Those terrible Spaniards and their conquests

 

Those terrible Spaniards and their conquests - American Thinker https://t.co/EeZ6A7Gmzj

— Silvio Canto. Jr. (@silvio_canto) October 14, 2024

Down in Mexico, the new "Presidenta," as she likes to be called, is off to a confusing start, as a friend told me this weekend. The country is dealing with a massive crime wave including a mayor being decapitated. Yes, I mean that his head was cut off. The poor man had been on the job for five days. There is a new man on the job.

So what is the new "presidenta" focused on these days? Well, "la presidenta" is continuing her predecessor's fight with Spain over an apology for crimes committed centuries ago. Let's check this from our friend Allan Wall:

In 2020, then-President AMLO changed the name of the celebration in Mexico to Día de la Nación Pluricultural, Day of the Multicultural Nation.On October 12th, 2024, on her Twitter X account, President Claudia Sheinbaum posted this (my translation throughout): “The 12th of October is neither the Día de la Raza nor the Día de la Hispanidad. Christopher Columbus discovered America for the Europeans, but in our continent (Western Hemisphere) and particularly in what we now call Mexico, there were already great civilizations and cultures of which we females feel proud and we males feel proud [it’s awkward in Spanish too]. The arrival of the Spaniards more than five centuries ago represented subjection and even elimination of the original peoples. To offer apologies for the crimes committed is not shameful, on the contrary, it makes peoples greater and brings them nearer.”

Well, no one denies that mistakes were made in the colonization of Mexico. Colonizing usually doesn't happen after a referendum or plebiscite. It's usually done by force and it's not pretty. Yes, the Spanish were often brutal, but that's history, ugly and uglier. At the same, it’s not as if Moctezuma’s police read your Miranda rights or his opposition had their own newspapers.

Of course, what does what happened 400 years ago have to with today? A lot, according to "la presidenta" who can't resist showing her devotion to the former president on a daily basis.

So the murders are tearing up Mexican society. Small-town politicians are learning the hard way that criminal elements will decapitate you if you refuse to play. Nevertheless, "la presidenta" is on a mission to get Spain to apologize for what those terrible conquistadores did years ago.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Happy # 77 Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)

We remember Justin Hayward who was born on this day in 1946.  Justin is the lead singer and composer of The Moody Blues are one of my all time favorite UK bands.  They were the first rock band to bring the symphony orchestra into the studio.  The net result was a lot of top selling albums and worldwide sales of over 50 million copies all over the world.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Happy # 78 Al Oliver

We say happy birthday to Al Oliver who was born in Ohio on this day in 1946.     

Oliver broke in with the Pirates in 1968.    He spent the next few years as one of the best hitters in the NL:   .296 in 10 years with Pittsburgh.

In 1977, he went to Texas (.319 in 4 seasons) and later to Montreal, where he won an NL batting title in 1982:  .331 average, 22 HR, 109 RBI and 204 hits.

Overall, a rather productive career:  .303, 1,328 RBI & 2,743 hits.   

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  

1973 World Series: Willie Mays' last major league hit

Willie Mays was traded to the Mets in 1972 to sell a few more seats at Shea Stadium. In fact, I recall going to a Mets game in July '72 and watching Mays for the first time in my life.    The crowd went crazy when Mays came up to bat.

In 1973, the Mets won the NL East and shocked the world by beating the Reds in the NLCS.    

The Mets eventually lost to the A's in the World Series.   However, Willie Mays got his last hit in game 2 of the Series.  

He played in two others:  1954 with the New York Giants and in 1962 with the San Francisco Giants.   He made that famous catch in 1954 against Cleveland.

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We remember President Eisenhower (1890-1969)

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We remember President Dwight D Eisenhower, who was born in Denison, TX on this day in 1890.  He died in 1969.

Eisenhower turned out to be one of the most consequential men of the 20th century.   First, he led the Allied Forces in World War II.     Second, he was elected the 34th President of the US, 1953-61.

Ike remains one of the most popular presidents ever.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

October 14, 1965: The day that Sandy Koufax broke my heart

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Our family left Cuba in 1964.  Like most Cubans, we loved baseball.  1965 was our first major league season in the US and we fell in love with the AL champion Minnesota Twins.  

They had four Cuban players:  2-time batting champ Tony Oliva, the eventual 1965 AL MVP Zoilo Versalles, a veteran but still reliable pitcher Camilo Pascual and outfielder Hilario Valdespino.  

They also had Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Jim Kaat and 20-game winner Jim Grant.    It was a great team!

We ran home from school to watch the game but Koufax beat the Twins, 2-0.    He was brilliant.

I learned that day that baseball is the ultimate heart-breaker.    

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.