The Reuben Atkinson Story covers little-known Texas history, the trials and tribulations of Mexican-Americans during the periods of political turmoil in 1836 and again in the early l900s. It covers events that show us how Mexican-Americans survived these hardships. The section about life on the ranch and life on the farm reveals the intuitive ways in which the Mexican-American culture used to enjoy the good times and survive the difficult times.

The military career section provides an overview of the author's life in the United States Air Force in the late l950s and after. The author also shares his ideas for improving our educational system on a nationwide basis. The forms and recommendations for students and parents to use when applying to college and requesting scholarships may be of great value to them. The author has also included a selection of traditional Mexican recipes, wild game recipes and some delicious but weird Mexican recipes which will be of great interest to readers!

The Reuben Atkinson Story

By Reuben Atkinson

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2009 Reuben Atkinson
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5897-1

Contents

Section I..........................................................................1Dedication.........................................................................1Purpose............................................................................3Acknowledgments....................................................................5Significant Friends and Associates.................................................7About the Author...................................................................9The "Derogatory Political Machine" (DPM)...........................................10Paternal Genealogy.................................................................14Maternal Genealogy.................................................................24Political Unrest in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (1910-1920).....................27Burning Ranches and Herding Off the Cattle.........................................31Life in the Early 1930s............................................................38Memories...........................................................................39Foods..............................................................................49Wild Game Dishes...................................................................56Life on the Atkinson Ranch.........................................................58Life on the Atkinson Farm..........................................................72Illegal Immigrants.................................................................75The Beginning of the End of our Ranching Era (1800s-1960s).........................77The Beginning of School............................................................81High School........................................................................85Post High School...................................................................88A Career in the United States Air Force............................................90My Personal Life...................................................................104Section II.........................................................................110Traditional Mexican Recipes........................................................110Butchering Wild Game...............................................................130Wild Game Recipes..................................................................133Delicious Weird Mexican Recipes....................................................141Section III........................................................................150College Education..................................................................150A New Career in Counseling.........................................................151Football Coaching Experience.......................................................155An Overview of Our Educational System..............................................158College Planning Calendar..........................................................167College Search Worksheet...........................................................171The Letter of Recommendation.......................................................175Sample Request for a Letter of Recommendation......................................176Useful Web Sites...................................................................177Tips to Successful Note Taking.....................................................178Teaching Reasoning Skills..........................................................179Recommendation for Improving Reading Skills........................................182Conclusion.........................................................................183

Chapter One

The "Derogatory Political Machine" (DPM)

Search engines on the web found no matches for "Derogatory Political Machine". That being the case, I will coin the phrase "Derogatory Political Machine" (DPM).

Definition: The "Derogatory Political Machine", or "DPM", is the practice of uttering words or using sign language with the sole purpose of degrading others. The DPM is used by agencies at the highest levels of governments, by groups of people, or by a single individual. The definition is applicable to all nations and peoples around the globe.

The definition of the word "degrade" means to deprive of office, rank, degree, or title, to lower in character or quality, debase, deprave, to lower in dignity and estimation, bring into contempt, to reduce in amount, strength and intensity, or to break down.

I created the "Derogatory Political Machine" (DPM) terminology for you to understand its significance in reference to specific incidents or observations within the contents of this book. Furthermore I suggest that social scientists conduct in-depth studies of the DPM to determine its role in genocide and in countless other atrocities throughout recorded history.

The practice of derogating others has probably existed ever since the spoken word and sign language were invented. Derogatory sign language was probably used as effectively by ancient tribes, much in the same way as it is used today on Loop 410 during peak hours of traffic.

When I first joined the United States Air Force, I learned most of this DPM language from the other men who resided in the same barracks. I learned that Germans were "Krouts" or "Heinies", the French were "Frogs" the British were "Blokes" or "Limies", Americans of Spanish or Mexican descent were "Greasers", "Wetbacks" or "Spics", the Japanese were "Japs", all Orientals were "Chinks", the Poles were "Polacks" the Italians were either "Dagos" or "Wops" and people from Hawaii' were "Pineapples".

Gays and Lesbians had many other names too. I also learned a few other names that I will not mention in this book. The Germans referred to all Americans, regardless of race or ethnicity, as "Amis".

When I first arrived in Germany for my first tour of duty in 1958, we were advised at our incoming briefing, to never point a finger at our heads when Germans passed us on the snow covered and icy autobahns at 200 miles an hour in their Mercedes Benz or their BMWs'. The pointing of the "finger at the head sign" would send a message, to those highly skilled German race car drivers, that they were crazy!

We were told that if we used such sign language and a complaint was filed, and if found guilty of this offense, using this sign language could result in punishment by our own military justice system.

In wars and in conflicts between nations, DPM serves very effectively to degrade each other's armies and their peoples. The DPM is used to degrade almost anything that exists and is sometimes even used to degrade a hammer, if the person using the hammer misses the nail and hits their thumb and index finger instead.

People use highly refined, dramatic and polished DPM skills to manipulate police officers and the entire justice system to scam others of their wealth, or just simply to destroy another's character and good name. To protect innocent victims from such false allegations, I suggest that police academies and other law enforcement agencies, include extensive DPM training in their curriculum.

I have even heard it used, sometimes very loudly, between two people. My suggestion to you, if you are ever within earshot or close enough to observe such a situation, is to run and report it to the closest policeman around, for them to resolve. But do report it to the police. Do not, under any circumstances, try to resolve DPM problems by yourself, especially when heavy DPM is in use between two people!

When the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the clergyman and prominent leader for African-American civil rights movement, was still alive, do you believe that he did not suspect that the DPM would kick in? I am sure that he did. I am sure he knew that there would be many people around, and some, at high levels of government, who would use DPM to brand him a communist, womanizer, or perhaps even worse.

Do I believe there may be some people who do not agree with me on some of the issues and subjects I discuss in this book and use DPM against me? Of course I do.

But let me save those people who may be interested in using the DPM against me a whole lot of trouble. I have all the originals of my honorable discharge records and the military entry and discharge records, the DD Forms 214, in a vault. The lowest of all military punishments is the Article 15. In the close to twenty-five years of military service, not once did I ever receive one Article 15 or any other kind of punishment.

I served as a Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) from March 1983 until 30 November 2008. You are welcome to review my records with the Texas Department of State Health Services at Austin, Texas. I assure you that my records are clean.

Is there a record of trials or convictions for crimes committed? No sir! How about traffic violations? No sir! I have resided in Bexar County, Texas, since I returned from my tour in Europe in 1975, and I can assure you that you will not find any traffic citations on my records.

But do I believe that "slight" or more serious DPM allegations will be made about me, against me, and even directly to me? Of course I do!

Just recently, when I was at a garage sale on a Saturday morning, I was talking to an old acquaintance of mine. I told him, in a rather happy and excited voice, that I was writing a book and gave him my business card. He replied, "But does your book include all those times you spent in jail?" Can you that detect the activation of the "cog of the DPM" in his reply?

I responded that the book that I was currently writing did not mention anyone being in jail, but that my second book, a fictional book and a Pulitzer Prize winner that I will author next, will include drinking and fighting brawls, driving while intoxicated, lots of jail time, and in general how one very handsome, suave, sexy, sensuous, smooth talking, and one of the greatest lovers of all time, seduced over five hundred women in his lifetime. I also told him that I had not chosen a name for that book yet, but that I thought a good name for my next big hit, would be "Jerry's Escapades", my "buddy's" fictional first name.

Have you ever noticed how people who use the DPM against you defend themselves if challenged? Most people I have known who use the DPM are very adept at avoiding blame. Have you noticed that if challenged, they will respond with statements such as, "but I was just joking" or "I was just kidding" or they may even blame you, the recipient of the insult, as being very sensitive and defensive.

In the end, if these DPM users feel that they have not succeeded in their efforts to degrade you, they may distance themselves from you, and may justify their withdrawal or even break off their "friendship" with you by possibly thinking or saying that "It is not my fault. It is his fault that he happens to be so sensitive and defensive".

But where or how do those initial DPM thoughts begin? Is the use of the DPM inherited? Is it passed down to children by their parents or is it passed up to parents by their children? Who teaches the art of how to use the DPM so effectively?

The "Ethic of Reciprocity" or the "Golden Rule" is an ethical code that states one has a right to just treatment, and a responsibility to ensure justice to others. Religious texts of various religions and secular beliefs, throughout a wide spectrum of religions around the world cover "The Golden Rule". Within our own Christian faith, our Bible refers to the Golden Rule in Matthew 7-12 and in Luke 6:31.

My undergraduate Major from the University of Nebraska at Omaha is in Urban and Ethnic Studies.

Chapter Two

Paternal Genealogy

In 1836, three brothers, George, Thomas and James Atkinson sailed to America from Lancaster England in search of adventure and a new life. James got off the ship at Boston and went north to Canada. Thomas settled in Virginia. George continued on towards the southern tip of Texas, and de-boarded at Port Bagdad, Mexico, the only large seaport in the area at the time, and settled in the small town of Clarksville, Texas, now known as Boca Chica, a small community near Port Isabel, in Cameron County, Texas.

When George Atkinson arrived in Texas in 1836, there was a great deal of political turmoil. Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his army massacred the Texas Revolutionary Forces at the Alamo, which included Tejano freedom fighters, and headed east in search of General Sam Houston and his small army. General Houston kept retreating, but he and his small army, with the help of Captain Juan Seguin and his Tejano cavalry, were victorious when they caught the Mexican army off-guard. Thus was born the Republic of Texas.

As a result of this war, the political climate amongst Anglo-Americans of the new republic, the Mexican nation, and the native Texans of Spanish or Mexican ancestry (referred to as Tejanos) was antagonistic. However, many Tejanos disliked the Mexican government and its policies and fought and died for the independence of Texas.

The city of Seguin, Texas is named after Juan Seguin, the distinguished Hispanic gentleman, who, along with his Tejano cavalry, fought the Mexican army.

It was during this time of political turmoil in Texas that George Atkinson met and married Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros, a young Hispanic lady, in 1839.

Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros was born on 16 July 1816 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, when Mexico and all the lands of the Great Southwest, including Texas were a part of the huge Spanish empire. Her parents, Nicolas Cisneros Salinas and Leonarda Hinojosa were hacendados (landowners) in the area near Matamoros. Nicolas Cisneros Salinas parent's, were Juan Cisneros Salinas and Felipa Perez. (Source: Genealogy of Miguel de las Casas).

Juan Cisneros Salinas, my great-great-great-great grandfather (Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros Atkinson's grandfather), was the grantee of 6115 acres of land from the King of Spain, known as porcion 79, located in Starr County. It is recorded as (Cisneros, Juan, Porcion 79, Camargo (Granted: 1767). 6115 acres located in Starr County, Next Owner: Davis, Henry Clay/Settlements/Towns: Camp Ringgold RGC Town Lots).

The beginning of Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros' distinguished family history begins with Carlos de las Casas, who was a member of the royal court of Dona Blanca Castillas. (Dona, in Spanish, is a title of respect accorded to the female and Don is the equivalent title accorded to the male. The "n" with the Spanish accent over it, known as tilde, makes the pronunciation Don-ya). Dona Blanca Castillas married Louis VII of France in 1224. Carlos and the royal entourage of Dona Blanca Castillas accompanied her to France. In 1248, two of his sons came back to Spain during the reign of Fernando the Saint. The brothers, Guillen de las Casas and Bartoleme fought under the command of Fernando during the capture of Seville from the moslems. (Source: Genealogy of Miguel de las Casas).

Guillen de las Casas, lord of the Canary Islands, and a descendant of the first Guillen de las Casas, married Inez Ponce de Leon. As of this writing, I do not know if Inez Ponce de Leon was related to Juan Ponce de Leon, the Spanish explorer, known to be the first European to explore the far southeastern part of the United States in 1513. (Source: Genealogy of Miguel de las Casas). Juan Ponce de Leon named the area he explored "La Florida". (La Florida interpreted in Spanish means "The Flowers" thusly the state of Florida.)

My paternal genealogy, on my great-great grandmother's side of the family, begins with Carlos de las Casas and continues for twelve generations until the birth of Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros. (Source: Genealogy of Miguel de las Casas). From that point on, the genealogy continues after she married George Atkinson, my great-great grandfather, as documented in this book.

To George, his beautiful young bride, sunny south Texas and the Hispanic culture was a great and wonderful experience. He quickly adapted to life on the ranch, learned to speak Spanish and loved the tasty Mexican dishes he had never eaten before. There was an abundance of game and great fishing as well. His children and grandchildren recalled that grilled cabrito was his favorite dish. In England, he loved mutton, but was especially pleased by the way it was prepared with Mexican spices. It is reported that he stayed in touch with his brothers by corresponding with his relatives in England.

George and Mariana Atkinson had three children. Francisco Atkinson was born in 1842; Delfina Atkinson in 1844; and Antonio Atkinson, (my great-grandfather) in 1848.

Francisco Atkinson married Albina Salinas. He and his family moved to La Burrita Ranch near Matamoros, Mexico. Their children were: Justo, Francisco, Jorge, Angel, Reymundo, Leonarda, (in honor of her grandmother Leonarda), Enriqueta, Guadalupe, Maria, Francisca, San Jauanita and Mariana. (Francisca and Mariana married men with the last name Manzano.)

Francisco Atkinson bought real estate in Brownsville, Texas, in the late 1800s. Record of his purchases is recorded in deed records in Cameron County, Texas.

Delfina married Baltazar Cisneros in Brownsville, Texas in 1870. The history of their descendents is unknown.

The Mexican-American War that took place between 1846-1848 resulted in the defeat of Mexico. As a consequence, the United States acquired the lands of the Great Southwest from Mexico through the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The political climate between the Mexican people, the Tejanos and the new settlers continued to deteriorate, especially if the native peoples lost their lands as a result of the war.

Antonio Atkinson, my great-grandfather, was born to George Atkinson and Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros in 1848, when the Mexican-American war ended. It would appear that George Atkinson, my great-great-grandfather, a native English-speaking gentleman and his family could have assimilated into mainstream America as Anglo-Americans had they chosen to do so. Most of their family had inherited the characteristics of George and Mariana, had light complexion and most of them had blue eyes. However, the matriarch, Mariana Hinojosa Cisneros, a Hispanic woman with a very proud heritage, certainly could not be expected to abandon the culture, language, and traditions so strongly embedded in her very distinctive family for generations.

Mariana insisted that her children, Francisco, Delfina and Antonio speak Spanish and retain the Hispanic culture. At that time, she did not have the foresight to know that by keeping the Spanish language and culture, her descendants would incur great grief and loss of property in a political turmoil that took place in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas between 1910 and 1920. Spanish was the first language spoken at home in most future Atkinson generations in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas until possibly the 1950s.

However, the rich Hispanic culture, with countless ways of preparing and preserving great foods and other survival skills also proved to be priceless, especially during hard times, such as during the Great Depression The customs and traditions of the Hispanic culture, combined with living on a ranch and farm, enabled the Atkinson families to enjoy a life of abundance, when it was very likely that people living in cities and in other settings had a difficult time just to eke out a living. (If interested, please read John Steinbeck's book "Grapes of Wrath" or see the movie by the same name). (German immigrants, struggling for survival when they first arrived in Texas, learned from the Tejanos how to make tortillas from corn. Tejanos borrowed the idea of using accordions from the Germans and created the popular Conjunto music enjoyed today). ("Diffusion of Cultures" is a term used to describe the merging of ideas that may lead to the development of great civilizations.)

(Continues...)

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