Posted by Frank M. on November 15, 1998 at 12:50:16:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Your family posted by Truth Teller on November 14, 1998 at 09:23:36:
:Dear Truth Teller Et Al:
Thank you so much for your responses! Wow! For a while there, I thought you all had given up on the website - so nice to see that your interests haven’t died out.
Now, to respond to the flurry of activity that came across:
1. I’ve been accused of putting Eddie down. The following is a re-print of the one (and only) message I sent to him in response to his original note:
Dear Edward:
Welcome to the website! Nice to see that so many of the "senior" members of the family are getting online (I just turned 45, so I'm starting to get into this "senior" thing myself... : ) )
There has been some negativism within these "halls", but it's been written in the hopes that we can help to reduce/release it. I'm sure that more and more "everyday" stories will find their way here. It's a wonderful opportunity to see where we all ended up through the winds of change.
Happy surfing - hope to read some of your anecdotes soon....!
Now, I’d appreciate it if you could point out where I wrote the references to “Catholic Church” or his family background. Personally, I thought I was rather civil.
2. Did I know that my grandfather had killed a man? No. Am I grateful for you pointing that out? Yes. See, as I keep telling everyone, the point of this website is to document ALL facts regarding the Arreche family (By the way: since you’re an Arreche, these revelations apply to all of us, unless you know of a different faction).
3. Did I know about the incarceration of my great-grandfather? Yes. Don Eduardo told me the story, and took me to El Morro to see the cell where he had been imprisoned. Fascinating story. You mentioned that these facts are documented in books. Could you possibly document for all of us the names of these publications? I’m sure that many would like to read more about these historical events.
4. I am fully aware that the Arreches are Castillian - I think that’s pretty obvious. I merely asked you to reprint your Spanish quote because the spelling was off, and the English translation you gave really didn’t match up. I wanted to ensure that I was reading exactly what you meant to write. Based on what you wrote, I expected something like “La verdad, auque se verá, es amiga verdadera.” But, I guess I should have assumed the accents and such.
Now, speaking of assumptions.....
You and your associates have been busy making assumptions - lots of them. You assume that I don’t want to live in peace. You assume that I am not knowledgeable about my mother’s actions. You assume that I don’t know my grandparents or my/our family history. You assume that I condone the actions of my/your forefathers. You assume that I don’t know Spanish. You assume that I don’t want to know the whole truth. You even assume that I have a criminal instinct (hell; I’m human - we ALL have that instinct!)
Well, well, well. All I can do at this point is remind you all of the expression regarding those who choose to assume...
Listen: I have been TRYING to get you people to document the truth about our family WITHOUT malice, WITHOUT prejudice, WITHOUT remorse, WITHOUT ego. But, you all don’t seem capable of doing so. I mean, really - do you have to include such trite statements as “this of course will probably be very hard for you coming from the womb of Iris”? Do you have to be so stupid, close-minded and narrow? Lord knows that my mother had her share of faults. The difference between you and I is that I work to ensure that I can rise about that heritage, learn from the mistakes, and become a better person. You waste time and energy pointing fingers, slandering the dead with no purpose other than to insult, and making sure that your meager ego is brought up a few imaginary notches by making yourself and your cause superior to all others. Grow up. Learn to expand your knowledge, and stop beating your chest to the tune of your own pomposity. Oh, yeah - by the way: To “La Conciencia” - the term is “scum bag” - not “slum bag”. If you’re going to insult someone, at least get your colloquialisms straight. And, to “Luis Laporte”: Your statement re. “I knew your family and you are telling the Truth” says VOLUMES about your separatist’ attitude. We’re ALL from the same family!
And, to all concerned: the name is Frank Maddlone - if you’re going to attack me, at least get my name right. Once you’ve chosen to reveal your true name, I’ll do my best to spell yours correctly.
: : Dear Frank Madalone:
: You certainly are just like your mother: a liar,
: troublemaker who was always distorting the truth.
: Do you still beat little girls up???
: Yes there certainly is criminal instinct in you too.
: If you want to live in Peace, respect Everyone.
: This of course will probably be very hard for you coming from the womb of Iris.
: How dare you put down Eddie and the fact that he works for the Catholic Church and if they know his family background. Do you really know yours??? Do you know your grandfather, Eduardo Arreche Cuevas killed a man?? YES, he did. He killed the trolley conductor who ran Jesus Salvador down, killing him. He was tried and the jury acquitted him. His attorney was his cousin, a famous criminal lawyer, Rafael Cuevas Zequeira, who also was President of the Senate. Once he won the criminal case he sued PR Railway and Light Company for the death of his son and won.
: Your great-grandfather Eduardo Arreche, your grandfather's father was jailed by the Spaniards
: for writing the truth in the newspaper---how bad the Spaniards treated the Puertoricans and why the Puertoricans should be in favor of the US in the Spanish American War. He was jailed and since this was treason was to be executed. He was a Mason and the head Doctor of the jail, a Mason also, certified his death caused by a heart attack and put him in a boat. He landed in Cuba where he re-married and had 6 daughters. (he was a widower) One of these daughters was Ana Maria Arreche who had a son by the name of Enrique Amaral Arreche who was in Castro's army and the one responsable for the fate of the political prisoners in Cuba.
: So dear Frank---do you really know your grandparents?????? Do you really know your heritage???
: Aparently you do not!!!!
: All that I have written is documented in books.
: So you should not talk about your cousins and their suppossed crimes when you do not know the real story behind each episode. Aside from the fact that if there are criminal genes in the Arreche's then they come from your great-grandfather on---treason----
: Of course, things are to be seen by many perspectives. The first Eduardo could be seen as a hero because he wrote the truth and was jailed for this. Maybe, Frank you should learn from him.
: If you see it in the perspective of the Spaniards
: he was a traitor.
: What about your grandfather?? He killed a man. He was acquitted, but did he have to take the law in his own hands??
: Jesus Salvador was killed, but one does not take the law into one's own hands. His attorney was
: excellent!!! Maybe if your cousins would have had him for an attorney they would have won!!
: The attorney's daughter still lives and remember
: this case and it is documented in the proper books
: Crimes??? Criminals??? It all depends on how you want to see things.
: What the saying La verdad aunque se Vera es Amiga Verdadera means is that even if you don't like the
: truth, the truth is the only true friend you have....Unfortunately you don't like the truth too much.
: You talk about crimes, but many of your crimes have gone without punishment one of them being libel and slander.
: Apparently, you do not know Spanish. How can you be an Arreche??? The Arreche's are Vascos.
: I suggest you find out the REAL TRUTH on ALL
: MATTERS and TALK to those who are involved so that you can have both sides of the story and
: know the real TRUTH, not partial truths. After
: all if you read Sam Sheppards story where he was accussed of killing his wife when he did not,you will understand that you are condeming innocent
: people.
:
: TRUTH TELLER
: : Since you've chosen such a formidable nom de plume (like my Mom would say - "imponente"), allow me to expound on a few thoughts that (hopefully) will live up to the tone you've set:
: : I am happy (and proud) to say that I knew Don Eduardo Arreche well, as I spent many childhood moments with him. As of this past October, I still had a few years left before I reach my life's half century mark. Considering that Don Eduardo passed away about 35 years ago, one does not have to be a centenarian to have enjoyed his company and wisdom (unless, of course, you're counting in dog years).
: : About the "separation" issue: Many of the Arreches have led eclectic, exciting and independent lives. However, these have not been the biggest
: : contributors to their inability to stay close to one another. And, quite
: : frankly, I don't believe that family crises qualify as a reason, either (those
: : fall mostly under the "cop-out" category). The dubious honor goes hands-down to the sheer size of the initial clan. I remember a time when Papá (a.k.a. Don Eduardo) and I went on a walking tour of old San Juan (he loved his jaunts). We came to stop by the main Post Office, and had ourselves a little piragua (well, I ate; he watched). As I sat there relishing the cool treat, I remember looking up at him - all dressed in white with his Panama-style hat. He was staring straight ahead silently, as he wiped the sweat from his brow with his hankerchief (I picked up the habit of carrying those from him!) When he saw that I was ready to move on, he took me by the hand and we started to walk off. As we hit the sidewalk, he turned to me and shared this thought: Nene, don't ever have a large family, because there's never enough time or love to give to every child. I don't know what prompted him to say that - I didn't ask. But, I've never forgotten his words. In retrospect, he and Maria may have wished for a large unified family early on, but they eventually learned that the ways of the many will often disrupt the dreams of the few.
: : Now; in regards to knowing "the whole story behind various incidents": I must tell you, I appreciated your statements re. a certain attorney's character - I haven't had a good laugh like that in a long time! This person that you so admirably defend has been a pill since she was a child - almost anyone in the family will attest to that. Then again, I guess you could say that she was the hapless victim of genetics. After all, she did follow in her father's footsteps all too well. Use whichever adjectives you wish - those are your observations, and I respect them as such (as I do from any other person). Just don't expect to use words like "beautiful" and "loving" to describe this person without getting back a few retorts. Unfortunately, your defensive comments will ultimately fall in the "minority" pile.
: : Ah; the "come out in the open and say who you are" challenge. Well, this has certainly been the gauntlet of choice these days 'round the 'ol website. I'm sure you can agree to the fact that a person's privacy is their most treasured possession, and he/she is entitled to protect it, if so desired. With that in mind, remember that it's the Arreches who have been placing their family history on a website - not "Anonymous". If he (as I assume "him" to be, given his notes) wishes to remain unknown, that is his prerogative - just as some folks within the family have chosen not to reveal themselves. I think that we should all take a hard look at the comments made by Anonymous, and see just how well we stand up to their scrutiny. Lord knows I hate to see things exposed that are distasteful and compromising towards any loved one. But, the courage and resolve we show today will strengthen us in our quest to bury the "skeletons"
: : once and for all.
: : Oh; one last thing: could you resubmit that spanish saying you quoted? I kinda lost the gist of it halfway through ("La verdas aunque se vera ES AMIGA VERDADERA...")
: : Thanks for your time!
: : : Webmaster, you do well in keeping your identity unknown!
: : : : While I was perusing different names on the Internet, I found this page and I felt joy. Joy, because the Arreche family has been intertwined with ours for decades. This joy turned to horror and disgust when I read some of the postings.
: : : : As I was reading the contents of this page, I could clearly see Don Eduardo and Dona Maria. My parents tell me that Don Eduardo always told them that having a big family was a dream for them both. They wanted to see a united front, a coming together of sorts. How they must be shaking their heads in disgust at the agendum of total negativity.
: : : : I wonder what they think of the waves of envy and venomous anger from a person who touts "she is proud to be an Arreche." It is irritating to the core of my soul to see the vicious attacks on other members of the family who are really trying (as I see it) to post things that are meaningful. My wife and I have postulated that the unity Don Eduardo and Dona Maria desired to have, and could not have with their own children has just escalated into semantic atrocities and greed by some of their children's progeny.
: : : : Having been raised in Puerto Rico and currently living in the United States, my family and I have kept contact with certain members of the Arreche clan. To the one who wrote about "white collar crimes" you show your complete ignorance of the facts. We (my wife and myself) both knew this person and this "white collar crime" was planned and carried out with utmost bravado.
: : : : The attorney who was incarcerated also made some very bad choices. Her actions were borne out of greed and pomposity. She always believed she was "above the law" and tried to prove her cogency in many ways.
: : : : White collar crime is not the only thing the Arreche family needs to discuss. You need to come to terms with the condition, or in present day vernacular, sickness of alcoholism and drug abuse. My parents were privy to many discussions with family members regarding this debilitating illness. It was very evident to us that child abuse ran rampant in this family. As ostriches you would do well to try and bury your heads in the sands of such abominations as child molestation, robbery and terrorism.
: : : : Perhaps cowardice is the only way to define the fact that I give no name. Please remember that we have known your family for decades and its skeletons were not as safeguarded as you may have thought. Do my families or I act as your conscience? No, but you must!
: : : Dear Anonymous:
: : : If you knew Eduardo Arreche well; then you must be in your 100's. I do not believe you really knew them nor did your parents. If you did you would know that the reason the Arreche's are always\
: : : so separated is because their parents many times had to separate them. Once when Eduardo Arreche\
: : : had tuberculosis and another time when Jesus Salvador Arreche Prados was killed by the trolley.
: : : All families have good things and bad things no one is perfect. Your family must also have bad things and good things----and skeletons.
: : : When one speaks or writes one Must know the whole story, not just bits or pieces of a story or just one side of the story. Apparently you do not the whole story behind various incidents.\
: : : I personally know the people you refer to in this message. I know very well the attorney and she is\
: : : a beautiful loving person and did nothing illegal.
: : : \A lot of people are accused daily and are innocent. Look at Dr. Sheppard (the Fugitive). It\
: : : has been totally proven he never killed his wife.
: : : \What seems to be not always is.
: : : \
: : : \If you are a Truthful person you should come out in the open and say who you are. There is a saying in Spanish that says "La verdas aunque se
: : : \vera ES AMIGA VERDADERA. If you say the truth\
: : : you do not have to fear giving out your identity\
: : : and who or what you are.\
: : : \
: : : Truth Teller