In 1993, shortly after César Chávez passed away in Arizona, the Mexican American Democrats (MAD) had their annual convention in Ausitn at the Radisson Hotel. Texas state Rep. Roberto Alonzo was the chairman of MAD and asked me at the beginning of the convention what I thought about a resolution in support of the idea of calling for a César Chávez holiday in Texas. I have known Alonzo since the 1970s, and he knew that I had worked for Chávez and the United Farm Workers of America as a labor organizer in California.

I told Alonzo I thought it was a bad idea. I recall sharing with him that Chávez wasn’t about taking a day off. If anything, he was about sacrifice. I told Alonzo that a better idea would be for people (state employees) to go to work and instead donate their day’s wages to the cause of the farm worker. Now that would be an impressive gesture.

I don’t recall what Alonzo said after that as he was called away by an assistant. I don’t even remember if he brought up the idea to the delegates because this was the convention that exploded in chaos when some of the MAD disagreed with Alonzo’s motions/directives regarding the election of officers.

A heated argument ensued from the podium when Alonzo eventually ruled his own parliamentarian out of order. In the end, Gonzalo Barrientos, and others led a walkout of about half of the MAD convention delegates into a rump convention that gave rise to what later became the Tejano Democrats.

Since 1993, there have been a number of efforts to try to bring about a César Chávez holiday at both the state and national levels. Even the current leadership of the United Farm Workers of America supports the idea as does Jaime Martinez, chairman and founder of the César E. Chávez Legacy and Educational Foundation. President Barack Obama said in 2008 that he would support such an effort. But I still believe it is a bad idea given the alternatives that should be considered.

Why is it that we as Latinos think we need to copy what others have done in calling for a holiday for an important figure in history? While it is true that some have said that this “holiday” for César Chávez would actually be a “day of service” and that people would be free to go out and do something positive in the community, I personally think that many or most, would use the day to go fishing or mow the grass. ( Pa qué nos vamos hacer tontitos, tu y yo sabemos qué si les damos el “day off” a cualquier persona, lo van a tomar cómo “day off.”)

Why can’t we instead be creative and daring and continue to promote the spirit of César Chávez and his desire for social justice by asking state or federal workers to instead stay on the job and make a collective donation of their wages to the United Farm Workers Union of America or a local nonprofit organization in the community?

When you do the math, you will find that a gesture such as this would send not only a tremendous message throughout the country but would serve to inject badly needed funds into organizations that are struggling to make a difference in the county. This would be something that César Chávez would truly be proud of.

Alfredo Santos is the editor and publisher of La Voz Newsppaers, based in Austin.