BROWNSVILLE AFTER THANKSGIVING 2022

Dagoberto's Day's Work

 

Visitors from Mother Africa

TEAM BROWNSVILLE PROVIDES HUMANITARIAN AID TO IMMIGRANTS

 

On the 14th Street side of the newly refurbished Casa del Nylon building is a small office without outside signage.  

Sra. Mercedes-Perez

On a table inside the office a banner is taped with the heading "Team Brownsville, Humanitarian Assistance for Asylum Seekers."

We were greeted by a Sra. Mercedes-Perez, from Nicaragua, who seemed to be running the place. 

"We're getting about 150 immigrants a day from Colombia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba and other countries who've sought assylum here and been processed by the U.S.  While they will be traveling all over the country to be with their sponsors, we make sure they have something to eat.

When I asked about today's menu, Mercedes-Perez replied:  "Pizza, chips and apple pie."

HOMELESS MAN IN DOWNTOWN BROWNSVILLE FEELS SUPERIOR TO MIGRANTS

 

Bruce Camilla

Bruce Camilla, pictured above, was, like me, walking in downtown Brownsville in the light rain, although I'm not sure he has a home to spend the night .   

Mr. Camilla was quick to tell me that he was "from Ohio" and was eager to get back.

"I miss the snow," he told me.

Eventually, he told me that he'd a "bookkeeper for twenty years" during the time "before the calculator."  He was in Brownsville, his birthplace, to "see a relative."

He laughed when I said he must be "good at math."

I told Mr. Camilla that my wife and I had been in Columbus, Ohio in 2020 courtesy of billionaire Tom Steyer, a candidate for president.

Camilla was familiar with the city of Columbus, but not Mr. Steyer.

Mr. Camilla and I were standing across from "Team Brownsville," an outpost serving food to prospective immigrants.

Pointing to the migrants, Camilla said:  "I'm not here illegally like them."

"Well, actually," I explained, "if they've gone through the assylum process, they're here legally just like you."

Camilla reluctantly acknowledged that was true.

MORMONS INVADE RUTLEDGE HAMBURGERS DOWNTOWN

 

Young Mormon Missionaries at Rutledge Hamburgers

On a drizzly day in downtown Brownsville, four young women caught my attention at the traffic light.  Three were blonde and caucasian, but all four wore ankle-length dresses and no makeup.

"Are you Amish?" I yelled out stupidly before seeing their black name tags, the kind used by their religion.

"Oh, you're Mormons?" I said, doubling down on my insult.(The group prefers the long name 'Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' and I knew that.)

Before I could find a parking place they'd disappeared, but I later found them at Rutledge Hamburgers along with four young men from the church.

"I hope I didn't insult you all, mistaking you for Amish, but I was in Iowa last year and ran into some Amish women at the Iowa Home Show and you ladies reminded me of them."

The friendly young people were mostly from Utah and surrounding states, although one young man is from the Dominican Republic.  

"Does he help you with your Spanish?" I asked.

The kids are in Brownsville on two year missions, after which they will go back to their hometowns to live out their adult lives.

The church was founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith who received golden plates from the angel Moroni and translated them into the Book of Mormon.  Smith hid the plates in a secret place and they've not been recovered.

The church bases its teachings primarily on the Book of Mormon and another book, the Pearl of Great Price, but, also trusts the Bible "as far as it's been translated correctly."

The church's headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah.

BROWNSVILLE FORMS NURSING ASSOCIATION BEFORE THE DIGITAL WORLD by Rene Torres

 

As World War I came to end, the American Red Cross, just like to today, saw a need for nurses in our region. To meet this need, Brownsville led the way in forming the first Public Health Nursing Association (PHNA) within the Red Cross chapter.

By 1918, the pursuit for providing efficient healthcare to this area was led by two civic minded ladies. Mrs. James B. Wells and Mrs. Williams S. West, who were newcomers to Brownsville— they were given much credit for their efforts in establishing the PHNA. But they did not do it alone!

A high degree of cooperation needed:

As the movement to bring up-to-date health care to the city gathered enthusiasm, others volunteered to join the effort. From this point on, community support took center stage.

Evoking a spirit of cooperation never seen before. Civil organizations, like women’s clubs, the Federation of Church Societies, the Parent-Teachers Association, businessmen, and individuals, quickly formed a landscape of collaboration.

Notice… that the list does not include governmental agencies, politicians or the need to sell bonds or raise taxes to accomplish its goals.

Within months, enough funds were solicited, demonstrating that working in unison changed the future of healthcare in the city.

What came next: Establishing healthcare clinics:

After a health body was formed, a clinic was established on 13th and Jackson St., and within months, a day nursery was founded. Mrs. Lucy Mitchell, founder of the center, was the first nurse employed by the association.

A second nurse, Mrs. Wilma Gagne, provided for the formation of organized classes in home nursing. In cooperation with the school district, the Grammar school provided classroom space with the association donating the necessary equipment.

By 1920, the association takes on another mission—focusing in providing child health care.

Within the same year, the first child healthcare clinic opened at the Fourth Ward school, located in one of the poorest sections of Brownsville.

Then, with the help of local doctors, (with no cost to the patient) examination of school children began with follow-up work in homes.

No affliction or child was ignored—as special needs children were taken to doctors with some having major operations.

As the drive to expand health care in the area exceeded expectations, the city was inspired to get involved. The association partnered with the city to provide milk for the underprivileged school children.

Beyond city borders:

The work of the PHNA continued, with the emphasis placed on the need of a county health nurse. The push resulted in the formation of the Cameron County Health unit in 1925.

The flood of health care delivered by the association, the city of Brownsville and Cameron County was given without anyone involved in the process of asking, “What’s in it for me.”

They succeeded on a shoestring budget, by pushing politics and greed aside—much was accomplished through meticulous planning, hard work, and sincere cooperation. It was an era when ordinary people did extraordinary things!

Unlike today, their motivation was not to make money, but to provide optimal care for those in need— and done so, with much compassion.

Politicians, government and health providers:

Can the main characters of change form permanent alliances without accusing each other of foul play? Pouring more money and changes in policies obviously has not worked. Evidence for that is shown where some countries who spend less money in healthcare and education, have a higher degree of success than we do.

Do not be surprised if in the future if you see Paul Revere amongst us— riding through Brownsville’s Elizabeth Street. Warning us to leave the city before it falls under the spell of politicians who are more emotional than thoughtful.

They should not only be thinking about today’s health issues, but the care of the next generation, and not about the next election.

Politicians and government officers should refrain from granting favors and preferences to anyone on any issue—especially when it comes to healthcare. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Equal rights for all, special privileges for none.”

In closing, our healthcare providers have witnessed too much death and agony, but regardless of the “sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” (Desiderata)

NOTE:

Recognizing Excellence…

Dr. Danilo K. Asase

A special salute to Dr. Danilo K. Asase. He came to Rio Grande Valley decades ago as a stranger. Today, he enjoys an enviable record as one of the best-known Urologist in the Rio Grande Valley.

You can rest assured that in his quiet demeaner—will always find the time to give you his undivided and exclusive attention.

The Rio Grande Valley is fortunate to have him!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE BEER?

 

Although I no longer consume much of it, I've been loyal to various brands of beer during my life, not craft beers, really, but traditional ones sold in the supermarket.

As a kid raised on the outskirts of Seattle, I thought of Rainier as my favorite, although I was too young to purchase any.

Olympia, named after Washington's capital, but actually brewed in Tumwater, was another common one.  Kids in my high school referred to it as Oly.

Grandpa and Grandma Barton in '81
Playing Piano and Wood Saw

For years I thought Lucky Lager was a reference to the local timber industry and spelled "logger." My paternal grandparents bought me a six-pack when we visited in 1981.  On that occasion Grandma Barton played the piano accompanied by Grandpa Barton on a saw he used as a musical instrument. (Grandfather actually was a logger during the bygone era when he would cut down a single Douglas Fir, carve his initials in the trunk with an axe, then drag it to the river by horse so it could float down to the sawmill and be credited to him.)

When I came to Brownsville in the mid-60's I found myself in the zocalo of Matamoros at the Texas Bar ordering "una Bohemia," which became my favorite for years, taking a case in my trunk whenever I visited.

A few years later, Negra Modelo became my beverage of choice.

Mexican beers were better, not cheaper, and you had to pay deposit on the bottles.  In those days, H.E.B. sold a six pack of Falstaff for .89 or a quart of Busch for .39 if you wanted something cheap.

I'm proud that I've never wasted money on any product called Light or Lite, "diet beers" as we called them when they were first marketed.

Why would I ever spend money on a Bud Light or Miller Lite when I can buy real Budweiser or Miller High Life for the same money?  Why be fooled by advertising?