A Queer Desi

Back in the day, folks had their difference over undocumentados; but, life – and politics – wasn’t ruled by populist ideologues and bigot sloganeers.

Being civil to a gentle old man who dedicated his life to his state and his naturalized country used to be a natural part of life. Gone, now; but, not forgotten.

The wife and a friend of former Arizona Gov. Raul Castro are calling for changes in Border Patrol procedures after agents recently detained the frail 96-year-old in 100-degree heat for more than a half-hour…

Castro said he was traveling from his home in Nogales, Ariz., to celebrate his 96th birthday in Tucson when his vehicle triggered a radiation sensor at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 19 north of Tubac.

Castro said agents sent him to another inspection area and continued to question him outside his vehicle for 40 to 45 minutes even though he explained that he had undergone hospital testing on his pacemaker the previous day, likely triggering the sensor…

The Mexican-born Castro was governor of Arizona from 1974 to 1977. He was the state’s first and only Hispanic governor. He and his wife retired to Nogales after he served as U.S. ambassador to Argentina. He also served as ambassador to Bolivia and El Salvador in the 1960s.

Castro is America’s oldest living former governor. The Arizona Tea Party need’t worry. No chance of anyone born in Mexico becoming governor of The Mississippi of the West, again, nowadays.