Tejano tribute well deserved at capitol
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We were pleased to read and hear that recognition is coming for Hispanics' historical and cultural contributions to Texas. This recognition is coming in the form of a bronze statue that will be erected in front of the state capitol.
Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill Friday that allows the installment of the statue. We applaud the governor for his support of this important tribute.
"I'm up there on cloud nine," said Benny Martinez of Goliad, who is a member of the Tejano Monument committee. "We've been working on this for nine years."
Martinez emphasized that the monument represents the history of Texas during the past 500 years. "The history belongs to all of us, not just Hispanics," he said.
He pointed out that it was the vaqueros - the Hispanic cowboys - who brought the cattle, horses, culture and civilization to Texas.
He said many of the vaqueros died taking care of and defending the settlers.
Hispanics built the missions. Juan Abamillo, Juan A. Badillo, Carlos Espalier, Gregorio Esparza, Antonio Fuentes and Andrés Nava helped to defend the Alamo -- one of those missions -- during the battle for Texas Independence.
"More Mexican-Americans were awarded medals of honor for service in World War II than any other ethnic group," Martinez said.
But getting permission to place the statue in front of the capitol wasn't easy. A state environmental committee insisted that the statue be erected in back of the capitol (on its north side).
"We had to fight them to get it in front," Martinez said.
Now, after a hard-fought battle, House Bill 4114 allows the statue to be in front of the capitol (on the south side).
The bronze statue is about 30 to 40 feet wide and about 15 feet in height, and it may be the biggest monument on capitol grounds. The focus of the monument is a vaquero riding a mustang, a smaller wild horse that vaqueros broke and used in managing cattle.
Martinez said the statue, sculpted by Armando Hinojosa of Laredo, is already made and will be moved to the capitol as soon as possible. He said maybe he and a bunch of vaqueros might ride to Austin for the installation ceremony.
We share in the celebratory nature of this tribute to Hispanics and all others. And we congratulate all who made this possible.
This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.
Comments
That a strong possibility!!!
June 8, 2009 at 6:18 p.m.Thanks Smarteepantz...I was wondering the same thing, but was going to let it go.
LOL, HUH???
June 8, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.No I don't think the legislators are naive. I think they will bend twist or crawl under any group they feel might put some adverse pressure on their being reelected.
I stand by my opinion that allowing monuments for every group that "believes" their cause is important will eventually lead to a Capitol building surrounded by 100's of meaningless statues that were glorified for one reason or another.
In my grade book, Vaqueros doesn't quite pass the test.
Unfortunately, 20 years from now folks will wander the Capitol area, looking at the statues wondering to themselves, "Why did that end up here"?
June 8, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.Tejano's are Native American of the Southern United State's who America couldn't afford to move to a rez,Who were in Texas prior the European Texian's, Who integrated their culture into so called American culture forgot how to even speak spanish or thier native tongue , Tejano's "Native American"haven't yet ask for reservation lands, haven't yet ask for an investigation on stolen land grants, Haven't yet ask to be recognized in every war the United States has ever been in, They haven't even asked for a freaking casino, yet some will ***** about a freaking statue?
June 8, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.Well if you think the Texas legislators are that naïve, then you can apply that analogy to any bill that is passed. Again, this is not the first monument ,nor would it be the last…. No harm, no foul….IMO
June 8, 2009 at 3:43 p.m.Well it's kind of like this Mike.
If every group that feels a special need, decides they want a "monument' to capture their own feelings of what is important, gets that monument, then it won't be long before we have a low rider monument, a hip hop monument, a Fatal Funnel monument, a vietnamese crabber monument, a golfing monument, a new style garbage can monument...I think you get the idea!
I just don't think every group that feels like a monument is needed should get one just because they think it's a great idea.
Pretty soon, it just loses it's meaning.
June 8, 2009 at 3:33 p.m.Are the people that erect monuments going out of business? Will this be the last monument ever? No.
The statue was sculpted by Armando Hinojosa of Laredo, is already made and will be moved to the front of the capitol made possible by a House bill 4114…. What is the big deal? It’s not like we were running out of room.
June 8, 2009 at 2:46 p.m.SmarteePantz has the right idea... more festivals! Sounds like a winner to me. Call it pivo or cerveza or bier, I'll just call it "good times".
June 8, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.Tejano or whatever you want to call it, is "part of" Texas history, it isn't the only history of this state.
This Statue of Liberty was given to our country by some French guy. I think it was to symbolize Freedom and Democracy. Not 100% sure on that last statement.
Anyway, I don't think Vacqueros are monument worthy. As for my opinion. It's probably as good as any ther opinion here.
June 8, 2009 at 2:25 p.m.Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon
June 8, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.isn't the Statue of Liberty the monument for immigrants? any immigrant!
June 8, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.N45BA
June 8, 2009 at 2:07 p.m.remember it doesn't matter what your opinion is the monument will be in Austin for Tejano=Texan history! Tejano is the history of Texas and I'm not talking about music!
How about something Monumental, such as War memorials (World War I,or II, Korea, or certain battles or groups that were made up primarily of Texans. I'm sure our Capitol has many monuments. I'm just as sure some are not what I consider monument worthy. I'm betting the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have something I wouldn't be fond of.
I don't think everything that ever occured is monument worthy. This includes Vacqueros, cowboys and cowgirls, hero dogs or horses, Sylvester Stalone (in Philedelphia), or any other noteworthy but not monument worthy person or things.
Rest assured in time there will be a monument (if not at our state capitol, our nations capitol) dedicated to the Illegal Immigrants that painstakingly strived for a better future by illegally entering this country.
June 8, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.I guess I have a different opinion on what is truly "Monument Worthy".
June 8, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.I don't have any doubt that there has been a significant hispanic influence on ur state.
My question is....Does building a monument somehow increase the awareness of that influence? If that's the case there should also be a monument for Germans, Orientals, African Americans, and any other race that brought something to this state.
Everyone knows the hispanics are here. You don't need a monument to tell you that.
June 8, 2009 at 9:16 a.m.I was born in Goliad, raised in Fannin. My Father and many of his contemporaries were vaqueros on the ranches of that area. The monument celebrates their contribution to the rich Tejano culture of our state. My heartfelt thanks to all who worked so diligently to make it a reality.
June 7, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.I guess if you don't know that hispanic culture exists in Texas then you must be blind! If you don't understand well it doesn't matter!
June 7, 2009 at 8:22 a.m.Hispanic culture is the history of Texas!
N45BA, if you don't understand the significance of it today, you never will!
June 7, 2009 at 12:34 a.m.Can someone tell me how this is going to make us more aware that the hispanic culture exists in the history of Texas.
This Statue is no more relevant than the shrines on the side of the road indicating to us all that someone had a car wreck and died.
Maybe someday I will understand. For now, I just don't get it.
June 4, 2009 at 5:19 a.m.