We're not letting go

Nope. We're going to hold this in our teeth and shake it until we win. And I'm not talking about the cone.

That momentum I was talking about yesterday? It just keeps getting stronger – because of people like Justina. You know what she did? She talked to Ms. Golden at the Van Horn Chamber of Commerce yesterday. (Justina has very good karma.)  Here is what happened, as Justina wrote yesterday afternoon on facebook:

I just got off the phone with Patricia Golden at the Van Horn, Texas Chamber of Commerce. She's a very nice lady and we had a civilized conversation.

I suppose I was fortunate to get through. I've seen some comments online where folks are saying that their calls aren't being answered by the Van Horn Chamber of Commerce. When I asked Ms. Golden about this, she said that she's had to stop answering the phone because people are calling and screaming and cursing at her. If you called me and dropped the F-bomb on me, you'd better believe I wouldn't want to talk with you either.  :-) It's possible to be angry and civil at the same time, folks. We're not going to get anywhere with this if we're screaming at the people with whom we're trying to communicate.  :-) 

She's received about 550 emails so far and wishes that she could answer them all. She's quite grateful for the education she's receiving about donkey roping... like many people, she didn't realize that there are valid and explainable reasons for why donkeys shouldn't be roped. She reminded me that this (rodeo) is very culturally ingrained there - it's up to us to educate and to rationally show these folks why this is no longer (okay, it never should have been) culturally acceptable.

Ms. Golden wrote a letter to the Van Horn city administrator this morning warning him that the "donkey community" out there is gaining momentum and that this is not going away.  When she Googled "donkey roping Van Horn Rodeo" this morning, she saw first hand how much is going on out here on the Web... she's very aware!

She's not the decision maker here, but she is a key influencer. She requested that all phone calls go to Jason Owens, the promoter of the event. His phone number is 432-940-9051. Ms. Golden said that she spoke with Jason this morning and told him that she would be directing folks to him. Jason said that he would take all calls. 

Please call Jason Owens and tell him (civilly) why he needs to cancel the donkey roping competition in next Saturday's (June 23) Van Horn Rodeo. Ms. Golden pointed out that if Jason receives enough phone calls educating him about why this should not happen - he very well may decide to bow under pressure. But again, please be civil. Believe me, I'm angry too!

One additional request from Ms. Golden - she needs to show the city administrator public pressure from the media. When she checked the local papers yesterday evening, there were no letters to the editor about this subject. She said if she could show the city administrator letters to the editor, it would go a long way.

Please start by writing to Larry Simpson, editor at The Van Horn Advocate: lsimpson@vanhornadvocate.com

If and when I get additional suggestions, I'll pass them along.

On behalf of the donkeys, thank you.

The donkey roping ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, but I'm starting to get the feeling that she might be warming up her voice. 

I've got a call to make and a letter to the editor to write, so I'll end this now, but not before I thank all of you, and especially my pal Justina, for trying to put an end to donkey roping.