Date: 1995-04-03
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank my distinguished colleague for allowing me to join him and my colleague. the gentleman from Texas [Mr. TEJEDA} on this occasion. For all of us it has been a very sad occasion. Texas.. the Nation. and perhaps all of the continent mourn the loss of such a young. talented. productive life as that of Selena Quintanilla Perez. Mr. Speaker. young people from throughout Texas and in my area in south Texas mourned. cried. They had a candlelight vigil. as has been mentioned. They went to churches. They drove with the lights on. with mourning black ribbons on the antennas of their cars. But the outpouring of love was not at the point in time when she died. It has been there all along. They had come to her concerts. They had come to see her. to touch her. to listen toher. One thing that I think we should look at is that the youngsters. children. see through falsehood. Children know who is real and who is fake. and the youngsters throughout the area that I live in. and throughout all the other areas. came and believed in Selena. They wanted to touch her. they wanted to be like her. and I think this is very important because they have shown us that here in such a short period someone has reached the pinnacle in their professional life that is a very difficult life. Mr. Speaker. the music business is not easy. Traveling in that atmosphere is not easy. The temptation for drugs. for alcohol. is insurmountable at times for many of those. and this young ladyand we talk here about family values and moral valueshere is a family that worked together. that stayed together. and It is a tremendous loss for them and for us because all of the endeavor has been done in a family style. in a family group. in helping each other along the way. I think it also should be of importance to us--and it has been mentionedshe recently was in San Antonio with the San Antonio Spurs visiting schools. stay in school. do not get into drugs. She devoted so much time to working with the youngsters. But there is no age limit to those who are admired and listen to her music. I know personally in my family that. from everyone in the family. regardless of age. enjoyed her music and looked at her in a very respectful. admiring way because she had what in Spanish is called El Don de Gente. That is an old Spanish saying that is given to a very special few that can touch you and make youfeel they are part of you. that can speak to anyone regardless of stature. regardless of economic level. Those that have that special talent are but a very. very few. and she had that very special talent. So I join my colleagues. and I urge. as my two colleagues have said. to the youngsters to remember to stay off of the drugs. to stay in school. and to work with others of good will. Mr. Speaker. I am reminded of an old song in my youth. "The Old Lamp Lighter." which ended with the old lamp lighter. he made the world a little brighter wherever he would go. This was what Selena Quintanilla Perez was all about. She made the world a little brighter wherever she would go. and there have been the flowers. and there have been the signs. and there will be a tomb with a monument. I am sure. of some kind. But she will remain in the hearts. and the minds. and in the souls of everyone. But she will go beyond that. and there is an old Spanish saying also that one of the Spanish explorers. when they first came to the area where we live was asked by one of his soldiers. "Will anyone ever know we came through here?" So he took his sabre and on "the side of a rock wrote the date and his name. and at the bottom he put. "Paso por aqui.." he came this way. So I would join my colleagues in saying that the world is a little better. she shed light. good light. wherever she went like the old lamp lighter. and no one should ever forget that. once she came our way in 23 short years in the minds. and memories and hearts of all of those who heard her music. all of those who met her and admired her. The Nation. and we as a people. and the Hispanic culture. and the music world. all of them would have been benefited and will continue to benefit because a young girl that lived only a very short 23 years paso por aqui. I thank my distinguished colleague for allowing me this time.