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What a difference a night can make
By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog
September 2, 2009

As the music video of "Souls from Victoria" played at the Welder Center, I got goose bumps from the power of the evening.

We had witnessed an honest and powerful discussion of what illegal immigration has done to our community and what we can do locally about this global issue. The song inspired by the deaths and our 16-month Fatal Funnel series felt like a fitting ending.

You can hear the song, written and sung by University of Houston-Victoria President Tim Hudson at the band's Web site, Many thanks to him and his Coastal Bend band for their contribution to the community conversation.

We also appreciate greatly the participation of our panelists, The Rev. Stan DeBoe, Victoria Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor and UHV professor Macarena Hernandez. They spoke eloquently and passionately about an incredibly complex and emotional issue.

The audience asked tough questions and contributed to the dialogue. Afterward, Macarena and I agreed the people there seemed to appreciate getting the space to talk about an issue too often dominated by the loud few.

I've attended quite a few events at the Welder Center and can't recall ever seeing such a diverse crowd there. I hope the Advocate can bring the entire community together to discuss many other important issues of the day.

I left the Welder Center with Coastal Bend's song reverberating in my mind:

Open up the gates (en el cielo)

give them water (siempre hay agua)

Call up the angels (en el cielo)

ask the saints to pray (siempre hay paz)

Open up the gates (en el cielo)

give them water (siempre hay agua)

Souls from Victoria, shouldn't have to wait (no esperar)

Almos de Victoria, entran today

Comments


  • ChrisCobler ChrisCobler Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    Pogofire, Jose and Alton,

    Thank you for your considerate words. We're thankful we were able to add the discussion of this important issue. I also want to note that Gabe Semenza did remarkable work throughout the series. I'm proud to work with him.

    September 5, 2009 at 2:10 p.m.

  • AltonEaston AltonEaston Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I can only image the horror they experienced. What a horrible way to die. It is against the moral soul to deny people water and confine them in a slow death box.
    I have been so thirty in the pass, that I considered muddy trashy polluted rice patties water a blessing. They were not so blessed.

    September 4, 2009 at 5:05 p.m.

  • joseexist joseexist Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I was outbound that morning going to a wellsite. I thought it was odd, seeing an 18-wheeler on the shoulder facing the wrong direction. The cab was still hooked to the trailer. Little did I know,,,
    Those words are a fitting prayer for those who struggled so hard to get so far, only to fall short in the end, of all their dreams.

    September 4, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.

  • pogofire pogofire Report a ViolationReport a Violation
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    I saw the video on youtube, it really was quite moving. Many people on this website think Fatal Funnel was a waste of time, but I think that's just them not wanting to come to terms with reality, or maybe they really are as heartless as they sound. I just wanted to thank you and your staff for a touching series that really shed some light on this delicate topic.

    September 4, 2009 at 9:25 a.m.