The Pronunciamentos of May

This May was notable for two Pronunciamentos grandly declaimed in the contemporary public square i.e., via mass media. The first incident was the Mayor’s mother, Rosie, who in a Helen Thomas-style New York Times interview reminded the electorate of her flaming radical past. She said of the Alamo defenders: “When I grew up, I learned that the ‘heroes’ of the Alamo were a bunch of drunks and crooks and slaveholding imperialists who conquered land that didn’t belong to them.”

I suppose that is one way to look at it if you are as far left as Rosie. However, I have credibility problems with anyone who helps found La Raza Unida then shouts “racism” at opponents with no sense of irony.

Are You a Dream Date or Dating Disaster?

When’s the last time you went out on a date, laughed and talked for hours, had a great time and just knew you’d made a connection—then nothing, nada—the call never comes.  Ouch!  You’re left wondering what went wrong and driving yourself nuts wanting to know why your phone isn’t ringing.

Reasons abound as to what went wrong—some reasonable, some common sense and some that can only fit under the heading, “You just can’t please everyone, every time.”  Let’s take a look at some ways people make themselves “undateable,” along with some tips for getting that call you’ve been hoping for.

July Scene and Heard

Mexico’s independence bicentennial this year has been cause for all kinds of celebrations in this town, where the cultural and civic ties run deep.  One of the most fascinating occasions so far was the World Affairs Council program “Mexico in its Bicentennial: Still a distant neighbor?”

Chaired by top immigration lawyer and longtime council stalwart Nancy Shivers, the program featured Mexico’s Ambassador to the U.N., Enrique Berruga; business whiz Mario Melgar-Adalid and Incarnate Word University’s Distinguished Professor Raul Rodriguez. The program was packed with thought-provoking moments, but one of the best was Berruga’s story about how he got a nickname from President George W. Bush.