Holy multiculturalism, Batman!

Call Lou Dobbs, the CNN hothead, who goes postal at the mention of Mexicans, and goes nuclear when talking about people in LA celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Here’s a news flash that will rock the mundo of the CNN gordito: The University Interscholastic League is recognizing mariachi as category in its statewide music competitions.

Yep, that UIL, the one that governs high school sports in Texas as well as a number of other statewide competitions. This is serious. When the UIL recognizes something, it’s like the word of Zeus in the world of Texas public school competitions.  The UIL doesn’t do anything lightly, so going the mariachi route is the official nod that playing traditional Mexican music in the state’s public schools is not only OK, but on equal footing with traditional, all-American contests in band, choir and football.

“The bottom line is we thought this would have a lot of statewide attractiveness,” said Richard Floyd, the UIL’s state director of music, in an article in the Houston Chronicle.

Good point there, Rich, since high schools and middle schools in the Rio Grande Valley have had mariachi music programs for many years now. Good to see the rest of Texas catching up. High schools in La Joya and Edcouch-Elsa, in particular, have been known for years for the quality of their mariachi programs, but really it’s all over the Valley. Go to one of these concerts at a Valley high school, and you won’t only see locals there, but Winter Texans, too.

It’s no wonder. It’s great music, and the way the kids get plugged into these classics is something to see and hear. A Jan. 28 article in the Chronicle points to just how much these youngsters enjoy being part of these programs.

“I can’t live without mariachi,” said 13-year-old Alex Solis, who is half Hispanic and half Asian.

“It helps us stay on the right path, and it does teach you more about yourself and your history,” said another 13-year-old, Sabrina Rosas, of being involved in mariachi at Patrick Henry Middle School in Sugarland.

What a delicious irony, no? Students at a school named after an American revolutionary era icon playing Mexican music in a program officially recognized by the state of Texas.

Take a bite out of that one, Lou, as Alex Solis in Sugarland, Texas, strums on his guitarron, the sweet sounds of mariachi filling up another band hall in the Lone Star state.

Here’s how Patrick Henry would put it in the 21st Century: Give me liberty or give me a guitarron. Either one sounds good to me.

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