Did anyone catch the latest episode of, "Anthony Bourdain's Part's Unknown" in East Texas?

I would recommend it to be required viewing in today's climate.

I would have to say that it was a very hard-hitting piece, probably the best episode ever. I will preface this by saying Im not an Anthony Bourdain cheerleading fan. However, with that said, I feel his shows are important because it shows us, people, that we may never or never will encounter. His shows show a side to people that even the most cold-hearted bastard couldn't deny. Food just brings people together, whether its; Israelis & Arabs, Texans & Mexicans, to Guys with a man bun and designer glasses & the most rednecked mountain man have in common. Food can and does bring people together and in today's climate. Anything that shows how we are relatable to one another is very important. In regards to whether you may or may not care for himself, as a person is a different story. So watch this episode!

So in this episode, he goes to E. Texas. It thousands of square miles of nothing but cattle feeding land. There may be a small town here and there scattered, but life really hasn't changed much in hundreds if not thousands of years up until recently. The Texans down there that live on the border all speak some Spanish, and most of the Mexicans that live on the Mexican side speak some English. A gruff old cowboy with an eyepatch sitting in his bar said it best, "I learned to speak Spanish because it's the right thing to do." That's what makes good neighbors, not walls."

Every single person interviewed has ties across the river. They interviewed a girl whose boyfriend can't go to her house but she can go to his house, he can't get the proper visas. Her dad isn't worried about her at night. He said it's not like how the media portrays border towns with all that violence (Gee I wonder why most people think that. Thanks again media). Person after person commented on how a wall going up would make their life a living hell. For generations, families would wade across the river and hang out in the US side of town on a Friday, and then come Saturday everyone would be on the Mexican side.

Its a way of life that has always rung true to me as authentic as it gets. It hasn't changed in hundreds of years with Texans and for thousands of year for the Mexican/Spanish/Mestizos/and Aztecs. The people down there consider each other friends and more importantly neighbors (or what good neighbors should be). Walls have never been successful, Isreal, Germany, the Great Wall of China, and ancient Roman pioneer brick walls in ancient England. None of these walls ever had the desired effect. Had they just taken the time to integrate with one another, and stop worrying about some damn purity of blood or race. That the world would be such a better place.

I also find it once again, that the people affected by something the least, have the most and loudest bit to say. I've noticed it in just the military in general. You will have a 300lb, Otter Team 6 member, who fought in the Battle of Endor. He will give all sorts of his thoughts on gays in the military. He will be the first to rant and rave on message boards about how the military is just going down the crapper, with as many ridiculous reasons as gays in the military, to "millennials". Because today's kids are just as damn brave as those that stormed the beaches in France and all across the Pacific.

Then we have our dumb assed President who had such a bad case of bone spurs, who knows more about the military than his General's. Or knows more about Trade Wars and how easy they are to win, to know that those damn Mexicans are nothing but criminals.