TRICIA'S TIDBITS

This past week we had a heck of a time trying to get some infomation out of UTEP. Seems the university thought it would be a great idea to fly the United States flag at half staff for two students who were brutally murdered in Juarez as they were traveling back to the US from a retreat. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the young men. By all accounts, they were there only for a boy scout-like retreat, and their families are now having to deal with their loss because of a stupid turf war. When I read the story during a news break, the question came up as to whether UTEP should be flying the US flag at half staff. I mistakenly thought they could, but upon further investigation, Mike and I discovered that according to US flag code, unless UTEP had a proclamation from the President of the Unites States or the Governor of Texas, they should not be flying the flag at half staff for the two murdered students. We tried to contact UTEP and ask them if they did indeed have the proper permission to fly the flag at half staff. We were met with stonewalling by UTEP's Public Information Officer, former KFOX news reporter, Arlene Barrios. We also got a lot of phone calls and emails from people telling Mike and I that we were not being fair to the families of the young men who were killed. Ok, now you know the back story, now let's advance this story a bit.

I have been stopped at remotes this past week, taken phone calls from listeners, and my dad has even had to answer questions from people at the Courthouse when he's been there trying a case. I don't have anything against the two young men who lost their lives. My heart goes out to their families and friends. I can't even imagine what it must be like to bury a child. I imagine the mothers of those young men must be shattered into a million pieces with grief. I pray for them and their sons. The questions we had about the flag were questions for UTEP, and UTEP only.

UTEP is a public university funded by public, meaning your, tax dollars. I am really tired of people who run for public office and public entities that are dependant on tax dollars for their survival, feeling like they don't have to answer questions from the public! If you take money from taxpayers or voters, I feel you don't have the right to duck questions from those taxpayers or voters! If you don't want your life to be public, don't ask for a vote or take my tax money!!!!!!!! I learned very quickly when Darren was arrested on the side of the road a year ago just how public my and his lives are! And yet, here I am, still behind the microphone, still taking shots from people who think I'm a xenophobe and hate Mexicans! I'm not and I don't!!!! But I have enough, well, you know!, to stand and answer any question that is thrown at me. That is what I wanted UTEP to do. I just wanted them to pull up their big girl panties and have enough cajones to answer the question for God's sake!

As of this posting, they haven't. I don't imagine they will, either, but I do thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to rant. Thank you, and God bless our fighting men and women all around the world. May God keep them safe and bring them home soon, and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!