By Dr. G.F. McHale-Scully
Tony Estrada, the owner of the Broken Sprocket but an outspoken Southmost product with a decidedly conservative point of view, said it best: "No outsiders will judge us."
City Commissioner Cesar De Leon's racist statements exacerbated by other crude remarks have many Brownsville sinners reacting with righteous anger. The callow politico has precipitated a feeding frenzy of indignation.
Even the debauched County Judge Eddie Trevino is acting like he is going to renounce his secular excesses and take the orders of an Oblate missionary. For a town where the majority of the live-and-let-live denizens reside in glass houses, everyone seems to be raining rocks on the Third World Capital of the United States.
There are two perspectives on the De Leon controversy that echo Estrada's sentiments: Some actions are inexcusable and unforgivable. However, though some actions are inexcusable, they are forgivable.
As the Broken Sprocket's proprietor also states: "We will judge our own."
Those who insist that De Leon's words were inexcusable and unforgivable are right. If the once aspiring politician was this indiscreet in Austin or Washington D.C., we would have the first recorded lynching of a Mexican-American by a mob of African-Americans.
I was recently at a gathering of millenniums at Terra's Bar & Grill, all of them professionals, and they unanimously opined that De Leon's mea culpa was hypocritical and self-serving. They all agreed that De Leon should resign for the good of Brownsville.
They scoffed at De Leon's excuse that he was engaged in a private conversation not meant for public consumption.
"Is he saying that his official comments are nothing more than empty rhetoric that hide his true sentiments?" posed a UTRGV professor.
"If I said that my wife was a worthless whore with tits that hung to her waist and an ass that hung to her knees and afterwards I endeavored to placate her with the excuse that my insults were nothing more than lockerrom talk, do you think I would be occupying the same house, let alone the same bed, with her?"
De Leon's words were inexcusable.
But they are forgivable.
"We will judge our own," thunders Estrada.
De Leon was the victim of a conspiracy by a perpetrator who counted on Icarus flying too close to the sun with his new wings that gave him the swagger that he could soar above the general populace. Never was an ambush so successfully consummated. Lulled into thinking he was bullshitting with buddies over a few beers, De Leon started talking smack while his alleged friend secretly recorded him as part of a scheme that at this date has all the appearances of blackmail.
While most the citizenry remain disgusted with De Leon's outburst, they are equally disgusted by the manner in which the commissioner's insensitive comments were obtained. There is an overwhelming consensus that it was a cowardly act.
How do those sympathetic to De Leon choose to judge him? They regard him as a talented individual who has made a positive difference in the city, but who committed a grievous error as a result of his immaturity. He allowed power to go to his head that ultimately undermined his common sense.
De Leon's supporters look at him as a father and mother might look at their son who has been arrested for a DUI. There is no excuse for driving drunk although most men have taken the wheel inebriated on an occasion without thinking about the possible repercussions: They could kill someone or themselves.
Drunk driving is inexcusable just like calling the two African-Americans assistant district attorneys "fucking niggers" is inexcusable. But in the same manner that drunk driving is forgivable, De Leon's insults are forgivable if the community determines that an honorable man lapsed into a dishonorable moment. Many regard De Leon as a good person who made a bad mistake.
He has been humiliated. He has been humbled. He asserts that he has apologized to the persons he has offended and he has apologized to the public. His political career is most probably over. For the rest of his life people in Brownsville will mutter behind his back as he passes them in a hall. He has experienced the merciless reality of politics where ambition can lead to perdition. He has been scarred for the rest of his life.
Hasn't he been punished enough?
There are those who will rightfully circulate petitions and demand that he resign. They are justified in insisting that De Leon's remarks were inexcusable and unforgivable.
But there are those of us who don't believe that De Leon is a racist and that he is the product of a fine family. We see a young man blessed with a vision for realizing Brownsville's potential. We also see him wiser from a bitter lesson learned in the school of hard-knocks.
We live in racially charged times and we must face the difficult issues that divide us and try to resolve our differences. But we can't allow extremists from either end of the political spectrum to reduce existence to a black-and-white world. Life is lived in the gray.
Though I am an abject sinner who has been fortunate in that I have never been caught but who knows that he is going to pay a worse price than the terrible price that he is already paying because he has an instinctual comprehension of the universal and eternal laws of karma, I am in no position to judge anyone, but if Mary Helen Flores or Erasmo Castro, as much as I respect them, presented me with a petition, I wouldn't sign it even though I might have signed it a week ago.
After further deliberation, Cesar De Leon deserves a second chance.
31 comments:
Mexican American or American Mexican
You must be out of your mind Cesar is and will be a racist
Brownsville doesn't need a racist commissioner, we need a real public servant.
McHale's brain is mush. useless and lost. old man.
100% right si la familia de cesar es de matamoros, y eso que tiene que ver el papa y mama son de buenas familias jente de trabajo, empezando por el tal ELIZONDO el abuelo de parte de madre se dedico toda la vida a emborrachar GRINGOS el papa PEPE ELIZONDO estuvo en el bote en houston por drogas el abuelo por parte de padre buen medico como ven elizondo es pasaporteado viene de matamoros y el tony
(para empezarar) se llama ANTONIO de donde viene a poco viene de francia,es mas mexicano que la aguila azteca que quiere decir "no outsiders will judge us Dr. Mchale-Scully tiene usted la razon Cesar merece otra oportunidad y tu montoya dale una chekada a la familia de Elizondo
You must be kidding
Jerry saying it only makes it wrong. You two are so stupid, juanito. Everybody knows about jerry! Not reliable, not dependable, like YOU
He never really "admitted" the wrongdoing he went around it and made "excuses" , that's what he did. This is what we call a man with a lot of balls but no dick. At the end he satisfies only himself. Reminds me of Adam and Eve when they got exposed , in the garden of Eve, Adam being the man blamed it on Eve. That was also the first time they realized they were "naked" , meaning everything was exposed in front of the creator. The first thing they did was cover themselves. They never admitted to wrongdoing nor did they ask God to forgive them. Just imagine if they had admitted to the wrongdoing where would we be today. Think about this every time you go before a judge and put your hand on the bible next time Del Leon. Stand up and be a MAN.
Why not leave it up two those two assistant D.A.s? Lets ask them if they think being called a "fucking nigger" is a youthful indiscretion or an expression of racism. And even if he is not a dyed in the wool racist what about all the quid pro quo talk. He clearly expects personal gain from his position as a commissioner. Is this all right with everybody? I, for one, an tired of letting people off the hook with the statement that yeah, he shouldn't have done it (whatever "it" happens to be this time) pero es bueno gente. He must be one of those "very fine racist" Trump was talking about. You support him you support them.
A SECOND CHANCE JERRY? After listening to the “infamous” four-hour recording, it became clear that there was an ethical consideration, Saenz said. CESAR DE LEON SAID THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! “You know what my complaint with Rene De Coss is that he never gave (sic) me a court appointment … let’s set the record straight, I am the only m****f***er that kept you there, the entire commission wanted to get you out,” De Leon said in the recording, according to a motion filed by the DA’s Office. “I am going to keep buttering you up, I am going to give you a raise, because I want you to become a federal judge one day … I would rather have you as my friend.” SEND CESAR DE LEON TO JAIL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!
So Cesar is the victim cause he chose to use unprovoked racial slurs ? Gimme a break
Meskins only accept. judgement from other Meskins? Well, that is a pretty low bar to jump.
On this one, Jerry's right. De Leon is not racist; he's just an ordinary elitist from Matamoros who believes he should profit from his elected position. That's the way it's done in Mexico. That culture of corruption worries me a lot more than his blurting out something stupid and out of character. Has de Leon ever denied representing someone because they were black? Has he denied blacks housing based on race, like Trump's father did? Nowadays, it's really hard to find white-on-black racism in Brownsville because there aren't that many blacks or whites. Some of the old stranded gringos still practice soft, white-on-Mexicans racism "fucking wetbacks trespassing my property" but it's more like "my grandpa did it", Throwback Thursday kind of thing. Cussing under their breath, those same whites will likely toss a pbj to a passing mojadito. Well-to-do Mexicans like de Leon practice elitist racism, an entitled Mexican-on-jodido Mexican racism, saying shit like "muerta de hambre" aimed at a person who is jodido but pretends to be an elitist, or "pinche mojado" to put down the lower classes, like a caste system. Mexican-on-Mexican racism, unlike the nasty white-on-black racism, can be overlooked if you win the Lotto. However, once the green goes, bananas turn brown fast. Should de Leon resign? Nah. Racists aren't born overnight, and nowhere in de Leon's life and career has he demonstrated racism. He's a chump that one time said something stupid, as we all have at one time or another. Put down the pitchforks and quit trying so hard to find a witch so you can "join in the conversation". This is a first and forgivable offense. Jerry might be tone deaf when he "channels" Hank Williams but on de Leon he's dead on.
No one comments on how awfully classist his 4 and a half hour rant was. How can this aim to represent the mainly impoverished and underemployed people of Brownsville if everyone is a peasant dying of starvation to him? Bragging about possessions... Complaining about only being able to afford Johnny Walker Black Label while he was raised on Blue Label?? Is this just centrsit and neoliberal apologia to support this man who is no friend to the working class or the poor?
I just heard the entire tape (4hrs). Sorry, i can't give this guy (Cesar) a second chance. This guy is mentally not well. Somebody put this guy in a psychiatric ward. Never heard anybody talk like that and i've been around some tough cookies. I hope his mother doesn't listen to the tape. He just needs to leave town even though this will follow him the rest of his life. I never thought i'd ever witness anything like this. This guy is walking DEAD!
In the United States today, racist comments such as those made by Cesar de Leon are inexcusable if you are a politician...of either party. To excuse him because he is Hispanic, because his words were recorded while engaged in a private conversation, or that he offered a pithy apology....means that Brownsville wants to excuse him because he is Hispanic...poor baby...and that he has friends like Tony Martinez who don't want him maligned or his political career hurt. Cesar de Leon is a racist and a bigot. He should not be representing the public interest. If you assholes who support him, get your way, the the Jefferson Davis rock (which has never uttered a racist word) deserves a higher place at Washington Park. To move that rock while allowing a real racist to endure, is a tragedy for our community.
Why is Cesar de Leon's bigotry and racism "foregiveable", but the Confederate history, statues and names so "unforgiveable". If Cesar de Leon is given a pass on his racism and bigotry, the we must give a pass to the Jefferson Davis "rock" in Washington Park. If not this city is hypocritical and we shouldn't believe of trust anything that comes out of the commission. All covering each others asses and self-serving.
Ok.. you want to say "nigger"? fine.
You think your brave n' shit, you got big balls for saying that? FINE
Ill pay your plane ticket, first class, to Houston, LA, NY, Atlanta, Baltimore..you name it ill pay for it... and Ill DROP YOU OFF (I aint staying around, I aint no hero wannabe), in a "hood" with all ya hoodlums, thugs, street-rats, niggas, pimps, homies, and you can just scream the word all fucking day, like a rooster in the morning, in your nice suite and tie, telling all the boyz you a bad mother fucker, commissioner from Brownsville and you da shit. I bet they'll piss in their pants right? Your one baaaad mofo, right?
LOL - your a joke. Just wait for the reaction, just wait. Do you really think Oliveira, Vela, Lucios, and all other Democrats in Austin and DC are going to risk their legacy because an idiot "hero" thinks he has some balls?
Just wait - its so predictable.
If Blue Label is as much as you know about Whisky, and you think your royalty, then your your a punk kid.
Oh jeeze...what a bunch of hypocrites. Just a Mexican elitist looking down on folks of the lower class and calling them fucking niggers. He will learn, he will grown up, he just fell into bad company. I find all of this forgiveness stunning. If Trump would have said the word "nigger" the entire county would fall on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
We know that Mexicans are corrupt. We know that Mexicans from across the river, look down on the American Nacos. We know that Mexicans in general, look down on Mayates. We can now add hypocrisy and lack of integrity to what we know about Mexicans.
There are a whole bunch of worthless gringos, but it doesn't seem to be a ethnic or cultural trait.
Interesting and quite factual points of view, BUT De León supporters fail to see that elected officials and ordinary citizens aren’t judged at the same level. He needs to go.
I wonder how leanient Jerry and Juan would be if Longoria, Gowen, Martinez, or even Munguia were in De Leon’s shoes. Bunch of hipócritas.
What an insult to the entire population of Brownsville. This puto may live in the gray, but doesn't mean everybody does. This sounds like a crock of anti-Hispanic bull shit coming from some gringo ass hole.
Excellent summation of the situation Jerry. Black's call themselves niggers all the time. They sell songs that use that word. What's the big fucking deal ?
Juan, don't take the focus away from LOW LIFE BACKSTABBER "ELIZONDO"`, you and Emma go after this Low Life Scum. Our coffee group (20 of us) unanimously believe, unfortunately that, this guy (ELIZONDO) is the face of DARKNESS.
Montoya no te hagas pendejo o ne seas pendejo guey como dice El Ladron De Leon. La ley esta clara pendejete. Hasta el pinche Bobby Wightman la sabe cabrón. Que waiver ni que waiver. No le necesitan. La Ley dice que no se necesita un waiver. Mira el blog de Barton y lo que dice Bobby. Te van aver el pendejo si no sabes la Ley. "Alex Dominguez can practice law in any court in Cameron County. AG opinions are just opinions and those opinions are old, old, old. There is something called Texas law that tells you that he can practice law. Texas law allows Alex Dominguez to practice law in any court. Texas Local Government Code 171.010 (d) says that "a county judge or commissioner may practice law in the courts located in the county where the county judge or commissioner serves." This is the law today. Cesar De Leon does not know the law." La diferencia es que el pinche Ladron Cesar De Leon dijo en la grabacion que el queria ayudar al juez municipal para que le de algo en cambio. Lo que dijo Cesar es donde se hizo el conflicto. Aprende Montoya. Don't go chasing your own tail Montoya.
Everybody in this town are racists all of you have said the words, i.e. mojados, gringos and niggers many times! So shut up and move on!!!!
Cesar Deleon was elected by 4,000+ citizens so anybody with a stupid petition can stick it where the sun don't shine!
4,000+ in a city with 200,000 isn’t that great. Maybe in a city with 8,000 population.
If all the 200,000 had voted, you'd have a point, but the fact is more like 5,000 turn out to vote for At-Large.
That doesn't say something positive unfortunately, it only says De Leon defrauded most of his constituents who aren't many to begin with.
Its bad news any way you cut it.
People in this town don't vote, but sure bitch and complain!
So 4,400+ votes which is more than the Mayor and everybody else on the ballot received is damn good!
Running for mayor vs running for at-large commissioner are two very different things. Although I don’t like the mayor I know he would still kick De Leon’s ass in a race for the same seat. Money talks and Cesar doesn’t have any, just a big mouth that can talk endlessly.
Post a Comment