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Tejanos are descendants of the first Spanish,
Mexican and indigenous families in the Texas frontier. They built the
first roads, towns, and missions and created the first laws,
governments and ranching enterprises. Texas Tejano.com and other state
Hispanic organizations join in the leadership to help champion this
long over due honor to Tejano legacy and our Tejano ancestors. |
Will not accept for substitute
Tejano I.D.
State Rep. Aaron Pena, D-Edingburg, introduced a bill
that would designate May 5 as Tejano Heritage Day to commemorate the
contributions of Hispanic Texans-known as Tejanos. Mr. Pena subtitled
the bill the Jesus Bazan/Antonio Longoria Act, in honor of two Hildago
County residence.
IN MY OPINION TEJANOS ARE NOT IDENTIFIED AS HISPANIC TEXANS.
WE ARE NOT KNOWN AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN TEJANOS OR TEJANAS BY THE
GRACE OF GOD
My fellow Tejanos and Tejanas on Wednesday the day before the Battle of
San Jacinto's 169th anniversary, I was at Del Mar College computer room
working on my composition for the memorable occasion. At noon I decided
to pay a visit to a personal friend, who happens to be Dr. Manuel
Flores. He is an educator as well as the college newspaper
administrator. During my short visit he mentioned
someone had contact him form Austin, because someone was working on a
Tejano RESOLUTION and needed some advise on how to identify the
Tejano. He mentioned, they were not using Mexican or Mexican-American.
He suggested the Hispanic term and believed, they were going to use. I
could not have disagreed more. I expressed my view to my friend Mr.
Flores and he said "well thats what I came up with at the moment." I
met Mr. Flores years ago, and introduced him to the Tejano theory. It
took some years before Mr. Flores openly supported my views, but with
some reservations. I understand it's very difficult for people to
acknowledge and support unfamiliar facts.
What Mr. Flores related that day, sound very familiar to an experience
I had years ago. I witness a similar incident years ago at the state
capital in Austin. We were attending a meeting to learn about the
future Tejano monument in the Capital grounds. The chief of staff of a
legislator came in the room, and expressed that someone from the press
wanted to know "who or what was a Tejano". What should I tell them he
asked? The person in charge of the group, started to write some notes
and said something like "tell them a Tejano is a Mexican and/or a
Spanish, who came to Texas and made it what is is today. At which
point I suggested, we should discuss the matter, but I was immediately
told, they were professionals, who knew what they were doing. That was
suppose to have been a very special day for me, but ended being a very,
very sad and terrible day for true Tejanos.
The question I raised is why these professionals, who are working at
the state Capitol on such important issue about and concerning Tejanos,
do not know, what constitutes being a Tejano. Why don't they know? I
remember most of them identifying with the Mexican-American term then.
They still do.
Ladies and gentlemen most of us know or should recognize the following.
Spanish, Mexican, Mexican-American
The following political correct terms apply to individuals, that have
come to our country. Hispanic... Latino
The Chicano term has been incorporated into the United States
mainstream, simply to attempt to establish a distinction, between
individuals with above mentioned cultures born in the United States.
Other than that, most of these individuals carry on and choose to
identify with their foreign ancestral origin. They strongly support and
actively participate in their particular foreign countries cultural
life styles.
Most of us know or should know about these people. We hear about them
regularly in the news media. Most of us can tell some of these people
came to the United States legally or illegally. Why? Because they
simply refuse to blend into our culture. They choose to carry on, as if
they were back in their country of origin. They are in the United
States in great numbers. In Texas they out number United
States born Tejanos, who are direct descendants of the 1600's -
1800's original Tejanos. In the UNITED STATES, they out
number others with similar background in Ca.,New Mexico, AZ. and many
other states.
So the question is why are we still looking the other way and
pretending this is not our concern? Why do we claim it does not affect
us personally? Why do so many of us, choose to say we are them, but
keep complaining about them?
Why are Tejanos and Tejanas supporting legislators such as Mr. Pena,
who introduced a bill designating CINCO DE MAYO as
Tejano Heritage Day to commemorate Hispanic Texans, that
according to him are known as Tejano.
Mr. Pena may support Hispanic Texans and designate a Hispanic Texan
Heritage Day to his hearts delight. However, I would strongly suggest
to Mr. Pena, Tejanos are not know as Hispanics at least not to this
Tejano.
It's not as if Mr. Pena is not aware of the difference. I had the
opportunity to meet with him and point out, the picture they had
selected to portrait Los Tejanos at a Tejano Democratic function
was inappropriate. The picture did not represent Tejanos, but
actually a group of Mexican Pancho Villa riders.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates a battle between the French and Mexican back
in 1864.
The event has no ties with the TEJANO CULTURE. General Zaragoza,
who led the Mexican forces to victory that day was born in Goliad
Tejas and was a Tejano. This fact rarely if ever is acknowledged or
mentioned by the Mexican during their celebrations.
I am not sure about the rest of you, but I am a United States born
Tejano with an original Tejano Heritage dating back to the
late 1700's. Long before the Hispanic term was introduced as indicated
above.
I will always stick to my guns in defense of our Tejano and Tejana
identity, culture and proud heritage regardless of the
consequences. Soy Puro Tejano and will not settle for no other
identify ever.
Rudy'Tejano'Pena, USN., RET. TEJANO HISTORIAN
www.TejanopPride.com
NOW CHECK THIS OTHER ATTEMPT BY SOMEONE ELSE WITH
SIMILAR INTERESTS
Texas Senate Resolution Hearing on Tejano Heritage Month
May 10, 2005 Texas Senate Chambers, State Capitol
(San Antonio, Texas) April 21, 2005 – Texas Tejano.com is proud to
announce that State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (District 26) has
authored a Senate resolution to proclaim the month of September as
Tejano Heritage Month in the great state of Texas. The reading of the
resolution will take place in the Texas Senate Chamber at the Capitol
in Austin on May 10, 2005 beginning at 11:00am.
Interested parties from all over the state are encouraged to attend and
view the ceremony from the gallery. Photo opportunities will be
available with many of the Senators in attendance following the
hearing.
There were no Mexican in the early Tejas frontier 1600 thru 1800.
Therefore Tejanos were not descendants of Mexican for nearly 200 years.
The Republic of Mexico was established in 1824.
Tejanos are descendants of the first Spanish, Mexican and
indigenous families in the Texas frontier. They built the first
roads, towns, and missions and created the first laws, governments and
ranching enterprises. Texas Tejano.com and other state Hispanic
organizations join in the leadership to help champion this long
over due honor to Tejano legacy and our Tejano ancestors.
(Why don't Hispanic organizations join and support the
True Tejanos instead of trying to convert Tejanos into what
they claim is their not our rich cultural diversity of
Hispanics in our State not theirs.)
This resolution will help celebrate and elevate the rich cultural
diversity of Hispanics in the State. We encourage groups as well as
individuals to attend this very historic occasion. We will be posting
photos and the resolution on our Web site.
Personally, I would first recognize and acknowledge Tejanos
to start with, then raise our rich cultural diversity to
unparallel, unprecedented levels base on our merit.
In my view above statements are reasons Tejanos and Tejanas
continue to be in a state of confusion. Readers Please check the
facts before you and if you are a True Tejano or Tejana do your
part and take a stand to those who use and keep some us divided,
confused and ignorant. Please do not be another victem.)
It's always been Tejano Time!
Rudy 'Tejano' Pena
SUPPORTING NUESTRA GENTE LOS TEJANOS FOREVER
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