In many recent issues of the Rio Grande SUN, I have been inspired and enlightened by the words and topics of Molly Montgomery and Boderra Joe. These two writers and researchers have great potential for the preservation of Rio Arriba and New Mexico history and culture, and they deserve our support and encouragement on behalf of future generations.
To be honest, many of the ideas and local stories like these written by your local reporters were similar to the goals and the inspiration behind the original creation of the Center for Southwest Research at University of New Mexico, when I worked there. That important goal was, “To tell the stories of the people of New Mexico and to document and preserve this archive of information for future generations.”
Teaching and sharing the traditional values of New Mexico and the Rio Arriba is one of the most important ways to reach out to the young people of our state and eliminate the negative values which have been created in the last three-and-a-half years and beyond. Family, culture, tradition, respect for the earth, spirituality, preservation of our natural resources, acequia democracy and traditional knowledge must be passed on to future generations to help them cope with the world as it has become today. It is the responsibility of every adult to mentor and nourish the minds of the young for future generations to come.
Please, make every effort to vote on Nov. 3 and wear a mask or mail-in vote, vote early and mail early. For early voting (wear a mask) and by all means vote for candidates who support New Mexico’s traditional, cultural and historical values. Let’s keep our state strong and unified by preserving our cherished past values and pass these important values on to future generations.
Michael Miller
La Puebla
(Mr. Miller is the founding director and assistant professor of the Center for Southwest Research, UNM, retired)