As most of you know, on the morning of Saturday August 3rd, 2019, a senseless, unspeakable act of violence and Hispanophobia was committed at a Walmart Supercenter here in my hometown of El Paso, TX. Most of you watched the news and saw the horrible tragedy unfurl and become untangled before our eyes. I'm doing a two part episode about the events, not to delve into the shooter or his motives, or to go in depth about the politics or agendas that this brings up. My interest is in telling my personal account of the day as it unfolded, and also to pay respect to all the people who's lives were taken from them that day. This is away to honor them, and their families, even if didn't know any of the victims on a personal level. I am dedicating two episodes to this incident, not out of sensationalism, but because I love my home town. I love EL PASO, in my own unique way. I grew up here, I live here, and I have experienced a lot (even outside of El Paso) but I consider this home. Thank you to everyone that donated time, money, blood, sweat, tears, anything in the wake of this horrible tragedy. I'm just one guy, living in this city, somewhat distanced from the tragedy but it affected me just the same. I want to delve into that, and I want to share thoughts, not agendas or political views or that bs about this tragedy. I want to talk about people, and my family, and what it was like to experience one of the saddest/darkest days this city has ever known. There's no music in this one. it just opens cold. I want to invite everyone to donate to the El Paso Community Foundation if you still can, or donate blood even if you aren't in El Paso. It's just one of many things we can do on a daily basis, it's the right thing to do. I'm trying to show that despite this senseless act of violence on people, this city is tough. We don't crack, we don't break, we don't crumble. I won't stop going out, working., living my life, or living in fear even after this incident. We will always remember this dark day and the lives the people that were lost,but we are forever strong in EL CHUCO. The logo belongs to @vivalamocha, and isn't used for monetary gain. It's just to show that I have solidarity with this city and it's artists and creative people. I make no money from this. I only wish to share what it's like to live as a dude in one of the most awesome, coolest cities in the world. I conclude this little episode summary reminding people to be kind to each other, BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER, hug and kiss loved ones, tell them how you feel, because life is precious and short. An anthropology professor once told us life is nasty, brutish, and short. I never agreed with the first two adjectives, but the third one I did. Life is short, we should be living, and not live afraid. Whatever you think is a problem in your life, reach out, and there is away to resolve it. Don't fall into pits of despair or hate or bigotry man. We're all just people. People in a neighborhood, in a town, in a city, in a country, on a hemisphere , on a planet. We are all just people. Peace.
