But disagreements arose over how to portray each of the three cultures. Albuquerque has been fighting for years over just how the Spanish should be characterized by a statue honoring the 400 years of Hispanic influence on our state. At this point, a three-member team consisting of an artist representing each culture has proposed a panoramic scene depicting just about everything you'd want to know about the Spanish in New Mexico. But in managing to make everyone happy, the sculpture has grown to at least twice its allocated cost. And everyone is not happy with depicting three cultures on the New Mexico quarter.
Blacks note they have played a significant role in our state's history.
The Asian caucus hasn't been heard from yet, but likely will be. So while the big guys were feuding, four classes of third graders from Alamogordo , Jal , Taos and Farmington did their own designs for the coin and sent them to the state Office of Cultural Affairs, which will handle New Mexico's entry. Although submissions haven't been tabulated yet, a representative of the office says he's seen more roadrunners than anything else. Maybe putting the state bird on our coin isn't being serious enough, since it is a member of the loon family and since it is a cartoon character, but it sure solves a lot of cross-cultural problems. And no one said the entries have to be serious.