I wrote two letters about our Portuguese Lodge to try and make
you understand the way they treated our family in the past. We
worked there for many years and always in good faith to help things
run smoothly without difficulties. We love and believe in the
tradition and hope that it continues forever.
Editor,
I wrote two letters about our Portuguese Lodge to try and make you understand the way they treated our family in the past. We worked there for many years and always in good faith to help things run smoothly without difficulties. We love and believe in the tradition and hope that it continues forever. Just don’t let those who believe they own the place shove you around. This lodge belongs to all of us. A few years ago, when they tried to push us out, what we should have done was straighten them out and make them bring in the old by-laws that they helped disappear. What I believe is that it is not too late.
Another thing we should do is make them prove that we were stealing meat. We made a mistake in turning our backs. They started rebelling against our ideas and they succeeded. We just got tired and moved on. This has been going on for a couple of years. Three or four have tried to push us. I remember one year, before this happened, we went to the flea market in San Juan Bautista. There we met two of the relatives of the ones who tried to push us out. They told me “Mr. Lima, those guys really pushed you. Don’t let them bother you.” Well, they continued to push until we felt we had enough.
Now that my health is not so good with old age, I feel I have to let this off my chest. My advice to you is to do everything you can to protect the traditions. Just don’t let those who think they own the place push you out. We are still members but are very much against these few dictators.
I just want to give you a couple of examples. When we used to donate a cow, I always loved to fill the pans and plates of sopas and meet after the first tables. We used to work to de-bone the meat and divide it and there was plenty left for the night. We used to have some poor people and special kids from many different cultures waiting with their pots to take some home to their families. They looked scared and sad. I couldn’t have let them go without. We had so much food there. The symbol of this is to give to the poor.
The rule they have is to dump what is left in the garbage cans instead of giving to the poor. Another rule is that nobody can take food until the end of the day after everybody has eaten. Their hearts prefer to waste the food instead of letting the poor take it home to their families. There is one cook in that kitchen who thinks he’s a cook and used to argue with me about my generosity to the ones I see deserve this left over food. I ignored him and he didn’t like it.
Another rule they have is to keep people outside packed against each other before eating just to have control over everybody. Then they run in eight or 10 people at a time. The people sometimes get separated and don’t get a chance to sit and eat with their families. My opinion is that they should open the doors early so that they could sit families where they want until it is full. If seats run out, they know they have to wait. Another dictator rule that they have is that they only rent the hall to favorite ones. My opinion is that any member should have the right to rent it.
Dear friends, stick together and don’t let these hypocrites push you out. Unfortunately, we all have an end, but for as long as we can, one way or the other, we will lend a hand. God bless all of you. This concludes my opinions.
Amador Lima, Hollister
