Arizonan mayor rejects ‘Spanish-Mexican’ invitation

According to El Paso Times, an Arizona mayor refused an invitation to a meeting of U.S. and Mexican border city mayors because it was written in both English and Spanish.

“I will NOT attend a function that is sent to me in “Spanish/Mexican”. One nation means one language and I am insulted by the division caused by language,” Huachuca City Mayor Ken Taylor said in an email Wednesday August 10, to former El Paso Mayor John Cook, who is executive director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association.

The invitation was for an Aug. 24 meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Border Mayors Association in Laredo, Texas. The invitation was in both English and Spanish.

“The excitement is building and we are ready for a great meeting of the Border Mayors Association in Laredo. We hope to see you there at 9 a.m. on August 24th at the Laredo Country Club. The draft agenda and a list of hotels is attached to this email,” Cook said in the email, which then provided the Spanish translation. “La emoción está construyendo y estamos listos para una gran reunión de la Asociación de alcaldes de la frontera en Laredo. Esperamos contar con su presencia a las 9 am el 24 de agosto en el Laredo Country Club. El proyecto de programa y una lista de hoteles se adjunta a este correo electrónico.”

In response to Taylor’s rejection of the invitation, Cook wrote: “I will certainly remove you from our email list. Ours is a bi-national association with mayors from the United States and Mexico that were elected to serve border communities. All of our communications are intended to inform mayors from both sides of our border about our association.

“The purpose of the Border Mayors Association is to speak with one voice in Washington, D.C., and Mexico City about issues that impact our communities, not to speak in one language. My humble apologies if I ruffled your feathers.”

Taylor responded: “America is going ‘Down Hill’ fast because we spend more time catering to others that are concerned with their own self interests.

It is far past time to remember that we should be ‘America First’ … there is NOTHING wrong with that. My feathers are ruffled anytime I see anything American putting other countries First.

If I was receiving correspondence from Mexican interests, I would expect to see them listed First. Likewise, when I see things produced from America, I EXPECT to see America First.”

Both Cook’s email and the formal “save the date” invitation were written first in English, then in Spanish. The draft agenda was first in Spanish, then in English.