Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2018

mimilozano@aol.com
www.SomosPrimos.com 
714-894-8161


"
How it is done by a Cowboy"

Table of Contents

United States
Spanish Presence in the Americas Roots
Heritage Projects
Historical Tidbits
Hispanic Leaders
Latino America Patriots
Early Latino Patriots
Surnames 
DNA

Family History
Religion
Education
Health/Medicine

Culture
Books and Print Media
Films, TV, Radio, Internet

Orange County, CA
Los Angeles County, CA

California
 
Northwestern US

Southwestern US
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Middle America
East Coast
African-American
Indigenous
Sephardic
Archaeology
Mexico
Central/South America
Pan-Pacific Rim

Philippines
Spain
International
 
Somos Primos Advisors   
Mimi Lozano, Editor
Mercy Bautista Olvera
Roberto Calderon, Ph,D.
Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante
Bill Carmena
Lila Guzman, Ph.D
John Inclan
Galal Kernahan
Juan Marinez
J.V. Martinez, Ph.D
Dorinda Moreno
Rafael Ojeda
Oscar Ramirez, Ph.D. 
Ángel Custodio Rebollo
Tony Santiago
John P. Schmal
Ashley Wolfe
Submitters and/or attributed to issue

Nancy Acevedo-Gil,
Jose Garcia Acosta 

Ruben Alvarez 
Dr. Joseph Arce, Ph.D.   
Larry P. Arnn, Ph.D. 
Stephen AuClairDon Augustin  
Louis J. Benavides 
Salomon R.Baldenegro  
Bethany Blankley
Gonzalo Bravo  
Hon.
Judge Edward Butler  
Bill Carmena Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante  Carlos Canales 
Michele Capriotti    
Cesar Cervera
D'Vera Cohn
Jose Antonio Crespo-Francés
Cathy Dana
Anna Daniels 
Miguel del Rey 
Alejandro Diaz  
Louis Diaz  
Wendy Fawthrop
Lionel Fernandez
Bill Fitzpatrick  
Moises Garza  
Joe Goldeen
Doug Giles
Ana Gonzalez-Barrera
Rafael Jesus Gonzalez 
Odell Harwell 
John Inclan
Raquel Jaramillo Palacio  
Robert Kittle  
Rick Leal
José Antonio López
Jose Mari  
Al Martinez
Diana Martinez 
Drs. Edna Martinez
Laura E. Matthew, Frank Pancho Mendoza
Jeffrey S. Passel
Alejandra Molina 
Lyn Montes
Dorinda Moreno 
Colin Moynihan   
Enrique G. Murillo, Jr.   
Mariscal Ney  
Oliver North  
María Ángeles O'Donnell-Olson  
Felipe de Ortego y Gasca 
Michel R. Oudijk
Rudy Padilla 
Joe Parr  
Steve Peralta  

Hannah Pikaart
J. Gilberto Quezada  
Majid Rafizadeh
Luis F Ramirez
Oscar Ramirez, Ph.D. 
Maria de la Luz Reyes  
J.L. Robb 
Robert Robinson  
Refugio I. Rochin 
Viola Rodriguez Sadler
James Rogers
Lori Ruiz Frain
Tom Saenz
Joe Sanchez 
Jacqueline Serrato  

Ben Shapiro  
Robert Smith
Noga Tarnopolsky  
Val Valdez Gibbons
Jose Luis Valenzuela
Ricardo Juan Valverde  
Roberto Franco Vazquez 
Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.   
Carlos G. Velez-Ibanez
Joy Villa 
 Kirk Whisler 

 

Letters to the Editor

Dear Mimi,
Our very best wishes for you and all at Somos Primos for a joyful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2018.
May God shower you with his blessings for the wonderful work you do on behalf of Hispanics in the US.
Cheers !  Carlos
Carlos Campos y Escalante
campce@gmail.com   


Mimi, My heartfelt thanks for all that you do for our people.  You gave us all an opportunity to speak out.  Best wishes for continued success.  Your journal Somos Primos is truly my favorite!!  
Sincerely, Lori  
Lori Ruiz Frain  
lorrilocks@sbcglobal.net
 

 
Quotes or Thoughts to Consider 

Promise to Israel:  I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3, KJV

“If your actions inspire others to dream more learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." 
~John Quincy Adams

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

Full text of Nikki Haley's speech to UN General Assembly on Jerusalem
UN denounces US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital
A Move for World Peace
Extracts from:  Christians in Defense of Israel of Mat Staver
Split among Christians over Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
Cultural Lag in Our Country by Oscar Ramirez, Ph.D. 

Everyone Should Stand for the National Anthem by Joy Villa
How it is done by a Cowboy, a child honoring his flag and national anthem
"You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"  

Hillsdale College's Project To Save Our Youth Through Education

Take a knee . . .   My Ass!!

Latina Style Announces the Top 10 Latina Corporate Executives of the Year

College Republicans Kicked Out of Coffee Shop "Safe Space"
Pennsylvania family ordered to take down Jesus Christmas display as ‘offensive’
     A question of free speech and freedom of association 
"In God We Trust" on coins, not a breach of Religious Freedom

To Children of the Greatest Generation  
On Running and a Philosophy of Life by Felipe de Ortego y Gasca



M


Full text of Nikki Haley’s speech to UN General Assembly on Jerusalem

'The US will remember this day, in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly 
for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation'

 

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, addresses the General Assembly prior to the vote on Jerusalem, on December 21, 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York. (AFP PHOTO / EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ)

United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, addresses the General Assembly prior to the vote on Jerusalem, on December 21, 2017, at UN Headquarters 
in New York. (AFP photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) 

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley spoke to the UN General Assembly ahead of its vote on the status of Jerusalem, December 21, 2017:

Thank you, Mr. President.

To its shame, the United Nations has long been a hostile place for the state of Israel. Both the current and the previous Secretary-Generals have objected to the UN’s disproportionate focus on Israel. It’s a wrong that undermines the credibility of this institution, and that in turn is harmful for the entire world.

I’ve often wondered why, in the face of such hostility, Israel has chosen to remain a member of this body. And then I remember that Israel has chosen to remain in this institution because it’s important to stand up for yourself. Israel must stand up for its own survival as a nation; but it also stands up for the ideals of freedom and human dignity that the United Nations is supposed to be about.

Standing here today, being forced to defend sovereignty and the integrity of my country – the United States of America – many of the same thoughts have come to mind. The United States is by far the single largest contributor to the United Nations and its agencies. We do this, in part, in order to advance our values and our interests. When that happens, our participation in the UN produces great good for the world. Together we feed, clothe, and educate desperate people. We nurture and sustain fragile peace in conflict areas throughout the world. And we hold outlaw regimes accountable. We do this because it represents who we are. It is our American way.

But we’ll be honest with you. When we make generous contributions to the UN, we also have a legitimate expectation that our good will is recognized and respected. When a nation is singled out for attack in this organization, that nation is disrespected. What’s more, that nation is asked to pay for the “privilege” of being disrespected.

In the case of the United States, we are asked to pay more than anyone else for that dubious privilege. Unlike in some UN member countries, the United States government is answerable to its people. As such, we have an obligation to acknowledge when our political and financial capital is being poorly spent.

We have an obligation to demand more for our investment. And if our investment fails, we have an obligation to spend our resources in more productive ways. Those are the thoughts that come to mind when we consider the resolution before us today.

The arguments about the President’s decision to move the American embassy to Jerusalem have already been made. They are by now well known. The decision was in accordance to U.S. law dating back to 1995, and it’s position has been repeatedly endorsed by the American people ever since. The decision does not prejudge any final status issues, including Jerusalem’s boundaries. The decision does not preclude a two-state solution, if the parties agree to that. The decision does nothing to harm peace efforts. Rather, the President’s decision reflects the will of the American people and our right as a nation to choose the location of our embassy. There is no need to describe it further.

Instead, there is a larger point to make. The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out for attack in the General Assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation. We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations. And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.

America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do, and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that.

But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN. And this vote will be remembered.  Thank you.

M

12/26/2017  Nikki Haley Announces 
$235 Million Cut to UN Budget 
as United Nations Continues Pushing Abortion


Fact:
American troops serving as globocops for the UN become targets for criminals and terrorists. In 1983, 241 U.S. Marines were blown to bits at the Beirut airport. Five years later, a U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel was kidnapped and eventually murdered by Arab terrorists while in a UN unit in Lebanon (he was unarmed -- as required by the UN). The UN "peacekeeping mission" in Somalia cost the lives of another 36 Americans in 1993.

Fact: In 1992, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, fulfilling a directive from the UN Security Council, unveiled An Agenda for Peace, a plan to strengthen UN"peace-keeping" capabilities. The plan calls for armed forces to be made available to the UN "on a permanent basis." It ominously warns, "The time of absolute and exclusive sovereignty has passed" and proceeds to name a long list of "risks for stability" that would be used to justify use of the "permanent" UN army to enforce its will.

Do read the article below and look at the facts concerning the huge financial support that the United States has made to the United Nations and specific nations, who now vote against the United States placing its Embassy in Jerusalem. 

 



M

UN denounces US recognition of Jerusalem 
as Israeli capital

AP News|
Posted: Dec 21, 2017 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to denounce President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, largely ignoring Trump's threats to cut off aid to any country that went against him.

The nonbinding resolution declaring U.S. action on Jerusalem "null and void" was approved 128-9 — a victory for the Palestinians, but not as big as they predicted. Amid Washington's threats, 35 of the 193 U.N. member nations abstained and 21 were absent.

The resolution, sponsored by Yemen and Turkey, reaffirmed what has been the United Nations' stand on the divided holy city since 1967: that Jerusalem's final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said afterward that he completely rejects the "preposterous" resolution. He thanked Trump for his "stalwart defense of Israel" and said Jerusalem "always was, always will be" the capital of the Jewish state.

The United States and Israel had waged an intensive lobbying campaign against the measure, with U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley sending letters to over 180 countries warning that Washington would be taking names of those who voted against the U.S. Trump went further, threatening a funding cutoff: "Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care."

But in the end, major U.S. aid recipients including Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa supported the (anti-American) resolution. 

Egypt received roughly $1.4 billion in U.S. aid this year, and Jordan about $1.3 billion.

The nine countries voting "no" were the U.S., Israel, Guatemala, Honduras, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands and Togo. Among the abstentions were Australia, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic and Mexico.

The absent countries included Kenya, which was the fifth-largest recipient of U.S. aid last year, Georgia and Ukraine, all of which have close U.S. ties.

The U.S. is scheduled to dispense $25.8 billion in foreign aid for 2018. Whether Trump follows through with his threat against those who voted "yes" remains to be seen.

After the vote, Haley tweeted a photo naming the 65 nations that voted no, abstained or were absent, and said: "We appreciate these countries for not falling to the irresponsible ways of the UN."

But within hours, the Trump administration appeared to be backing away from its funding threats. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said cuts to countries that opposed the U.S. are not a foregone conclusion.

"The president's foreign policy team has been empowered to explore various options going forward with other nations," Nauert said. "However, no decisions have been made."

Trump's pressure tactics had raised the stakes at Thursday's emergency meeting and triggered accusations from the Muslim world of U.S. bullying and blackmail.

"It is unethical to think that the votes and dignity of member states are for sale," said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "We will not be intimidated! You can be strong but this does not make you right!"

Arab, Islamic and non-aligned nations urged a "yes" vote on the resolution.

Yemeni Ambassador Khaled Hussein Mohamed Alyemany warned that Trump's recognition of Jerusalem undermines any chance for peace in the Mideast and "serves to fan the fires of violence and extremism."

He called Trump's action "a blatant violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the Arab nations, and all Muslims and Christians of the world," and "a dangerous violation and breach of international law."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, who flew to New York for the meeting, called the U.S. action "an aggression on the status of Jerusalem" and said, "Those who want peace must vote for peace today."

On Wednesday, Trump complained that Americans are tired of being taken advantage of by countries that take billions of dollars and then vote against the U.S.

Haley echoed his words in her speech to the packed assembly chamber, threatening not only member states with funding cuts, but the United Nations itself.

Haley said the vote will make no difference in U.S. plans to move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but it "will make a difference on how Americans look at the U.N., and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the U.N."

"And this vote will be remembered," she warned.

The Palestinians and their supporters sought the General Assembly vote after the U.S. on Monday vetoed a resolution supported by the 14 other U.N. Security Council members that would have required Trump to rescind his declaration on Jerusalem.

The resolution adopted by the assembly has language similar to the defeated measure.

It "affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered the character, status or demographic composition of the holy city of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded."

___

Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, and Joe Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.




A MOVE FOR WORLD PEACE


December 12, the White House announced that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and that the government would begin the process of moving the American embassy to the Israeli capital. 

Seven reasons why it is a good idea:

1. Jerusalem Is The Eternal Capital Of Israel. Jerusalem is only important because the Jews made it important; it was the capital of the kingdom of Israel, the site of the Temple, and the wellspring of Judaic thought for millennia. Both Christianity and Islam value Jerusalem because Judaism did. The dream of Jerusalem has animated the Jewish people for its entire existence; there is a reason the Psalms (137:5) state, “If I forget thee, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.” Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in the Prophets and Writings (during the time of the Torah, it was not yet called Jerusalem). By contrast, Jerusalem is not mentioned at all in the Koran. If Jews do not have a historic claim to Jerusalem, they have no historic claim to any part of Israel, including Tel Aviv.

2. Congress Has Long Recognized Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital. In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, requiring the movement of the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The act also said that Jerusalem should be undivided and be recognized as the capital of Israel. The executive branch has refused to implement the law.  That law, by the way, passed 93-5 in the Senate and 374-37 in the House.

3. Recognizing Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital Recognizes Israel’s Sovereignty. By removing the United States from the position of pressuring Israel to sacrifice its historic, religious, strategic capital, Israel will now be able to negotiate on its own behalf. That means that the U.S. will no longer be in a position to twist the arm of our closest ally in order to pursue separate strategic interests. Imagine the United States pressuring Great Britain to hand over all of Belfast to the IRA. That’s what the U.S. has been doing to Israel for years.

4. Recognizing Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital Will Minimize Violence. Every time negotiations fail, the Palestinians threaten violence and participate in terrorism. The sticking point for such negotiations has generally been Jerusalem — that’s the excuse the Palestinian Authority and Hamas use to launch campaigns of terror, to international approval thanks to the international community’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. They hope that using violence as a tactic will earn concessions from Israel, or pressure from the West on Israel. By leading the charge to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States will be sending the unmistakable signal that violence over Jerusalem will not be tolerated, and that pressure tactics through murder will earn no rewards.

5. Showing The United States Will Not Be Bullied By Terrorists Is Good Policy. The entire Oslo Accords was based on a blackmail program: Palestinians vowed not to murder Jews if Jews turned over land. That deal wasn’t just blackmail, it was a lie: Israel offered many generous peace deals, and the Palestinians responded with terror waves. The United States shouldn’t participate in such blackmail. If the Palestinians threaten violence, Trump should drop the other shoe: he should refuse to authorize the release of foreign aid to the terrorist government. There’s no reason taxpayers should be paying terrorists in the first place.

6. Recognizing Reality Makes Peace More Possible. A few days ago, the Saudi monarchy reportedly summoned Palestinian leadership and told them to support a peace deal with the Israelis. That deal would retain major Israeli settlement blocs, prevent the establishment of a Palestinian standing army, and leave the PA without Jerusalem as a Palestinian capital. By declaring Jerusalem Israel’s undivided capital, the United States would remove any other option from the table, thereby pressuring both the Saudis and the Palestinians into accepting that deal.

7. Recognizing Jerusalem Means Cementing The Anti-Iranian Alliance.  An alliance cannot be cemented until realities are recognized by all parties. The Muslim states need to recognize that their common interests with Israel outstripped their differences; it is right to make clear to all parties that Israel has control over its own capital, and that the price of alliance is recognition of reality.

Jerusalem is, was, and always will be Israel’s capital. Failing to recognize that is a slap in the face to history, to reality, and to Israel itself. 

By Ben Shapiro   https://twitter.com/benshapiro
Minimal editing by Mimi




Extracts from:  Christians in Defense of Israel of Mat Staver

"U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley's lone vote against the resolution scuttled the measure which gained support from all 14 other current Security Council members. 

Haley blasted the failed resolution as "one more example of the United Nations doing more harm than good in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." She pointed out that
the U.S. has given more than $5 billion in aid to the Palestinians since 1994--far more than the combined contributions from all other nations on the Security Council. 

The resolution came on the heels of an emergency summit of Muslim nations last week in Turkey. There, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared, "Jerusalem has been, and will remain forever, the capital of the State of Palestine." Muslim leaders at the summit crafted a plan to pressure President Trump to reverse his decision to recognize Jerusalem and relocate the U.S. Embassy there.

Just days ago, Ambassador Haley chided members of the U.N. Security Council, saying they are part of the problem, not the solution, when it comes to brokering peace in the Middle East."

According to Snopes . .   
there are more or less than 57 Islamic countries/nations/states in the world. If an Islamic state is defined to mean any country in which a majority of the indigenous population is Muslim, then the total number of Islamic states is actually a little lower (about 52). All such numbers are estimates, however, and are subject to additional definitional criteria.

With the existence of  (approximately) 57 Islamic countries, why does the United Nations not recognize injustice in their anti-Jewish, pro-Muslim position . . .   whose continue support in that direction would result in destroying Israel as the single national home for those of the Jewish faith. 

14.31 million  Jewish

2.18 Billion Muslim




 
There's a sharp split among Christians 
over Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
by Noga Tarnopolsky

latimes.com
December 24, 2017

=================================== ===================================

One recent night, Pastor Bruce Mills of the Jerusalem Baptist Church appeared before a group of clergy of various Christian denominations. They wanted him to explain why American evangelical Christians were so elated by President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“I was shocked,” he said, “because they had no idea.”  The divide between evangelicals and other Christian denominations reflects two views of Jerusalem — one traditional and political, the other literal and theological. The key to understanding this rift is the evangelical belief in what is necessary to pave the way for the second coming of Jesus.

For many Holy Land Christians, Trump’s declaration was about as welcome as a biblical curse.

For American evangelical Christians, it has largely been welcomed as an auspicious sign from on high.

Hours before the declaration on Dec. 6, Jerusalem’s Orthodox Christian patriarchs and heads of local churches sent Trump a letter predicting that “such steps will yield increased hatred, conflict, violence and suffering in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, moving us farther from the goal of unity and deeper toward destructive division.”

And yet, across the ocean, Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Christian Family Research Council, said on a White House visit that "evangelical conservatives are grateful" to Trump for his decision on Jerusalem.

 


“My sense is that American evangelicals are viewing this in purely theological terms,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior vice president of Auburn Seminary, a 200-year-old New York institution that is active in the multi-faith movement for social justice, “whereas Christians who live in the region are viewing this in more political and social terms.”
=================================== ===================================
“My sense is that American evangelicals are viewing this in purely theological terms,” said Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, senior vice president of Auburn Seminary, a 200-year-old New York institution that is active in the multi-faith movement for social justice, “whereas Christians who live in the region are viewing this in more political and social terms.”

“If you view the world in terms of a grand cosmological drama, of which this is a plot point that seems favorable to the return of Christ, this is a wonderful thing, and it makes it easier to disregard whatever implications it may have for Christians on the ground in the region,” Raushenbush said.

Mills, the Baptist pastor, is a native of Los Angeles and acolyte of the Rev. Billy Graham. He has been based in Jerusalem since 1971 and was invited to address his colleagues at the Ecumenical Circle of Friends on Thursday.

“It’s very simple,” he said. “The formation of the state of Israel was not because of Jews. The formation of the state of Israel was because of evangelicals.… The whole idea is Jews coming back to Israel!”

For anyone outside the fold of evangelical Christianity, this idea may not appear as intuitive.

The excitement of Trump’s evangelical voters stems from their belief that the Jewish return to Israel is part of a larger plan involving the second coming of Christ and the Jews’ acceptance of Jesus as the messiah, a notion difficult to square with the Israeli government’s conviction that Trump’s policy shift strengthens Israel’s hold on Jerusalem as the “eternal and united capital of the Jewish people.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly thanked Trump for his declaration, on Friday saying that he believed “many other countries will do the same.” 

The day before, the United Nations had voted overwhelmingly to denounce the declaration, with just nine countries, including Israel and the United States, voting no.
=================================== ===================================
“My sense is that for the Jews who are grateful for this support, of course they don’t buy any of this stuff about Jesus coming back,” Raushenbush says. “They’re not really interested in that quest; they’re interested in who is going to give them the political heft they desire. I’m pretty sure that on both sides, once you go into theology, they have vastly different theologies and beliefs.”

But the division between Christians and Jews is no less dramatic than the discord among Christian denominations.

When Vice President Mike Pence announced that he would be visiting Israel — a visit that was later postponed — many members of the local Christian clergy said they would refuse to meet with him. 

On the Wednesday before Christmas, at an annual gathering with journalists, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, one of the most senior Catholic officials in the Holy Land, called the visit “a problem.”

Pence is one of the Trump administration officials most closely identified with the evangelical movement. His Mideast tour was originally conceived by the White House as a visit of solidarity with beleaguered Christian communities in the Middle East.

Pizzaballa, the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (which covers all Catholic dioceses in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt and Rhodes) said of Pence that “even the biggest sinner in the world cannot be told not to come to church if he wants to pray.” But neither, he said, can Christians ignore the political consequences.

“The local Christians here are Palestinians,” Pizzaballa added. “Their vision about Jerusalem is as Palestinians. As Christians, of course, we also have something that goes beyond a political vision, universality and religious symbolism,” but the views held by his worshippers and American Christians, are, he said, on the whole “two completely different approaches.”

Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times





Cultural Lag in Our Country
Oscar S. Ramirez Ph.D.

 

 

The social changes in our country raise many questions regarding equable consideration of the masses. There are two questions that need serious consideration:

First,
how do we adapt people into the "majority group-think" of what it means to be an American? 

Secondly, how do we prevent disruption of new and different social values; add their differences to the richness of our country; accept that diversities exist between groups and individuals while not negating anyone from buying into the system. 

For reasons not addressed, there exist entrenched barriers that impede acceptance in our society. It is a foregone conclusion that variances in values continue to alter the social structure of the nation.  Disparities between groups exist as change does not progress at the same rate. 

It does not take a Guru to declare that conflict exists between cultural groups or to caution one that adjustments need to be made to foil a cultural lag that impacts a material one as both continue to accelerate independently of each other. It is imperative that existing unequal lag times in our culture be addressed as quickly as possible.

The political turbulence in our country exists in part over accretion or lack-there-of materials accrued or not accrued by large portions of the population. We must accept the notion that many of our cultural adjustments call for an adaptive society where inherent ways, customs, and beliefs play a role through a natural socialization process. Some aspects of different cultures are easily adapted while others do not lend to such condition.  Cultures can exercise adjustments to meet existing conditions but more than often may not be in synchrony.  And, this is where and how cultural lag may last for years as it disrupts the social and material fabric of the country.  Here-in lies the crux of the problem where exploitation arises as a common tool for discord.

This discussion points to the degree of social disparity that exists between the rich and poor; material gains and non-material ones and degrees of social adjustments that are often satisfactory or less than acceptable.  But, in the long run we all seem to learn to live and get along even though less than perfect.  Some of the cultures in the country may adjust to relatively homogenous conditions of some particular form while other remain disjointed, unfulfilled and hostile. But, as in many families a level of emotional function remains and keeps the fabric of the unit in some form of cohesion.

This year has found our nation entertaining many policy changes that will affect the living conditions of people. We must keenly consider that expected changes in our material culture will slowly precede changes in our adaptive social culture.  A political rebellion, not ending, since the last election continues as it attempts to destroy the fabric of our nation.  Conceivably, changes in policy will now take place prior to changes in material situations.  But, any correction presumes planning, predictability and control of the situation.

This is a trying time for our nation as our old, unchanged and adaptive culture finds itself not in concert with new conditions that are now being entertained.  The old culture will never fully accept the new conditions and disagreements will continue. Consider for the moment that the then existing unchanged culture was more in harmony with the old one than with the upcoming new conditions in the horizon. The new one is always better suited to the new conditions.  Adjustment thus remains a relative term where conditions are sometimes better and at other times not so.  At this point, all we can do is await new conditions that will arise in the political horizon and see how cultural lag is brought into equability with material lag. Attempts by previous administrations have been made at bringing balance to cultural lag but have found it hard to rein in and that it lasts longer than material lag. Time will tell about the current administration.  Does any one wish to wager on this point?

Oscar S. Ramirez Ph.D.  
12/27/2017

 




Everyone Should Stand for the National Anthem by Joy Villa 
https://www.prageru.com/videos/everyone-should-stand-national-anthem   

Because the Anthem and the flag represent America, and America is a free nation, that alone is worth standing for. Joy Villa, singer, songwriter, and recording artist, explains. Popular recording artist, Joy Villa, makes the case for standing for the National Anthem. And why those who don't are both ignorant and self-defeating.  

She argues that Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. never denigrated the flag or the anthem. In fact, he did the opposite. He argued that the people who oppress blacks are the ones denigrating the flag and what it stands for. 

For the complete script, visit https://www.prageru.com/videos/ everyone-should-stand-national-anthem
Video
Duration: 00:05:18; 

Joining PragerU is free! Sign up now to get all our videos as soon as they're released.  
Donate today to PragerU! http://l.prageru.com/2eB2p0h


The American flag is welcomed as a symbol of freedom and hope across the globe, while the flag of ISIS symbolizes tyranny and hate. But how are they received when both flags are flown at UC Berkeley? Documentary filmmaker Ami Horowitz went on location to find out. Watch Ami's video here.

Sent by Lyn Montes (bluedenim@icloud.com)

 



How it is done by a cowboy!  

A  Child Honoring the National Anthem 
 Sent by Oscar Ramirez 



 


Editor Mimi: I published the article below in the November 2017 issue, but felt the thought needed to be shared again.
"You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"  
is a show tune from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific.


The undercurrent of anger, dissension, and growing division within our country is troubling.  Reading what the United Nations agency is doing (article below) filled me with great sadness.  

It reminded me of a song of long ago. a song which spoke to being taught to hate. I danced with the Richland Light Opera company in Washington. In 1960 we put on South Pacific.  

I didn't remember the name of the song, or even the tune, but I remembered the feeling I had every time it was sung. 

I needed help and asked Dr. Eddie Calderon for help.  Dr. Calderon is a  regular Somos Primos columnist, linguist, historian and lover of popular music from the 30-60s.  We found it.  The lyrics provoked considerable public response, as you read below. I hope you take the time to listen to the song and remember it, as I have 50 plus years later.     
========================================== ========================
South Pacific received scrutiny for its commentary regarding relationships between different races and ethnic groups. In particular, "You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught" was subject to widespread criticism, judged by some to be too controversial or downright inappropriate for the musical stage.[1] Sung by the character Lieutenant Cable, the song is preceded by a line saying racism is "not born in you! It happens after you’re born..."

Rodgers and Hammerstein risked the entire South Pacific venture
in light of legislative challenges to its decency or supposed Communist agenda. While the show was on a tour of the Southern United States, lawmakers in Georgia introduced a bill outlawing entertainment containing "an underlying philosophy inspired by Moscow."[2] One legislator said that "a song justifying interracial marriage was implicitly a threat to the American way of life."[2] Rodgers and Hammerstein defended their work strongly. James Michener, upon whose stories South Pacific was based, recalled, "The authors replied stubbornly that this number represented why they had wanted to do this play, and that even if it meant the failure of the production, it was going to stay in."[2]  

 

You've got to be taught to hate and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late
Before you are six or seven or eight
To hate all the people your relatives hate
You've got to be carefully taught.

References

  • Andrea Most, "‘You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught’: The Politics of Race in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific" Theatre Journal 52, no. 3 (October 2000), 306.
  • Most, "You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught," 307.


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Hillsdale's Project To Save Our Youth Through Education:


In the same way that hate and prejudice is taught,  . . . .  respect, honor, and gratitude can be taught. As Americans we have every reason to be grateful, we are living in a nation with unlimited freedom of opportunity, a nation which is a blessing to the whole world.  From its foundation, a democratic nation with ther greatest charter of freedom, a finely balanced three-governing bodies structure:  Executive, Congress, and Supreme Court . .  which quickly grew into into one of the most prosperous nation in recorded history . . .  the great experiment worked . . .   

US history shows that the  United States evolved, the foundational constitutional structure slowly assimilating, reflecting gradually changing social attitudes.  We did it!   We are one.   

Let us teach in our schools, as a nation, we made mistakes, but as a nation we are correcting them.  Justice consists in everyone following the rules, whether in the halls of Congress, or on the school playground.  Let's let the foundation of our country, as found in our constitution, be embraced and strengthen us.

Those serving in our government, federal, state, county, or city are in service.  They should follow all the same rules and laws that we are subject to.  Government workers, at whatever level, are workers, not over-lords.  It is our duty to over-see their action.  Be informed and be an example . 

Consider taking the free online class on the Constitution, offered by Hillsdale College.  


Drawing on its many resources—its 173-year-history of teaching the principles and traditions of liberty, the 3.6 million households and businesses that receive Imprimis, and the 1.5 million citizens who have taken one or more of our free online courses—Hillsdale has all hope of success in launching its new
Project To Save Our Youth Through Education.

These will be the major parts of Hillsdale's Project To Save Our Youth Through Education:

Reaching young Americans with Hillsdale's free online courses—By reaching out to students in every public school in America, we will seek to enroll millions of students in r; Hillsdale's free online courses, such as "Introduction to the Constitution," "Constitution 101,"  and "The Principles of Free Market Economics."

Sending pocket-size Constitutions to every public school in the U.S.Hillsdale has distributed millions of pocket Constitutions (our convenient booklet also contains the  Declaration of Independence) nationwide in recent years. Now we will distribute them to our nation's 24,000 public schools. 

Hillsdale's Center For Teacher Excellence—Hillsdale holds seminars nationwide for teachers of American history, government, and economics; to date, these seminars have , already been attended by 2,833 teachers from 42 states.

• Hillsdale's Barney Charter School Initiative—Hillsdale helps found and provides ongoing support and guidance to classical K-12 charter schools nationwide; over 8,000 students , are enrolled in 17 Hillsdale-affiliated schools in nine different states, with more schools opening each year; each school has a strong program in American civics and an emphasis on character development.

Promoting constitutional education through social media—Hillsdale will convey civics education and promote online courses, educational videos, and Imprimis through outlets popular with young people, such as YouTube, SoundCloud, Instagram, and Twitter.

• Promoting constitutional education through radio—Hillsdale has created a series of 60-second radio spots about specific constitutional principles that play during popular radio programs, and it will begin targeting these to radio frequented by young people.

Hillsdale College is in the process of reaching out to 100 million Americans with its several educational programs on behalf of liberty and limited government. 

For more information, please go to: www.hillsdaleforliberty.com/SaveOurYouth  

God bless America . .  ~Mimi



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Take a knee . . .   My Ass!!

New country song by Neal McCoy 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPNnsi2dJIQ

Published on Nov 17, 2017

=================================== ===================================
"Take A Knee My Ass"
I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United States of America
I'll stand and place my hand upon my heart
Every time her anthem plays

When I see somebody on TV
Take their stand on bended knee
Whether it's on astroturf or grass
I think of those whose freedom was not free
And I say, "Take a knee, my ass!"

I'll stand up for the flag
Take off my hat for Old Glory
Thank God I live in the home of the brave
And the land of the free
I'll honor the ones who gave it all
So we're all free to go play ball
If only for their sake
I won't take a knee

[Sent by Oscar Ramirez osramirez@sbcglobal.net

From Valley Forge to Vietnam
9/11 to Afghanistan
That star-spangled banner does yet wave
I won't forget I owe a debt of gratitude
I never can repay

Arm and arm and side by side
American heroes fought and died
Is showing some respect too much to ask?
I speak for those whose freedom was not free
And I say, "Take a knee, my ass!"

I'll stand up for the flag
Take off my hat for Old Glory
Thank God I live in the home of the brave
And the land of the free
I'll honor the ones who gave it all
So we're all free to go play ball
If only for their sake
I won't take a knee
O say can you see?
If only for their sake
I won't take a knee
M


LATINA Style ANNOUNCES THE TOP 10 LATINA CORPORATE EXECUTIVES OF THE YEAR

Washington, D.C., December 18, 2017— In its 9th consecutive year, the LATINA Style Corporate Executive of the Year program honors influential Latinas, selected by their peers, as leaders and examples for the Hispanic community and for the professional women in the U.S. Each year LATINA Style Inc. recognizes the achievement and dedication Latinas are performing at the top of their respective companies and in various industries. The top 10 Corporate LATINA Executives of the Year have been selected and recognized based on their excellence in business impact, corporate leadership, mentorship, and remarkable dedication to working with the Hispanic community both locally and nationally. They demonstrate excellence in leadership, commitment to the community, impact to the company bottom line and creation of an environment where associates are encouraged to succeed and reach their full potential.
LATINA Style Inc. is proud to announce the Top 10 Corporate LATINA Executives of the Year for 2017 (in no specific order):

Sandra Rivera, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Intel Corporation
Maria Eduarda Kertesz, President, U.S. HealthE, Johnson & Johnson
Melissa Bolden, Asst. Vice President, Program Manager, Merger Integration, AT&T
Claudia Marquez, Senior Director, Sales Operations, INFINITI Americas
Olga Gonzalez Aponte, Senior Vice Pres & Chief Financial Officer, Walmart of Mexico
      Central America
Sigal Cordeiro, Global Product Marketing Executive Director, General Motors
Tony Gutierrez, Country Director of Mexico, American Airlines
Olga L. Lopez, Region Bank President, Wells Fargo Bank
Eliana Murillo, Head of Multicultural Marketing, Google
Evanghela Hidalgo, Global Business Development & General Manager International,
      Masco Coatings Group (BEHR)
The winner of the 2017 LATINA Style Corporate Executive of the Year will be revealed at the 20th Anniversary LATINA Style 50 Awards & Diversity Leaders Conference on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in Washington D.C. The conference will present powerful workshops discussing issues related to Latinas in corporate America, and feature prominent diversity leaders from the companies selected to the 2017 LATINA Style 50 Report, the top 50 best companies for Latinas to work for in the United States. To secure your admission, please RSVP by registering online by January 31, 2018 at www.latina50.latinastyle.com. Attendance is limited. Registration Fee: $ 100 corporate - $ 50 government - $ 35 student with ID, Military is free with military ID.
About LATINA Style Inc.
LATINA Style Inc., headquartered in Dallas, TX, is the publisher of LATINA Style Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for the professional Hispanic woman. The magazine has been published for 24 years and has a national circulation of 150,000 and a readership of nearly 600,000. LATINA Style Inc. is host of the LATINA Style Business Series, the LATINA Style 50 Report, the National LATINA Symposium, and the LATINA Style HERO Initiative. 

Media Contact: Contact: Diana Martinez        Phone: (214)357-2186        E-mail: diana@latinastyle.com

 




College Republicans Kicked Out of Coffee Shop “Safe Space”

A question of free speech and freedom of association 

 

A campus coffee shop at Fordham University booted the College Republicans because the group’s Make America Great Again caps were too controversial for the shop’s other customers to bear, according to a new story from Campus Reform. In yet another ridiculous “safe space” story, conservatives are once again shown to be the new pariahs of 21st century academia, not even able to enjoy a cup of coffee and some fellowship with friends without inspiring the ire of deadly-serious liberal millennials – students who cannot BEAR the thought of sharing their campus with people who (GASP) disagree with them on political issues.

According to the report, the manager of Rodrigue’s Coffee Shop, which is run by a campus student club, grew irritated when the College Republicans set up at a table and began quietly doing their homework in their MAGA caps. She came over and warned them that they would have to leave.

“This is a community standard,” she said. “You are wearing hats that completely violate safe space policy. You have to take it off or you have to go.”

When pressed for a reasonable explanation for this ridiculous ejection, the manager says, “I am protecting my customers.”

“We are your customers,” one of the College Republicans pointed out.

“I don’t want people like you supporting this club,” she said. “No one here wants people like you supporting our club. I am giving you five minutes.”

One of the students then demanded a refund, but the manager wasn’t having it. Once again, she insisted that they were in violation of the shop’s safe space policy and that they would either have to remove their MAGA hats or get out. This inspired one of the students to ask her what message she thought the hats stood for, to which the manager replied: “Fascism! Nazis!”

And when someone acts like that, what can you do other than maybe look at your friends and twirl your finger around your ear in the time-honored “cuckoo” gesture?

In comments to Campus Reform, the College Republicans explained that they weren’t trying to cause trouble but rather test the rumor that conservatives were not welcome at the coffee shop.

“We went there because we wanted to test the unwritten rule that conservatives were banned from that coffee shop,” one member said. “We went there and just started doing some homework and studying. Then we were asked to leave. We are tuition paying students, therefore we should be able to use any building on campus that we want. This school is over $70,000 a year in tuition, therefore I feel that I have the right to go into all of the buildings that other students are allowed to go into. I also have the right to wear what I want to wear and express my own political views.”

Well, not in 2017, where conservative views on college campuses are seen as identical to those of NAZIs.  And yet, who is actually suppressing freedom…?

http://unfilteredpatriot.com/college-republicans-kicked-out-of-coffee-shop-safe-space/ 

Posted On 10 Dec 2017  By :

 





Pennsylvania family ordered to take down Jesus Christmas display 
after neighbor said it was ‘offensive’
 

A Pennsylvania family was ordered by their homeowner’s association to take down their Jesus Christmas display after one of the neighbors reported it as offensive.

Mark and Lynn Wivell of Adams County, a Gettysburg subdivision, said they put up their Jesus display last Saturday, FOX43 reported.

"As part of our Christmas decoration, we would display the name Jesus to point out to everyone that we in this family believe that the reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of Jesus," said Mark Wivell told FOX43.

But the homeowner’s association wasn’t having it.

On Sunday, the association told the family to take down the sign after a neighbor complained it was offensive. The homeowner’s association also claimed the display was a sign, not a decoration – which is a violation of the rules, USA Today reported.

"After taking a look at it, it isn't in accordance with normal Christmas decorations," Bud Vance, the Courtyards president, wrote in a statement to the Gettysburg Times.

The Wivells insist they are following the rules.

"We have ordinances with regard to Christmas decorations, and my Christmas decorations comply with the HOA ordinances on Christmas decorations," Wivell said.

The Wivells also said many others supported their right to display the sign.

"When this happened, we were really shocked," Lynn Wivell said. "We have gotten tremendous support from our neighbors here at the Links and that just makes us feel so good."

The family said they have no plans to take down the sign until January 15, when the association requires all displays to be taken down. Family members said they are unsure which neighbor was offended.

"People get offended by different things, but just because something offends you, doesn't mean the whole world has to change to accommodate you, so I would say please be more tolerant," Mark Wivell said.




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“In God We Trust”


A judge recently struck down a case regarding the religious wording on U.S. currency. The plaintiff argued that the phrase “In God We Trust,” that is seen on American dollars, is a breach of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and places a burden on a person’s right to exercise religious freedom.

The Ohio judge, Benita Pearson disagreed with the plaintiff, issuing that they had no proof of the claimed burden, and stated the following:

“Plaintiffs cannot demonstrate that the use of the motto on currency substantially burdens their religious exercise,” she wrote in her ruling. “Credit cards and checks allow Plaintiffs to conduct the bulk of their purchases with currency not inscribed with the motto. And for cash-only transactions, such as a garage sale or a coin-operated laundromat, the use of the motto on currency does not substantially burden Plaintiffs’ free exercise.”

We’d like to send our thanks to this Judge, who doesn’t deem it necessary to make massive, expensive, and completely unnecessary changes just because someone somewhere is “offended.” 

 For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml



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TO CHILDREN OF THE GREATEST GENERATION 
. . and their children - so they will understand . .  .
Born in the 1930s and early 40s, 
We are the Silent Generation.

 
We are the smallest number of children born since the early 1900s,  the last ones who remember . . .

We
are the last generation, climbing out of the depression, who can remember the winds of war and the impact of a world at war which rattled the structure of our daily lives for years.

We
 are the last to remember ration books for everything from gas to sugar to shoes to stoves.
We saved tin foil and poured fat into tin cans.
We
 hand mixed ’white stuff’ with ‘yellow stuff’ to make fake butter.
We saw cars up on blocks because tires weren't available.

We
 can remember milk being delivered to our house early in the morning and placed in the “milk box” on the porch. [A friend’s mother delivered milk in a horse drawn cart.] We sometimes fed the horse, and our dog, Spot, a Fox Terrier, would greet the milkman when he made our delivery, then he would ride in Glenn's truck til the end of his route, when Glenn would drive by the house and let Spot off the truck just in time to greet us coming home from elementary school.
We are the last to hear Roosevelt 's radio assurances and to see gold stars in the front windows of our grieving neighbors.

We
 can also remember the parades on August 15, 1945; VJ Day.
We saw the 'boys' home from the war, build their Cape Cod style houses, pouring the cellar, tar papering  it over and living there until they could afford the time and money to build it out.
We remember trying to buy a new car after the war. The new cars were coming through with wooden bumpers.
We are the last generation who spent childhood without television; instead we imagined what we heard on the radio. As we all like to brag, with no TV, we spent our childhood "playing outside until the street lights came on."

We
 did play outside and we did play on our own.
There was no little league.
There was no city playground for kids.

To
 play in the water, we turned the fire hydrants on and ran through the spray.
The lack of television in our early years meant, for most of us, that we had little real understanding of what the world was like.
Our Saturday afternoons, if at the movies, gave us newsreels of the war sandwiched in between westerns and cartoons.

Telephones
 were one to a house, often shared and hung on the wall.
Computers were called calculators, they only added and were hand cranked; typewriters were driven by pounding fingers, throwing the carriage, and changing the ribbon.
The ‘internet’ and ‘GOOGLE’ were words that didn’t exist.
Newspapers and magazines were written for adults and the news was broadcast on our table radio in the evening by H.V Kaltenborne and Gabriel Heatter.

We
 are the last group who had to find out for ourselves.
As we grew up, the country was exploding with growth.
The G.I. Bill gave returning veterans the means to get an education and spurred colleges to grow.
VA loans fanned a housing boom
Pent up demand coupled with new installment payment plans put factories to work.

New
 highways would bring jobs and mobility.
The veterans joined civic clubs and became active in politics.
In the late 40's and early 50's the country seemed to lie in the embrace of brisk but quiet order as it gave birth to its new middle class (which became known as ‘Baby Boomers’)
The radio network expanded from 3 stations to thousands of stations.
The telephone started to become a common method of communications and "Faxes" sent hard copy around the world

Our
 parents were suddenly free from the confines of the depression and the war and they threw themselves into exploring opportunities they had never imagined.
We weren't neglected but we weren't today's all-consuming family focus.
They were glad we played by ourselves 'until the street lights came on.'
They were busy discovering the post war world.

Most of us
 had no life plan, but with the unexpected virtue of ignorance and an economic rising tide we simply stepped into the world and started to find out what the world was about.
We entered a world of overflowing plenty and opportunity; a world where we were welcomed.
Based on our naive belief that there was more where this came from, we shaped life as we went.

We
 enjoyed a luxury; we felt secure in our future. Of course, just as today, not all Americans shared in this experience.
Depression poverty was deep rooted.
Polio was still a crippler.
The Korean War was a dark presage in the early 50s and by mid-decade school children were ducking under desks.
Russia built the “Iron Curtain” and China became Red China
Eisenhower sent the first 'advisers' to Vietnam ; and years later, we went to war there.
Castro set up camp in Cuba and Khrushchev came to power.

We
 are the last generation to experience an interlude when there were no existential threats to our homeland.
We came of age in the 40s and early 50s. The war was over and the cold war, terrorism, technological upheaval, “global warming”, and perpetual economic insecurity had yet to haunt life with insistent unease.
Only our generation can remember both a time of apocalyptic war and a time when our world was secure and full of bright promise and plenty. We have lived through both.

We
 grew up at the best possible time, a time when the world was getting better. not worse.
We are the Silent Generation - "The Last Ones".
More than 99.9% of us are either retired or deceased, and feel privileged to have "lived in the best of times"!
 

Sent by Oscar Ramirez, Ph.D. 
osramirez@sbcglobal.net
 




On Running and a Philosophy of Life
The Long Distance Philosopher 
By 
Felipe de Ortego y Gasca

First published in Somos en escrito   The Latino Literary Online Magazine, November 15, 2017
Somos en escrito caught up with the great Felipe Ortego. This is his memoir about running in Luxembourg with an Olympic gold medallist and learning about intention, winning, and life. ~ Armando Rendon

 

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcme6CKpomg/WgyyxSlurHI/AAAAAAAAF44/MlBM6Ha_FHsm0RRXyj_Amn5AqDuLJ_jWwCEwYBhgL/s640/Ortego%2By%2BGasca%2BFelipe%2BLamesch%2BTram_ruedeBeggen.jpg

 Lamesch house on Rue de Beggen, Luxembourg, where the author lived, in the 50s is nearby a bend  in the street. The trolley, which he remembers, vied with the bicycle and walking as transportation.

met Josef Bartel more than 60 years ago in the Luxembourg stadium one evening towards the end of an August day in 1956 while running laps. Luxembourg is a small country of some 1,600 square miles and, in those days, had a population of less than a quarter million. Dismembered three times in its history and governed at various times by France, Spain, Austria, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Russia, and Italy, the origins of Luxembourg date back to Roman times. One of the still standing bridges of that era attests to the dura­bility of Roman architecture. In 1815 Luxembourg was made a grand duchy by the Congress of Vienna and united with the kingdom of the Netherlands. Af­terward it became the crossroad of Europe.  

From anywhere in the capital city of Luxem­bourg one can see the rooftops and watchtowers of the grand ducal palace rising from the center of the city and from the American cemetery where General George Patton lies buried. In 1945, Patton’s Fifth Armored Division liberated the city from the Germans.























I was new to Luxembourg, having arrived a scant week earlier, and at 30 still “working  out.” I was pro­gressing well with my form on the track, I thought, though the clay track was a novelty for me. I had started running as a kid in San Antonio and Chicago, mostly on asphalt and concrete. When I went to the University of Pittsburgh, I learned to run on a cork track. I managed the mile well enough to come in third mostly and sometimes second in competition.

But on that evening, in the Luxembourg stadium, I felt, rather than heard, a runner behind me, moving so rhythmically down the straightaway I was compelled to turn to see who could run like that. I learn­ed later it was Josef Bartel, whom I called Jose, 1500 meter gold medalist at the1952 Helsinki Olympic Games and now an engineer with the city of Luxem­bourg. As he slipp­ed by me, I marveled at his form, so effortless in motion. He nodded acknowledgement, and the second time around dropp­ed in beside me at my pace and introduced himself.

Other Residential for Sale at Superbe château à Christnach Christnach, 7640 LuxembourgI told him I lived on the Rue de Beggen in the Lamesch house, the horticulturalists renown-ed for their roses. Yes, he knew the place well. He told me that during the German occupation of Luxembourg a high German officer had lived there.

Yes, I could understand that. It was an old, ele­gant 19th century manse in the European style, built for a family of leisure. It sat on a large acreage just north of the city on the way to Bitburg, Germany. My family and I occupied only a section of the house, partitioned for a part of the Lamesch family now gone. In one of those quaint Mozart rooms on the upper storey of our section of the house I wrote and pursued my interests in literature.

“What brings you to Luxembourg?” Jose asked. I explained what brought me to Luxembourg and how I came to be running in the stadium.

“I could tell you were an American by the way you run,” he said. I smiled, amused by that piece of deduction. “Americans are too wound up when they run,” he said. “The only exception was Jesse Owens,” he added. “But this is not the place to run,” he went on. “This is the place to practice form, get a feel for the relationship between you and the track.” Only the barest hint of an accent suggested he was European and not American. Suddenly he spoke to me in French. After a bit he said, “You speak French very well. Almost like a native. Where did you learn it?

“I studied it in college,” I said.

“You certainly did not learn that kind of French in college,” he said, emphasizing the word “college.”

“Well, no,” I said. “I lived in Paris more than a year before coming here.

“Of course,” he said. “And where was college?”

“Pitt,” I said. “The University of Pittsburgh.”

“And your major?”

“Comparative Studies. Philosophy, Languages, Literature, Writing.”

“I see,” he said.

We ran several laps in silence, then unexpect­edly he began to speak philosophically about run­ning.

“You see,” he started, “most people approach running through the mind. Thinking a distance is something to be overcome by time. The clock be­comes the focus, not the run. Others are defeated by the distance. No sooner are they out of the starting blocks than they are thinking about how far they have to go or how much more they have to run.”

I agreed with his premises. My own approach to running was to focus on the next step, I explained.

“That too can be a liability,” he said. “You forget about the field and that the object of the run is to place first. Have you ever placed first? He asked.

“No,” I said. “Never!”

“Hm,” he responded, and ran other laps without saying a word. Then he apologized for hav-

ing to leave me but he still had a fair amount of work to do on the track before it got darker. He was preparing for a meet in Trier in Germany that Saturday. Would I care to go?

I accepted, and he went off, lapping me several times.

Before leaving the stadium he called out. ”I’ll pick you up at your place at 8 on Saturday morning. Okay?”

Von TrierSaturday morning he picked me up promptly at 8 a.m. in his black Citroen that looked like some­thing out of a Chicago gangster movie of the 1920s or 30s. “It’s old and cheap,” he said. “Engineers don’t make much money. And the gold on Olympic medals doesn’t bring very much on the open market.

        The trip to Trier didn’t take very long. Trier is an old Roman city just north of where the Mosel River joins the Saar in Germany. En route we talked about the United States, Indo-China, our kids, our wives, our futures.

      “So you’re a writer,” he said. “Written anything I’ve read?”    Tavern in Trier. 

“Not yet,” I said, “But it’s coming.”

“What do you write? Novels?”

“Nothing that ambitious yet. Poetry, short sto­ries, mostly journalistic pieces. Reportage. I worked on the Pitt paper for three years and interned with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette the summer of 1952.

“Anything published?”

“Yes, but not by-lined. The New World Society of Pittsburgh published a small chapbook of poetry by me four years ago.”

“I’d like to read it sometime. What’s it called?”

The Wide Well of Hours.”

“How are your children doing in school?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Fine,” I said. “Just fine.”

“No trouble with the languages?”

“None,” I said. “They’re becoming multilin­gual.”

“That’s good,” he said. “The more languages we learn the better off we are. What language do you speak at home? With your wife and kids?”

“English mostly. Some Spanish.”

“You’re Spanish, aren’t you?” he asked. That’s a Spanish name you have.”

“The name is Spanish, but my folks were from Mexico.”

“But you were born in the United States, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m an American.”

“But you’re also Mexican?”

“Yes,” I replied. Hyphenating my ancestry was still in the future. I thought of myself as an American of Mexican ancestry. Achieving Chicano consciousness still lay ahead of me.

“What other languages do you speak–-besides English, Spanish and French?”

“Some Italian, a little Portuguese. I learned some Chinese when I was in China.” I didn’t tell him I had studied Russian as part of my tenure with the Air Force Survival School at Reno, Nevada. I was cautious then about those revelations, especially about my work as a Threat Analyst in Soviet Studies for the Air Force.

“Taiwan?” he said, cutting into my thoughts.

“No, China,” I said, “Mainland China.”

“Oh?” he said, surprised. “When were you there?”

“Right after the war,” I said.

“See much?”

“Yes. Shanghai, Peking, Tientsin, Tsingtao, and lots of poverty.”

“Poverty is everywhere,” he said. Then after a pause, “Tsingtao? That’s a port city in the Shantung Peninsula, isn’t it?”

I was surprised that he knew that. “Yes,” I said. “I spent almost a year there, after Shanghai.”

“Were you in the Army?”

“No, Marines.”

“I was too young for military service,” he said. “I was ten when the Germans occupied Luxembourg. After the war, I went to school in the United States. But I missed Luxembourg, the Ardennes. I run there every day. Maybe you’d like to join me?’

“Yes,” I said.  

     The meet at Trier was exciting. Jose won the distance races handily. He had come sure of himself, knowing he was going to win. “You see,” he said on the way back to Luxem­bourg, “you have to see yourself as the winner. Know you’re going to win.”

“And if you don’t win?” I asked.

“That can’t be,” he responded, matter of factly. “If you know you’re going to win, there can be no other possibility.”

“None whatever?”

“None.”

“Do you always win?” I asked. 

“Yes. When my intention to win is high.”

“I see,” I said, though still not quite sure of the meaning of his words, trying to grasp the philosophy.

“When my intention is not high, I don’t win. When your intention to win is high, and you want to win, you will win.”

“Hm?” I said.

“You don’t believe that, do you?” he said, sens­ing my apprehension. “How many wins have you had?”

“Wins?”

“Yes. In running.”

“None,” I said.

“Your intentions are not very high then,” he said. “We’ll work on that when we run in the forest.”

“Fine,” I said, still perplexed.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “It took me a while to get the hang of it too.”

It would take me almost two more decades to re­ally get the hang of it–the meaning of intention–not until my meeting with Werner Earhart and EST (Ear­hart Seminar Training). In EST, “intention” is the production of an outcome not predicated by the cir­cumstances. I didn’t understand that yet. It took years before I fully understood the notion of intention. But I embraced the notion before fully understanding it. I had achieved enough consciousness to recognize verities and to direct them towards my own fulfillment.

The Ardennes is an old forest between Luxem­bourg and Belgium, just east of the Meuse River. Some of the fiercest fighting of World War One took place there. In 1918 when the fighting stop-ped, the armistice line ran practically through the Ardennes. Later I would find old relics of the “great war” strewn everywhere I passed in the forest. The kids found shells I cautioned them to throw away. In my mind’s eye I saw the tragedy–and futil­ity–of trench warfare. The French with their impreg­nable Maginot Line. General Patton called it a mon­ument to man’s stupidity.

 

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fPbZofKvV2o/Wgyy659PzSI/AAAAAAAAF44/anSXI3vKpcgMkeukekVsOwMrcBSnTEBGgCEwYBhgL/s400/Ortego%2By%2BGasca%2BFelipe%2Btail%2Bthru%2BArdennes%2BForest.jpg

       Hikers on a trail in the Ardennes Forest, near where the author jogged with Josef Bartel

 

General Patton's granddaughter, Helen PattonBut that was in another war. My own war was not much better. Our assaults in the Pacific against fixed Japanese fortifications were suicidal. The carnage. The in­credible loss of human li-ves for small pieces of land barely visible on maps. There was no glory in war; only disillusionment–-a loss of innocence. That’s what made stories of war so compelling, stories like All Quiet on the Western Front and A Farewell to Arms. Not the war itself, but the romantic aftermath of war. Everywhere about me in the forest I sensed the consequences of war and its futility. Thomas Gray had it right: The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

Jose introduced me to the mysteries of the Arden­nes and to the running techniques he called “freifart”–free style.

“The idea is to keep moving,” he explained. “Walk­ing, jogging, running. But never stopping.  Amer­icans train for running by doing laps on a track. They try to psyche out the run by training in the con­text of the meet. In Europe we train away from the “track.”

After warmups we started out with a brisk walk, then jogged several miles, ran hard for two miles or so, walked briskly again, alternating the sequence, always on the go. We made our way into the deep, sunless sheol of the forest, bounding over layers of timeless leaves, springing us forward like pogo sticks.

“Good for balance,” Jose said.

Mile after mile we ran, Jose instructing me on breathing, bringing air into the lungs through nose and mouth.

“You don’t need a lot of air,” he said, hardly puffing after the first ten miles or so. “The body gets air through the skin. The lungs don’t need a lot of air, just a steady flow to keep the brain going. More importantly–don’t think about the air. The minute you do, you start defeating yourself. That’s like a musician who starts to think about the notes during a performance. The minute he does, he’s going to make a mistake. A musician feels the music, let’s it all flow rhythmically out of him. Same for a runner. You start thinking about the run, the air, the distance, the time, you’re dead. Every run has a rhythm of its own.  Just like every piece of mu­sic. Different tunes, different rhythms. When you start a run get a feel for its rhythm. Relax, settle into the run. Concentrate on the form. Stretch the legs, point the toes, get the tonus high, arms up, close to the body, the way birds tuck their legs in when fly­ing, minimum drag, unnecessary motion.”

During that first run in the forest I got a better sense of running. I had never framed running in a philo­sophical context before. I just ran. I learned good technique at Pitt, but no philosophy of running. That seems strange coming from a student of comparative philosophy. But in those days I was still learning about philosophy. I was still a year away from my meeting with Jean Paul Sartre. A decade still lay ahead of me and my epiphany as a Chicano.

Jose and I ran in the Ardennes three times a week. At first I didn’t think I had the stamina for it, but I discovered that while stamina is certainly a product of conditioning it’s also a matter of mind. It’s not our body that defeats us, but our mind, those mind-forged manacles of William Blake, that small inner voice of the mind creating unneces­sary barriers and obstacles for us to overcome, tell­ing us we can’t do something, we can’t make it, we’re not strong enough, not smart enough, encour­aging us to fail. 

Of course, there are limits to endurance, but his­torically we learn about men and women who sur­pass those limits of endurance. Helen Keller had ev­ery reason to fail, but didn’t. Joan of Arc could have failed, but didn’t. Later I would define that spark that takes some human beings beyond the limits of endurance as “ignis–the fire within.”

“That’s right,” Jose said, smiling broadly when we talked about that fire within. “You’ve read those stories about people who survive in environments that should have killed them–-prisoners of war. It’s not ‘heart’ that pulls them through. It’s a triumph of ‘spirit.’ I’ve known great athletes who had ‘heart’ but lacked ‘spirit’–the will to go beyond what they experience as pain. I don’t mean ‘spirit’ and ‘will’ are the same. They’re not. ‘Spirit’ is ‘endu­rance.’ ‘Will’ is ‘determination.’ You see, people can en­dure captivity, depredation, and countless other adversities. But if the determination to endure isn’t there, then the spirit perishes, withers and dies, of­tentimes taking the body with it. You cannot just want to endure; you must intend to endure. And that means doing all that’s necessary to complete the in­tention.”

“I understand,” I said. Years later I would under­stand more keenly what Jose was talking about, more personally from the poem I Am, Joaquin by Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez, Chicano activist from Denver. In the poem, Joaquin is the Chicano Everyman who must endure for the sake of his people. From a philosophical commitment to endure, he changes his stance assertively to an inten­tional commitment to endure. From ‘I shall endure,’ he says ‘I will endure’.” The utterance is without equivocation. At the end of the poem, Joa­quin’s intention to survive is clear and unequivocal. We know he’ll survive. He has to survive–for his people.

For me, however, at that moment the aperture of understanding what Jose Bartel meant by the word “intention” had barely opened. But at that moment I also realized how much of my life lacked intention, how little I had committed myself to achieving a real triumph of the spirit–-in running. I was nonetheless buoyed by that understanding, however small its ap­erture.

The weeks passed quickly. At 30, I was in the best physical shape I had ever been. More importantly, though, I was mentally at one with my body. I ran easier along­side Jose. In the Luxembourg stadium he taught me how to “feel” the track, how to improve my form on the turns, how to maximize the straight­aways. At times I’d catch him smiling, nodding, knowing I was grasping a philosophy of life that in­cluded running. That’s what it was: a philosophy of life, not a philosophy of running. Running was just a manifestation of that philosophy. Running was not the object; life was. I remembered a doggerel dictum of my youth: “As you wander on through life, whatever be your goal; keep your eyes upon the do­nut, and not upon the hole.” I was to discover there was more philosophy in that doggerel than perceived.

That October I entered the lists for the Ameri­can All France Track & Field Competition in Chaumont, the capital city of Haute Marne in Northwest France. My family came to cheer me on. Jose said he came to see me win.

“You do want to win this race?” he asked, warm­ing up with me in the minutes before the mile run.

“Yes,” I said. “I do.”

“Doesn’t sound like it,” he said. “Look! Close your eyes! Visualize the track. That’s it. Take three mental laps around the track. As you make that first turn, start stretching your stride. Don’t fight the track. Don’t change your rhythm. That’s it! You’ve got it! Move on past the leader. Keep your eyes on the tape. You’re going to be number one. Hear? Num­ber one! Did that feel good?” he said, as I open­ed my eyes.

“Yes,” I said. “That felt good.”

“Make it happen, just the way you saw it,” he said.

“I will! I will!” I said, surprised by the strength of conviction in my voice. Many people comment today about the strength of conviction in my voice. I tell them it’s my Marine Corps voice, but I know it’s the voice Jose Bartel helped me find.

       I won my “first” in that mile run with a time of 4:07.20. I had never run that fast before. My best time had been 4:14.40 for a second place win. When Roger Bannister broke the four-minute barrier in the mile run with a time of 3:58.32, that was 9 seconds faster than my run at Chaumont. He was 24 years old. Specters of younger, faster runners loom­ed on the horizon. At 30, I had turned a corner in my life. I had had my run, and would savor it the rest of my life. Though it would not be the run I’d remem­ber most, but Jose Bartel.

I never ran competitively after Chaumont, though I’ve run every day since then. Thirty some years later, however, it had become a “senior jog.” Though nowadays at almost 92 mobility is a major issue for me. On occasion I drift into a reverie as I move about daily rounds, and I think of Jose Bartel and of that fe­licitous day in France when I was young in a world struggling with its intentions. And I am filled once more with the triumph of the spirit, remembering that too often good intentions, as Andre Gide once remarked, are like last year’s roses withering on the vine.

“Intention” means suiting action to the word. Later, EST would teach me that “intention” is the ability to produce an outcome not predicated by the circumstances. It is, of course, much more than that. It’s pulling rabbits out of a hat from which peo­ple do n­ot expect rabbits. “Intention” is perfor­mance. One must actually “do.” It’s not enough to mere­ly say “I want to do.” In the competition of life, Jean Paul Sartre called that “praxis”–the action of intention. The deed done, however, is the “pragma” of the Greeks.

    In life, most often, we get what we want by choice. That is, if we want something better or dif­ferent out of life, then we must make choices to achie­ve what we want. Wishes are not choices. Vel­leities are not realities. Jose Bar­tel said I had to visu­alize myself as a winner. I realized later I actually “chose” to be a winner that felicitous day in France. Out of that choice came the strength of my determi­nation to win. Visualizing “the win” help­ed. But the choice set in motion the spirit and the will to win. Choices Senator John McCain knows well from his captivity in Viet Nam.

What happens­ all too often is that we mistake “wish­ful think­ing”–the velleities of life–for “inten­tion,” then expect them to become realities, disap­pointed when they don’t materialize, when we don’t get what we want. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way. A null process yields only null results—doing things the same way over and over expecting different results each time. This state of mind was described as “insanity” by Freud. Life doesn’t work that way. But life does work when you actualize intentions–make them what you want them to be. Coaching me as he did, Jose Bart­el help­ed me actualize my intentions to win that race in Chaumont. Understanding the philosophy he shar­ed with me during that time help­ed make me a winner that day. And I’ve been winning ever since.

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Sent by Felipe   Philip.Ortego@wnmu.edu

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3jVEm0oZCao/WgyzI45zqRI/AAAAAAAAF40/hbzKeN63HpElP0BbwKodLrj8Fm9sg87sgCLcBGAs/s1600/Ortego%2By%2BGasca%2BFelipe%2Bhead%2Bshot%2Bmaybe%2Bbest.jpgFelipe de Ortega y Gasca, Distinguished Scholar in Residence (Cultural Studies, Critical Theory, Public Policy) and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and Cultural Studies at Texas State University System–Sul Ross, is a WWII Marine Corps veteran, the Korean Conflict, and Early Vietnam Era, who lives in Silver City, New Mexico.

Copyright ©2017 by the author. All rights reserved. Full copyright to manuscripts in Somos en escrito Magazine are retained by the pertinent author.

 On Mon, Nov 13, 2017 Armando Rendon <armandobrendon@gmail.com> wrote:  
Wonderful piece, Felipe. Excellent way you have of weaving grand ideas into a narrative.

 

 

 A beautiful painting of a Grey Stallion in a Stable by Jose Manuel Gomez. The BAPSH would like to thank Sr Gomez for the kind use of his painting

SPANISH PRESENCE in the AMERICAS ROOTS 

SAR Poster Contest in Texas Selects Galvez as Theme 
Sotana Negra (Black Robe) José Antonio López
The History of the Vaquero
 
 

The Spanish Horse (Andalusian) is believed to be the most ancient riding horse in the world. Although the origins of the breed are not clear, Spanish experts adamantly maintain that it is in fact a native of Spain and does not owe one single feature of its makeup to any other breed.



 

        SAR POSTER CONTEST IN TEXAS SELECTS GALVEZ AS THEME 
        

Judge Ed Butler, co-founder of SPAR and President General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution announced today that General Bernardo de Galvez will be the theme for the 2017-2018 SAR Americanism Poster Contest.

The contest is directed to students in the 4th or 5th grade, depending on which grade year the American Revolution is taught in your educational system.

Prizes are as follows:  1st Place - $300 Cash; 2nd Place - $200 Cash; 3rd Place - $150 Cash; 4th and 5th Place - $100 Cash.  Students from all 50 states are invited to participate.

The Texas SAR topic for 2017 - 2018 year’s contest is:  

"An event involving Bernardo de Galvez in the Revolutionary War
"

Posters will be judged by the following criteria:

1.     Does the poster express the annual theme?

2.     Does the poster show originality by the student?

3.     Does the poster show evidence of research?

4.     Does the poster show artistic merit and creativity?

5.     Does the poster accurately reflect the historical event?

6.     Is the poster neat and visually pleasing? 

The winner from each local school will compete at Chapter level.  The Chapter winner will then advance to competition at the Texas SAR State Conference.  The Texas Society winner will represent the State Society at the National Level. 

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPANTS:

  • Poster will be on standard poster board (22" x 28")
  • Any media of drawing material may be used, and students may paste unpublished material (not commercially printed) on their boards.
  • No three dimensional posters will be accepted.
  • No group project posters.  Each poster must be done by one individual student.
  • All entries must have the following information taped to the back of the poster:
    Student's Name, Address, Home Telephone, Age, Grade, Name of School, Name of Teacher, and Sponsoring SAR Chapter.  The front of the poster must not be signed.
  • The students Social Security Number will be required for State Winners, before entering National Contest, to be eligible for National Prizes.
  • Only one entry per school may be entered in the local SAR Chapter competition and chapter entries are limited as stated in item #2 below for state competition.
  • The cutoff day for entering at the Local Chapter level is February 1st. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR SPONSORING CHAPTERS:

1.     All paper work shall be mailed to the State Poster Chairman before March 1st at the following address:

SAR Americanism Poster Contest
% Bill Whatley 
1406 Festival Dr.
Houston, TX 77062


Please tape the following additional information to the back of the poster that your chapter is submitting for the Texas SAR State competition:

a.  A completed National Entry Form from the National Web Site
b.  A signed parental consent form
c.  The new Authenticity Form signed by the educator of the student submitting the poster
Note:  All above Texas SAR forms are included in the Poster Contest Support Pack.

2.     A Chapter may submit one poster for every 50 posters they have as follows:
     (1 poster to 99 posters - the chapter will be allowed one poster at the Texas SAR Annual Convention.
     100 posters to 149 posters - the chapter will be allowed two posters at the Texas SAR Annual Convention and so on.)

3.     Each chapter will be responsible for bringing their winning poster to the Texas SAR state meeting or if you cannot attend send poster to:

SAR Americanism Poster Contest
% Bill Whatley
1406 Festival Dr.
Houston, TX 77062

 

 


=================================== ===================================

 
Sotana Negra (Black Robe)

By José Antonio López
December 3, 2017

  

From almost the very moment that Spanish Europeans landed in what is today North America, religious leaders pressed their footprints on its soil.

From the entire length of the U.S. east coast, Florida, the Mississippi River (Rio Espíritu Santo), New Mexico, Texas, and on to California’s Pacific Coast, priests helped lead the way. 

Although mainstream history books deliberately withhold their key trailblazers’ role, Catholic priests were in fact some of the first European explorers. Padre Kino (1645-1711) was such a person. Truly, he was one of New Spain’s most dedicated and successful missionaries during the 1600s-1700s evangelization era in America. 

Born Eusebius Chinus (Chini) in Northern Italy, “Kino” is the Spanish version of his Italian name. While little is known of his early years, a story is recorded that after recovering from a serious illness, he chose to join the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and never faltered from his apostolic duty. He received his religious orders in 1677 and had requested assignment to Asia. However, his superiors assigned him to New Spain. 

Sent to Pimería Alta in what is now the contiguous region of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, his congregation covered a large area. Therein, he operated over 24 missions. Because of his Jesuit black cloak, members of his Native American flock fondly called him “Sotana Negra.” 

Unfortunately, conventional U.S. history ignores Spanish Mexican human interface stories.

Dwelling far too much on the initial Spanish-Native American hostile confrontation itself, the predictable storyline takes two forms. One, Spanish explorers focused only on their search for gold. Two, missionaries were committed to converting indigenous people at all costs. In that respect, Father Kino doesn’t fit the mold. 

Father Kino was a self-fulfilled soul who did three things especially well during his assignment in the Southwest: 

(l) He was a missionary first, but at the same time took on the role of chief advocate for Native Americans. He often admonished Spanish government officials if their policies violated natives’ human rights
. 

(2), he vigorously opposed the use of indigenous people in the silver mines, and 

(3) a gifted mediator, he facilitated a peaceful end to long-standing native-on-native violence.

For that reason, he was highly sought after by clan chiefs and elders who used his effective communication skills to justly resolve simmering intra-tribal disputes, as well as long standing disagreements with other tribes. He quickly mastered the dialects of over sixteen diverse tribes. 

Father Kino’s favorite sermons dealt with how the Spanish people themselves at one time had been nonbelievers. In that aspect, he explained to his Native American audiences that ancient Spanish people had much in common with Native Americans. He often cited Saint James the Apostle and his travelling to Spain to give religious instruction to native Iberians, just as he was now doing in America. It is said that this particular approach was the reason he was warmly accepted to the Tucson region by the Sobaipuri (Pima) tribes. 

Altogether, Father Kino set up nearly 30 missions, including nearly seventy-five stand-alone chapels, and baptized nearly 50,000 native converts. One of the missions is San Xavier del Bac in the Tohono O’odham territory, established by Father Kino in 1692. He is the first to record the name Tucson in Spanish in 1699, a Papago word, meaning “at the foot of the black mountain” (Sentinel Peak). 

Father Kino was a first-rate explorer as well. Yet very often, 16th and 17th century Spanish spiritual figures don’t receive equal credit for their exploratory prowess and impact in different fields of study. For instance, Father Kino and his companion, Father Salvatierra, interviewed members of the Pima people as part of their anthropological studies. By studying sea shells the natives had received as trade with tribes living further west, he determined that they were seashells from the Pacific Ocean. Through this analysis, Father Kino reached the conclusion that California was a peninsula, rather than an island, as had previously been thought. 

In addition to being a successful missionary and explorer, Padre Kino was also an accomplished cartographer and astronomer. Relying on his map-making skills, he sketched accurate maps of Arizona that are still admired today. 

Father Kino’s astronomy interests were extraordinary, as well. For example, while waiting to depart to America in Cádiz, Spain, his fascination with the stars contributed to that field of study.

The year 1680 marks the first time that a comet was observed by telescope. While the comet was eventually named for Gottfried Kirch, a German astronomer, Father Kino is the one who meticulously charted the comet’s movements across the sky. His detailed observations motivated Father Kino to publish his findings in a book he entitled “Exposición Astronómica del Cometa.” It is recognized as one of the first technical publications printed in America. The book was stimulating enough to inspire New Spain’s Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz to write a sonnet honoring the cosmic event. 

Additionally, Father Kino was an adept writer, mathematician, and miner. The fact remains that America’s Christianity roots are much more multifaceted than mainstream history books lead us to believe. Here in Texas, several intrepid padres have equally earned their place in early exploration history. They include Fathers Margil, Morfi, Francisco Hidalgo, Olivares, and so many more. 

Before ending this article, I must offer a sense of perspective. Padre Kino’s story carries enormous emotional weight for Mestizo people. Clearly, the momentous clash between the Spanish Europeans and Native Americans was hostile. Justly, our full-blooded Native American brethren have every right to never forget the deracinating impact on their heritage. 

Yet, neither can U.S. citizens of Spanish Mexican/Native American-descent forget that this historic meeting was a true melting pot, blending the two cultures from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean into one people. Said another way, it gave birth to our Mestizo family tree, whose fruit (descendants) in the U.S. are well beyond thirty million strong and growing. 

In summary, Sotana Negra, his fellow missionary brothers, and religious sisters helped engrave New Spain’s lasting influence in what is now the U.S. Southwest and its people. The result? 

This part of Old Mexico — California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, southern Utah, Colorado, and Texas shares dual Spanish European and Native American traits. In short, the brown skin we inherited from our Native American ancestors represents the barro (clay) of the Southwest, forever tying us to the land. 

In that respect, the words of historian H.E. Bolton are most fitting: “In short, the Southwest is as Spanish Mexican in color and historical background as New England is Puritan, as New York is Dutch, or as New Orleans is French.” Truer words have rarely been spoken. 

About the Author:  José “Joe” Antonio López was born and raised in Laredo, Texas, and is a USAF Veteran. He now lives in Universal City, Texas. He is the author of several books.  His latest are “Preserving Early Texas History (Essays of an Eighth-Generation South Texan)” and “Friendly Betrayal”. Books are available through Amazon.com.  Lopez is also the founder of the Tejano Learning Center, LLC, and www.tejanosunidos.org, a Web site dedicated to Spanish Mexican people and events in U.S. history that are mostly overlooked in mainstream history books.

Joe Lopez
jlopez8182@satx.rr.com 



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The History of the Vaquero 

by PHIL LIVINGSTON, July 9, 2012


Rooted in necessity and shaped by the land, the Mexican cowboy tradition influenced the origin of cowboys.  It was not "invented" in the mid 1800´s by the Anglo Americans.  The Vaquero / Charro / Gaucho / Cowboy was .... yes, Spanish ! 

 

=================================== ===================================
1519–1700s 
After the Spanish arrived in Mexico in 1519, ranches were established and stocked with cattle and horses imported from Spain. Landowners mounted native Indians on well-trained horses and taught them to handle cattle. By the early 1700s, cattle ranching had spread north into what is now Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico and south to Argentina. The native cowboys were called vaqueros(from the Spanish word for cow) and developed roping skills, using braided rawhide reatas(the root word for lariat). Starting in 1769, a chain of 21 Franciscan missions eventually stretched from San Diego to San Francisco, marking the beginning of California’s livestock industry.
Mid–1700s to 1820s 
Livestock production flourished in California and the Southwest, but few markets existed for end products such as meat, hides, and tallow (for making candles). By the mid-1700s, long trains of pack mules would transport these products to Mexico City and return with supplies. American ships began servicing California ports in the early 1800s and traded for the same materials. For the first time, ranchers had local markets for their animals. Huge roundups were held to collect cattle, and the hard-riding vaqueros controlled the chaos. Known for expert horsemanship and roping skills, vaqueros were said to only dismount for a chance to dance with pretty girls.
Early and mid-1800s 
Ranching ceased to be a strictly Hispanic profession as more Americans poured into once Mexican-held lands (especially after the Mexican/American War, 1846–48). The Anglo newcomers adapted to the vaquero style, and many settlers intermarried with the old Spanish ranching families. The 1849 gold rush brought even more people to California, which increased the demand for beef. Californios rode ponies that had been trained in a hackamore, swung a big loop with their hand-braided rawhide reatas, and took a wrap called a dally (from the Spanish dar la vuelta, to take a turn) around high saddle horns for leverage when roping cattle. 
Late 1800s 
As the livestock industry expanded, these horsemen found work in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii, taking their equipment and livestock-handling techniques with them. Cowboys in Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada remained strongly Hispanic (“buckaroo” comes from vaquero), including the use of a center-fire rigged saddle, in which rigging is situated below the centerpoint of the saddle; a long reata; and silver-mounted spade bits. Trail-driving Texans adopted many of their techniques from Mexican vaqueros, carrying their methods with them north through the Plains states and leading to a subculture of single, itinerant men who worked at ranches.

Today As long as cattle are raised in big American pastures, the legacy of the vaquero will endure. The early Mexican techniques for handling cattle can be seen throughout the modern livestock industry, like whenever a cowboy cinches a saddle on his horse, straps on chaps (from chaparreras, Spanish for leather leggings), competes in a rodeo (from rodear, Spanish for to surround), or ropes a horse from his remuda (from remudar, Spanish for exchange). Even branding migrated north from Mexico. On the Pacific Coast and on Nevada ranches, buckaroos still carry long ropes (nylon these days), ride slick-fork saddles, and use silver-mounted spade bits and spurs. 

Found by: C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gamil.com)
https://www.americancowboy.com/ranch-life-archive/history-vaquero 
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HERITAGE PROJECTS

Louis J Benavides Inducted to 2017 Class, TX Genealogical College Hall of Fame
A Westside Story, based on historic El Rio for the People movement in Arizona


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LOUIS J. BENAVIDES INDUCTED TO THE 2017 CLASS

TEXAS GENEALOGICAL COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
____________
 

Dallas - Judge Ed Butler, co-founder and chief judge of the Texas Genealogical College (TGC) Hall of Fame  Selection Committee announced today that Louis J. Benavides of San Antonio, TX was recently named to the 2017 Class of the TGC Genealogy Hall of Fame.  Others selected include Lyttleton Harris, IV and Pamela Wright, both of Houston.

=============================================== ============================
Louis J. Benavides is widely known by Texas Hispanic Genealogical circles. He served as President of Los Bexareños Genealogical and Historical Society - an organization dedicated to Hispanic history and ancestral research.  Mr. Benavides promotes public interest in history and genealogy through speaking outreach and providing educational programs. His main activity is family ancestral research.  Research that includes not only the family lineage, but also the family history and how our ancestors responded to national forces and events.  How it was that we, their descendants find ourselves in this time and place.  How decisions made long ago affected our present lives and in many cases directly account for our existence.

Judge Ed Butler presents Hall of Frame Award to Louis Benavides

Based upon his many genealogical accomplishments Louis Benavides was selected for membership on the Texas State Historical Association Archive Committee. 

He is a founder and Charter President of the Abilene Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce, now known as the Hispanic Chamber. He chaired the Hispanic Celebration for Abilene’s hundred-year celebration working in conjunction with the Texas Commission for the Arts.  

He was a National Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency working in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Texas. He serves on the De Novo bank charter desk, researching the economic viability of proposals and on the Minority Bank Desk in Washington, DC. He was involved in the starting of seven National Banks in Texas. He served as a US Army Reservist with the Corp of Engineers. Both combat engineer companies in Fargo and International Falls, MN, received outstanding performance commendations.

He was a “turned around specialist” for banks, health centers and companies that could have gone out of business but are still around today.” He increased SBA lending activities as he became a Certified SBA Lender.  He founded Bankers Economic Services which provided consulting services in loans and investment analysis. He also started several other companies. He created the idea of the “Bad Bank”, where the bad assets of several banks are merge into one bank while saving other banks and the capital of the investors.

9/11 changed his life’s direction. He began to focus on educating others. He specializes in Spanish Colonial Ancestral Research and History. He is a regular speaker during Hispanic Heritage month events. He founded the Poblador de La Fontera. A lineage Society of the descendants of Settlers of the Northern Frontier, primarily during the Spanish Colonial Period. He has authored research into the beginning of banking and the economy of the Rio Grande Valley, Spanish troops that were assigned to General Galvez in the fight by the Spanish against the English during the American Revolution, the settling of Spanish Texas and about the first Republic of Texas and its effects on modern Texas and its history. He currently is the Editor for the annual journal “the Register” by Los Bexareños. He serves on the Broad of the Friends of Casa Navarro.

Louis is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio where he received in BBA in Financial Management and minor in Economics. He is a graduate of the National Graduate School in Commercial Lending from the American Bankers Association and has a Master’s in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Technology Education from Grand Canyon University. He and his wife Sandra Adams have six children and eleven grandchildren.

Sent by Judge Edward Butler  rpg0910@aol.com 

To contact Louis J. Benavides   
bankerseconomicservices@gmail.com  
Los Bexarenos Genealogical and Historical Society
442 West Widwood Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78212
210-885-8394



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A Westside Story
,” based on the historic “El Rio for the People” movement 


Estimadas/os: My son Salomon (aka Sal, Jr.) and a colleague, Miguel Ortega, have written and are producing a stage play, “A Westside Story,” based on the historic “El Rio for the People” movement that changed the political landscape of Tucson, AZ. That movement was a dynamic manifestation of self-determination and gave the lie to the stereotypic nonsense that our community is passive, fatalistic, etc. The link below provides a good summary of what precipitated “El Rio for the People” as well as short Bios of Salomon and Miguel.

As Salomon and Miguel note: We should not rely on others to tell our story—we need to do it ourselves.

I was intimately involved in the “El Rio for the People” movement (as were some of you receiving this email). Over many months, entire families marched and picketed every weekend—in the summer heat, in the rain, in the cold. We were demonized by the politicos and by the newspaper. Several of us were arrested—the picture in the link shows me being arrested (this was the second time).

Despite the difficulties we experienced and the obstacles we encountered, we won. Joaquín Murrietta Park and the El Rio Neighborhood Center, two of the most heavily-used facilities in the City system, are the fruits of that powerful and historic barrio uprising, testaments to our community’s intelligence, pride, and will. “El Rio for the People” was indeed a defining moment in the political evolution of the westside.

Salomon and Miguel have set up a Crowdfunding campaign to raise money to produce the play—see Link below. I respectfully request that you consider contributing—any amount will help. Please contribute!

Thank you for your support and best regards—

Salomon R. Baldenegro  
baldenes@EMAIL.ARIZONA.EDU
  

HERE’S THE CROWDFUNDING LINK:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-westside-story-people/x/11735710

 

 

 

HISTORICAL TIDBITS

The Grass Fight, last engagement in the siege of San Antonio 
Quanah Parker, one of the greatest Indian chiefs in U.S. history


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The Grass Fight, last engagement in the siege of San Antonio 


The Grass Fight, on November 26, 1835, became the last engagement in the siege of San Antonio before the final Texan assault on the town. In November Col. Domingo de Ugartechea had left San Antonio with a cavalry escort to guide reinforcements to the garrison commanded by Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos. After the departure of Stephen F. Austin to represent Texas in the United States, the Texan army elected as commander Col. Edward Burleson, who continued to harass Cos while scouting for the return of Ugartechea.

On November 26 Erastus "Deaf" Smith rode into the Texas camp in mid-morning with information that Mexican cavalry with pack animals were approaching San Antonio. Texas soldiers wondered if the column might be carrying pay for the Mexican army. Burleson ordered James Bowie and forty cavalry to delay the Mexicans' progress. A hundred Texas infantry under William H. Jack followed Bowie to seize the supply train. The two cavalry forces of about equal size began to skirmish west of town and soon fought on foot from ravines near Alazan Creek. Cos sent about fifty infantry with an artillery piece to help oppose the Texan attack. The Texas infantry broke out of a crossfire from the two Mexican units and pushed them back. Mexican troops counterattacked four times until Texas reinforcements under James Swisher caused them to pull back into the town. Texas losses included four wounded, while Mexican losses numbered three dead and fourteen wounded, mostly among the cavalry. When the Texans brought in forty captured pack animals they discovered their prizes carried only grass to feed army animals.

The final assault came several days later on December 5 and lasted until December 9 when Cos surrendered to Texan forces. The Grass Fight did not have a substantial impact on the outcome of the siege, but it does serve as a colorful aside to the Texas Revolution. 

Source: Legacy of Texas 3001 Lake Austin Blvd. Suite 3.116 Austin, TX 78703



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Quanah Parker, one of the greatest Indian chiefs in U.S. history,
 was a successful man of two worlds


Quanah Parker was a major figure both in Comanche resistance to settlement and in the tribe's adjustment to reservation life. Nomadic hunter of the Llano Estacado, leader of the Quahada assault on Adobe Walls in 1874, cattle rancher, entrepreneur, and friend of American presidents, Quanah Parker was truly a man of two worlds. 

By the 1860s the Quahadas ("Antelopes") were known as the most aloof and warlike of the various Comanche bands. Among them Quanah became an accomplished horseman and gradually proved himself to be an able leader. These qualities were increasingly in demand when the Quahadas became fugitives on the Staked Plains. For the next seven years Parker's Quahadas held the Texas plains virtually uncontested. Attempts by the Fourth United States Cavalry under Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie to subdue the Indians in 1871 and 1872 failed. However, as buffalo hunters poured onto the plains and decimated the Indians' chief source of subsistence, Parker and his followers were forced to take decisive action. The Quahadas formed a multitribal alliance dedicated to expelling the hunters from the plains, but were eventually defeated. Under relentless pressure from the army and suffering from hunger, the Quahadas surrendered their independence. 

The Quahadas moved to the Kiowa-Comanche reservation in southwestern Oklahoma, where Parker provided his people with forceful, yet pragmatic, leadership. As chief, Quanah Parker worked to promote self-sufficiency and self-reliance. In general, Parker was an assimilationist, an advocate of cooperation with whites and, in many cases, of cultural transformation. He often did business with white investors and ranchers. Through shrewd investments, including some stock in the Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway, Parker became a very wealthy man, perhaps the wealthiest Indian in America at that time. Though he sought to embrace white culture, he did not completely repudiate his past or endeavor to force his followers to abandon their traditions altogether. 

Despite his artful efforts to protect his people and their land base, by 1901 the movement to strip the Comanches of their lands had grown too powerful. The federal government voted to break up the Kiowa-Comanche reservation into individual holdings and open it to settlement by outsiders. For the remaining years of his life Parker operated his profitable ranch, continued to seek ties with whites, and maintained his position as the most influential person among the now-dispersed Comanches. As the last chief of the Quahada Comanche Indians, he is considered one of the greatest chiefs in U.S. history for his bravery and leadership in times of difficulty.

Source: Legacy of Texas 3001 Lake Austin Blvd. Suite 3.116 Austin, TX 78703 

Additional data below from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quanah_Parker 

"He was born into the Nokoni ("Wanderers") band, the son of Comanche chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, an Anglo-American, who had been kidnapped as a child and assimilated into the tribe.

Quanah Parker was never elected chief by his people, but was appointed by the federal government as principal chief of the entire Comanche nation, and became a primary emissary of southwest indigenous Americans to the United States legislature. 

In civilian life, Parker gained wealth as a rancher, settling near Cache, Oklahoma. Though he encouraged Christianization of Comanche people, he also advocated the syncretic Native American Church alternative, and passionately fought for the legal use of peyote in the movement's religious practices. He was elected deputy sheriff of Lawton in 1902. After his death in 1911, the leadership title of Chief was replaced with Chairman; Quanah is thereby described as the "Last Chief of the Comanche," a term also applied to Horseback."



HONORING HISPANIC LEADERSHIP

Graciano Gomez,  Battled discrimination against Latinos, 1925 - December 12, 2017
Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.)  February 15, 1935 - December 13th 2017 

Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D.
International affairs, Linguist Jan 3, 1942 - Nov 6, 2017 


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Graciano Gomez, who battled discrimination against Latinos in the Inland Empire, dies at 92

 


                                           

Graciano Gomez was not one to turn a blind eye to injustice.

When he and a group of Mexican-American veterans faced discrimination in employment and housing after serving in World War II, they created American Legion Post 650 to advocate for social change.

In 1972, he became the first Latino elected to the San Bernardino City School Board and he advocated for minority teachers and counselors when he saw that Latino students weren’t given the same attention as their white counterparts.

And when he saw that local news lacked coverage of Mexican Americans, he began publishing a community newspaper that focused on Inland Latinos.

Gomez, who helped the Latino community become more visible in the Inland area, died of heart failure on Tuesday, Dec. 12. He was 92.

“He had a big heart,” said his wife Trinidad Gomez, who goes by Trini. “He wanted to help all of his people.”

She said her husband had suffered from cancer. He had also just lost his youngest sister, Sally Gomez, to cancer, she added.

In a previous interview with this publication, Graciano Gomez said serving in the school board was challenging because he had to work with others who opposed the integration of schools.

“I had to learn how to get along with people on the other side,” he said. “In order for them to be on my side, I had to build a relationship.”

He said his seat, which he filled until 1978, was important because he represented the voice of the community.

Graciano Gomez later founded the Inland Empire Hispanic News in 1987, which profiled Latino residents and featured social and economic issues affecting Latinos. He worked as a reporter and photographer, while Trini Gomez managed the publication.

“I knew a lot of people and things that they’ve done, and they weren’t appreciated. They just did what they had to do. … Didn’t want any publicity,” he said. “I felt the public should be aware of it.

“Was it hard? Let me tell you. I was not a writer. I was not a publisher. I wasn’t a newspaper guy,” Graciano Gomez said. “I didn’t know what the hell to do, and I started a newspaper. I was a photographer, too.”

The paper eventually shut down around the time of the recession, he said.

In 2013, Graciano Gomez Elementary School, a new school named after him, opened to students in San Bernardino. 

Graciano Gomez credited his parents and grandmother for his work ethic and his commitment to the community. His parents emigrated from Mexico to the U.S., fleeing unrest and seeking economic opportunities. After his father died during the Great Depression in 1937, his mother became the head of the household, working at odd jobs to support the family.

Aside from his community work, Trini Gomez remembers her husband as a loving partner and father.

“He loved me very much,” she said. “He wanted me to be happy and anything I wanted to do, he was ready to do it.”

Graciano Gomez is survived by four children, two stepchildren, eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services have not yet been arranged.

 

 


School named for Redlands native Graciano Gomez

Source: The Sun   


The dedication of a new San Bernardino elementary school on April 17 is going to be as celebratory an occasion as Principal Socorro Gomez can make it, because it’s a great school with a bright future, but also for a personal reason, she said. The Redlands man her school is named for helped Gomez start her 41-year career in education.

“It’s a very emotional story,” Socorro Gomez said. “I always cry when I tell it.”

Socorro Gomez was one of six children of a farm-working family in the Coachella Valley. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher, but achieving that goal wasn’t easy. Her parents didn’t have money to send her to college. Also, with her mother working long hours to support the family, Socorro was needed at home to care for her father, who had been paralyzed in an agricultural accident.

A former member of the San Bernardino City Unified School Board, Graciano Gomez (no relation) grew up in Redlands, a graduate of Redlands High School and a World War II veteran. A founding member of American Legion Post 650 in Redlands, he was involved in regional politics surrounding farmworkers rights, and in helping young people in those hardworking communities get their educations.

Working with a program that recruited Socorro Gomez to attend Cal State San Bernardino in 1969, Graciano Gomez also made it possible for her to accept the offer.

“I was worried about my father, and who would take care of him if I left,” she said. “I asked my mother, ‘Can’t you retire? I would feel better about leaving if you could.’”

That plan wasn’t feasible: The family was in debt, and Socorro’s mother was paying it off a little bit at a time. It would be years before she could retire.

Unwilling to see Socorro give up on her dream, Graciano Gomez stepped in and found her a job as a tutor. It paid $12.50 per hour — “As much as a teacher’s wage!” In 1969, with a great deal of care, it was enough to support her in school and let her mother stay home and still pay off the debt.

At Cal State San Bernardino, Socorro was a student activist, working with Cesar Chavez’s organization to improve working conditions for farm laborers. When she had her teaching credential she went to work close to home in the Coachella Valley, the first Latina from her community to graduate from college, and the first Mexican-American teacher hired at her former elementary school.

She kept in touch with Graciano Gomez, she said, and always thought of him as a mentor.

She also worked at schools in Mecca and in San Bernardino, and in 1995 moved to Rhode Island to become an assistant principal and later a principal, staying there for 18 years.

On a recent visit home, a friend had some exciting news. The San Bernardino City Unified School District was naming a school after Graciano Gomez, still hale and active in his 80s.

“I said, ‘My Graciano?’ I knew I had to be the principal of that school.”

So she applied, got the job, and found a house sitter for her Rhode Island home. She had been starting to think about retirement, she said, but in August she opened Graciano Gomez Middle School, and retirement will have to wait.

Her new school has exceeded all her expectations, Gomez said, and her old mentor visits regularly. The school has a thriving student-produced newspaper and an ongoing film project, she said, and she is very proud to be part of it.

“The Gomez name is everywhere,” she said. “I’m Gomez, and the school, and Graciano. We just partnered with the UC Riverside Medical School — the Global Medical Brigade is going to come out and do a program for us — and the young man in charge of that is also named Gomez.”

She is excited about the school’s dedication ceremony, which will take place at 10 a.m. on April 17. The program will feature many special activities and presentations, plus music dedicated to Graciano Gomez, who will be at the event. The community is invited, Principal Gomez said. She already expects about 300 visitors.

The school is at 1480 W. 11th St. in San Bernardino.


Lead for the story was Kirk Whisler, who sent me a message that Graciano Gomez has passed away and that he had been a community leader with a San Bernardino school named after him.      
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Obituary for Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.)
February 15, 1935 - December 13th 2017 

A Tiger Legend" from Laredo Martin High School! Laredo, Texas

 

Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.)Retired Colonel, United States Air Force Reserves, Samuel Idrogo, was born in Laredo, Texas on February 15, 1935. He was born to a family from humble beginnings with three sisters and one brother. As a young child, Colonel Idrogo was always known to spend a lot of time with model airplanes. He attended Laredo Martin High school and had a strong interest in mathematics and science courses. He was a distant runner on the track team and was selected as ROTC Cadet of the Year and voted “Best All-Around Male.” In his senior year, Colonel Idrogo served as Class President. He was selected as the Executive Officer of the Junior ROTC as well as President of the Pan American Student Forum. He was one of two seniors selected to attend Texas Boys State for outstanding students. He also became President and co-founder of the Laredo Junior LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizenship) from 1953-1954. Colonel Idrogo graduated high school in 1953 in the top 5% of his class. In his high school yearbook, he was selected to be, “One Most Likely to Succeed.”

Colonel Idrogo attended The University of Texas in Austin and earned academic scholarships. He carried a class schedule of 18 to 21 hours a semester and worked 6 days a week between the hours of 5:00pm to midnight as a waiter, cook and manager for a hamburger chain during his junior and senior college years. In 1958, Colonel Idrogo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Poor eyesight kept Colonel Idrogo from flying so he became an aircraft maintenance officer. He separated from active duty and began a prestigious civilian career at Kelly Air Force Base in 1957 as a Material Management Directorate GS5 Aerospace Engineer.

While building and raising a family, in 1964, Colonel Idrogo was promoted Aerospace Engineer Supervisor at Kelly Air Force Base and enrolled at St. Mary’s University at night to work on his Master’s Degree in Business Administration, which he received in 1969.

In 1972, Colonel Idrogo was promoted to Supervisor Mechanical Engineer and in 1973 his title changed to Supervisor of Quality Assurance Specialist. He held other various management positions; he was the chief of the Quality and Reliability Assurance Division and the chief of the Technical Services Branch. In 1976, Colonel Idrogo was promoted to GS-15 as Chief of Aeronautical Design and Performance Analysis Section, the first Mexican - American to hold that position. He managed over 100 engineers, equipment specialists, and administrative personnel. He was named as the Executive Assistant for external affairs to the Commander, San Antonio Air Logistics Center in January 1984 and he served in this positon with the distinction until he retired in June 2000.

Colonel Idrogo enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin and completed his doctorial coursework and dissertation requirements towards his PhD in Public Management and Operations Research. He graduated from numerous federal executive courses, to name a few, such as Legislative Operations Roundtable for Executives, The Executive Developmental Seminar and The Senior Executive Seminar. He was also a graduate of the Air War College (Seminar) and of the first-ever USAF Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program which culminated with an Office of Personnel Management SES certificate.

Colonel Idrogo served over 30 years combined active and reserve time in the United States Air Force. He served with the rank of Colonel in a General Officer position, as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander of the Logistics Operations Center, Headquarters, Air Force Logistics Command, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He received numerous awards including the Civil Service Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal and Air Force Legion of Merit.

An article by Ross Day, Lackland AFB Public Affairs officer, quoted Major General Bielowicz, the Air Logistics Center commander, “As one of the finest individuals you’ll ever know, he is a quiet, unassuming professional, our Kelly version of E. F Hutton. When Sam speaks, people listen because he is one of the wisest and most caring leaders you’re ever encountered. Having been a part of Kelly over half its existence, Samuel Idrogo himself has become a kind of Kelly Institution; a wonderful professional who represented the finest Kelly has to offer. Samuel Idrogo’s life time ambition was to pilot the aircraft.”

Along with his professional career, Colonel Idrogo was actively involved in community affairs as board member of the United Fund, Guadalupe Community Center and the Board of Trustees of the San Antonio library. He was also Chairman of the Board of San Antonino Credit Union now known as Credit Human. Other service includes: member Target ‘90/Goals for the San Antonio Development Committee, the San Antonio Private Industry Council, the Mechanical Engineering Visiting Committee at the University of Texas at Austin, and was a charter member of the Advisory Committee of the College of Sciences and Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

Colonel Idrogo also served as President of the Kelly Management Association for the year 1981-82, as Vice President of the Board of San Antonio Neighborhood Youth Organization, Vice President of the San Antonio New Schools Development Foundation, and as Board member of the San Antonio Education Foundation, chaired by his long-term friend Major General (Ret) Richard Smith. He was active at St. Matthew Catholic Church along with many more organizations. Over the years, Colonel Idrogo received numerous outstanding performance awards and letters of appreciation.

In addition, Colonel Idrogo was an avid runner of marathons and participated in the New York and Boston Marathons on several occasions. He placed in the Boston Marathon in his age group. He later became the race director of the San Antonio Marathon. He served as a military liaison to the San Antonio Marathon Organizing Committee from 1988 to 2000. He served on the Board of the South Area Council of the S.A. Greater Chamber of Commerce and the Senior Games Organizing Committee.

He was married on January 25, 1959 to Sylvia Garza Idrogo (surviving spouse), and had 6 children; Inez (Rick), Sammy (Peggy), Yvette (Tim), Michael, Sandra (Brian) and Richard. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Interment at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at followed by a reception at St. Matthew's
Catholic Church.

Donations may be made in memory of Samuel Idrogo Scholarship Fund to:  
Martin High School,  Attention: Mrs. Delia Saenz, 2002 San Bernado Ave., Laredo, TX 78040

Family of Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.) created a Life Tributes page to make it easy share your memories. http://www.missionparks.com/obituaries/Samuel-Idrogo-Sr/#!/Obituary 

Sent by Luis F Ramirez 1luis.ramirez@gmail.com

 


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Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D.  

Educator, Linguist, International Relations  
January 3, 1942 - November 6, 2017  

=================================== ===================================

Indeed sad to share this information.  Eddie, Dr. Calderon, has been a very important part of Somos Primos, sharing a broader vision of  Hispanic diversity to include the very real connection that the Spanish have with our Filipino primos.

His educational background certainly made Eddie, Dr. Calderon, an expert that Somos Primos could proudly  include.  He received both a BS and BA in Foreign Service, University of the Philippines, a Masters in Diplomacy & World Affairs and Ph.D. from  Occidental College, California.  He retired from the Department of International Relations, University of Minnesota.  



Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D. Northeast Minneapolis; formerly of Quezon City, Phillipines, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2017. He was 75 years old.

Eddie is survived by his wife, Naziat; sons, Pfirlani and Eddnard; sister, Dr. Zita Calderon; other loving family and friends.

Funeral Services were held on November 11th and Eddie was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

 

The first article shared by Eddie was published  September, 2011.   By January of 2012,  I could count on receiving monthly articles.  His scholastic achievements made it possible for considerable travels, through grants and scholarships.  His observations and experiences of traveling all over the world are rich memories for Somos Primos readers.   
7/12   http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spjul12/spjul12.htm#THE PHILIPPINES
                    1)  Remembering My 1st Trip Around the World Part 1 
                    2)  Remembering My 1st Trip Around the World Part 11
                       
8/12   http://www.somosprimos.com/sp2012/spaug12/spaug12.htm#CUENTOS
         http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spaug12/spaug12.htm#THE PHILIPPINES
          1)   Remembering My First Trip Around The World, The Asian Experience Part 3 
          2)   Remembering My First Trip Around The World, The Asian Experience Part  4
 
9/12   http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spsep12/spsep12.htm#THE PHILIPPINES                                        
           1)  My Trip Around The World, South America, Chile and Argentina, Part 5
            2)  My Trip Around The World, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, Part 6
 
10/12 http://somosprimos.com/sp2012/spoct12/spoct12.htm#THE PHILIPPINES
                           Remembering My first Trip Around the World, An Epilogue

Eddie AAA Calderon, monthly contributor 
from September 2011 to December 2017

I usually received two articles a month from Eddie.  From photos of the latest international beauty queens, to history of Spanish songs, to the linguist comparisons between Spanish phrases and spelling, Eddie educated me.  That we will no longer receive his contributions is indeed sad.    


There are over 100 articles written by Eddie, available online at SomosPrimos.com.   
Eddie will be missed. 
~ Mimi 


Latino soldiers
 Cebu, Phillipines, WW II

  LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS

My name is Jose Garcia Acosta.
Veterans Attend 76th Commemoration of Attack on Pearl Harbor

Four Latino Americans Received Medal of Honors from President Truman:  Macario Garcia, Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz, Rodolfo Hernandez, and Joseph Rodriguez
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My name is Jose Garcia Acosta.
I am a United States Navy Chief.
I am also Apache as my grandfather is from the Mescalero Apache tribe.


Someone said it is disgraceful for me to wear a uniform for the USA if I am Native American.  Let me tell you this.

I am Apache and American. We do not come up with excuses not to serve or go to battle for our people.

I served with many great people and many gave of their last breath for what they believed. So you sit back and come up with all the cowardly excuses you can to avoid serving, but don't you freaking dare tell me I should be ashamed of serving.

I served for all people. I served alongside great African Americans that still experience racism, but serve to protect our people against the enemies that do not distinguish race when they murder Americans.

I served and know many Native Americans that served and some died bravely in battle while you cowardly insult us.

There maybe issues in this country that need addressing, but this country needs brave people to stand up instead of look for excuses.

I am United States Navy Chief Jose Garcia Acosta. Proud to be American and prouder to be Mescalero Apache.

If you have a problem with that, let me know or better let's meet in person. Perhaps you will come up with another excuse why you can't.  
 


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Veterans Attend 76th Commemoration 
of Attack on Pearl Harbor

 

A navy veteran sits in a wheelchair and smiles.


Veteran Smile
: Ray Chavez, a 105-year-old Navy veteran and the oldest surviving Pearl Harbor veteran smiles before 
the 76th commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Oahu, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 2017. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class. Multiple military photographers. > 
HomePhotosPhoto Essays

https://www.defense.gov/Photos/Essay-View/CollectionId/17772/source/GovDelivery/ 

Sent by Bob Smith pleiku196970@yahoo.com 



FOUR LATINO AMERICANS RECEIVED MEDAL OF HONORS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMAN 
Sent by Rick Leal, President of the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society

 

 

Staff Sergeant Marcario García, Company B, 22nd Infantry, in action involving actual conflict with the enemy in the vicinity of Grosshau, Germany, 27 November 1944. While an acting squad leader, he single-handedly assaulted two enemy machine gun emplacements. Attacking prepared positions on a wooded hill, which could be approached only through meager cover. His company was pinned down by intense machine-gun fire and subjected to a concentrated artillery and mortar barrage. 

Although painfully wounded, he refused to be evacuated and on his own initiative crawled forward alone until he reached a position near an enemy emplacement. Hurling grenades, he boldly assaulted the position, destroyed the gun, and with his rifle killed three of the enemy who attempted to escape. 

When he rejoined his company, a second machine-gun opened fire and again the intrepid soldier went forward, utterly disregarding his own safety.
He stormed the position and destroyed the gun, killed three more Germans, and captured four prisoners. He fought on with his unit until the objective was taken and only then did he permit himself to be removed for medical care. S/Sgt. (then Pvt.) Garcia's conspicuous heroism, his inspiring, courageous conduct, and his complete disregard for his personal safety wiped out two enemy emplacements and enabled his company to advance and secure its objective.[1][3]

Honors and discrimination
President Truman bestows the Medal of Honor on García

On August 23, 1945, the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman presented Staff Sergeant Macario García with the Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the White House. A month after he was awarded the Medal of Honor, Garcia was denied service at a restaurant located in a town just a few miles south of Houston because he was Hispanic. Garcia was beaten with a bat by the owner. No one was arrested and no charges were initially filed. It was only after national columnist Walter Winchell reported the incident and labeled Sugar Land the most racist city in America that charges were filed-- against Garcia. Then the incident was covered by the news media, and caused an uproar amongst the Hispanic community who rallied to his aid. The nation was made aware as to the discriminatory policies that Hispanics were subject to, as the case against Garcia was repeatedly postponed before being dropped.[4]

source: wikipedia 


RUIZ, ALEJANDRO R. RENTERIA
  • Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 165th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division
  • Place and date: Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 28 April 1945
  • Entered service at: Carlsbad, N. Mex.
  • G.O. No.: 60, 26 June 1946

Citation: When his unit was stopped by a skillfully camouflaged enemy pillbox, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. His squad, suddenly brought under a hail of machinegun fire and a vicious grenade attack, was pinned down. Jumping to his feet, Pfc. Ruiz seized an automatic rifle and lunged through the flying grenades and rifle and automatic fire for the top of the emplacement. When an enemy soldier charged him, his rifle jammed. Undaunted, Pfc. Ruiz whirled on his assailant and clubbed him down. Then he ran back through bullets and grenades, seized more ammunition and another automatic rifle, and again made for the pillbox. Enemy fire now was concentrated on him, but he charged on, miraculously reaching the position, and in plain view he climbed to the top. Leaping from 1 opening to another, he sent burst after burst into the pillbox, killing 12 of the enemy and completely destroying the position. Pfc. Ruiz's heroic conduct, in the face of overwhelming odds, saved the lives of many comrades and eliminated an obstacle that long would have checked his unit's advance.


Rodolfo Hernández 

=================================== ===================================
On August 27, 1950, the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. The unit was quickly sent to Korea. The 187th Airborne performed operations into Munsan-ni Valley, and fought bloody battles at Inje and Wonton-ni.

Hernández was reassigned to Company G of the 2nd Battalion, 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. His platoon was ordered to defend Hill 420, located near Wonton-ni. On May 31, 1951, his platoon was the object of a numerically superior enemy counterattack. A close-quarters firefight broke out when enemy troops surged up the hill and inflicted numerous casualties on the platoon. 

Hernandez was wounded during the attack, but was able to fire upon the rushing enemy troops. After a cartridge in his rifle ruptured, he continued attacking the enemy with his bayonet. His attack enabled his comrades to regroup and take back the hill.

A grenade explosion that blew away part of his brain knocked him unconscious. Hernández, who had received grenade, bayonet, and bullet wounds, appeared dead to the first medic who reached him, Keith Oates.[2] Oates realized, however, that Hernandez was still alive when he saw him move his fingers. Hernandez woke up a month later in a military hospital, unable to move his arms or legs or to talk.

source: Wikipedia

On April 12, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Hernández the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the White House Rose GardenAfter many surgeries and physical therapy over a five-year period, Hernández regained limited use of his right arm and learned to write with his left hand.

Editor Mimi: Rudy had a wonderful sense of  humor.  As a volunteer, I assisted Rick Leal, president of the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society with his exhibit at many events and conferences.  Rick usually invited Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients to be participate. Rudy was a frequent guest.  I remember Rudy, sitting in his wheel-chair, waving goodbye, as he was being wheeled away, yelling out  "Next time, we will dance together."  

Unfortunately, there was not another time. 
Rudy passed away December 21, 2013.  



This photo catches the  twinkle in his eye and impish smile.  He was fun to be around.



 

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Joseph Rodriguez   Korean War

On May 21, 1951, Company F was assigned the mission of occupying some high ground near the Korean village of Munye-ri. The high ground was firmly entrenched with Communist Forces, that were unwilling to give up the ground. Three times Company F attacked the ridge and three times they were thrown back.[1]

PFC Joseph C. Rodríguez was the assistant squad leader of the 2d Platoon. His squad's advance was halted by enemy hostile fire coming from 5 different emplacements. Rodriguez then took the mission upon himself of destroying these emplacements. He charged the emplacements and hurled grenades into each of the foxholes. Rodriguez destroyed the emplacements and annihilated 15 enemy soldiers. As a result, the enemy was routed and the strategic strongpoint secured. PFC. Rodriguez was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and nominated for the Medal of Honor.

On February 5, 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed upon Sgt. Rodríguez the Medal of Honor in a ceremony held in the Rose Garden in the White House.

Source: Wikipedia


M

A faulty retelling of ‘The Vietnam War’
Richard Nixon kept his promises, Ken Burns did not
 
By Oliver North - - Monday, October 16, 2017
 
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
 

When Richard Nixon was in the White House, I was in Vietnam and he was my commander in chief. When I was on Ronald Reagan’s National Security Council staff, I had the opportunity to brief former President Nixon on numerous occasions and came to admire his analysis of current events, insights on world affairs and compassion for our troops. His preparation for any meeting or discussion was exhaustive. His thirst for information was unquenchable and his tolerance for fools was nonexistent. 

Mr. Nixon’s prosecution of the war in Southeast Asia is poorly told by Ken Burns in his new Public Broadcasting Service documentary “The Vietnam War.” That is but one of many reasons Mr. Burns‘ latest work is such a disappointment and a tragic lost opportunity. 

It’s sad, but I’ve come to accept that the real story of the heroic American GIs in Vietnam may never be told. Like too many others, Ken Burns portrays the young soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of the Vietnam War as pot-smoking, drug-addicted, hippie marauders. 

Those with whom I served were anything but. They did not commit the atrocities alleged in the unforgivable lies John Kerry described to a congressional committee so prominently featured by Mr.. Burns. The troops my brother and I were blessed to lead were honorable, heroic and tenacious. They were patriotic, proud of their service, and true to their God and our country. To depict them otherwise, as Mr.. Burns does, is an egregious disservice to them, the families of the fallen and to history. But his treatment of my fellow Vietnam War veterans is just the start. Some of the most blatant travesties in the film are reserved for President Nixon. 

Because of endless fairy tales told by Ken Burns and others, many Americans associate Richard Nixon with the totality and the worst events of Vietnam. It’s hardly evident in the Burns “documentary,” but important to note: When Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968, he inherited a nation — and a world — engulfed in discord and teetering on the brink of widespread chaos. His predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, was forced from office with a half-million U.S. troops mired in combat and fierce anti-American government demonstrations across the country and in our nation’s capital. 

Ken Burns may not recall — but my family remembers: It was Lyndon Johnson who sent my brother and me to war. It was Richard Nixon who brought us home. It is very likely we are alive today because Mr. Nixon kept his word.

That’s not the only opportunity for accuracy Mr.. Burns ignored. He could have credited Mr. Nixonwith granting 18-year olds the right to vote in July 1971 with the 26th Amendment to our Constitution. (Does Ken even recall the slogan, “Old enough to fight — old enough to vote!” He should. Mr. Burns turned 18 that same month.) 

President Nixon pressed on to all but finish the war. As promised, he brought our combat units home, returned 591 prisoners of war to their wives and families, ended the draft, leveraged the conflict to open ties with China and improved relations with the Soviet Union. He pushed both Communist giants in Beijing and Moscow to force their North Vietnamese puppet into a negotiated settlement. Yet he is portrayed in the Burns documentary as a cold-blooded, calculating politician more interested in re-election than the lives of U.S. troops in combat. 

Contrary to the film’s portrayal, Mr. Nixon had a complicated strategy to achieve “peace with honor.” His goal was to train and equip the South Vietnamese military to defend their own country in a process he called “Vietnamization,” and thereby withdraw American troops. 

President Nixon succeeded in isolating the North Vietnamese diplomatically and negotiated a peace agreement that preserved the right of the people of South Vietnam to determine their own political future. Imperfect as the Saigon government was, by 1973 the South Vietnamese had many well-trained troops and units that fought well and were proud to be our allies. This intricate and sophisticated approach took shape over four wartime years but receives only superficial mention in Mr. Burns‘ production..

Despite Democrat majorities in both houses of Congress, Mr. Nixon — a deft political powerhouse — attained consistent support from America’s “Silent Majority.” 

If Mr. Burns read President Nixon’s memoir or his two successive books in which the former president recounts his emotional anguish at the war’s toll — “No More Vietnams” and “In the Arena” — there is little evidence in the PBS production. Instead, Mr. Burns cherry-picks from the infamous “Nixon tapes” to brand the president as a devious manipulator, striving for mass deception — a patently false allegation. 

By the time President Nixon resigned office on Aug. 9, 1974, the Vietnam War was all but won and the South Vietnamese were confident of securing a permanent victory. But in December 1974 — three months after Mr. Nixon departed the White House — a vengeful, Democrat-dominated Congress cut off all aid to South Vietnam. 

It was a devastating blow for those to whom Mr. Nixon had promised — not U.S. troops — but steadfast military, economic and diplomatic support. As chronicled in memoirs written afterwards in Hanoi, Moscow, and Beijing, the communists celebrated. The ignominious end came with a full-scale North Vietnamese invasion five months later. 

Despite the war’s end — and the trauma that continues to afflict our country — there is little in the Burns so-called documentary about the courage, patriotism, and dedication of the U.S. troops who fought honorably, bravely and the despicable way in which we were “welcomed” home. 

The PBS “documentary” frequently reminds viewers of the “gallant nationalist fervor” among the North Vietnamese. But the South Vietnamese are portrayed as little more than conniving urchins and weak pawns of the imperialist Americans. 

In a technique favored by the “progressive left,” Mr. Burns uses a small cadre of anti-war U.S. and pro-Hanoi Vietnamese “eyewitnesses” to explain the complicated policies of the U.S. government. Mr. Burns apparently refused to interview Henry Kissinger, telling the Portland Press Herald he doubted “Kissinger’s authority to adequately convey the perspectives of the U.S. government.” This alone disqualifies this “documentary” as definitive history on the Vietnam War.. 

Though Mr.. Burns and his collaborators claim otherwise, the real heroes of “The Vietnam War” were not U.S. protesters, but the troops my brother and I led. They fought valiantly for our country and the president who brought us home. 

Since meeting President Nixon in the 1980s, I have always remembered how he understood the incredible sacrifice of American blood in the battlefields of Vietnam. He was dedicated to ending the war the right way and committed to sustaining American honor. He kept his promise to bring us home. 

Ken Burns failed to keep his promise to tell all sides about the long and difficult war in VietnamMr. Burns, like John Kerry, has committed a grave injustice to those of us who fought there.


 Oliver North was a Marine platoon leader in Vietnam, and recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and two Purple Hearts.
Sent by Joe Parr
jlskcd2005@aol.com 

Editor Mimi:  What I don't understand is why Congress and other grant distributors continue to give Burns monies to produce so-called educational programs, which perpetuate lies.  When does reality hit the "funders"?  They are doing damage to our country by funding Burns widely inaccurate films.  

Latinos should be most vocal to decry Burns being funded with PBS funds.  Burns excluded, minimized or demeaned Latinos in WW II,  the history of Jazz and in the history of baseball, and now Vietnam.  I rarely use the term racism, but the proof is in the visual and final results. Like Oliver North states, " Ken Burns failed to keep his promise to tell all sides about the long and difficult war in Vietnam."   

Logical conclusion:  Ken Burns should no longer receive public funds to misinform the public, he failed - repeatedly. 



EARLY LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS

The Civil War, extract from: 
"U.S. Latino Patriots: From the American Revolution to Afghanistan, 
An Overview by Refugio I. Rochin and Lionel Fernandez"

The Civil War


The 1860 U.S. Census reported there were approximately 27,500 Mexican-Americans living in the U.S. when the Civil War (1861 – 1865) broke out between the states in 1861, the Mexican-American community was suddenly divided. 

At the outset, approximately 2,550 Mexican-Americans joined Confederate military units and another 1,000 joined the Union forces. In all, as many as 9,900 Mexican-Americans fought during the war. Most volunteers served in integrated regular army or volunteer units. Others served in Mexican units with their own officers. Of the more than 40,000 books and pamphlets written about the U.S. Civil War, only one, Vaqueros in Blue and Gray (by Dr. Jerry Thompson), has been published about the role of Mexican-Americans in the Civil War. These all-Mexican units tended to be volunteer militia units.

During the U.S.-Mexican War, Hispanic Americans such as Juan Seguin devoted their lives to help spread democracy into the new territories acquired by the U.S. Those Hispanics who fought on the U.S. side performed gallantly because they had a clear sense of belonging to the U.S. cause and a strong loyalty to their adopted country. Their actions provide an example for Hispanics to guide and inspire them to serve in the U.S. armed forces in the future.

In 1863, the U.S. Government authorized the military commander in California to raise four companies of native Mexican-American Californians in order to take advantage of their “extraordinary horsemanship.” 

As a result, the First Battalion of Native Cavalry was created with Major Salvador Vallejo in command. Some 469 Mexican-Americans served in the four companies of the First Battalion of Native Cavalry. 

These men were stationed at locations throughout the states of California and Arizona. They guarded supply trains, chased bandits, fought Confederate raiders, and helped to defeat a Confederate invasion of New Mexico. In the state of New Mexico, the Second Regiment of New Mexico volunteers was commanded by Colonel Miguel E. Pino. 

In addition, six other independent militia companies were formed. Most unit members were Mexican-Americans, as were their commanders. They served in roles similar to the California units, primarily as border guards and fought in numerous small engagements. There were an estimated 4,000 Mexican-Americans among the New Mexico volunteers. Patriots like Lt. Colonel Chavez also commanded a New Mexican militia unit and General Stanilus Montoya commanded the Socorro County, New Mexico militia.

Another non-Texan unit with a number of Spanish-speaking soldiers was the 55th
New York militia, “The Garde Lafayette. 

 
”In the State of Texas, the Union raised 12 companies of Mexican-American cavalry, consolidated into the First Regiment of Texas Cavalry (Union). Most of the officers were non-Hispanic, although several Mexican Texans (Tejanos) served as captains, such as These Latino patriots contributed in many ways to the preservation of the Union during the U.S . Civil War. 

Perhaps the most famous Hispanic patriots during this period were Admiral George Trevino, Clemente Zapata, Cesario Falcon, and Jose Maria Martines and lieutenants, such as Ramon Garcia Falcon, Antonio Abad Dias, Santos Cadena and Cecilio Vela.

David G. Farragut.
He was the first Admiral of the U.S. Navy (1866) a rank awarded to him by the U.S. Congress after his famous victory at the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. He was instrumental in achieving victory for Union Naval Forces against the Confederate Navy during some of its bloodiest conflicts. The rallying cry, “Damn the torpedoes-full speed ahead!” is a heroic charge made by Admiral David G. Farragut, to his officers, and seamen.

 

Spanish SURNAMES


Most common last names for Latinos in U.S.


This is so much fun.   I've only included the first 10 Spanish surnames, of a list of 1999 Spanish surnames, three of my grandparents surnames were among the first 10, my Lozano maiden name was number 123 in popularity.  I am sure if I went back a few more generations, all these surnames would be in my direct ancestral lineage.

Please note: Garcia and Rodriguez are among the TOP TEN SURNAMES in the United States.

Last name / Surname Number of occurrences among people self-identifying as 'Hispanic' Surname rank among hispanics % of people with surname self-identifying as 'hispanic' U.S. Rank U.S. total occurrences
GARCIA  779,412 1 90.8% 8 858,289
RODRIGUEZ 745,530 2 92.7% 9 804,240
MARTINEZ 710,896 3 91.7% 11 775,072
HERNANDEZ 662,648 4 93.8% 15 706,372
LOPEZ 568,768 5 91.5% 21 621,536
GONZALEZ 561,795 6 94.0% 23 597,718
PEREZ  447,729 7 91.6% 29 488,521
SANCHEZ  404,972 8 91.8% 33 441,242
RAMIREZ 364,364 9 93.7% 42 388,987
TORRES 296,424 10 91.2% 50 325,169
 

Additional ancestry data on related ethnic and racial groups in the United States:
Brazilian,   Colombian,   Cuban,   Dominican,   Ecuadorian,   Guatemalan,   Hispanic,   Honduran,   Latin American,   Mexican,   Nicaraguan,   Panamanian,   Peruvian,   Puerto Rican,   Salvadoran, and West Indian.

Surnames by race:
2 or More Races (2000-4000),   American Indian & Alaskan Native (2000-4000),   Asian & Pacific Islander (2000-4000),   Black (2000-4000),   Hispanic (2000-4000),  and   White (2000-4000).

https://names.mongabay.com/data/hispanic.html 



DNA

A Brief History of the Human Colonization of Ireland

M

A Brief History of the Human Colonization of Ireland
http://www.irishorigenes.com/




Humans first arrived in Ireland around 10,000 years ago after the last ice age.

It is believed that their journey began in Northeast Spain in an area now known today as the Basque Country and took them North across western France, into Britain and eventually into Ireland.

These first humans were undoubtedly followed by others but how many, and when, remains a mystery, although genetic studies may eventually shed light on this.

By far the most important human migration to Ireland was by the Celtic peoples who arrived on these shores about 2,600 years ago (600 BC). Whether this was an actual invasion or a gradual assimilation of ‘Celtic culture’ by the native population, and the extent to which Celtic peoples have contributed to the gene pool of these shores remains a mystery, and one which again, may only be solved by genetic analysis of the people living on this island.

Note: Where they migrated from . . .  northern Spain.

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

2018: A good year to start writing your own personal history

Three selection from "
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul "
Abuela's Magic by Michele Capriotti  
Every First Friday by
Alejandro Diaz  
Learning to Fly by Steve Peralta  

Two Poetic short stories (Spanish/English) by
Frank Pancho Mendoza:
La Ruby and Pajarito

Ten fill in the blanks to write your own Birth Story
I was born in San Antonio, Texas, by Mimi Lozano



2018: A good year to start writing your own personal history 

Have you ever thought of the writing your own personal history.  You are the only one who has lived your life, You are the only one who has thought your thoughts.  Just as the fascinating snowflake, you are unique.  We all love stories and each one of us, is a story, a story which should be told, but it is OUR story to tell.   

Below are a series of short stories, some prose and some poetry, all focusing on one little memory, but each tells so much more than those few words.   We all have specific memories, retained because of an emotion attached to the incident.  The emotion can be good, bad, scary, beautiful, unusual, awesome, something etched into your soul,  which becomes a part of you, affecting how you view life and how you live your life.



Abuela’s Magic
by Michele Capriotti

 

          My grandmother was one of the most influential people in my life. She moved in with us right after my grandfather died, and she lived with us from the time I was five years old. Every day when I got home from school, she was there to make my world magical. No matter what we were doing, she turned it into something bigger and brighter than it was.

          Before my grandmother moved in with us, she lived in a little house in Wilmington, California. Behind her house was shallow creek, dry usually, with a tiny wood bridge. When we visited, my grandmother would take my sister and me over that little bridge, which for anybody else was probably no big deal. But because there were no ordinary moments or events for my grandmother, she always got us ready for our walk by talking about our difficult “journey” over the bridge and about how we needed to pay close attention to every step we took. She praised us in advance and after our trip for our “courage” in walking over the dangerous deep creek, and she reminded us that by taking this daily journey we were preparing ourselves for life’s bigger challenges.

          My sister and I grew up with the impression that we were extraordinarily brave for performing this death defying act; we felt proud of ourselves and confident. Years later as adults, we had the chance to revisit the “deep creek” and the bridge, and we were amazed to see that it was really just a small puddle covered by an ornamental bridge. My grandmother had created another world for us through her storytelling and her imagination, a world much more intriguing than anything our daily lives offered us.

          My grandmother loved to tell me stories about growing up in Puerto Rico, stories about her brothers and sisters and her mother. To her, psychic experiences were just part of everyday life. When her brother Tito died in Puerto Rico, his shadow appeared to her in New York as she sat sipping coffee at the kitchen table. When her first great grandson was born, she said an angel had appeared blowing a trumpet, saying that the baby was a boy. She wrote down the time, and it was just minutes after my nephew John was born. Just before my grandfather died, she and my mother had identical dreams about him.

          So when my adored grandmother died four years ago, I thought that in some way I would “hear” from her, but I never did. I had been trying to have children and had become pregnant several times, but miscarried each time. I had been receiving fertility treatments, and two years after my grandmother’s death I was in the process of taking treatment again. I came home from the doctor’s office one day and took a nap. While I was sleeping, I heard the phone ring. When I didn’t pick up the phone, the answer machine went on. It was my grandmother, and she was saying: “Hola, Chinita!” (“Chinita” was her nickname for me.) “I just called to tell you happy birthday; I love you.”

          When I got up I remembered the dream, and then I thought how weird it was that my grandmother had mentioned my birthday because my birthday wasn’t near. The following week I went to the doctor, and they told me that I was pregnant. I was so happy, I couldn’t believe it. When I asked them my due date, they said October third.

          October third is my birthday.

Michele Capriotti  
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul
Celebrating La Comunidad Latina  
Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Susan Sanchez-Casal
Pages 302-304



Every First Friday by Alejandro Diaz

La experiencia no es el mas amable de los maestros, pero sin duda el mas sabio.

                                                       Latino Proverb

 

           I looked out the window and couldn't see a things. I had to scrape off the frost with my fingernails in order to glimpse the gusting wind and thrusting snow. No one would dare venture out on such a cold winter night unless they had no other choice: My mother was one of those people. Mama was on her way to her job cleaning offices in downtown Chicago. Under her scarf and hat, I could see her tired eyes. Standing next to her was my younger brother, Cesar. He was also covered from head to toe in winter wear, but his eyes sparked.

          On the first Friday of the month Mama was allowed to bring her children to work. I was about twelve years old at the time; my brother was ten. She worked Monday through Saturday from 11pm to 6am.  She had to take three buses to get downtown. On every first Friday. Cesar was right there with her. I, on the other hand, was always too busy. If it wasn’t baseball practice, basketball tryouts or some movie, I’d come up with another excuse. I couldn’t see myself staying awake all night cleaning offices. Cesar and Mama would beg me to go along, but after a while they stopped asking, knowing I’d say no. It was different for my brother. Cesar would come home and excitedly tell me how he had helped Mom Vacuum the carpets, dust, and throw out the trash. But the highlight of his night was always playing hide-and-seek with the other workers’ children.

          My mother’s coworkers were all immigrants, mostly Polish and Mexican women. Many were from our neighborhood, and they, too, would take their sons and daughters to clean offices on those first Fridays. Most of them labored this horrendous shift so they could send their children to Catholic schools. My mother was no exception.

          My parents came to this country from Mexico and at first did not speak English, so the only jobs they could find were manual labor. Remarkably, through it all, my mother never complained about being too tired or too bust. She cooked us breakfast every morning, was always there for us after school and made sure we were safely in bed before she left for work.

          How cozy it must be for lawyers and dentist to show off their officies to their children. It’s much different taking your chold on three buses on a cold Friday night to help you clean them. But my mother was willing to do it. She wanted our company, but more important, she wanted to show us how she paid the bills. But I never once saw for myself how Mama earned her livelihood.

          When I was a senior in high school, I asked my brother why he had loved going to those offices so much. Did he actually like dusting and vacuuming? His answer wasn’t at all what I expected. He said the reason he went was not that he liked picking up after other people, but because he loved spending time with Mom. He said he felt sad each night when she left for work; he was always wishing she didn’t have to go. So for at least one evening a month, he had the chance to be right there with her. I felt ashamed, wondering why I hadn’t seen it that way. To me, it was a chore, something I was too good for. I had the luxury of saying no; my mother didn’t. And my brother had actually chosen to do it.

          Ironically, after graduating from college with a degree in accounting, Cesar found a job in the very same building my mother had cleaned years before. On his first day, Cesar wore a suit; he was now a businiessman. My mother straightened his tie, kissed him on the cheek and gave him her blessing. But on the way to his car, my brother stopped and rushed back to the house. He set down his briefcase, put his arms around our mother and began to cry. She embraced him even tighter and also wept. The cleaning lady’s son had grown up.

          As I watched this display of love and tenderness between mother and son, I realized the full extent of my mother’s sacrifices. And today, I often think of my brother’s warmth and generosity. He understood as a boy what it took years for me to learn. He knew how to express love, gratitude and affection toward his family. He also realized that certain opportunities come only once in a lifetime, and that if you don’t grab them, they’re gone forever. Mama passed away several years ago, and not a day goes by that I don’t have her in my mind and heart.

          How I wish I had gone to clean those offices.    

Alejandro Diaz |
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul
Celebrating La Comunidad Latina  
Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Susan Sanchez-Casal
Pages 94-96

 



Learning to Fly By Steve Peralta
 


What matters in life is not what happens to you, but what you remember and how you remember it.                                                                   ~ Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

I never really knew my father, even though I grew up in his presence. His love affair with booze kept him occupied most of the time, but when there were glimpses of affection, they were magical.

          My father could make a completely aerodynamic aircraft out of a piece of paper like I had never seen anyone do. Every opportunity I had, I asked him to build me one of those planes. He took what seemed like hours-folding and tearing and licking and scrutinizing. The end result was a plane that, if launched under a stiff wind, could travel a whole block.

          My father knew about my fascination with his planes, yet he never took the time to teach me how to make one. Perhaps it was because he knew that his planes were the price of admission into my heart until his next appointment with the bottle. If I knew how to make one, he would no longer have the currency. Or perhaps I never really wanted to learn. Those special moments with him were so rare.

          As I got older, I lost interest in his planes, and we kept growing apart until eventually we rarely spoke.

          Today, I make paper airplanes for my own two sons- not nearly as well as my father- but I see and feel the same magic and enthusiasm in them that I felt during the special times with my father.

          I wish he were here to see what a great pilot he was, in spite of everything.

          I miss you, Papi.

Steve Peralta  
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul
Celebrating La Comunidad Latina  
Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Susan Sanchez-Casal  
Pages 92-93  

 

 


The Poetry and Short-Stories of Pancho Mendoza
Panchomendoza001@yahoo.com

=================================== ===================================

BIRD

You came into our life…                             

with broken wings.

How you must have suffered

alone, lost, confused,

with no one to hear your sad songs.

Come little bird you are wanted

You are one of God’s blessings.

I will hear your sad songs and

Together we will all be cheerful

and sing happy songs.

 

PAJARITO

Entraste en nuestra vida…

con tus alas rotas.

Como sufriste

sola, perdida y confundida

con nadi que oyera tu triste canto.

Ven pajarito si estas querida.

Tu eres una bendicion de Dios.

Yo quiero oir tu triste cancion y

juntos todos cantamos

canciones de alegria.

 

La Ruby

Red hair and freckled face

She was one mean motor scooter,

Five feet, nine inches tall and well preserved

She can fight and beat up a guy, big time.

LP was going out with her and

They made a good couple until Pete

Started to mess around with Josie, a chava

From the El Capitan Drive-In area.

One day, I don’t know why Pete and La Josie

Decided to watch the movie from the seat section

As they were making out, here comes La Ruby

Walking with popcorn and a soda in her hand.

Wham, she spilled the soda on Josie

Threw the popcorn at Pete’s face.

La Josie and Ruby began to strap it on.

Pete was enjoying the fight when wham,

Ruby’s brother arrived at the scene

Started fighting with Pete.

Pete knew that the other guy carried a knife

He kept shouting, take the escupe (gun)

Out of my car, but the car was locked.

Pete was able to knock the other guy out,

Luckily the guy did not pull out his knife.

As for La Ruby and Josie, they quit fighting

After they tore off their blouses and tight skirts.

They became embarrassed

When the guys began shouting

“Quitale los calzones”- “Pull down her panties.”

 

La Rubia

Cabello rubio y cara pecosa

Una mujer valiente, media

Cinco pies nueve pulgadas de altura y bien preservada..

Muy fàcil podìa pelear y golpear un hombre.

èl Pete salìa con ella y

hacìan una buena pareja hasta que

Pete comenzò a romancear a la Josie, una 
     chava

De la àrea de El Capitàn Drive-In.

Un dìa no sè porque Pete y La Josie

decidieron ver la pelìcula y se sentaron en la secciòn de asientos.

Mientras que hacian el amor, aquì viene La Rubia

Con una soda y una de popcorn en sus manos

pùa, le echo la soda a Josie y

Al Pete le tiro el popcorn en la cara.

La Josie y Rubì se comienzan a pelear.

El Pete se divertia con ellas cuando pua,

llega el hermano de Rubì y comienza a pelear con Pete.

Pete sabia que el otro hombre portaba una navaja

y comienza gritar dame èl escupe (pistola)

Del coche, pero el caro estaba cerrado.

Pete le pega un golpe al tipo y lo desmaya

tuvo suerte que el otro tipo no saco su navaja.

Luego La Rubì y Josie, dejaron de prelear

Cuando una de ellas le rompe la blusa

y la otra le rompe la falda en tallada.

Les dio vergüenza

Cuando los muchachos gritaron “¡Quìtale los calzones!”

 


                                
MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION FOR 2018, 
WRITING A PERSONAL HISTORY  . . .   Mimi

 

   
Throughout the years, I have written numerous little special memories, but I have not arranged them in any order.  This year I decided to do that.  First, I will write an outline for a  chronology, and then eventually fit those little stories into that chronological structure.  

I will be sharing the challenge, as I go along, with Somos Primos readers, with the hope that you might join me in this adventure.   I will try to help by including some ideas each month and then share what I've written.  

Below is the outline I prepared for chapter one, my birth.  I prepar ed ten fill in the blanks which may be helpful to you in writing your birth story.   I really hope, some of  you will join me and write a personal history too in 2018.  ~ Mimi

My name is __________
My father  _________________ was born in _____________
My mother  ____________________ was born in ______________
I was born ________________ ( at home, in a hospital, in a car, etc. in _____________.

My first home was __________________________,  
I was the (first, second, etc) .  _________  child.
The country was experiencing _______, my parents___________________  were young. old, educated, uneducated,  

Something different  about my birth was ______________________
Was it raining?  Was it a strange hour, or location?   Ask your Mom from her perspective.
She will remember something  . .  or maybe your Dad was present.  Every birth is special.  Mine was rather unusual.



I was born in San Antonio, Texas, October 18, 1933. Although most people know me as Mimi, my real name is Nohemi. Dad named me.  I was told by some Hawaiians that my name is Hawaiian and it means, "beautiful gift."  A nice thought.  Wonder if my Dad knew?

=================================== ===================================
My parents were Catalino Lozano, born in San Antonio and Aurora Chapa, born in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  Dad father died when he was in the 3rd grade  He stopped attending school and instead shined shoes and had a newspaper route  Mom, whose family migrated from Mexico to San Antonio in the 1920s, dropped out of school after the 10th grade and got married.

Dad, five years older than Mom was very capable, and had two businesses.  Mom said, he had a fleet of taxi cabs, and men working for him.   He also had a tailoring and dry cleaning shop.  Mom, with pride sad, "He had older men working for him as tailors."   But we were in the middle of the recession. I was the second of two daughters, both born during the big depression.  The whole nation was suffering.  When money is tight, people tend to walk, instead of taking a cab.   
Men without jobs, don't have new suits made. Mom described our house as a small log-cabin,  rented monthly for $15.  The house was drafty,  cracks between some of the logs, but Mom said it was easy to clean.  She simply hosed the walls and floor down, with an outside garden hose.  I am assuming that the floor was cement. 

The doctor who delivered me was assisted by my Aunt Elia Valdez. Tia Elia,  was the mother of my cousin Yolanda Valdez Auclair whose story is about turning the Stockton City tree lights on to honor her husband. 

Tia described to Mom how difficult it was to wash me off.  Mom said Tia Elia said I was in two sacs, not one. She described the second bag, the internal one, that it  completely covered me with an enclosed sticky bag, made of a waxy substance.  

======================================================================
"A baby emerges fully inside the amniotic sac, which looks like a thin and filmy membrane. Some call this condition "born with a veil."

Babies born en-caul are some of the rarest type of births in the world today. It's so rare, in fact, that many moms have never even heard of it until it happens to them. A caul birth occurs in about 1 in every 80,000 births.  These rare births do appear all over the world. The doctor told Tia that he had heard about the condition, but had never seen it.   

Many have superstitions connected to these births.  With less than one in every 80,000 babies born with a caul, it comes as no surprise that superstitions and stories surround this mysterious and rare phenomenon [source: babyMed]. Believed to be the mark of something special, a birth caul may appear startling and sometimes frightening for the mother.  Maybe that is why Mom did not tell me about my birth story, until long after my own children were born.   

Maybe the fact of my Caul birth is why my birth was never recorded by the doctor.  He may have thought I was not going to survive, or something?  Apparently, I was very small, in contrast to my sister, whose birth weight was close to nine pounds.

 

I was an adult very involved with family history, but with no birth certificate.  I often wondered how Mom was able to register me for school in the Los Angeles School District.   

During my first trip to research in San Antonio, the first thing I wanted to  accomplished was to get a copy of  my birth certificate.  I was shocked and disappointed, I could not be found in any county records.  I was a non-person!!

My friend Ophelia Marquez suggested we go to the
San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio to see if we could find my baptism record  there.  Gratefully and very relieved, there was a record that I had been born. I had an identity.  

However, since, the Roman Catholic Church believes it is important that  "parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks,"  I was surprised that Mom and Dad waited almost a year before baptizing me.  I asked Mom why the delay. She never did give me an answer.  Maybe the  answer was simply, Dad was a Catholic and Mom was not. Maybe they both wanted to make sure I was going to live.  

 

===================Rare Images of Babies Born in the Amniotic Sac below, not of me.  


 

The San Fernando Cathedral were I was baptized. 

The 18th-century San Fernando Cathedral is the first church built in San Antonio, the oldest standing church in Texas, and one of the oldest cathedrals in the U.S. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo circa 1907) Photo: Ernst Raba /San Antonio Conservation Society / San Antonio Conservation Society
(Photo circa 1907)

The 18th-century San Fernando Cathedral is the first church built in San Antonio, the oldest standing church in Texas, and the oldest Roman Catholic Cathedrals in the contiguous United States. The cornerstone was first laid years before the Alamo church was built.  The Cathedral is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  http://www.mysanantonio.com/150years/article/20-things-to-know-about-San-Fernando-Cathedral-6465172.php 


RELIGION

St. Augustine Cathedral: A Spiritual Journey by J. Gilberto Quezada
Lamella Orphica
Pope Francis 81st  Birthday
Media Hypocrisy and Anti-Christian Bias 
I am not American, I am Muslim by Majid Rafizadeh
Lawfare, instead of Warfare

China Tries to Bring Christianity under its Communist Thumb
M

M


St. Augustine Cathedral: A Spiritual Journey
J. Gilberto Quezada
 jgilbertoquezada@yahoo.com
 

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Hello Mimi . . .Con todo el corazón te deseo una Feliz Navidad y un próspero y saludable Año Nuevo.  
Enjoy every moment with all your heart and with all your might, and do celebrate another milestone in your life--2018!  The span of any life is too short and all the days and hours are too precious.  I hope one of your New Year's Resolutions is to live life to the fullest, in all the dimensions of both its duties and its beauties.  This is a good time to reflect and meditate on what has made your life, up to this point, even with its moments of pain and suffering, an essentially happy one.  

I would like to share a quote from Dag Hammarskjold, he was a Swedish diplomat, economist, author, and at the time of his death at the age of 56, in a plane crash in 1961, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.  He said:

"Do not look back.  And do not dream
 about the future, either.  It will  neither give you back the past, nor  satisfy your other daydreams.  Your  duty, your reward--your destiny--  are here and now."

I do hope that in these thoughts you will find a steady source of guidance and inspiration and renewed peace and strength and joy as you begin the New Year with a big smile on your face.

Do remember these eloquent words of John Henry Cardinal Newman: 

"God has created me to do Him some definite service.  He has committed  some work to me which He has not committed to another.  I have my mission.  I have a part in a great work; I am a link in the chain, a bond of connection between persons.  He has not created me for   naught.  I shall do good.  I shall do His work."

And, as you and I get ready to celebrate the New Year 2018, in about four weeks, let us pause for a second or two from our current tasks at hand and give special thanks to our loving Lord and Creator for the gift of memory.  You will be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the launching of the progenitor of Somos Primos.  And, I am sure you have endless stories and anecdotes of those early years.  You were, indeed, a trail blazer in the area of developing an online international magazine devoted to Spanish genealogy, language, and the Hispanic historical heritage.  

You have created a path where there was none.  With every monthly issue of Somos Primos, you continue to set high standards and a significant mark, one that, as always, leaves the world a better place because of you.   Please accept my most heartfelt congratulations and warmest best wishes on your 32nd Anniversary!

The other day I was browsing through the Laredo Morning Times online, taking a break from my reading and writing projects, and lo and behold, I saw this beautiful photograph of the inside of St. Augustine Cathedral.  I sat there at my desk staring at this resplendent view and my mind quickly became flooded with many fond and memorable memories, all with a 3D vividness.  I shall never forget, even though it has been over six decades, my experiences when I was an elementary student at St. Augustine School.   Mamá wanted the three of us (my older brother Peter, my older sister Lupe, and I) to light three small votive candles before Mass every day that we brought in a brown paper bag.  Once we walked inside the church from the narthex by opening two heavy wooden doors with a slit of glass on each one, we used either one of two free standing black metal units that had eight rows of small red-colored glass containers.  I turned to face the front of the nave and there were three aisles with the main one in the center.  The rows of benches on both sides of the main aisle were much longer than the ones along the south and north walls.  Close to where I was standing, an open space contained a baptismal font.  On the opposite side, a similar opening had two prie-dieux in front of an image of Jesus Christ lying on a stone slab.  Above us was a balcony that housed the big organ pipes and the choir.  One day after school and out of curiosity, I opened the narrow wooden door on the right side of the narthex and climbed the winding small steps to reach the gallery.  I saw an awesome view of the nave leading up to the chancel and to the majestic main altar, just like in the photograph of the Laredo Morning Times that I was staring at.  

My first experience inside this magnificent St. Augustine Church was when I made my first Holy Communion. When I was five years old, Mamá enrolled me in a coed orphanage school operated by a group of nuns called, "Las Monjitas del Obrero."  The institution was surrounded by a high stone wall and had three one-story buildings situated along the periphery, creating a wide open dirt patio for recreational purposes.  It was located in the Barrio El Azteca, two blocks from our house at 402 San Pablo Avenue, going south on San Pablo and between Grant and Zaragoza Streets.  Before the school year ended , the nuns wanted me to make my first Holy Communion since I was already six-years-old.  

The arrangements were made with the religious officials at St. Augustine Church, scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 1953.  I learned my prayers quickly: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, the “I Confess,” and the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.  The nun instructed me that when kneeling at the white marble Communion rail to receive the tiny white host not to chew but to swallow it whole.  I did not understand why exactly, but she said that it was the consecrated Body of Christ.  Moreover, she instilled in me a reverence for receiving the Eucharist—I was to keep my eyes lowered and not look around.   

 The solemn ceremony took place at St. Augustine Church and was officiated by the Most Reverend Mariano S. Garriga, Bishop of Corpus Christi.  All my family went except Papá because he was working.  I was all dressed up in white—shirt, coat, pants, bow tie, socks and shoes.  The girls were also donned in white.  When I knelt at the white marble Communion rail, and Bishop Garriga placed the tiny white host on my tongue, I remembered what the nun had inculcated in me.  The host tasted like an unsweetened wafer.  The creased line in front of my pants was so well marked by the starch Mamá had put that two small indentions were noticeable from kneeling during Mass.  On my left hand, I was holding my black cover prayer book, Jesus,Help Me, A New Prayer Book for a Very Young Child, and my rosary with black beads.   Inside the prayer book, the inscription written in Spanish in blue ink read—“Laredo, Texas, 10 de mayo de 1953, Para Gilberto, con todo cariño, de su padrino Basilio Gutierrez.”    

The arrangements were made with the religious officials at St. Augustine Church, scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 1953.  I learned my prayers quickly: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostles’ Creed, the “I Confess,” and the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love.  The nun instructed me that when kneeling at the white marble Communion rail to receive the tiny white host not to chew but to swallow it whole.  I did not understand why exactly, but she said that it was the consecrated Body of Christ.  Moreover, she instilled in me a reverence for receiving the Eucharist—I was to keep my eyes lowered and not look around.   

 The solemn ceremony took place at St. Augustine Church and was officiated by the Most Reverend Mariano S. Garriga, Bishop of Corpus Christi.  All my family went except Papá because he was working.  I was all dressed up in white—shirt, coat, pants, bow tie, socks and shoes.  The girls were also donned in white.  When I knelt at the white marble Communion rail, and Bishop Garriga placed the tiny white host on my tongue, I remembered what the nun had inculcated in me.  The host tasted like an unsweetened wafer.  The creased line in front of my pants was so well marked by the starch Mamá had put that two small indentions were noticeable from kneeling during Mass.  On my left hand, I was holding my black cover prayer book, Jesus,Help Me, A New Prayer Book for a Very Young Child, and my rosary with black beads.   Inside the prayer book, the inscription written in Spanish in blue ink read—“Laredo, Texas, 10 de mayo de 1953, Para Gilberto, con todo cariño, de su padrino Basilio Gutierrez.”  

When I was in middle school at St. Augustine School, we were now living at 801 Zaragoza Street, and we shared the west wall with the American Legioin Post 59.  We were within the boundaries of the original Spanish colonial Villa de San Agustín de Laredo founded in 1755.  But most importantly, we were two blocks away from the school!  From our vantage point, we could clearly hear the bells tolling lustily from St. Augustine Church.  The convenience of being so near the school meant that we didn’t have to get up so early and we had more time for lunch.  Papá was also close to his work.  And downtown Laredo was just about four blocks away.  

Daily attendance at the 8:00 o’clock morning service was mandatory.  In particular, I liked the High Mass because the whole experience of listening to the reverential music provided by the choir and the organ was spiritually uplifting.  I saw my brother Peter quite often, and during the Sunday worship too, serving as an altar boy in his red or black cassock, depending on the liturgy, and the white dalmatic over it.  He started when he was in elementary and continued until his senior year when he was made a Grand Knight Commander of the Knights of the Altar.  Nonetheless, I was fascinated by the sacred ritual that took place at the altar, and especially the hymns during the Adoration were contemplative.     

One day, just after school had started, Sister Elizabeth Marie, my eighth grade teacher, gave me a major responsibility.  My task was to inconspicuously leave the church at the end of the Mass and just as the priest and the two altar boys began to recite the Our Father and the three Hail Mary’s for the conversion of Russia.  This was during the Pre-Vatican II days.  I had enough time to quickly walk next door and use the three skeleton keys she had given me to open the side and the front door of the school.  I then quickly climbed up the stairs to the third floor and unlocked our classroom and waited for my classmates.  I had this duty all through high school, and it didn’t bother me because I felt a sense of accomplishment. 

Before and after Mass, I noticed  Mr. Lorenzo Guillen, the short and wiry sacristan, hurriedly setting up and lighting the six tall candles on the main altar (three on each end), and then cleaning up afterwards.  I stared in wonderment at the high vaulted ceiling with its intricate and ornate designs, the terrazzo floor, and how the north and south transepts focused on the main altar.  There were six lancet shape stained glass windows on each wall, with the miniature statuettes of the fourteen Stations of the Cross in between, and low hanging fans in between the seven white marble columns with a cornice on top and situated on both sides of the approximately two hundred foot nave.    

And in addition to his daily routine of preparing for Mass, Mr. Guillen was also responsible for ringing the church bells and during the Christmas season, he converted the small altar to the left of the main altar into a life size nativity scene.  It was so beautiful and as an elementary student, I would kneel in front of the créche, full of wonder and astonishment, and look at all the figures that were much taller than I was.  And, on the first day of Lent, as we entered the church for the daily Mass, we noticed that all the statues and crucifixes had been covered with a purple veil.  They remained covered for forty days until the morning of Easter Sunday when Mr. Guillen would carefully remove all the veils before the services began.

Before receiving Holy Communion, I fasted from midnight until the next morning.  I could only drink water.  When I knelt at the Communion rail that was as long as the width of the transept, I got a much closer look at the big crucifix hanging on the wall on top of the ornate white marble retable with three booths that were behind and above the main altar.  A big statue of Jesus Christ stood in the middle one, flanked on each side by smaller figurines of the prophet Elijah and of Moses, representing the Transfiguration.  On both sides of the principal altar, a winged angel standing on a white marble pedestal with the head slightly turned is holding a long pole with several small round light bulbs.  A five foot image of the Blessed Mother on a pedestal is on the right side of the chancel.  

Only during the Sunday Mass did I see the priest say the homily from a high wooden stained pulpit that was close to the front row of pews on the left side.  And before every service, there was a queue of people ready to enter two of four confessionals.  Each one had three small private compartments with the priest sitting in the middle.  On a regular basis, I did confess my venial sins—no mortal sins!  Fear of offending God became like an obsession, largely based on my Catholic upbringing.  I desperately wanted to be in the good graces with Our Lord.  To me, it was highly imperative to have a feeling of spiritual and mental cleanliness.  I asked my classmates standing in line if they knew the name of the priest, and if it was a tough one, I changed to the next confessional.  When it was my turn, the priest opened a small wooden rectangular divider and through the opaque glass he heard my confession.  For my penance, I received the customary Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.  

During Lent and Holy Missions, which took place in the evenings in preparation for Easter, there were long lines of people ready to receive absolution.  On this occasion, a guest priest from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who was a great orator, led the boys, girls, and adults on separate weeks, in prayer and reflection.  On the last day, each of the participants received a small souvenir prayer card, with a color picture of a saint on the front and the name of the priest and the dates on the back.  While in elementary school and junior high, I attended all of them.  In 1959, I participated in my last one given by Rev. P. Maximo Prado, O.M.I.   

On a breezy Saturday evening, May 26, 1965, at 7:30 P.M., I stood dressed in a blue cap and gown outside St. Augustine Church’s heavy wooden doors, along with my classmates in alphabetical order, waiting for the organist to begin the processional march.

Of the forty-one first graders who started with Sister Elvira in the fall of 1953, only fifteen stayed together all twelve years:   

Salvador Aguirre, Julio Cantú, Gloria Chavarria, Cordelia Dancause, Rosalinda Durán, Belisario Guerra (d), George Guerra, George Juárez, Evelia Martínez, Rosario Mendez, Josephine Morlett, Héctor Nava, Juanita Rocha, Petrita Treviño, and me. 

Other graduating classmates were:  Juanita Acona, José Francisco Benavides (d), María R. Benavides, Leticia Carrasco, Guadalupe Flores, Alma Fisher, Juanita Gamboa, Juan José García, Alejandra Garza, José H. Garza (d), María Teresa González, Lina d' Gornaz, Judith Gutiérrez, Rosa María Maldonado, Elvira Mendoza, Sara Meza, Faraon Muñoz, Anita Nieto, Yolanda Peña, Judith Pérez, Baltazar Ramos (d), Diana Rivera, Raquel Rodarte, Minerva Rodríguez, Joe Sáenz, Guadalupe Saldaña, Ma. Ester Salinas, Felipe Sánchez, Tennie Singleton, Otila Treviño, Laura Vásquez, Mary Villa (d), Gustavo Villarreal, Avis Wharton, Alfredo Zapata, and Alex Zuñiga (d).  


 St. Augustine Church


We walked down the center aisle to our designated pew, nicely decorated with a big white bow, with a sense of accomplishment.  I sat at the edge of the long wooden bench and next to me, but on the other side of the white chord, my parents and grandparents and my sister Lupe were already seated.  A High Mass commenced the graduation ceremony, with all the pomp and circumstance.   Father Antonio Martínez, O.M.I., Pastor of St. Augustine Parish, was the celebrant assisted by Deacon Reverend Pierto Romanato, Pastor of Mother Cabrini Parish, and Subdeacon Reverend Agustín Pérez, O.M.I., Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish.  The Baccalaureate Address was given by Reverend William Grant, O.M.I., Chaplain at Mercy Hospital.  Reverend Louis De Anda, O.M.I., was the Master of Ceremonies for the awarding of the diplomas.  Father Antonio Martínez and Sister Victorine, CDP, handed out the diploma.  At the conclusion of the program, and after the benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, theprogram concluded with the hymnt--"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name."  Then, the organist again played the processional march as we proceeded to leave, thus ending my spiritual journey at St. Augustine Church.  

In 2000, Pope John Paul II established the Diocese of Laredo and St. Augustine Church became the seat and was elevated to the lofty title of cathedral.  The church and the surrounding area is officially designated as the San Agustín de Laredo Historical District and is recorded in the National Register of Historical Places.

Across the street from St. Augustine Cathedral, facing west, is the historic San Agustín Plaza.  To the right of  the cathedral is Zaragoza Street, running west to east, and my parents (Eloisa Lima Quezada and Pedro Quezada), my older two siblings, and I lived at 801 Zaragoza Street, which was just two blocks from the cathedral.  So, walking to St. Augustine School, which was located to the left of the cathedral, and going to Mass on Sunday was very convenient.  

 


This photograph shows the St. Augustine School, a coed campus, grades 1st thru 12th, located adjacent to St. Augustine Cathedral.  They were a few blocks away from downtown Laredo.  The school was founded by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and the Sisters of Divine Providence (CDP) in 1927, and this year (2017) marked the 90th anniversary.  The Oblate fathers operated the church, while the nuns ran the school.  The lower level had the gymnasium cum cafeteria cum auditorium, the kitchen, and two small offices.  The second floor was for the elementary and middle school grades, while the high school, grades 9-12, were located on the third floor, along with the library and the typing room.  A small office for principal was on the third floor between the typing room and the freshmen home room classroom.  The science lab was at the end of the second floor.  My brother Peter (class of 1962), my sister Lupe (class of 1963), and I (class of 1965) attended St. Augustine School from the first grade.  The building is still in the same location, but the school was relocated to the old Ursuline campus, towards the eastern part of Laredo, in the mid-1970s.

Happy New Year 2018!  Hip, Hip, Horray!  Hip, Hip, Horray!  Happy New Year 2018!  As we celebrate this New Year 2018, I propose a toast in your honor:  May our loving Lord bless you with good health and excellent memory.  And, may the Holy Spirit continue to show you the way and bless your tremendous work and may your legacy with Somos Primos live forever.

Gilberto

 




Lamella Orphica, a gold foil tablet dating from the 4th century BC. Getty Open Content/ Public Domain

What’s the best way to ensure a spot in paradise? To some ancient Greeks, the answer was burying themselves with golden tablets engraved with ritual texts. These served as passports by confirming the initiates’ identity and purity and allowing them to move easily between the mortal and divine realms, protecting the dead from any evils that might haunt them along the way.

Source: atlasobscura.com



 

POPE FRANCIS’ 81st BIRTHDAY / ZENIT/ https://zenit.org/articles/popes-greeting-to-children-assisted-by-santa-martas-pediatric-dispensary/

At 10:30 this morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience, in Paul VI Hall, the children assisted by “Saint Martha’s” Paediatric Dispensary.  Here is a ZENIT translation of the Pope’s impromptu greeting to the volunteers, the parents and all the children present.  

The Holy Father’s Greeting

Good morning! Children’s joy . . . Children’s joy is a treasure — joyful children . . . And we must do everything we can so that they continue to be joyful, because joy is like good earth. A joyful soul is like a good earth, which makes life grow well, with good fruits. And that’s why this celebration is being held: the closeness of Christmas is always sought to gather us to hold this celebration for them.

Listen well. First thing: preserve children’s joy. Don’t sadden children. When children see that there are problems at home, that the parents quarrel, they suffer. Don’t sadden the children. They must always grow with joy. Are you joyful? [‘Yes!”] I don’t believe you: yes or no? [“Yes!”] Very good, this is joy.

The second thing, for children to grow well: make them talk with the grandparents – the two extremes of life, because the grandparents have memory, have roots, and it will be the grandparents that give roots to the children. Please, may they not be uprooted children, without the memory of a people, without the memory of the faith, without the memory of so many beautiful things that have made history, without the memory of values. And who will help children to do this? The grandparents. They must talk with the grandparents, with the elderly. Do you talk with your grandparents? [“Yes!”] Are you certain? [“Yes!”] To ask for a candy? [“No!”] No? Tell me . . . Sometimes, often the grandparent have gone, isn’t that so? However, there are other elderly persons that are as grandparents. Always talk with the elderly. I’ll ask you a question, answer carefully: are grandparents, the elderly , boring? [“No . . . Yes”] You . . . [“They give us a lot of gifts”] One is interested: they give us many gifts! They’re not boring; they are good. Tell me . . . [“They love us very much”]. They love us very much. May children learn to talk with the elderly, to talk with their grandparents.

And the third advice I give you: teach them to talk with God. May they learn to pray, to say what they feel in their heart.

It’s joy, to talk with the grandparents, with the elderly, and to talk with God. Agreed? Do all agree?” You also, do you agree? I wish you a good day, with much celebration. And eat the four meters of pizza: eat them well, which will do you good — make you grow. And go ahead! Thank you, thank you!

And now we all pray to Our Lady to give us her blessing: Hail Mary . . .  And pray for me!

 Sent by Al V. Vela   cristorey38@comcast.net 


M

 
Sent by Robert Smith pleiku196970@yahoo.com 


M


"I am not American, I am Muslim"

by Majid Rafizadeh
December 2, 2017 

 

Several years ago, when first in the United States on a teaching scholarship, one issue leapt out. A man asked an innocent enough question: Where I was from? I told him; then, as a courtesy, asked him the same question.

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"I am a Muslim," he smiled.  Thinking that perhaps he had not understood the question -- he sounded American or English -- I asked if he was from the United States.  "I am not American," he said again;
"I am a Muslim."
I subsequently learned that he was an Islamist, a preacher of strict religious teachings, and that many of the people to whom he preached held the same views.  In Iran and Syria, where I was born and raised, I had never before heard this answer.
Later, while speaking in Europe, these notions kept resurfacing. Radical Islamists, particularly in Britain and France, proclaim themselves first to be Muslim. Even when they speak with English, French or American accents, they do not name their countries -- even to me, someone from the Middle East.
Their response signals a reason for concern in the countries they live in now. To begin with, for Islamists, non-Muslim land is different from Muslim land. Many can never identify themselves with a Western land -- or with a flag or nationality -- even though they may have been born in that land and their families may have lived there for generations.  

This view is far different from that in the Middle East.
One day, I asked an American imam why he did not identify himself as an American. Millions of people, I said to him, dream of coming to the US and becoming Americans; why would anyone want to reject this?  

He quoted said one of the founding fathers of Islamist thoughts, Sayyid Qutb:

 

"The homeland of the Muslim, in which he lives and which he defends, is not a piece of land; the nationality of the Muslim, by which he is identified, is not the nationality determined by a government; the family of the Muslim, in which he finds solace and which he defends, is not blood relationships; the flag of the Muslim, which he honors and under which he is martyred, is not the flag of a country; and the victory of the Muslim, which he celebrates and for which he is thankful to God, is not a military victory."

What became apparent was that Western Islamists were far more strict and fundamentalist than the Islamists in the Middle East with whom I had grown up. Once, when I mentioned the name of a deceased imam in a casual conversation with an American Islamist preacher and some of his followers, I forgot to attach a piece of religious praise to the name such as "Allah's peace be upon him."
There was a chill. The conversation came to a halt. The American Islamist preacher and his followers did not hesitate to express their anger.
What you end up seeing is that when people are brainwashed not to identify themselves with a flag and a nationality, it disrupts the human connections and communications that need to take place within communities. It pits the indoctrinated person against the entire society and his own countrymen, and develops an "us versus them" mentality. The indoctrinated group then wants to create its own group. For Islamists, it is an ummah (borderless Islamic community). Emotion and sympathy for fellow countrymen disappear; people feel isolated from other citizens, and view themselves as separate. Respect for the social order and the laws of the land vanish, as Islamic laws become more vital and obedience is then just to shari'ah.
Islamist teachings in the West appear to focus on indoctrinating followers to identify themselves with Islamist ideals rather than with a nationality. Moreover, Islamist beliefs are supposed to take priority over anything else, including family and friends.
The teachings of these Islamist preachers further echo what Sayed Qutb said:
"A Muslim has no relationship with his mother, father, brother, wife and other family members except through their relationship with [Allah], and then they are also joined through blood. A Muslim has no country except that part of the earth where the Shari'ah of God is established and human relationships are based on the foundation of relationship with God; a Muslim has no nationality except his belief, which makes him a member of the Muslim community in Dar-ul-Islam; a Muslim has no relatives except those who share the belief in God, and thus a bond is established between him and other Believers through their relationship with God."
Do these Western Islamists then ever identify themselves with their land and flag? Not, according to their teachings, until the law of the land is shari'ah. As Syed Qutb also stated:
"The fatherland is that place where the Islamic faith, the Islamic way of life and the Shari'ah of God is dominant; only this meaning of 'fatherland' is worth of the human being. There is only one place on earth which can be called the home of Islam (Dar-ul-Islam), and it is that place where the Islamic state is established and the Shari'ah is the authority and God's limits are observed, and where all the Muslims administer the affairs of the state with mutual consultation. The rest of the world is the home of hostility (Dar-ul-Harb). A Muslim can have only two possible relations with Dar-ul-Harb: peace with a contractual agreement, or war. A country with which there is a treaty will not be considered the home of Islam."
This view brings with it a wish for waging jihad (war in the cause of Islam) against one's birth country. It creates the priority -- if the country attacking it is ruled by shari'ah -- of joining the enemy to fight against one's birth country.
"The honor of martyrdom is achieved only when one is fighting in the cause of God, and if one is killed for any other purpose, this honor will not be attained."
When people are brainwashed not to identify themselves with a flag and a nationality, it disrupts the human connections and communications that need to take place within communities. It pits the indoctrinated person against the entire society and his own countrymen, and develops an "us versus them" mentality. Pictured: Muslims demonstrate in Sydney, Australia, September 15, 2012. (Image source: Jamie Kennedy/Flickr)
 
Western governments need seriously to address these prevailing extreme Islamist beliefs, which have significant social, political, and security implications in their countries. These beliefs are the foundations of disrupting the social order, peace, freedom, democracy, human rights, and security. If allowed to continue, these beliefs will become more rampant, and the consequences more severe.
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh, is a business strategic advisor, Harvard-educated scholar, political scientist, board member of Harvard International Review, and president of the International American Council on the Middle East. He is the author of "Peaceful Reformation in Iran's Islam". He can be reached at Dr.Rafizadeh@Post.Harvard.Edu.
  • Follow Majid Rafizadeh on Twitter
© 2017 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved.

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/11217/islamists-muslims-nations-states

Sent by Odell Harwell odell.harwell74@att.net 

 




Lawfare
, instead of Warfare by Mimi Lozano

Before reading the articles below, It Never Ends… Muslim Students at Catholic Schools Keep Complaining About Christmas,  I had not heard or seen the term Lawfare.   

Lawfare is being used to
gain power.  Lawfare, instead of Warfare . . . the goal  is the same for the perpetuators,  domination over a target-group . . .  with words . . .   insisting that the  applications of our social practices be applied to meet their goals, even though they do not, and should not be applied.  

The strategy is simply for a Lawfare warrior to use the traditions and principles of the "target-group-enemy" and apply those traditions and principles to meet the goals of the Lawfare warrior.  

For example, the Lawfare warrior insists American principles of free speech and freedom of religion be applied to them,  . . . . at the same time, they insist they have the right to refuse those freedoms to others, because they are morally, spiritually superior, and have a righto make those demands. Their believed superiority gives them the right to break up meetings, break laws and violate the culture which they insist must change to meet their needs.

Read below how it works 

It Never Ends… Muslim Students at Catholic Schools Keep Complaining About Christmas 
by

Lawfare has two options: compliance or death.

Read more: 
http://thehayride.com/2017/12/never-ends-muslim-students-catholic-schools-keep-complaining-christmas/#ixzz51YlfUlYx




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China Tries to Bring Christianity 
under its Communist Thumb


Like many secular entities before it, China’s government appears to believe it can prevent the Gospel from reaching the hearts and minds of nearly 1.4 billion people.

In a recent move designed the stem the religious fervor sweeping across the Asian nation, thousands of devout Christians have been instructed to remove crosses, Gospel passages and displays of Jesus Christ from their homes. The Communist government’s propaganda effort has been touted as a way to “transform believers in religion into believers in the party.”

 
Chinese Officials Coerce Villagers

According to SCMP, approximately 600 complied with the government’s pressure by removing Christian displays from their living rooms. The news resource reports that 453 took the further request to hang a poster of Pres. Xi.

China’s propaganda and secular enforcement methods went as far as to point fingers at Christian faith as a primary reason for the region’s excessive poverty rates.

Despite the Communist promise that all will share equally the nation’s wealth, over 11 percent of those living in the Yugan county of Jiangxi province struggle below the poverty line. Of the region’s 1 million residents, approximately 10 percent identified themselves as Christians.

“Many poor households have plunged into poverty because of illness in the family. Some resorted to believing in Jesus to cure their illnesses,” a government propaganda leader reportedly said. “But we tried to tell them that getting ill is a physical thing, and that the people who can really help them are the Communist Party and General Secretary Xi.”

Many poor villagers have reportedly been told in no uncertain terms they would be denied government benefits if they persisted in displaying images of Jesus Christ. The government has denied these allegations despite widespread religious crackdowns.

The Cult of Xi

Pressure was brought to bear on the poor villagers just weeks after the CPC concluded its congress. Pres. Xi sought to consolidate his rein by passing unprecedented measures that would write his personal political positions into China’s constitution.

The move would elevate him to a status on par with the nation’s most heralded leaders. The Hong Kong news resource reported that Xi has become “the country’s most powerful leader since Mao.” Chairman Mao also promoted himself through cult-like methods such as requiring portraits in Chinese homes.

Like Mao, Pres. Xi favors the Chinese tradition of asserting the state as the ultimate power in and over the lives of its citizens. That ominous power has, historically, rooted out social and religious movements. Mao Zedong reportedly had more than 45 million people killed through starvation, hard labor and execution in just four years time to secure his absolute power.

Prior to individual Christians being requested to remove religious symbols, a Yugan church was instructed to take down its cross. Numerous other churches in Zhejiang and other Christian focal points have been ordered to comply with the Communist edicts as well.

China Wants Christianity under its Thumb

Under Pres. Xi, China has implemented tighter anti-Christian measures regarding worship, religious education and buildings. The laws amount to a state-sponsored crackdown on Christianity and will be triggered in 2018. Law enforcement has already begun preemptive detentions of religious leaders and a three-year-old child was accosted for singing His praise in a public park.

The president of ChinaSource, Brent Fulton, points out that the Communist party seeks to control religion through legislation and also by bringing doctrine into line with their values. The secular government gone as far as articulated that “religion serving socialism” may be acceptable. However, Pres. Xi has pushed to make religious texts secondary to the state in what some are calling a “Sinification” of the Bible.

“Judging by recent events, the party is very close to completing its mission of bringing Christianity under its thumb,” Chinese student Derek Lam reportedly told the New York Times. “Although there is nothing I would love more than to become a pastor and preach the gospel in Hong Kong, I will never do so if it means making Jesus subservient to Xi Jinping.”

Source: Christian Patriot Daily | 5036 Dr. Phillips Blvd. #203  | Orlando FL 32819 |  Info@ChristianPatriotDaily.com 



EDUCATION
You can educate a fool, but you cannot make him think.

Celebrate Maria Garcia Day in San Diego!
Irvine Unified aims to revolutionize teaching with one-to-one Chromebook

Tech Leads Kids to Tech Culture
Barney Charter School Initiative . .  Saving America through education 
     by Larry P. Arnn, Ph.D. 
Does the 529 Tax Plan Help Parents Pull Their Kids out of Public School?
National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Latinx/Community College: Promoting Pathways - Postsecondary Degrees 


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Grassroots News & Progressive Views

========================= ====================================================================
Maria Garcia Day
in the City of San Diego

Tuesday December 5, 2017

Photo by Manuel Cavada

San Diego Free Press writer, educator, activist and historian Maria Garcia will be recognized for her positive contributions to the Latina(o) community on Tuesday, December 5.  District 8 Councilmember David Alvarez invites Maria’s readers, supporters and friends to this special event.

Maria was recently recognized by 
The San Diego Union-Tribune which selected the retired school-principal and longtime Chicana activist as a Latino Champion. She received a prestigious Governor’s Historic Preservation Award for her book “La Neighbor.” On the same day that she received the Governor’s Award in Sacramento, she flew back to San Diego just in time to receive the Citizen of the Year Award from the San Diego Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, the professional educational honor association.

Our congratulations to Maria!
Sent by Dorinda Moreno
Source: San Diego Free Press

 

Maria Garcia Day
Presented by
Council member David Alvarez

WHEREAS, Maria Garcia was born in Yuma, Arizona and came to
San Diego at the age of 3; and

WHEREAS, Maria Garcia is an educator, Chicana activist, and retired
principal that has been active in the Greater Logan Heights community
since 1968; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Garcia created a weekly series called “The History
of Neighborhood House in San Diego” published in the San Diego
Free Press, where she recorded first person accounts about the
Neighborhood House and life in Logan Heights and Barrio Logan in
the early 1900’s; and

WHEREAS, in her writing, Ms. Garcia describes the Neighborhood
House which served as a settlement house since the 1920s, where
working class individuals could access social services, cultural
activities and community-building opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Garcia has reflected the significance and impact of
the Latino community in San Diego and has filled a historical gap
through her memories by detailing life in Barrio Logan and Logan
Heights; and

WHEREAS, through her work, Ms. Garcia brought light to the social
issues from San Diego’s early history and to the people involved; and

WHEREAS Ms. Garcia highlighted the many contributions that were
made by Mexican-Americans during WWII and their significance in
the aircraft and fishing industries of the San Diego region; and

WHEREAS Ms. Garcia continues to be a voice for the Latino
community as she is currently writing a new monthly series called
“Latinos in San Diego” that portrays the life of Latinos in the region;

NOW, THEREFORE

BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the Council of the City of San Diego, that
this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby
proclaim December 5th, 2017 as Maria Garcia Day in the 
City of San Diego.

 


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Irvine Unified aims to revolutionize teaching with one-to-one Chromebook program  
 

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Sixth-grade students at Portola Springs Elementary School in Irvine works on their Chromebook during a math class on Sept. 14, 2017. (Tomoya Shimura, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By Tomoya Shimura | tshimura@scng.com | Orange County Register

November 29, 2017  

IRVINE — William Kim began scribbling on his dry erase board as soon as a decimal subtraction problem popped up on a screen in front of the classroom.

The sixth-grader at Portola Springs Elementary School quickly looked up at the screen again, narrowing his eyes, to make sure the numbers he wrote down on the board were accurate. When he was done, Kim selected an answer from four choices on the laptop screen on his desk.

When the time was up, his teacher, Ashley Deason, showed the correct answer on the big screen, along with how many students got it right. Kim, who chose the correct answer, pumped his fist.

Deason is among about 170 Irvine Unified School District teachers whose students have one-to-one access to Google’s Chromebook laptop computers. That means there’s a Chromebook for every student in these classrooms.

Over the last five years, the district has expanded its one-to-one program, increasing the number of Chromebooks from 7,500 to more than 34,000. At least 57 percent of the students now have access to a Chromebook whenever their teachers want them to during school hours, which allows students to learn at their own pace and based on their needs, district officials said.

“You can revolutionize teaching,” Deason, 27, said, adding that technology helps fill an experiential gap between young teachers like herself and veteran teachers.

After the aforementioned review quiz using an online tool called Kahoot!, Deason directed students to watch a video about division on their Chromebooks. She records such 10- to 15-minute videos at home.

She then called several students to the front of the classroom to work closely with them, while the rest of the class studied on their own wearing headphones.

“You can be in two places — one teaching on video and one with a small group,” Deason said. “It’s great how I can target kids struggling.”

She said students tend to focus more while studying on video, which they can stop and rewind.

“It’s like being one-to-one with your teacher,” said 11-year-old Santiago Becerril in Deason’s class.

Many students said they prefer working on a laptop to books and pen and paper because they can keep all their work in one place without having to carry them around in a heavy backpack.

Also, they say working on Chromebooks makes it easier for them to work with other students. For example, they can write and edit on the same Google Doc simultaneously or instantly share the document with other students afterward.

“I really enjoy having a Chromebook because it gives me the freedom to work on my own,” six-grader Kate Abalos said.

The district’s Educational Technology team, known internally as EdTech, oversees the one-to-one program, which gave out about $500,000 in new Chromebooks this year.

Teachers enrolled in the program are required to attend two workshops where they learn and share tips on how to incorporate Chromebooks and services such as Googe suites into their classrooms.

Those who participated in a recent workshop said they’ve seen more interaction among students, like teaching one another, with the introduction of the one-to-one program.

“Technology connects people if it’s used correctly,” said Greg Guy, who teaches social sciences at Northwood High School.

The EdTech team, which has grown from just two staffers to 14 in the last four years, doesn’t fix computers or solve technical problems like regular IT folks do. Instead, it helps teachers use technology in their classes, director Serena McKinney said.

She said the team’s goal is beyond just showing teachers and students how to use digital tools. Its focus is on improving how much students are actually learning, McKinney said.

“It’s not even about the devices at that point,” she said. “It’s more about the way and how they’re appropriately used to meet the needs of these students.”

The district chose Chromebooks, instead of Macs or PCs, because they are much cheaper, quick to start up and durable, McKinney said. With ample services available online now, full-featured laptops aren’t as necessary as they once were, she said.

Mike Morrison, a history teacher at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, said the one-to-one program closes the gap between students who have multiple computers at home and those who have less.

“I don’t even know all the possibilities,” Morrison said. “I’m going to find out.”

 

 


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TEEN LEADS KIDS TO TECH CULTURE

14-year-old computer whiz holds 12-hour ‘hackathon’ for kids at Laguna Hills High

                       

By Brooke Staggs | bstaggs@scng.com
 
December 2, 2017, Orange County Register

=================================== ===================================

LAGUNA HILLS >> When Calvin Huynh first told his mom he wanted to learn to code so he could create his own computer games, there was just one problem.

“He didn’t even know how to read yet,” his mom, Van Hoang, said.

On Saturday Hoang learned that, along with learning to read over the past two years, her 7-year-old also taught himself the computer programming language Scratch.

“He knows more about it than I do,” Hoang said — and she’s a computer scientist.

Calvin was one of 150 students who showed up for the first ever “hackathon” at Laguna Hills High School.

The event was organized in conjunction with Local Hack Day, launched four years ago by Major League Hacking, a New York company that hosts competitive hacking events throughout the year. 

On Dec. 2, more than 275 communities around the world were slated to host 12-hour hackathons, bringing developers and designers together to learn and create.

Students of all ages, from throughout Orange County, booked out the Laguna Hills High event on Saturday morning.

They started at one of three sessions: coding, 3D printing or building computers. When one 45-minute session was over, students rotated to the next one until they’d been to all three. 

Then each session got more difficult, so students could build their skills throughout the day and hopefully leave with finished projects to show off.

All of the courses were taught by high school students. And the whole event was organized by Laguna Hill High freshmen Joshua Martinez.  

He’s 14.

Joshua said he’s loved computers for as long as he can remember. But it wasn’t until the ripe old age of 11 — when he managed to fix a busted family printer that had stumped his parents — that he decided he wanted to pursue a career in technology.

Thanks to online college courses, after-school programs and YouTube, Joshua knows how to code, design items for 3D printing, make apps and more. But he’s most interested in cybersecurity.

“You can exploit harmless devices to do devious things,” he said. And he wants to make that as hard as possible.

That type of malicious activity is what many people think of when they hear the word “hacker.”

=================================== ===================================

“Josh came to me with the amazing idea of a hackathon, and us old people were like, ‘Hack what?'” joked Mike Marzilli, an assistant principal at Laguna Hills High.

Once they learned more about Local Hack Day, Marzilli said the school’s administration quickly threw their support behind the event.

“This is our future right here,” he said, looking around the room.

Sean Larson, an 11-year-old from Foothill Ranch Elementary, found a post about Joshua’s hackathon online and knew he wanted to attend.

Larson has been into electronics “for a while,” ever since he figured out to how to get into his mom’s computer without her password. She wasn’t mad, he said. She was impressed.

The Foothill Ranch boy was most interested in Saturday’s sessions on building computers and 3D printing. With his bright red hair tucked in a baseball cap, he laughed and chatted with new friends as he tried to recreate the logo for software development company GitHub.

Those moments are why 17-year-old Felix Murray — who serves as president of Laguna Hills High’s computer science and robotics club — wanted to help Joshua organize the hackathon.

“Ticking a box on a resume is great,” the senior said. “But it’s more important that we’re getting young people interested in and less afraid of programming.”

Twin 13-year-old sisters Sofie and Tori Terrence learned about the hackathon through their STEM class with Russert.

 Both girls were excited to take the coding and 3D printing sessions, and they planned to stay for all 12 hours. 

S
eeing that enthusiasm is exciting, said Roger Huynh, who was invited to attend the hackathon as a guest.  Huynh (no relation to 7-year-old Calvin) has done animation and visual effects in Hollywood for more than two decades, working on movies from the 1996 thriller “Eraser” to “The Lord the Rings: The Two Towers.”

Three years ago he launched Caustics Digital Academy, which is based in Los Angeles with an office in Tustin. The after-school program offers hands-on courses in game design, Java programming and more. Joshua has taken two classes with him, and Huynh said he was impressed with the teen’s talent and drive.

Still Huynh said he was surprised when he heard Joshua had taken the initiative to host a Local Hack Day event, and he had to come see it for himself.

“Having this exposure is great,” Huynh said, with kids quickly immersed in a variety of potential fields.

He said he only hopes that more schools follow through, training their teachers on this technology and offering regular courses so Saturday’s gathering becomes more than a one-time experience.

That’s exactly what Laguna Hills High hopes to do, Marzilli said, with the school building a “makerspace” where students will be able to access to computers for coding, 3D printers and other emerging technology.

And Marzilli said he’s confident that the success of Saturday’s event — coupled with the talent and drive of students like Joshua — will keep that momentum going long after the 12-hour session ended.


https://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/02/14-year-old-computer-whiz-holds-12-hour-hackathon-for-kids-at-laguna-hills-high

 


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Barney Charter School Initiative   . .  Saving America through education 
 

Dear Mrs. Lozano Holtzman,

As I was walked across campus the other day and saw Hillsdale students—including some of my own students—walk to and from class, I was struck by a sudden thought: no one is forcing these kids to attend class. They choose to attend freely, despite the myriad of other things they could be doing instead.

This called to mind the relationship between education and freedom—one we take quite seriously here at Hillsdale. We believe that a government for and by the people requires an education for and by the people. Hillsdale has four purposes that you’ll often hear me refer to: freedom, high learning, character, and faith.
=================================== ===================================
These foundational purposes underlie everything we do at Hillsdale, therefore their impact reaches far beyond our classrooms.

Though our endeavors to educate America on the underlying principles of liberty began on campus, we realized that there were many adults nationwide who needed to learn from Hillsdale. So we began offering Imprimis, our monthly digest of liberty, to anyone who requested it. It currently has a circulation of 3.6 million subscribers. 

In recent years, we realized we could reach even more people through the internet—so we started offering online courses, free of charge, to anyone who is interested in topics such as politics, history, economics, literature, or theology. We currently offer 18 courses on a variety of topics—from Constitution 101 to Athens and Sparta—and that catalog of courses is growing each year.
But our nationwide educational outreach doesn’t stop there. Realizing that the formation of character begins much earlier than college, we launched a new venture to help found K-12 public charter schools. Known as the Barney Charter School Initiative, Hillsdale is helping found and support dozens of classical charter schools that focus on essential skills and knowledge, employ traditional teaching methods, and understand the importance of history and civics.

The relationship between a proper education and self-government—therefore true freedom—is tightly linked. You simply cannot have one without the other. And Hillsdale is one of the only institutions left with the mission and the ability—with your help—to accomplish this ambitious undertaking.

Will you support Hillsdale’s work to save America by educating K-12 students, college students, and ciitzens nationwide? Your donation will be used to promote and advance all the exciting initiatives I’ve mentioned and help us revive and restore the founding principles that made America great.

Please give a gift to Hillsdale College today: https://secure.hillsdale.edu.

Thank you for your support.

Warm regards,
Larry P. Arnn
President, Hillsdale College
larry.p.arnn@hillsdale.edu 

You are subscribed to Hillsdale College e-mails. If you'd rather not receive these, you can respond to this email, update your preferences, unsubscribe, or send a letter to Suite 500, 33 East College St, Hillsdale, MI 49242.

Editor Mimi:  I have six grandkids, and eight great-grandkids, soon to have a 9th.  With two of my six grandkids still unmarried, I know that in the future, I can expect to welcome more great-grand-children to love  . . . .  It is my greatest desire that these children will have the opportunity to live with-in a safe, stable, and free country, and walk with a foundation of a clear understanding of the importance of supporting our constitution and laws. I made a donation. 



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Does the 529 Tax Plan Help Parents Pull Their Kids out of Public School?
~ Christian Patriot Daily

=================================== ===================================

One aspect of the current tax plan that is getting a lot of attention from educators, parents and the Department of Education is the proposed 529 plan. At present, parents are able to use a 529 plan only to fund a grown child’s college education; however, the new tax bill would allow this plan to also be used to fund K-12 educational costs.

Following is an overview of the controversy surrounding this aspect of the tax bill as well as a peek into how it could help parents from all walks of life ditch the public school system for good.

Opponents of the school choice agenda are quick to say that the tax bill will only benefit wealthy individuals who most likely already have their children in public schools. At the same time, these individuals note that any move to offer incentives for families that put their children in private schools encourages others to leave the public school system, thus reducing the amount of money flowing into public schools.

The fact that the tax bill currently eliminates a deduction that dedicated public school teachers commonly use to buy supplies for their students out of pocket is yet another point of controversy, as it adds to the feeling that the Department of Education doesn’t really care about the public school system.

 

On the other hand, other individuals have criticized the bill for not going further and offering substantial assistance to poor and lower-middle class families who would like to pull their children from failing public schools but do not have the financial resources to invest in a 529 plan.

While many states do not require a minimum investment in such a plan or only require a small sum such as $25 or $50 to start off the plan, there are a number of states that require a minimum investment of up to $250. 

Furthermore, many families simply do not save enough money every month to make ongoing significant contributions to a 529 plan in order to increase the money for future use.

At the same time, many conservatives are praising the bill, noting that it could help many middle class families who need just a bit of extra money to be able to afford to send their children to private school. 

If the bill passes in its current state, parents with a 529 plan would be able to withdraw up to $10,000 per year to pay for private education costs without having to pay taxes on the money that has been withdrawn.

 

While $10,000 may seem like a paltry sum of money compared to the high cost of tuition in some private schools, experts note that there are many surprisingly affordable private school options where $10,000 per year could go a very long way.

Catholic private schools, for example, are known for offering a top quality education at a surprisingly affordable cost. The cost of annual tuition for many Christian and Jewish schools ranges from nearly $8,000 to just over $16,500 for older students. The median annual tuition cost for an elementary student at a private Montessori school is currently just over $8,500.

What is more, even seemingly expensive private schools are well within reach of middle and even lower class parents who apply for scholarships, ask upfront for discounted tuition rates and/or apply for state voucher programs that are available in about a dozen different states. 

When other forms of assistance are added to the extra income generated from a 529 plan, it is clear that public school advocates should be worried about concerned parents who may now have more choices for providing a top quality education for their children.


Naturally, the tax bill is not without its flaws. The option of using a 529 plan to provide young children with a private school education is a great one; however, it’s one that should be available even to those who have a limited budget. Furthermore, making it hard for public school teachers to do their job is sure to be counterproductive.

At the same time, this bill has the potential to go a long way in helping families from all walks of life get their child a top notch education. Those who are considering a private school education for their children or teens will now have additional financial resources to add to potential scholarships and other forms of funding.

By offering parents an incentive to put their children in private schools, the government is potentially helping numerous children receive a high quality education that will benefit not only children and their families but also the entire country in years to come.

 

http://christianpatriotdaily.com/articles/does-the-gop-tax-plan-help-parents-pull-their-kids-out-of-public-school/ 


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National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

===================================== === ===================================
Congratulations to the 2017 

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

On Sept. 28, the Department announced the 342 schools nationwide selected as 2017 Blue Ribbon Schools.

On Nov. 6 and 7, these schools were recognized in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

In addition, the Department announced eight principles from the 2017 National Blue Ribbon Schools as this year's recipients of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership.

To learn more about the schools, click here.

The Association of Mexican American Educatiors Special Issue

Latinx and the Community College: Promoting Pathways to Postsecondary Degrees
Vol 11, No 2 (2017)

Table of Contents
Introduction

Research Titles
Latinx and the Community College: Promoting Pathways to Postsecondary Degrees  
~ Edna Martinez, Nancy Acevedo-Gil, Enrique G. Murillo, Jr.          

Supporting Latinx/a/o Community College Leaders: A Geo-Spatial Approach
~Ignacio Hernández, Jr.

Chicanas in IR: Data-Driven Advocacy for Latinx Students from Institutional Research Contexts in the Community College
~Elvira J. Abrica, Martha Rivas

Connecting through Engagement: Latinx Student-Faculty Interaction in Community College
~Felisha A. Herrera, Judith W. Hernández Chapar, Gabriela Kovats Sánchez

Latino Men and their Fathers: Exploring How Community Cultural Wealth Influences their Community College Success
~Victor B. Sáenz, Carmen de las Mercédez, Sarah G. Rodriguez, Claudia García-Louis

Latina Student Mothers’ Trenzas de Identidades in the Community College ~ Hortencia Jiménez, Nereida Oliva

An Empowerment Framework for Latinx Students in Developmental Education ~Erin Doran

Mexican and Mexican American Student Reflections on Transfer: Institutional Agents and the Continued Role of the Community College ~Edén Cortez, Erin L. Castro

Short Essays
Latinx and the Community College: Promoting Pathways to Postsecondary Degrees at the Latino Education & Advocacy Days (LEAD) Summit ~ Eloy Ortiz Oakley

Poetry
A Real Tragedy~ Martha Rivas

Book Reviews
Hanging Out and Hanging On: From the Projects to the Campus. Núñez, Elsa. (2014). Landham, MA: Roman & Littlefield. 160 pp. ISSBN: 978-1475802436. $36.00 (Paperback) 

~ Madeline Pérez de Jesús


Guest Editors
Drs. Edna Martinez, Nancy Acevedo-Gil, and Enrique G. Murillo, Jr.

College of Education

California State University, San Bernardino   



HEALTH/MEDICINE

Medical Cannibis (Marijuana) 101
Tree of Lights Ceremony, Remembering Loved Ones
"Hospice Came Today" Poem by Stephan Au Clair
Hospice, What it is and How it Works

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MEDICAL CANNABIS (Marijuana) 101

With recreational marijuana becoming legal January 2018, Somos Primos will be running a series on the safe use of Cannabis.  The format: reader questions about the medical uses of marijuana answered by Aury L. Holtzman, MD. who writes: 

"Cannabis can be used safely and effectively for multiple medical conditions, so long as it's used properly.  Improper use of cannabis can, in rare instances, result in severe consequences, including psychosis and death. 

As a physician with thirty years of family practice experience and seven years as a medical cannabis expert, I have evaluated and treated over 60,000 patients.   

I feel it is very important for patients who wish to medicate with cannabis to do so safely, and thus need to understand the basics of medical cannabis.  When my mom (your editor)  asked me about sharing my expertise with Somos Primos readers, I was glad for the opportunity. 

I have seen Cannabis used for a wide range of medical conditions, and the range of application continues to expand, as does the delivery avenue.  

My goal is to educate what Cannabis is and how to
safely commence the use of marijuana to treat a variety of medical conditions. 

Send your questions to my Mom >  mimilozano@aol.com.
I will post the questions (anonymously)."

Aury Lor Holtzman, MD.



Editor Mimi: 
I am very pleased to share the knowledge that my son, Aury has acquired concerning the medical applications of Cannabis.   

Aury first became aware of the effectiveness of marijana early in his career.  He was hired by a farm cooperative in Fresno to administer to the needs of farm workers.  Through post ( UCI ) graduate studies in Mexico, and graduating from Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochicalco (CEUX) Aury was aware of the acceptance of marijuana medicinally applied  in Mexico; however,  it was not until his experience of practicing medicine in Fresno among the farm workers, did he come to value the variety of curative applications of Cannabis.   

FACT:  Cannabinoids

The cannabinoids are a group of approximately 100 chemicals that are produced by the cannabis plants. These chemicals are structurally similar to some neurotransmitters found in the human body. Because of the structural similarity, when cannabinoids are ingested, the cannabinoids react with the nerve receptors. The cannabinoids exist in two main forms:  the acidic water-soluble form found in the raw plant and the more fat-soluble form produced when the acidic cannabinoids are heated.

The practical difference between these two forms is that the fat-soluble form can easily cross the blood brain barrier and interact with nerve receptors in the brain, producing mental effects. Where as the water-soluble form does not cross the blood brain barrier and will not have a psychoactive effect on the user.

 


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Tree of Lights Ceremony 
welcomes holiday season while remembering loved ones

Joe Goldeen
The Stockton Record, November 22, 2017

I proudly share this story of my cousin, Yolanda Valdez Auclair's family.  
Yolanda is my first cousin, our mother's were sisters.

STOCKTON — As the traditional start of Stockton’s holiday season began Tuesday evening with the annual Hospice of San Joaquin Tree of Lights ceremony at San Joaquin Delta College, some 400 people took a little time out from their busy lives to remember loved ones who have passed.
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After turning on the lights in honor of Stocktonian Thomas Auclair, daughter Teresa Bryant, left, wife Yolanda Auclair and son Stephan Auclair stand before the towering fir during the 29th annual Hospice of San Joaquin Tree of Lights ceremony at San Joaquin Delta College.  Photo: Calistro Romias/the Record

Many attended because they had sponsored Christmas tree lights on the community tree in honor or memory of a deceased family member. Others have made it an annual event since it began 29 years ago.

“The Tree of Light ceremony is a tradition for many families and the entire family attends year after year. Other families will purchase a light to honor their loved ones but will visit the tree on their own,” Lou Meyer, president of the board of Hospice of San Joaquin, said while addressing the crowd gathered outside in the evening chill at the Pacific Avenue entrance to the college.

“Whichever tradition a family chooses, it is a healthy remembrance and we are all grateful we can be there for you during your time of need. Our Tree of Light ceremony will continue to shine each year as a remembrance tradition and we invite you to make this an annual tradition,” Meyer said.

The large fir tree planted at the college entrance was recently decorated by an all-volunteer crew from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Hospice of San Joaquin, using more than 2,000 feet of bright and colorful LED lights and another 2,000 feet of garland.

 


“We don’t have it down to an exact science, but what once took two days now only takes one,” said PG&E’s Bobby Severson, who coordinates the decoration effort.

“You realize what an important organization Hospice of San Joaquin is for your loved ones. That’s why we keep coming back,” Severson said.

Jim Russow with Hospice of San Joaquin provided the ceremony’s invocation, touching on the significance of the bright lights everyone came to see:

“Light drives away darkness; light illuminates our paths. ... These lights have the power to transform pain into gladness, grief into thankfulness, thankfulness for those who have been in our lives but now are in our hearts.

“The lights of this tree and similar trees throughout the county enable people here and everywhere to bring comfort and the assurance that their loved ones will receive the best possible support and care in their journey with the ones they love as have those who remember their loved ones having journeyed with them,” Russow said.

The honor of throwing the giant PG&E switch to turn on the tree lights this year went to the family of Stocktonian Thomas Auclair, a retired mortgage banker and volunteer extraordinaire who passed away in July at the age of 89.

Thirty-one months before he died, Auclair was told he had three months to live, according to Yolanda Auclair, his wife of 68 years, and the couple’s daughter Theresa Bryant.

“Hospice made it a wonderful two-and-a-half years. He was always afraid of dying, but they took away his fears. They weren’t afraid to talk about it,” they said, trading sentences.

During his life mostly spent in Stockton, Thomas Auclair volunteered with the Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, the Boy Scouts and the American Red Cross. He and his wife raised five children and enjoyed eight grandchildren.

The family expressed its eternal gratitude to the hospice organization and especially the individuals who provided services such as coming to the family home to cut Thomas’ hair, or showing up every Sunday morning to allow Yolanda to leave and attend church.

“They are wonderful people who provided us with quite a comfort,” she said.

Son Steve Auclair addressed the crowd on behalf of the family, sharing thoughts on their “walk with Hospice, or should I say, Hospice’s walk with us. ... 31 months Hospice walked with us. They stayed by our sides, they encouraged us, they were always there.”

With that, the family joined together to flip the switch and, with fingers crossed, a little section of Stockton lit up for all to see.

The college’s Delta Singers choir provided the entertainment, adding to the festive atmosphere.

For information on any Tree of Lights events or to contribute a light in honor of a departed loved one: (209) 957-3888 or visit hospicesj.org/treeoflights.

Contact reporter Joe Goldeen at (209) 546-8278 or jgoldeen@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/goldeenblog and on Twitter @JoeGoldeen.

http://www.recordnet.com/news/20171121/tree-of-lights-ceremony-welcomes-holiday-season-while-remembering-loved-ones 





THE TREE LIGHTING 
by
Stephen Au Clair


In the fall of 2017, Hospice of San Joaquin asked Yolanda Au Clair if she and her family would come and light the annual Christmas tree located on Pacific Avenue at Delta College. Hospice had walked with Her and her family through Dad’s final road of life. She agreed to do so. She invited her daughter Theresa, son Stephen and her granddaughter, Melissa, to attend the tree lighting ceremony with her. 

Yolanda asked me, Stephen, if I would share on behalf of the family at the event. I agreed to do so, but unfortunately I forgot about my obligation to speak. A few days before the tree lighting, Mom reminded me of the sharing I would be doing. Oops! I had forgotten all about that commitment! I thought about it for a few days, and on the night before the event, I imagined it would be helpful to organize on paper what I would share. 

As I thought about what I would share, my mind swept over the last 31 months Hospice had walked close by our side, hand in hand and treated, supported, counseled, cared and encouraged Dad and our family. 

As I contemplated where to start, I realized this was more of a story than an event. And it should be told in a poem format. Given I am not a poet; this seemed strange but moved by the spirit I began to write. 

For the next hour, I wrote as the thoughts came to mind, walking back down this path of life. I reviewed it the next morning, and except for a few grammatical changes, the poem as written the night before the tree lighting is the poem I read on Tuesday evening, November 21, 2017.

I thought all should know, who read this poem, that this reflects the impact hospice had on my life and how I will always be a better man for the blessings and service given to our family at this challenging time of life.

 

HOSPICE CAME TODAY

It seems like it so long ago,
And I just stepped out, but Hospice stepped in,

And Mom called on the phone to say:
Hospice came today.
So I ran to the house, and there they sat,
Terri and Karen just like that,

They took Dad’s pulse, they checked his heart,
And yes they confirmed, it’s time to start.
They brought their beds, and all their stuff,
And they threw out all the meds,
And enough is enough.

 They started coming back, every week, indeed,
We got six months to go and we won’t leave!
What can we say?
Hospice came today.

 And it wasn’t enough to care for Dad,
There’s this woman named Lonnie,
Sixty Nine years a faithful mate!
Six months to go, is no big deal,

But one thing must be said of these Hospice Folk,
They never learned the meaning,
Of that work “NO!”

And Linda started showing up on every Sunday morn,
So Mom could go out and worship some.
And we turned around today,
And six months were twelve,
But wouldn’t you know today,
Hospice came
 

And Terri’s joyful heart,
And the Doctor’s crucial part,
And Oscar’s washing Art,
Were woven all together,
To contribute all the parts, 

And a host of Angelic nurses,
Came and went over time,

And Mom said today,
I claim those lovely Angels,
Will always be mine.

And I mostly missed them all,
But I talked to Mom today,
And she told me with great thanks,
Hospice came today.

 Now it’s been eighteen months,
That was really hard to say,
Bu I talked with Linda and I knew,
Hospice came today.

Now Mom’s getting a bit nervous,
She really had to say,
They said six months they would serve,
What will the Doctor say?

 Well Doc came out today,
And listened to Dad’s heart,
And he said to Mom with affection,
It is exactly how I thought,
I will see you again next month!
And as he drove away,

Mom called me up to say,
We are truly blessed,
Hospice came today.

Now if you are wondering,
How long I can go on,
Don’t think of leaving now, because
Hospice came today.

 And time still marches on,
And Linda came today,
Saying Lonnie go to Church,
I am blessing you this day.

 So like the relay race,
The last runner comes with Force!
Finishing the race,
Is his only concern.

And Dad is looking up,
And out into the sky,
And Hospice servants press,
So ever closer, by and by!
And as we came together,

To share Dad’s peaceful rest,
There came a knocking on the door,
Drawn by the heart of an Angels care,
Hospice came today.

 It seems like it started, so very long ago,
30 months plus more;
But Karin returned to share,
Her grace and comfort for us once more.
And wouldn’t you know, I love to always say,
Our hearts were blessed, your love caressed,
When Hospice came today

Now our walk is finished, 
And here we meet tonight,
To remember how much you cared,
Because once more:
Hospice came today

By Stephen Au Clair

 

Readers notes:

Terri is Terri Redwood who was Dad’s and our case worker for the entire walk

Karin is the nurse who initially came with Terri to our first meeting, gave Dad his initial care and assessment, returned 31 months later on August 13th  to visit Dad and our family on what became Dads last day of Hospice care.

Oscar is the Hospice care giver who provided in home care including bed baths, nail clipping and personal hygiene and other items of service as needed.

Linda is Linda Dillon, the volunteer who came almost every Sunday for over two and a half years to allow Mom to go to Church knowing Dad was in great care! Sunday, just wasn’t quite Sunday when Linda wasn’t there.

Stephen Au Clair  (Mimi: my second cousin)
Principal, Au Clair Consulting Inc
301 Natoma Street Suite 103
Folsom, CA 95630
916 353-0500

 


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What is Hospice Care?

================================ ==============================

Hospice Care is services provided to patients and their families and caregivers.

The patients are those that have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, has ceased receiving curative treatment or medication, and that illness has now progressed to a point whereupon death is likely within six months or less if the disease continues along the normal course.  Hospice care is a covered benefit for almost everyone.  

If a patient has Medicare 
If a patient has MediCal/MedicAid 
If a patient has major insurance coverage 
and they need hospice care, hospice care is free!

Hospice care has been a guaranteed benefit, like preventative well-person visits, since 1983.

There is NO CO-PAYMENT.
There is NO DEDUCTIBLE.

Medicare-certified hospice programs are federally mandated to integrate hospice volunteers into administrative or patient services. The United States government requires that the total number of hours that hospice volunteers contribute must equal at least 5% of the total number of patient care hours provided by paid hospice employees and contract staff.
The desire to give time and talents freely to those on the end-of-life journey emanates from a heart of compassion and a spirit of giving. Whether providing direct or indirect support, hospice volunteers are an integral part of the hospice team responsible for providing quality care and support. Hospice volunteering allows exceptional, caring individuals to use their gifts and skills to help provide patients, caregivers, and families with the most peaceful and comfortable end-of-life experience possible.

Find a Hospice Near You




CULTURE

Jan 3: Berkeley's first Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesus Gonzalez and musician/poet, Francisco Herrera  
La herencia española en los símbolos de E.E.U.U.

Mestizos valiosos - El Inca Garcilazo de la Vega

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Berkeley's first Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesus Gonzalez 
and San Francisco's musician/poet, Francisco Herrera.

We are honored to celebrate the new year with Hispanic culture, featuring Berkeley's first Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesus Gonzalez and S.F.'s musician/poet, Francisco Herrera.  Our 1st Wednesday monthly reading is Jan. 3, 7-9pm, at Frank Bette Center, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. After the features is our open mic.  We offer light refreshments and pass the hat.  We are community-run and we appreciate your help setting up.  Come early if you can! 


Rafael Jesús González
(rjgonzalez.blogspot.com) was born (October 10, 1935) and raised in the bicultural/bilingual environment of El Paso, Texas, U.S.A./Cd. Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico with family on both sides of the Río Grande. Just graduated from El Paso High School 1954, he joined the U.S. Navy in the hospital corps and served in the Marine Corps with the rank of Staff Sergeant. After military service, he attended the University of Texas, El Paso (then Texas Western College of the University of Texas) in pre-med taking time to attend the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México where he studied archaeology, Mexican literature, Mexican History, and Mexican philosophy.

 During this time, he published his first poems and academic articles in English and Spanish. On receiving the bachelor’s he decided to dedicate himself to literary studies which he did under a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and a National Education Act Fellowship. He did his graduate studies at the University of Oregon.

 

As professor of literature and creative writing, he taught at the University of Oregon, Western State Collage of Colorado, Central Washington State University, the University of Texas, El Paso (as Visiting Professor of Philosophy), and at Laney College, Oakland, California where he founded the Department of Mexican and Latin-American Studies. His poetry and academic articles appear in reviews and anthologies in the U. S., Mexico, and abroad; his collection of poems El Hacedor De Juegos/The Maker of Games published by Casa Editorial, San Francisco (1977-78) went through two editions. A selection of his moon poems, La musa lunática/The Lunatic Muse was published by Pandemonium Press, Berkeley, California in 2009. He has been nominated thrice for a Pushcart price.

 Also a visual artist, his work has been exhibited at such venues as the Mexican Museum of San Francisco, Galería de la Raza, the Oakland Museum of California, the Charles Ellis Art Museum, Milwaukee. In 1996, he was named Poet in Residence at the Oakland Museum of California and the Oakland Public Library under a ‘Writers on Site Award’ from Poets & Writers, Inc. and was chosen for the Annual Award for Literary Achievement by Dragonfly Press in 2002. In 2003, he was honored by the National Council of Teachers of English and Annenberg CPB for his writing. He was named featured poet by the San José Poetry Center, San José, California the fall of 2005. In November of 2005, he was invited to read his poetry and present a paper at the World Congress of Poets in Tai’an, Province of Shandong, China. In July 2006 he was named Universal Ambassador of Peace, Universal Ambassador Peace Circle, Geneva, Switzerland. In Spring 2007 he presented a paper and read his poetry at the 8º Encuentro Literario Internacional aBrace in Montevideo, Uruguay and in Winter 2008 in Havana, Cuba. In 2012 he again received the Dragonfly Press Award for Outstanding Literary Achievement and in 2013 the César E. Chávez Lifetime Award. The City of Berkeley honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Annual Berkeley Poetry Festival May 16, 2015. He was named the City of Berkeley's first Poet Laureate in 2017. He sat on the Advisory Board of the Oakland Museum of California from 1995 until its dissolution 2015; he sits on the Advisory Board of Dancing Earth, Contemporary Indigenous Dance Company. He resides in Berkeley, California.


Francisco Herrera is Singer-Songwriter, a Theologian, and cultural worker.  His music brings together different styles of music to promote human rights and social justice.  Francisco grew up in the border town 
of Calexico, connected with both cultural worlds.

With his siblings and cousins, Francisco used to sing rancheras and some mariachi at family parties.  As they got older, they started garage rock bands. When Francisco got older, his involvement in the church and with a growing interest in social issues, especially those touching the Latino community, Herrera began exploring ways to use music to further his goals of social justice. With that motivation a couple of years back, Herrera ran for Mayor of San Francisco and did quite well.
.

Herrera traveled extensively throughout Latin America working with community organizations even as he finished his four years at seminary school, all the while toting his guitar and whipping it out for events, actions, and church meetings. “Reflection, meditation, prayer, all those things are important.

Herrera has produced a new album, Honor Migrante, which is full of songs that reflect his passion for social justice. 


The themes range from immigrant rights to globalization, and the music itself crosses genre borders from traditional-sounding norteño and corrido tunes to post-modern electro-cumbia and Latin Rock wet with soulful vocals, wailing electric guitars, and a ripping Fender-Rhodes solo. All these sounds are melded smoothly together by veteran super-producer Greg Landau (Maldita Vecindad, Susana Baca) who met Herrera in the late 1980s on the Nueva Cancion circuit.

Francisco Herrera is an extraordinary guitarist and singer. He has performed often at the San Francisco Public Library’s Children’s Center over the past half-dozen years. Francisco is wonderfully capable of adjusting his repertoire of songs and program length to different age groups from the littlest pre-K children and school-aged kids to teens and adults.

Sent by Rafael Jesus Gonzalez  rafaeljgonzalezg@gmail.com 
and Cathy Dana



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La herencia española en los símbolos de E.E.U.U.
 

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Entre las grandes hazañas protagonizadas por España en el pasado y que los españoles de hoy ignoran, está la exploración y conquista de muchos de los territorios que hoy comprenden los EEUU. Y es que mucho tiempo antes de que ningún otro europeo pusiera un pie en tierras estadounidenses, los españoles ya habíamos clavado nuestra bandera en dichos confines. 

Durante más de tres siglos, nuestros hombres fundaron ciudades, fortificaciones, misiones y poblados a lo largo y ancho de todo el territorio americano, desde las sureñas tierras de Texas hasta la mismísima Alaska, donde hoy sigue habiendo ciudades como Valdez o Cordova que recuerdan nuestra gesta y donde dejamos un legado imborrable que abarca gran parte de la costa norte del Pacífico, llegando hasta los confines de la actual Rusia.

=================================== ===================================

Durante el tiempo que transcurre del siglo XVI al XIX, nuestros hombres tuvieron tiempo de ser los primeros europeos en cruzar el río Misisipi, atravesar el desierto de Nevada, avistar el Gran Cañón del Colorado o fundar ciudades tan importantes como Los Ángeles, San Francisco o San Agustín (en Florida, la ciudad más antigua de los EEUU que aún conserva nuestra preciosa fortaleza, con la bandera española aún hoy ondeando en lo alto). Asimismo, mucho antes de que los ingleses comenzaran la gran masacre de indígenas americanos, y siglos antes de que Hollywood rodara sus primeras películas del “Far West”, los españoles ya tomamos contacto, combatimos y pactamos con las grandes naciones y tribus indias de Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes o Navajos. Incorporamos a nuestro Virreinato de la Nueva España territorios tan conocidos como Arizona, California, Nuevo México, Texas, Luisiana o la Florida, y le dimos su nombre a las islas canadienses de San Juan, López, Fidalgo y Cortés.

Durante el tiempo que transcurre del siglo XVI al XIX, nuestros hombres tuvieron tiempo de ser los primeros europeos en cruzar el río Misisipi, atravesar el desierto de Nevada, avistar el Gran Cañón del Colorado o fundar ciudades tan importantes como Los Ángeles, San Francisco o San Agustín (en Florida, la ciudad más antigua de los EEUU que aún conserva nuestra preciosa fortaleza, con la bandera española aún hoy ondeando en lo alto).  Asimismo, mucho antes de que los ingleses comenzaran la gran masacre de indígenas americanos, y siglos antes de que Hollywood rodara sus primeras películas del “Far West”, los españoles ya tomamos contacto, combatimos y pactamos con las grandes naciones y tribus indias de Cheyennes, Sioux, Arapahoes o Navajos. Incorporamos a nuestro Virreinato de la Nueva España territorios tan conocidos como Arizona, California, Nuevo México, Texas, Luisiana o la Florida, y le dimos su nombre a las islas canadienses de San Juan, López, Fidalgo y Cortés.

=================================== ===================================
Nuestros antepasados combatieron, exploraron y conquistaron inmensos territorios contando con una escasísima capacidad y recursos, dejando un legado hoy casi desconocido para muchos pero que debemos esforzarnos en recuperar con orgullo en el nombre de nuestra historia y de nuestro país, que ha sido grande como ninguno.  Nombres gloriosos como los de Cabeza de Vaca, Menéndez de Avilés, Vázquez Coronado, Hernando de Soto, Ponce de León, Fray Junípero Serra o Juan de Oñate estarían grabados a fuego en la cabeza de todos los ciudadanos del país si en lugar de haber nacido españoles hubieran sido ingleses o estadounidenses…Los españoles, ¡a veces tan poco agradecidos con nosotros mismos y con nuestro pasado! Porque poca gente sabe que Madrid no es solamente la capital de España, sino que en Estados como Alabama, Nebraska, Iowa, Nueva York o Virginia, también hay ciudades que llevan su nombre. Tampoco es conocido por muchos españoles el hecho de que el emblema de Castilla siga luciendo a día de hoy en lo alto del mismísimo Capitolio de Texas. Pues bien, éste artículo pretende datar brevemente, con nombres y apellidos, los principales símbolos oficiales relacionados con España que aún perduran en la actualidad en los Estados Unidos y que hacen honor a nuestro legado. 

Hay muchos más, pero quiero recordar los que considero principales. Son los siguientes:

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SÍMBOLO DEL DÓLAR

Poco antes de que los españoles descubriéramos América, el Rey Fernando el Católico había adoptado para el emblema de la nueva España las Columnas de Hércules, que entrelazó con una cinta sobre la que escribió la frase “Non plus ultra” que significa “nada más allá” y que hacía referencia a que ya no había nada más allá (del mundo conocido). Pero cuando Cristóbal Colón conquistó el nuevo continente, aquel lema se modificó, cambiando al “Plus Ultra” que nos ha acompañado hasta hoy y que indica que sí había algo más allá (América).Una vez incorporado este escudo a la oficialidad de nuestro Reino, y cuando tras las primeras conquistas los españoles fuimos acuñando moneda a lo largo y ancho de América, el símbolo de las Columnas de Hércules empezó a estar presente en todas las monedas acompañando a la figura de nuestros sucesivos Reyes.
 Siglos después, y aunque ya no conservemos la soberanía sobre dichos territorios, muchas naciones americanas conservan el españolísimo símbolo como representación de sus monedas. Entre ellos, los EEUU.
=================================== ===================================

BANDERA CONFEDERADA

La bandera confederada, diseñada por el congresista americano William Porcher Miles y utilizada básicamente en operaciones militares, ha sufrido cambios a lo largo de la historia pero siempre ha estado vinculada a España (inicialmente estaba compuesta de tres franjas horizontales con los colores de nuestra bandera), y hoy lleva con orgullo sus trece estrellas de los Estados del sur americano, apoyadas sobre el Aspa de San Andrés, símbolo de la antigua bandera de España

BANDERA DE FLORIDA



Se trata de la última de varias banderas que ha tenido La Florida a lo largo de su historia. Ésta, diseñada en 1900, incorpora el escudo del Estado sobre la antigua bandera imperial española, la Cruz de Borgoña o Aspa de San Andrés,  sobre fondo blanco. Señalar que en el fuerte de San Agustín, primera ciudad y primer fuerte construidos por los europeos en todo Estados Unidos, aún ondea nuestra bandera en lo alto de su torre del homenaje.

BANDERA DE ALABAMA



La actual bandera del Estado de Alabama, también fundado por nosotros, fue aprobada el 16 de febrero de 1895. En ésta ocasión, los de Alabama quisieron conservar simple y llanamente la bandera que había dominado sus destinos durante tres siglos. Sin modificaciones. La antigua bandera imperial de España con el Aspa de San Andrés sobre fondo blanco.

BANDERA DEL ESTADO DE ARIZONA



En este caso, la bandera de Arizona incorpora una estrella de color bronce en su centro en recuerdo de su pasado minero. Pero en la franja superior, que es la que nos interesa, vemos las trece barras que representan a las 13 colonias originales fundadas en el Estado, que llevan los colores rojo y gualda, en honor al Imperio Español y a nuestros conquistadores.  

BANDERA DE NUEVO MEXICO



Los ciudadanos de Nuevo México también quisieron honrar a España con su bandera. Y es que dicha bandera, que incorpora en su centro uno de los símbolos indígenas de la tribu neomexicana “Zía”, también lleva los colores rojo y gualda de nuestra bandera  en honor a nuestros exploradores, a España y a su Rey.

 ESCUDO Y BANDERA 
DE MONTANA

El lema del Estado, que figura en la bandera y el escudo de Montana, originalmente vinculada a la Luisiana española, hace referencia, en español, al pasado minero que introdujimos los españoles en la región. Literalmente dice “Oro y Plata”

ESCUDO DE TEXAS





El escudo de este importantísimo Estado americano también tiene presente a España. Y es que incorpora las 6 banderas de las 6 naciones que han ejercido su soberanía sobre dicho territorio. En ésta ocasión, nuestra bandera moderna con el escudo de la época, luce en su parte superior derecha.

ESCUDO DE LOS ÁNGELES

 





El escudo de la ciudad de Los Ángeles, que tantas veces hemos visto en las películas de Hollywood, también tiene reminiscencias claras de nuestro legado fundador. En su cuartel inferior izquierdo, vemos claramente el emblema de Castilla y León, que representa su fundación como ciudad española, y en la parte baja vemos reseñado el año de su fundación por España.

ESCUDO DE PUERTO RICO




El escudo de este Estado Libre Asociado, tan cercano en su amor y fidelidad a España, botín de guerra de los EE.UU en la guerra hispano-norteamericana de 1898 y territorio no incorporado a los EE.UU -pertenece a los EE.UU pero no forma parte de ellos-, es plenamente hispánico. El escudo de Puerto Rico fue otorgado en 1511 por la Corona Española, y es el más viejo del Nuevo Mundo. Fue adoptado nuevamente en 1976 por el gobierno del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”.

ESCUDO DE ALABAMA

 



Por último, varios de los escudos utilizados actualmente en el Estado de Alabama, también recuerdan a nuestra patria, pues en su cuartel superior izquierdo nos tienen presentes a través de nuestro escudo de Castilla y León, como patria fundadora que fuimos.

        http://www.plataforma2003.org/hemos_leido/280.htm Plataforma 2003 - Alonso Cano 66, 2º sót. pta. 5.
28003 MadridTel.: 91 535 42 45 - Fax: 91 536 24 34

plataforma2003@gmail.com  - 
https://
www.facebook.com/Plataforma2003
Sent by C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)




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Mestizos valiosos - El Inca Garcilazo de la Vega

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Este año, el Día del Libro (23 de abril) viene cargado de conmemoraciones: a los cuartos centenarios de Cervantes y Shakespeare hay que añadir el de un literato menos conocido, pero de gran significación histórica. Se trata de Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, apodado Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, escritor e historiador peruano de ascendencia española e inca. 
Está considerado el primer mestizo racial y cultural de América que supo asumir y conciliar sus dos herencias culturales, la indígena americana y la europea, para alcanzar ya en vida un gran renombre intelectual.
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El Inca Garcilaso nació en Cuzco el 12 de abril de 1539 y falleció en Córdoba (España) el 23 de abril de 1616. Ha sido llamado «príncipe de los escritores del Nuevo Mundo», pues su obra literaria, que se ubica en el período del Renacimiento, se destaca por un gran dominio y manejo del idioma castellano. El Nobel Mario Vargas Llosa, que lo ha llamado “el primer peruano”, le reconoce también dotes de consumado narrador, destacando su prosa bella y elegante.

De madre inca, la princesa Isabel Chimpu Ocllo, y padre español, el capitán Sebastián Garcilaso de la Vega, fue educado en las dos culturas, la andina y la hispana, y se manejó con idéntica soltura en quechua y castellano, amén de llegar a dominar el italiano, el francés y el latín. Su padre era sobrino del Garcilaso de la Vega del Siglo de Oro, por lo que el Inca fue sobrino-nieto por parte de padre del famoso poeta renacentista castellano. Sin embargo, él destacó como prosista, tanto en el plano narrativo (La Florida del Inca, 1605) como en la crónica histórica (Comentarios Reales de los Incas, 1609; Historia General del Perú, publicado póstumamente en 1617). Asimismo, tradujo los Diálogos de amor de León Hebreo.

En 1560, tras el fallecimiento de su padre, se trasladó a vivir a España, donde residió ya el resto de su vida y donde produjo y dio a conocer su obra. Después de probar suerte en la carrera militar, se instaló en Córdoba en 1591 y allí moriría hace 400 años. Precisamente para conmemorar tal hecho, la Biblioteca Nacionalofrece en Madrid desde el 29 de enero y hasta el 2 de mayo una exposición titulada La biblioteca del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1616-2016). La muestra recrea el archivo bibliográfico del intelectual peruano, que a su muerte se inventarió en 188 libros, amén de presentar otros objetos relacionados con su vida y obra.

​(neglected to copy source)​ El Arcón de la Historia de España
Sent by C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)

 

BOOKS & PRINT MEDIA

Dancing with the Devil by Louis Diaz
Franciscan Frontiersmen: How Three Adventurers Charted the West 
Españoles Olividos de Norteamérica por Jose Antonio Crespo-Francés
How Will I Talk to Abuela by Maria de la Luz Reyes
Los Demonios del Mar
Naves negras. La ruta de las especias by Carlos Canales Y Miguel del Rey

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Overview of  . . . . 
Dancing with the Devil: 
Confessions of an Undercover Agent 
by Louis Diaz and Neal Hirschfeld


IN AMERICAN GANGSTER, THE FEDS TOOK DOWN INFAMOUS HEROIN DEALER FRANK LUCAS. BUT THE KINGPIN BEHIND LUCAS’S CRIMINAL REIGN, LEROY “NICKY” BARNES, REMAINED “MR. UNTOUCHABLE.” UNTIL ONE UNDERCOVER AGENT PROVED TOUGH ENOUGH—OR CRAZY ENOUGH—TO INFILTRATE HIS DOMAIN AND NAIL THE MOST DANGEROUS DRUG CZAR IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Growing up in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where physical violence was a daily reality at home, at school, and on the streets, Louis Diaz had what it took to survive—and to one day become what he vowed to be: a man of uncompromising principles who is “compassionate on the inside, fierce on the outside.” These were the qualities, along with his street fighter’s steely nerves and hair-trigger temper, that drove Diaz from his savage beginnings and early forays in organized crime to become one of the DEA’s bravest undercover agents—the man who was instrumental in taking down some of the nation’s and the world’s most notorious crime rings.
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In an unforgettable and utterly engaging first-person narrative, Diaz tells his gritty, colorful, painful, and even humorous life story—a story with all the raw emotional power and bare-knuckle action of Wiseguy or Serpico. 

From his headline-making cases of Nicky Barnes and the Medellín cartel . . . to his account of outwitting a key villain linked to the record-breaking heist known as The Great English Train Robbery . . . to his all-out confrontations with murderous gunrunners and drug dealers on the mean streets of New York . . . to leading commando raids on clan-destine cocaine labs inside the Bolivian jungles, Dancing with the Devil is an explosive memoir that stands as a classic of true-crime literature.
Anonymous reader review . . . 

"This book is fast-moving and full of interesting details about the life of an undercover cop (vice and drugs, mostly, and mostly in NY in the 1960s, 70s and 80s) that are interesting and nerve-racking. Diaz is a good guy who grew up as a poor and hyper-responsible (he watched over a younger brother, who was epileptic) immigrant kid in scary, tough neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Hair-raising neighborhood events helped steel his nerves for his future life among truly dangerous gangsters and thugs. 

Diaz is retired from police work now, and has a new life as an actor in California -- but in this story, as told to Neal Hirschfeld, a crime writer, he paints a full picture of the life he led as well as what got him to become a detective. He's all about fighting for good, but without cliches. I learned a lot about undercover work -- the excitement and the tedium of it -- and about the minds of criminals, too. Highly recommended. A quick read that stays with you for a long time afterwards."   
Editorial Review

Retired DEA agent Diaz, writing with Hirschfeld (coauthor, Detective: The Inspirational Story of the Trailblazing Woman Cop Who Wouldn't Quit), tells his life story with brutal honesty. Overcoming an abusive yet loving (and beloved) father, his own volatile temper, and the demons of depression, he was a very successful DEA agent who did best when working undercover to take down some of the most notorious drug dealers of our time, including New York heroin kingpin Nicky Barnes and José "el Tío" Lopez of the Medellín cartel. He worked assignments in the jungles of Bolivia and in London, New York, and Los Angeles, where he transferred midcareer. Hot-headed Diaz used the adrenalin rush of deep undercover work and his success as a boxer to channel his energy. He pulls no punches about his personal life, poignantly sharing his bouts with depression and grief. Best of all, when Hollywood films his life story, Diaz will be able to play himself—his most recent chapter has been as adviser and actor (stage name Lou Casal) for film and television.Verdict The gripping story of one man's flaws, loves, and achievements, this should be a popular selection for true crime fans. 

Highly recommended.—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

Library Journal

I decided to write my story, in short, because 

Too many other people took credit for taking "down" the infamous Nicky Barnes, aka "Mr. Untouchable." The biggest heroin dealer in the United States during the 70's.

I wanted to set the story straight between Nicky Barnes and the lying Frank Lucas, who just about fabricated most of his own background story for the movie "American Gangster."

I wanted to show others the love you can have for your loved ones and others, (my father particularly), despite being mistreated by some of them.

More importantly, I wanted my story to serve as an inspiration to young men, that despite your upbringing and hardships you can achieve your dreams if you pursue them vigorously.

I wanted to show the Anglo-Saxon community that there are many so unsung hero's '(not that I'm necessarily one), in the Hispanic/Latino community. And also despite the stereotypes we have progressed and contributed just as much, if not more, to society than any other ethnic group for our collective size.

Lou Diaz 
email: elcid225@aol.com
CP 714-745-6453



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Franciscan Frontiersmen: How Three Adventurers Charted the West 
 
Newly published book by author Robert Kittle, journalist and historian. who explores the lives of three pioneering friars, Pedro Font, Francisco Garces, and Juan Crespi, who accompanied Junipero Serra to California in the last half of the eighteenth century. Drawing on the long-forgotten journals, extensive trail observations, and correspondence of the three padres, as well as the author’s own exhaustive field research, provides fresh insights into the rigors of daily life on the frontiers of New Spain.

These three Franciscans were the chaplains and official diarists of Spain’s path-finding expeditions on the West Coast of North America. In the tumult of the Spanish crown’s colonization, Font, Garces, and Crespi endured terrifying storms at sea, blood-soaked Indian attacks, starvation, scurvy, and lonely isolation as they carved trails
through uncharted lands. Together, they explored a swath of the continent that was larger and more important than that explored by Lewis and Clark a generation later. But their exploits have been overlooked, because Americans are eager to learn their English past, but largely ignore their Spanish past.



Españoles Olividos de Norteamérica por Jose Antonio Crespo-Francés

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Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)
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How Will I Talk to Abuela? is the story of a 5 year-old boy named David who is excited to meet his grandmother (abuela). The problem: Abuela speaks Spanish and David speaks English. He wonders how they will communicate. In the end, David discovers that love and strong family bonds can transcend language barriers.
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                  About The Author

María de la Luz Reyes is a former classroom teacher and an Associate Professor Emerita of Education, University of Colorado-Boulder. She has conducted research and published numerous articles on literacy, language development and biliteracy.

María comes from a large, culturally diverse family that includes biracial children. Some speak Spanish, some are bilingual, but all speak English. Abuela passed on the tradition of making tortillas and playing Loteria, a Mexican bingo game,. Loteria continues to bring them together for fun and laughter, and cements a love that needs no translation.

How Do I Talk to Abuela? is her first children’s book.

January 20, 2017 Review
  • Grade Level: Kindergarten - 6
  • Hardcover: 38 pages, $16.99
  • Publisher: María de la Luz Reyes (October 23, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 11 inches
    Sent by Frances Rios  francesrios499@hotmail.com 

 

Editor Mimi:  One of my fond childhood memories is playing Loteria with the family.  I loved sitting at the table with my Tias and cousins. I don't remember "mis tios" playing Loteria with us.  They usually joined the table and played poker, after we kids were dismissed. . .  "Ya, afuera."
 


Nuevo Libro:  "Los Demonios del Mar"
Sent by Dr. Carlos Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAXRKRhtC3c

Editor Mimi: This youtube video is rolling  text, a review of the the invasions of Spain by both the Vikings and Muslims. 



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Naves negras. La ruta de las especias
Carlos Canales Y Miguel del Rey

Naves negras. La ruta de las especias, de Carlos Canales y Miguel del Rey (Edaf, 2015) es un apasionante recorrido a lo largo de un siglo de descubrimientos y conquistas protagonizado por navegantes, exploradores, misioneros, piratas y guerreros, que nos llevará por lugares exóticos como la Conchinchina, Camboya, Japón, Filipinas o el casi desconocido en la época imperio Chino.

Los autores han colaborado en anteriores títulos como La Segunda Guerra Mundial, Esclavos, La Gran Guerra, Los años de España en México, En tierra extraña y la trilogía dedicada a la armada española formada por Las reglas del viento, Naves Mancas, IX Premio Algaba; De madera y acero, Los halcones del mar. 

 

Son también autores de la colección de éxito Trazos de la Historia, con títulos como Polvo y Terror que versan sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial, invitándonos a observar la historia desde novedosas perspectivas.
Carlos Canales Torres es abogado y escritor. Colaborador durante 13 años del programa La Rosa de los Vientos de Onda Cero. Como especialista en historia ha escrito decenas de artículos y libros como La Primera Guerra Carlista (1833-1840) y, en colaboración con Fernando Martínez Laínez, Banderas Lejanas (Edaf 2009).

Miguel del Rey es escritor y ha sido director de la revista Ristre en su segunda etapa. Como autor especializado en historia militar ha publicado libros como La Guerra de África (1859-1860), La Guerra de la Oreja de Jenkins y decenas de artículos y colaboraciones en publicaciones periódicas.
En esta ocasión su mirada se sitúa en Oriente, lugar donde se encontraban las riquezas de las legendarias islas de las especias, los reinos de Conchinchina o el imperio Chino, codiciadas por las potencias europeas que encontrar en las especias un gran y lucrativo negocio. Los autores señalan con detalle las razones por las que los monarcas de España y Portugal financiaron las empresas que se alzaron a la mar en busca de nuevos horizontes.

El relato comienza con el descubrimiento de la Mar del Sur por Vasco Núñez de Balboa en el año 1513, confirmando la evidencia del descubrimiento de una nueva tierra por parte de los españoles, que se interponía entre Asia y Europa. Continuaremos siguiendo los pasos de la épica empresa de Magallanes, continuada por Elcano, para conseguir una estación permanente en Oriente que sirviera como base para establecer rutas comerciales y consolidar lo descubierto hasta ese momento.

A partir de aquí se suceden las aventuras, empresas, batallas, planes de conquista e invasión, rivalidades entre potencias, para conseguir el dominio de los mares y hacerse con las codiciadas riquezas que escondían estas tierras. Los protagonistas serán héroes que encabezaron empresas épicas llenas de riesgo y peligros, que se enfrentaron a todo tipo de enemigos y adversidades climáticas y geográficas, y que dejaron profundas huellas hasta el punto de que más de cuatro siglos después podemos encontrar su rastro repartido por lugares de todo el planeta.

Los autores consiguen ofrecernos un esclarecedor relato con un tono divulgativo, un contenido documentado, una presentación muy atractiva con ilustraciones y desplegables que facilitan la comprensión, anexos aclaratorios y un apasionante relato que muestra cómo los barcos españoles ("naves negras", como las calificaron los habitantes de Japón), surcaron los mares y fueron los primeros que "circunnavegaron el globo y fijaron las bases de una economía auténticamente global, lo que cambiaría el mundo para siempre". Queda en manos del lector decidir si el cambio fue algo positivo o negativo, pero lo que es indudable es que "ninguna nación o comunidad humana tiene en la historia una aportación semejante".

 
Sent by C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)​

 


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An Impossible Living in a Transborder World 
 by Carlos G. Velez-Ibanez

 

Carlos Velez-Ibanez shares a lot of cultural and anthropological information in this well researched book about credit associations amongst Mexicans in both Mexico ad the USA during the late part of the 19th century as well as during the 20th.  I remember being amazed in the late 1970s at the size and operational practices of the credit uion that the CSO ran in Boyle Heights for more than 3 decades.

They are known as cundinas or tandas in Mexico, and for many people these local savings-and-loan operations play an indispensable role in the struggle to succeed in today’s transborder economy. With this extensively researched book, Carlos Vélez-Ibáñez updates and expands upon his major 1983 study of rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs), incorporating new data that reflect the explosion of Mexican-origin populations in the United States.

Much more than a study of one economic phenomenon though, the book examines the way in which these practices are part of greater transnational economies and how these populations engage in—and suffer through—the twenty-first century global economy.

Central to the ROSCA is the cultural concept of mutual trust, or confianza. This is the cultural glue that holds the reciprocal relationship together. As Vélez-Ibáñez explains, confianza “shapes the expectations for relationships within broad networks of interpersonal links, in which intimacies, favors, goods, services, emotion, power, or information are exchanged.” In a border region where migration, class movement, economic changes, and institutional inaccessibility produce a great deal of uncertainty, Mexican-origin populations rely on confianza and ROSCAs to maintain a sense of security in daily life. How do transborder people adapt these common practices to meet the demands of a global economy? That is precisely what Vélez-Ibáñez investigates.

Source: Kirk Whisler     Hispanic Marketing 101
and  J. gilberto Quezada    jgilbertoquezada@yahoo.com 

www.uapress.arizona.edu,       The University of Arizona      $24.95       520-621-3920

 


Las más hermosas bibliotecas. Bibliotecas que hay que visitar
 ​
https://www.facebook.com/Diariodelviajero/videos/10154722548484828/
Joe Sanchez (bluewall@mpinet.net)

 

 


FILMS, TV, RADIO, INTERNET

 

Louie the Actor Is Back by Al Martinez
Secrets of Spanish Florida 
Wonder by Raquel Jaramillo Palacio


Louie the Actor Is Back
by Al Martinez
From the Los Angeles Times Archives, 
April 23, 1996
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When I first saw Louie Diaz he was at a mike in a place on the Westside called Matty's, singing "It's Not for Me to Say."

It was a decent rendition of an old tune, but that's not what got me interested in the guy.

I was with the late con artist Joe Seide, who knew everyone, and who told me that in addition to being a performer, Diaz was also the best drug agent in America.

Seide was not always to be believed due to the nature of his profession and his inclination to, as he always said, "elaborate," but I was intrigued enough to ask to meet Diaz.

That was four years ago. I liked the guy right away. He called himself an "undercover actor" and was with the Drug Enforcement Administration working out of L.A.

You don't see singing narcs too often, so I mentioned it in a column, which did not make Diaz happy since much of his work had always been undercover.

I do not think he is the kind of guy to make unhappy. Short and powerful, there is an explosive quality to Diaz that his gentle nature belies.

You get the feeling as he is kissing you on the cheek that he is also capable of biting off your ear, which is a quality that served him well on the street. You didn't mess with Lou.

But he forgave me for blowing a little of his cover, did not bite off my ear, and said I could write about him in more detail when he retired.

Well, he left the DEA last month and is doing full time what he's always done under less rewarding circumstances. He's acting.

A good undercover agent has to be a good actor, and Diaz, who now calls himself Lou Casal, was the best. His nickname in the DEA was Louie the Actor.

Of Basque origin, he played the part of Sicilians, Cubans and Colombians in the deadly world of drug dealers that took him from a prison in England to the jungles of Bolivia.

He was with the DEA for 25 years, 20 of which were undercover, a job so secretive that he never even talked about it with his wife. Until his son was older, he thought his dad was a truck driver.

Diaz was raised in the rough-and-tumble Red Hook section of Brooklyn and knew most of the mob guys on the street. His father taught him ethics and morality by beating him, which not only drove the lessons in but also made him the toughest kid in Brooklyn.

As a drug agent, Diaz's talents were immediately recognized. He was honest, fearless and a good actor, and he knew the street. So when the DEA decided to go after the king of East Coast drug dealers, they chose Diaz for the job.


The target was Leroy "Nicky" Barnes Jr., the so-called "black Capone" of Harlem, who had managed to evade prison, despite 13 arrests, through the fortunate disappearance of those who were to testify against him.

Diaz, posing as a renegade mobster and part-time hit man from the West Coast, ingratiated himself with Barnes and after a year operating under the most dangerous conditions possible managed to gather enough evidence to bring him down. Barnes got life in prison and is still there. 

I caught up with Diaz on the set of the television series "L.A. Heat," where he was playing the part of a Mafioso's brother.


Watching him in the kind of role he once played for real, one could easily see how he could get by with it. There is a kind of underlying menace to Diaz which, even when he is smiling and hugging you warmly, is never completely subdued. I sensed the street in his nature, the sizzle of a fuse burning.

The quality has served him well as an actor on both television and the big screen, but he cannot quite get over the old days.

"You can be cool on the job, but there's nothing you can do about the nightmares," he said the other day as we sat in his tiny mobile dressing room. "You can't control the haunts."

One of them has to do with the night a dealer, who suspected Diaz might be a cop, held a .45 to his head. Diaz looked him directly in the eyes and, unflinching, said, "If you have any reservations about who I am, you might as well pull the trigger now."

The dealer hesitated for what seemed a lifetime then said, "You gotta be real" and uncocked the .45.

He is real. He is as real as the roles he plays, as real as the life he lived and as real as the warmth he exudes off camera. He is the stuff that movies are made of and books written about.

You could never make up a character like Louie the Actor. I always want him on my side.

Al Martinez can be reached through the Internet at al.martinez@latimes.com
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-04-23/local/me-61672_1_louie-diaz


Editor Mimi: Louie Diaz has a heritage connect to El Cid.  I do too which makes us primos.  How fun! Louie's email is  elcid225@aol.com


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Secrets of Spanish Florida – A Secrets of the Dead Special uncovers one story of America’s past that never made it into textbooks. Follow some of America’s leading archaeologists, maritime scientists, and historians as they share the story of Florida’s earliest settlers. It’s a story that has taken more than 450 years to reveal.  

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/secrets-spanish-florida-synopsis/3626/


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Wonder: the novel written by a 
Latino author that causes sensation in Spain 

 

By Andrea Rodés, 
Al Día Newspaper

 

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Written by Raquel Jaramillo, daughter of Colombian inmigrants, Wonder returns to be topical thanks to the premiere of the film with the same name. The novel serves as an inspiration for young people affected by facial alterations who suffer bullying at school.
In the US, it has been a long time since "Wonder", a juvenile novel written by the author of Colombian origin R.J. Palacio, causes sensation in schools. The funny thing is that since its publication, in 2012, the story of Auggie, a 10-year-old boy with a malformation on his face who suffers bullying at school, has also become a bestseller in Spain.
"The novel helps to make visible in the classroom issues such as bullying and empathy. Or the importance of cordiality ", highlighted Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia on Monday, ten days after the movie inspired in the novel was released in Spain. 
The movie "Wonder", starring Julia Roberts, has put R.J. Palacio's juvenile novel again on the spot.
Mimicking what happened in the US, in recent years "Wonder" has become compulsory reading in many schools, at least in Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain, where it has also been published in Catalan.
The success of "Wonder" in Spain is due to several factors: 

In the first place, the capacity of J.R. Palacio (pseudonym of Raquel Jaramillo, a first generation American, born to Colombian inmigrants) to present a subject as serious as school bullying in a comedy and cheerful tone. And second, notes the newspaper El Periódico , the fact that the daughter of a famous character like Pep Guardiola, the former coach of Futbol Club Barcelona, appeared reading the book in 2013, when the family lived in NY.
"Wonder" (link is external) explains August's story from the point of view of different characters, like his sister and his friends. The author then wrote two more books(link is external) to continue her story: "Julian's Story", where she focuses on the boy who bullies August; therefore, it forces the reader to put himself in the shoes of the bad guy. The third book, "The Game of Christopher," features August's best friend, in an attempt to highlight the importance of friendship.
August Garcia, a primary teacher at a school outside of Barcelona, explained to El Periódico that the first reaction of his students to read the book is "of curiosity about the malformation suffered by the protagonist, but they quickly immerse themselves in the story, obviating this feature.

 "One thing that surprises children is that the same story can be lived in different ways," Garcia explains. "After all, they learn what life is like; We live the same things and we see them in different ways ".

Wonder, now released as a movie in cinemas around the world, was the first novel by Raquel Jaramillo, graphic designer, daughter of Colombian immigrants residing in New York. 
The author has told in several interviews that the novel was born by chance, after a "quite embarrassing" incident. The author was on the street with her two children, sitting in front of an ice cream parlor. His eldest son had just finished fifth grade, and the youngest was still in a stroller. They saw a girl with her face deformed by a medical condition.
"It was just one of those terrible moments when my children did not react the way I wanted them to react," Jaramillo said in an interview with NPR in 2012. "In order not to hurt this girl's feelings, I ended up running away from the scene. "

That night, embarrassed of what happened, she began to write a story about a fifth-grader named Auggie who struggles to feel normal despite the fact that everyone looks at him.
A classic first generation American
A first generation American, R.J Palacio was born and raised in a working class neighborhood of Queens. Her father, originally from Antioquia, worked in the publishing industry, and her mother, Barranquilla, was the secretary of an American company, until in the early sixties they decided to emigrate together to the United States, Colombian magazine Diners reported.
"My mother always told me: do not forget that you are a writer (...) I think I am the classic example of first generation kid: my mission in life became to validate my parents' decision to emigrate to New York", detailed Jaramillo in another interview with The Telegraph.Palacio took his pseudonym from her mother's last name.
After finishing elementary school, Jaramillo entered the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan, and then specialized in illustration at the Parsons School of Design. She spent her third year at the American University of Paris, where she traveled long before returning to New York City with the aim of making a career as an illustrator.
His first works appeared in The Village Voice and The New York Times Book Review, and he has designed book covers for countless writers in all genres of fiction and non-fiction, including Paul Auster, Thomas Pynchon, Salman Rushdie, Louise Ehrdrich, Sue Grafton and John Fowles.

Source: Kirk Whisler
Executive Editor
Hispanic Marketing 101

email: kirk@whisler.com
voice: (760) 579-1696
web: www.hm101.com
Podcast: www.mylatinonetwork.com


ORANGE COUNTY, CA

Jan 13: SHHAR:  Sylvia Contreras, "Abraham Lincoln and Mexico” 
           The Mexican War (1846-48)

Mater Dei High School,  2017 State Champions Open Division
Mater Dei High School Alumni, class of 1956
"Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s" by Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.
Example of information and visuals from the book: 
          Irapuato, Gto (Guanajuato), Mexico correspondence
          Boy Scout's Cabin in Westminster,
Jan 13, Fund Raiser for  "Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s"
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Come join us at the  January 13, 2018 monthly meeting of the Society Of Hispanic Historical & Ancestral Research (SHHAR) where our featured speaker will be Sylvia Contreras who will lecture on: Abraham Lincoln and Mexico” The Mexican War (1846-48) occurred in many areas of what is today California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and other states.  The intent was to connect lands “from sea to shining sea” - the Atlantic and the Pacific.  Abraham supported Mexico and believed the US was wrong to start a war.  This lecture is about the book “Abraham Lincoln and Mexico” by Michael Hogan, a professor in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.  

Sylvia is dedicated to sharing the history of early California, Mexico, and Spain.   In her journey for knowledge, she joined Lincoln and Mexico Project (LAMP) as a Public Relations representative to inform and educate people how Lincoln supported Mexico.  She has been a volunteer docent at Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum since 2010, and volunteers in other community areas.  She is currently a realtor with a background in corporate business and holds a Bachelor of Science Business Management degree from the University of Phoenix.  

The free presentation will take place at the Orange Family History Center, 674 S. Yorba St., Orange. Volunteers will provide research assistance from 9 -10 a.m., and  Contreras will speak from 10:15 -11:30 a.m.

For information, contact Letty Rodella at lettyr@sbcglobal.net.

 

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Mater Dei High School,  2017 State Champions Open Division

Mater Dei HS of Santa Ana, CA routed De La Salle scoring 52 pts to DLS's 21, earning the title of  2017 State of California Champions, Open Division. The Monarchs were ranked number 1 football team in the nation by top polls including MaxPreps and USA Today (Super 25). USA Today also awarded Co. Bruce Rollinson "All-USA Coach's of the Year. 

This is Mater Dei's first time as CA State Champions and second time being ranked #1 in the USA. Fabulous achievements for the school that opened in 1950 as the first coeducational Catholic high school in Orange County. The Monarch team of 1955 won the school's first league championship and CIF game under Co. Steve Musseau and Co-coach Dick Coury. Teams of 1956 and '57 were CIF champions. Apple recognized MDHS as an outstanding institution by naming it a "Distinguished School."    


Mater Dei High School Alumni, class of 1956

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Left side, L-R. 1 Ed Adams; 2 Danny Musselman; 3 Gus Osterkamp; 4 Hank Bigonger; 5 Dennis Halloran; 6 Tino Flores; 7 Frank Mendoza (end chair).
Rt side, L-R: 1 Lupe Gonzales; 2 Sal Flores; 3 Jimmy Neukaemper (standing); 4 Gary Dobson; 5 Larry Nees; 6 Andy Ersek. Bobby Webber, photographer.

 

As per custom, classmates of Al Vela '56 routinely gather at Hollinghead Deli in Orange, CA to share warm memories of days gone by. Me dicen, "Come home, mijo" because of a little snow in CT; "it's 81degree here!"   

Mimi, many of us knew each other since grammar school and all of us attended Mater Dei high school and have been meeting for about the last 10 Year’s calling our group altar boys gone wild.  ~Al

 


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Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s

The history of the city of Westminster
by historian, Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.

 
VERSA PRESS, Inc.  anticipates shipping the limited edition of 500 copies of TRACKS 
on December 28, 2017. A number of books will be shipped to Westminster, CA. 
Wendy & Judge John Gallagher of Santa Rosa, CA had this to say about TRACKS:
John and I are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your book. We want to order four
 books. We want one for ourselves, and one to pass around to our kids, grandkids, 
and interested friends. . .Sonoma County has about 13 or 14 libraries.  I'll loan the 
head librarian our extra book. Likewise the Sonoma County Superintendent of 
Education, Sonoma State University, and Santa Rosa JC.  
On second thought, where the schools are concerned, the head of the Latino Studies 
Department. . . would be the best place to start (email of December 12, 2017). 
To be placed on the waiting list, kindly email the author, Albert V Vela, PhD at
SiglerPark@gmail.com,

Write checks payable to DIOCITO PUBLISHING COMPANY
MAIL TO: Albert V. Vela
12 Tarragon Drive
East Hampton
CT 06424-1755
Give name, phone and address indicating the number of books you wish to purchase. 
PRICES:
CA: $39.95 + $3.50 (8.75% sales tax) + $3.99 (media postage/handling) = $47.44 per book
CT: $39.95 + $2.54 (6.35% sales tax) + $3.99 (media postage/handling) = $46.48 per book

 

The book describes the founding of the barrio;
includes narratives of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1919);
and the Cristero Rebellion (1926-1929); 
education before Mendez et al. v Westminster et al.; 
when softball was king in the 1940s; 
why Mexican American families journeyed
north to the San Joaquín and south to the Imperial Valley to make a living; 
how Mexican American families from Santa Ana, Garden Grove, El Modena, and Westminster rallied around Gonzalo and Felícitas Méndez to overcome the school 
     segregation of their children; 
excerpts from original court documents of Mendez v Westminster depicting the oral 
     arguments by the defendant school districts 
and Atty David C Marcus who represented the plaintiffs. . .and more. 

Readers will enjoy many historical photos never before seen by the public at large, and be fascinated by the interviews. To be placed on the waiting list, email the author (Albert V Vela, PhD) -  SiglerPark@gmail.com

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Irapuato, Gto (Guanajuato), Mex

After mom and dad settled in Sawtelle, CA (west LA near Beverly Hills), he corresponded with his sister (my aunt), Maria Guadalupe Vela. Note date of April 1927 which is during the time of the Cristero Rebellion. Ma. Guadalupe wrote 3-4 letters to dad. I quote one of her letters in Chap 4 of my book where she comments how dire the situation was becoming "día tras día." 

Mom, dad, maternal abuelo Juan Vargas, and Dolores and Julia came across from Ciudad Juárez into El Paso via the International Bridge as depicted in the front cover of my book. This took place Nov 26, 1926 at the start of the Catholic religious uprising against the Calles federal government. Copy of  Sept 14, 1926 correspondence/envelop from our uncle Valentín Vela to dad is below. Our tío was living in Sawtelle at the time. He's the one who told how he and his brothers were up against the wall to be shot!   ~  Al

 

BOYS SCOUTS CABIN IN WESTMINSTER, CA

Photo is of the Boy Scouts cabin at Sigler Park in Westminster, CA. In the 1940s youths from the barrio and outside the barriowould congregate to play Chinese Checkers, regular checkers, and ping-pong. The members of the mutual aid society known as "La Sociedad Progresista Mexicana" would hold their meetings here. Margarito, my dad, served as the Sociedad's secretary.

In the early years before the purchase of the Japanese Methodist Church building (inset), barrio Catholics would hold religious services in the cabin. Following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake that demolished the Westminster Main School, students attended classes in the Japanese church building, the Methodist Church by Sigler Park, and the Boy Scout Cabin,

The inset photos are of the Japanese Church and the Blessed Sacrament Rectory built in 1946. Sigler Park was a five minute walk from church and from most places in the Westminster Barrio. Joe Gallardo defers saying it was "more like a 30 second walk. . ."





"A Boy Done Good"
Westminster California 



Dr. Al Vela, one of ten children, was born and raised in Westminster California. He is a second generation Mexican American who attended local schools and earned degrees at Loyola University, the Instituto Tecnólogico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterey in Mexico and at the University of Connecticut where he earned his PH.D. in education. He taught at various private and public schools during his career until 2004 and currently lives in Connecticut with Isabel, his wife of 28 years.

Dr. Vela returned to visit his home town in 2005 to attend the "Olive Street Reunion" which has been held yearly since 2004. This is where he was inspired to write a book that took him 12 years to complete titled, Tracks to the Westminster Barrio 1902-1960's. It is a labor of love in which he recalls his childhood and touches on the history of the time that impacted many of the neighbors that immigrated from Mexico to the area on and near olive street.

The book provides a personal perspective on the Mendez et al v. Westminster et al. Superior Court Judge Paul McCormick ruled that segregation in separate "Mexican schools" was unconstitutional in violating the civil rights of plaintiff families protected by the 14th Amendment. The Hoover School named in the case is located on Olive street. The book also contains many historical photos providing a glimpse as to what it was like to live in that era.
The Olive Street Community has been anticipating the book's publication and has decided to raise funds by planning a trip to Pauma Casino on January 2018. This is to help Dr.Vela with the costs of printing. The followers of the book want to show Dr. Vela our appreciation for having undertaken the enormous task of documenting our existence and history in our town of Westminster. This book will be a testimony of the pride and movement of our Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, and Latino brother and sisters of Olive Street Barrio of Westminster.

Limited edition of 500 copies will be available approximately on December 28, 2017
To purchase and be placed on the waiting list, email the author (Albert Vela, PhD) SiglerPark@gmail.com
. Give name, phone and address telling the number of books you'd like. 
. CA: $39.95 + $3.50 (8.75% sales tax) + $3.99 (media postage/handling) = $47.44 per book.
. CT: $39.95 + $2.54 (6.35% sales tax) + $3.99 (media postage/handling) = $46.48/book.


Ricardo Juan Valverde
Olive Street Committee Member

 

Fund Raiser in support of  
"Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s"

 





Sent by Ruben Alvarez, Publisher
Connecting People, Businesses, & Organizations
A lifetime of Information, Influence, Imagination, Innovation 
714-661-9768
StayConnectedOC@Gmail.com
 



LOS ANGELES, CA

The Stage Presence of José Luis Valenzuela 
Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights
UCLA Celebrates the Career & Legacy of Professor Juan Gomez-Quinones




Professor José Luis Valenzuela stood up for multicultural theater,
 even when it meant living as a hostage for 11 days.

For more than a quarter-century, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television Professor José Luis Valenzuela has championed Chicano theater in Los Angeles. He has directed critically acclaimed works at the Mark Taper Forum, where he established the Latino Theatre Initiative, and the Los Angeles Theater Center, where he created the Latino Theatre Lab. 
=================================== ===================================

“If we go to the theater to see people besides ourselves,” he says, “we begin to understand them.”

You grew up in Mexico?

Yes. I was born in San Francisco, but my father took us back to his native country.

That’s where you came to love theater?

Yes. My school had “Social Fridays,” an assembly where we performed. I always recited poetry, and I won a state competition.

Did you study theater in college?

Yes. I graduated from high school at 15 and wanted to go to Mexico City to the university, but my parents said I was too young. I went up on the roof and said I’d kill myself if I didn’t go. I went and studied acting.

What brought you back to the U.S.?

In Mexico, if you had an American citizenship, you had to give it up when you turned 18. So I went to San Jose State to get my master’s, thinking I’d return to Mexico. I wasn’t interested in American culture.

How did that go?

The United States was very different. In Mexico City, the students would show up at 7 a.m. and talk about the latest book, but people here weren’t reading. Also, I didn’t know I was Mexican; in Mexico, no one asks. I was well-educated, but here, Mexicans were expected to be ignorant. 

So I changed my major to learn the history of Mexican people in the United States. I started working with people in the Chicano movement who were doing plays about immigration, anti-drugs and police brutality. The company was El Teatro de la Gente. I got interested in American culture because of the conflicts.

 When did you discover Los Angeles?

When we came to L.A. to perform, I saw the Chicano murals. Mexico City also has the Siqueiros and Rivera [murals], but they were very formal. I was excited about the L.A. murals, which were explosive and political. I was young and wanted to change the world.

How long did you work with El Teatro de la Gente?

About seven years. At that time, around 1977, everything was political — the Marxists, the Maoists, the Vietnam War. The arts were amazing; everybody was creating. Zoot Suit premiered at the Mark Taper. I moved to El Teatro de la Esperanza in Santa Barbara, which was doing documentary theater.

How did you break into theater in L.A.?

My wife and I moved here in 1984. She’s an actress and needed to be here. I’d been doing political theater since I was 19; I was going crazy without it. I had brought two plays with me. One was Kiss of the Spider Woman, which had never been done. Nobody liked it when I presented it to them. It’s hard when you’re young and nobody knows who you are. The other was Hijos, which I brought from Santa Barbara. I had $150 in savings. A tiny theater in East L.A. let me do Hijos, and they split the box office. It became a big success.

Where did that take you?

Two producers came to the play and invited me to visit the Los Angeles Theater Center they were building downtown for multicultural programming. They gave me a rehearsal room and a job in their accounting department. I didn’t know anything about accounting, but I knew I could learn. At night I put the Latino Theater Club together. The cast was multiracial. We did nine plays from ’85 to ’91. We did August Wilson, some Sam Shepard, plays about AIDS and transgender issues.

Why did you leave LATC?

In ’91 the theater declared bankruptcy and chained the doors closed. I said we should stay, because the building belonged to the city and should be open for the people. The revolution was happening onstage. We stayed locked in for 11 days. People handed us food through a window. We gathered a lot of support.

And then you moved to the Mark Taper Forum?

Yes. Gordon Davidson, the artistic director of the Taper, asked us to move there. We created the Latino Theatre Initiative to feature new Latino writers and raised around $5 million. The Taper had not done a Chicano play in 20 years. We did four, but the environment was corporate, a little big for me. So in 1994 I resigned, and [I] got a call from UCLA asking me to run the directors’ program in the theater department.

But you eventually returned to the LATC?

The city’s Cultural Affairs Department had been operating the LATC, and it was in terrible shape. I rented it to do a play, and a friend suggested we take it over. We assembled a board of directors and submitted a proposal to the city. It was very competitive, very political, for three years. In 2005, they gave us a 25-year lease. We opened in 2006. By then our group had been together for 30 years.

Has L.A. been conducive to your work?

When I got to L.A., I began to see that it’s a different type of city — the city of the future. The diversity here is huge. My directing students are from Switzerland, China, Lebanon. One is African-American, one is a Latino. We have a beautiful, diverse group. We program people from around the city and the country. But in L.A., we haven’t learned how to appreciate our diversity or expose it to the world.

Can theater bridge the gaps?

Theater humanizes people. When you sit in the theater, you begin to learn more about the humanity of this community. We hear so much about division and separation, but this city is going to break that mold.

Yet in our current national climate, how can we tell our students the world is going to be open for them to have a global career? The night of the presidential election, I was devastated. I thought, was it worth it — all the work I’d been trained to do for the last 40 years? Did it matter? I started thinking that we need to have circles, and sing, and read poetry, because we’re going to need so much healing; the damage that is happening to us is so big. Did we create a society that is so vicious? What happened to the artists? We’re supposed to be humanizing the world. We enlighten people. We teach people about beauty and compassion and tolerance and love. What happened to all of these things that we were working so hard for?

But now it’s more important than ever for us to be out there, creating the theater that matters and debating the great issues.

UCLA Magazine

July 2017

http://magazine.ucla.edu/depts/forward-thinker/stage-presence/ 

 




Church of the Epiphany  

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http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/images/706158/coe3web_web.jpg

Founded in 1887, the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights is the oldest active Episcopal congregation in Los Angeles. In 1913, as the congregation grew, the original Romanesque Revival-style church was incorporated into a new building.

This neighborhood landmark has seen the transformation of Lincoln Heights from an Anglo suburb into a community of Mexican immigrants and Chicanxs. It reflects the rich architectural heritage of its neighborhood, and it has as an important place in the Chicano civil rights movement.

Shortly after its designation as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2005, community members formed the Epiphany Conservation Trust to raise money to fund a much-needed rehabilitation and to preserve the church’s social and cultural legacy.

The Conservancy is currently working with the Church leadership to secure funding to restore the building.

Los Angeles Conservancy Highlights


Celebrates the Career and Legacy of Professor Juan Gomez-Quinones

UCLA College

UCLA Celebrates the Career and Legacy of Professor Juan Gomez-Quinones

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Eric Avila
Professor and Chair
UCLA César Chávez Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies
and  
Stephen Aron
Professor and Robert N. Burr Department Chair
UCLA Department of History

invite you to distinguished panel conversations

Celebrating the Career and Legacy of
Juan Gómez-Quiñones: Historian, Poet and Activist


Friday, January 26, 2018
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
California NanoSystems Institute 
UCLA

10:00 a.m. Coffee and tea reception
10:30 a.m. Welcome
10:45 a.m. 50 Years of Impact: Juan Gómez-Quiñones as
Teacher and Role Model
12:00 p.m. Lunch break (on your own)
1:30 p.m. Juan Gómez-Quiñones and the Formation of the Fields of 
Chicano History and Chicano Studies
3:15 p.m. Juan Gómez-Quiñones’s Legacy & the Power of Ideas to
Change the World

4:45 p.m. Reception with performance by the Steve Loza Band
 

 
Join us for a day of moderated panel conversations to celebrate the
career and legacy of Professor Gómez-Quiñones. 

Click here for the full program schedule.
 

 


CALIFORNIA 

January 6:  Los Reyes Magos, Spain's Extended Christmas
How the Sun Illuminates Spanish Missions On the Winter Solstice
Mission San Miguel Arcángel 
Farias history in California, answers from Eva.  


The Board of Directors of the House of Spain/Casa de Espana in San Diego invites you to celebrate the Feast of the Three Kings. This event is free to members and friends and will take place at the Hall of Nations, Balboa Park, from 5:30-8:30 on Saturday 6, 2018. 

Please RSVP immediately to assure that your child has a gift, include the age of the boy or girl.
rsvp2hos@gmail.com  The requested deadline is December 28.

Christmas may have come and gone, but children in Spain eagerly await the arrival of the Reyes Magos for their presents. That’s because it is not Santa Claus who brings them gifts on Christmas Day.

The tradition in Spain is that Los Reyes Magos, known as the Three Wise Men or the Three Kings in English, bring Spanish children their gifts on the Day of the Epiphany, January 6th. 

According to Christian tradition, this was the day that Melchior (known as Melchor in Spanish), Caspar (Gaspar), and Balthasar (Baltasar) came to visit the baby Jesus and brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Read on to learn more about the Spanish Christmas tradition of Los Reyes Magos,  Day of the Epiphany.

The traditional date for the feast is January 6. However, since 1970, the celebration is held in some countries on the Sunday after January 1. Eastern Churches following the Julian calendar observe the feast on what for most countries is January 19[9] because of the 13-day difference today between that calendar and the generally used Gregorian calendar.[10] In many Western Christian Churches, the eve of the feast is celebrated as Twelfth Night.[11][12] The Monday after Epiphany is known as Plough Monday.[13]

Sent by María Ángeles O'Donnell-Olson
Cónsul Honorario de España en San Diego
Teléfono: 1-619-448-7282

 



How the Sun Illuminates Spanish Missions On the Winter Solstice

Today, the rising sun shines on altars and other religious objects at many Spanish churches in the U.S. and Latin America

The 2007 midwinter solstice illumination of the main altar tabernacle of
Old Mission San Juan Bautista, California. (Rubén G. Mendoza/Ancient Editions, CC BY-ND)

On Thursday, Dec. 21, nations in the Northern Hemisphere will mark the winter solstice – the shortest day and longest night of the year. For thousands of years people have marked this event with rituals and celebrations to signal the rebirth of the sun and its victory over darkness.
=================================== ===================================
At hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of missions stretching from northern California to Peru, the winter solstice sun triggers an extraordinarily rare and fascinating event – something that I discovered by accident and first documented in one California church nearly 20 years ago.

At dawn on Dec. 21, a sunbeam enters each of these churches and bathes an important religious object, altar, crucifix or saint’s statue in brilliant light. On the darkest day of the year, these illuminations conveyed to native converts the rebirth of light, life and hope in the coming of the Messiah. Largely unknown for centuries, this recent discovery has sparked international interest in both religious and scientific circles. 

At missions that are documented illumination sites, congregants and Amerindian descendants now gather to honor the sun in the church on the holiest days of the Catholic liturgy with songs, chants and drumming.

I have since trekked vast stretches of the U.S. Southwest, Mexico and Central America to document astronomically and liturgically significant solar illuminations in mission churches. These events offer us insights into archaeology, cosmology and Spanish colonial history. As our own December holidays approach, they demonstrate the power of our instincts to guide us through the darkness toward the light.

MWinter solstice illumination of the main altar tabernacle
Winter solstice illumination of the main altar tabernacle of the Spanish Royal Presidio Chapel, Santa Barbara, California. The author first documented this solar illumination of the altar in 2004. (Rubén G. Mendoza, CC BY-ND)
=================================== ===================================

Spreading the Catholic faith

The 21 California missions were established between 1769 and 1823 by Spanish Franciscans, based in Mexico City, to convert Native Americans to Catholicism. Each mission was a self-sufficient settlement with multiple buildings, including living quarters, storerooms, kitchens, workshops and a church. Native converts provided the labor to build each mission complex, supervised by Spanish friars. The friars then conducted masses at the churches for indigenous communities, sometimes in their native languages.

Spanish friars like Fray Gerónimo Boscana also documented indigenous cosmologies and beliefs. Boscana’s account of his time as a friar describes California Indians’ belief in a supreme deity who was known to the peoples of Mission San Juan Capistrano as Chinigchinich or Quaoar.

As a culture hero, Indian converts identified Chinigchinich with Jesus during the Mission period. His appearance among Takic- speaking peoples coincides with the death of Wiyot, the primeval tyrant of the first peoples, whose murder introduced death into the world. And it was the creator of night who conjured the first tribes and languages, and in so doing, gave birth to the world of light and life.

Hunting and gathering peoples and farmers throughout the Americas recorded the transit of the solstice sun in both rock art and legend. California Indians counted the phases of the moon and the dawning of both the equinox and solstice suns in order to anticipate seasonally available wild plants and animals. For agricultural peoples, counting days between the solstice and equinox was all-important to scheduling the planting and harvesting of crops. In this way, the light of the sun was identified with plant growth, the creator and thereby the giver of life.

The horse and mule trail

The horse and mule trail known as El Camino Real as of 1821 and the locations of the 
21 Franciscan missions in Alta California. (Shruti Mukhtyar/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

=================================== ===================================

Discovering illuminations

I first witnessed an illumination in the church at Mission San Juan Bautista, which straddles the great San Andreas Fault and was founded in 1797. The mission is also located a half-hour drive from the high-tech machinations of San Jose and the Silicon Valley. Fittingly, visiting the Old Mission on a fourth grade field trip many years earlier sparked my interest in archaeology and the history and heritage of my American Indian forebears.

On Dec. 12, 1997, the parish priest at San Juan Bautista informed me that he had observed a spectacular solar illumination of a portion of the main altar in the mission church. A group of pilgrims observing the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe had asked to be admitted to the church early that morning. When the pastor entered the sanctuary, he saw an intense shaft of light traversing the length of the church and illuminating the east half of the altar. I was intrigued, but at the time I was studying the mission’s architectural history and assumed that this episode was unrelated to my work. After all, I thought, windows project light into the darkened sanctuaries of the church throughout the year.

One year later, I returned to San Juan Bautista on the same day, again early in the morning. An intensely brilliant shaft of light entered the church through a window at the center of the facade and reached to the altar, illuminating a banner depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe on her Feast Day in an unusual rectangle of light. 

As I stood in the shaft of light and looked back at the sun framed at the epicenter of the window, I couldn’t help but feel what many describe when, in the course of a near death experience, they see the light of the great beyond.

Only afterward did I connect this experience to the church’s unusual orientation, on a bearing of 122 degrees east of north – three degrees offset from the mission quadrangle’s otherwise square footprint. Documentation in subsequent years made it clear that the building’s positioning was not random. The Mutsun Indians of the mission had once revered and feared the dawning of the winter solstice sun. At this time, they and other groups held raucous ceremonies that were intended to make possible the resurrection of the dying winter sun.

Plan of Mission San Juan Bautista

Plan of Mission San Juan Bautista showing the church’s off-square orientation. 
(California Missions Resource Center)

Several years later, while I was working on an archaeological investigation at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, I realized that the church at this site also was skewed off kilter from the square quadrangle around it – in this case, about 12 degrees. I eventually confirmed that the church was aligned to illuminate during the midsummer solstice, which occurs on June 21. Next I initiated a statewide survey of the California mission sites. The first steps were to review the floor plans of the latest church structures on record, analyze historic maps and conduct field surveys of all 21 missions to identify trajectories of light at each site. Next we established the azimuth so as to determine whether each church building was oriented toward astronomically significant events, using sunrise and sunset data.

The azimuth angle is the compass bearing

 

 

The azimuth angle is the compass bearing, relative to true (geographic) north, of a point on the horizon directly beneath an observed object such as a star or planet. (Pearson Scott Foresman/Wikipedia)

This process revealed that 14 of the 21 California missions were sited to produce illuminations on solstices or equinoxes. We also showed that the missions of San Miguel Arcángel and San José were oriented to illuminate on the Catholic Feast Days of Saint Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4) and Saint Joseph (March 19), respectively.

Soon thereafter, I found that 18 of the 22 mission churches of New Mexico were oriented to the all-important vernal or autumnal equinox, used by the Pueblo Indians to signal the agricultural season. My research now spans the American hemisphere, and recent findings by associates have extended the count of confirmed sites as far south as Lima, Peru. To date, I have identified some 60 illumination sites throughout the western United States, Mexico and South America.

Melding light with faith

It is striking to see how Franciscans were able to site and design structures that would produce illuminations, but an even more interesting question is why they did so. Amerindians, who previously worshiped the sun, identified Jesus with the sun. The friars reinforced this idea via teachings about the cristo helios, or “solar Christ” of early Roman Christianity.

Anthropologist Louise Burkhart’s studies affirm the presence of the “Solar Christ” in indigenous understandings of Franciscan teachings. This conflation of indigenous cosmologies with the teachings of the early Church readily enabled the Franciscans to convert followers across the Americas. Moreover, calibrations of the movable feast days of Easter and Holy Week were anchored to the Hebrew Passover, or the crescent new moon closest to the vernal equinox. Proper observance of Easter and Christ’s martyrdom therefore depended on the Hebrew count of days, which was identified with both the vernal equinox and the solstice calendar.


MSchematic of the four successive solar illuminations
=================================== ===================================
Schematic of the four successive solar illuminations of the saints of the main altar screen of Mission San Miguel Arcángel, California. Note illumination begins at the left with the Oct. 4 illumination of Saint Francis on his Feast Day. The author first identified and documented this solar array in 2003. (Rubén G. Mendoza, CC BY-ND)

Orienting mission churches to produce illuminations on the holiest days of the Catholic calendar gave native converts the sense that Jesus was manifest in the divine light. When the sun was positioned to shine on the church altar, neophytes saw its rays illuminate the ornately gilded tabernacle container, where Catholics believe that bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. In effect, they beheld the apparition of the Solar Christ.

 

The winter solstice, coinciding with both the ancient Roman festival of Sol Invictus (unconquered sun) and the Christian birth of Christ, heralded the shortest and darkest time of the year. For the California Indian, it presaged fears of the impending death of the sun. At no time was the sun in the church more powerful than on that day each year, when the birth of Christ signaled the birth of hope and the coming of new light into the world.


This article was originally published on The Conversation.
The Conversation

Rubén G. Mendoza, Chair/Professor, Division of Social, Behavioral & Global Studies, California State University, Monterey Bay

 

 


Farias history in California, answers from Eva.  Enjoy!
evabooher@aol.com 

Questions concerning the Farias presence in California. . .
rgmaterna@hotmail.com
writes:

What do we know about them?  If you get a moment!

Where did they come from?

How did Juan get the Ballona land?

Where did his family settle locally?

How is he related to the other Farias?

How did Farias/Yorbas meet?

What schooling did the 11 children have?

Where did the Machado family fit into the local scheme?  

=================================== ===================================
Known as La Ballona land-grant, here in Southern California, the Farias/ Machado  it starts out in Baja, CA a Mission where Felipe Talamantes was born. 1792 at San Ignacio Mission. Baja, CA. Put this name online and you can read about this history. That place in Baja is full of Talamantes' acc. to those who have been there, Laura is one. It is where the whales have their babies each year. Earlier, Felipe Talamantes was head over the Rancho Dominguez here in the area, where we had many Machado reunions off Hwy. 405. Info. on this Adobe is also online too. 

After he served here he went back home to Baja, married and brought his family to the Pueblo Los Angeles down town, also online. There, Machado's come into the picture along with other relatives we have, that lived there.
Felipe Talamantes and two young Machado boys wanted land,, Felipe their senior an experienced Ranchero, wanted grazing land and they put in their bid for Santa Barbara. got it and did not like it, so gave it back and then asked Pio Pico for the La Ballona area. The instructions were, for the boys to ride like the wind and what they could acquire in a day's ride, they could have. so comes in the La Ballona Rancho. Shared by Talamantes as head and the two young Machado's. They covered land from Inglewood line to WLA to Malibu. all the coastline, down to Inglewood line again and it included Santa Monica, Pac. Palisades, Malibu all the coast line back to Inglewood line. There is an Adobe Machado restored and handled by the Inglewood Historical society, which is also online. They have many functions that we have been to, with a history Library.Ron and I gave a talk there.
The Talamantes Adobe was located in back of Felipa's house on Braddock Dr. Culver City. I remember seeing the ruins, too bad I could not have saved it, if only I had known sooner. I was inside it when young, I painted a picture from a sketch Uncle Eddie made for me that I followed. The Machado's along with history bugs have kept this story alive. Felipe Talamantes went off the scene early as he was older. But there were many offspring still living on the land. I was happy to have some part in bringing it alive again, the Talamantes history that needed to be added, as it had become a Machado thing? I and many more, opened the door to our Family Talamantes and Felipe's experience and age. He was much more qualified, but was somewhat older, yet he had the lead job to settle the land as the Machado boys were too young at that time. they were living in 'The Pueblo.'
When Felipe Talamantes, died the Machado's became land rich. Some Talamantes kept it going. when our Grandma Felipa Farias was asked to move in the early days for a building of a Housing project by the County, they wanted the land. 

She still had the Deed to the land grant, I wonder what happened to it?  The La Ballona property was still in the hands of heirs from our Juan Farias' Mom, who was G- Grandma Tomasa Talamantes who had 3 families, she was  Felipe's  G-daughter. 

We came from her last marriage to Jose Domingo Farias, some info states, the Farias' were from Chile via Spain. Chile then into CA. I found them also on the Rancho Santiago Orange Co. working for the Yorba Rancho. That is how our grandma FelipaYorba Farias fell in love with a Juan Farias who was our grandpa and came to be a part of this Talamantes/Machado story.
Another connection comes from the Santa Monica Canyon which was a mountainous area, that once belonged to the La Ballona land grant, but the bears were plentiful and eating up their cattle in that area, so the Talamantes and Machados's  turned that piece of land back, to Pio Pico and later the Marquez family was looking for land so it was given to them. That is how that became their part of the La Ballona Land grant later, and some are related to us. Such as the Carrillo's and Marguez names. 

Santa Monica leaders were into the rich families that settled the city and not into the Spanish history until now, after much research they were forced to acknowledge some Spanish history. That too was under cover and not understood as once belonging to the La Ballona land grant. They still lean toward the city founders in the History Library, their latest addition here in Santa Monica.  
None of the first settlers families were invited to the dedication. Only a small poster mentioned the La Ballona connection. Things donated by them from that time period were not on display either. I was there and asked about them?  History proves the early Spanish and Mexican settlers existed here. in Southern California, with the Indians from 1769 Portola Expedition and onward. 
Editor Mimi:  This is particularly fascinating history to me, because my maternal grandmother, born in Mexico, was a Farias on two lines, and it was her great uncle, Valentin Gomez Farias who according to a document published by UCLA, secularized the Spanish missions.  

I have often wondered if the Farias in California were in some way connected to the Farias in Mexico and Texas, and migrated to California during the secularization of the missions, . . .  which included the Spanish missions in  Baja California.

Jose Maria Valentin Gomez de la Vara y Martinez Farias was Born
14 February 1781 –  died 5 July 1858.  

He was the President of Mexico for five short periods in the 1830s and 1840.  A PBS program on the US-Mexican War, Farias was "one of the more important political figures in early Mexico. . . .   By the 1830s, he emerged as the principal spokesperson for Mexican Liberals, and the Puros, or radical faction."

 

NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES 

La colonización del Norteamérica fue fundamental expansión de la religión
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest



La colonización del Norteamérica fue fundamental expansión de la religión

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La conquista de Norteamérica por parte de la nueva España fue a decir verdad una serie de expediciones tardías, realizadas tras la consolidación del macizo central mexicano y tras sofocar a las tribus chichimecas resistentes.

Una vez que el bajío se consolidó como potencia minera y ante el peligro de la expansión rusa, los españoles decidieron estimular la colonización de los desérticos territorios del norte, y para ello, implementaron esquema de conquista desarrollado con base en el modelo de “prueba-acierto-error” durante el siglo XVI, peor que para el siglo XVIII estaba ya “perfeccionado”.

La conquista del norte se realizó a través de la expansión de núcleos de población en gran medida ganaderos, que cuando era posible, intentaban establecer relaciones económicas con los habitantes originarios, pero cuando no, contribuían a sostener económicamente guarniciones militares a menudo destacadas en fortificaciones conocidas como presidios.
Pero esta colonización iba encabezada por un agente mucho más importante, la religión, el establecimiento de misiones religiosas en el norte de México fue fundamental para hacer más proclive a la población a convivir con los forasteros y además para reconocer el terreno que se estaba pisando.

El modo de vida religioso, que intentaba ser autosuficiente, permitía hacer una suerte de ensayos preliminares, en los que se obtenían importantes experiencias sobre las dificultades inherentes y las posibilidades a la hora de colonizar tal o cual territorio, lo que incluso, determinaría la viabilidad de realizar intentos con grupos humanos mayores.

De este modo, el avance religioso hacía las veces de un servicio de inteligencia, y reconocimiento, lo que propició que aunque lento, el avance novohispano sobre el norte fuera constante, no obstante este avance se vería bruscamente interrumpido, lo que abordaremos a la brevedad.

-Mariscal Ney

Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/historias.de.la.guerra/photos/a.1430305110542510.1073741828.1430291217210566/
2034474463458902/?type=3&theater



Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest

https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0198036434
Here is an intriguing exploration of the ways in which the 
history of the Spanish Conquest has been misread and 
passed down to become popular knowledge of these events.

 

 


SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
   

García López de Cárdenas y Figueroa,  First European to see Grand Canyon. 
Map: Exploraciones en América del Norte    

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Spanish explorer, García López de Cárdenas y Figueroa 
was the first European to see the Grand Canyon.
wikipedia.org


Cárdenas was born in Llerena, Spain, son to Alonso de Cárdenas, I Count of La Puebla del Maestre and Maria García Osorio. He was the comendador of Caravaca.

López de Cárdenas was a conquistador attached to the exploits of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. Expeditions, including one led by Pedro de Tobar, had heard reports of a large river north of Cíbola (Zuñi). 

Cárdenas was dispatched in September 1540 by the general stationed in Cíbola with the express mission of locating such a river and returning within 80 days. Pedro de Sotomayor accompanied him to record the event as a cronista

After some twenty days of marching in a northerly direction, he was successful; but his band found difficulties in reaching the river (called the River Tizon), owing to the sheer vertical distance down from their position. They were standing on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After several days of failed attempts to descend to the water (his men were suffering from thirst), his party was forced to return to Cíbola.

Sent by Carlos Campos y Escalante

 

Map: Exploraciones en América del Norte    


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TEXAS

San Saba, Texas attack by Comanche
José Antonio Navarro 
November 25th, 1835 -- First Texas Navy
November 25th, 1850 -- Texas gives up nonexistent New Mexico counties
Juan Nepomuceno Seguin


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San Saba, Texas attack by Comanche


Los comanches llevaban a cabo sus ataques en grupos más numerosos, lo cual les permitía enfrentarse a sus defensores en superioridad de condiciones.
 Los españoles, en la mayoría de los casos, debían protegerse en el torreón de la plaza atacada y esperar a que los comanches se marcharan. Cuando la incursión terminaba, los comanches escapaban a lugares más lejanos y desconocidos por los españoles. La mayoría de las veces, los soldados españoles no lograban seguir el rastro de la partida de comanches, sufrían una emboscada por parte de éstos o se perdían en un terreno que no conocían. Otras veces, se topaban con un grupo de indios totalmente ajeno al ataque y descargaban su frustración en ellos. Desesperado, Fermín de Mendinueta escribió al virrey de Nueva España y llegó a considerar el abandono de Nuevo México si no recibía 1.500 caballos y más pólvora para los viejos mosquetes de sus soldados.

La situación fue a peor hasta que Juan Bautista de Anza tomó posesión del gobierno de Nuevo México en el año 1778. Venía de colonizar California y sabía que sólo conseguiría una paz duradera con los comanches mediante una demostración de fuerza. De Anza recibió los caballos que se necesitaban y reunió un ejército de 600 hombres entre soldados, colonos e indios pueblo. Sabía que no podía seguir luchando contra los comanches de la misma forma en que las tropas europeas se enfrentaban unas con otras. Los comanches evitaban los enfrentamientos directos en campo abierto. Basaban sus victorias en los ataques por sorpresa y en huidas vertiginosas.

Para saber más:
Banderas lejanas
. Fernando Martínez Laínez, Carlos Canales Torres. Edaf, Madrid, 2009.
El imperio comanche
. Pekka Hämäläinen. Península, Barcelona, 2011.

 ​Sent by C. Campos y Escalante​ (campce@gmail.com)

http://www.nationalgeographic.com.es/historia/grandes-reportajes/espanoles-y-comanches-la-guerra-en-nuevo-mexico-mexico_7465/5

 


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José Antonio Navarro 
 

José Antonio Navarro was a leading Tejano participant in the Texas Revolution. Before Texas independence Navarro was elected to both the Coahuila and Texas state legislature and to the federal congress at Mexico City. A strong supporter of Texas independence, Navarro was one of only three individuals of Mexican descent that signed the Texas Declaration of Independence at the Convention of 1836.

Upon his election to the Texas Congress as a representative from Bexar, Navarro sought to advance the rights of Tejanos, whom many Anglo-Texans held in contempt after the Texas Revolution. As a supporter of President Mirabeau B. Lamar, Navarro was selected as a commissioner to accompany the foolishly conceived Santa Fe expedition. After suffering from Native American attacks, starvation, and imprisonment under brutal conditions at Veracruz for fourteen months, Navarro escaped and returned to Texas.

A longtime proponent of the annexation of Texas to the United States, he was the sole Hispanic delegate to the Convention of 1845 and helped write the first state constitution, the Constitution of 1845. He was subsequently twice elected to the state Senate, though in 1849 he refused to run again. In 1846 in recognition of his contributions to Texas over the years, the legislature named the newly established Navarro County in his honor. Always a strong advocate of states' rights, in 1861, he defended the right of Texas to secede from the Union and his four sons served in the Confederate military. Navarro is remembered in Texas history as one of the most influential Tejanos of his generation. 

 Source: Legacy of Texas  orders@legacyoftexas.com 


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November 25th, 1835 -- First Texas Navy created

On this day in 1835, the first Texas Navy was established when the General Council authorized the purchase of four schooners and granted letters of marque and reprisal to privateers until the ships were armed. Established to protect the supply line to New Orleans, the navy included the 60-ton Liberty, the 125-ton Independence, the 125-ton Brutus, and the 125-ton Invincible. All four ships were lost by mid-1837, and 
the Texas Navy virtually ceased to exist until March 1839, when the first ship of the second navy was commissioned. A cruise ending in July 1843 marked the end of the operative career of the Texas Navy, as a truce with Mexico came that summer and the United States undertook to protect Texas until annexation. In June 1846 the ships of the Texas Navy were transferred to the United States Navy. The officers of the Texas Navy desired to be included in the transfer, but seniority-minded United States naval officers opposed the proposal. In 1857 the claims of the surviving Texas Navy officers were settled, and the Texas Navy was no more.

November 25th, 1850 -- Texas gives up nonexistent New Mexico counties

On this day in 1850, Texas gave up its claim to disputed land in New Mexico. In 1841, seeking a share of the Santa Fe trade, President Mirabeau Lamar dispatched the Texan Santa Fe Expedition to secure the territory for the Republic of Texas, but Mexican authorities captured the entire expedition without firing a shot. U.S. troops occupied New Mexico during the Mexican War, and in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in February 1848, Mexico relinquished all claim to territory north and east of the Rio Grande. A month later the Texas legislature established Santa Fe County, and in January 1850 subdivided it into Worth, El Paso, Presidio, and Santa Fe counties. But the residents of the area, in part because of their opposition to slavery, resisted incorporation into Texas. Governor Peter Bell sent Robert S. Neighbors to organize the alleged Texas property, but Worth and Santa Fe counties never got beyond the planning stage. Texas finally ceded the land they were to occupy to the United States, and reduced Presidio and El Paso counties in area, in the Compromise of 1850.

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  Juan Nepomuceno Seguín

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En un irónico giro,
Juan Nepomuceno Seguín 
(San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, Nueva España 27 de octubre 1806 - Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México, 27 de agosto 1890) un mexicano que peleó contra México en la revolución de Texas y fue alcalde de San Antonio, Texas— Cuando Adrián Woll reconquistó San Antonio para México. Los estadounidenses (que inundaban Texas y ya eran mayoría) lo acusaron de haber ayudado a los mexicanos por ser él mismo también un ''maldito mexicano'', por lo que
 lo recibió amenazas de muerte y atentados contra su vida por ese motivo se unió a los refugiados texanos que huyeron a México en 1842 para "buscar refugio entre mis enemigos"
Sucumbiendo a "la maldad de unos pocos hombres, cuya impostura fue favorecida por sus orígenes y su reciente dominación del país" Seguín se veía así mismo como "una víctima[...] un extranjero en mi propia tierra natal" 
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1273843006054858&set=gm.1209732919128400&type=3&theater 

Juan Nepomuceno Seguín (San Antonio de Bexar, 27 de octubre 1806 - Nuevo LaredoTamaulipasMéxico, 27 de agosto 1890) fue un senador, alcalde, juez, juez de paz y un participante prominente en la Independencia de Texas. Fue hijo de Juan Erasmo Seguin y tío del General Ignacio Zaragoza.

Primeros años y familia

Fue el mayor de dos hijos de Erasmo Seguín y María Josefa Becerra. Como hijo de un administrador de correos, que ayudaría a su madre en el negocio, mientras que su padre fue uno de los ponentes de redacción de la Constitución Mexicana de 1824. En 1825, se casó con María Gertrudis Flores de Abrego. Tuvieron diez hijos. Fue elegido concejal en diciembre de 1828 y sirvió en numerosas juntas electorales antes de convertirse en el alcalde de San Antonio en diciembre de 1833. Luego se desempeñó como jefe político de Bexar en 1834, cuando el anterior jefe se enfermó. En 1835, lideró una fuerza de socorro a Monclova, cuando el gobernador federalista pidió ayuda.

Independencia de Texas

Cuando era un adolescente en México, tuvo un fuerte interés en la política. Cuando, Antonio López de Santa Anna derogó la Constitución mexicana de 1824, fue muy crítico de su líder mexicano contemporáneo y con mucho gusto se unió a la Revolución para librar a Texas de gobierno de Santa Anna.1​ En 1835-1836 Seguin reclutó tropas y mandó en el ejército texano.2​ Él fue nombrado capitán por Stephen F. Austin en octubre de 18353​ y se encargaría de suministrar a las tropas texanas con cargas de alimentos y provisiones.4​ Juan fue enviado a explorar partes a las Misiones de San Antonio en busca de un campo de base adecuado para los texanos5​ y participó con éxito en la Batalla de Concepción6​ y dos meses después, el sitio de Bexar,7​ que condujo a la las tropas de Martin Perfecto de Cos fuera de Texas.

En enero de 1836, fue comisionado como capitán en el ejército regular de Texas. Tras el regreso del ejército mexicano al mando de Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Juan se uniría a William B. Travis el 23 de febrero, en la batalla de El Álamo. A pesar de servir en el Álamo, durante el asedio del día trece, en realidad no participó en la batalla final del Alamo, pero su participación fue muy importante en la emboscada de San Jacinto.8​ Dado que Seguín hablaba algo de Inglés y Español fue elegido para llevar el mensaje a través de las líneas enemigas en el Alamo,9​ que los texanos "nunca se iban a rendir ni retroceder." Seguín obtuvo ese mensaje a través de los otros soldados, en el lado texano. A continuación, fue en busca de hombres para reforzar el Alamo, pero cuando regresó al Alamo, este ya había caído ante el ejército mexicano comandado por el general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Pérez y Lebrón.10

Vida en la República de Texas

Después de convertirse Texas en una república, él sería el jefe del ejército de San Antonio, al mando de una fuerza para defender la frontera occidental.11​ En 1837, el Coronel Seguín dirigiría el entierro de las cenizas de los muertos los defensores de Alamo.1213​ en 1839, Seguín, era el capitán de una fuerza texana de unos cincuenta y cuatro hombres volverían a proteger a los colonos en la campaña de Henry Karnes en contra de la hostilidad de los indios Comanche.14

Seguín fue elegido como senador de Texas en 1839 y trabajó en estrecha colaboración con el congresista José Antonio Navarro, para garantizar que la legislación que sería en el mejor interés de los ciudadanos hispanos de Texas, que se estaban convirtiendo rápidamente en la minoría política. En 1839, en un pueblo cincuenta kilómetros al este de San Antonio, fue honrado por desfile y celebración. Que la ciudad recién nombrada ahora llevan su propio nombre, Seguin. En 1840, renunció a su escaño en el Congreso con el fin de unirse a una polémica campaña contra el gobierno centralista de la Ciudad de México.1​ Juan se convirtió en alcalde de San Antonio en 1841.

Texas fue inundada por los filibusteros estadounidenses con hambre de aventura y tierras del Norte, que no estaban familiarizados con la historia nativa15​ y su apoyo leal a Texas.16​ Su liderazgo y la lealtad sería cuestionada por los recién llegados.17​ Al negarse a quemar San Antonio al suelo por orden del nuevo jefe de las fuerzas armadas de Texas fue sólo el comienzo.12

En 1842, San Antonio sería invadida en dos ocasiones, por las fuerzas de Santa Anna. En marzo de 1842, el coronel Seguin y los ciudadanos de San Antonio buscaron refugio en el rancho de Manuel N. Flores en la ciudad de Seguin, Texas.18​ Un contraataque fue planeado y aunque Seguín fue perseguido por el ejército de Rafael Vásquez, persiguiéndole desde Texas.19​ Fue condenado por ser culpable del ataque.20

Seguín renunció a su cargo en abril, debido a las amenazas contra su vida.21​ La oposición a su defensa de los derechos de Texas, las adversidades, y falsas acusaciones de que estaba ayudando al ejército mexicano, fue demasiado para soportar. Huyó a México para "buscar refugio entre mis enemigos", donde fue capturado, detenido y obligado a alistarse en el ejército mexicano como personal funcionario. Regresaría a San Antonio con la oposición armada de Adrian Woll21​ en septiembre de 1842 y más tarde sirvió a Santa Anna en la Guerra de intervención estadounidense de 1846-1848.

Últimos años

En febrero de 1848, Juan pidió permiso para regresar a Texas. A finales de año, había vuelto a Texas,22​ estableciendo un hogar al lado de la casa de su padre Erasmo Seguín, y un rancho en Floresville, Texas.17​ Fue elegido para dos mandatos como Juez de Paz del Condado de Bexar en 1852 y 1854. Se convirtió en uno de los fundadores del Partido Demócrata en el Condado de Béxar.23​ En 1858, publicó sus memorias de la vida. Seguin se desempeñó como juez del condado en el condado de Wilson en 1869. Sin embargo, los negocios de vez en cuando lo llevaban de regreso a México. Y alrededor de 1883, se estableció en Nuevo LaredoTamaulipasMéxico, para estar cerca de su hijo Santiago, quien fue alcalde. Murió allí el 27 de agosto de 1890. Sus restos fueron devueltos a Texas en 1974 y enterrados en su ciudad del mismo nombre, Seguin,12​ durante las ceremonias del 4 de julio de 1976. Un gran monumento, que representa a él a caballo, portando su sable, que actualmente rinde su servicio a Texas, en el centro de la ciudad de Seguin Central Park.24

 

​Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)​

 

MIDDLE AMERICA

Starting The New Year – The Learning Years – 1953 by Rudy Padilla
The Rafael M. Garcia Jr. Story by Rudy Padilla 
'Casa Aztlan' mural repainted, plus kids' art program




Starting The New Year – The Learning Years – 1953  
by Rudy Padilla

 

As a nation, we very much needed Christmas to help us forget about the fears and difficulties we lived in during the past year. Recently at the Johnson County Kansas library I used their microfilm system to research Kansas City Star newspapers.

Thursday January 1, 1953 on page 10, shows a photo of two soldiers. Below the photo reads “There isn’t much time for hilarity at advanced posts in the mountainous front lines of Korea, but it only took a few seconds to drink this toast to the New Year. The two American soldiers, beside a machine gun in a bunker on Old Baldy, are using hot coffee in their canteen cups for the traditional gesture. At the left is Pfc. Joseph Estrada of Los Angeles. With him is Pvt. James Stewart of Monmouth, Ill.”

In other national news – U.S. attorney (N.Y.) will reopen the investigation of alleged subversive Americans in the United States.” This was what many consider a scary time, when for various reasons, people were falsely accused of being a communist. Such as “Jerome Mayo Greenberg one-time government scientist – fighting charges that he is a communist.” “A tame adieu to 1952 – smaller crowd in years at Times Square New York.” “Twenty-five rooms in Washington DC finest hotels have been reserved for the inauguration – in the name of vice-president- elect Nixon.”

Locally in Kansas City the news was much more positive: “Thousands of couples locked arms and sang and laughed as the clock reached midnight last night in Kansas City and they welcomed in the new year.”

Another item in the news on that day: “Juke box distributors, urged by the National Arts Foundation to put a blank disk in all boxes so customers can buy five minutes of silence, no doubt will rush to comply. What we wonder, though, is whether some of the recording artists can turn out the silent records fast enough to meet the demand.”

Many of the stores advertising in the newspaper that day, no longer exist, such as: Pecks, Jones, Katz, Jenkins Music Company, South Town Motors, Jack Borings, Davidsons Furniture, Adler’s, Robinson’s, Milgram Grocers etc.

I had just turned into a 13-yeard old. I wanted to make money, so I would not have to ask my parents for help. I had many younger brothers and sisters. I knew my parents were struggling, as most families were at that time. So, I offered to clean yards, wash cars and remove snow if we had a snow storm. I spent a lot of time outdoors even thought it was cold in January. I was still afraid to cross 7th street because of the heavy traffic, but I did cross so I could see if anyone was at Splitlog Park, which was two blocks away. There we could just hang out with others from the neighborhood or if someone had a football, we would pick up sides and have games for fun. One of the first questions asked was “tackle or touch?” Usually the bigger and stronger boys wanted to play “tackle football.” So, we would stop each other by hard tackles without helmets or any protective clothing. I was then learning much about football – and myself.

I was also beginning to learn more about playing basketball. We had no indoor basketball courts to use so we walked up to St. Mary’s school outdoors basketball court at 5th and Ann avenue. Soon, the Waliczek brothers built a basketball backboard on their garage. So, then all I had to do was walk east up the alley for a block to practice basketball.  

If I couldn’t find anyone outside to hang out with, I would walk to the public library. Usually I would first walk north on my side of the busy 7th street – going north about 10 blocks. Sometimes I would first go inside the tall Huron Building just to ride the elevator. I was a country boy fresh off of the farm just six months previously and it was fun. In order to play football a few months earlier, the CYO league had a assigned doctor in the Huron Building where the doctor gave me the required “physical examination.” I am so pleased that my friend Dennis Gergick, knew I had no idea what this examination was about. So, he told me in advance, so I would not be shocked. 

Between the Huron Building and the public library was the Huron Cemetery – a small burial ground. After I checked out the Huron building, I would stop by the entrance to the Huron Cemetery and stop. I knew this was an old cemetery where the Huron Indian tribe had people buried. I just respected that cemetery. It gave me a sense of history. 

Once inside the library I could forget about my troubles at school. This is where I could enter a world of fantasy or check out a series of books that I really liked – called “The Black Stallion” written by Walter Farley. 

Holy Family Grade School was a big part of my life then. I would lose interest in most of the classes. The Catholic nun was from a European country, so I believe she favored teaching about European history. I really had little interest in Europe or Kings. I wanted to read more about North America – such as Americans, American Indians and Mexicans. I had been reading books about the cowboy and the west – that was my interest. I still struggled with fractions and simple algebra. But, the teacher did not offer to help me after school or on the week-end.

During recess, we would all gather on Ohio Avenue -since we had no playground. We would talk or play catch with a small rubber football. I considered them all friendly now, except for two boys. They did not seem to like me. In those years calling a person a “Farmer” was considered a putdown. That meant the person was slow and uneducated. The boys at Holy Family school used this name-calling and I personally didn’t like it. To me this was an insult to the country people that I grew up admiring and loving as friends and neighbors. In those days I was not one to be quiet. I told one boy that “You know, some of my best friends are farmers and farmers are good people.” The boy was silent and walked away, but I noticed a stop in the use of the word “Farmer” as an insult, among the boys.

I had the fortune to have Dennis Gergick as my friend. He was the most popular person in the school. His mom was the church organist and he was always upbeat with anyone he encountered. Dennis and I would make plans to meet at 8 or 10 morning Sunday Mass. 
Then most of the time we would go afterward walking up 6th street. Dennis was a very good baseball player and his dad was an insurance salesman, so he would always know someone as we walked. I did begin to be concerned about one boy from school being jealous of me and my making friends so fast. His name was Charlie Stimetz and he was one of the smartest in class, but had little personality. He had been at the school since kindergarten but still was not well-liked. 

At times when Dennis and I were talking, Charlie would interrupt and intentionally ignore me. I felt left out, but Dennis was my friend when I really needed a friend. We would meet up for mass on Sundays and at times meet up at the Holy Family Men’s Club. We were not supposed to be in there, but since Dennis was so well-known we had no problems going inside. The person who was the most troubling to me at that time was Sister Beatrice. I just did not think a Catholic nun could be so mean and not helpful at all. But, thankfully she now appeared to have accepted me as a real American student. She could see that I was now friends with most of the other students, so she had to change. 

The biggest boy in the room was Marvin Gabb. For some reason Marvin did not play football, and we could have used him on the team. He used a crew cut for his blond hair and was different from the rest of the students. I believe he came from a poor family. He saw I was in the streets trying to make extra money. We came from the same economic background and he would walk up to me to just talk. I think he felt more comfortable with me instead of the boys who had better clothes than the ones we wore. Marvin was in the 8th grade – a year ahead of me. I never knew where he went after school. He was smart and he had a good personality, but he seemed to just disappear after the 8th grade. In those years, many parents did not see any benefit in sending their children to high school. So, at 14 years of age, they began to look for employment. Until we moved to Kansas City, I always excelled in the class room, but now I dreaded school. Maybe I was not as smart as I thought that I was. Just maybe the 8th grade would be the end of my schooling. 

Rudy Padilla can be contacted at opkansas@swbell.net

 

 


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The Rafael M. Garcia Jr. Story

By Rudy Padilla.

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The football was gathered in by the kick-off return player.  Rafael Garcia at that instant as the defensive back charged to the middle of the field then made a quick move to the left trying to avoid the opposing players as they tried to block him from the receiver.  Normally he would be emotionally fired-up as the home-team crowd roared in the stands twenty feet away, but he was entering into a critical time in his life.  He was not sure where life was leading him. Rafael kept his eye on the runner as he quickly moved to the sidelines.  At that moment “Ralph” as he was called charged into the runner - and the runner letting out a grunt; dropped to the ground instantly.  Rafael at 150 pounds was solid muscle.  He made the football team as a freshman at Redemptorist High School which was unheard of and played tailback.  He had since played both offense and defense.  He loved football.  He loved to hit and be hit.  The Friday night football games had always been exciting, but the season was ending and he was feeling saddened.  He was not sure if he was just worn out or what was the matter with him.   Rafael Montoya Garcia Jr. was born to Rafael Lopez Garcia and Juana Montoya on June 22, 1932.  The other children were Pablo (Paul), Amalia, Carmen and the youngest Jesus (Jesse).  The Garcia family lived on the “Westside” - Kansas City, Missouri. When Rafael was growing up he remembers his dad walking a long way to and from the Swifts Meat Packing Company in the Armourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas where he was the plant foreman.  Rafael also started working at an early age.  At eleven he worked in a grocery store and then as delivery boy.  He gave his earnings to his mother to help the family.  Some of his happiest times were when he started boxing at the age of 12.  Even then Rafael was outgoing.  He loves to meet people and carry on a conversation with them.  He was a golden gloves boxer.  His coaches were Joe Nuschio and Chester Ellis.  Chester was from the Blackfoot-Souix tribes located in South Dakota.  In their later years the two would swap stories about those days - the coach and the boxer. 

While lettering in football for three years he also boxed as a welterweight.  Sometimes because of no opponents, he would take on Heavyweight boxers who were much heavier than he was.  Rafael walked a long distance to High School where he made average grades.  He was working part-time, boxing, and participating in football practice after school, when his mother Juana was starting to get a rare serious skin disease which causes the skin to tighten.  

All of these events taking place would wear on him.  He always seemed too busy.  He was beginning to get physically worn down.  During those years, he was part of a small group of Mexican American students at his high school.  They were not made to feel welcome.  Being an outsider did not make high school a pleasant place to be for many hours.  Much of the day was spent wishing for the hour to leave for the day.  Rafael was not happy.  Sometimes he would not sleep well knowing that he was not prepared to attend classes the next day.  He was growing tired of the walk to school in the cold winter months.  

Pablo, his older brother had joined the U.S. Marines.  Upon returning home for the first time, Rafael was amazed at the physical change in Pablo.  He looked so sharp and handsome in his new uniform.  He would write a letter to Pablo many years later to thank Pablo for the positive impact he had on him personally and on his family.  Pablo passed away in March, 1995.  

For many years, Rafael had thought that one day he would join the Marines.  The glory days of the Marines in World War II were viewed through the many war movies popular at the time when he was a young boy.  The Marines in Guadalcanal, Wake Island and the Marine Corp Hymn would always be a possibility for him.  Now the thought of leaving school and joining up was a reality.  He had boxed since age 12 and played football for the past three years but would he be able to pass the Marine boot camp test?  Even though he was a Marine, Pablo advised him not to join.  Not only would he have to prove himself in the physically demanding life as a recruit, he was now only seventeen years of age.  So, at the age of seventeen he asked his parents for permission to join the Marines.  Their answer was definitely NO.  He asked again a few days later.  Finally, on Christmas eve of 1949 they gave their permission for him to join the U.S. Marines.  

“I went to boot camp in San Diego, California.  We arrived at the train depot on January 31, 1950.  For me it was the first time away from home and I had a hard time.  There were about thirty of us recruits waiting for our drill instructors when they arrived.  The instructors looked real sharp and neat.  One of them shouted ‘Fall in!’  We didn’t know what in the hell he was talking about, but we learned real fast.  One of the instructors picked me up by the waist, set me down in front of the line.  He again hollered ‘Fall in!’  Well we formed a line and he shouted ‘Right face!’  I knew what that meant - forward march.  Some of the others laughed.  He hollered ‘Halt!’  He said in a loud voice ‘you think this is funny?  Well by next week some of you will be crying, I want to go home to mommy.’  He told the truth.  Some of the guys cried.  We were called ‘guys’ and ‘boys.’ You were not called MARINES until you graduated from boot camp.  Because of my physical conditioning with boxing and football all went well.  I was not real smart, but I was strong.  If there was a war, this is the outfit that I wanted to be with.”  

After leaving boot camp, Rafael Garcia was granted eight days of leave.  He spent his leave in Kansas City then headed to Camp Pendleton in California.  He was assigned to Special Services and would work with athletic programs and take care of the baseball fields.  It was during this time he was given a pass which he spent with relatives in Los Angeles.  While he waited at the bus station for the trip back, he noticed the newspapers with big letters as the headline “REDS INVADE SOUTH KOREA.”  

When he arrived back at the base, he noticed a big amount of activity.  Marines were busy packing, painting and getting ready for war.  Rafael continued his duties as a member of the Special Services but was not happy knowing that he was probably going to be left behind.  To that point he would represent the Camp Pendleton Marines in several boxing tournaments and could have continued with that stateside duty.  He by now had proven to himself and to the others that he was a tough Marine. But, now the time had come.  He would not let his buddies go to war without him.  

“I joined the Marines to fight, to make landings, to shoot my rifle, not sit on my fanny while everyone else was getting ready to go to war.  I went to the commanding officer and told him that I wanted to go with the rest of the Marines overseas.  He asked me if I knew what I was asking for and I said - yes sir!  He told me to come back in twenty minutes.  When I came back my orders were cut and ready to go.  I then called my parents to tell them the news.  My mother couldn’t talk to me after I told her - she was upset and crying.  I told my father that I would be back, but he was to pray every night for me and with God’s help I would be all right.  After arriving in Korea, he would be part of the First Provisional Marine Brigade.  They would be the first combat-ready troops to come from the states.  Their presence was requested by General MacArthur.  

After more training, they arrived in Pusan, Korea in the middle of a heat wave.  They would be part of firefights, ambushes and long miles of walking.  Later, he would send home a letter dated Nov. 12, 1950 which ended with ‘Hope everyone at home is fine and don’t worry about me, I am okay.  As far as I know the Chinese are retreating like hell.’  At one point he was to hand-deliver a message to Major Rose, USMC in the very early morning at Kimpo Airfield.  He did not realize the 3rd Army was also in the area.  When he came out of a large weeded area; He quickly saw that they had many of their rifles trained on him wondering where he had come from.  Rafael quickly held his Thompson rifle over his head and started ‘cussing’ and hollering like a good Marine.  After he told them where he had traveled from and where he was going, they gave him a ride to Kimpo Airfield.  When he arrived there, he would see General MacArthur in a room and the highly decorated ‘Chesty Puller’ all in the same day.  

The ‘My Sunday Missal’ was given to me in church a short time before I was to leave for Korea, by a Catholic chaplain at Camp Pendleton.  I carried it over my heart in the pocket of my dungaree jacket.  Wherever I was in Korea, my missal was always with me.  I didn’t open it to read the comforting wisdom that the pages contained, but I felt it’s warmth and that seemed to give me all of the comfort that I needed at that time.”  

The following is dated June 25, 2000: 

Dear Sgt. Rafael M. Garcia, Jr., U.S.M.C.  

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, I would like to offer you my deepest gratitude for your noble contribution to the efforts to safeguard the Republic of Korea and uphold liberal democracy around the world.  At the same time, I remember with endless respect and affection those who sacrificed their lives for that cause.  

We Koreans hold dear in our hearts the conviction, courage and spirit shown to us by such selfless friends as you, who enabled us to remain a free nation.  

The ideals of democracy, for which you were willing to sacrifice your all 50 years ago, have become universal values in this new century and millennium.  

Half a century after the Korean War, we honor you and reaffirm our friendship, which helped to forge the blood alliance between our two countries.  And we resolve once again to work with all friendly nations for the good of humankind and peace in the world.  

I thank you once again for your noble sacrifice, and pray for your health and happiness.  Sincerely yours, signed, Kim Dae-jung President of the Republic of Korea.  

Rafael was always interested in learning.  He would later serve as the Cryptographer for the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic Fleet.  

When he returned home in 1954, he had been through a lot of adversity, but he would later witness other bad experiences.  His mother Juana passed away that same year from the rare but fatal skin disease which she had suffered and he would be in a horrible auto accident which destroyed the lower portion of his face.  He would spend a year in rehabilitation.  In September, 1958 Rafael and Dolly Anna Carter from Southern Illinois would marry.  They have four children: Tammy Renee, Amanda, William and Susan Juana. Rafael passed away several years ago. He had many awards and community involvement. His son William was born with autism, soon Rafael would be appointed to the Autism Advisory committee for Northwestern Missouri. He was well-known by the mayor of Kansas City and a friend to the West Side community.  

In 1960, younger brother Jesse would ask Rafael what he thought of him joining the U.S. Marines.  Rafael did not hesitate; he told him to “go for it.”  Jesse would join; which would make him the third Marine of the “Garcia Marines.”  

Rafael has had a full life.  He enjoys talking and laughing with family and friends.  There are some subjects which he chooses not to discuss.  When he is asked to relate what he saw in the battle for Korea, he grows silent.  His mood changes because he cannot and does not try anymore.  “I will not be able to finish because I will start to cry.”  Daily he remembers his buddies who have passed away.  “I pray for them each day” he says. (Rudy Padilla can be contacted at opkansas@swbell.net).

 Back Stallion and Huron Indian Center


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'Casa Aztlan' mural repainted, plus kids' art program, but no affordable units  

Pilsen artists want to conserve public art in the midst of gentrification.

 (Jacqueline Serrato / Hoy)

Jacqueline SerratoJacqueline Serrato
Contact ReporterHOY

 
The wall of the former community center 'Casa Aztlán', a monument of Chicanismo in the Midwest that underwent erasure this year, shows a fresh mural portraying local heroes.
The administration of the center lost the building in 2013 when the bank auctioned off the property to Corona Investments due to unpaid debts of about $140,000. The only thing that remained visible from ‘Casa Aztlan’ during the following years were the murals, which in June 2017 a new owner covered with gray paint, infuriating the residents of Pilsen with the act.
The loss of the murals was seen by many as a synonym for the exodus of Mexicans from the area, said residents who protested during a vigil organized by Pilsen Alliance in July, with candles, flowers, and incense, as they called for the construction of affordable housing on the site.
That community reaction was not expected by the owner of City Pads LLC, Andrew Ahitow, who had gutted the building. He offered to repaint the work of art, and in a meeting with Pilsen Alliance and the painter of the original mural, Ray Patlan, committed to creating a children's art program for the community. But he refused to build affordable units; his plan, already underway, was to build 10 apartments of up to four bedrooms to rent out at market-rate prices.
The first murals at Casa Aztlan were painted inside by Patlan in 1970 when the center changed its name from Howell House to Casa Aztlan. The following summer he coordinated young people to paint the exterior with ancient Mexican iconography. The outside murals were gradually recreated by a series of artists, like Marcos Raya, who designed the oval portraits of Latin American heroes, Salvador Vega who painted the family and other elements, and Robert Valadez who was among the last ones to update the portraits and restore the wall.
Pilsen artists in mural meeting
Artists and residents discuss the legacy of 'Casa Aztlan' in a community meeting at La Catrina Café.
 (Jacqueline Serrato / Hoy)
Pilsen Alliance brought the community together several times to discuss the course of the mural, where criticism was repeatedly heard from those who described the effort as useless since the community center was lost.
"It's a symbol,” said Patlan. “It's leaving a mark, it's like saying we were here first, this happened, and this is our history."
In the meetings, people weighed in on a new design composed by Vega in digital form, and community members discussed the faces that would become immortalized in the new mural.
In October, Patlan and Valadez began working on the main wall with the assistance of Gerardo Cazares and volunteer artists Héctor Duarte and Mark Nelson. Mirella Campos, John Weber, and Traz Juarez also contributed, and essentially anybody who wanted to pick up a brush. Throughtout the project, residents walked by to talk to the artists about what they remembered of the old community center, lamenting its loss and finding a sense of closure.
The local heroes depicted in the new work of art are Guadalupe Reyes, founder of the El Valor children’s center; Carlos Cortez, politicized artist and poet; Rudy Lozano, labor organizer and coalition builder for Mayor Harold Washington; María Saucedo, education promoter and community organizer; Isaura González, activist teacher and co-author of the book 'Chicanas on 18th'; and Héctor Gamboa, activist and a former director of Casa Aztlán.
Despite the intense cold, the mural was completed in December with a pre-colonial "rebirth" theme stemming out from what used to be the doorway, now bricked. Down the line there may be the possibility for the artists to work on the side wall, they said.
The organization Chicago Public Art Group will be the fiscal mediator of the children's art program, which they hope to begin onsite in 2018, they confirmed.
The arrangement, though bittersweet, sets a local precedent where the grassroots community sits at the table with a real estate investor to negotiate terms in favor of the working families of Pilsen.
Click below to see the photo gallery and action of the local community: http://www.chicagotribune.com/hoy/chicago/93922911-132.html 
'Casa Aztlan' mural repainted
The wall of the former community center 'Casa Aztlan' shows a fresh mural depicting community heroes. The building was lost in 2013 and the only thing that remained during the following years were the murals, which in June 2017 a new owner covered with gray paint, infuriating the residents of Pilsen with the act. The loss of the murals was seen by many as a synonym for the exodus of Mexicans from the area. In October, Ray Patlan and Robert Valadez began to repaint the facade with a community approved design by Salvador Vega, with the assistance of Gerardo Cazares and volunteer artists Héctor Duarte and Mark Nelson, among others. The effort was coordinated by City Pads LLC, Pilsen Alliance, and the Chicago Public Art Group.  

 (Jacqueline Serrato)

Sent by Dorinda Moreno pueblosenmovimientonorte@gmail.com 


EAST COAST 

New York/ New Jersey Port Authority Police Graduation
Can El Museo's Leader Build a Bridge to Its Latino Future?
Brooklyn Museum to Host a Show of Robot-Made Sculptures


New York/ New Jersey Port Authority Police Graduation


Before the NYPD, there was the Port Authority Graduation Day. What a proud day that was for me and my family. I gave it the Army salute, white gloves and all.

Port Authority Police Department is a tough job to get into. Seems a lot of New York Police Department cops would love to go to the Port Authority. You're a cop in both New York and New Jersey, great pay, benefits, beaucoup overtime and free tolls over their bridges and tunnels.

Made my first off duty homicide collar as a PA cop.
Joe Sanchez bluewall@mpinet.net 

http://bluewallnypd.com/NYC_TheBegining.htm

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Can El Museo's Leader Build a Bridge to Its Latino Future?

By Colin Moynihan

New York Times (December 3, 2017)

 

 Pausing over lunch, Patrick Charpenel, the new executive director of El Museo del Barrio, grabbed his cellphone. Eager to illustrate the contributions of Latinos to modern art, he pulled up images of charcoal drawings by Marius de Zayas, an art dealer from Mexico who organized the first Picasso show in New York City in 1911.
 
Some of de Zayas's own drawings are now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The director's message was clear: A Mexican curator and artist had left a lasting mark on the New York art world.
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Mr. Charpenel, also a native of Mexico, and the museum's fourth leader within the past seven years, is determined to make his own mark while building El Barrio's bridge to its future.
 
He began in October, at a critical time. Financial shortfalls over the last several years have forced staff cuts and reduced operating hours at the museum. A string of high-profile executive departures have created a sometimes acrimonious climate. The museum's challenges include staying relevant during the seven months that its exhibition space, on Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, is closed for renovations. And, as always, El Museo must find a way to balance its Puerto Rican activist roots with efforts to draw a wider audience.
 
 "It's a museum that has a very direct connection with Puerto Rico," Mr. Charpenel said. "But the art world doesn't come often."

The new director was friendly and enthusiastic during a recent lunch of Mexican and Latin specialties at El Museo's Side Park Cafe, occasionally chatting in Spanish with waiters as he described ambitious plans to arrange exhibitions that reflect the varieties of the Latino experience. Ordering a sincronizada - a traditional tortilla-based sandwich - Mr. Charpenel said he would organize panel discussions and publish books to "open a bridge of knowledge" about the cultural contributions of Latinos and to explore subjects like immigration, exclusion and diversity.

"I will try to avoid idealizing our histories and our cultures," Mr. Charpenel said. "I would instead like to talk about the tensions, contradictions and complexities."
 
When Mr. Charpenel was hired in May, El Museo lauded his "global vision." The country's oldest museum dedicated to Latin art, El Museo was founded in 1969 by artists and activists to emphasize Puerto Rican cultural contributions but eventually broadened its mission to exhibit the work of Latino, Caribbean and Latin American artists from all backgrounds.

Its collection of about 8,000 objects includes pre-Columbian artifacts and 20th- and 21st-century drawings, paintings and sculptures.
 
But even as it has mounted well-received exhibitions, El Museo has faced a rocky road. Arts executives with experience managing cultural institutions have asked whether Mr. Charpenel, who has little fund-raising experience, is prepared for the competitive atmosphere of New York, where behemoth cultural organizations vie for funding and attention.
 
They have also said that he will have to work to overcome the perception that he is an outsider and newcomer to win the support of the museum's longtime Puerto Rican constituency.

 

"I hope that he can reach out and sit on the stoop and talk to people," said Bill Aguado, who led the Bronx Council on the Arts for nearly 30 years. "I hope that he can walk the streets and get a sense of the passion here."
Mr. Charpenel was born in Guadalajara in 1967 and earned a master's degree in philosophy from the university there. He painted into his late 20s, he said, then gravitated toward curating. The first big show that he organized was in 1993 at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, he said, and featured works that commented on climate change.
 
"I believe that museums are platforms of education, research, experimentation," he said. "Also sometimes they have to become platforms for political resistance."
 
Perhaps his most visible role before coming to El Museo was as the director of Museo Jumex, a showcase for the private collection of Eugenio López Alonso, the billionaire heir to the Grupo Jumex juice fortune.
 
Mr. Charpenel left in 2015 after the Jumex Foundation, which he also headed, canceled an exhibition by Hermann Nitsch that included a depiction of Christ and his disciples as anatomical figures and canvases splattered with blood and black paint, saying it might upset Mexicans already disturbed by violence in the country.
Mr. Charpenel declined to discuss his experiences at Jumex, saying that he and the institution had picked the right time to part ways.
 
Alain Servais, a collector in Brussels whom he has known for over a decade, said in an email that Mr. Charpenel had successes at the Jumex but that internal politics there may have been difficult to navigate. 
 
 "The Jumex has often resembled the court of a French king where competition is provoked by the Sun King to divide and rule," Mr. Servais wrote. "In my opinion Patrick is a straightforward, straight-shooting personality and it must have been an awkward novelty to end up in a 'royal court.'"
 
El Museo has had its own moments of intrigue since Julián Zugazagoitia, a respected leader, left El Museo in 2010. His successor, Margarita Aguilar, was fired after 18 months. The next director, Jorge Daniel Veneciano, departed after two years.

The upheavals continued this year. In May the museum fired Berta Colón, one of two senior executives who had been temporarily running the institution. 
She accused the second temporary leader of employee intimidation. Yasmin Ramirez, an ex officio trustee appointed by the de Blasio administration, called for the museum to investigate Ms. Colón's allegations.
 
Mr. Charpenel declined to discuss his experiences at Jumex, saying that he and the institution had picked the right time to part ways.
 
Alain Servais, a collector in Brussels whom he has known for over a decade, said in an email that Mr. Charpenel had successes at the Jumex but that internal politics there may have been difficult to navigate. 
 
 "The Jumex has often resembled the court of a French king where competition is provoked by the Sun King to divide and rule," Mr. Servais wrote. "In my opinion Patrick is a straightforward, straight-shooting personality and it must have been an awkward novelty to end up in a 'royal court.'"
 
El Museo has had its own moments of intrigue since Julián Zugazagoitia, a respected leader, left El Museo in 2010. His successor, Margarita Aguilar, was fired after 18 months. The next director, Jorge Daniel Veneciano, departed after two years.
 
The upheavals continued this year. In May the museum fired Berta Colón, one of two senior executives who had been temporarily running the institution. She accused the second temporary leader of employee intimidation. Yasmin Ramirez, an ex officio trustee appointed by the de Blasio administration, called for the museum to investigate Ms. Colón's allegations.
 
Mr. Charpenel said that he knew of no internal review stemming from the letter by Ms. Colón, who had also told trustees that the museum would face a deficit of $800,000 by the end of their fiscal year. (A spokeswoman for El Museo said the museum ended its 2017 fiscal year with an operating deficit of $44,000.)
 
In four of the last five years that federal tax filings for El Museo were available, returns show the museum typically took in less than it was spending, with its largest negative net income at $1.9 million, for 2011. Mr. Charpenel said longstanding financial difficulties were on the way to being resolved but did not provide details. He added that he expected that six new board members who had been appointed since his arrival would help to raise money.
 
One of the new trustees, Veronica Gonzalez-Powell, said she understood that Mr. Charpenel had wanted to add some younger people to El Museo's board. Ms. Gonzalez-Powell, who is on the board of several Mexican museums, added that she thought that Mr. Charpenel would bring a calming influence to El Museo.
 
"He's very down to earth and easy to get along with," she said. "He can bring people together."
 
El Museo, which occupies 6,500 square feet of gallery space inside a 1922 building owned by the City of New York, will undergo extensive renovations. The state and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs will spend $9.3 million replacing heating and air conditioning systems for its galleries and restoring hand-painted murals in its 564-seat theater. The museum will stage some exhibitions at the SVA Chelsea Gallery and at the Longwood Arts Center in the Bronx. And its cafe facing Fifth Avenue, which will remain open, will display videos by Gordon Matta-Clark, an artist with Chilean roots.
 
Mr. Charpenel added that he also wanted to figure out ways to better use one resource that sets El Museo apart from others: its art-deco theater, El Teatro, which was built in 1924, and will get a new orchestra pit lift and lighting system.
 
He took a reporter on a tour from the cafe into El Teatro. Gazing at the stained glass ceiling fixtures and the tall oil-on-canvas murals depicting children's tales like Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella, Mr. Charpenel, paused, visualizing the changes the renovation would bring.
 
"This theater is a gem," he said. "We just have to make it shine."

The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy. org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.

National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), 337 South 4th Street, Suite 1,  Brooklyn, NY 11211
Sent by Dorinda Moreno 
pueblosenmovimientonorte@ gmail.com
   

 


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Brooklyn Museum Is To Host a Show of Robot-Made Sculptures

SZA, Metro Boomin, and 21 Savage are being honored "Greco-Roman Respect Style!”
Hannah Pikaart
,

=================================== ===================================
It’s been called “the most influential playlist in music.” Now the influence of the taste-making Spotify playlist known as RapCaviar is stretching all the way to the Brooklyn Museum.

Tonight, the museum debuts a suite of three sculptures honoring its first-ever “RapCaviar Pantheon,” a salute to three emerging hip-hop artists who broke new ground in the year: SZA, Metro Boomin, and 21 Savage.

The sculptural group draws influence from historic Roman sculpture, but was fabricated by SpecialGuest, using state-of-the-art Kuka robots at Neoset Designs. Each of the musical artists was photographed and analyzed by computers, so that their form could be translated into stone, creating three life-sized figures.

In all, the RapCaviar project took 15 days to complete. A video, released to coincide with the pop-up artwork and narrated by Pharrell, shows the process of creation.

 

“Pantheon is our way of non-verbally communicating the breakthrough artists of 2017,” Tuma Basa, Spotify’s global head of Hip Hop, told Variety. “We’re treating our artists with the importance that Ancient Rome treated its gods. Metro, SZA and 21 all proved this year that they’re here to stay. Their music is forever so why not immortalize their likeness? Greco-Roman Respect Style!”

While Spotify is using the Brooklyn Museum’s space, it should be noted that this is not a curated exhibition, but rather a campaign. The campaign will be unveiled tonight, Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the Brooklyn Museum . The sculptures will be open to the public on December 8.

Follow artnet News on Facebook:

Do view this very short video and see machines creating these amazing works of art, mounted by Variety. 
  ~  Mimi

 


AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Meet Queen Charlotte, Biracial Royal Who Made History 200 Years Before Meghan Markle! by Diana Pearl

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Meet Queen Charlotte, 
the Biracial Royal Who Made History 200 Years Before Meghan Markle!
by Diana Pearl, 

 

=================================== ===================================

Meghan Markle is making her mark on the British royal family in many ways. She’s not only the first actress and the first American to be warmly welcomed into the family (rather than nearly causing a constitutional crisis à la Wallis Simpson!), many people believe her to be the first biracial person and person of African decent to marry into the family.

But as it turns out, Meghan, whose mother is Black and father is white, may not be the very first biracial royal. That title likely belongs to Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lived during the 18th century.

Charlotte was married to King George III and was queen for nearly 60 years, until she died in 1818. 

She’s the grandmother of Queen Victoria, the great-great-great-great-grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth and the namesake for the American city of Charlotte, North Carolina. 

She also shares a name with the latest addition to the royal family, Princess Charlotte.

 

Though she was born in Germany, the daughter of a Duke, Queen Charlotte was directly descended from Margarita de Castro y Sousa, which was the black branch of the Portuguese Royal House. Because her complexion was light, she was suspected to be Caucasian, but she did have some classically African features, historians later found, according to PBS.

Her racial background wasn’t known to the public when she served as queen. It was only discovered many years after her death, thanks to art historians who studied portraits of Charlotte more closely. But if it wasn’t for one painter, Sir Allan Ramsay, Charlotte’s African origins might never have been discovered.

In that era, artists typically were encouraged to downplay featured deemed “undesirable” — which, during that time’s largely prejudiced society, often included those that were considered more traditionally African, according to The Guardian. But Ramsay, who was staunchly against slavery, painted several portraits of Charlotte, and didn’t hide her features. He was also married to the niece of Lord Mansfield, a judge who ruled in the first case that eventually led to the end of slavery in the British Empire.

 

Charlotte’s racial background can’t be entirely confirmed, but it seems that thanks to Ramsay and his many portraits of Charlotte, according to PBS, her status as the first-ever biracial royal has been cemented.

Earlier this year, Meghan opened up about her family’s history with racism and the discrimination she has experienced being biracial.

And during her revealing engagement interview with Harry, she said that she found scrutiny centered around her ethnicity “disheartening.”

“It’s a shame that that is the climate in this world to focus so much on that,” she said. “But I think at the end of the day, I’m really just proud of who I am and where I come from and we have never put any focus on that, we’ve just focused on who we are as a couple. And so when you take all those extra layers away and all of that noise, I think it makes it really easy to just enjoy being together and tuning all the rest of that out.”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/meet-queen-charlotte-biracial-royal-210651085.html 

Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com 


INDIGENOUS

Oración de Agradecimiento Maya/A Prayer of Gratitude 
Indian Conquistadors
: Indigenous Allies in the Conquest of Mesoamerica
The Real Reason for Helicopter Names Is Awesome
Native American affirms ‘We are still here’ at Cal State Fullerton event  

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Oración de Agradecimiento Maya 
 (Guatemala)

A la Madre Tierra , gracias.

Al agua de la vida, gracias.
Al precioso aire, gracias.
Al fuego sagrado, gracias.
A los minerales, gracias.
A las plantas, gracias.  A los animales, gracias.
A la humanidad que camina por el camino de la evolución, gracias.
Al océano de amor que creó mi sensibilidad, gracias.
A la vida universal que me impregnó con la semilla de la individualidad, gracias.
A todos los seres del mundo, gracias.
A todos los seres de todos los planetas, gracias.

A las abuelas y los abuelos guardianes de los cuatro puntos cardinales, gracias.
A Prayer of Gratitude
Translation from Spanish via the Maya of Guatemala.

To Mother Earth,
thanks.
To the Water of Life, thanks.
To precious Air, thanks.
To sacred Fire, thanks.
Thank you – minerals, plants and animals.

Thank you – humanity walking along evolution’s road.


To the ocean of love that created my awareness, my sensitivity – thanks.

To universal Life, that which imbued me with the seed of my individuality – thanks.
To every Being on this earth – I say thank you;
and to all Beings on other planets.
And I give thanks to the guardian Ancestors of the four cardinal points.

Roberto Franco Vazquez     rcv_5186@aol.com

Join LARED-L, the fastest growing Latino/Hispanic Listserv Network in the country. It's Free. Easy to join.
Just fill out the simple form below, and become part of our Cyber Community: (( La Voz del Pueblo))
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Indian Conquistadors
: Indigenous Allies 
in the Conquest of Mesoamerica

Laura E. Matthew, Michel R. Oudijk

University of Oklahoma Press, Feb 13, 2014 
- 368 pages


The conquest of the New World would hardly have been possible if the invading Spaniards had not allied themselves with the indigenous population. This book takes into account the role of native peoples as active agents in the Conquest through a review of new sources and more careful analysis of known but under-studied materials that demonstrate the overwhelming importance of native allies in both conquest and colonial control.

In Indian Conquistadors, leading scholars offer the most comprehensive look to date at native participation in the conquest of Mesoamerica. The contributors examine pictorial, archaeological, and documentary evidence spanning three centuries, including little-known eyewitness accounts from both Spanish and native documents, paintings (lienzos) and maps (mapas) from the colonial period, and a new assessment of imperialism in the region before the Spanish arrival.

This new research shows that the Tlaxcalans, the most famous allies of the Spanish, were far from alone. Not only did native lords throughout Mesoamerica supply arms, troops, and tactical guidance, but tens of thousands of warriors—Nahuas, Mixtecs, Zapotecs, Mayas, and others—spread throughout the region to participate with the Spanish in a common cause.

By offering a more balanced account of this dramatic period, this book calls into question traditional narratives that emphasize indigenous peoples’ roles as auxiliaries rather than as conquistadors in their own right. Enhanced with twelve maps and more than forty illustrations, Indian Conquistadors opens a vital new line of research and challenges our understanding of this important era.

 




The Real Reason for Helicopter Names Is Awesome

By V Saxena
December 5, 2017

 

 
For years, some activists have complained about the military’s longtime habit of naming helicopters after Native Americans, claiming that names such as the Apache, the Black Hawk, the Lakota, etc. count as slurs.
But these complainers know absolutely nothing about the beautiful history behind these meaningful names. Thankfully, the staff at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum in Fort Rucker, Alabama, is able to fill in the blanks.
Speaking three years ago with Medium contributor Maj. Crispin Burke, an active duty U.S. Army aviator, the museum’s staff explained that the tradition began with Army Gen. Hamilton Howze, a 20th-century military figure and a towering force in the development of the U.S. copter strategy, according to The New York Times.
 
“According to the museum director, early Army helicopters had relatively benign names like Hoverfly,” Burke reported. “That apparently didn’t sit well with Gen. Hamilton Howze, one of the pioneers of air-mobile warfare.”
Bob Mitchell, the museum’s curator, pointed out that Howze “envisioned the helicopter as a fast, mobile, stealthy machine on the field of battle using terrain and vegetation to an advantage similar to the Warrior Tribes” that fought the U.S. Army in the Plains and mountains of the West.
Because of Howze’s influence, the Army commissioned a copter in 1947 that wound up being called the H-13 Sioux. “The rest is history,” Mitchell said.
 
Not quite.  “Piston-powered whirlybirds like the Shawnee, Choctaw and Chickasaw soon followed,” Burke wrote. “In 1959, the Army christened its first turbine-powered helicopter the UH-1 Iroquois, although aircrews would universally refer to their beloved ride as the Huey.”
However, in the 1960s the military broke with this newfound tradition and introduced a new helicopter, the HueyCobra, that it named after a snake. Here’s the kicker. Burke wrote: “Nevertheless, some Native American leaders were actually taken aback that the new aircraft wasn’t named for a Native American tribe. Indeed, though Army officials broke with tradition in an effort to not offend Native American tribes, the gesture actually backfired.”

Because of the backlash, the military wound up returning to the tradition of naming helicopters after Native Americans — much to the tribes’ approval.  Since then the military has continued to name new helicopters after “tribes that historians have noted for their martial prowess,” Burke wrote. 

That’s right — despite claims by writers such as Simon Waxman — who wrote one of the dumbest pieces in human history for The Washington Post three years ago — naming helicopters after Native Americans has nothing to do with slurring them and everything to do with honoring them for their performance in battle.  Of course, Waxman, who apparently considers himself some sort of anti-racist, doesn’t buy “the myth of the worthy native adversary.”

“(T)he conquered tribes of this land were not rivals but victims, cheated and impossibly outgunned,” he opined for the Post in 2014.  Who’s the real racist, ladies and gentlemen? Is it the military, which has been honoring Native Americans (with their approval, I might add), or is it the loudmouths who views all Native Americans as nothing but “victims”?  You tell me …



The Real Reason for Helicopter Names Is Awesome


Native American speaker affirms ‘We are still here’ at Cal State Fullerton event

By Wendy Fawthrop | wfawthrop@scng.com  | Orange County Register
November 15, 2017 

 


If it were up to Paul Apodaca, Native American history would be at the core of liberal arts studies departments in universities. Students would learn that the corn and cotton we use today are courtesy of the hemisphere’s first inhabitants. And they would know that the Native American population is not disappearing, but is growing.

Apodaca, an associate professor of sociology and American studies at Chapman University and a specialist in folklore, mythology and American Indian studies, presented his vision Nov. 8 to a reception celebrating Cal State Fullerton’s Native American Heritage Month at the Fullerton Marriott.

Paul Apodaca, associate professor of sociology and American studies at Chapman University, delivers his keynote address at the Native American Heritage Month reception on Nov. 8 at the Fullerton Marriott. (Photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton)

The celebration’s theme, “We Are Still Here,” was reflected in Apodaca’s talk as well as in a blessing and opening prayer by Jacque Tahuka-Nunez of the local Acjachemen Nation and an appearance by the Eagle Spirit Dancers, led by Ben Hale, whose daughter Leya, a CSUF alum, won her second Emmy as a producer this year.

“We’re not just something in the history books. We are living history,” said Ben Hale before performing with several of his other children.  

California has more Native Americans than any other state, Apodaca pointed out – more than 200 indigenous cultures and 104 Indian reservations, 32 in Southern California alone.

Orange County has a larger American Indian population than 25 states, Apodaca said — more than 18,000, according to the 2010 census.  

Jacque Tahuka-Nunez offers a blessing and opening prayer at the Native American Heritage Month reception on Nov. 8 at the Fullerton Marriott. (Photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton)

“The idea that native people are here in these numbers and yet not seen and not the center of the attention of education is a great mystery still,” Apodaca told the group. “The greatest mystery is that Californians go to Arizona to see Indians on vacation. It doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.”  

The state doesn’t promote American Indian tourism, he said. There’s no basketry trail, like New Mexico’s turquoise trail, to take visitors from one reservation to another.  

Apodaca, who previously served as curator of the folk art, American Indian, California and Orange County history collections at the Bowers Museum, told how the Spaniards thought they were hallucinating when they first beheld Mexico City, which was the size of London or Rome.

And yet American history is taught as the history of Europeans once they arrived here, he said, while the history of Native Americans is referred to as prehistoric. “That gives it a pall all by itself,” he said, “rather than seeing it as akin to the Greeks, the Chinese, the Egyptians.”

The indigenous peoples had hybridized grass to create corn, a food now ubiquitous around the world, and hybridized cotton into long-fiber strands that could be made into cloth.

“Do we celebrate the genius of American Indian biological engineering that has actually saved the planet from famine for the last 500 years?” Apodaca asked. “The presence of native genius is still here in all the food we eat and everything we do.”

The new world is half the planet, he said, and shouldn’t be taught as though it’s an extension of European history.

“The idea that this is not a small group of people on inconsequential land is more than obvious,” said Apodaca, who was a founding consultant for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and part of the team that earned an Academy Award for the 1985 documentary “Broken Rainbow.”

The first interaction American Indians had with Europeans was teaching, he said, starting with Columbus’ first camp.

“We had to tell them, ‘Don’t eat that, don’t step on that.’ We’ve been teaching Europeans for 500  years – teaching them where the food was, where the gold was (though they kind of took off with that), how animals lived, how seasons worked, how families lived in these areas. Teaching, that’s our oldest role.”

Those things were taught person to person, he said, which is still how many things are passed down in Native American cultures. Apodaca said that as a young man in the 1960s he learned from 80-year-olds who could tell him what life was like in the late 1900s.

“I got to meet those people, hear how they feared their gods. I learned how they respected their medicine,” he said.

“I heard from them the power in their own lives,” Apodaca said. “They had a different view of themselves, not the Hollywood view – an old, powerful view. I was fortunate to hear from them.”

That tradition of oral history can be enhanced with formal education, he said.

“My invitation to you is to learn. Learn more about this rich history that we all share. So we can move forward to creating a better America than we’ve ever had, one that will justify all the sacrifices all of us have made and one that will enrich all of our children.”

Native Americans are not the “Vanishing American” depicted in Zane Grey’s 1925 novel and the subsequent silent film, he said. Populations have been increasing in the Americas since a low point in 1913, he said.

“Native people never gave up on themselves. They never said, ‘We’re doomed and we’re going to disappear,’” he said. “Native people have always had faith — in the power of their culture and the virtue of what they were doing, in the needfulness of their knowledge. And so native culture continues.”

Cal State Fullerton’s Inter-Tribal Student Council

The Native American Heritage Month reception was a testament to positive change in the university’s commitment in supporting the campus’s indigenous students, Raven Bennett-Burns, president of the Inter-Tribal Student Council, told the gathering.

“It’s because of those who came before us that we are able to say ‘We are still here,’” Bennett-Burns said. “Without them and their belief that our culture and community is something worth fighting for and celebrating, none of us would have ever known that Inter-Tribal even existed.” The early club had to fight for office space, fight to keep the office space and fight for money to put on events, she said.

The club was started in 1971 but went dormant before being revived two years ago with the help of University Advancement and alum Vicki Vasques, ’76. Vasques, CEO of Tribal Tech LLC in Alexandria, Va., was honored during the event with the Native American Alumni Recognition Award.  

Vicki Vasques accepts the Native American Alumni Recognition Award at the Native American Heritage Month reception on Nov. 8 at the Fullerton Marriott. 

Raven Bennett-Burns, president of the Inter-Tribal Student Council, stands in the background. 
(Photo courtesy of Cal State Fullerton)  

Allison Wilson, president of the Titan Archaeology Club and vice president of the Inter-Tribal Student Council, won the Native American Essay Recognition Award. She has helped preserve her culture by learning the Cherokee language and practicing native artistry.

Chase Sheriff, ITSC treasure and a member of the Associated Students Inc. board of directors, said the board is working on a resolution to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

For the 2017 spring semester, 54 CSUF students identified themselves as American Indian, according to the university.

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/11/15/native-american-speaker-affirms-we-are-still-here-at-cal-state-fullerton-event/ 

 

 

SEPHARDIC

South Carolina’s Brilliant Jewish History
La expulsión de los judíos de 1492: 
     la leyenda que construyeron los enemigos de España


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December 11, 2015

South Carolina’s Brilliant Jewish History

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim and Coming Street Cemetery

  • By: Bill Fitzpatrick

  • Photography: Bill Fitzpatrick

=================================== ===================================

In the mid-1600s, the English Lord Proprietors had a problem: How could they entice anyone to settle the coastal areas of the Carolinas? The Spanish in Florida might attack any fledgling colony there, as could the local Native American tribes. 

So, influenced by the philosopher John Locke, the Lord Proprietors granted any who would come complete freedom of religion.

Many long-suffering Jews of Spain and Portugal heard those startling words and decided to take the Lord Proprietors up on their offer. 

By 1749, their numbers were sufficient to organize the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) Congregation. Today, it is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States (the first oldest being Touro Synagogue, a National Trust Historic Site in Newport, Rhode Island) and the oldest in continuous use.

 

But most importantly, the KKBE is acknowledged to be the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States. When I asked KKBE’s Executive Director Alex Grumbacher to explain how that came to pass, he laughed and pointed to the sanctuary organ: “After the Charleston fire of 1838, our synagogue was rebuilt, eventually reopening in 1840. By a narrow vote, the congregation decided to install an organ and to use it during worship. Appalled at this idea, those with more Orthodox views left to form their own congregation. KKBE became the home to Reform Judaism.”

After my visit, Grumbacher recommended I visit Coming Street Cemetery, one of the synagogue’s associated cemetery. There I met docent Randi Serrins. Well into the tour, she pointed to an old foundation wall and explained, “Shortly after the schism, the Orthodox Jews built a high brick wall so that their tombs would be separate from the Reformers. After the Civil War, the wall was knocked down.”


Both KKBE and the Coming Street Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But that’s not the only thing they have in common: Both need extensive and expensive repairs, neither have enough money, and both are at risk.

View the slideshow to learn more about the fascinating history of KKBE and Coming Street Cemetery. 

National Trust for Historic Preservation
2600 Virginia Avenue NW    Suite 1100    
Washington, DC 20037

 


 

La expulsión de los judíos de 1492: la leyenda que construyeron los enemigos de España
MUSEO DEL PRADO
«Expulsión de los judíos de España», según el pintor Emilio Sala

La medida firmada por los Reyes Católicos en Granada no fue una excepción en Europa, salvo por tardía, a pesar de la fama de antisemitas que arrastran los monarcas. La primera expulsión masiva la había ordenado Eduardo I de Inglaterra en 1290.
=================================== ===================================
Frente a la hegemonía militar que impuso el Imperio español durante los siglos XVI y XVII en toda Europa, sus enemigos históricos solo pudieron contraatacar a través de la propaganda

Un campo donde Holanda, Francia e Inglaterra se movían con habilidad y que desembocó en una leyenda negra sobre España y los españoles todavía presente en la historiografía actual. Al igual que ocurre con la Guerra de Flandes, la Conquista de América o la Inquisición española, la propaganda extranjera intoxicó y exageró lo que realmente supuso la expulsión de los judíos de los reinos españoles pertenecientes a los Reyes Católicos en 1492. En suma, los ganadores son los encargados de escribir la historia y España no estuvo incluido en este grupo.
Las expulsiones y agresiones a poblaciones judías, un grupo al que se atacaba con frecuencia para esconder los verdaderos problemas sociales, fueron una constante durante toda la Europa medieval. Salvo en España, los grandes reinos europeos habían acometido varias ráfagas de expulsiones desde el siglo XII, en muchos casos de un volumen poblacional similar al de 1492. Así, el Rey Felipe Augusto de Francia ordenó la confiscación de bienes y la expulsión de la población hebrea de su reino en 1182. Una medida que en el siglo XIV fue imitada otras cuatro veces (1306, 1321, 1322 y 1394) por distintos monarcas. No en vano, la primera expulsión masiva la ordenó Eduardo I de Inglaterra en 1290. También fueron reseñables las que tuvieron lugar en el Archiducado de Austria y el Ducado de Parma, ya en el siglo XV.

La expulsión de los judíos de España fue firmada por los Reyes Católicosel 31 de marzo de 1492 en Granada. Lejos de las críticas que siglos después recibió en la historiografía extranjera, la cruel decisión fue vista como un síntoma de modernidad y atrajo las felicitaciones de media Europa. Ese mismo año, incluso la Universidad de la Sorbona de París trasmitió a los Reyes Católicos sus felicitaciones. De hecho, la mayoría de los afectados por el edicto eran descendientes de los expulsados siglos antes en Francia e Inglaterra.

Los que abandonaron finalmente el país pertenecían a las clases más modestas.

=================================== ===================================
La razón que se escondía tras la decisión,además del recelo histórico de los cristianos contra los hebreos, era la necesidad de acabar con un grupo de poder que algunos historiadores, como Wiliam Thomas Walsh, han calificado como «un Estado dentro del Estado». 
Su predominio en la economía y en la banca convertía
a los hebreos en los principales prestamistas de los reinos hispánicos. Con el intento de construir un estado moderno por los Reyes Católicos, se hacía necesario acabar con un importante poder económico que ocupaba puestos claves en las cortes de Castilla y de Aragón. Así y todo, los que abandonaron finalmente el país pertenecían a las clases más modestas; los ricos no dudaron en convertirse.

Historiador Sánchez Albornoz escribió en una de sus obras, «los españoles no fueron más crueles con los hebreos que los otros pueblos de Europa, pero contra ninguno otro de ellos han sido tan sañudos los historiadores hebreos».

¿Qué tuvo entonces de diferente esta expulsión? 
La mayoría de historiados apuntan que, precisamente, lo llamativo del caso español está en lo tardío respecto a otros países y en la importancia social de la que gozaban los judíos en nuestro país. Aunque no estuvieron exentos de episodios de violencia religiosa, los judíos españoles habían vivido con menos sobresaltos la Edad Media que en otros lugares de Europa. 

En la corte de Castilla –no así en la de Aragón- los judíos ocupaban puestos administrativos y financieros importantes, comoAbraham Seneor, desde 1488 tesorero mayor de la Santa Hermandad, un organismo clave en la financiación de la guerra de Granada.

 

Una gran odisea para los expulsados

No obstante, la cifra de judíos en España sí era especialmente elevadaen comparación con otros países de Europa. En tiempos de los Reyes Católicos, siempre según datos aproximados, los judíos representaban el 5% de la población de sus reinos con cerca de 200.000 personas. De todos estos afectados por el edicto, 50.000 nunca llegaron a salir de la península pues se convirtieron al Cristianismo y una tercera parte regresó a los pocos meses alegando haber sido bautizados en el extranjero. Algunos historiadores han llegado a afirmar que solo se marcharon definitivamente 20.000 habitantes.

El edicto les prohibía sacar oro, plata, monedas, armas y caballos del reino.

=================================== ===================================
Aunque la expulsión de 1492 fue sobredimensionada respecto a otras en Europa,causando a España una inmerecida fama de país hostil a los judíos, nada quita que la decisión provocara un drama social que obligó a miles de personas a abandonar el único hogar que habían conocido sus antepasados. Según establecía el edicto, los judíos tenían un plazo de cuatro meses para abandonar el país. El texto permitía llevarse bienes muebles pero les prohibía sacar oro, plata, monedas, armas y caballos. Los hebreos afectados por el edicto que decidieron refugiarse en Portugal se vieron pronto en la misma situación: destierro o conversión. Así y todo, su suerte fue mejor que los que viajaron al norte de África o a Génova, donde la mayoría fueron esclavizados. En Francia, Luis XII también los expulsó. Comenzaba en esos días una odisea para los llamados judíos sefarditas que duraría siglos, y que generó una nostalgia histórica hacia la tierra de sus abuelos todavía presente.
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Siglos después, en 1967, tras el Concilio Vaticano II, se revocó en España la expulsión de 1492. Un año después tuvo lugar la inauguración oficial de la primera sinagoga.

http://www.abc.es/espana/ 20141030/abci-mito-expulsion- judios-reyes-201410271408.html

​Sent by C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)​


ARCHAEOLOGY

Christian discovery in Israel: Remains of 1,500 year-old monastery church 
The Huarmey Queen of Peru 


Teenage volunteers in Israel are helping archaeologists uncover 
the incredible remains of a Byzantine monastery and church.


Amazing Christian discovery in Israel: 
Remains, 1,500 year-old monastery church found

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

More information: 
foxnews.com

Impressive mosaic floors have been found at the site in Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem. Over 1,000 teenagers are participating in the excavation, which is being conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“We were surprised by the wonderful state of preservation of the ancient remains, and the richness of the finds being uncovered,” said Benyamin Storchan, director of the excavations for the Israel Antiquities Authority, in a statement. “The artifacts found in the large building, which seems to be a monastic compound, may indicate that the site was important and perhaps a center for ancient pilgrims in the Judean Shephelah region.”

ANCIENT TOMB DOOR WITH STUNNING MENORAH CARVING REVEALED IN ISRAEL

The excavation has already revealed a marble pillar base decorated with crosses and marble window screens. “The marble artifacts were brought from the region of Turkey and further inland by wagon,” explained Storchan.

In one of the rooms, researchers uncovered a beautiful mosaic floor decorated with birds, leafs and pomegranates.

The monastery was abandoned in the 7th century A.D. for unknown reasons.

INCREDIBLE 1500-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN MOSAIC UNCOVERED IN ISRAEL

Experts say that only a small part of the monastery has been uncovered.

The monastery and church are the latest in a series of fascinating archaeological finds in Israel. Archaeologists, for example, recently used a drone to locate a mysterious ancient structure in the heart of an Israeli military training area.

Last month, new evidence dated Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Roman era, matching historical records.

LOST ROMAN CITY THAT WAS HOME TO JESUS' APOSTLES FOUND, SAY ARCHAEOLOGISTS

Archaeologists also recently uncovered a stunning 1,500-year-old Christian mosaic in the ancient Mediterranean coastal city of Ashdod-Yam, now part of the modern city of Ashdod.

Other finds include the skeleton of a pregnant woman, dating back 3,200 years, in Israel’s Timna Valley, at a place once called King Solomon’s Mines.

In October, archaeologists in Jerusalem announced that they have uncovered a new section of the Western Wall that has been hidden for 1,700 years.

Some experts also believe they have found the lost Roman city of Julias, formerly the village of Bethsaida, which was the home of Jesus' apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

 



The Huarmey Queen of Peru 
Archaeologists reconstruct face of 1,200-year-old queen
by Fox News, December 14, 2017  

Archaeologists have learned a great deal about “the Huarmey Queen” in the five years since they discovered the tomb at El Castillo de Huarmey in Peru and found her body inside.

They’ve learned that she was from the pre-Incan Wari culture and she lived about 12 centuries ago.

They know that she lived past the age of 60 and that though she was just one of 58 noblewomen — including four queens or princesses — who were found in the remarkably untouched tomb, she was clearly special among them.

Her body, surrounded by jewelry, gold ear flares, a copper ceremonial ax, a silver goblet and weaving tools fashioned from gold, was found in a private chamber.

Her skeleton revealed that she had a strong upper body and spent most of life seated, indicating that she had been a weaver — a position of great renown among the Wari, who revered textiles more than gold and silver.

But they had no idea what she looked like.

Now they know that, too.

Early this year, National Geographic archaeologist Miłosz Giersz, who co-discovered the tomb with Peruvian archaeologist Roberto Pimentel Nita, asked Swedish archaeologist Oscar Nilsson if he could reconstruct the Huarmey Queen’s face.


Photograph by Oscar Nilsson

And Nilsson could. After creating a 3-D printed model of the woman’s skull, he used known datasets to estimate the thickness of the muscle and flesh atop the bone. Then, working with photographs of indigenous Andeans who live near the ancient tomb, he rebuilt her face by hand. He even used real hair from elderly Andean women to reconstruct her haircut.

It took him 220 hours, but it was worth the effort.

“I’ve worked with this for 20 years and there are many fascinating projects — but this one was really something else,” Nilsson told National Geographic. “I just couldn’t say no to this project.” The finished reconstruction goes on public display Thursday at a new exhibit of Peruvian artifacts at the National Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw, Poland.

Published by Fox News  <  > click for more   Originally Published By: 



   

MEXICO

Resultados del XXI Concurso de Dibujo Infantil 2017, "Este Es Mi Mexico"
Gobierno del Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa
The Battles of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Genealogy web pages   
Records of the Order of Santiago, 1501-1799



Resultados del XXI Concurso de Dibujo Infantil 2017
"Éste es mi México”

El pasado 21 de noviembre, se llevó a cabo el tendido de dibujos para seleccionar las obras ganadores del Vigésimo Primer Concurso de Dibujo Infantil "Éste es mi México" 2017, cuyo tema fue “La Mariposa Monarca y su Ciclo de Vida en Norteamérica”, en las instalaciones de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, Ciudad de México.

La selección estuvo a cargo de un jurado calificador integrado por: la Mtra. Nicole A. S. Pellegrino, Madrina Artística del Concurso; el Mtro. Juan José Zamarrón, Curador de las Colecciones del Papalote Museo del Niño, la Lic. Sandra Cortés Gómez, de la Asociación de Empresarios Azteca Aprende y Crece, la Mtra. Sofía Orozco Aguirre, Directora General Adjunta del IME que, junto con la presencia de la niña Alison Michelle Bravo David, de 11 años de edad, de la Escuela Primaria José Gorostiza de la CDMX como jurado especial, seleccionaron a 12 ganadores y 50 obras adicionales acreedoras a mención honorífica, así como 16 obras que obtuvieron mención especial del Jurado de un total de 13,655 dibujos originales enviados por 44 consulados de México en Estados Unidos, 4 representaciones consulares en Canadá, 36 representaciones del Resto del Mundo y 24 Delegaciones de la Cancillería

Se enlistan los 12 niños ganadores del XXI Concurso de Dibujo Infantil “Éste es mi México”:

 

 

Nombre

Representación

Edad

1

Ana Laura González Mercado

Nuevo León

8

2

Fátima Madrigal Chávez

Milwaukee

7

3

Camila Mercado Cámara

Bolivia

8

4

Felice Ooi Wen Jing

Malasia

8

5

Vanessa Lu

San José

11

6

Millet Mendoza García

Michoacán

9

7

Khor Jier Wen

Malasia

10

8

Noelly Amelie

El Paso

10

9

Fatin Nurvlain Binti Mohd-Faizal

Malasia

14

10

Xiomara Izel Guevara

San José

13

11

Wendy Monserrath Rodríguez Alvarado

Nuevo León

13

12

Daryna Mykhailenko

Ucrania

14

En el evento estuvo presente el Ing. Carlos Sada Solana, Subsecretario para America del Norte y el Embajador Juan Carlos Mendoza Sánchez, Director del IME, quienes presenciaron la selección de los dibujos que formarán parte de una exposición que estará exhibida en el Papalote Museo del Niño durante los meses de mayo, junio y julio del próximo año.

Los niños y niñas ganadoras serán recompensados con una constancia por parte del Instituto, un paquete de libros de literatura infantil, una obra original de la madrina del concurso y un regalo sorpresa. Asimismo, las obras seleccionadas serán el tema del calendario IME 2018, el cual se distribuye alrededor del mundo.

Las obras ganadoras se encuentran publicadas en la siguiente liga: http://www.ime.gob.mx/esteesmimexico2017/ganadores.

Vea aquí la galería.

 




Gobierno del Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa

Agradecería su ayuda en la búsqueda de mis antepasados.
Tue, Dec 12, 2017 
Augustin donaugustin@cox.net


Sr. Benicio Sánchez García,


Buenos días, agradecería su ayuda en la búsqueda de mis antepasados para poder completar mi "árbol genealógico". Nací en Los Mochis, Sinaloa México el 3 de octubre de 1943 y mi nombre dado cuando nací fue Agustín
Velásquez Salazar. Soy el hijo de Agustín Velázquez (fallecido) y Concepción Salazar de Velásquez (fallecida). Sin embargo, fui llevado a los Estados Unidos de América cuando tenía uno o dos años de edad donde fui adoptado posteriormente.

Mi padrastro cambió mi apellido, y también la ortografía de mi nombre de pila a Augustin. Esto, supongo, era un compromiso entre la versión inglesa: Augustíne, y la versión en español: Agustín.

De todos modos, siempre me he preguntado acerca de mis antepasados ​​biológicos, y me sentí frustrado por el hecho de que nunca conocí a mis antepasados ​​de la familia Salazar, ni a los antepasados ​​de mi familia Velásquez
.  Además, recientemente, al hacer una búsqueda en mi computadora, descubrí una tienda de ropa al por menor en "Facebook" que posiblemente es propiedad de uno o más de los descendientes de mi padre; La tienda de ropa masculina Velásquez en mi lugar de nacimiento: Los Mochis, Sinaloa. Traté de comunicarme con ellos por correo electrónico, pero desafortunadamente nunca recibí una respuesta de ellos.

Por último, he adjuntado una copia de mi Acta de Nacimiento Mexicana, que también enumera no sólo los nombres de mis abuelos paternos, sino también los nombres de mis abuelos maternos con la esperanza de que esto pueda brindar alguna ayuda en la construcción de mi "Árbol genealógico".

Este junio vi un correo electrónico al Centro de Historia Familiar Los Mochis, México, con la misma información, pero no me han respondido.

Gracias por cualquier ayuda que pueda ofrecer, y por favor di me si es posible comunicar in Ingles.


Sinceramente,

Augustin
Correo electrónico: donaugustin@cox.net.

 



The Battles of the Mexican Revolution  

 

                February 4 and 5, 1911                             First Battle of Bauche

                February 7, 1911                                       Battle of Smelter View

                March 6, 1911                                           Battle of Casas Grandes

                April 9, 1911                                             Second Battle of Bauche

                April 13, 1911                                           Battle of Aqua Prieta

                May 8-10, 1911                                         First Battle of Juarez

                March 23, 1912                                         First Battle of Rellano

                May 23, 1912                                            Second Battle of Rellano

                February 9-18, 1913                                 Ten Tragic Days

                March 13, 1913                                         Battle of Nogales

                April 17-18, 1913                                      Battle of Jonacatepec

                April 23, 1913                                           Siege of Cuautla

                September 25, 1913                                  Battle of Aviles

                September 29- October 1, 1913                First Battle of Torreon

                November 12, 1913                                  Second Battle of Juarez

                November 22-25, 1913                             Battle of Tierra Blanca

                January 1-4, 1914                                     Battle of Ojinaga

                March 22-26, 1914                                   Battle of Gomez Palacio

                March 26- April 2, 1914                           Second Battle of Torreon

                April 21- November 14, 1914                  Veracruz Incident

                June 23, 1914                                         Battle of Zacatecas

               April 4-10, 1915                                     First Battle of Celaya

               April 13-15, 1915                                   Second Battle of Celaya  

              End of April- June 3, 1915                      Battle of Leon

              January 10, 1916                                     Massacre of Santa Isabel

 

SOURCE: Dr. Joseph Arce, PH.D

 




Mexican Genealogy web pages



Records of the Order of Santiago, 1501-1799

In the course of doing my own family research there was a phrase that kept coming up time and time again. That phrase was “El Orden de Santiago”. According to Encyclopedia Britanica the Spanish Orden de Santiago is a Christian military-religious order of knights founded about 1160 in Spain for the purpose of fighting Spanish Muslims and of protecting pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. Originally called the Order of Cáceres, after the city in which it was founded, the order assumed the Santiago name in 1171.

The image at the very top of this page is of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Queen Eleonor Plantagenet delivering the city and the village of Uclés to the master of the Order of Santiago Pedro Fernandez de Castro v. Tumbo menor de Castilla, f. 1. (ancient codex from 13th century). Image is public domain.

I first came across this order while researching my 14th great grandfather Andres de Tapia whom was one of the conquistadors that came with Hernan Cortez to Mexico. I also came across this Order while researching my 12th great grandfather Vicente de Zaldivar.

Recently I came across the Order of Santiago applications at FamilySearch. They are over 140 microfilms. The great thing is that they have been digitized and are available for research using the links below.

Wha tis great about these applications is that some of them are from a few hundred pages to even in some cases one thousand pages. Some contain wills, and almost all of them contain genealogy information. Accounts of witnesses as to the quality of the applicant can be found.

Links By Last Name, the Order of Santiago, 1501-1799

Below look at the “Apellidos” (last names) in order to browse through the microfilms.

Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Abad a Ezquerra
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/630488

Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Fagoaga a Lles
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/669508

Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Macarty a Prado Ulloa
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/474763

Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Prado Ulloa a Velasco y Ceballos
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/577092

Expedientes de la Orden de Santiago, 1501-1799 : Apellidos Velasco y Ceballos hasta Zurucelaegui y Arriola
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/392761

Genealogy of Vicente de Zaldivar y Mendozade – 1626

Vicente de Zaldivar y Mendoza is my 11th great grand uncle. His parents Vicente de Zaldivar and Magdalena de Mendoza are my 12th great grandparents. The following document is very important since it mentions the names of his grandparents through both maternal and paternal sides.

This document was included on his application for inclusion into the Order of Santiago.

As you can see the information included in these applications can be invaluable. Even if you don’t find anything about your own ancestors in them it is good to know that they exist since you never know when you may need them or when you may find a clue pointing you to them.

 

Sources:

  • Zaldivar y Mendoza, Vicente de 1626, FamilySearch, Film # 008181008, Image 740
​Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)


CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

Pew Research Center, Hispanic Trends, December 7, 2017
El Español Juan de Villarroel funda  la Villa Imperial de Potosí, Bolivia
1779 Derrota británica en Centro América, Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo


Pew Research Center, Hispanic Trends,
December 7, 2017
Click here for the whole study


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El conquistador español Juan de Villarroel funda  la Villa Imperial de Potosí, Bolivia
4 de diciembre de 1546

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El conquistador español Juan de Villarroel, uno de los propietarios del Cerro Rico de Potosí, funda la ciudad de Potosí (actual Bolivia), que pronto logrará fama mundial por la riqueza de las minas de plata descubiertas en el lugar mencionado, lo que dará trabajo a miles de personas que acudirán al fulgor de la plata.Los españoles que vivían en la ciudad disfrutaban de un lujo increíble. 

A comienzos del siglo XVII Potosí ya contaba con treinta y seis iglesias espléndidamente ornamentadas, otras tantas casas de juego y catorce escuelas de baile.

 Había salones de bailes, teatros y tablados para las fiestas que lucían riquísimos tapices, cortinajes, blasones y obras de orfebrería.

De los balcones de las casas colgaban damascos coloridos y lamas de oro y plata. En 1547 a los 18 meses de la fundación ya contaba con 2.500 viviendas para 14.000 habitantes, alcanzando los 150.000 habitantes en 1611 y los 160.000 en 1650.


Sent by Carlos Campos y Escalente campce@gmail.com
https://stanzadellasegnatura.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/el-conquistador-espanol-juan-de-villarroel-funda-la-villa-imperial-de-potosi-4-de-diciembre-de-1546/
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1779 Derrota británica en Centro América
Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo

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Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo fue el primogénito de la familia Gálvez de Macharaviaya, y nació el 24 de julio de 1717. Era militar de carrera, pero no comenzó a ascender hasta que gozó del apoyo de su hermano José.

 

Matías de Gálvez se trasladó a Tenerife en 1757;​ allí llevó a su hijo Bernardo que solo tenía cinco años. Tras acceder a la carrera militar, sirvió como gobernador de la fortaleza costera de Paso Alto, próxima a Santa Cruz de Tenerife, hasta 1775 y, a partir de ese año, como teniente del rey —lugarteniente del comandante general—.

Por orden de su hermano José de Gálvez, por entonces secretario de Estado del Despacho de Indias, abandonó la isla de Tenerife en 1778 y fue nombrado inspector general de las Tropas y Milicias de Guatemala. Al llegar a Guatemala se ocupó de asuntos militares principalmente entre Chiquimulilla y El Salvador, organizando también los cuerpos militares de varias ciudades, especialmente el de Comayagua (actual Honduras).​ Su principal preocupación al llegar a su destino fue mejorar las defensas del territorio, amenazado por los británicos, con los que había estallado la guerra el 16 de junio de 1779.

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El 4 de abril de 1779, gracias a la influencia de su hermano, fue nombrado capitán general y presidente de la Real Audiencia de Guatemala, en sustitución de Martín de Mayorga, quien había pasado el desastre de los terremotos de Santa Marta en 1773 que destruyo la ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala y obligado a los residentes a trasladar la capital a la Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción.​

A Matías de Gálvez le correspondió entonces la construcción de la Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción. Instaló una ceca (casa de la Moneda) y trabajó en la construcción la nueva Catedral Metropolitana, la cual dejó ya con las paredes elevadas cuando terminó su gestión.​ Fue tal su labor realizada en la construcción de la nueva ciudad, que el Ayuntamiento lo nombró «El primer padre de la Patria».​

Los británicos trataban de apoderarse de la costa de los Mosquitos y conquistaron en la zona tres fuertes estratégicos: el de San Felipe del Golfo Dulce —muy debilitado en sus defensas—, el de la Inmaculada Concepción del río San Juan y el de San Fernando de Omoa —con dotación y armamento insuficientes—.​

=================================== ===================================

Poco después de haberse iniciado su presidencia, el 20 de octubre, los ingleses se apoderaron de este último, sito en la bahía de Honduras;​ De Gálvez había prometido enviar refuerzos para sostener la plaza y garantizar su defensa, pero no lo hizo, lo que facilitó la tarea de las fuerzas británicas y supuso un baldón para su reputación.​

Una vez perdido el castillo, no obstante, De Gálvez se apresuró a reunir las tropas acantonadas en Amatitlán, Sacatepéquez, Olancho, Tegucigalpa, Santa Ana, Comayagua, San Salvador y Nueva Segovia, se trasladó a la costa norte de Honduras y cercó el fuerte el 26 de noviembre;​ logró reconquistar la fortaleza el 5 de enero de 1781,​ y expulsar a los ingleses del río San Juan (el 28 de noviembre del 1779)​ y del lago Cocibolca.​

Volvió a Trujillo a descansar a las tropas y a esperar los barcos que debían permitirle acometer a los británicos en los fuertes de la isla de Roatán, que recuperó el 17 de marzo de 1782.​ Después de haber sacado a los ingleses de la bahía de Honduras, regresó a la ciudad de Guatemala ese mismo año.​ 


Como recompensa a las victorias ante los británicos, se lo ascendió a teniente general del Ejército.

 

Posteriormente fue nombrado Virrey de la Nueva España (actual México)



Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

PAN-PACIFIC RIM

Las Islas Galápagos y su descubridor Tomás de Berlanga en 1535
No fue Darwin... !

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Las Islas Galápagos y su descubridor Tomás de Berlanga en 1535
No fue Darwin... !

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Religioso Dominico Español

Fray Tomás de Berlanga O.P., nacido Tomás Martínez Gómez (o Enríquez Gómez) (Berlanga de Duero, Soria, en 1487 – † Berlanga de Duero, 8 de agosto de 1551) fue un religioso dominico español, nombrado obispo de Panamá (1534-1537). 

Las islas Galápagos fueron descubiertas por casualidad el 10 de marzo de 1535, cuando el barco del obispo de Panamá fray Tomás de Berlanga se desvió de su destino a Perú, donde cumpliría un encargo del rey español Carlos V para arbitrar en una disputa entre Francisco Pizarro y sus subordinados tras la conquista del imperio incaico.

Los primeros mapas en incluir las islas fueron realizados por los cartógrafos Abraham Ortelius y Mercator alrededor de 1570. Las islas estaban descritas como "Insulae de los Galopegos" (Islas de las Tortugas).

Las Galápagos fueron utilizadas por piratas ingleses como escondite en sus viajes de pillaje a los galeones españoles que llevaban oro y plata de América hacia España. El primer pirata registrado que visitó las islas fue el inglés Richard Hawkins, en 1593. Desde entonces y hasta 1816 muchos piratas llegaron al archipiélago.

Las islas Galápagos1​ (también islas de los Galápagos y oficialmente archipiélago de Colón1​ o archipiélago de Galápagos2​) constituyen un archipiélago del océano Pacífico ubicado a 972 km de la costa de Ecuador

Está conformado por trece islas grandes con una superficie mayor a 10 km², seis islas medianas con una superficie de 1 km² a 10 km² y otros 215 islotes de tamaño pequeño, además de promontorios rocosos de pocos metros cuadrados, distribuidos alrededor de la línea del ecuador terrestre, que conjuntamente con el Archipiélago Malayo, forman parte de ser los únicos archipiélagos en el planeta que tienen tierras tanto en el hemisferio norte, como en el hemisferio sur.

Las Islas Galápagos fueron declaradas Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 1978 por la Unesco. El archipiélago tiene como mayor fuente de ingresos el turismo y recibe 200 000 turistas al año.3​ También se ha desarrollado el turismo ecológico con el fin de preservar las especies. La región fue el hábitat del Solitario George, el último espécimen de la especie tortuga gigante de Pinta, extinta el 24 de junio del 2012.4​ Las islas también son hábitat de especies como tortugas marinasdelfinestiburonestiburones martilloballenasarrecifes de coralfragatasiguanaslagartoscormoranesalbatrosleones marinos y pingüinos.5​ 

Al igual que la masa continental de Ecuador, el archipiélago es atravesado por la línea ecuatorial, en su mayor parte por el norte de la isla Isabela. Galápagos es el segundo archipiélago con mayor actividad volcánica del planeta, superado únicamente por Hawái.6​ Entra en la categoría de los puntos calientes; los volcanes más activos son Cerro AzulSierra Negra, Marchena y volcán La Cumbre en la Isla Fernandina, que es el más activo del archipiélago y uno de los más activos del mundo.7​ == Galápagos es conocido por sus numerosas especies endémicas y por los estudios de Charles Darwin que le llevaron a establecer su teoría de la evolución por la selección natural. Son llamadas, turísticamente, las Islas Encantadas, denominación que se ganó el archipiélago en el siglo XVI por su grandiosa biodiversidad de flora y fauna, heredando el nombre por generaciones.8

Se estima que la formación de la primera isla tuvo lugar hace más de cinco millones de años,9​ como resultado de la actividad tectónica. Las islas más recientes, llamadas Isabela y Fernandina, están todavía en proceso de formación, habiéndose registrado la erupción volcánica más reciente en 2009.

Administrativamente, Galápagos constituye una provincia de Ecuador, conformada por tres cantones que a su vez son islas, a saber: San CristóbalSanta Cruz e Isabela. El 12 de febrero de 1832, bajo la presidencia de Juan José Flores, las islas Galápagos fueron anexadas a Ecuador. Desde el 18 de febrero de 1973 constituyen una provincia de este país.

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Nombre oficial Otros nombres Superficie (km²) Habitantes Cantón
Isabela Albemarle 4.588,12 2.200 Isabela
Santa Cruz Indefatigable 985,55 25.000 Santa Cruz
Fernandina Narborough 642,48 - Isabela
San Salvador/Santiago James 584,65 - Santa Cruz
San Cristóbal Chatham
Mercedes13
558,08 8.400 San Cristóbal
Floreana/Santa María Charles 172,53 100 San Cristóbal
Marchena Bindloe 129,96 - Santa Cruz
Española Hood 60,48 - San Cristóbal
Pinta Abingdon 59,40 - Santa Cruz
Baltra - 26,19 - Santa Cruz
Santa Fe Barrington 24,13 - San Cristóbal
Pinzón Duncan 18,15 - Santa Cruz
Genovesa Tower 14,10 - San Cristóbal
Rábida Jervis 4,99 - Santa Cruz
Seymour Norte Mosquera 1,84 - Santa Cruz
Wolf Wenman 1,34 - Isabela
Tortuga Brattle 1,29 - Isabela
Bartolomé - 1,24 - Santa Cruz
Darwin Vidal 1,06 - Isabela

These are the major islands.  Go to the website for photos and descriptions of each ot these islands, plus a listing of 50 minor locations and points of interest.    https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islas_Gal%C3%A1pagos

Isla Darwin

Llamada así en honor a Charles Darwin, quien hiciera famosas las islas a nivel mundial. Tiene una superficie de 1,1 km² y una altura máxima de 168 metros. Esta isla no está abierta para visitas en tierra, los únicos visitantes son los que vienen a bucear. La vida marina en Darwin es diversa, las aguas de la isla atraen atraen tiburones ballena de junio a noviembre, así como también a tiburones martillotiburones de Galápagostiburones
sedosos
 y tiburones punta negra. Además se pueden encontrar focas peleteraslobos marinosdelfines y ballenas. En la isla existe una gran población de aves, que incluye fragataspiqueros de patas rojasgaviotas de cola bifurcada y el pinzón vampiro.

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​Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)

 

 PHILIPPINES

Regretfully, Dr. Carlos AAA Rodriguez, a regular submitter to the Philippines section,  passed away, November 6th.  Since  September 2011 to December 2017, there are over 100 articles written by Eddie, pertaining to the Filipino culture and history,  available online at SomosPrimos.com.   Eddie contributions will be missed.  He broadened by historical perspectives.   ~ Mimi 

 


SPAIN

Bernardo de Gálvez da nombre a uno de los A330 de Air Europa
Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles
La
expulsión de los judíos de 1492: la leyenda que construyeron 
     los enemigos
de España
El gran mosaico de pueblos prerromanos de la Península Ibérica 
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Bautismo del avión de Air Europa dedicado a Bernardo de Gálvez 

Bernardo de Gálvez da nombre a uno de los A330 de Air Europa
Publicado el

 

La compañía aérea Air Europa ha homenajeado hoy al militar y político malagueño Bernardo de Gálvez, bautizando con su nombre a uno de los aviones Airbus 330 de su flota, una nave que cubrirá el trayecto entre Málaga y Nueva York.

Con este acto, celebrado en el Aeropuerto de Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez, Air Europa se ha sumado al homenaje que la Diputación de Málaga y la Asociación Bernardo de Gálvez rinden a este célebre malagueño, nacido en Macharaviaya, que desempeñó en el siglo XVIII un papel crucial en la independencia de los Estados Unidos de América.

 



Air Europa



Who was Bernardo de Galvez? 

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Nació en Macharaviaya, Málaga. Con 16 años se alistó en el ejército, interviniendo en la guerra de Portugal. Pasó luego a Nueva España para defender a los mexicanos de Chihuahua y Texas contra los feroces apaches, recibiendo varias heridas en combate.

En 1776 fue nombrado coronel del regimiento de Luisiana.  Desempeñó un relevante papel en la guerra contra los ingleses. Sus victorias contra los británicos y la ayuda prestada por España fueron claves para el triunfo de la Revolución Americana.

Por sus relevantes méritos ascendió a Teniente General y recibió el título de Conde de Gálvez, con el mote YO SOLO para su blasón.

Posteriormente sucedió a su padre como Virrey de Nueva España. Por su bondadoso carácter se ganó el cariño del pueblo mexicano. Falleció apenas cumplidos los cuarenta años.

Gracias a la extraordinaria labor realizada por Teresa
Valcarce en nombre de la Asociación Bernardo de Gálvez,  su retrato fue colgado en el Capitolio norteamericano el año 2014, y poco después recibió el honroso título de Ciudadano Honorario de Estados Unidos.

 

Born in Macharaviaya, Malaga. When he was 16, he
enlisted in the army and fought in the Portuguese Restoration War. He then went to New Spain to defend the Mexicans of Chihuahua and Texas against the fierce Apaches, receiving various injuries in combat.

In 1776, he was named Colonel of the Louisiana regiment. He carried out an important role in the war against the English. His victories against the British, and the support of Spain, were key in the triumph of the American Revolution.

Through his relevant merits, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and received the title of Count Gálvez with the motto I ALONE for his coat of arms.

Later, he succeeded his father as Viceroy of New Spain. He won the affection of the Mexican people through his kind-hearted character. He died when he was just forty.

Thanks to the extraordinary work of Teresa Valcarce in the name of the Bernardo de Gálvez Association, his portraitwas hung in the North American Capitol in 2014 andshortly afterwards he received Honorary Citizenship of the United States.

También puedes leer...

 


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Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles

Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles
Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles Foto: Pixabay

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Entre un 10 y un 15 por ciento de la población latinoamericana actual desciende de nobles españoles y portugueses, según las investigaciones genealógicas y demográficas del sociólogo colombiano Mario Jaramillo y Contreras, miembro de la Junta Directiva de la Real Asociación de Hidalgos de España (RAHE).

Jaramillo, que investigó durante años el impacto de los descendientes de la nobleza española y portuguesa en la población latinoamericana, defiende la necesidad de desmitificar la "leyenda negra" que identifica con "delincuentes o aventureros sin escrúpulos" a la gran mayoría de españoles que se embarcaron en los siglos XV y XVI con destino a tierras americanas.

"Fueron miles los nobles que se enrolaron en aquellos viajes, con la idea de conocer el Nuevo Mundo, primero", y con el fin de "contribuir a su desarrollo político, económico y cultural, después", argumenta el experto, quien asegura que fueron ellos "los grandes protagonistas en el descubrimiento y colonización de América Latina".

Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles Foto: Pixabay

Tanto es así que los procesos de independencia americanos respecto a España y Portugal, durante el siglo XIX, "no se entenderían sin la participación directa de nobles", subraya Jaramillo, quien destaca asimismo cómo "los conceptos de nobleza e hidalguía se valoran muy positivamente en Latinoamérica".

El sociólogo precisa que se trata de conceptos "que implican orgullo en buena parte de la población" latinoamericana, por lo que "pocos son los que no han querido conocer los orígenes de sus apellidos".

Licenciado en Derecho, doctor en Sociología y con estudios posteriores en la Universidad de Harvard, Mario Jaramillo fue profesor en centros universitarios de Colombia, España y EE.UU.

Además, es autor de una decena de libros sobre Historia y Ciencias Sociales, así como jefe de redacción de la revista Hidalguía, editada por la RAHE y considerada la más importante del mundo en su especialidad.

Para mas informacion 
. . .
dinero.com


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La expulsión de los judíos de 1492: la leyenda que construyeron los enemigos de España
MUSEO DEL PRADO
«Expulsión de los judíos de España», según el pintor Emilio Sala

La medida firmada por los Reyes Católicos en Granada no fue una excepción en Europa, salvo por tardía, a pesar de la fama de antisemitas que arrastran los monarcas. La primera expulsión masiva la había ordenado Eduardo I de Inglaterra en 1290.
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Frente a la hegemonía militar que impuso el Imperio español durante los siglos XVI y XVII en toda Europa, sus enemigos históricos solo pudieron contraatacar a través de la propaganda

Un campo donde Holanda, Francia e Inglaterra se movían con habilidad y que desembocó en una leyenda negra sobre España y los españoles todavía presente en la historiografía actual. Al igual que ocurre con la Guerra de Flandes, la Conquista de América o la Inquisición española, la propaganda extranjera intoxicó y exageró lo que realmente supuso la expulsión de los judíos de los reinos españoles pertenecientes a los Reyes Católicos en 1492. En suma, los ganadores son los encargados de escribir la historia y España no estuvo incluido en este grupo.
Las expulsiones y agresiones a poblaciones judías, un grupo al que se atacaba con frecuencia para esconder los verdaderos problemas sociales, fueron una constante durante toda la Europa medieval. Salvo en España, los grandes reinos europeos habían acometido varias ráfagas de expulsiones desde el siglo XII, en muchos casos de un volumen poblacional similar al de 1492. Así, el Rey Felipe Augusto de Francia ordenó la confiscación de bienes y la expulsión de la población hebrea de su reino en 1182. Una medida que en el siglo XIV fue imitada otras cuatro veces (1306, 1321, 1322 y 1394) por distintos monarcas. No en vano, la primera expulsión masiva la ordenó Eduardo I de Inglaterra en 1290. También fueron reseñables las que tuvieron lugar en el Archiducado de Austria y el Ducado de Parma, ya en el siglo XV.

La expulsión de los judíos de España fue firmada por los Reyes Católicosel 31 de marzo de 1492 en Granada. Lejos de las críticas que siglos después recibió en la historiografía extranjera, la cruel decisión fue vista como un síntoma de modernidad y atrajo las felicitaciones de media Europa. Ese mismo año, incluso la Universidad de la Sorbona de París trasmitió a los Reyes Católicos sus felicitaciones. De hecho, la mayoría de los afectados por el edicto eran descendientes de los expulsados siglos antes en Francia e Inglaterra.

Los que abandonaron finalmente el país pertenecían a las clases más modestas.

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La razón que se escondía tras la decisión,además del recelo histórico de los cristianos contra los hebreos, era la necesidad de acabar con un grupo de poder que algunos historiadores, como Wiliam Thomas Walsh, han calificado como «un Estado dentro del Estado». Su predominio en la economía y en la banca convertía a los hebreos en los principales prestamistas de los reinos hispánicos. Con el intento de construir un estado moderno por los Reyes Católicos, se hacía necesario acabar con un importante poder económico que ocupaba puestos claves en las cortes de Castilla y de Aragón. Así y todo, los que abandonaron finalmente el país pertenecían a las clases más modestas; los ricos no dudaron en convertirse.

Historiador Sánchez Albornoz escribió en una de sus obras, «los españoles no fueron más crueles con los hebreos que los otros pueblos de Europa, pero contra ninguno otro de ellos han sido tan sañudos los historiadores hebreos».

¿Qué tuvo entonces de diferente esta expulsión? 
La mayoría de historiados apuntan que, precisamente, lo llamativo del caso español está en lo tardío respecto a otros países y en la importancia social de la que gozaban los judíos en nuestro país. Aunque no estuvieron exentos de episodios de violencia religiosa, los judíos españoles habían vivido con menos sobresaltos la Edad Media que en otros lugares de Europa. 

En la corte de Castilla –no así en la de Aragón- los judíos ocupaban puestos administrativos y financieros importantes, comoAbraham Seneor, desde 1488 tesorero mayor de la Santa Hermandad, un organismo clave en la financiación de la guerra de Granada.

 

Una gran odisea para los expulsados

No obstante, la cifra de judíos en España sí era especialmente elevadaen comparación con otros países de Europa. En tiempos de los Reyes Católicos, siempre según datos aproximados, los judíos representaban el 5% de la población de sus reinos con cerca de 200.000 personas. De todos estos afectados por el edicto, 50.000 nunca llegaron a salir de la península pues se convirtieron al Cristianismo y una tercera parte regresó a los pocos meses alegando haber sido bautizados en el extranjero. Algunos historiadores han llegado a afirmar que solo se marcharon definitivamente 20.000 habitantes.

El edicto les prohibía sacar oro, plata, monedas, armas y caballos del reino.

=================================== ===================================
Aunque la expulsión de 1492 fue sobredimensionada respecto a otras en Europa,causando a España una inmerecida fama de país hostil a los judíos, nada quita que la decisión provocara un drama social que obligó a miles de personas a abandonar el único hogar que habían conocido sus antepasados. Según establecía el edicto, los judíos tenían un plazo de cuatro meses para abandonar el país. El texto permitía llevarse bienes muebles pero les prohibía sacar oro, plata, monedas, armas y caballos. Los hebreos afectados por el edicto que decidieron refugiarse en Portugal se vieron pronto en la misma situación: destierro o conversión. Así y todo, su suerte fue mejor que los que viajaron al norte de África o a Génova, donde la mayoría fueron esclavizados. En Francia, Luis XII también los expulsó. Comenzaba en esos días una odisea para los llamados judíos sefarditas que duraría siglos, y que generó una nostalgia histórica hacia la tierra de sus abuelos todavía presente.
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Siglos después, en 1967, tras el Concilio Vaticano II, se revocó en España la expulsión de 1492. Un año después tuvo lugar la inauguración oficial de la primera sinagoga.

http://www.abc.es/espana/ 20141030/abci-mito-expulsion- judios-reyes-201410271408.html

​Sent by C. Campos y Escalante (campce@gmail.com)​


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El gran mosaico de pueblos prerromanos de la Península Ibérica (II)
Jose Mari, Repasando la Historia, 11 noviembre, 2017

Antes de entrar directamente a la cuestión que nos ocupa, debemos recordar algunos puntos del anterior artículo de esta serie. El cual por cierto podéis leer completo en este enlace: pueblos-prerromanos

Como ya quedó dicho, el principal problema para el conocimiento de los pueblos prerromanos es la falta de fuentes escritas. Más si cabe en el espacio geográfico que nos ocupa hoy, ciertamente mientras los pueblos íberos tuvieron visitas continúas via mediterráneo, prácticamente durante el I milenio aC. Los pueblos celtas solo tendrán contactos importantes a partir del siglo III aC, de hay que no aparezcan con tanta frecuencia en la literatura de los clásicos. Tras este inciso entramos en materia.
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Los celtas.
No está realmente claro el momento en que se produjo la entrada de este pueblo en la península ibérica. A pesar de ello la actual historiografía descarta la anterior visión que se tenía sobre su llegada, en forma de invasión. Hoy se conoce gracias a los registros arqueológicos que fue una sucesión temporal de penetraciones vía pirenaicas, de diversos grupos del centro y del este de Europa. Denominados comúnmente indoeuropeos. Los recién llegados portaban una lengua y etnia bien diferente a la íbera, e incluso entre ellos mismos no existía homogeneidad, como veremos a continuación.

Otro matiz a reseñar es la desmitificación de algunos aspectos sobre el mundo celta, que se han podido deducir en los últimos años. Ni fueron los que aportaron la metalurgia del hierro, o por lo menos de forma exclusiva. Ni tampoco la incineración, ya que esta existía previamente en la cultura de Campos de Urnas. sobre esta coincidencia, aunque no quede demostrada la relación entre ambas culturas, esta, es muy probable.

Algunos aspectos generales.
Debido a la amplia extensión de la zona a la que nos referimos, se hace difícil generalizar. Pero todos los pueblos de los que hablaremos a continuación tenían unos aspectos comunes. Podemos empezar por su economía, basada principalmente en tres aspectos, la ganadería, la agricultura y la guerra, con evidentes regionalizaciones. En este primer punto ya podemos encontrar un aspecto que los diferencia de los íberos, la escasa importancia que se daba al comercio, aunque con algunas excepciones como veremos a continuación.


Recreación de un poblado celta

Otra de las diferencias con el mundo íbero fue su organización política, muy poco conocida, pero en todo caso alejada de los supuestos reyes íberos. A lo sumo algún caudillo militar como veremos en el mundo lusitano, pero el resto pareció estar regido una especie de unidad suprafamiliar. Esta giraba en torno a tres colectivos, una joven aristocracia guerrera, un consejo de ancianos y las mujeres que se ocupaban de la familia y su manutención.

La forma de enterrar a sus muertos era la cremación, y el posterior enterramiento de la urna junto a los ajuares de guerreros, minoritarios en todo caso, y los ajuares domésticos mucho más habituales. Otra forma contrastada era el ofrecimiento del cuerpo de los difuntos, supuestamente guerreros, a los buitres. Este aspecto ha levantado controversias sobre si eran los enemigos los que los ofrecían, o sus compañeros para elevar el alma del difunto al cielo. Por último destacar su religión politeísta, en torno a divinidades protectoras, infernales, guerreras y especialmente a la naturaleza.

La simbología es algo muy importante en el mundo celta, en este caso del trisquel celta
Ahora sí, tras esta introducción pasamos a conocer un poco mejor a este gran mosaico de pueblos celtas, los cuales poblaron casi dos terceras partes de la Península Ibérica. Los podemos separan en dos grandes grupos, uno al norte y el otro en el centro peninsular.

Los pueblos del norte.

Geográficamente nos referimos a todos aquellos pueblos en torno el mar Cantábrico. Por lo tanto las actuales, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, País Vasco y grandes zonas del norte de Castilla-León. Se trata de una zona de gran desfragmentación en la cual aparecen multitud de nombres, un caso similar a la zona norte de los íberos, donde cada comarca parece que busque su pasado diferenciador. Aún así los podemos diferencias en tres grupos principales y otros de menor transcendencia.

Galaicos.
En primer lugar nos iremos al puesto más alejado que encontraron los romanos. Como ya hemos dicho, sus nombres son interminables, por nombrar algunos, los Ártabros, los Quarquernos, los Gigurros, los límicos, los tamagunos, y así un amplísimo etcétera. Es de suponer que llegaron a estos lares en busca de la obtención de metales, como el oro y el estaño, no en vano Galicia está situada en la mítica ruta a las islas Casíteridas.

Lo más conocido de estos pueblos es su hábitat, debido a la gran cantidad de yacimientos encontrados, que nos indica que pudo ser una zona muy habitada. La denominada cultura castreña, con viviendas circulares de paja, cañas, barro y techos cónicos, las conocemos bien, ya que se han encontrado miles de ellas. Si al principio eran pequeños castros con unas decenas de casas, con el paso de los siglos fueron creciendo hasta adoptar algunos prácticamente la fisonomía de pequeñas ciudades, como por ejemplo Briteiros en el norte de Portugal, y Santa Tecla en la provincia de Pontevedra.

Yacimiento de Santa Tecla en la provincia de Pontevedra.
Un aspecto que no queda bien resuelto es su romanización. Conocidos por Roma desde el año 137 aC. con las expediciones de Décimo Junio Bruto. A pesar de ello dos siglos después, Estrabón los sigue considerados un pueblo escasamente civilizado. Además como provincia romana no aparece hasta los tiempos de Diocleciano, por lo tanto a finales del siglo III dC.

Astures.

Geográficamente los encontramos entre el mar Cantábrico y la línea del rio Duero, ocupando la provincia de Oviedo y algunas zonas de León, Palencia y Zamora. Curiosamente reciben el nombre del actual rio Esla, denominado Astur los romanos. También existe gran diversificación de nombres, Orniacos, lugones, paesicos, entre otros.

El castro de Coaña, la cultura castreña en su máximo esplendor.
Su hábitat es muy similar al de sus vecinos galaicos, se han localizado grandes castros como por ejemplo Coaña, que pudo albergar cerca de 2000 personas. En ellos se han llevado a cabo unos estudios referentes a la relación organizativa, de las comunidades celtas del norte peninsular. A través de la epigrafía, conocemos la gran importancia que el parentesco familiar tenia para la distribución de los ciudadanos dentro de las aldeas.

Cántabros.
De nuevo nos encontramos ante una gran desfragmentación, pero que hicieron causa común ante el invasor romano, vendieron cara la derrota y fueron los últimos en caer ante Roma. Entre ellos encontramos, Tamaricos, Coniscos, Orgenomescos, o Vadanienses, todos en un espacio geográfico que va desde el río Esla, al rió Deva, entre las provincias de Santander, Palencia y Burgos. Su principal sustento económico fue la ganadería debido en parte a las dificultades orográficas para la agricultura.

Es una zona donde la presencia de castros comienza a disminuir, así y todo la que se piensa que pudo ser su ciudad más importante, Amaya, fue un gran castro situado a más de 1.300 metros sobre el nivel del mar. De todas formas el registro arqueológico es menor que por ejemplo en Galicia.

La recreación de las Guerras Cántabras suelen ser habituales en las festividades de Cantabria.
Pero por contra los conocemos mejor por la fuentes escritas, es evidente, ya que que fueron los últimos en caer ante Roma. Aunque en este aspecto también subsisten errores, como la crónicas de Estrabón que nos presenta a los cántabros como una sociedad muy matriarcal. Es evidente que en una sociedad guerrera como fue esta, la principal actividad para el sustento familiar recae en la mujer. Pero la epigrafía demuestra un fuerte protagonismo masculino en la onomástica de los cántabros.

Otros pueblos del norte.
Siguiendo el recorrido por la cornisa cantábrica, encontramos otros pueblos de menor magnitud o menos conocidos. Como los Turmódigos, Nervios o Várdulos, todos ellos antes de llegar a la zona más oriental de los celtas. En ella hallamos un pueblo difícil de adscribir al mundo celta, pero también al íbero. Concretamente habló de los Vascones, con una lengua diferente a todas que sigue siendo motivo de controversia. El principal problema parece ser la escasez de fuentes antiguas, ya que no son conocidos hasta la llegada de los romanos, a los cuales por cierto no parece que pusieran mucha resistencia.

Zona Centro.
A pesar de la falta de rígidas fronteras, la zona centro de la península puede ser la mejor delimitada del mundo celta. Una serie de grandes pueblos que recibieron al invasor dispuestos a que no se quedara en este espacio geográfico. En el mismo, la historia a conocido a los grandes héroes de la protohistoria peninsular, desde los anónimos que prefirieron morir como numantinos, antes que vivir como romanos. Al conocido como rey de los hispanos por las fuentes romanas, a pesar de no pasar de ser un caudillo. Evidentemente estoy hablando de Viriato.

Antes de pasar a los más conocidos y con intención de que no se me olvide nadie, nombrar a los Túrdulos en la desembocadura del Duero, a los Brácaros vecinos sureños de los Galaicos, ambos en tierras portuguesas, como los Conios que encontramos al sur. Por último destacar a los célticosasentados en curso del río Guadiana.

Celtíberos.
Uno de los pueblos más importantes a la llegada de los romanos. Asentados desde el siglo V aC. en torno a los ríos meseteños, Ebro, Duero, Tajo o Jalón.

A pesar de que la historiografía más antigua le asignó el papel de promotor de celtas e iberos, de ahí su nombre. Hoy en día existe un consenso muy generalizado sobre su origen celta, y además le asignan el papel de ser los más fieles a su pasado centroeuropeo, a pesar de su llegada a Iberia.

Conocemos el nombre de sus diversos pueblos gracias a las crónicas romanas, que los separan en dos grandes grupos. Al este del Sistema Ibérico encontramos a los Titos, a los Belos, y a los Lusones, además de tribus íberas como los Turboletas o los Lobetanos, a los que se les suelen asignar un componente celta. Mientras al oeste del mismo Sistema, encontramos a Pelendones, Arévacos y Berones, sin olvidar que algunos expertos incluyen a los Vacceos en este grupo, merced a sus continuos contactos.

Recreación de las murallas de Numancia en la entrada del yacimiento.
Su hábitat preferido los grandes Oppida celtas, destacan Tiermes, Numancia, Clunia o Segóbriga, todos ellos convertidos posteriormente en ciudades romanas importantes. Su economía principal estuvo basada en la ganadería, especialmente de consumo, pero sin descartar la agricultura. Además posiblemente fueron los mejores comerciantes entre los celtas, en especial de armas de hierro, donde demostraron ser unos expertos.

La arqueología nos ha demostrado sobradamente el punto anterior de autenticidad celta. Las urnas funerarias nos han desvelado una aristocracia guerrera, con cascos, espadas, escudos o fíbulas. Pero también una élite dirigente sin armas pero con objetos personales, como brazaletes y collares. También nos ha mostrado su religión politeísta, debido al hallazgo de piezas votivas con motivos diversos, como caballos, ninfas y arboles de la vida. También podemos señalar que el culto era al aire libre sin templos, ni santuarios.

Pero su virtud más reconocida fue su fuerte resistencia a la invasión romana, el episodio de la ciudad de Numancia es el más célebre de la historia. Veinte años de asedio a la ciudad situada en las inmediaciones de la actual Soria, le costó a las legiones romanas para doblegar a los numantinos, que prefirieron morir antes de convertirse en romanos. Aunque igual de cierto parece ser su gran servicio militar que los nuevos numantinos, posteriormente ofrecieron a romanos como por ejemplo a Sertorio.

Vacceos.
Geográficamente los podemos encontrar como vecinos de los celtíberos, en el área comprendida entra las provincias de Zamora, León, Palencia y Valladolid, además podemos afirmar que tuvieron una gran influencia de los primeros. En definitiva su principal fuente económica era muy complementaria con los Celtiberos, mientras estos tenían su predilección por la ganadería, los Vacceos se convirtieron en grandes productores de cereales. Hoy día la comarca de Tierra de Campos, sigue siendo considerada el granero de España, por lo tanto podemos asegurar que la tradición cerealista le viene de lejos.

La arqueología y las fuentes clásicas nos descubren un inicio de la celtificación a partir del siglo IV aC. Cuando los Vacceos abandonarán su tradicional forma de vida en los llanos y cerca de los ríos, por los tradicionales Oppida celtas, en alto y con estructuras defensivas. Pese a ello uno de los mejores ejemplos de ciudad Vaccea, es Pintia en la provincia de Valladolid, que atiende mejor a la primera descripción de asentamiento básico en torno a la agricultura.

Ajuar funerario de tipo domestico hallado en el yacimiento de Pintia. Aunque puede ser representativo de todos los pueblos celtas.  Uno de los aspectos más destacado de los Vacceos aparece en las fuentes clásicas, concretamente a través de Diodoro de Silicia y Frontino. Ambos lo denominan colectivismo agrario, es decir, entre las diferentes comunidades se repartían el trabajo y los beneficios a través de una especie de sorteo. Es uno de los primeros ejemplos de este sistema en la historia, aunque sigue levantando suspicacias sobre su verdadero alcance.

Por último destacar que a pesar de ser considerados como excelentes agricultores, la guerra también está presente en este pueblo, buena muestra de ello son los ajuares de armas localizados.

Lusitanos.
Para comenzar con ellos, es preciso hacer un inciso, a pesar de ubicarlos entre los pueblos celtas, los expertos lo sitúan como un pueblo indoeuropeo que entró en la península en el mismo espacio temporal que estos, pero no son considerados como celtas. Los localizamos entre la cuenca baja de dos ríos, el Tajo y el Guadiana, por lo tanto en el actual Portugal. Sus principales ciudades se convertirán en las más representativas ciudades romanas, como por ejemplo Coimbra y Conínbriga.

                       Monumento a Viriato en la localidad portuguesa de Viseu

Su principal fuente económica fue la ganadería, especialmente la porcina, la ovina y la equina. Este punto entronca directamente con una de sus mejores cualidades, ya que son considerados como los mejores jinetes de la Iberia. Esta habilidad les llevará a ser uno pueblos mejor preparados para luchar contra los romanos. Una aristocracia guerrera, que podemos conocer gracias a sus cultos principales, a la Diosa Bandua o la Diosa Epona. Dicha aristocracia estaba regida por una especie de caudillos, el más conocido de todos el gran Viriato, según los romanos el rey de Hispania, hasta su muerte por traición en plena lucha contra el invasor romano.

Vetones.
Arqueológicamente se les conoce como Cogotas II o bien como la “Cultura de los verracos”, debido a las extrañas figuras zooformas localizadas en su contexto geográfico. Como sus vecinos los lusitanos son considerados indoeuropeos pero no celtas. Se distribuyen en un espacio geográfico poco definido y sujeto a diferentes influencias. Aunque su núcleo principal lo ocuparían las provincias de Cáceres, Ávila y Salamanca. Su hábitat preferido fueron los Oppida de tradición celta, poblados elevados desde dominaban los ríos, con casas rectangulares. Uno de los mejores ejemplos lo encontramos en Salamanca, el cerro de San Vicente.

Su economía pudo ser una de las más diversificadas del mundo celta. A pesar de que la principal fuera la ganadería, tanto la agricultura, como el comercio a través de la Via de la Plata pudieron tener aportes muy significativos.


Altar de Ulaca, se ha especulado mucho sobre los sacrificios humanos entre los Vacceos, previa llegada de los romanos que incluyen este hecho en sus narraciones.

Uno de los aspectos de este pueblo que mejor se han estudiado son sus necrópolis, que han dado unos resultados muy significativos. Los ajuares localizados los podemos separar en tres tipos principales; Los guerreros con fíbulas y armas, los femeninos con collares y broches, y por último unas urnas más pequeñas que debían contener restos de niños. Al ser hallados varios de ellos juntos y mezclados los expertos han deducido un fuerte componente suprafamiliar, es decir convivencia de varias familias juntas.

Carpetanos.
Otra vez nos encontramos ante un espacio geográfico poco definido. A este pueblo se la ha asignado La Mancha como centro difusor de su cultura, la cual tenía grandes influencias de los vecinos. Su posición entre Celtiberos e íberos Carpetanos le reportó esta diversidad.
Su economía principal fue la agricultura, pero también explotaron el comercio, gracias a los contactos antes relatados. Sus ciudades fueron de las más importantes del mundo celta, se hallaban en zonas de control de las rutas y estaban fuertemente fortificadas. Para encontrar algunos ejemplos debemos acercamos a Toledum o al Complutum.

Como el resto del mundo celta, la guerra ocupó un lugar destacado, es conocido su amplio desgaste para controlar a los cartagineses, antes de la llegada de los romanos.

Pátera de Titulcia, elemento usado en las ceremonias religiosas de los Carpetanos, claramente exportable a otros pueblos celtas. Hasta aquí el viaje a través de dos capítulos por la multitud de pueblos prerromanos. Como en el primer capítulo, os animo a completar cualquier información que creáis necesaria en el apartado de comentarios. Posiblemente esta es la parte más desconocida de nuestra historia, y por los tanto abierta a múltiples reinterpretaciones.

Mas info: Gonzalo Bravo, Nueva historia de la España Antigua, Ed. Alianza, 2011
Imágenes: commons.wikimedia flickr
​Sent by: C. Campos y Escalante campce@gmail.com 
http://caminandoporlahistoria.com/pueblos-prerromanos-ii/ 



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STREET ART TRANSFORMATIONS AROUND THE WORLD 
Incredible Before and After  
Simply stunning.

For those individuals among us who possess a talent for art, 
opportunities to create something beautiful can be found all around us.

Everywhere you look, there are empty walls that are just crying out to 
become something more beautiful, if only someone would take the time.

Thankfully, there are plenty of incredibly talented street artists 
out there who are doing just that, turning drab public spaces into
 
explosions of color and creativity.

The second picture is always the "before" pic.  Keep scrolling down. 

"Knowledge Speaks - Wisdom Listens," Athens, Greece 
After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/b70413db17826d4b3588c6dd50627318_800_0.jpg
Wild Drawing


"Juliette Et Les Esprits," Montpellier, France

After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/8907d32b47a07addd4e3563271692618_800_0.jpg
Patrick Commecy

 

3D Mural In Poznan, Poland
After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/48de0ecb7911aeeb44a6764cb886e686_800_0.jpg
Waldemar Wylegalski

"Renaissance," Le Puy en Velay, France
After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/a25615a64a7995438e659bea4901132b_800_0.jpg
Patrick Commecy

  Giant Starling Mural In Berlin, Germany
After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/d9f2aa617be3622051e6309fca614833_800_0.jpg
Nika Kramer

 "Au Fil De Loire," Brives Charensac, France
After and Before
http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/e54dcd2c91522da312aebde4228b3d9b_800_0.jpg
Patrick Commecy

 

 

   Photorealistic Mural, Glasgow, Scotland 
After and Before

http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/1d66cbf8bf3463abfec418ad61eb1cf5_800_0.jpg
Smug

 Full Moon Hostel, Bristol, UK
After and Before


 

Paul Green

"Porte Des Lavandières," Aurec Sur Loire, France
After and Before

http://garak.wimp.com/images/pthumbs/2016/10/9c92bb8dbce53a0200ac646e7887d9da_800_0.jpg
Patrick Commecy

 Be sure to SHARE this incredible art with friends.

Sent by Val Valdez Gibbons 

 


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1588 -Yearly ceremony of the shipwrecked Spanish Armada in Sligo, Ireland

Espectacular lo de Irlanda, Los irlandeses no dudaron en homenajear a los españoles caídos de la gran Armada Invencible que fuimos a liberarlos de los ingleses. Así de bien nos valoran en Irlanda.

Fue aquel desastre de "la armada invencible"; lo de invencible fue puesto por los ingleses. En España se le decía "felicísima Armada". Lo que no se si saben que hubo por parte de Inglaterra una contra-armada que al mando de Drake intentó atacar el norte de España, y acabó en derrota tras derrota, incluido el intento de provocar una sublevación en Portugal, que lo que provocó fue que los portugueses se les echasen encima ... bella historia, y bello sentimiento.....

 

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O Jerusalem

J.L. Robb
Omega Letter, December 07, 2017

=================================== ===================================
A year after I was born, Israel was reborn. At age 1, I did not have a clue to the significance of May 14, 1948 nor did I know of the numerous Biblical predictions of Israel’s return to center stage.
As a kid, I went to Sunday School and sometimes, church; but it was 32 years later before I began to learn about these 2,700-year-old prophecies. That is sad. Until I read Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth and was introduced to Biblical prophecies concerning the Last Days, I was unsure if God really existed. The more I read, the more I was convinced that prophecy was the proof of the pudding.
Today, December 6, 2017, may prove to be the biggest day in Israel’s post-1948 history. The United States will be the first country to recognize Jerusalem, the City of David, as the capital of Israel.
So what did the ancient, Jewish prophets say about Israel and her return in the Last Days?
“In that day, I will restore David’s fallen shelter- I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins- and will rebuild it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, who will do these things.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.
“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land,    never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God. Amos 9:11-15 NIV
Amos, a shepherd, lived in Tekoa, a village in Judah, southeast of Bethlehem. Amos, though from Judah, prophesied God’s messages to the 10 tribes of Israel in the north, telling the leaders to get back to God or else. He wrote from about 760-750 B.C. and predicted the restoration of Israel after her exile, in the Last Days.
This is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.” Zechariah 8:7-8 NIV
Zechariah wrote his prophecies about 520 B.C. and probably saw the rise of the Greek Empire. Zechariah’s book is one of the last in the Old Testament and in many ways, parallels Revelation. There are similarities between Zechariah’s visions and the four horsemen of Revelation, the measuring of Jerusalem and the flying scroll.
The prophet Isaiah had a lot to say about the restoration of Israel to her ancient lands, and he wrote from about 700-680 B.C.  Like Zechariah, Isaiah was from Judah.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:5-7 NIV
Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Isaiah 66:8 NIV
Israel’s rebirth happened in a single day, May 14, 1948.
Jeremiah wrote from about 585-500 B.C. and was a priest in the town of Anathoth. Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” because of all the doom and gloom he predicted would befall Israel and the world.
“However, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when it will no longer be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but it will be said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ For I will restore them to the land I gave their ancestors.” Jeremiah: 16:14-15 NIV
“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.
“So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” Jeremiah 23:3-8 NIV
“I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:14 NIV
‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:3 NIV
I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. Jeremiah 32:37 NIV
The prophet Ezekiel wrote his book from 593-571 B.C. and came from a priestly family who served in the Jewish Temple. He was captured and taken into captivity in 597 B.C. by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Ezekiel contains more dates than any other Biblical record. Ezekiel received a vision of the millennial temple that was to be established by the Messiah upon his return in the Last Days.
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ Ezekiel 11:16-17 NIV
“‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’” Ezekiel 28:25-26 NIV
"As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.  I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel." Ezekiel 34:12-14 NIV
… and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. Ezekiel 37:21-22 NIV
With all these prophecies about Israel’s return to her land in the Last Days, it had to happen. It is also evident that the return includes a return to Jerusalem.
The TV news is aghast at what the move of our embassy to Jerusalem might mean for Israeli peace with the Palestinians.  I hear the wringing of hands among European leaders, that recognizing Jerusalem will anger the Palestinians who consider Jerusalem as their capital.
Don’t you have to be a country or nation to have a capital? Palestine is a territory and has never-ever been a nation or country. Jerusalem has never been their capital. The Muslims are experts at calling a rose a lily and know that if they say it enough, the lemmings will believe.
King David was the greatest king Israel ever had, because they missed out on Jesus by their rejection. Jerusalem was called the City of David.
 
Prophecy of the Last Days is playing out right in front of the eyes of the world. I think it is exciting and am glad I am here to see it.
On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. Zechariah 12:3 NIV
President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the embassy will move to Jerusalem.

 


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Refugees numbers are rising worldwide. 

=================================== ===================================
As the United States accepts fewer refugees, their numbers are rising worldwide. Wars and conflict across the Middle East, Afghanistan, and parts of Africa and southern Asia have created the highest number of displaced persons since World War II. The global refugee population has also grown by more than 50 percent since 2013. According to data from the Migration Policy Institute, the United States took in 53,000 refugees in 2017 — down from 85,000 in 2016.

Robert Robinson  robertrobinson453@gmail.com 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source:
dailywire.com 
Austria Launches New Migrant Policy: Benefits Cut, Phones, Cash Seized
by Joseph Curl @josephcurl December 24, 2017


While much of Europe is bending over backward for incoming refugees, Austria, yeah, not so much. 
The new government in Austria,  pledged to crack down in immigrants to the nation. And they've put their promises into practice.

"Phones will be seized upon entry, allowing border officials to analyse mobile data to determine migrants’ identities," the Express newspaper reports. "Money will also be taken from migrants and put towards the cost of caring for people arriving in the country. And benefits will be stopped for some migrants who have not yet 'paid into' the country."



MUSLIMS ARE OFFENDED AT NATIONAL ANTHEM: 
They Say It’s Forcing Them To Adopt Democratic Values
by Doug Giles, Clash Daily

=================================== ===================================
Everybody’s favorite militant and oppressive- yet somehow peace-loving- cult of religious immigrants is back in the news. Last week, we reported on things getting serious in the U.K., today it’s all about Great Brit’s former colony of criminals, Australia. Yep, after escaping to Down Under and western freedom, a glut of Islamists now declare that Australia has no right to ask Muslims to sing their national anthem or value the democratic principles of western citizenship.

This, according to Islamic activist group, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, which is campaigning against Australia because they believe the country is enforcing democratic values and a “disputed view” of history which contradicts Islamic beliefs.
“Requiring schoolchildren to sing the national anthem, and the citizenship pledge supporting democratic values, are a part of an oppressive campaign by Australian authorities of ‘forced assimilation’ of the Muslim community”. – Hizb-ut-Tahrir spokesman, Unthman Badar

Well, if there’s one culture that knows a thing or two about “forced assimilation” it would be Islam.

 Mr. Badar goes on to insist that this supposed oppression is due to an “exaggerated fear of a security threat”. Yeah, because someone who represents a belief system with a history of violence while giving the finger to democracy from inside your own borders is a totally absurd thing to be concerned about. Personally, I think Mr. Badar is just ticked off because he thinks the government got their indoctrination process started before he could start his.
Getting back to the whole national anthem quibble, Mr. Badar asks, “If you don’t share those values, why should they [Muslim children] be forced to sing it?” Believe it or not, Mr. Badar does veer into a valid question, although he mistakenly thinks it lends credence to his argument. If our western leaders would take a second to remove their heads from a certain sun-less location they might realize what this question actually implies: If Muslims don’t share our values, why would they want to migrate to democratic countries? 

If they reject democracy in favor of continued Muslim/Sharia culture, are they really “fleeing” from that society at all? Why would we want people like that inside our borders?


    Mr. Badar makes another crucial point when he states, “The attempt to reform Islam is doomed to failure.” 

Truer words have never been spoken. Sharia living is inseparable from Islam as any Muslim who admits to living under the Quran will tell you. The so-called western Muslims are keeping quiet about all these “Bad Muslims” either because they’re in abject denial about true Islam, in outright disobedience – which would be a death sentence – or are secretly supportive. Either way, it’s past time western leaders took a page out of Islam’s dedication and started identifying liberty-centric principles to stand up for exactly what democracy is and… is not. Anyone who wants to stand on our side of the line is welcome, anyone who doesn’t can go back home.

Sent by Odell Harwell odell.harwell74@att.net     http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml 

 




Report: Christian Persecution is Spiking Around the World

 


A blistering report by the religious organization known as Aid to the Church in Need notes a sharp uptick in the number of Christians who say they are being persecuted for their faith.

It should come as no surprise that Christians have been persecuted for centuries. Something that is just as surprising, however, if that there are students all around the United States who are learning about genocide that happened in the twentieth century but most of them also know close to nothing about religious-based oppression that is happening around the world today.

Why Is This Overlooked?

One of the main reasons that modern acts of religious oppression and downright genocide is not being discussed in schools and in other places is because the victims of these genocide attacks are Christians.

In most school curriculums, Christian cultures are often portrayed as the oppressors. While this has occassionally been true, it does not erase the fact that believers today are struggling to express their faith openly. This is the viewpoint that has been portrayed for years by journalists and academics.

The Reality of the Situation

The report released by Aid to the Church in Need, which is organized and chaired by George J. Marlin, that has some pretty devastating findings. The report is called “Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith, 2015-17.”

“In 12 of the 13 countries reviewed, the situation for Christians was worse in overall terms in the period 2015-17 than within the preceding two years,” the paper reads.

The report goes on to not that genocide has been reported and recorded in countries like Iraq, Syria, and northern Nigeria. The attempted genocide undertaken by ISIS militants as well as some affiliates such as Boko Haram are cited as examples. The report also singles out North Korea as a state where genocide happens as well as many other forms of torture. Just a few forms of oppression that are mentioned include forced abortion, hanging Christians on crosses over a fire, starvation, and even running Christians over by steamrollers.

This is not something that is hidden in these countries either, but rather done publicly. Radical groups like ISIS will kill converts to Christianity without batting and eye. This is a goal of Islamists, which can be summarized by the “eradication of Christians, and other minorities.” There are even some areas, like Sudan, where the killing of these minorities and Christians is organized by the government.

What Needs to Be Done?

The gravity of this situation can be terrifying and traumatizing, but that does not mean that now is the time for Christians to sit back and do nothing. In fact, now is the time for action.

The report says this on the subject: “The defeat of Daesh [ISIS] and other Islamists in major strongholds of the Middle East offers the last hope of recovery for Christian groups threatened with extinction.”

The glimmer of hope in this situation comes from the actions of Coalition Forces fighting the Islamic State. Recently, U.S. Defense Department officials reported the recapture of the Syrian city of Raqqa, which the radical terror group dubbed as their “capitol”. This military feat not only crushes the morale of ISIS fighters, but also delegitimizes their image as a powerful force for many Muslims in the region.

So what can you do if you cannot go out and fight? It is important to educate as many people as possible on the current genocide that is happening to Christians in these countries. If we continue to ignore it, the persecution of Christians living outside the West will continue. 

~ 1776 Christian
 http://1776christian.com/report-christian-persecution-is-spiking-around-the-world/ 

 

 

12/31/2017 08:47 PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dear Primos, Friends, and Family:

Hope the new year finds you in good health and with hope in your heart.   I am certainly grateful for being an American, 
with the freedom and privilege of saying what I want,  and traveling where I want.  

The more I learn, the more grateful I am for my brave ancestors who 500 years ago sailed all over the world, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the important horse.  


It was the horses which allowed my Spanish ancestors to explore entire continents. 
Do look at the MAP: History of the Vaquero,  identifying the dates of the Spanish horse in the Americas, starting in 1519.  It is under Spanish Presence in Americas' Roots.  Then go to the Southwestern US and view a MAP: Exploraciones en América del Norte.   

By the 1600s, the horse had changed the life of the indigenous. The native tribes had quickly learned how to use the horses for buffalo hunting, but also against the Spanish missions and Spanish settlers. However, in the 1600-1700s, both groups being clustered in small communities, practiced cooperation, assimilation, and with the Catholic faith, many marriages ensued. By the end of the 1700s, the Southwest was a confluence of the indigenous and Spanish communities. 

After the American Revolution, ending in 1783, masses of  Northern Europeans immigrated and commenced their trek from the East coast to the west coast for land and gold.   Between 1810-1890, the population of the United States went from 7,239,881 to 62,979,766.  

Even with their acquired skills with the horses,  neither the tribes, nor their Spanish-speaking primos could protect themselves from the domination of an English speaking government, and the huge global population shift, a 900% increase. 

 
UNITED STATES
UN denounces US recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital
A Move for World Peace
Extracts from:  Christians in Defense of Israel of Mat Staver
There's a sharp split among Christians over Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem 
     as Israel's capital
Everyone Should Stand for the National Anthem by Joy Villa
How it is done by a Cowboy, A Child Honoring His National Anthem
"You've Got to Be Carefully Taught"   

Hillsdale College's Project To Save Our Youth Through Education

Take a knee . . .   My Ass!!
Latina Style Announces the Top 10 Latina Corporate Executives of the Year
College Republicans Kicked Out of Coffee Shop "Safe Space"
Pennsylvania family ordered to take down Jesus Christmas display as ‘offensive’
     A question of free speech and freedom of association 
"In God We Trust" on coins, not a breach of Religious Freedom
To Children of the Greatest Generation  
On Running and a Philosophy of Life by Felipe de Ortego y Gasca

SPANISH PRESENCE IN AMERICAS' ROOTS
SAR Poster Contest in Texas Selects Galvez as Theme 
Sotana Negra (Black Robe) José Antonio López
The History of the Vaquero

HERITAGE PROJECTS
The Grass Fight, last engagement in the siege of San Antonio 
Quanah Parker, one of the greatest Indian chiefs in U.S. history

HISTORICAL TIDBITS
Louis J Benavides Inducted to 2017 Class, TX Genealogical College Hall of Fame
A Westside Story, based on historic El Rio for the People movement in Arizona

HISPANIC LEADERS
Graciano Gomez,  Battled discrimination against Latinos, 1925 - December 12, 2017
Col. Samuel Idrogo, Sr., USAF (Ret.)  February 15, 1935 - December 13th 2017 
Eddie AAA Calderon, Ph.D. International affairs,
Linguist Jan 3, 1942 - Nov 6, 2017 

LATINO AMERICAN PATRIOTS
My name is Jose Garcia Acosta.
Veterans Attend 76th Commemoration of Attack on Pearl Harbor
Four Latino Americans Received Medal of Honors from President Truman:  
Macario Garcia, Alejandro R. Renteria Ruiz, Rodolfo Hernandez, and Joseph Rodriguez

EARLY LATINO PATRIOTS 
The Civil War, extract from: 
"U.S. Latino Patriots: From the American Revolution to Afghanistan", 
An Overview by Refugio I. Rochin and Lionel Fernandez"

SURNAMES
Most common last names for Latinos in the United States

DNA
A Brief History of the Human Colonization of Ireland

FAMILY HISTORY
2018: A good year to start writing your own personal history
Three selection from "
Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul "
Abuela's Magic by Michele Capriotti  
Every First Friday by
Alejandro Diaz  
Learning to Fly by Steve Peralta  

Two Poetic short stories (Spanish/English) by
Frank Pancho Mendoza:
     La Ruby and Pajarito
Ten fill in the blanks to write your own Birth Story
I was born in San Antonio, Texas, by Nohemi "Mimi" Lozano


RELIGION
St. Augustine Cathedral: A Spiritual Journey by J. Gilberto Quezada
Lamella Orphica
Pope Francis 81st  Birthday
Media Hypocrisy and Anti-Christian Bias 
I am not American, I am Muslim by Majid Rafizadeh
Lawfare, instead of Warfare by Mimi Lozano
China Tries to Bring Christianity under its Communist Thumb

EDUCATION
Celebrate Maria Garcia Day in San Diego!
Irvine Unified aims to revolutionize teaching with one-to-one Chromebook

Tech Leads Kids to Tech Culture
Barney Charter School Initiative  . .  Saving America through education 
     by Larry P. Arnn, Ph.D. 
Does the 529 Tax Plan Help Parents Pull Their Kids out of Public School?
National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Latinx & Community College: Promoting Pathways - Postsecondary Degrees 

CULTURE
Jan 3: Berkeley's first Poet Laureate, Rafael Jesus Gonzalez and musician/poet, Francisco Herrera  
La herencia española em los símbolos de E.E.U.U.
Mestizos valiosos - El Inca Garcilazo de la Vega


HEALTH/MEDICINE
Tree of Lights Ceremony, Remembering Loved Ones
"Hospice Came Today" Poem by Stephan Au Clair
Hospice, What it is and How it Works


BOOKS AND PRINT MEDIA
Dancing with the Devil by Louis Diaz
Franciscan Frontiersmen: How Three Adventurers Charted the West 
Españoles Olividos de Norteamérica por Jose Antonio Crespo-Francés
How Will I Talk to Abuela by Maria de la Luz Reyes
Los Demonios del Mar
Naves negras. La ruta de las especias by Carlos Canales Y Miguel del Rey

FILMS, TV, RADIO, INTERNET
Louie the Actor Is Back by Al Martinez
Secrets of Spanish Florida 
Wonder by Raquel Jaramillo Palacio  Al Martinez


ORANGE COUNTY, CA
Jan 13: SHHAR:  Sylvia Contreras, "Abraham Lincoln and Mexico” 
           The Mexican War (1846-48)


Mater Dei High School,  2017 State Champions Open Division
Mater Dei High School Alumni, class of 1956
"Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s" by Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.
Example of information and visuals from the book: 
     Irapuato, Gto (Guanajuato), Mexico correspondence
     Boy Scout's Cabin in Westminster,
Jan 13, Fund Raiser for  "Tracks to the Westminster Barrio: 1910-1960s"

LOS ANGELES COUNTY
The Stage Presence José Luis Valenzuela 
Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights
UCLA Celebrates the Career & Legacy of Professor Juan Gomez-Quinones

CALIFORNIA
January 6:  Los Reyes Magos, Spain's Extended Christmas
How the Sun Illuminates Spanish Missions On the Winter Solstice
Mission San Miguel Arcángel 
Farias history in California, answers from Eva.  

NORTHWESTERN, US
La colonización del Norteamérica fue fundamental expansión de la religión
Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest 


SOUTHWESTERN, US

García López de Cárdenas y Figueroa,  First European to see Grand Canyon. 
Map: Exploraciones en América del Norte    

TEXAS
San Saba, Texas attack by Comanche
José Antonio Navarro 
November 25th, 1835 -- First Texas Navy
November 25th, 1850 -- Texas gives up nonexistent New Mexico counties
Juan Nepomuceno Seguin


MIDDLE AMERICA
Starting The New Year – The Learning Years – 1953 by Rudy Padilla
The Rafael M. Garcia Jr. Story by Rudy Padilla 
'Casa Aztlan' mural repainted, plus kids' art program

EAST COAST
New York/ New Jersey Port Authority Police Graduation
Can El Museo's Leader Build a Bridge to Its Latino Future?
Brooklyn Museum to Host a Show of Robot-Made Sculptures

AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Meet Queen Charlotte,  Biracial Royal Who Made History 200 Years 
     Before Meghan Markle! by Diana Pearl

INDIGENOUS
Oración de Agradecimiento Maya/A Prayer of Gratitude 
Indian Conquistadors
: Indigenous Allies in the Conquest of Mesoamerica
The Real Reason for Helicopter Names Is Awesome
Native American affirims ‘We are still here’ at Cal State Fullerton event  

SEPHARDIC
South Carolina’s Brilliant Jewish History
La expulsión de los judíos de 1492: 
     la leyenda que construyeron los enemigos de España

ARCHAEOLOGY
Christian discovery in Israel: Remains of 1,500 year-old monastery church 
The Huarmey Queen of Peru 

MEXICO
Resultados del XXI Concurso de Dibujo Infantil 2017, "Este Es Mi Mexico"
Gobierno del Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa
The Battles of the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Genealogy web pages   
Records of the Order of Santiago, 1501-1799

CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
Pew Research Center, Hispanic Trends, December 7, 2017
El Español Juan de Villarroel funda  la Villa Imperial de Potosí, Bolivia
1779 Derrota británica en Centro América, Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo

PAN-PACIFIC RIM 
Las Islas Galápagos y su descubridor Tomás de Berlanga en 1535

PHILIPPINES
Over 100 articles on Filipino culture and history by Dr. Carlos AAA Calderon  

SPAIN

Bernardo de Gálvez da nombre a uno de los A330 de Air Europa
Más del 10% de la población latinoamericana desciende de nobles
La expulsión de los judíos de 1492:  la leyenda que construyeron los enemigos de España
El gran mosaico de pueblos prerromanos de la Península Ibérica 

INTERNATIONAL
Ruta de la Primera Vuelta al Mundo, Expedición Magallanes - 
     Juan Sebastian de Elcano 1519-1522
Street Art Transformations Around the World, Incredible Before and After
1588 -Yearly ceremony of the shipwrecked Spanish Armada in Sligo, Ireland

O Jerusalem
Refugees numbers are rising worldwide. 
Muslims are Offended by the United States National Anthem
Report: Christian Persecution is Spiking Around the World

 

12/31/2017 08:47 PM