting for me.  He'll think I was in an accident.  He'll worry about me!"  Tears rolled out of her blue eyes.

 

    Big Caca looked at the frightened grandmother, and thought, I'm sure the U.S. Border Patrol listens sympathetically when they pick up some poor Mexican woman on her way home to her children after a day of cleaning houses.

 

Anyway, the reason why I tell this story is because of its irony.  This happens to Mexican's every day.  And as Victor said, they're just trying to find a better way of living.  Just like the American's going to these border towns to run their factories for a fraction of what it would cost them here in the U.S.  In this story, the shoe is on the other foot.  Without giving away the ending of this little story (for those of you who'd like to read them - which I highly recommend because they're all hilarious), I'll tell you that the moral of this story is both countries need each other.  Mexican immigrants contribute to the U.S. in doing the jobs that other don't want.  Picking the grapes, cleaning the houses and cheap day labor.  Americans set up shop in border towns and give job opportunities to the Mexican's that do stay.

Whether its wrong or right (immigration) I don't know. I just feel sad sometimes, when I see, on the news, people screaming to deport the illegals, when, 90 years ago, those illegals were my grandparents........

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: ranchos@...om [mailto:ranchos@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of v.h.villarreal
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:48 AM
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] Re: Dialog of the Dead --> with the Living

Emilie,

The group has been rather quietly lately so I'm using this opportunity
to make an additional comment on the "Dialog of the Dead" play.  I
understand that it might not be directly related to genealogy but
since Joseph brought up the subject I hope nobody will complain.

I have previously expressed an opinion about one experience that could
be common among some of us that are in pursuit of our genealogical
roots:  the contrast between finding our dead relatives and finding
our living relatives.  Relations with our dead are so easy; they do
not prejudge us; they do not make any kind of demands; we just embrace
them as part of ourselves regardless of what, where or who they were
and that's the end of it.  Relations with the living, particularly
those distant living relatives that we rediscover thru our
genealogical endeavors, can be and often are very complicated.  And,
aren't we all related at some point back in time?

Our prejudices and misconceptions of life usually get in the way and
it isn't easy accepting each other when we have such divergent views
of the world that surrounds us.  We may share common genes but our
outlook on life has been shaped by our experiences and is continually
being influenced by external forces.  Our actions stem from our
individual "perception of reality" and our sense of belonging.

I agree with the views expressed by some members here about how great
and lovable this group and our virtual fellowship is but there's no
denying that "it's a jungle out there" in the real world. There's just
too much polarization and that is reflected in so many aspects of our
societies. 

Take for example the US immigration debate. The underlying motivation
for every migrant, either today or five hundred years ago or five
thousand years ago, has always been to improve one's life and/or get
away from a bad situation.  That has been the norm since who knows
when, even before countries existed as we know them today.  On the
other hand, immigration laws are of more recent creation and can be
reformed and adapted to the needs and purposes of each country.  What
I find ironic is that some of the most vociferous anti-immigration
proponents like Colorado state congressman Tom Tancredo or radio talk
host Michael Savage, are themselves sons of immigrants.  And I don't
mean from 10 generations ago but 2 and 1 generations ago respectively.
How selfishly intolerant and xenophobic can humans really become is
amazing!  Even California's governor, who has openly suported
anti-immigration movements like the minute-man project is an immigrant
himself.  What is their implicit message?  OK, now that we're in close
the doors (and build a wall) behind us for anyone else, particularly
those dark-skinned little mexicans from south of the border.  American
pie slices getting too thin?

Now the saddest part.  I have witnessed how Hispanics wearing the
official uniforms of the US immigration authorities and behind the
desks at the border offices deal with Mexicans and other foreigners
who go there and ask for a permit to enter the United States.  Have
you ever being treated as a 2nd class citizen?  Can you imagine
imagine yourself in both sides of this equation?  What's really
surprising is that Anglo-Saxon looking immigration officers hardly
show the kind of prepotency and disdain towards Mexicans as those with
the Hispanic surnames on their tags.  How can this be explained?  Have
they been brainwashed in the name of homeland security or is this
just our human nature?  Who is really behind those anti-immigration
voices infusing into your minds so much venomous and hateful rhetoric?

Just to end.  I want to share with you a link that shows another
historical aspect of people migrating to find a better life.  But this
time in reverse.  Not from Mexico into the US but out of the US and
into Mexico.
http://www.texancultures.utsa.edu/hiddenhistory/Pages1/tyler.htm
How many of you were aware of this reality?

Victor
México


--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "Emilie Garcia" <auntyemfaustus@h...>
wrote:
>
> Victor,
>
> As usual your observation is as astute as always.  I did identify
with some of the debaters, those that took the middle road.  I think
we all need to get together and advance our situations by sticking
together and not going off on tangents to the extremes, such as the
Aztlan group.  It is unfortunate that those in that group do not
realize that people like Pat Buchanan stir the Anglo populace up by
making it look like that fringe group speaks for us all, and that we
are all into "Reconquista" which brings up to the Anglos the specter
of armed brown hordes seeking to re-conquer the land.  We are slowly
re-conquering anyway, due to the American economy being so dependent
on cheap Mexican labor in manufacturing, agriculture and services.  We
just need to tone down our resentments and work towards ensuring that
this country remains the bastion that it has been for human rights for
everyone.  We can't afford to take any backward steps.  We must
acculturate, but because of the proximity to Mexico and our mostly
Native origins, they can't expect us to give up our ethnicity as
rapidly nor as completely as other immigrant groups.  This will take
several generations to accomplish, if ever.
>
> Emilie