It’s nice to see that at least the utopian bubble of Santa Barbara has moved beyond the rest of the country in forgiving our forefathers for their actions and how society and civilization operated in eras gone by.
The fact that the Spanish had invaded the West Coast and enslaved the indigenous population — making neophytes to do their bidding, which included building the Missions — is now in the distant past. People have moved on.
It’s beautiful to see the live, authentic recreations of the local Spanish Dons’ parties, or fiestas, celebrating their lavish lifestyles built from their slaves’ hard work. The fruits of their lands granted by the King of Spain entitled them to own even the humans on its soil. The way it is celebrated now makes it appear like it was the best of times.