as seen on tv
Senator
Photo Above - This is not the Texas naptime massacre. It's Tuco, from the hit TV series "Breaking Bad"
Not shown - The actual moments leading up to the massacre, which witness have described as "essentially the same"
No . . . this is NOT a rant about our friends from South of the Border. It's a discussion about politicized pagan festivals we endure. Not only the celestial first day of spring (vernal equinox). Also Good Friday, and Easter, and Eid, and Passover, and 2nd Passover.
What, you never heard of “2ND Passover”? This year it falls on Friday, May 5th – Cinco De Mayo. A date which originally celebrated the Mexican Army's victory over France. WTH ?? - I would have predicted Spain. Mexico's actual independence from Spain is celebrated on September 16th.
Cinco de Mayo is not that big a deal in Mexico. Perhaps with the passage of time relations between France and Mexico have improved. And on a comparative basis they're not the ogre Spain was? In any case, Cinco has become a HUGE deal in the USA. Not just among US resident Mexicans (1/3 of Mexicans have "migrated" permanently to the USA). But among all US Latinos, most of which who were born here. I can't predict the holiday celebrated by four time Mexican deportee Francisco Oropeza. The hombre who killed 5 Hondurans living next door, after a misunderstanding about infant nap-schedules. In the past, these Hondurans were conflicted about calling “the man” over Mr. Oropreza's antics, because they are illegals themselves. When they dialed 911 this time police responded slowly, even though Senor Oropreza was a “known problem”. There's a lot of people in Texas like that, and they have guns and act out. Even when it's not yet Cinco de Mayo and they're not Hispanic.
The internet says Cinco de Mayo USED to be a relatively tame affair in the USA. Until TV and billboard advertising promoted alcoholic beverages as part of the festivities. Well, if this is the root of the problem, we better reconsider Memorial Day and 4th of July picnics, eh? Or simply ban liquor, since deporting felons and banning them completely from owning guns isn't working out that well.
Last year's Cinco de Mayo there was a bunch of shootings. Including 5 people in Yakima, Washington at a local carnival. Prosecutors had to release the gunman when “witnesses refused to appear in court”. Presumably after conversations with friends and relatives of the shooter?
Let's not just pick on Cinco de Mayo. I promised this would be an even handed rant against a bunch of excuses to skip work. Two days ago (May Day) “demonstrators” set a French police officer on fire. May Day USED to be a joyful fertility celebration of the calendar midpoint between the first day of spring and first day of summer. Until calendars were made more accurate. Now May 1st is a day of solidarity for socialists, communists, anarchists, and people who object to having their retirement age raised from 62. They set a real, live human being ON FIRE!! I'm hoping witnesses won't be intimidated, and the perpetrator goes to jail.
My basic question from earlier this week remains: How come a guy who gets deported FOUR TIMES keeps getting back in? Did we forget to take his fingerprints, and identifying photos? Are officials now being paid off on the US side, same as happens all the time in Mexico? Did Mr. Oropreza threaten to shoot someone if he wasn't allowed back in? “Everyone knew” (In Cleveland Texas) that Mr. Oropreza was an illegal alien many times over. That he had amassed a small arsenal (He's a "person prohibited"). That he liked to get drunk – even when it wasn't Cinco de Mayo – and shoot indiscriminately. That he had a hair-trigger temper, and “acted loco” much of the time.
My advice to everyone on friday: Stay indoors. Don't start your long weekend early. Don't consume mass quantities of alcohol. Don't do burnouts in your jacked up F150 rocking wall to wall stickers and decals. As noted above, People in Mexico aren't having a drunken party. We don't need to either.
Full disclosure – this writer previously worked in food service. All of the Hispanics – and whites, and African Americans – I worked with were polite law abiding people. This post is not a rant against Hispanics. My target is the mashup of guns, liquor, and ineffective policing in our communities.
