Post-election message
Dear fellow Democrats. First and foremost; thank you for the time and money you volunteered and for voting blue. Thank you for your energy, passion, patience, persistence, and determination through this election cycle. I want you to know how deeply impressed I am by each of you. I also want you to know that whatever you are feeling post-election, it’s okay to feel it.
When you work as hard as we have for something as important as this election but don’t see the outcome nationally you hoped for, it’s hard. Thus, it’s important to take the time to process your feelings. Do that. Reconnect with the things in your life that you set aside during this time. Rest. While you do, remember that what we have faced is not unique to us. Countries around the world have faced similar challenges — and in many cases, even more dramatic results than we’ve seen. But also take time to reflect on the victories we did achieve. Our goal for Jeff Davis County was and still is, “Blue in ’32.” While Trump gained on Democrats slightly in Presidio and Brewster counties, Harris held her own and did as well as Biden in Jeff Davis County.
Jeff County Democrats have a plan moving forward. It includes extending our focus to state and local issues and ensuring that those most targeted by the MAGA campaign of fear and anger are not abandoned. Details on how everything will fit together are still being worked out as I write this. But know that the work of organizing and empowering rural county Democrats didn’t start with this election — and it certainly won’t end with it. So, take time to rest and decompress. Because we will need you in this fight.
Calvin Glover
Jeff Davis County Democratic Party Chair
Dear Editor,
In the Nov 7th issue of the BBS I read about the Dollar General proposed in Terlingua. I simply don’t understand the opposition’s reasoning. Sounds to me like the folks need to wake up. Terlingua already has a Motor Inn, so what’s the problem? Maybe the folks just want to drive further for their supplies. Go figure!
Richard Stone
Austin, Texas
Dear Editor,
This past Saturday at the USO Marfa Visitor Center, Marfa Live Arts hosted Ándale a Marfa: Revolution & Songs from Across the Border to commemorate the 114th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. The Revolution began on November 20, 1910, as a struggle to reclaim Mexican lands, mines and railroads, which were 85% owned by foreign investors in Europe and the USA. It was also an uprising to improve harsh and inhumane working conditions which had enslaved thousands upon thousands on haciendas, mines and factories, indebting them to the company stores (on-site mercantiles run by owners where workers purchased on credit the food and provisions needed for their families).
Prices were so grossly inflated and wages so unjustly small that, without change, worker’s grandchildren would still be working to pay off their generational debt. On January 11, 1914, Francisco “Pancho” Villa took control of Ojinaga in a battle against dictator Victoriano Huerta’s federal army. As a result of the violence, over 7,000 refugees fled Mexico and walked to Marfa.
The majority of the refugees were then taken by train to Fort Bliss, but a lot of people stayed in Marfa where their ancestors still remain today. There are many differing opinions about Porfirio Díaz, Francisco Madero, President Woodrow Wilson, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Venustiano Carranza and other key revolutionary figures in regard to the Mexican Revolution. A sage woman once told me that “there are as many different opinions about the Revolution as there are people to ask.”
Marfa Live Arts wanted to provide an opportunity to learn more about our area’s rich history and to hear the corridos/songs from that time. We had people from Ojinaga, El Paso, Odessa, Presidio, Alpine and beyond.
Thanks to all who attended and who sang along with Arturo Guerrero and his fantastic mariachi band. We’d like to thank our event sponsors who helped make it all possible: Cactus Liquors, City of Marfa, Marfa City Council, George and Cynthia Mitchell Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts and the Permian Basin Area Foundation. It takes a village to produce such an event and we’d like to give a warmhearted thanks to: Arturo Alferez and MISD’s Folkloríco dancers, Rob D’Amico, Fatima Anaza, Manny Baeza, Joey Benton, Gamaliel Bustillos Muñoz, René Cardona, Mark Cash, Crystal Catano, Jenna Conners, Rob Crowley, Chris Dowling, Meredith Dreiss, Chris Dyer, Will Floyd, Lydia Gallegos, JD Garcia, Faith Gay, Arturo Guerrero, Miriam Halpern, Audrey Herrera, Griselda Hinojos, Tim Johnson, Melissa Keane, Raul Lara, Nina Martin, Socorro Mena, Annette Mendoza, Peggy O’Brien, Tina Rivera, Liz Rohana, Joe Salinas, Victor Sotelo Mata, Tana Vargas and Misty Wilbourne.
And special thanks to Martha Stafford and the Marfa and Presidio County Museum for hosting a table at the event to share albums of archival photos from the Mexican Revolution. Postcards of photographs from the long, cold walk to Marfa were available to take home.
We hope that more curiosity was sparked about this important time in our border history, and if you are a descendant from this period, we would love to talk with you. Best, Jennie Lyn Hamilton Director, Marfa Live Arts / info@marfalivearts.org