Roots: White Guy Tacos

Oh my!  Who would have thought tacos would stir up the hornet’s nest?

 

Recently the Democratic presidential nominee and her vice-presidential running mate, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, did just that as they shared a video conversation about several topics . . . including tacos.  As the two are discussing their campaign the conversation shifts to the topic of food.  Walz mentions that his palette leans towards what he refers to as “Midwestern” which include what he calls “white guy taco[s]”.  Of course, Kamala—being black/Asian in descent—asks, “What does that mean?”

 

Walz’ response is: “Pretty much ground meat and cheese.”  That’s it.  No spices, no sauces . . . nothing.  “White guy tacos.”

 

It did not take long for people to jump into the conversation and declare themselves offended.  It was declared to be racist and disgusting.  Curious, Kamala wondered what a “white guy taco” was . . . she queried, “mayonnaise and tuna?”  Ouch!  One person referred to is as a black person stating that they eat “black guy tacos” and being asked what that means . . . “watermelon and fried chicken?”  The argument is plain and simple . . . both statements can be racist.  Subtle, but racist.  I won’t argue that.  I can see it.

 

I must admit that I was caught off guard by the “white guy taco” statement, but not for the reason of racism.  Granted, it is racism even if it is in a subtle “ha ha—wink of the eye” sort of way.  I get that and maybe all the candidates running in the presidential election . . . well, in fact all of us . . . need to watch our language and what we say.  My problem with the quip was that it hit too close to home . . . naw, it stepped on my toes.  Especially when Walz proclaimed that “white guy tacos” were “pretty much ground meat and cheese.” 

 

I grew up on “white guy tacos”.  It was a staple in the household I grew up in.  Apparently, taco seasoning was not pliable to the taste buds of my family.  Tacos were cooked hamburger, thrown into a corn shell, sprinkled in cheese, and warmed in the oven until the cheese melted.  On the table we cut up tomatoes, lettuce, and onions with a bottle of Ortega taco sauce for those who wanted to doctor their tacos.  My choice for the first go-round was always lettuce and tomatoes . . . second round were just plain old—what I now know as “white guy tacos—tacos. 

 

Early in our marriage the wife and I hit the taco bump in the road.  She grew up with taco seasoning in the meat.  I did not.  She could not understand where I was coming from.  I could not understand where she was coming from.  She was ready to rid the menu of tacos for forever.  I convinced her to try it the way I was used to and to buy whatever sauces or seasonings she wanted to add once they were served up in the plain old simple way.  I suppose it is one of the few arguments I have ever won in our marriage because today we still eat “white guy tacos”.  It is a family tradition.  A little over a week ago we had “white guy tacos” . . . it was delicious to my bland taste buds.

 

As I heard the statement made the realization . . . the epiphany revealed . . . was that I am a fairly vanilla, bland sort of guy when it comes to my culinary leanings.  I am not big on spicy food, especially “hot” food.  I am boring when it comes to my tastes . . . plain and simple . . . salt, occasionally pepper (mostly in tomato soup).  I will use Allspice when grilling meat, but we all know that is 90% salt!  On the other hand, my wife is all out for flavor.  When I grill for her the sky is the limit when it comes to her taste buds.  That is why we usually do what she calls a “mixed grill” when preparing meals.  She gets her flavor, and I get my basic, run-of-mill, boring taste.  We are both happy.  

 

That was the revelation . . . I am just a plain old, blend in with the scenery, sort of person.  I am so bland and boring that I am like Waldo . . . find me if you can!  My culinary tastes are plain.  The way I dress is plain . . . no fashion statements from me.  My hobbies and interests are run-of-the-mill . . . reading, photography, and bird watching.  Those are going to get me on the front page of the newspaper—NOT!  There is not much about me that is flashy.  I am just “ground meat and cheese”.

 

The ”taco controversy” just served as a reminder . . .  I am ordinary . . . I am plain . . . I am white bread . . . and—in a non-racist way, I am a white guy.  Admittedly I struggle with that.  Don’t we all struggle with the truth of who we are and who we think we are?  This whole ordeal blew my self-aggrandizement right out of the water.  Most of the time, when people aren’t throwing around these sorts of challenges to my self-image, I see myself as suave and debonair . . . often jokingly referring to myself as Brad Pitt doppelganger.  This is easily accomplished when one never looks in the mirror or allows pictures to be taken.

 

Now the joke is on me . . . I am ordinary.

 

In all honesty, that is okay.  The truth is that I am not that vain.  I know the reality . . . I am just an old plain guy with plain tastes . . . and a plain life.  I am run-of-the-mill.  I like “white guy tacos” . . . and I am still here.  Still playing the game.  Still trekking down the pathway of life.  Still loved by those in my life even though I am bland.  I can handle it . . . it is my “roots” and it is good to be reminded once in awhile . . . even if the reminder comes in the form of a taco.

 

Trumptana My . . .

Sunday morning, I woke up to discover that I live in a new state—Trumptana.  Sometime during the darkness of night Montana lost its statehood.  I never saw it coming.  Nope.  Woke up Sunday morning and saw in the Billings Gazette that Montana was now Trumptana according to Don “K” Kaltschmidt of Whitefish, Montana . . . or should I say “Trumptana”?  such early morning revelations kind of puts a damper on one’s morning . . . and I hadn’t even been drinking the night before.

Who the heck is Mr. Kaltschmidt to proclaim that Montana was now known as Trumptana?  Turns out that he is the chairman (can’t say “chairperson” since Republicans in Montana have such a low tolerance for gender issues) of the Montana Republican Party.  Yup, he is the top dog Republican in Montana—whoopie for him.  I cannot imagine—since Montanans pride themselves for their independent streak—speaking for all Montanans.  But there it was . . . on the editorial page of the Billings Gazette and many other news resources across the state.  Montana was now Trumptana.  That just . . . well . . . pissed me off.  Who the heck does Don “K” Kaltschmidt think he is?  Who died and made him boss?  I don’t remember making him my proxy when it came to Montana’s statehood. 

 

This past week ex-President Donald Trump held a rally in Bozeman, Montana for all the Republican candidates—but specifically Tim Sheehy—in the upcoming elections.  Trump has a bone to pick with Montana’s lone Democratic senator, Jon Tester, who has been a pain in Trump’s rear end for a long, long time.  This is the Donald’s third attempt in ousting Tester. Since moving to Montana, I have witnessed Montana move from being a glorious “purple” state to a completely “red” state.  Trump has carried every election since 2016.  But he and the Republican Party does not define all the people in Montana.  Far from it.

 

So . . . where in the heck does Kaltschmidt get off declaring Montana . . . Trumptana!  How repulsive to identify one’s self with such a reprehensible and repulsive caricature of a human being.  I cannot, for the life of me, step into the illusionary, fantastical, delusional world of the individual known as Donald Trump.  To coin the new word for Trump from the Democrats—he is weird!  Not only is he weird, he is an egotistical, immoral (if he has any at all), a liar, ignorant, cheating, self-centered buffoon.  He laughs at the law of the land.  He is mean . . . vengeful.  How in the world would I want such an individual to represent me or the state I have come to love and call home.  The state I love.

 

In the present time Montana might be firmly embedded in the “red” . . . solidly Republican; but that is not all that defines Big Sky Country or its people.  Montana is deeper, broader, and more independent than one party . . . one belief . . . one way of thinking.  Montana is a diverse community that prides itself on its independent streak that was once willing to sit at the table to discuss and discern for the common good of all, and thne walk away from the table as neighbors, family, and friends.  Power can corrupt and that power has shattered the fellowship around the table.  Lost is the conversation, the discernment, and community that was once there.  That is Trumptana.  It is a far cry from what Montana used to be.  And I am insulted to be pulled into this nightmarish chaos crowned with the title “Trumptana” just because I happen to live geographically within the borders of what was once known at Montana.  I deserve better.  The citizens of Montana deserve better.  Montana is better than that . . . much better.

 

I think that it is an insult to Montanans to allude that Montana—or Trumptana as Mr. Kaltschmidt calls it—is centered on Donald Trump and all that he represents.  Montanans do not fit nicely in the same mold . . . no, there is a diversity of independence that marks Montanans.  Montanans are individuals.  That is why they are in Montana . . . to be themselves without having a whole lot of interference from others.  There are approximately 7.59 people per square mile in the state.  That is why I moved to Montana . . . there are not a whole lot of people.  And Montanans like that.  It gives people the freedom to be yourself and do your own thing. No one is shoved into a box . . . be yourself.  We also believe that if you are not hurting anyone else, do what you want with your life.  After listening to the Great Orange One speak . . . he seems to like to hurt people and tell them what they can and cannot do.  Doesn’t seem the Montana way to me.  The man is bossy and mean.

 

Montanans believe in helping others in their time of need.  In times of need, Montanans come together to help and care for one another.  Despite big words about caring, it is the actions that prove the point . . . Trumps words rarely align with his actions.  Montanans act instead of just talking about it.  Talk is cheap and in the season of a major political election . . . actions speak louder than words.

 

Montanans respect other cultures . . . respect diversity.  We are the only state in the United States that has it written in its constitution to learn, honor, and respect Native Americans as a part of our own history, culture, and communities.  We recognize that we all have our cultural heritages . . . that we all came from somewhere else . . . that makes us a diverse community that rallies together to care for one another.  We try to learn about one another and work together to provide a good life for all.  We might be different for a lot of reasons, but we rally together as Montanans.  This sort of behavior does not quite live down to what Trump espouses to his followers.

 

We are friendly and nice.  We don’t go around calling each other nasty names or making fun of people’s appearances.  We don’t belittle another for being from another community or culture or talking with an accent.  We don’t yell at each other or start profane chants that ridicule one another.  No, we attempt to “do on to others as we would want done onto us”.  We are not like Trump . . . we take responsibility for ourselves without blaming others . . . we believe in the truth; thus, we don’t lie . . . and we show respect to others.  Not very Trumpian actions.

 

Trumptana doesn’t sound much like what Montanans feel the state is all about . . . maybe on paper, but it’s the actions that matter.  Donald Trump does not represent Montanans.  We are better than that.  To equate the whole of Montana as the land of Trump is to do a disservice to Montanans.  Don “K” Kaltschmidt speaks for a small part of the state of Montana when he declares Montana is now Trumptana.  If Montana is truly Trumptana we might have to change our unofficial state motto from “Big Sky Country” (where there is no limit) to “Big Land--Small Brains—Little Hearts”.  Nothing about Trumptana speaks of the heart and soul of Montana.  Mr. Kaltschmidt should speak for himself and mind his own business.  Montana was a better place to live before Trump and is cronies got involved.

 

Mr. Kaltschmidt, don’t step on my toes and insult me.  Trumptana my . . .