The Border Chronicle helps kick off an exciting new oral history project called "The Border Before" led by the nonprofit Voices from the Border, and other local border organizations.
What Celia describes does not seem so long ago. Those of us who were blessed to live in that world may lament and pine for those simpler days. If I had time-travelled to this day when I was a boy, except for the topography, Ambos Nogales would be unrecognizable. Progress? At what cost?
"CiCi" makes an important point about how our culture and families instilled in us to accept -- nay -- embrace diversity and have a more open mind about the world around us.
Very good question. From the perspective of a border resident, is it progress? Or are we moving in the wrong direction? Thanks for your comment Manuel, and thanks for listening!
I totally relate to Celia’s memories of living in our borderlands. Precious memories of a time gone by.
I remember visiting small towns in the Valle de Juarez and in Cd. Juarez which only had about 400,000 people. My experience was in the 1970’s. El Paso and Juarez seemed to be one community, separated by the Rio Grande. There was an international streetcar system, and people in Juarez and El Paso used it for 20 cents to go shopping on both sides. The night life was beautiful with popular clubs and restaurants, stores and curio shops. Tourists were everywhere.
Workers from Juarez would simply walk through the Rio Grande to work in El Paso as maids and restaurant help, then cross back home to Juarez after work.
I am saddened and angry at what I see in the on the border now. I’ll stop here, as I’m getting emotional.
What Celia describes does not seem so long ago. Those of us who were blessed to live in that world may lament and pine for those simpler days. If I had time-travelled to this day when I was a boy, except for the topography, Ambos Nogales would be unrecognizable. Progress? At what cost?
"CiCi" makes an important point about how our culture and families instilled in us to accept -- nay -- embrace diversity and have a more open mind about the world around us.
Very good question. From the perspective of a border resident, is it progress? Or are we moving in the wrong direction? Thanks for your comment Manuel, and thanks for listening!
I totally relate to Celia’s memories of living in our borderlands. Precious memories of a time gone by.
I remember visiting small towns in the Valle de Juarez and in Cd. Juarez which only had about 400,000 people. My experience was in the 1970’s. El Paso and Juarez seemed to be one community, separated by the Rio Grande. There was an international streetcar system, and people in Juarez and El Paso used it for 20 cents to go shopping on both sides. The night life was beautiful with popular clubs and restaurants, stores and curio shops. Tourists were everywhere.
Workers from Juarez would simply walk through the Rio Grande to work in El Paso as maids and restaurant help, then cross back home to Juarez after work.
I am saddened and angry at what I see in the on the border now. I’ll stop here, as I’m getting emotional.
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Thank you Bill. I miss it, too! Hopefully, that unity will be restored one day. Ojala.
Celia Concannon you look so good!! You never age - love Daniela Aguilar one of your many thespians !!