Recently we saw things get as low as they could when it comes to the permanent designation of Mount Taylor as a state registered  'Traditional Cultural Property.'

Two weeks ago a gentlemen brought into the Beacon office two Native American men who had been beaten. It was deadline day so I took two quick photos, jotted down names and asked very few questions.

The man's reaction was that the Grants cops had not taken the issue very seriously. I hadn't received a call from the cops about the issue which happened several days prior to them arriving at the Beacon office.

Most Cibola County residents know what happened from there. There were three more beatings later on that week and this time there was contact with the police and the issue was being taken very seriously.

An arrest was made and, according to police reports, the man responsible did so because of the TCP designation. Are we surprised? I'm not.

From the get go the TCP had a bad taste in my mouth. Not because of the qualifying factors. I've already said my opinion on the matter is that simply by the reaction of Hispanics, Anglos, Native Americans, and all other residents of Cibola County for that matter, is alone qualifying.

The bad taste started from the meeting in Santa Fe, February of 2008, in which the Attorney General ruled as unqualified. The taste became worse when the June meeting separated the 'for' and 'against' while people from both sides made racial remarks. People held signs at the meeting that were racially based.

Later there were two public hearings where landowners on the mountain requested proper notification of the process and how that could affect them. They received little response.

Bottom line is, I thought the state handled the process very loosely, giving more energy to the cowboy and Indian factor on the issue. This committee that voted 'yes' to the TCP has gone home and are no longer worried about it. We, the residents of Cibola County, have had to come back home and face one another.

We could say all we want. The reality is we have made little progress when it comes to racism. The Mount Taylor TCP just exposed it.

The beatings on the Native American men recently in downtown Grants, allegedly based on the TCP designation, is very sad. These guys who were beaten probably knew very little, if any, about the TCP. Obviously Mr. Longoria, arrested for the assaults, knew very little. I know that because of his reason. The police report states that Longoria said, “because the Indians took the mountain.' First off, the mountain belongs mostly to the U.S. Forest Service, then there are private landowners, Land Grant property and Bureau of Land Management property. Secondly and ultimately, the mountain belongs to God. We can all claim a portion of that as our TCP but as quick as God blew the top off one time is as quick as something else can happen. A friend once told me, “Never say never, because anything is possible.”

Also, let's not go to extremes on the matter. Extreme remarks effect the arrogant folks.

I've visited the mountain many times of late and nothing has changed. As for me, very little will probably change over time. For my son, a possible job opportunity in the mines may be less because of the designation. But I also understand the basic effect from a bad economy will also influence my son's chances on a mining job. Does that mean I am going to go beat on someone because of it. Of course not. This is just an example.

I am like the next guy - I want good jobs in Grants and if the uranium industry is going to bring them, fine, if not, then I will move on.

The designation, and until good reasons are found for it not to be a TCP, it is what it is. Let the fighting be done in the courtroom. That is why lawyers are paid the big bucks.