Joe Lopez

jlopez8182@satx.rr.com

(File photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

Lpez: Embraces without fences (Abrazos sin cercas!)

Updated: May 29, 2016

Theres no doubt that the anti-immigrant seeds sown by on-going fence-building political
rhetoric are sprouting controversy.
Yet, the debate has served to rekindle attention on two realities that undermine the fence: (1)
financial benefits on our southern border flow both ways not just to Mexico, as alleged by a
major political candidate; and (2) the fact is that the Berlin Wall-type fence would be built
in the middle of Old Mexico.

These economic and historical facts are self-evident. Yet most people in the U.S. totally
overlook their existence. Thus, further discussion is in order.
America is already great, because we are stronger together. Contrary to inflammatory
electioneering talking points, our relationship with our loyal ally Mexico is not a rivalry, but a
solid partnership where each side profits. This long-standing winning formula between our
two countries calls for embraces, not fences.
Unbelievably, a vocal political candidate often boasts to his supporters that he will shut down
the U.S. Mexico border (at least for some time). His is obviously expedient bluster, but whats
the impact to the U.S. economy if that happened? In one word Catastrophic!
Statistics tell the tale. Mexico is the second major oil supplier to the U.S., and its third largest
trading partner. Further, the U.S. Mexico border is one of the busiest in the world and the
envy of other countries. About one million travelers cross each day, with over $1 billion
worth of goods in a highly integrated two-way conveyor-belt system.
Connected to a network of market points strategically spread out to include non-border states,
it touches communities throughout the U.S. In actuality, border cities on the U.S. Mexico
border operate a perpetual vortex of activity stretching from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego,
California, simultaneously delivering goods to U.S. destinations in states far from the border.
Its the same open system success story with tourism dollars. Mexican travelers in the U.S.
spent nearly $10 billion in 2011. Business leaders in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio are
well aware of this dynamic gold mine and compete with border towns to lure Mexican
shoppers to their cities. Conversely, over one million U.S. citizens choose to permanently live
in Mexico and over 20 million made Mexico the number one vacation destination for U.S.
travelers in 2012.
Still, besides its commerce impact, theres the historical angle. The fact is that the
Borderlands (from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean) is in Old Mexico (New Spain),
not New England. (Theres no Plymouth Rock off the Texas Coast!) Incredibly, fencebuilding fanatics miss that truth entirely, intent on ending Spanish Mexican influence in the
Southwest by closing our southern border.
Nevertheless, proponents expect that once the fence is built, the Spanish Mexican heritage
(language and culture) will disappear from Texas to California. The strong organic roo ts will
not let that happen.
Perhaps no other example proves that point better than the annual Abrazo Ceremony
between Laredo, Texas, and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Held in the middle of the
International Bridge during George Washingtons Birthday Celebration, its a key event.

This serious (and at the same time joyous) ritual performed by dignitaries representing the
governments of the U.S. and Mexico is a reminder of their mutual economic connections.
However, for Las Villas del Norte descendants, the border has a much deeper meaning that
deals with family values and pre-1848 kinship preservation.
Please note that residents on both banks of the Rio Grande share the same family names and
look identical. Thats because long before todays celebratory Washingtons Birthday event,
two groups of close-knit family members initiated the original Abrazos, marking a very
solemn occasion. Sadly, in 1848, the Rio became a political boundary, changing family daily
life forever.
With Abrazos de lgrimas (Embraces of tears), fathers and mothers said goodbye to sons
and daughters, brothers and sisters said goodbye to siblings, grandparents said goodbye to
their grandchildren, compadres and comadres said goodbye to their kids godparents.
Under the watchful eyes of U.S. military troops, customs officials, and Texas Rangers,
families gathered en masse by the rivers edge, solemnly waving goodbye to their kin across
the Rio.
The reason is that following the costly U.S. Mexico War of 1846-1848, northern Tamaulipas
was no longer part of Mexico. On May 15, 1848, residents of the east side of the Rio became
citizens of the U.S. Those on the west side remained citizens of Mexico. More radically,
residents living south of the Nueces River (South Texas) were no longer citizens of the state
of Tamaulipas.
Incidentally, further west, the change was equally harsh for our Native American brethren.
For example, in Arizona and New Mexico, their already-reduced homeland was arbitrarily cut
into two sectors; one in the U.S. one in Mexico. Their separation continues to this day!
For Laredoans, their cohesive community was now split in two. Previously, the phrase El
otro lado just meant the other side of the Rio. Now, its meaning was more extreme.
Suddenly, it meant another country another world. Citizens could no longer cross the
bridge at will as they had done for nearly 100 years, from El Paso to Brownsville. In short, the
Rio Grande became a barrier secured by armed guards.
To illustrate the severe impact, most Texas school children learn about the Mason Dixon Line
during the U.S. Civil War that once separated Slave States (South) from Free States (North).
In that war, Border States families were also separated. Lucky for them though, after the Civil
War, families were re-united and now live together.
Sadly, Villas del Norte families werent so lucky. In spite of the fact that residents are still
organically connected, the Rio Grande became a permanent Mason Dixon Line that separates
them to this day.

Thus, the festive occasion in Los Dos Laredos celebrates, rather than condemns the close
familial relationship between the sister communities, whose origins go back to Las Villas del
Norte (1749-1755).
Nevertheless, theres a good chance that the anti-Mexico rhetoric will continue past the ongoing presidential election. Thats because unless we rediscover (and believe) our rich
Borderlands history ourselves, itll be difficult to stop the verbal attacks.
Yet, being Laredo born-and-raised (and as an eighth-generation Texan) its my hope that
Laredo city leaders, their counterpart elected officials, and business organizations throughout
the U.S.-Mexico border become Borderlands Ambassadors. Without delay, they must
repackage the good news story of the border and early Texas through the mass media much
more effectively. In truth, its a task we must all do within our own spheres of influence
without delay.
Along those same lines, a coalition of San Antonio educators (Somos MAS), plans to actively
tackle this issue on a much broader scale. Their goal is to fill in the missing pieces of Texas
history taught in the classroom so that students of all backgrounds learn of the true founding
roots of this great place we call Texas.
In the final analysis, that anyone thinks the U.S. Mexico border economic mega-structure
momentum can be shut down regardless of the length of time or reason is unbelievably naive.
Likewise, Borderlands communities, possessing common roots predating 1776, (the birth of
the U.S.), have lasted and endured through many years of adversity. They will continue to
exist, strengthen, and increase in numbers, no matter how high or how thick the border fence.
The bottom line? Embraces Yes, Fences No! (Abrazos si, cercas no!)
Editors Note: The main image accompanying this guest column shows U.S. President Barack Obama
and Mexico President Enrique Pea Nieto.

bout the Author: Jos Joe Antonio Lpez was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and is a
USAF Veteran. He now lives in Universal City, Texas. He is the author of four books. His latest
book is Preserving Early Texas History (Essays of an Eighth-Generation South Texan). It is
available through Amazon.com. Lopez is also the founder of the Tejano Learning Center, LLC,
and www.tejanosunidos.org, a Web site dedicated to Spanish Mexican people and events in U.S.
history that are mostly overlooked in mainstream history books.
-Walter L. Herbeck Jr
WalterHole@gmail.com