I wrote a letter recently with true facts with things that
happened 14 or 15 years ago when our family was volunteering at our
Portuguese Lodge. When somebody
– I used the word
”
ignorant
”
when I could have used
”
idiot
”
– falsely accused one of my family members of stealing meat. I
dedicated that letter to those who caused the problem and those who
accepted and shared it.
Editor,
I wrote a letter recently with true facts with things that happened 14 or 15 years ago when our family was volunteering at our Portuguese Lodge. When somebody – I used the word “ignorant” when I could have used “idiot” – falsely accused one of my family members of stealing meat. I dedicated that letter to those who caused the problem and those who accepted and shared it.
I was surprised how many were disturbed. To me, everyone who got upset is proven guilty. I waited all these years for an apology and because I never had one I decided to get this off of my chest.
I feel the word “ignorant” or even “idiot” is much more pleasant then thief. The damage they have done is irreversible. My family was so embarrassed that they never went back. I’ve been going by there with my wife once in awhile, though it is against her will. But because of our beliefs, we’ve been trying to forget. We just can’t help that every time we go by, this episode goes through our guts.
After at last 30 years that we helped financially and with volunteer work, for the ones who caused the problems and those who shared, I won’t forget. I wanted to do nothing to divide our culture. I think it is a beautiful tradition and I would do anything to have it continue. There’s just a reason for a few to believe they own the place. No one owns it. This was inherited from past generations. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding is not only in Hollister.
One time I remember in Watsonville, the police took over the statue of the Lady of Fatima until they could solve the problem. Here is what happened. We were serving the meat on the last table when I told my son take a half pan to meat and put it off to the side. When we finished serving, we could sit and have dinner without using what’s left from the other tables.
Somebody thought we were going to take the meat home. Behind our backs he took the pan and went and sat at the table thinking he had made a big deal. He laughed and shared with some of his relatives. It’s sad when you have a beautiful organization created from our culture and have this bunch trying to control everybody.
In my opinion, there is a much better way to run this organization and that is in a friendly way. Don’t think you know more than the others or better than the others. You just have to learn how to share.
Amadeu Lima, Hollister
