Are you part of the problem?

A friend sent me an e-mail yesterday with some of the most graphic photos I have every seen. It was a series of precisely mutilated bodies of men in Mexico. Men who were vicitims of the drug cartel violence. Arms, legs, hands, torsos, heads tossed about like in a horror movie. But this wasn't a movie.

Do you smoke pot, occasionally have a bit of cocaine....just casually, or habitually. Maybe just when you are partying with friends, just a social thing. Maybe you have been doing this for years, but it hasn't affected your life negatively. You still work, raise your kids, go to church, get involved in community organizations. You are a proud American citizen, not hurting anyone.

B.S.!!! You are part of the problem! Yesterday two Americans that work in Cd. Juarez in the American consulate office, were gunned down with their baby in the back seat. The mom was 4 months pregnant. Yesterday, two Americans were shot at Wal Mart in McAllen. Suspected drug related. What if one of us had been shopping there? My husband's job takes him to Reynosa, Mexico regularly. I pray hard for his safety. My youngest daughter is getting ready to participate in a class trip to Mexico, again pray, pray, pray. I can see the border from my front door. There are nights we have gone to bed with a loaded shotgun at our bedside.

I see the devastation to the businesses in our little tourist town of Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Families that have grown up on both sides of the border, now paying 'protection' to criminals to keep them 'safe'.

You can sit there in your cozy little home and think, 'this doesn't affect me'. Again, B.S. if you use any illegal drugs. You can hate me, cuss me, de-friend me on FaceBook, I don't care. If you are my acquaintance, a family member, or a dear friend...think about those that we love and how we are touched, threatened or in danger because of drug violence. PLEASE don't be part of the problem, if you are quit, or go smoke a joint and don't think about it! One of these days this will touch you too.

Beauty is only skin deep, Ugly goes all the way to the bone!

Do you remember being a teenage? Especially if you are a girl! Do you remember seeing every little flaw and thinking you were disgusting? How many teenage girls have the confidence to see their beauty and value?

If you know me, you know I have BEAUTIFUL daughters. They were never interested in being in a pageant. If you know me, you know how I feel about beauty pageants! I think everyone that God puts on Earth has a special place, a special purpose and a special beauty.

Once again, my job has forced me to see the UGLY reality of beauty pageants....and it hasn't even happened yet!

The girls are sweet, beautiful and seeking approval. Some PARENTS (some, not all for sure) are UGLY. Our pageant facilitators for the Miss Onion Fest and Miss Weslaco pageants have done an outstanding job. They care about the community, they care about the girls. They want to promote the pageant and show off our precious young ladies.

SO IN COME THE UGLY ADULTS! I have never seen such malice, insults and THREATS as those that have appeared on the Pageant coordinators FaceBook Page. In my 'official capacity', I asked that all comments be suspended.

Who do you think you are hurting?
What kind of example are you setting for your daughters, and other young girls?
Are your threats and innuendos going to 'sway' the judges or hurt those that you think you are helping?
Are you building character for our young adults?
Are you teaching our young ladies about life?

Face it, in a contest, sports game, pageant, and in life....there are winners and there are losers. When we lose or fail at a task that is a challenge to do something different, to learn from our experience, to move forward. When you are 12 - 17 years old, this is difficult. Competition should build character.

Parents should support, and let children make mistakes, fail, and teach them that it is a life lesson and teach them how to move on.

I have a real hard time seeing how subjecting these young ladies to a BEAUTY pageant is a life lesson. Especially when adults behave the way they do.

I guess in the Rio Grande Valley, folks feel they/their kids DESERVE reward, no matter what...or...they can intimidate those in charge to get what they think they are OWED.

Disgusting!