The Banner-Press OPINIONS BANNERPRESS @BP_1866 Thursday, June 10, 2021 | Page A5 www.brenhambanner.com/opinion QUOTABLE MAYBE JOE KNOWS We are inclined to believe Celebrating where you came from those whom we do not know because they have When my grandparents, and elsewhere — would Hispanic Brenham High School grad- At one point, the individual stated, never deceived us. my father’s parents, came gather for Italian Fest one uate who was recently singled out by “I agree that you should never forget — Samuel Johnson to this country in the early weekend a year, enjoy- certain Washington County citizens where you came from, but you should 1709 - 1784 1960s, they did so having ing Italian food (to call it for sporting a Mexican flag during also never forget where you are.” only known life in Italy. a cauldron of spaghetti the school’s commencement ceremo- I think the argument can be made During six decades of would be an understate- ny last month. that many of us are where we are now life in the United States, all ment), games, music, cul- What was an apparent celebration because of where we once were. The of which was spent in the ture, etc. It became a note- of heritage for one’s ethnic roots was ability to succeed can often be de- A GLANCE BACK Chicago area of Illinois, my JOE worthy calendar addition quickly admonished through a series rived from the places and people that grandparents did their best ALBERICO every year, and one my of angry commenters in an online molded us, and celebrating individu- From The Banner-Press to assimilate American dad would remind me of comment section and treated as some ality provided by those experiences files, here’s a look life. While my grandmother found months in advance. sort of anti-American stunt. shouldn’t be seen as an act of treason- at how things were her groove as a working mother and While the festival went underappre- In reality, the young man’s willing- ous seclusion. 25, 50 and 75 years ago. homemaker, my grandfather got by ciated during my younger years, as I ness and ability to wave his flag in a Being an American doesn’t mean with broken English despite an in- grew older and began understanding demonstration of love, respect and you can’t be anything else. Cities 25 years ago ability to read it. But he worked hard how deeply rooted my grandparents honor for his — or perhaps his ances- across the United States celebrate the A group of property own- as a union laborer; he supported his were in their heritage, I gradually tors’ — country of origin, is about as multitude of cultures and heritages ers around a nudist colony family and helped my grandmother grew to respect and honor what the pro-American as it gets. America was present within the folds of their pop- are again intervening in the raise four children; and he left his Italian Fest was and what it meant started by those brave enough to cross ulations. In Brenham, we celebrate resort’s attempt to get a wife with a stable foundation follow- to so many. So much of the festival unknown waters and venture into un- Maifest in all of its German-based liquor license. ing his passing. was made possible by so many others’ known lands looking for fresh starts. glory. Concerned Neighbors Near When he was alive, he and my struggles and achievements following Foreigners, if you will. Embracing America, American cul- Live Oak Resort has fired a grandmother together were about as their immigration from Italy to the We live in a country that claims to ture and your status as an American protest against the resort’s American as any other natural-born United States. My grandparents are support the freedoms of speech and citizen should never come at the ex- application for a license to sell citizens. They enjoyed nights out; members of that group. expression, and also one that has pense of clipping your roots, regard- beer and wine for off premis- they cherished nights in with friends The true beauty of the festival is seemingly always celebrated its sta- less of where your seed was planted. es consumption. and family; they gardened; they trav- that it exists at all. We live in a coun- tus as a melting pot. But instead of This is the United States of Ameri- eled; and they celebrated national hol- try that allows for these celebrations celebrating with the young man on ca. Those of you who believe heritage The same group intervened idays with their loved ones. of culture and heritage, even if they what could possibly be chalked up as must be checked at the door must last year. Washington County But every year in Joliet, Illinois, a may not be seen as “American” by one of the most major achievements in have skipped a few chapters in your Judge Dorothy Morgan town just under an hour from Chica- some. his young life, we instead attack him history book. denied Live Oak’s request go where my grandparents lived and Nonetheless, the United States is for refusing to forget where he and/or Patriotism stops being patriotism for a permit, citing statuary also the town in which I was born, truly a sum of its parts, and those those in his family came from. when it is paired with an ultimatum. grounds “to protect the gen- the local Italian Club would hold an parts include members of society who A reader called me Tuesday after- ——— eral welfare, health, peace, annual celebration. The club, made started life on foriegn soil. noon after becoming upset over Ban- Joe Alberico is the managing editor morals and safety of the peo- up of hundreds of Chicagoland Ital- I took the long way to get to this ner-Press City Editor Alyssa Faykus’ at the Banner-Press. He can be contact- ple.” ians — those born in the U.S., Italy point, but yes, I’m circling back to the editorial regarding this exact subject. ed at [email protected] 50 years ago Clarence Crawford and Lorenzo Scurry, star players CATHY’S CORNER on last season’s bi-district champion Bryan Kemp Bears, have signed to play college Follow the rules basketball with the Blinn Buccaneers. There are so many would do better to go back to the Bible’s Blinn College coach Ernie new regulations and ideas popping up that Ten Commandments, Steward said he was real are supposed to be teaching children pleased to get the services on designed to improve that they should obey who such fine cagers. race relations. How- their parents (and all “They have had very illustri- ever, some of them are law authority), that ous high school careers and certain to make the they should not take we feel that both can con- problem worse. CATHY what is not theirs, or tribute greatly to our basket- There are schools GANSKE kill, and more. Com- ball program,” the Buc’s head that have endorsed mon sense rules! mentor said. the idea of having only black They should encourage toler- The two new signees add teachers teaching classes of all ance of other people and their to an already impressive list black children. I cannot see how lifestyles without letting other inked to the Buc roster by that will help reduce tensions be- people’s bad habits influence Stewart. tween races. I feel that segregat- them. ed classrooms would do more to And they should review the increase tensions instead. history of Rome, a great city 75 years ago This is a big wide world we that crashed due to the loss of The High School Band live in, with so many races in decency, respect and good laws. Parents club is sponsoring every country throughout the Unfortunately, the United States a summer program through world. While there are tensions as a nation is heading slowly (but which members of the band THE ECONOMIST and problems with racial equal- surely) into the lifestyle of those will receive musical instruc- ity in many other countries, it ancient Romans just before the tion during the summer and seems that those problems are collapse of Rome. the band will participate in worse right here in the United While race in itself had noth- Missing a critcal chapter States than anywhere else in ing (or very little) to do with the public programs. the world. collapse of a great nation, the It is believed this will insure More than 20 years ago, the helpful), the land was previ- If we expect the government to actions of the people did. But dis- a well-trained band when Texas Legislature passed the ously taxed at its agricultural solve the problem, we are bark- obedience of the laws as set forth school starts this fall and will Texas Economic Development value. In addition, companies Act, which allows school dis- typically make partially offset- ing up the wrong tree. Our own in the Bible did. give new members a chance government is in worse array Today, in our homes and to learn to play on their instru- tricts to offer tax incentives for ting balancing payments and, of course, after 10 years the full than ever, it seems. The two-par- schools and towns, disobedience ments during vacation. businesses that invest in their communities. The act, com- value is eligible for taxation. A ty system is not at all functional plays a big part in the problems To finance this program, monly called “Chapter 313” be- significant new location can these days.