"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Friday, September 2, 2016

Why America IS great, Day 5

Palacio del El Gubanadors, La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis...establecido en 1610
America has been great a long time, and it started for Europeans in what is now America in 1540, and officially in 1610 with the founding of the oldest capitol here, what is now Santa Fe...and speaking English had nothing to do with it. 
In fact, today on those streets and in that historic capital city, you will hear numerous languages, including versions of Spanish, English, numerous Native American languages, and mixes thereof.
Under the great portales of the palace of the governors, you will find every day the first Americans selling their artwork to the mono-lingual English gringo newcomers. They probably speak at least three languages.
This is exactly what has made America great, in spite of her problems, through the years...new peoples, new ideas and cultures, blending sometimes peacefully and others not, but still generating an energy of greatness that endures... in spite of a white man's current stupid campaign slogan implying that they, and we, are not great.

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1 comment:

  1. MarciaSeptember 3, 2016 at 12:43 PM

    You are so right! I recognize the scene from a long ago visit to Santa Fe. I think we even made some purchases under that portico.

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