EL RRUN-RRUN TAKES A BRIEF HIATUS THIS MONTH

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

February – beside being the shortest month of the year – is also a busy month for us here.

What with the publisher's birthday, his mother's (now 91), the Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day and now Charro Days, it's crammed full of required social events that lower our readership, and keep people away from their social media habits. We also took a brief respite to celebrate and were amply rewarded with the scenes from the Brownsville Independent School District Children's Parade Thursday.

SombreroFest is in full swing now, and judging from the attendance on the first day of the three-day fiesta at Washington Park, it looks like they're on track to break some records in 2023.

The tireless work of founding member Roy de los Santos, now a city commissioner as well, and his hard-working cadre is paying off big time. Thursday's Duelo concert, for example, sold out. Congrats and thanks, guys and gals

Today also marks the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and watching the television coverage of the savage invasion, the millions of refugees it has caused, and the wanton destruction being inflicted upon its cities and civilians, it is with deep respect and admiration that we witness the valor of this long-suffering people in the face of naked aggression.

In contrast, the ceremonies marking the extension of the hands of friendship between Texas and Tamaulipas (or Mexico-U.S.) and Brownsville and Matamoros should make us be thankful that this border for the most part has remained relatively free of the shedding of blood between our neighbors and the celebration of our friendship.

There will always be friction and differences between two bordering nations, but in comparison to other parts of the world, we live in a relatively peaceful atmosphere that makes the celebration of both our cultures possible. Even though it began as a purely commercial endeavor back in 1938, it has now become a source of cultural pride and its celebration that has lasted a full 85 years.

Instead of bombarding each other with artillery shells and rockets, Brownsville and Matamoros have forged this friendship four eight and one-half decades. Juarez was right: "Entre los individuos, como entre las Naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz”

Peace being a rare commodity in this world, it's a maxim that is embodied in our local fiestas. Enjoy it! See you on the rebound!