Chappy’s Blog #2.
SAMENESS
Growing up, my grandmother Juanita’s house was the hub of everything family. My mother was part of the extended Griego family that had connection to the Spaniards that explored and colonized the southwest in the early sixteen-hundreds. One of our Griego ancestors had acquired a Spanish land grant in Santa Fe, NM, and had developed the property as farm and ranch land. As Santa Fe and the Griego clan grew, the housing needs of the Griego’s resulted in the gradual subdividing of the land into family lots for home building. Today one can find houses built out of adobe, cinder block, brick, and stick built, zoning out the window, houses on different angled lots, driveways that were once wagon paths, a mishmash of construction technique that would make a modern-day zoning inspector go nuts. I grew here amongst my relatives and neighbors that included other ethnic groups. The family gathered at grandma’s house on Arroyo Tenorio almost every weekend. I don’t remember the exact number of relatives that came, but I do recall that grandma’s house was always full of relatives and friends cooking, eating, drinking, and playing cards. All were welcome, and all were respectful to the matriarch of the Griego clan. This large family had many similar traits, and attributes, a commonality borne of blood and history. All were of the same blood, but different in almost all other ways. It wasn’t the perfect family for sure, but for the most part everyone got along well, and were able to work out differences of opinion and beliefs.
US House of Rep. Manuel Lujan (P) and US Sen. Joseph Montoya (D) were prominent names in New Mexico during this point in history, and were each reelected several times. During our family gatherings, these two names came up often in regard to their effectiveness and as to their political platforms and ideologies. Since most of my relatives were democrats, the discussions became one of which political party best represented the voters and the needs of the state. Much like today, but with a couple of exceptions. Issues and opinions were at the forefront, minor arguments breaking out here and there, but never did I see disrespectful nor threatening behavior on anyone’s part. I was a little guy at the time, but I paid attention to all the conversation taking place, and it has stayed with me to this day. People talking, people disagreeing, people moving on without anger and rancor. A lesson for today! (A little sidenote to this paragraph. Manuel Lujan and Joseph Montoya were dedicated to the people of New Mexico and were known to help any citizen that called on them. You see, they actually worked for the betterment of the people of the state, and consequently were elected by crossover votes. Two sides, two ideologies, one purpose – work for the people, the most important reason to be in office. This is a foreign concept in today’s political void) My family had their differences, but were the same when it came to respecting another’s viewpoint. I miss those times!
Last year I friended a relative on Facebook. I received a message from my relative giving rules associated with the posts and shares that were allowed if I wanted to remain “friended”. All was fine until I posted a piece that broke down the Trump impeachment. Neither pro or con, I analyzed the proof that was cited and my opinion that “probable cause” was never reached in the case and therefore the charges against Trump were without merit. I caught hell from my relative and was promptly “unfriended”. Mind you, I have always been very fond of my relative, and we have always enjoyed each other’s company. So today, I find myself unfriended and “unrelatived”. I was cancel cultured by my relative! I’ll survive for sure, but what is clearly illustrated by this event is that I am out with this relative, all because I choose to break down what had been a foregone conclusion about Trump’s guilt, using simple logic. I wasn’t acting as an apologist for Trump. I was within reason in my conclusion. Leaving my observations within the Griego family, the erosion of congenial relationships is very disturbing. The family is largely at odds over the politics of the day. Most of the problems are brought about by differences of opinion that none of my relatives formed by their own volition, instead they depended on social media and news outlets to form their opinions. They are entitled to their opinion, but is the cost of having your own opinion worth the loss of relationships and the civility of reasoned discussion? Are we not sharing the same ground in a country we call our own, a country that begs for healing in these tumultuous times. It is time to consider what is happening in our country and world, and the long-term consequences of the division caused by this illusion of freedom to have one’s own opinion. The end result is “hate”. Its ugly head is all around us, I experienced this phenomenon of anger and maybe hate towards me. Opinion without thought and fact is not “opinion”, it is just an empty emotion. It is breaking up relationships and their ability to resolve issues and problems. The effect of cancel culture is now within my family, a family that lost its ability to converse. The rest of society is no better off. The rules of civility are gone.
I remember the OJ Simpson murder case very clearly. While visiting a daughter in San Diego, Ca., during June 1994, the news of the murders of Nicole Browm Simpson and Ron Goldman was broadcast. OJ Simpson at that time was charismatic personality that was well liked by nearly everybody in the United States. After his arrest, general goodwill towards him changed and people took sides, pro and con, and just like that, OJ went from hero to villain in many people’s eyes. The public was inundated with all networks focusing on the case and subsequent trial for most of the broadcast day. Sides were taken, opinions were formed and the age of true cancel culture was born. The opinions were baseless, as not one person actually witnessed the murders, investigated the murders, or even knew any of the people involved in the case. A string of unending experts expounded on the case, which only served to solidify the opinions that people had already formed in their minds. Our entire country was divided and when the verdict came out, the division grew. Every emotion came out, anger, elation, hatred, blame,
hurt, and pent-up rage against an injustice that could not be explained. This is also the beginning of the “woke” generation. Media made sure that we had to follow their slant on the OJ case, by constantly pushing it on us, and by using key words. much like what is used to control the narrative today. In the end, I witnessed all of this, had my own opinion about the guilt/innocence of OJ, and finally told myself, “it is none of my business”!
Yeah, humans have much in common, but we’re entitled to our differences and ability to express ourselves. Chappy is independent, speaks for himself, and will continue to respect the rights of others to think for themselves. I also respect the freedom that I have to express myself, always remembering a quote of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “Freedom Without Restraint Is Not Freedom”. I live by those words, and I’m glad that I paid attention to the conversations at my grandmother Juanita’s house. I honor her memory and the respect for other people that I learned there.
Next: Maybe