Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805.
By David Magallanes • Guest contributor
The news of Carmen’s demise was stunning, not too unlike when the shocking deaths of President Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Beatles icon John Lennon were announced. Carmen was a politician who was widely admired. She could be trusted, believed, and embraced as a friend.
By now, we all know the sad circumstances of her death. She was doing the kind of thing that so many of us do on a pleasant summer evening. She was walking to a concert that once again was enlivening downtown Oxnard after a pandemic pause. Unanimously elected to be the first Latina chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors earlier this year, she likely had plans in her head for improving the lives of county residents as she took that fateful step into the crosswalk.
One of the many remembrances that poured out across our local news caught my attention. It described how Carmen was incredibly strong when she was quiet. She did not fake strength through bluster and manufactured rage, like so many politicians on our local, state, and national stages. We would know when she was righteously angry – not by hearing loud, insulting rampages, but by “that look” on her face, not unlike when a patient mother endures another “travesura” (mischievous act) by one of her children.
Her dedication and work for the Mexican American community had been tireless, determined, and effective over the decades of her life. She taught us how to defend the rights of those who are exploited. Overnight, she became one of the permanent icons, along with our “abuelos” (grandparents) and cherished family, on the altar of our dearly departed.
— Writing services are offered at my website, David Magallanes Writing Services. David Magallanes is a retired college math educator.
***
Lecciones de Carmen Ramírez
Por David Magallanes • Columnista invitado
La noticia de la muerte de Carmen fue sorprendente, no muy diferente a cuando se anunciaron las impactantes muertes del presidente Kennedy, la princesa Diana y el ícono de los Beatles, John Lennon. Carmen fue una política muy admirada. Se podía confiar en ella, creerla y abrazarla como una amiga.
A estas alturas, todos conocemos las tristes circunstancias de su muerte. Estaba haciendo lo que muchos de nosotros hacemos en una agradable tarde de verano. Iba caminando a un concierto que una vez más animaba el centro de Oxnard después de una pausa debida a la pandemia. Elegida por unanimidad para ser la primera presidenta latina de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Ventura a principios de este año, probablemente tenía planes en mente para mejorar la vida de los residentes del condado cuando dio ese fatídico paso hacia el cruce de peatones.
Me llamó la atención uno de los muchos recuerdos que surgieron en nuestras noticias locales. Describía cómo Carmen era increíblemente fuerte cuando estaba callada. Ella no fingió fuerza a través de fanfarronadas y rabia fabricada, como tantos políticos en nuestros escenarios locales, estatales y nacionales. Sabríamos cuándo estaba justamente enojada, no por escuchar gritos insultantes, sino por “esa mirada” en su rostro, similar a cuando una madre paciente sufre otra travesura por parte de uno de sus hijos.
Su dedicación y trabajo por la comunidad mexicoamericana ha sido incansable, decidido y eficaz durante las décadas de su vida. Ella nos enseñó cómo defender los derechos de los explotados. De la noche a la mañana, se convirtió en uno de los íconos permanentes, junto con nuestros abuelos y nuestra querida familia, en el altar de nuestros difuntos.
– – Servicios de escritura se ofrecen en mi sitio web, David Magallanes Writing Services. David Magallanes es un profesor de matemáticas jubilado.
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes comments on stories appearing in Amigos805 and on issues impacting the community. Comments must relate directly to stories published in Amigos805, no spam please. We reserve the right to remove or edit comments. Full name, city required. Contact information (telephone, email) will not be published. Please send your comments directly to frank@amigos805.com