A call to protect our heritage Celebrating a jazzy holiday season
When it comes to cultural and community traditions in Imperial Valley, few events hold as much significance as the Cattle Call Rodeo in our city of Brawley. The Rodeo is not just an event, it is a symbol of our shared heritage. That’s why the recent decision by the Los Angeles City Council to move forward with banning rodeos strikes a chord of deep concern. Although exemptions were made for cultural events; in Brawley, the annual Cattle Call Rodeo is our culture and a vibrant expression of our identity. It is a tradition that intertwines the spirited legacy of cowboys, cowgirls, vaqueros, and vaqueras, and brings together thousands of friends and families from across our Valley.
This is why the action by the LA City Council to ban rodeos sets a worrying precedent. It’s a path that could lead to the erasure of this cherished tradition, and this isn’t just speculation. This movement has been quietly gaining momentum as other California cities such as San Francisco, Pasadena, Irvine, Laguna Woods, and Chino Hills have all adopted similar bans. Upon first glance, these decisions might seem faraway and trivial, but the political implications of such decisions pose a real threat to the cultural fabric and livelihoods of communities like ours.
It’s not hard to imagine a local official from one of these jurisdictions, influenced by anti- rodeo sentiments, climbing the political ladder to a
Since two of my daughters are now in college and one is in high school, Christmas just “hits different”-as those crazy kids (and my not-so-secret, sort-of-butnot-really guilty pleasure, Taylor Swift) say these days.
When I was up in the attic just after Thanksgiving, foraging for decorations and wondering how the ceiling hadn’t caved in yet from all of the future garage sale inventory stored up there, I accidentally opened a Rubbermaid tub full of Christmas- themed “Little People” toys we bought for the girls ( and me) when they were toddlers. At that moment, a tsunami of nostalgia swept over me, and I basically played out the scene from “Christmas Vacation” where Clark Griswold sits trapped in the attic and gets all weepy while watching some old home movies he finds. (If only I had a teal turban, a fur stole and some pink gloves.)
Mixed with that nostalgia was the bittersweet ( but mostly bitter) realization that Christmas is never going to be like it was when the girls were little and I transformed into a more enthusiastic version of Buddy the Elf on about November 1 every year.
For example, we’ve been shocked at how few gifts the girls have asked for in the past couple of Christmases. I mean, I still have to resist sending my own parents my Christmas state level. We’ve seen it play out before. Suddenly, a local ordinance could become a statewide ban, stripping us of our voice in preserving our local traditions. If that happens, the decision is then taken out of our hands, leaving us powerless at a time when we should have been at the forefront, fighting to preserve a pivotal aspect of our heritage.
Therefore, this situation is not just a challenge, but an opportunity. The City of Brawley and Rodeo Committee have a chance, albeit a responsibility, to reach out to those in Los Angeles and across California who feel alienated by these decisions.
Let us invite them to experience the Cattle Call Rodeo, to see how a rodeo can embody respect, dignity, and high animal welfare standards. This is our chance to show that the true spirit of rodeo goes beyond the criticisms levied against it.
Because, at its core, Rodeo is a celebration of skill, bravery, and a rich cultural legacy, blending multiple traditions into a unifying communal experience. It symbolizes community pride, historical continuity, and the bond between humans and animals. Our Rodeo is more than the
list in triplicate.
Last year, the girls asked for a trip to New York City–where we got stranded by the airlines during a Christmas polar blast and froze our big apples off. This year, instead of traditional gifts, the girls mainly have asked for money. It’s like they’ve all turned into Sally from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” when she asks Santa for “tens and twenties.” I, on the other hand, am going to feel like Don Vito Corleone on Christmas morning, standing by the tree in my Christmas PJs handing over rolledup wads of cash.
I even had to decorate the big Christmas tree in our front window by myself this year. Our older daughters were away at college, my youngest daughter was busily wasting valuable time with homework and studying, and my wife was frivolously doing laundry, paying bills, and keeping our whole household from collapsing. Since I was alone, I don’t think I even bothered putting on pants–until I was almost done and realized all the blinds were open. ( My apologies to the neighbors.)
Speaking of our youngest daughter, she surprised us this year by asking when ( not if ) Alfie, our now elderly Elf on the Shelf, was going to come out. Now, I don’t think she still believes in the Christmas “magthrill of the chase or skill of the lasso, it is an expression of our culture and testament to our values.
It is also crucial to recognize that one can simultaneously advocate for improved practices in rodeo and animal welfare and not support an outright ban. I agree with those who champion better treatment of animals and participants in these events, but to banish the rodeo entirely is to discard an essential part of a community’s culture and history. This is not a call for unregulated and unchecked traditions, but for a balanced approached that respects our heritage and welfare of our animals.
Ultimately, our path must be one of active engagement. We cannot just observe from the sidelines, worrying about potential threats to our small-town customs. Let us stand united in defense of our Rodeo, for it is more than an event, but the very essence of who we are. Above all, we must champion our traditions, educate those who misunderstand, and showcase the responsible, humane, and culturally significant nature of Brawley’s Cattle Call Rodeo.
Gil Rebollar serves on the Brawley City Council, is the County of Imperial Public Information Officer and represents Imperial Valley cities on the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council. He can be reached at GRebollar@ brawley-ca. gov. ic” of Alfie. Instead, she is either just reveling in the childish merriment of the season, or enjoying our suffering as we feebly try to remember to help poor old lint- infested Alfie move every night. I think I’ll just tell her he’s having mobility issues in his old age.
Despite all of the changes, I’m still going to do my best to enjoy the Christmas holiday. Whether I’m forcing my daughters to ride in the car sighing and gawking at their phones while my wife and I look at Christmas lights, or I’m quoting funny movie lines from “Christmas Vacation” and “A Christmas Story” until my daughters’ eyes roll completely out of their skulls, I’m determined to have some fun.
And for their sake, I hope the
ATM is open on Christmas Eve.
Jase Graves is an award-winning humor columnist from East Texas. His columns have been featured in Texas Escapes magazine, the Shreveport Times, the Longview News Journal, and the Kilgore News Herald. Contact Graves at susanjase@sbcglobal. net.
The crowd at the Jimmie Cannon Theater at Southwest High School last Saturday night was smaller than in recent years. So was the band. Valley Jazz had decided to focus on the nucleus of its group of veterans with a few exceptions. The sound, though, was as professional as ever.
Big. Trumpets, saxophones, trombones, guitars, drums, and piano blasted out the band’s signature number, “Blues in Hoss Flat.” I was a little sleepy upto that point. Better than a double espresso. I became all ears and began tapping my feet.
The audience got right into it. The music is so commanding. It can’t be ignored, just enjoyed. The band of 20 musicians gets your attention and your blood flowing. As is the custom in jazz, individual band members take turns soloing which heightens my attention and enjoyment to see and hear how band members play their instruments. Several of the veteran soloists included Sal Ortiz on trumpet, Patrick Escalante on trombone, and on saxophone, Randy Burt. If you meet them or their band mates in the street, shake their hand and thank them for making the Valley ring with great jazz.
After Intermission the band moved into Christmas favorites. The guest of the night, Jimmy’s son, Derek Cannon, had the flu and didn’t make it. Sal Ortiz filled in for his solo on flugelhorn for the “Christmas Song.” That was also one of Jimmie Cannon’s instruments.
Patrick Yanni has taken over band direction from Renee Baker. He did a fine job. Plus, the program recognized several younger members for scholarships along with the Imperial High School jazz group. And, as usual, Valley Jazz set the price of admission at two cans of food to be donated to the Imperial Valley Food Bank.
I have mentioned the smaller turnout this year. There was a newsy article in this newspaper last week by Roman Flores. Yet, Valley Jazz needs to do a better job of marketing its events if it wants to reach a larger audience. That article is the only announcement I saw about Saturday’s concert. Jazz is a unique American art form enjoyed throughout the world. In other places I’ve lived, a jazz club will charge you cover. Music and parking is free with 2 cans of food here in the Valley.
There was even more jazz earlier this month. It was unexpected. I received a text from my dear wife who passed along a flyer from the Calexico School District. And Editor Flores presented a detailed story about the Binational jazz group in this newspaper on December 7th. Seven jazz musicians played the next night at Rodney Auditorium. The educational and cultural exchange group, COMEXUS, sponsored the concert along with the Mexican Consulate in Calexico and SDSU, Imperial Valley.
There were four musicians that formed the core, and three Mexicali musicians who were blended with the existing band. On the way into Rodney Auditorium, I met the band leader and Ph.D., Ben Barson who greeted me cordially and thanked me for coming. I didn’t know who he was till later.
It turns out that Ben plays a mean saxophone, and was joined by his partner, vocalist Gizelxanath Rodriguez, Calexico High grad; Salim Washington, a veteran jazz man and UCLA scholar; and Jonah Francese a University of Chicago Ph.D. student and trumpeter. The Mexicali crew were up to the task of instant rehearsals over a brief period. They were Humberto Catalan on drums, Emmanuel Catalan on bass, and Jazier Garcia, pianist extraordinaire.
There was a lot of joyful extemporaneous jazz with occasional shades of Pharaoh Sanders. I was in heaven. Gizel provided the vocals on several numbers matching Linda Ronstadt’s high notes on one song that Ronstadt made famous on this side of the border. Wow!
But again the crowd was sparse but enthusiastic. Another free concert by a border group that came together for a unique concert. It was missed by jazz students and musicians who are too often isolated in Imperial Valley. The Valley needs to pay attention to marketing. Not anyone can do it.
Happy holidays and happy listening to all.