Girl Gone Smart: A public apology to my hometown
- Heather C Fazio
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
THE OPENER
The night of the Benito Bowl was quite interesting (to say the least.) If you watched with an open mind and an open heart it was a beautiful show full of love, images of love, family values (yes, the wedding was real) and a variety of fantastic music from a multitude of American countries. You were not, nor ever, obligated to like the music or to even watch the half-time show but you know that already. That was 100% your choice.
Preferring to watch Kid Rock (or whatever channel you chose) was fine, and no, it does not make you a racist. But let's stop pretending it was "the alternative Superbowl show." Was the Superbowl in the room with Kid Rock? Hint: It wasn't.) Like art, books, and movies, music is also subjective. I hate Rush. Sue me.
THE EDUCATION
What does make you (or your comments) racist is the absolute vitriol spewing from the fingertips of thousands of different people actively "protesting" (still, to this day) against it ONLY because it was in Spanish and the artist was Latino. And you must all know by now that Benito Antonio Martinex Ocasio "Bad Bunny" is a citizen of the United States of America, right? Tell me you know that by now, please. The NFL is global, like it or not. Bars, pubs, and restaurants around the entire world have it on their televisions every year.
The United States is not "special" when it comes to the NFL or the Superbowl in particular. Not even close. The notion that football is strictly for U.S. citizens is insanity, and the world learned what the U.S. has truly become in the last ten or so years - it's not pretty. ,As a side note, a friend here in this beautiful country of Mexico asked me if "those people" are really so sensitive they needed to create a different event, lol. Imagine that. I had to explain some people were just not into the music - but others were so incredibly thin-skinned, weak, angry, and bitter that yes, they actively turned to a musician who proudly sings about statutory rape and banging underage girls just to avoid la hermosa idioma de Espanol. You know, family values and things like that.
THE APOLOGY
Here's my truth. Despite the things I read on tons of social media posts that day and night, my love for my hometown of Massena, NY has never (and will never) waiver. I said something fairly stupid about being so glad I got the fuck out of there - and I am - not for the reasons having to do with that particular topic, though that is a big factor of which I was aware even in high-school. I would share the ENTIRE thread here but it was private post and against the law to do so.
Through my darkest days of slowly and painfully losing my Mom, my incredible friends took care of me more than I have words to express. A friend often brought me homemade food, another brought me a soft, fuzzy blanket for my shitty hotel room. Another opened their beautiful home for me so I wouldn't spend Christmas night alone in a hotel room. Others went to my Mom's apartment to ensure her cat was fed, watered, and had a clean litter box. Another made me get "away" from my grief and anxiety for a day for a beautiful trip on the Saint Lawrence River, and more people than I can count, shared their own painful stories with me so I wouldn't feel so alone and isolated. I have a hundred more examples.
In return, and not simply as pay-back or a thank you, but because I wanted to and IT IS MY TOWN, I personally raised over $4,500 for local HOSPICE chapters. (Donate here.) I've paid for flights so friends could see their grandchildren for the first time. I sent both food and money to the Massena Police Department during COVID and contributed often to the K-9 unit. I've donated to the library, attempted to pay for school lunches for kids at Jefferson Elementary, paid for wedding flowers for someone's daughter when they were short of funds. I've sent groceries to the homes of friends who couldn't afford to feed their families. I've housed and fed people who have to come to Albany hospitals for medical treatment, and I donated to the restoration of the Massena Schine Theater when I really couldn't afford to so at the time. (Donate here.) Do I want or need a pat on the back? Absolutely not - but understand where my heart is at all times.
In short (ha) I do love my hometown very much, and my friends who still live there. I should not have said those particular words (but only those words) in that moment. Mea culpa.
THE REALITY
I have never been quiet about how I feel morally, politically, and socially - and I never will be. I'm far from perfect in every sense of the word, but what I do know is where I stand, and I will never be afraid to share those views, call out racism, be anti-racist, nor will I ever back down from an intelligent, respectable discussion on any of these things. If you know me, you know that. I have not changed on any of those stances and I never will. Some of you love me for it. Some of you hate me for it. It changes absolutely nothing either way.
THE FUTURE
Just like I can't share anything publicly written in a non-public social media post, I can share posts and comments from a public social media post - names and all. And I will, because history is watching.
Massena Water Tower Photo: visitstlc.com
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