.

             Chavez's victories didn't just benefit farm workers, but the whole agricultural industry. In the same way the Abolitionists and the Civil Rights movements helped save the soul of America by forcing it to keep its promises and fulfill its greatness, the UFW helped save the soul of American agri-business by prodding it toward humane reforms. Today there are farmers who recognize that, and who are ready to give Cesar Chavez his due.

             Are we going to get another state holiday? The Chavez holiday is a bigger political issue than most would think, but is it mostly politics? The ag bureaucrats who run the farming associations that claim to speak for all farmers on all issues, have turned his cause into a business, and battling the ghost of their old nemesis is big business. . Cesar Chavez caused much grief among ag businessmen and farmers as a whole. And now, far from the fields, these old ag hard-liners with soft hands spend their days pushing paper and pushing around politicians. Do they want to honor this champion for workers rights? I think not.

             The tragedy is that most politicians, desperate to hold onto their offices and win higher ones, allow themselves to be pushed around. They may admire Chavez, but they are terrified of the prospect of losing elections and having to make livings in the private sector. Because of this, they do the bidding of whomever yells the loudest, threatens the most, or writes the biggest check. And ag lobbyists yell awfully loud, threaten an awful lot, and write awfully big checks. That's the first lesson in Valley politics. Democrat or Republican. Latino or non-Latino. Old-timer or youngster. It makes no difference. If the issue on the table has anything to do with Chavez, or the UFW, you can expect our leaders to hide under the table. .

             What should be heartbreaking to Valley Latinos though is that the ranks of the opposition include two of their own: Assembly members Dean Florez, D-Shafter, and Sarah Reyes, D-Fresno.