Posted by
Curtal Friar on Thursday, March 13, 2008 8:49:08 AM
Some 70 years ago, an older gentleman of mexican descent started each day by pushing his cart out to the street, where he would began preparing his merchandise - hot tamales. He would prepare no other food, just the hot tamales. People that stopped by bought them by the dozen, and he would wrap them in newspaper and give them to the customer. His name was Manuel Hernandez, and he was one of the finest examples of living the American dream of which I am aware.
Fast forward many years, and Manuel's Hot Tamales had become a staple of local culture. Everybody loved them. There was nothing finer on a Saturday night than to stop by his place, which had moved from the cart to a permanent building and offered takeout only to the public, and pick up a few dozen of his tamales, grab a six-pack or two of Dixie beer, and take it all home for a family feast. Manuel and his family still wrapped the tamales up in newspaper, and when the person who had gone to pick them up delivered them to the dining room table and opened them up, everyone would be there waiting hungrily. There was something about the sauce that Manuel cooked his tamales in that was better than anything I have ever eaten, so far as mexican cuisine goes. Everyone in the area knew and loved Manuel and his tamales. So, what's the point of this blog entry, you might ask? It is simple. If a man like Manuel, who spoke broken English when he began, could make such a success of himself and his family, then anyone can. It takes a good idea and some talent, to be sure, and lots of hard work and determination, but we all have that potential. Manuel stands as an heroic icon for all immigrants who long to come to America to achieve the American dream for themselves and their families.
He also stands in sharp contrast to those immigrants who would cheat and flaunt the system, by coming over illegally in an attempt to gain an advantage over others. Manuel loved America, and he worked hard to make a place for himself and his family as Americans. He would have looked on illegals as trash, and he would have been insulted by their presence and their activities. Who really likes the idiots who insist on cutting in line and getting where they are by cheating and flaunting the rules?
Manuel's Hot Tamales is now owned by the third generation of the Hernandez. They keep alive his memory and his example. All who wish to come to America should look to Manuel for inspiration and follow his example. He is truly an everyman hero of the American dream.