True Mexican

The Irish Presence in Mexico

2011-03-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Saint Patricks Day ..........please enjoy this well done article

THE IRISH PRESENCE IN MEXICO By Rose Mary Salum

Throughout their history, Mexico and Ireland have experienced many similar events, in spite of their physical distance. Because these events have had such an impact on Mexico, it is often said that there is a real Irish presence in Mexican soil.

William Lamport, born in 1615, was one of many Irishmen who became famous in Mexico for his adventurous life. The story tells us that a scandalous love affair caused him to flee to Mexico (Nueva Espa ña), where he was moved by the poverty and degradation of Indians and Africans. Ultimately, he was accused of plotting a war of independence against the government, which led to his imprisonment. After ten years, he escaped and lived as a fugitive, continuing his life and love affairs in the New Spain. Eventually, he was captured and sentenced to death by the Inquisition, launching his name into legendary martyrdom. At the time, his adventurous and charitable lifestyle had such an impact, that citizens dubbed him the famous "El Zorro."(1)Another prominent Irishman who had a hand in Mexican politics was Dublin-born Hugh O'Connor, who moved to Nueva Espa ña to escape the harsh conditions that reigned in Ireland at that time. In his adopted homeland, he became one of the most notable bureaucrats, taking office as governor of the region of Texas and commander of the northern frontier. He was also the founder of the town now known as Tucson, Arizona. In the18th century, several bureaucrats and officers who represented Spain in Mexico were either Irish, or of Irish descent. O'Connor was one of the most important and distinguished.(2)

A plaque commemorates Los San Patricios in Mexico. A third example of an individual who motivated immigration and increased the Irish presence in Mexico was James Power, who founded a new Irish settlement under Mexican jurisdiction in the State of Texas. Due to his efforts, the laws in Texas particularly favored Irish immigration.The Refugio and San Patricio were areas of south Texas colonized by the Irish. Heading this colonization were four Irish businessmen, James Power and James Heweston (in Refugio) and John McMullen and James McGloin (in San Patricio). These men made contracts to colonize the land with people who were "Irish, Catholic and of good moral character." Power and Hewetson contracted with the Mexican government to bring over oppressed Irish settlers to colonize the area. Power traveled to his hometown of Ballygarrett, and eventually organized some 600 people to emigrate.(3)Many immigration stories were triggered by the potato famine of 1845, which brought devastation not only to Ireland, but also to the rest of Europe. For the Irish in particular, it was the beginning of mass evictions, starvation, sickness, and death for thousands. Some Irish were fortunate enough to afford the fare for an escape to the New World. Yet even while escaping, thousands died as a result of inhuman conditions aboard England's vessels.The trouble did not end once the Irish arrived in America. By the middle of the 19th century, the enormous number of Irish-Catholic immigrants dwelling in the United States increased the sentiment of hatred towards the Irish. Names and phrases like, "that Yankee hates Paddy," were common. Because they were victims of prejudice, the Irish found themselves becoming sympathetic to Mexicans. Subsequently, many of them deviated from their original plans of settling in the United States and crossed into Mexico.

PERSPECTIVE
Stolen Birthright: The U.S. Conquest and Exploitation of the Mexican People by Richard D. VogelIn the spring of 1846, the United States was eager to invade Mexico. According to some historians, the ostensible reason was to collect on past-due loans and indemnities; the more likely reason, however, was to provide the United States with control of the ports of San Francisco and San Diego, the trade route through New Mexico's territory, and the rich mineral resources of the Nevada territory (which belonged to the Republic of Mexico). The United States had previously offered $5 million dollars to purchase New Mexico's territory and $25 million dollars for California, but Mexico had refused. At the time, Irish immigrants felt empathy for Mexico, who it saw as another Catholic country being invaded by Protestant foreigners. In turn, they decided to fight with the Mexican battalions. The following are some excerpts of what was said in those times:
"Can you fight by the side of those who put fire to your temples in Boston and Philadelphia? Did you witness such dreadful crimes and sacrileges without making a solemn vow to our Lord? If you are Catholic, the same as we, if you follow the doctrines of Our Savior, why are you murdering your brethren? Why are you antagonistic to those who defend their country and your own God?"(4)The Irish division was known as Los San Patricios, or "Those of Saint Patrick." It participated in all the major battles of the war and was cited for bravery by General López de Santa Anna, the Mexican Commander in Chief and President. At the penultimate battle of the war, these Irishmen fought until their ammunition was exhausted, and even then tore down the white flag raised by their Mexican comrades, preferring to struggle on with bayonets. Despite their brave resistance, 85 of the Irish battalion were captured and sentenced to bizarre tortures and deaths at the hands of the Americans, resulting in what is considered even today as the "largest hanging affair in North America."(5) The event had a profound effect in Mexico. Since then, many authors have written novels and history books about the subject and monuments and statues honoring Los Patricios have been erected in major Mexican cities. Movies have been filmed and even special dates have been marked on the Mexican calendar, to commemorate Irish aid.In almost every Mexican account of the war, Los San Patricios are considered heroes who fought for the noble ideals of religion and a just cause against a Protestant invader of a peaceful nation. In U.S. history, Los San Patricios are often portrayed as deserters, traitors, and malcontents who joined the other side for land or money. Now, thanks to the highly regarded research of Michael Hogan and his book, The Irish Soldiers of Mexico, there is a much more objective analysis of the "San Patricios'" phenomenon.The battle influenced Mexico in such a way that it has become a critical development in the official version of Mexico's history. Every year, September 12 is remembered and celebrated. Recently, after 150 years, Mexico remembered the St. Patrick's Battalion with full military honors at the Plaza San Jacinto. A military band even performed the Mexican and Irish national anthems.(6) In 1993, the Irish began their own ceremony to honor the San Patricios in Clifden, Galway.The Irish in Mexico have an honorable reputation and a respectable legacy. To this day, an Irishman will be told countless times about the famous "Irish martyrs" who defected from the U.S. Army and gave their lives trying to save Mexico from U.S. aggression.The St. Patrick's Battalion impacted Mexico's social movements more than any one can imagine. Six years ago, almost 150 years after the historic event that marked Irish influence in Mexico, Marcos, the spokesman of the repressed and marginalized people of Chiapas, invoked the spirit of Los San Patricios in one of his famous speeches against the Mexican Government:
"When Mexico was fighting, in the last century, against the empire of the bars and crooked stars, there was a group of soldiers who fought on the side of the Mexicans and this group was called 'St. Patrick's Battalion'. And so I am writing you in the name of all of my compañeros and compañeras, because just as with the 'Saint Patrick's Battalion', we now see clearly that there are foreigners who love Mexico more than some natives who are now in the government do. And we hear that there were marches and songs and movies and other events so that there would not be war in Chiapas, which is the part of Mexico where we live and die.We like the Irish around here!"(7)After the historic war against the United States, Irish and English miners continued to migrate to Mexico, replacing the former Spaniards. They mostly settled in mining areas such as Zacatecas and Guanajuato. Others invested in local and national business.Today, Irish involvement in Mexico takes many forms. Although not a major trading partner, Mexico is a profitable venture for Ireland: the European country exports far more than they import.(8) Irish-based multinational companies also operate in Mexico.(9) As Mexican wages are lower than many countries in southeast Asia, where labor rights are severely restricted, economic and social instability may not stop firms from "relocating" or expanding to Mexico.(10)On the diplomatic front, Mexico recently opened an Embassy in Dublin, while Ireland has an Honorary Consul, Romulo O'Farrill Jr. Owner of several newspapers and a member of one of Mexico's most powerful families, O'Farrill is a good example of Irish names in prominent places. Only a few towns in Mexico lack a street named O'Brien, which, later on, became the Spanish "Obregón." There's also an "O'Brien City," better known as Ciudad Obregón, in the northern state of Sonora.In the realm of Mexican art and literature, Ireland is also a presence. Artist Juan O'Gorman was a painter and an architect who was born in Mexico City in 1905. The oldest son of an Irish father and Mexican mother, he adhered to a philosophy of "progressive socialism," which ultimately affected both his writings and buildings. Influenced by Irish and European modernists, O'Gorman produced some of the first examples of functionalist architecture in Mexico. "In his works, he integrated vernacular forms and detailing with modern structural and spatial arrangements to achieve a culturally, socially, and environmentally significant architecture."(11) He also practiced mural painting. Some of his works include Autoretrato, De unas ruinas nacen otras ruinas, Monumento fúnebre del capitalismo industrial and UNAM's library. His buildings can be found throughout Mexico City.In literature, the Irish writer James Joyce had a huge influence in Mexico. His innovative monologue style and his linear writing structure greatly impacted the way in which the best Mexican writers approached literature. Salvador Elizondo was obsessed with his writings. He dedicated a complete book about Joyce called: Invocación y evocación de la infancy. Joyce is also present in his short stories and novels. Juan Rulfo's Pedro Páramo is overflowing with the interior monologue that characterized Joyce's work.Ireland has had an historical impact on Mexico's culture, as evidenced by figures like William Lamport, Marcos or Juan O'Gorman. But even more important, Ireland has served as an example of international camaraderie that extends beyond culture and religion. Hopefully, in the years to come, this relationship will influence many of us, as we discover that violence is not the most powerful human resource. Copyright © 2005 by Rose Mary Salum. All Rights Reserved.

Las Posadas

2010-12-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

As a small child visiting with my grandmother in Cholula, Puebla, Christmas meant Posada. Nine nights of reenacting Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The hot wax from the little white candles we held that dripped onto our hands warmed us in the cold crisp night. It seemed to take forever to get to the house that would give the Holy Couple shelter for the night. I would be thinking about the bunuelos and champurrado instead of the spiritual significance of the ceremony. Even though my thoughts were centered on sugared pleasures when I heard

“ Entren, Santos Peregrinos ,
reciban este rincon,
no de esta pobre morada ,
si no de mi corazon”

“Enter Holy Pilgrims,
accept this dwelling;
Not of this humble house,
But of my heart .”

my own heart would fill with excitement and I would be singing at the top of my lungs. These few sentences gave me hope as a child and still give me hope as an adult. No matter if the posada was in Puebla, or East LA or Green Valley Park or in my own neighborhood with friends playing Joseph and Mary those words would illuminate me. The Prince of Peace came as a teacher, a social revolutionary, a lover. He came to the poor and down trodden of his time. He understood we are light bearers of the Divine whether we are a fisherman or a prostitute. He hoped we would open our hearts to the Divine with out limitation. I wish that for all of us in this Season of Light.

Day of Our Lady

2010-12-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

Is she the Tonantzin ? Our precious little Earth Mother. That's what my Nana called her. She spoke to Juan Diego from Tepeyac Hill in Nahuatl

"Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear sickness nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve or be disturbed by anything!

She came to us during times of horrible genocide. My Nana believed because of her appearance she saved the Raza. She has embroidered herself on our souls no matter what we believe. I pray that she hold all of us during these times of hatred and help us to stand strong.

Angry???

2010-11-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

It’s been a week and a few days since the election. My mental stability is better so I feel a little more capable of writing something that won’t offend most people. I admit I still have bouts of craziness and anger over what happened in our country. My soul keeps telling me that it is a golden opportunity for La Raza. My gut is still tied up in “I want to kick somebody’s ass” knots.

It is obvious that Latino voters did put up a firewall in California, Nevada and Colorado, that saved the Democratic Party from losing the Senate. Political pundits took note! Everyone on both sides is trying to figure out the strategy to get our vote for 2012. As far as I am concerned, at least in Nevada, Sen. Reid never changed his story. That was the magic. He supported the Dream Act, was against SB 1070 and for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. That was his platform from the beginning and he never wavered. Governor elects Jerry Brown personally thanked Latino voters for his victory. He knew that they had helped him immeasurably. I am reading that The Republican Party is considering their new Latino pinups Mark Rubio and Susana Martinez as Vice Presidential Candidates. I love the strategy! Supposedly we (Latinos) are so stupid that we would vote for a Latino just because they are Latino. Same strategy that Mc Cain used with Palin. Women will vote for her because she is a woman. It proved to be a bad plan.

What happened in Arizona, the apartheid state, the "show me your papers" state, and the "you have no civil rights" state? Well, 14% of us turned out to vote out of 18% percent. We turned out substantially for Terry Goddard and Rodney Glassman. We were able to help save Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor's return to Congress. The rhetoric of hatred and fear created by Jan Brewer and Russell Pearce was successful in creating votes. Latinos became the "boogey men". Were there more Latinos to register to vote? Could we have done better? Was the election about special interests and money buying the election? Yes to all of the above! But now is not the time to be “shoulding” our selves. Things will be getting much worse for us. We have far greater things to worry about before 2012 than how many of us are voting. We need to concern ourselves with protecting our civil rights and how we interact and react as a community and culture.

When Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of the bus it wasn’t just for blacks it was for everyone who suffers injustice. We need to remember that in our own struggle for justice. We need to give a hand up to anyone who is trying to get on that Freedom Train. We need solidarity within our own Raza Community and stop the prejudice to our own. “You're not “Mexican” enough because your mother is white!” “That kid doesn’t speak Spanish he's not Mexican to me!” “That guy is a damn wetback.” “ I am more indio than you.” “You have blue eyes, you can’t be a Mexican.” We have been doing our own racial profiling within our community forever. If we are going to make a change in our country we have to see ourselves as a multifaceted rainbow people. We need to embrace our differences within La Raza and the greater Latino community. We need power now not pettiness.

In Tim Wise’s Open letter there was a lot of anger. I would be lying to you if I told you I was not angry. When Vivi and I read the letter it reflected some of the cultural anger we were feeling at that moment. I sent it to several friends . My favorite Tall, Dark and Hispanic Man thought it went too far. He made me think with his comments. “If you only like “white people” that meet your criteria of worthiness and acceptability, doesn’t that in fact make you a racist too. I prefer Gandhi’s approach of civility, understanding intellectual presence and positive thinking …the anti revolutionary if you will. The ability to see the good in all mankind, not the ability to justify ones anger and hatred as being more just than the others guys hatred.”

He had me! I had flunked non-violence 101 way back in the 60’s when I was doing civil disobedience. I always got mad when they put those cuffs on. I always got a little bite or kick in when they were hauling me away. I am no Gandhi, no Cesar Chavez and no Martin Luther King.

I took a shower after this conversation with my friend. A hot one. It always helps me to think. I realized where my anger was coming from. I am fighting against the “man” who controls the global corporations whose only agenda is hate and greed. They have bought politicians and they have made us the enemy. They know about the “browning” of America and they hope they can control us before we get too “uppity”. They control the media who strives to control the minds of people who can’t think for themselves like you and me. I am not willing to wait 40 years for us to out number them. I will be dead. This is the “man” that has to be stopped. He will use any race, creed or culture to get his way. The sheets need to be pulled off of this monster. None of us will survive their agenda if we aren’t brave enough to stand against this.

We all have our own idea of how to accomplish this . Lets support all these good ideas. Lets be brave. Lets use our power instead of our hatred. They are afraid of our power. For myself I pray for civility and I am thankful to friends who can counter my “chispas” with thoughts of peace.

Day of the Dead , Day of Remembrance

2010-10-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

“Only in passing are we here on earth”
Ancient Nahuatl Poetry

A friend brought me a pot of beautiful orange marigolds about a week ago. He knows they are a favorite of mine and it was a thoughtful gift. Their smell filled my kitchen and filled me of remembrances of “Flor de Muerto” and my grandmother. Their name in Nahuatl is zempasuchil and has been associated with honoring the dead in Mexico for at least 5,000 years or longer. My grandmother said the smell helps the dead souls find their way home. When I smell them it takes me home to my grandmothers’ house in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico.

As a little girl I loved the preparations for Dia de Los Muertos and our trips to the Victoria Market in the City of Puebla. For several weeks before the event the market geared up for the special day. There were piles of black pottery and candle holders, huge beeswax candles, mounds of special bread, Paper Mache skeletons, sugar skulls, copal and of course flor de muerto filled the main area of the market place. The market was very dark inside but it became darker and more mysterious with the burning copal and the hunched nanas selling their wares celebrating death. My grandmother said that the wall between the spirit world and our world became thin during Dia de Los Muertos so the spirits could come back and visit us. As a child I certainly felt them visiting in the Victoria Market!

My grandmother would sweep and wet the dirt outside her house and pluck the petals of the marigolds to make a line of them in front of the house. Only Mexicans attempt to clean dirt! When the spirits of our dead ancestors would fly over the line of orange petals it was a signal to them that we were ready to welcome them and that our ofrenda was prepared, laden with mole, pulque and tamales.

The customs of remembering the dead were well established before the coming of the Spaniards and Christianity. Nov 1st coincides with an ancient festival honoring the warriors who have died in battle. Those grinning skulls were hard wired into our psyche from the time our ancient ancestors associated them with Mictlantecuhtli, the god of death. The Spanish priests realized there were some things they weren’t going to change and so they made the attempt to fuse the old and the new together. Our ancient ancestors believed in an afterlife and they believed that life was a dream and death was where real living took place. They did not fear death. In the celebration of Dia De Los Muertos our culture manifests the love and respect of our ancestors, the belief in the continuance of life and solidarity as a community vowing to never forget the contributions of the ones who have gone before us.

As a community it has been a very hard year. I feel that as a culture we have been bullied by agendas of fear and hatred. We have seen our civil rights violated and I feel there is more to come. When I prepare my ofrenda this year the faces of my loved ones will inspire me to keep fighting, to keep voting, to keep being an instrument of change no matter what the cost. I can feel them tugging on me already. It started with the first smell of the Flor de Muerto. Our departed ancestors are concerned about us, our children our grandchildren. They are whispering in our ear, “Maybe you will be the one who transforms history for our people this time!” Let’s not disappoint them.

Thought for the Day on Voting: Snooze and We All Lose !

2010-10-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

“Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand" -Bodie Thoene

Only a few weeks before the election and I have never felt so dismayed and frustrated by the political arena. I take that back, I was pretty dismayed in 1980 when Ronald Regan won the presidential election. I had been drowning my sorrows in a liberal amount of Jose Cuervo during the evening. After hearing the “landslide” results I went in my bedroom and donned a beret and came back to the party and announced I was “going underground” and promptly passed out.

None of us can afford apathy or going underground right now. As a culture our opponents are hoping that the on slaught of unfettered racism will suppress our passion. They are hoping it will scare us. Keep us quiet. Well that hasn’t happened we are slowly awakening to our potential power.
I think we have all been licking our wounds over SB 1070 even though it has taken a media back seat. We l saw everyone’s true colors come out. We saw politicians back pedaling on our critical issues so white voters wouldn’t abandon them. I am still feeling hurt and pissy.

The truth of the matter is we are all going to lose if we don’t make a stand in these elections. People will be watching how Latinos vote. It will become more and more important.
An even more frightening development is the Tea Party Movement and their candidates. We all know that this is just another attempt at legitimizing racism. These folks are just the KKK without hoods. At least this time around we can see their faces before they try to lynch us or run us back over the border. In Sundays AZ Republic there was a rather lengthy article about how “Tea Partyers” are trying to get on the CAP Board the Central

AZ Water Conservation District Board of Directors. It has always been a pretty diverse group of non-partisan folks working together to do their best to help manage our water resources. Now the “Tea Partyers” are forming a coalition to get in. The names of these candidates are Mark Lewis, Cynthia Moulton, John Rosado, TC Bundy and Raymond Johnson. These people have limited if any knowledge about water resource issues. There are already 4 members who were elected in 2006 who are conservative Republicans and have made life hell at the CAP with their micromanaging something they know nothing about. Okay I am really not into conspiracy theory stuff, but this makes me very nervous. I just feel icky about them having jurisdiction over our state water. Please remember these names and don’t vote for them.

I can’t even comment on the Senate race in Arizona. It does make me nervous when Glassman’s people are already trying to find him a new race to run in if he doesn’t win. The Mayor of Tucson? Really?

Please get out and vote for Terry Goddard. Let’s show the rest of the country that AZ can make good decisions. A vote for Terry is a vote against SB1070 and the craziness that Jan Brewer has brought down on our state and us.

Grito de Dolores- Happy 200th

2010-09-16T23:36:00.000-07:00

Happy 200 years of Independence to Mexico. Tonight the President of Mexico stands on the balcony of the National Palace and reenacts the Grito de Dolores and rings the Bell of Independence like Father Hidalgo did 200 years ago. The Viva’s go on for a long time. When I was 7 years old I experienced this on top of my fathers shoulders crushed in a sea of people filling the Zocalo in Mexico City, shouting in unison in a response to the President. I really didn’t understand what was going on but the vibration was so intense I remember crying.

No one is sure what Hidalgo said in his Grito. There were several eyewitnesses and everyone relates the story a little differently. More than likely he just said “Viva La Virgen de Guadalupe y Viva La Independencia.” Things were getting hot and heavy and the authorities had been alerted that he was starting an uprising. More than likely he was on the run. Father Hidalgo believed in the abolition of slavery and wanted freedom for Indians, mestizos and criollos. I think that it is interesting these ideas of independence started in the Literary Club of Queretaro. Reading books can be dangerous!

The Mexican fight for Independence was a long process that involved many heroes, many interesting villains and a long period of fighting. If you aren’t familiar with this story I would suggest becoming acquainted with it. It is part of our cultural heritage and has relevancy even today. The Heroes of the Independence movement in Mexico were concerned with European domination of the Americas. So many similarities to our own story of Independence in the United States.

What is your Grito today?

We Done Did It ! The mangled words of Jan Brewer

2010-09-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

“So much attention is paid to the aggressive sins, such as violence and cruelty and greed with all their tragic effects, that too little attention is paid to the passive sins, such as apathy and laziness, which in the long run can have a more devastating effect.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Oh yes, it has been very quiet at True Mexican these days. We have been licking a few wounds, taking some well deserved R and R and been plotting new and interesting strategies to keep you informed, stimulated and politically active.

Where in the heck was everybody during the primary election? I smell apathy in the air! Come on gente. This is not the way to use our power to get things done. Stay tuned for more on this subject.
Okay, everyone has been commenting on the HORRIBLE Jan Brewer performance. I can’t help but make a few comments. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has holes in their cheese but ……if Jan were Mexican American she would be reported to be inarticulate and illiterate. I love that Carlos Mencia said, “The Mexicans who write her speeches were deported”

Either she forgot her glasses or she should have written notes on her hand like her mentor Sarah Palin.
Anyone watching this debacle would have to say that she appeared totally incapable of governing anything let alone the state of AZ. It is obvious that she is the empty poster child of people who are hoping to create fear and hatred of Mexicans and the Mexican American Community.
The most concerning thing is that her Campaign Chairmen and PR person are lobbyists for the largest private prison company in the US. They hold the contract with ICE to lock up illegal immigrants picked up in AZ. Governor Brewer has a lot of interest in SB 1070 since it could send 1,000’s of people to her friend’s jails and makes her friends millions of dollars. I smell dirty money and this really stinks. I hope the Feds are paying attention to this.

Please pass Jan’s You Tube piece on to as many people as you can. A picture is worth a thousand words. Send it especially to Independents and thinking Republicans. She didn’t win the debate but maybe she will win more hits than the video of the woman singing on the toilet.

Terry you looked great. Unfortunately there will be no more debates but lots of fighting from the shadows. Cuidado hombre

Truth or Dare

2010-08-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

“Always tell the truth. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”
Mark Twain

Arizona is waiting for an important primary election on Tuesday. I don’t know about you but I have felt a little used and abused in the old Grand Canyon State over the past several months. So much hatred, backbiting, fear and lying has been on the daily menu. It takes a lot of courage for all of us not to get discouraged and keep fighting for change. The attack that started with the passage of SB1070 gave us something real to unite against and raise our voices together in protest. With the elections looming on the horizon I kept looking for someone who would valiantly stand up and tell the truth. . What I saw instead were Democrats playing it safe waiting to see what their “voting” base reflected before speaking out on issues like SB1070. John McCain and his rhetoric I expected. I knew he would throw Latino voters under the bus quickly and expect us to forget easily. Terry Goddard really surprised me by the way he kept watching the wind and staying safe. Will he make a better Governor than Jan Brewer? Of course! I am I disappointed? Yes! I knew that Raul Grijalva would never disappoint. He is a true statesmen and a brave man.

I never expected to be inspired but I have been. Vivi brought to my attention Randy Parraz in our search for a candidate that we could support and recommend to others at True Mexican. When I first saw him talk about same sex marriage I was inspired by his honest words. “Everyone deserves the same rights” Simple. Truthful. He has immerged as a person who does not stretch the truth, gloss over inconvenient facts or belittle others to prove his point. He says what is so for him even if it may cost him votes. He is not afraid to be a Mexican. He is not afraid to support unions. He is not afraid to be real. I am hoping on Tuesday that the Democratic voters of Arizona will vote for a man who will deliver the truth without worrying whether it is fashionable or popular

Hearing Randy in the UFCW meeting was exciting and inspirational. I saw someone who well could be our first Latino president. I think he has a good chance if he just keeps telling the truth. Si se puede.

Thought for the Day: Senora Smith Goes to Washington

2010-08-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

Mr. Smith image courtesy of Wikimedia commons

I was raised in a family that valued the power of voting. I come from a family that values hard work and the working class. My grandfather was a miner and a union member. My grandmother tells stories of hard times during strikes and good times when there was work. She worked in the fields when she was little and was blessed to be able to work at the local movie theaters when she was a young teenager. Because she looked white and was quite stunning, they didn't force the whole theater segregation on her. I guess we all learn, at some point, how to play "the game". However, every election season leaves me feeling a little more like Jimmy Stewart's Mr. Smith. When is this "game" going to end?

We allow ourselves to believe that the candidates with the most money will win simply because that is what has become of our election process. Isn't it time to change that mentality? Am I just being naive? Perhaps I am.

While researching candidates I see that unions are supporting candidates who have never set foot on a picket line or who have supported big business in exploiting workers. I see civil rights leaders, like Dolores Huerta, supporting a candidate whose family has exploited farm workers in California. Of course my cries for help with the Santa Rita have fallen on deaf ears for all who one would think would take an interest in such a landmark, so why would I think it would be any different in choosing which candidates to endorse?

True Mexican is about having pride in our culture. The way we do things is through word of mouth. Most Latinos shun the idea of throwing money at candidates and so most candidates ignore us. In America, money talks. However, in our culture, character is king and speaks volumes. As we come so close to the primary here in Arizona I beg each of you to think about which political leaders will represent you. More importantly, which candidates will stand for those who are voiceless? Don't look to the endorsement pages of candidate websites because they are bought with the blood money.

For me, in looking at who I want to take on McCain, I am looking at the guy who walks with union workers, who fought for the rights of field workers, who stood with Chavez and makes change rather than waiting for public opinion to dictate what he should do. I look to the man who ran because he is against SB1070 and saw that change and leadership was so desperately needed. I'm for the candidate who believes marriage is a right for all couples and the term doesn't become "civil union" for some while heterosexuals get to call it marriage. I am looking at the only Latino running for senate in 2010.I support Parraz.

So, in the end, I guess money does talk. So, in looking for which candidates should earn your support ask where their money comes from. Did that candidate have to beg for money and scrape together the funds to buy signs? Are they using the power of grassroots organizing because, A.) It works and B.) It's free? How many endorsements do they have? Remember, "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" rarely benefits you and me.

Whether we like it or not, our country is run by elected officials. It's not fair that only democrats and republicans are heard, but that's the way it is. Someday change will come, but for right now I choose to work with the system we have so that I can ensure my husband, friends and family have jobs. We are all non-profit workers who fall at the mercy of Washington politics for up-keeping our funding.

We would love to know who you are supporting and who you want to call out. There is so little time left to GOTV and this is the election for Latinos to be heard.

Acting Alien

2010-08-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Kris Kobach, a controversial Kansas attorney who is the lead author of SB 1070 says in a Maricopa County Sheriff’s office training video that an officer would have “reasonable suspicion” to peg someone as an “illegal alien” if more than one of the following criteria are met.

Poor English skills

“An appearance unusual to the locale”

An appearance of “being in transit”

Nervous demeanor

Sitting in an “overcrowded vehicle”

Occupying a place with a “specific past” that is somehow connected to “illegal aliens”

Not having an ID

Having a ID from a foreign country

Admitting to not being a US citizen but declining to elaborate further

Having knowledge of smuggling

Being on a road that is a “smuggling route” like interstate 10

Conforming to “alien smuggling patterns” which could include traveling at a certain time of the
day, in a certain area or certain vehicle

Being driven by a person who takes “evasive maneuvers”

Having a lookout

Driving with foreign license plates

Not making eye contact

Not being in the company of others “not legally present”

Dressing like or appearing to be an “illegal alien”

If this was not so sad and pathetic it would make a great comedy routine on Saturday Night Live. In the sixties I was in the company of others “not legally present” a lot. Be careful out there and whatever you do please make eye contact

First Selection for the True Mexican Book Club: The Four Agreements

2010-08-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

Vivi and I thought starting a True Mexican Book Club would be a great way to get some of our readers together for discussion, fellowship and fun. We are selecting books that will enhance our knowledge and cultural experience and feature Latino authors. If you have any suggestions please let us know and we will add them to the list. The first book we have selected is the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. No, this is not some new age cult book. Don Miguel is legit. I have been pretty angry lately about all the events happening in Arizona and I picked it up again to realign my focus. I shared it with Vivi and it has helped us be less of a danger to ourselves and others.

When I first read this book I felt like I was reading the words of my Mexican grandmother who was a Nahua Indian from the Sierra Puebla of Mexico. The author Don Miguel Ruiz comes from the same people I grew up with. He has masterfully created these ancient truths into a wonderful guide book for the soul. Whatever your culture these teachings are valuable and can help make life happier. I am so glad that he calls them Toltec truths. My grandmother was very proud of her Toltec roots . She felt that the Aztecs got all the credit when the Toltecs did all the work. My grandmother said that out of our “Toltec” culture came the worst Black Magicians and best White Magicians in all of Mexico. Carlos Casteneda really pissed off the Yaquis when he wrote about sorcery as this is not part of Yaqui tradition. Most certainly, I was taught, that it is a part of the life of the Nahua/Toltec people.

The Four Agreements, published in 1997 by tiny Amber-Allen Publishing, has sold more than 1.5 million copies. The Toltecs, Ruiz explains, were artists and spiritual seekers who thrived in Mexico hundreds of years ago before they were forced to hide their ancestral wisdom from European conquerors. Although Ruiz's grandfather and mother both practiced Toltec healing and teaching, Ruiz rejected the tradition and went to medical school. However, in his final year he was in a car accident. Against all logic he was physically unscathed; emotionally, however, he would never be the same. What he calls an out-of-body experience transformed his worldview. Unable to explain what had happened to him, he sought his grandfather's guidance.

Years later Ruiz distilled this Toltec teaching into The Four Agreements, the basic premise of which is that most of the drama and suffering in our lives is self-created. We can live another way though. By refusing to buy into everything we've been taught about who we are, how the world works, and how we must react, and by making four simple pacts with ourselves. Doing so allows us to become dramatically happier regardless of our external circumstances. The agreements are (1) Be impeccable with your word—don't say it unless you mean it, and if it's gossip, keep a lid on it. (2) Don't take anything personally—what other people say or do isn't because of you, it's because of their own life experiences. (3) Don't make assumptions—preconceived ideas about what other people think can get you into trouble, and rigid notions of how things should be lead to disappointment. (4) Always do your best, but no more—post facto browbeating is pointless.

Hopefully your interest has been ignited. If so, we will meet Thursday August 26, 2010 at the Wrigley Mansion at 7:00 PM in the library. The Wrigley Mansion is located at 2501 East Telawa Trail in Phoenix and they have arranged drink specials for True Mexican Book Club members. Bookman's has several copies that are only 4 dollars and I am sure Changing Hands has inexpensive choices as well. Can't wait to see you all there. Lets get reading!

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The Legendary Art of Jesus Helguera

2010-07-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

Growing up in East L.A. meant the New Year started with a calendar from the menudo stand in Grand Central Market or the panaderia on Brooklyn Avenue. On that calendar would be an image created by Jesus Helguera which would hold my attention for the whole year. The calendars were my first glimpses into the greatness of my Mexican culture. They portrayed beautiful men and women of ancient Mexico. With warriors, princesses, pyramids and temples, the calendar pictures took me to a time when we were not foreigners in our own land. They told me I was special.

Helguera was not counted during his lifetime as one of the masters of Mexican art, like Rivera, Tamayo or Siqueiros. His images were not on walls and canvases but on calendars and cigar boxes found in most Mexican homes. He was the most populist of all Mexican artists and created a movement of national pride. He was born in Mexico in 1910 but left as a small child to live in Spain during the Mexican revolution. He returned to Mexico during the Spanish revolution in the 1930’s. His wife Julia was his favorite model whom he painted sexy, proud, vulnerable and spiritual.

These calendar images were a point of pride for those of us growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s. This was in stark contrast to the parodies of the Frito Bandito and Speedy Gonzales. I still have the picture of “Amor Indio” that I cut out as a child. The Aztec girl in the picture looked like me. She was a guera. Helguera painted us as the cultural rainbow that we represent as Mexicans. His most famous image is the “Leyenda de Los Volcanes” inspired by the legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. To enjoy more of his beautiful work, I would recommend the book “Mexican Calendar Girls” by Angela Villalba.

Votes Supporting SB1070: a Starting Point for Voter Education

2010-07-13T12:17:00.000-07:00

The elections are coming up faster than any of us would like. I hope you are feeling uneasy about what's ahead because I don't think the support against SB1070 is going to be strong enough to make the changes many Arizonans would like to see. It's all up to us to make the change we want to see. One way to start thinking about how you will vote is to look at how your senators and house members voted on SB1070. It's a pretty easy task, in this case. If they are Republican, they supported Russell Pearce and his tragic SB1070. Look at the list and see who is up for re-election. Look to see if they are running for a different office.

The True Mexican site is a place to embrace the Mexican culture. It's also a place to start political journeys. Mexicans have long been swept aside during election years. With Robert Kennedy gone, very few politicians have utilized our numbers and devotion to progressive issues. Now is the time for us to stand up and be counted. Make politicians court us for once.

Look up your state house members and senators and see if they are on this list. Then, look to see who is running in your district and how you can make sure they know the issues that are important to you.

House of Representatives

Kirk Adams

Cecil P. Ash

Ray Barnes

Nancy K. Barto

Andy Biggs

Tom Boone

Steve Court

Rich Crandall

Adam Driggs

Doris Goodale

David Gowan

Laurin Hendrix

Russell L. Jones

John Kavanagh

Bill Konopnicki

Debbie Lesko

Lucy Mason

John McComish

Nancy McLain

Steve B. Montenegro

Rick Murphy

Warde V. Nichols

Frank Pratt

Doug Quelland

Michele Reagan

Amanda A. Reeve

Carl Seel

David W. Stevens

Andrew M. Tobin

Ted Vogt

Jim Weiers

Jerry Weiers

Vic Williams

Steven B. Yarbrough

Arizona Senate

Frank Antenori

David Braswell

Ed Bunch

Robert "Bob" Burns

Ron Gould

Chuck Gray

Linda Gray

Jack W. Harper

John Huppenthal

Barbara Leff

Al Melvin

John Nelson

Russell Pearce-Sponsor

Steve Pierce

Jay Tibshraeny

Thayer Verschoor

Happy Birthday Frida Kahlo

2010-07-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to beautiful Frida Kahlo. I discovered her 50 plus years ago when I visited her home "Casa Azul" in Coyoacan with my father. She was my muse and inspiration from that time forward to embroider art into my life. Her portrait sits over my desk where she watches me with stern eyes pound out my novels, paint my dreams and create a "juicy" theology of life. Frida inspires us to never be afraid of who we really are even though it may makes others uncomfortable. She never apologized for being real.

In my early twenties I copied her style of never wearing European clothing as a tribute to our indigenous culture as Mexicans. I twined by long braids around my head in solidarity with my heroine. Frida, along with Che and Emiliano fine tuned my love of "La Revolucion". Frida taught me that it was painful, exciting, lonely and luscious to be an unusual woman but never boring. Thank you Frida for your amazing life!

Two other notes of interest. Please log onto www.americasvoiceonline.org and send a fax to President Obama supporting the Justice Departments challenge of SB 1070 in the courts.
In Sundays Arizona Republic excellent article on how Sen. Harry Reid's opposition to SB 1070 may help him win his election with the support of Latino voters. www.azcentral.com/news/election/.../20100705harry-reid-arizona-law.html

Worst Racist This Week: Barry Wong

2010-07-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Barry Wong. You made it! The First Person on the True Mexican “List of Who is Not Worthy of the Latino Vote in Arizona”. Warning sign number one is demonizing a racial minority and using that to power your campaign. Barry must really be in dire straights to use this technique. This is politics at its lowest and filthiest. In the AZ republic there was a great editorial about this, an Open Letter from Glen Hamer who is the CEO of the AZ Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a column by Mr. Montini. Please take time to read them. They really say it all. Barry really needs to re read the history of the Chinese Immigrant in America.

What is the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and why is it important to us? The Arizona Corporation Commission is one of those hazy government bodies that few people know anything about. (It’s so obscure, it doesn’t even have a Wikipedia entry yet.) Generally, when commissioners are in the news, it’s because they’ve been hit with a $60 million legal judgment. When you go to the offical ACC website their definition of what they do is even more obscure, So the following I found on the web site of a Securities Investment Association in AZ
What is the ACC and what does it do?

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is the state agency that regulates utility companies, polices the sale of securities within Arizona and oversees the corporate status of Arizona and foreign corporations. The ACC also has certain regulatory responsibilities concerning the safety of railroad and pipeline operations in the state. The breadth of its regulatory scope is substantial and its decisions involve complex accounting, engineering, legal, financial and economic considerations.

The ACC was established by the Arizona Constitution in 1912 and certain of its powers are constitutionally defined. With that foundation, the ACC not only sets the rates charged by utilities but also determines policies which have a significant impact on their ability to attract capital so they can provide services to customers.

In a nutshell these people have a tremendous amount of power. Their decisions involve complex accounting, engineering, legal, financial and economic considerations. They have a 29.3 million dollar budget that as tax payers we give them. What do they spend it on? I don’t know but I will find out for you. It has been a traditional stronghold for Republicans. This election cycle we will have 3 democrats running David Bradley, Jorge Luis Garcia, and Renz Jennings. The three Republicans are Gary Pierce, Brenda Burns and Barry Wong are certainly politicians you want to know more about these people.

So Barry here it is. Please read this excellent article it may help you to refresh your self on the discrimination and demonization of your own people in America. I will post the whole article on True Mexican but here is the information concerning Chinese Immigration
California was the first state to challenge the federal government’s authority on immigration by enacting several measures against Chinese immigrants who were challenging native-born Americans for mining jobs in the wake of the gold rush. In 1852, the state imposed a $3 monthly tax on “non-native-born citizens of the United States.” Tax collectors kept part of the fee, confiscated property of those who failed to pay and often used extreme violence in their collection methods.

Three years later, in 1855, the California legislature levied a $50 tax on every ship bringing immigrants “ineligible for citizenship.” When the measure proved unsuccessful, the legislature passed another tax on Chinese workers in order “to protect free white labor against competition with Coolie labor.” The discriminatory legislation forced the Chinese out of the gold fields and into low-paying, menial jobs such as laying track for the Central Pacific Railroad or doing cheap labor wherever there was work that no other group wanted.

Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Californians continued to attribute declining wages and unemployment to the despised Chinese laborers, who would work for low wages. To placate white workers, two new amendments were made to the California constitution in 1879. The first prohibited Chinese immigrants from voting in state elections, and the second forbid state and local public works agencies from employing a Chinese laborer.

That same year, all Chinese residents of Eureka, California were threatened with public hanging if seen on the street after 3 p.m., and later they were expelled from the city altogether.
Not until 1882, however, did the federal government respond to the crisis by passing the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. The measure suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years and declared the Chinese ineligible for naturalization. The act was passed by Congress to appease worker demands and assuage prevailing concerns about maintaining white “racial purity.” It was renewed in 1892 for another 10 years. In 1902 Chinese immigration was made illegal until the exclusion act was rescinded in 1943.

Do I sense history repeating itself, Barry?

Bottoms Up !

2010-06-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

cc photo of Flor de Jamaica courtesy of Omarsan on Flickr

Happy Summer Solstice everyone! I actually took a vacation in Cali by the ocean while my partner in crime was back here in Aztlan fighting the good fight! Well, still no update on that appropriation money for the Santa Rita Center. Never fear True Mexican will not give up on getting answers. We are just getting warmed up.

While on the beach and drinking lots of fermented blue agave, I started thinking about all the amazing plants we use in our culture and decided to do a little “Marta Sanchez” moment. We having been dealing with such intensity and before we start drilling candidates about why “Latinos” should vote for them I thought a bit of whimsy and a recipe might help.

I love to drink Flor de Jamaica in Aguas Frescas. Jamaica is actually a type of hibiscus flower. Before you go out and start drying the flowers from your hibiscus bush to make this delicious beverage please note that there are about 300 types of hibiscus. The only one you can use to make this beverage is called “Hibiscus Sabdariffa”. You will find this all packaged and waiting for you at Ranch Market or Food City. Sometimes you can find it in Safeway or Fry’s where they have the packaged Mexican Herbs. When you make this for yourself it is nothing like the sugary juice you order at Rolibertos with your Carne Asada burrito.

Flor de Jamaica is loaded with Vitamin C. In the Journal of Human Hypertension in 2007, Clinical studies showed that it could reduce high blood pressure in patients that had Type 2 Diabetes. Please no one stop taking his or her medication and start slugging down Jamaica instead. My grandmother believed it helped to keep you cool in the summer and like cranberry juice keep your bladder nice and healthy and infection free. True Mexican is not supporting any of these claims but giving you a little interesting information and God knows we all need to stay cool. Here is the recipe.

Agua Fresca Flor de Jamaica

2 cups dried Jamaica Flowers
¾ cup sugar or agave syrup (you will have to do this to
taste, you might like it sweeter)
8 cups water
Ice

Boil dried flowers, sugar and 4 cups of water for 2
Minutes. Use a stainless steel pan. No iron or
Aluminum. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain.
Add additional 4 cups of water and lots of ice. Enjoy!

I am always looking for a good excuse to drink tequila or vodka and Jamaica is a good vehicle for booze too! Enjoy and Salud!

Prove You're Worth the Latino Vote!

2010-06-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

cc photo courtesy of Steve Rhodes on Flickr

In 1992, I helped lead a grassroots movement that proved the power of the youth vote. We proved, through Clinton's election, that grassroots organizing with youth could get a President elected. During Obama's campaign, the same strategy was used to get students voting and to try and win the Latino vote. It worked. However, with the 2010 election season running full speed, candidates seem to have forgotten how important the Latino vote is to their success. We are hoping to change that.

We here at True Mexican are hoping to promote a movement that puts us, the voters, in a prime position over candidates. We want to know why they deserve our vote. Our vote is precious and, truth be told, politicians have done very little to help us out. We are looking for volunteers from around the country who are willing to research candidates and report on where they stand on issues of importance to Latinos. We are looking for volunteers who are willing to campaign in eco-genius ways to get our message out while adding little to no carbon footprints. You see, we here at True Mexican also believe in Latinos leading the way in recycling and up-cycling. It really comes quite naturally to many of us.

This is in the developmental stages, so we are asking for input from our readers, especially those of you with grassroots experience. We want to make our voice heard while proving that money is not necessary to run a successful campaign. We need to show that politicians should listen to individuals, not groups with the most money.

If you are interested, please contact us and let us know you're ideas. The great thing about grassroots organization is that it follows no set rules and allows a fluid movement to make a huge impact.

Thanks

Are you Afraid?

2010-06-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

It has been extremely quiet on our website after Vivi’s article on “Uncovering the Truth about the Santa Rita Center” What’s up? What’s going on? Are people having shame? Are you afraid? Well I am angry. We are getting no response from Democratic leadership. No response from Chicanos por La Causa. Vivi and I are going to take our next moves from the Zapatista playbook. Be watching for two extremely attractive women wearing brown sequined bandanas covering their faces putting up signs in your neighborhood. God forbid that you are an elected official with a big picture of Cesar Chavez covering your office walls or an agency with a mural of Cesar smiling down on you. Please respond to our request to call your US Representatives and others to complain about this. Please let us know if you get a response!

Your Stories: Papers Please, a Poem by Donald Larkin

2010-06-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Papers Please

Burning crosses and the canyon state
Brown eyed children and the laws of hate
There’s a bridge in Selma over deep deep waters.
Arizona, do you hate your sons and daughters?

Happy white faces and papers please
What you up to? and you gotta leave
Huddled masses yearning to breathe free
Land of our fathers and sweet liberty

Justice for all and Dr. King’s dream
National guardsmen and no I in team
Reality TV for the brown skinned man
Cause he’s caught up in this foreign land

The American dream and the Postville raid
Let freedom ring and American made
Teach kids to write and how to read books
Then ship Dad back cause of the way he looks

Burning crosses and the canyon state
Brown eyed children and the laws of hate
There’s a bridge in Selma over deep deep waters
Arizona, why hate your sons and daughters?

dpl/10

COPYRIGHTED BY DONALD LARKIN

True Mexican thanks Donald for his beautiful contribution.

Uncovering the Truth About the Santa Rita Center

2010-06-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

The Santa Rita Center is where Cesar Chavez did his famous 24-day fast here in Phoenix.

In my naive mind, I thought the Santa Rita Center would be a community center with lots of pictures of Cesar Chavez and the Mexican-American political movement. Instead, I found a forgotten piece of American history with holes in the roof which let the rain pour in. I found the tiny room where Cesar fasted now holding cleaning supplies and junk. What broke my heart even more was to learn that Chicanos por la Causa (CPLC) have owned the property since 2007. How can an organization which holds a huge painting of Cesar being carted out of the Santa Rita Center after his fast, not have its renovation as one of its number one priorities? And with the looks of the center, it needs to be on the fast track to funding priority. I asked for Cesar's guidance and so began our journey.

In case you are new to Phoenix, the Chicano community can be pretty divided. There are the groups that go unnamed that do God's work and help the "gente" without much fanfare and media attention. There are other groups that have the politicians on their side and while they do good work, I always wonder about what goes on behind closed doors. Non-profits and politicians rarely make good bedfellows. I don't care who's who, all I care about is this historic landmark and the need to honor a man who gave so much for our people's struggle.

One of the first things I learned is that $757,000 was allocated to the Santa Rita Center as part of a Light Rail bill. Congressman Ed Pastor's office told us that the bill passed both the House and Senate but was not appropriated during the change from Republicans to Democrats. The woman I spoke to said that the Democrats dropped the ball. So, I want to know why we got the light rail funds, but the Santa Rita funding never made it? I want to know what our politicians received in exchange for the center's funding? I want to know what was more important than putting a new roof on that center so that our history would not wash away during our next monsoon season?

I also have learned that the center is opened once a year for various festivities to honor our Civil Rights leader. If you'll notice, most of these events take place outside of the center. The inside may be an embarrassment to show off? Don't we, as a Mexican-American community, deserve more? Aren't we, as all Americans, responsible for caring for these historic landmarks? This neighborhood is one of the poorest in Phoenix. Shouldn't they have a point of pride that will shine a spotlight on their needs? These families deserve better than this.

On Tuesday, my partner-in-crime, Eduarda, and I headed out to get some answers. What we found was a bushel of more questions. Pastor's office was as friendly and receptive as a swarm of hornets. Seriously, my dealing's as a democrat calling McCain's office were much more hospitable. Chicanos por la Causa's secretary thought the City of Phoenix owned the property. Remember, this is the office with the painting of Cesar with the Santa Rita Center in the background hanging on a wall as you come in. Bless her heart, she was horrified by what we told her and said she was sure it was going to be renovated. I have to wonder, though, when? And before defenders of CPLC get up-in-arms about my questioning of the iconic organization for Phoenix's Hispanic community, let me just say that I'm a fan of any group working for my people-in-need, but my fight is for the center, not any special interest group.

Our biggest dose of help came from the Mayor's office where two of the nicest and most considerate men researched as much as they could for us. We learned that the Santa Rita Center was allocated funds through a bond for $50-60,000 to be used for condition assessment. That sounds marvelous, right? Until we learned that it would not be available until 2013. All I could visualize were those gaping holes in the roof allowing the harsh elements of Arizona to slowly tear the center apart from the inside out.

I have found that we get a lot of run-around when trying to find out what's going on. I've sent emails to Chicanos por la Causa, but have yet to hear back. I have a new name I was given of someone who might help. The thing is that everyone at CPLC seems to give a different name to contact. Shouldn't this be a project of the utmost importance? I understand quite well all of the services CPLC offers, but I also know they have the money to get this going.

So, if anyone knows how to get the ball rolling, please contact us. We are willing to raise the funds for the center if CPLC were open to a partnership. Better yet, if CPLC is open to selling the property we would look into that option as well. We just want this center to be restored and we have many wonderful ideas of how this center can help renovate and renew the entire surrounding neighborhood.

We ask that you contact your politicians at the city, state and federal level and ask why the Santa Rita Center is going ignored and left to its own demise. Call Chicanos por la Causa and ask what are the plans for the center. Call community activists and ask for their help in getting the Center put on top priority listing for consideration. Cesar Chavez and his legacy deserve more than we are giving him. Anyone who visits the center will feel the pain of having our Civil Rights Leader dishonored and his place of glory desecrated.

In no way is this plea meant to shame or harm any person or entity. In fact we know several individuals who want to get the center renovated. The problem is they do not have enough support from the right people. We are hoping to help them get a boost in motivated individuals willing to make change happen now.

The Santa Rita Center is located at 1017 E. Hadley in South Phoenix. Please take a visit. You will have to look through the gates, but you'll see enough to get motivated. Please spread the word and send this post to as many people as possible.

Thank you

**Update**
We were contacted by Chicanos por la Causa and were put in contact with the people in charge of renovating the center. We will let you know when change starts happening. We also received a letter from Representative Pastor. We'll cover the information in a future post. Apparently Light Rail money came through, but not the money associated with this bill.

Artist Frank Gonzales Even Turns Magazine Covers into Mexican Art

2010-06-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

"I couldn't help myself," he said, "sorry M.I.A......well, it was going to get thrown anyway."

This is what he does with a sharpie and magazine cover. Wait until you see what he does with paint and a canvas. We'll be highlighting his work here soon. In the mean time, please visit his site and blog for his latest work. This was just too good not to pass on to the masses.

Enjoy

Beauty and the Bitch Reviews Our Cavavera Goat's Milk Soap

2010-06-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to the great review. How very excited we were to get such a raving review from a site that does not give high fives very often. That chick is strict!

Calavera Goat's Milk Soap

Our goat's milk soap is hand milled with added Shea butter, cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla and honey. The recipe is based on the traditional hot chocolate of the Aztecs minus the chili. While chili would add to the superb scent, it is too harsh for the skin. Besides smelling delicious, the soap does not have harsh chemicals and artificial additives. Each calavera (skull) is about 4 ounces of soap which produces a lovely, rich lather. True Mexican makes no medical claims about this product or any of the ingredients discussed. Each 4-ounce skull is $6 including shipping.

Visit our store to order yours today.

Business Listing: Charles Dee Rice Photography

2010-05-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Charles Dee Rice is a professional independent photographer, based in Apache Junction, Arizona. Focusing on theater and concert photography, Charles also covers news events around the Phoenix metro area, with a specific interest in immigration issues. He is presently developing a multimedia project, incorporating his photography, audio and video recordings; as well as audio and video interviews with people who have been directly affected by the current events surrounding the issues of immigration in Arizona. Through those media, he hopes to provide visibility and insight into aspects of the issues which are not presently being shown by the popular press. To see more of his immigration project, visit cdricephotography.com/immigration.

Thought for the Day: Read SB1070

2010-05-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I got stimulated to thoroughly read this piece of legislation after seeing old Johnny McCain grilling Janet Napolitano in a Senate hearing the other night. I know Senator McCain and stimulating in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Well Janet admitted she was not thoroughly familiar with the legislation. I just wanted to be ready when he called True Mexican and asked if Vivi and I had read the bill. Hell yes! We have read it. You really wouldn’t have to read it. If Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce was saying it was good for us, and he is the same guy who gets his picture taken with Nazi skin heads and hired the Tea Bag expert to actually write the bill, then you know its not going to be friendly for human consumption.

My first thought is this is totally against the 4th amendment of the Constitution. I wonder if Johnny has read the 4th amendment? The Fourth Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. SB1070 and its amendment state that a person can be stopped if “reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien”. Okay, so we have three cars stopped at a traffic light: the Governor of California in a Mercedes; Charles Barkley in a Hummer; and Juan in a Chevy truck with a lawn mover in the back. Who is the officer going to stop for reasonable suspicion of being an alien? More than likely Juan. It could be Juan’s lucky day however if Charles has a prostitute in the car that looks like an alien. Then Charles could be arrested if the prostitute didn’t have proper documentation. More than likely though, it would be old Juan in the hot seat. Why? Because he looks like a Mexican. So the “reasonable suspicion” can only be based on how the person looks. I don’t know how else you could be reasonably suspicious.

Also, God forbid you have barking dogs; cars in your front yard up on blocks; too many people living in a rental property or having your basic baptism party with a "brinca brinca" and norteno music blasting. If the police respond to city ordinance violations, according to the new amendments of SB1070, they are required to determine immigration status for everybody. Besides this being against the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, you now have the police at your home bugging you. It is taking officers off the street fighting real crime to check all the identifications of all the padrinos and guests at the baptism party. Then, to make matters worse, if they are from California and visiting our beautiful state and only have a California driver’s license, that would not be sufficient proof of citizenship and they would be held in jail till they could provide the proof that is yet to be decided.

In an interview Russell Pearce, the father of this legislation, thought that an Arizona driver’s license would be okay but he wasn’t real sure. I bet he isn’t sure because it’s that “reasonable suspicion” thing again. If you look like a Mexican you probably will need more “ ID”. Excuse me, is anyone paying attention? THIS IS RACIAL PROFILING! Then, if you are from a state where they don’t require citizenship documentation and you are stopped, you are in a pickle too. No wonder no one wants to come visit here. It’s scary!

I just love when John Mc Cain, Jan Brewer and Russell Pierce tell us that this is not about racial profiling. How would they know? It's never happened to them. Forty-six years ago I got off a Trailways bus in a little town in Alabama with four cousins from Mexico. We were traveling around the United States. We were on our way to New Orleans and had a two-hour dinner break so we walked to a little cafeteria to eat dinner. While waiting in line a manager from the restaurant asked us to come outside. I was the only one who spoke English so he asked me what I was. I was a little confused, but I replied, “I am an American. He said “No, what race are you and what language are you speaking?” “We were speaking Spanish and I am a Mexican-American” I replied. He explained that my cousins were too “colored” to eat in the cafeteria but I could go in and buy the food for us and eat outside. He patted my head and told me I was lucky to be a light skinned Mexican. “Why you could pass for a white girl”. We went hungry that night. The racial profiling made us lose our appetite.

Please read the Bill and the 4th amendment. Also, I found this Supreme Court ruling The United States vs. Brigoni- Ponce 422 US 873 which helped when evaluating SB1070. Let us know what you think.