Picking cotton trained a leader

Corpus Christi Caller-Times ^ | December 21, 2003 | Brad Olson

[SwinneySwitch]

I never picked cotton.

[cyborg]

Very interesting story.

[jocon307]

Great post, it was very intresting to learn more about Gen. Sanchez after seeing him on the TV.

We've got some great, brave, down to earth fellows putting their lives on the line to defend us. For this I am personally grateful every day.

[Maria S]

Always interesting to me to see how childhood and adolescent hardships and adversities affect different people.

[Servant of the 9]

I never picked cotton.

Like the General, one day was enough for me.
It doesn't require the physical strength of haying, but it's at least as hard a job.

So9

[LADY J]

"Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez commander of coalition forces in Iraq since June 14."

Big difference between Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez and the 'perfumed prince'.

God bless him and keep him and his troops safe from harm.

[stop_fascism]

Great story. Not surprising that main stream media has ignored it.

[sunryse]

>Great story. Not surprising that main stream media has >ignored it.

That's because the ones who threw tomatoes at him 30 years ago are now running the media.

[hobson]

I picked cotton when I was 6 years old and they paid me 1.00 a sack. I thought I soooo grown up! Kids these days can't have those kind of experiences. You know, child labor and all. Too bad.

[international american]

"That's because the ones who threw tomatoes at him 30 years ago are now running the media."

ROTFLMAO!

[VOA]

I never picked cotton.

Me either.
But I did work with cotton plants doing my graduate degree on plant biochemistry.

While I didn't get the full effect, it was something to be in the field, bent over or on
knees to work with the plants, from sun-up to sunset, with some days being 100 deg. F
with as much humidity as the air could carry.

And, as an average white guy, to see sone fellow workers from places like
Bangledesh have to beg off from the heat.

It did give me a feeling about history --
You can see how anyone would rationalize the enslaving of other human beings
to do that sort of work.

[solo gringo]

Swinnyswitch you have never picked cotton well let me tell you i have and you haven't missed a damn thing.It is hard work and you get plenty of sore fingers from the stickers from the boll spurs.

My grandson has served under Gen Sanchez in baghdad and he is one of my grandsons hero.He said he was tough but a regular G.I.

We have a new school here in Rio Grande City,Texas named General Rick Sanchez Elementary school how cool is that

[Lazamataz]

I never picked cotton.

That's why you're not a General.

[VOA]

Great story. Not surprising that main stream media has ignored it.

My naive guess is that here is the verbotten passage that would cause this article
to get a general press embargo:

In Sanchez's case, one important moment of preparation occurred in the
sixth grade when a math teacher called him "dummy." Eager to prove her wrong,
he studied harder and eventually majored in math at Texas A&I University,
now Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Today's press can't let America know that CHALLENGING a student on a "self-esteem" issue
is very often the launching point to success in life.

Nope, can't have anyone's feelings being hurt by words in school...
Plus, the teacher (in those days) was probably white...and Sanchez failed
to play the race card in recounting the story.
Nothing press-worthy in this article.
As far as today's "journalists" are concerned.

[tapatio]

Yep I have picked cotton too,on my grandparents farm.Humidity,thorns,sore back and it seemed like you could never fill that darn bag up.It sure taught you that you wanted to do something else in life.

[SwinneySwitch]

I picked strawberries, though. (you can eat strawberries while you work.;^)

[stop_fascism]

The entire story is against everything liberal America stands for. The nerve of someone from a minority group working hard and being successful. He didn't even credit his success to affirmative action or ESL. Nope, the ingrate credits his mother. Too bad the Senate can't denign promotions in the military like they can judicial appointments.

[yarddog]

I picked cotton from the age of about 7 until we moved to town at age 12. I got 3 cents a pound and thought it was good money. My Uncle Buck would pay us when he took cotton to the gin. They first thing I bought was a monopoly set which I still have nearly 50 years later.

The first money I ever earned was at age 5 picking peanuts for a neighbor whose allotment was too small to justify a peanut picking machine. The first day I earned 35 cents which seemed like a fortune.

[maxwellp]

Watching and listening to General Sanchez on TV I can't help but think he's one fine American - and his Mother also. Many thanks to whoever posted this!

[WestTexasWend]

The problem with picking cotton is that the better you are at it, the harder it gets...the faster that long canvas sack fills, he heavier it is to pull down the row. And murder on hands. His mother taught him well...not just about working hard, but working smart :)