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America goes beyond looking at skin color

Published/Last Modified on Monday, Jul 14, 2008 - 05:31:03 am MST

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To the Editor:

This past Fourth of July was spent at one of the public softball fields. We arrived early, played with the Frisbee and played catch with my family. Soon came the crowds of people and with them came an intoxicated woman. She was very animated and opinionated about how to cheer on the fireworks display.

My visiting family were mesmerized by the fireworks and were quietly enjoying the show. The woman came over and sat next to my child and proceeded to yell at them telling them to make noise and to act more excited about the display. I proceeded to tell the woman, “Mind your own business.”

Normally, I am not so outspoken; however, my child’s discomfort was extremely visible. Upon hearing my remark, the woman proceeded to verbally assault my Mexican background by lacing it with derogatory remarks along with many racial slurs and capped it off by telling me to go back to Mexico if I didn’t like the fireworks.

I have devoted my entire adult life to public service in law enforcement and in support of our troops and am extremely proud to be a United States citizen and an Army veteran.

Having said all this, I speak Spanish when in the company of people who understand this language. I take great care to ensure that Spanish is not spoken when amongst non-Spanish-speaking people.

I have tried to instill a sense of patriotism in my children and was proud to see my youngest show a flash of “brilliance” when I took my boys to the park this past Fourth of July. My 8-year-old noticed another young child trying to grab one of the flagpoles, and he promptly said, “He needs to respect the flag.”

I would like to shed some light for those who might not be able to see past someone’s skin color. To those who seem to think that their skin color gives entitlement to call themselves an American, I would say this, “We are all created equal, and we have all been blessed to have had ancestry who envisioned and put into action their migration to the United States.”

Ricardo Borrego

Sierra Vista

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Old Soldier wrote on Jul 18, 2008 8:38 PM:

" I'd like to believe that things like that couldn't happen but I was just told I had married a slope because I couldn't find an American Girl, refering to my wife of over 40 years. You never know "

Dissapointed Vacationer wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:29 AM:

" Intoxication is no excuse for acting in such way. That woman should have stayed home instead of making her presence in a family-oriented event. It's disheartening to see that such mentality exists in this day and age. We all need to come together as Americans to celebrate and be unified. "

Skeptical wrote on Jul 14, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Ricardo, your letter is poignant and should hit the drunken woman between the eyes (when she's sobered up). Unfortunately, there are "fence sitters" who haven't the courage--with or without alcohol--to be as brazen as the feminine abomination who assaulted your children. Let's face it, there's a strong racist cloud that still darkens many (if not most) parts of the nation. Sierra Vista is no exception--in fact, it could serve as a role model. But I assure you, it doesn't stop at Hispanics--my wife (Thai by birth) of 36 years still gets hassled by some--especially by some of the BP folks. "

Kim wrote on Jul 14, 2008 8:47 AM:

" it really saddens me that people call theirselves Americans when our country was founded off of all kinds of nationalities rolled into one nation. I commend Ricardo and his stand, skin color should never be the issue. "

Life Long SV Resident wrote on Jul 14, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Sorry for that. The woman should have not acted that way. While most of us are against illegal aliens in our country, I hope that most of us are also tolerable of other people.

Please, don't let one idiots remarks spoil your fun. "

Concerned Citizen wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:48 AM:

" Do NOT let one woman lead you to believe all whites believe the way she does! Some of us do see past skin color! "

Witness to History wrote on Jul 14, 2008 7:19 AM:

" Thanks for a valuable lesson in citizenship. Unfortunately, Ignorance also knows no skin color. I'm sorry your children were forced to endure this. "