El martes pasado fui a visitar a mi grupo de danza azteca, el maestro estaba un poco enojado conmigo porque no he asistido desde que el medico me rompió el tímpano, pero cuando le explique me entendio y me invito a ver un poco de la danza para recibir energia positiva de todo el grupo. Solo me quede una media hora pues ya tenia mucha hambre.
Al siguiente día cuando iba caminando hacia la casa, la tarde estaba fria pero no helada y el aire frio se sentia rico en la cara. Entonces hice una revaloracion de las cosas que me pasan y me di cuenta (aunque es obvio, pero no lo habia visto) que los problemas en general no son tan importantes como todo lo demas que tengo (super buenos y queridos amigos, mis papas, el amor de Jason, mis hermanos, mis sobrinos, mi bellísimo ahijado, estoy sana, ganas de luchar por cosas buenas como los derechos de los inmigrantes, ganas de bailar, y muchos etceteras mas).
Y pense, bueno, yo tengo aun la oportunidad de sentir este frio en la cara, de ver los arboles, los parques, las casa, las flores, de ver a los niños corriendo ... pero Mary ya no tiene esa oportunidad, asi que yo mejor debo aprovechar lo que tengo cuando lo tengo y no desperdiciar mi tiempo y mi energia en ese tipo de problemas.
Desde esa tarde me he sentido muy bien! Disfruto todo lo que hago con Jason, aunque solo sea lavar los trastes. Disfruto mucho y siento cada palabra que mis padres y hermanos y amigos me dicen cuando hablo con ellos. Estoy contenta.
Supongo que asi es la vida.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Forum on immigration - Richmond Public Library
This is my account as to what was discussed last night at an immigration forum held at the Richmond Public Library. This forum was organized by the ACLU and focused on the recent immigration raids and also on what to do if "la migra" tries to arrest you.
The forum was called Immigration Reform: Problems and Prospects, the speakers were three lawyers from the ACLU Julia Harum -sorry, forgot how to spell her last name-, Michael Epstein and Joel Marsh, Richmond Mayor Gail McLaughlin and a representative from the Internation Institute of the East Bay, Ramon Cardona.
The forum was great and after having participated in it I felt greatly envigorated and also felt good to see so many people willing and able to fight this good fight. However, it was also bittersweet as many members of the community and the speakers as well pointed out to problems happening NOW: immigrants being arrested, jailed and deported without due legal process whatsover or police abuse or plain bigotry and racism from lots of mainstream media viewers.
One of the statements that was greatly appreciated was what Mayor McLaughlin said about the fact that one of the root causes of immigration is the economical policies imposed by this country (through NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.) to Latin American countries. She also said that she along with the whole Richmond council don't see immigrants as enemies or "aliens" but rather as human beings that are looking for a better life and that deserve to be respected.
The ACLU lawyers spoke about what to do is la migra tries to arrest you: don't sign anythig, you have the right to remain silent, etc. They also mentioned that the current raids are part of the operation infamously called "Return to sender" which is plainly derogative giving the idea that the government is sending back "defective products or items" and not cruelly punishing human beings.
Some members of the community noted that despite the fact that the Richmond police declared that they were not going to participate in the raids they were still racially profiling latinos and stopping them in the streets (i.e. last night of all nights in a busy Richmond street), of course they don't need to ask for immigration papers when they stoped them in the street, they only need to send them to the county offices where county police will promply check them on their immigration status, another member of the community noted.
An ESL teacher from Richmond told stories about how terrorized his students are (a big number of them have deserted the classroom for fear of being caught by la migra while communiting from work to class), etc.
The best part of the forum was that a big number of members of the community suggested several actions to do NOW (as opposed to only theorized about what to do next), for instance:
* call the representatives (one person said that in a previous immigration meeting, one of the staffers in George Miller's office doesn't know anything about the raids and deny them vigorously, so whoever lives in his area, please call them and set the record straight), Feinstein, Boxer, Lee, Miller, Lofgreen, etc.
* organize and initiate discussions about immigration wherever you go, whether you attend church, mosque, synagogue, etc; in school, with friends and acquaintances
* stop the bullies in the mainstream media such as Lou Dobbs, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Glen Beck, Shawn Hanity, etc, by sending emails to their websites and or by calling their companies and demand them to stop their irresponsible journalism now
--Here I have to say that Joel Marsh (from the ACLU) mentioned that the West Contra Costa Times published a kind of favorable article about immigration and told Joel that right after publishing it they got twelve comments about it and ONLY ONE OF THOSE COMMENTS was positive, the rest were totally against immigrants and plainly racist, so please, LET'S CONTACT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND DEMAN THEY STOP THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE AND CRIMINAL JOURNALISM
* those with papers or citizens have the moral obligation to support those with no papers, we have to act now
* be cognizant of the history of this country (or do research about it): in the 1930's thousands of people of Latino origins but that have been burn here were illegally deported to Mexico and other countries in Latin America; one or two decades earlier the controversial film Birth of a Nation (where African-Americans were depicted in despicable ways while white supremacists were depicted as heroes) invigorated the criminal KKK which launched the killings of hundreds if not thousands of African-American citizens
Much more ideas and suggestions were offered: Joyce Cook an organizer from Books not Bars offered to make the connections needed between the immigration cause and the encarceration issue, between the African-American community and the immigrant community; the head of the Richmond Public Library offered a list of books on immigration (about thirty) that can be borrowed at the library (though she mentioned the list is still short but it is available nonetheless); the ACLU lawyers offered to hear any cases related to the raids and abuses with the intent to prepare a lawsuit; a member of the community offered his flee market for all immigration activists that want to reach the Latino community, etc.
After seeing all the energy from the community and in spite of the fact that the racism against immigrant is rampant one can only feel invigorated and willing and able to fight this good fight. One thing that became clear wasa that if we work together, at the grassroots level, good things will happen on immigration in 2007.
The forum was called Immigration Reform: Problems and Prospects, the speakers were three lawyers from the ACLU Julia Harum -sorry, forgot how to spell her last name-, Michael Epstein and Joel Marsh, Richmond Mayor Gail McLaughlin and a representative from the Internation Institute of the East Bay, Ramon Cardona.
The forum was great and after having participated in it I felt greatly envigorated and also felt good to see so many people willing and able to fight this good fight. However, it was also bittersweet as many members of the community and the speakers as well pointed out to problems happening NOW: immigrants being arrested, jailed and deported without due legal process whatsover or police abuse or plain bigotry and racism from lots of mainstream media viewers.
One of the statements that was greatly appreciated was what Mayor McLaughlin said about the fact that one of the root causes of immigration is the economical policies imposed by this country (through NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.) to Latin American countries. She also said that she along with the whole Richmond council don't see immigrants as enemies or "aliens" but rather as human beings that are looking for a better life and that deserve to be respected.
The ACLU lawyers spoke about what to do is la migra tries to arrest you: don't sign anythig, you have the right to remain silent, etc. They also mentioned that the current raids are part of the operation infamously called "Return to sender" which is plainly derogative giving the idea that the government is sending back "defective products or items" and not cruelly punishing human beings.
Some members of the community noted that despite the fact that the Richmond police declared that they were not going to participate in the raids they were still racially profiling latinos and stopping them in the streets (i.e. last night of all nights in a busy Richmond street), of course they don't need to ask for immigration papers when they stoped them in the street, they only need to send them to the county offices where county police will promply check them on their immigration status, another member of the community noted.
An ESL teacher from Richmond told stories about how terrorized his students are (a big number of them have deserted the classroom for fear of being caught by la migra while communiting from work to class), etc.
The best part of the forum was that a big number of members of the community suggested several actions to do NOW (as opposed to only theorized about what to do next), for instance:
* call the representatives (one person said that in a previous immigration meeting, one of the staffers in George Miller's office doesn't know anything about the raids and deny them vigorously, so whoever lives in his area, please call them and set the record straight), Feinstein, Boxer, Lee, Miller, Lofgreen, etc.
* organize and initiate discussions about immigration wherever you go, whether you attend church, mosque, synagogue, etc; in school, with friends and acquaintances
* stop the bullies in the mainstream media such as Lou Dobbs, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Glen Beck, Shawn Hanity, etc, by sending emails to their websites and or by calling their companies and demand them to stop their irresponsible journalism now
--Here I have to say that Joel Marsh (from the ACLU) mentioned that the West Contra Costa Times published a kind of favorable article about immigration and told Joel that right after publishing it they got twelve comments about it and ONLY ONE OF THOSE COMMENTS was positive, the rest were totally against immigrants and plainly racist, so please, LET'S CONTACT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND DEMAN THEY STOP THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE AND CRIMINAL JOURNALISM
* those with papers or citizens have the moral obligation to support those with no papers, we have to act now
* be cognizant of the history of this country (or do research about it): in the 1930's thousands of people of Latino origins but that have been burn here were illegally deported to Mexico and other countries in Latin America; one or two decades earlier the controversial film Birth of a Nation (where African-Americans were depicted in despicable ways while white supremacists were depicted as heroes) invigorated the criminal KKK which launched the killings of hundreds if not thousands of African-American citizens
Much more ideas and suggestions were offered: Joyce Cook an organizer from Books not Bars offered to make the connections needed between the immigration cause and the encarceration issue, between the African-American community and the immigrant community; the head of the Richmond Public Library offered a list of books on immigration (about thirty) that can be borrowed at the library (though she mentioned the list is still short but it is available nonetheless); the ACLU lawyers offered to hear any cases related to the raids and abuses with the intent to prepare a lawsuit; a member of the community offered his flee market for all immigration activists that want to reach the Latino community, etc.
After seeing all the energy from the community and in spite of the fact that the racism against immigrant is rampant one can only feel invigorated and willing and able to fight this good fight. One thing that became clear wasa that if we work together, at the grassroots level, good things will happen on immigration in 2007.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Ceremonia Azteca del 20 de enero
Era una mañana muy fría. Nos habían citado a las nueve de la mañana del 20 de enero en el Centro Recreativo de la Misión, un centro deportivo ubicado muy cerca de las calles Harrison y 20 en San Francisco. Jason y yo nunca habíamos ido allí así que al principio nos costó un poco encontrar la entrada al edificio. Pero una vez que entramos el jefe de Mixcóatl-Anáhuac y su pareja nos recibieron y nos llevaron al lugar donde la ceremonia se llevaría a cabo. Este lugar es una cancha enorme de básquetbol. Cuando llegamos, apenas pasadas las nueve de la mañana, solo había unas diez o quince personas en el lugar así que pensé que iba a ser muy difícil que ese lugar se llenara. Unas horas después me di cuenta cuán equivocada estaba pues al lugar llegaron mas de doscientos danzantes y en ciertos momentos los círculos de la danza estaban muy apretados para dar vueltas.
Yo estaba un poco nerviosa y muy emocionada pues esta era la primera vez que asistía a una ceremonia de este tipo, y para calmar los nervios me ofrecí a ayudar a las danzantes guerreras (según he escuchado, este título se obtiene después de siete años de danza ininterrumpida) a poner la ofrenda en el centro de la cancha. En la ofrenda se colocaron fotos de algunos familiares ya fallecidos de los danzantes, quemadores con copal, flores, veladoras, un ojo de dios.
Durante este tiempo pude observar cómo iban llegando cada vez mas danzantes, unos del grupo anfitrión, otros de otros grupos, y ví cómo cada uno de ellos iba armando su penacho. Primero sacaban el copil (la diadema), luego las plumas (quetzalli) e iban colocando cada pluma, una por una en el copil. Cuando el penacho ya estaba listo se pintaban la cara. Aprendí que cada dibujo o diseño tiene un significado: para dar gracias, para estar de luto, para celebrar, etc.
Cuando la ofrenda ya estaba lista empecé a ponerme la ropa que iba a usar en la ceremonia, mis chachayotes nuevos (los cascabeles que compré en el Zócalo este diciembre), mi ropa de Oaxaca, mis aretes de Toluca, etc. Calenté y estiré para estar lista para la danza.
A las once en punto el jefe del grupo sopló a través de la concha marina que se usa para convocar a los danzantes a bailar. Todos nos formamos atrás de él y así comenzó a hacer los primeros pasos para formar el círculo. Los tambores, situados atrás de la ofrenda, sonaban ya en toda su potencia (en las fotos van a ver que había un niño azteca tocando uno de los tambores), el humo del copal comenzaba a sentirse en el aire, el sonido de los chachayotes de todos los danzantes llenaba el lugar. Y la danza comenzó.
La primera danza que bailamos se llama Fuego, es una danza muy fuerte, muy hermosa y muy larga. Esta danza requiere de muy buena condición física de parte de todos los danzantes. Las primeras en pasar al círculo interno a danzar fueron dos guerreras (Liz y Caty) quienes dentro de poco van a irse a vivir a Los Angeles y por lo tanto van a dejar el grupo, por eso tuvieron el honor de iniciar la danza.
Los danzantes seguían llegando cada momento pero antes de entrar a danzar tenían que esperar a ser recibidos, bendecidos con copal y conducidos al lugar dentro del círculo donde podían danzar. Al principio había mucho espacio para dar vueltas sin problemas, pero cada vez se fue llenando más y más. Carlos, un compañero danzante me dijo una vez que cuando hay muchos danzantes y todos tienen penachos es un poco difícil bailar pues los penachos chocan entre sí y esto hace difícil las vueltas, y aunque yo no llevaba penacho pude comprobar que tan difícil es, pues las plumas de los danzantes de al lado me picaban los ojos al dar vueltas. Esto hizo la danza no solo espiritual pero hasta ¡divertida y entretenida! Porque tuve que encontrar una manera de dar vueltas con estilo al mismo tiempo de esquivar las plumas. Ahora entiendo porqué algunos danzantes se inclinan un poco al bailar, pero inclinarse al mismo tiempo de dar vueltas es muy difícil.
Había mucha cortesía, compañerismo y apoyo entre danzantes. Cada que un danzante entraba al círculo se presentaba con sus compañeros de al lado. El compañerismo ayuda mucho a mantener la energía alta entre todos.
Más o menos después de una hora continua de danza unos danzantes y voluntarios comenzaron a pasar por el círculo ofreciendo agua y trozos de naranja. Nunca una naranja me había sabido tan rica. Y es que practicamente nadie deja de bailar durante la ceremonia, es un ritual de unas cuatro horas seguidas con danzas muy fuertes y uno no puede salirse así nomas del círculo, uno puede salir a tomar agua o descansar, uno no puede estar entrando y saliendo porque eso sería falta de respeto a los ancestros, uno danza para recordar y venerar a los ancestros y para continuar la tradición que empezó hace cientos o miles de años, entonces salirse así nomás no es posible. Por eso cuando los danzantes y voluntarios pasaron ofreciendo agua y naranjas todos se los agradecimos mucho. A las dos o tres horas de haber iniciado la danza también ofrecieron trozos de plátano. Y así siguieron ofreciendo agua y fruta hasta que la ceremonia terminó.
Yo pude bailar muy bien las primeras dos horas, en la tercera los músculos de mis piernas ya estaban adoloridos y en la cuarta hora sentía que de un momento a otro me iban a dar calambres en las piernas, por eso en la cuarta hora ya no bailé tan fuerte. Terminé un poco cansada pero muy feliz, mis pulmones trabajaron muy bien y nunca me quedé sin aire. Algo muy interesante fue que el cansancio fuerte me llegó hasta el tercer día después de la danza, es decir, el domingo y lunes siguientes me sentí como si nada pero el martes 23 sentía que cada movimiento me costaba mucho trabajo así que decidí no ir a la danza ese día.
Regresando a la ceremonia, me dió mucho gusto ver que muchos danzantes, sobre todo los guerreros, los jefes y los capitanes, bailaron con mucha energía durante toda la ceremonia, a diferencia mía ellos nunca bajaron la fuerza con la que bailaban, ellos siempre daban lo mejor de sí. Me inspiró mucho el bailar exactamente atrás de una jefa de grupo que ha bailado toda su vida, y también me ayudó mucho la energía y apoyo de mis compañeros de al lado.
Para finalizar la ceremonia el jefe de grupo pasó danzando por todos los círculos para danzar una última danza nuevamente frente a la ofrenda. Después de la danza se cerraron los círculos y los jefes de grupo y los guerreros tuvieron oportunidad de hablar y agradecer la danza. Aquí me enteré que llegaron danzantes no solo del área de la bahía de San Francisco sino de muchos lugares de California central.
Después de los agradecimientos todos ayudamos a levantar la ofrenda y limpiar el lugar, nos cambiamos de ropa, y procedimos a disfrutar de un riquísimo pozole. Estaban sirviendo tazones que a mí me parecieron enormes, pero con tanta hambre me lo acabé sin problemas. Jason prefirió comer un poco de barbacoa, que también se veía deliciosa. Casi todos los danzantes se quedaron a comer, así que había entre cien y doscientas personas comiendo pozole al mismo tiempo. Fue como una fiesta en la que todos los familiares estan invitados.
Y después de participar en este hermoso ritual, después de comer pozole y compartir mesa y platica con los demas danzantes, Jason y yo nos regresamos a Berkeley a descansar de un día lleno de muchas emociones.
..............................
Esta es la liga para las fotos que Jason tomó durante la ceremonia.
Fotos Ceremonia
Cuando abran esta liga vayan a: 2007 Enero 20 - Ceremonia Azteca
También tomamos un poco de video pero aún tengo que investigar como subirlo, tan luego lo haga les aviso para que vean los videos.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Some reflections - Kristen auh nehuatl
Hola Kristen,
The philosophical questions you ask are quite big and complex because are part of life itself - they have to do with fear to the unknown, insecurity, ignorance, low self-esteem, etc. People that have those problems are very easy to manipulate because they are eager to hear somebody to tell them what to do and how to "fix" themselves ... Anyway, as i said, these are bigs things but we have to stop them, no matter how ignorant or coward that people are (sometimes i really feel sorry for them, because they are rotten with a horrible cancer, the cancer of racism and hatred).
You know? I've been also going thru a lot of stuff:My general physician poked a hole in my eardrum and was blaming me!!! I haven't been able to dance because of this problem. And horrible bullies at work have been attacking me just because they are so mediocre and thus AFRAID OF ME, because i'm way better worker than they are, etc. And so I've been feeling down, but you know what woke me up? Well, the fact that there are so many things to fight to give up just because of bullies of because of medical malpractice! In the same way that the racist have to be stopped, I also have to learn to stop the bullies at work and at the doctor's office!!! If i'm willing to fight ignorance and racism (which are HUGE!) of course i should be willing to fight bullies (which are not that huge!).
So, this helped me put me back on my feet and now i'm ready to fight!!! Yay!!!
The other thing that hits me hard is the sense of "home" that you mentioned earlier.
I realize i MISS my family so much!!! Sometimes i kind of regret that i left everything behind!! Sometimes i just think "i shouldn't have left, i shouldn't have left!!!".
But then again, this is a complex issue too, because being in another country has helped me find myself!!! As ironic as it is, from all the countries in the world, it was in the US where i found my true self! This doesn't mean I don't miss my family anymore, of course i do, but i do now have a different point of view which has helped me grow a lot. And i agree, home is where the people you love are, but i think you can have several homes in the world. Mi corazon es como una pichonera!!
One thing that has helped me a lot in the racist front is understand why (some) whites are so racist, and I have been reading a book, i guess that was written having whites in mind but thru it i have learned a lot, the name of the book is White Like Me, reflections from a privileged son from Tim Wise. This book has helped me contextualize and put words to the feelings and ideas i've had regarding white behavior but that i didn't know how to express or understand.
It's a tough book to read if you are white, because Tim Wise goes directly to the root and does not spare words to name the privilege that whites enjoy in this country, etc, but it is so good to read, and even as devastating as this social problem is, this book gives you hope because if one person could understand this, there's hope for the rest. I highly recommend this book.
Another thing that gives me hope is youth, children, thinking of my beautiful godson, so eager to learn and so full of love!!
Though there are horrible things happening, there are beautiful things as well, we only need to find them or better, we only need to create them (support somebody that really needs, fight a good fight, open your heart and give love ...)
Si, aqui seguimos en la lucha por la vida, luchando y amando sin darnos por vencidas!!!! Si nos caemos, nos levantamos y seguimos haciendo lo que nos llena, aunque aun no sepamos hacia donde vamos.
Como un escritor chicano dijo una vez "we, colored people are like that weed that no gardener wants in his garden, they try to kill us, they try to exterminate us, they uproot us, they tear us out; but we always find ways to come to life again, no matter what, the next day the gardener will find again that undesired weed in his garden".
Abrazos muy fuertes desde Califas, Aztlan, la tierra de mis ancestros!!!
Chicoasen
--- kristen
Hi Chicoasen,
I received your email about the immigrant bashing that is somehow acceptable to a arge number of people in this country (this fact still is hard for me to comprehend even though i see, hear, it again and again)
I am very sorry that this is part of the ugly reality of humanity that we are living. The struggles seem so countless some days that it really brings me down.
But then i find my way back on my feet and know that there is still so much beauty and light. And i have to keep working towards a world that is full of that light.
Still the question remains: why do we just waste this treasure of life by hurting others? And why does the cycle of inflicting pain on self and others continue?
Last night i went to an incredible poetry reading of native american youth. They inspired me. Their energy inspired me. what they knew at 17 years of age gave me hope.
On a less philisophical and more personal note, I have been un poco quemada at work and in life lately. Ever since i got back from my trip to the bay area, work has used my every last drop of energy. too tired to go to dance class, so i have been trying to get to yoga to learn how to stay balanced. (i am always in the process of learning this). I miss my friends in califas and i'm questioning why i move around so much.
I desire a sense of 'home' but don't know how to find it. jeff has the same problem with the idea of home becuase he literally does not have one to go to (no place or family). I am starting to think that home for me is the people i have in my life rather than a place. So, i am glad i am finally sitting down to write to you and connect a bit, as your friendship makes up part of that home i am missing lately. So, te mando un abrazo. Sigues amando y sigues luchando y siempre sigues adelante,
> kristen
The philosophical questions you ask are quite big and complex because are part of life itself - they have to do with fear to the unknown, insecurity, ignorance, low self-esteem, etc. People that have those problems are very easy to manipulate because they are eager to hear somebody to tell them what to do and how to "fix" themselves ... Anyway, as i said, these are bigs things but we have to stop them, no matter how ignorant or coward that people are (sometimes i really feel sorry for them, because they are rotten with a horrible cancer, the cancer of racism and hatred).
You know? I've been also going thru a lot of stuff:My general physician poked a hole in my eardrum and was blaming me!!! I haven't been able to dance because of this problem. And horrible bullies at work have been attacking me just because they are so mediocre and thus AFRAID OF ME, because i'm way better worker than they are, etc. And so I've been feeling down, but you know what woke me up? Well, the fact that there are so many things to fight to give up just because of bullies of because of medical malpractice! In the same way that the racist have to be stopped, I also have to learn to stop the bullies at work and at the doctor's office!!! If i'm willing to fight ignorance and racism (which are HUGE!) of course i should be willing to fight bullies (which are not that huge!).
So, this helped me put me back on my feet and now i'm ready to fight!!! Yay!!!
The other thing that hits me hard is the sense of "home" that you mentioned earlier.
I realize i MISS my family so much!!! Sometimes i kind of regret that i left everything behind!! Sometimes i just think "i shouldn't have left, i shouldn't have left!!!".
But then again, this is a complex issue too, because being in another country has helped me find myself!!! As ironic as it is, from all the countries in the world, it was in the US where i found my true self! This doesn't mean I don't miss my family anymore, of course i do, but i do now have a different point of view which has helped me grow a lot. And i agree, home is where the people you love are, but i think you can have several homes in the world. Mi corazon es como una pichonera!!
One thing that has helped me a lot in the racist front is understand why (some) whites are so racist, and I have been reading a book, i guess that was written having whites in mind but thru it i have learned a lot, the name of the book is White Like Me, reflections from a privileged son from Tim Wise. This book has helped me contextualize and put words to the feelings and ideas i've had regarding white behavior but that i didn't know how to express or understand.
It's a tough book to read if you are white, because Tim Wise goes directly to the root and does not spare words to name the privilege that whites enjoy in this country, etc, but it is so good to read, and even as devastating as this social problem is, this book gives you hope because if one person could understand this, there's hope for the rest. I highly recommend this book.
Another thing that gives me hope is youth, children, thinking of my beautiful godson, so eager to learn and so full of love!!
Though there are horrible things happening, there are beautiful things as well, we only need to find them or better, we only need to create them (support somebody that really needs, fight a good fight, open your heart and give love ...)
Si, aqui seguimos en la lucha por la vida, luchando y amando sin darnos por vencidas!!!! Si nos caemos, nos levantamos y seguimos haciendo lo que nos llena, aunque aun no sepamos hacia donde vamos.
Como un escritor chicano dijo una vez "we, colored people are like that weed that no gardener wants in his garden, they try to kill us, they try to exterminate us, they uproot us, they tear us out; but we always find ways to come to life again, no matter what, the next day the gardener will find again that undesired weed in his garden".
Abrazos muy fuertes desde Califas, Aztlan, la tierra de mis ancestros!!!
Chicoasen
--- kristen
Hi Chicoasen,
I received your email about the immigrant bashing that is somehow acceptable to a arge number of people in this country (this fact still is hard for me to comprehend even though i see, hear, it again and again)
I am very sorry that this is part of the ugly reality of humanity that we are living. The struggles seem so countless some days that it really brings me down.
But then i find my way back on my feet and know that there is still so much beauty and light. And i have to keep working towards a world that is full of that light.
Still the question remains: why do we just waste this treasure of life by hurting others? And why does the cycle of inflicting pain on self and others continue?
Last night i went to an incredible poetry reading of native american youth. They inspired me. Their energy inspired me. what they knew at 17 years of age gave me hope.
On a less philisophical and more personal note, I have been un poco quemada at work and in life lately. Ever since i got back from my trip to the bay area, work has used my every last drop of energy. too tired to go to dance class, so i have been trying to get to yoga to learn how to stay balanced. (i am always in the process of learning this). I miss my friends in califas and i'm questioning why i move around so much.
I desire a sense of 'home' but don't know how to find it. jeff has the same problem with the idea of home becuase he literally does not have one to go to (no place or family). I am starting to think that home for me is the people i have in my life rather than a place. So, i am glad i am finally sitting down to write to you and connect a bit, as your friendship makes up part of that home i am missing lately. So, te mando un abrazo. Sigues amando y sigues luchando y siempre sigues adelante,
> kristen
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Stop Lou Dobbs' immigrant bashing
Hi all,
In the midst of the immigration debate after the historical marches for immigrant rights from last spring, new and despicable racist "trends" have surfaced: frat boys hosting racist "parties" (Santa Clara University mocking Latinos with a "South of the Border" party, NYU with a "Find the Illegal Alien" party); white people kidnapping, harming and killing undocumented immigrants (Tucson, Arizona, February 8); day laborers being attacked and killed in the streets of Oakland and Richmond; city laws and ordinances prohibiting landlords to rent to undocumented immigrants (Hazleton, Pa., Escondido, Ca., etc).
While it is true that the people that commit these despicable acts and crimes are racist themselves or just plain ignorants (and thus easy prey to manipulative bigots), it is also true that they wouldn't go that far without the push and hatemongering received from irresponsible and racist media personalities such as the well-known toxic bullies Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and Lou Dobbs.
The latter hosts a daily smear and misleading campaing against immigrants in CNN; his so called show is full of false statements which he uses to steer fear and hate among his audience, which, without an objective and credible source of information are easy prey to his manipulations and unethical behavior.WE HAVE TO STOP HIM NOW! For our own sake, for our chldren, for our own health. This individual is poisoning our society. Let's not wait till sick people like him turn the infamous Minutemen into the 21st century KKK.
One way to let them know we don't accept their bullying and to prevent them from harming us any more is to call the TV/Radio companies where they work and demand that they stop spreading such bile. Another way is to send them emails with the same demands. I just did the latter, I accessed CNN's website and sent the message below. Please join me in stopping this horrible people from attacking not only immigrants but the society as a whole.
Click the link below and send them the message I sent or feel free to create your own message, but please do it now!!!!
Gracias de todo corazon!!
Patricia
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/
Mr. Dobbs is a very irresponsible media personality, his inflamatory (and totally misleading and erroneous) comments towards undocumented immigrants are only creating and spreading hate and fear towards those immigrants who in their countries of origin are pushed (by the very economical policies created in this country by its elected officials) to go abroad and look for better life and working conditions. His hatemongering towards people of color is only comparable to the hate created by the infamous film "Birth of a nation" when the even more infamous and despicable group called Ku Kux Klan arose to power.People like Mr. Dobbs should be put behind bars under the strict supervision of professional psychiatrists with specialty in paranoia to keep him from spreading such bile across the land.
In the midst of the immigration debate after the historical marches for immigrant rights from last spring, new and despicable racist "trends" have surfaced: frat boys hosting racist "parties" (Santa Clara University mocking Latinos with a "South of the Border" party, NYU with a "Find the Illegal Alien" party); white people kidnapping, harming and killing undocumented immigrants (Tucson, Arizona, February 8); day laborers being attacked and killed in the streets of Oakland and Richmond; city laws and ordinances prohibiting landlords to rent to undocumented immigrants (Hazleton, Pa., Escondido, Ca., etc).
While it is true that the people that commit these despicable acts and crimes are racist themselves or just plain ignorants (and thus easy prey to manipulative bigots), it is also true that they wouldn't go that far without the push and hatemongering received from irresponsible and racist media personalities such as the well-known toxic bullies Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and Lou Dobbs.
The latter hosts a daily smear and misleading campaing against immigrants in CNN; his so called show is full of false statements which he uses to steer fear and hate among his audience, which, without an objective and credible source of information are easy prey to his manipulations and unethical behavior.WE HAVE TO STOP HIM NOW! For our own sake, for our chldren, for our own health. This individual is poisoning our society. Let's not wait till sick people like him turn the infamous Minutemen into the 21st century KKK.
One way to let them know we don't accept their bullying and to prevent them from harming us any more is to call the TV/Radio companies where they work and demand that they stop spreading such bile. Another way is to send them emails with the same demands. I just did the latter, I accessed CNN's website and sent the message below. Please join me in stopping this horrible people from attacking not only immigrants but the society as a whole.
Click the link below and send them the message I sent or feel free to create your own message, but please do it now!!!!
Gracias de todo corazon!!
Patricia
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/
Mr. Dobbs is a very irresponsible media personality, his inflamatory (and totally misleading and erroneous) comments towards undocumented immigrants are only creating and spreading hate and fear towards those immigrants who in their countries of origin are pushed (by the very economical policies created in this country by its elected officials) to go abroad and look for better life and working conditions. His hatemongering towards people of color is only comparable to the hate created by the infamous film "Birth of a nation" when the even more infamous and despicable group called Ku Kux Klan arose to power.People like Mr. Dobbs should be put behind bars under the strict supervision of professional psychiatrists with specialty in paranoia to keep him from spreading such bile across the land.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Hidden Culture - Violence on the open
We have been brought to light, our culture and lives have finally seen the light of day (even though lots of whites here dance to the tunes of salsa and lots more -at least in the San Francisco bay area eat salsa, burritos, tacos, etc. - really most of them don't seem to care to know about us).
With the wonderful marchas and demonstrations that occurred last spring where millions of us poored into the cities and towns demanding respect and calling the congress to stop the application of the infamous proposition HR 4437 we made ourselves, the invisible, finally visible.
It was wonderful and it was freightening at the same time. I remember telling Jason, after a demonstration in Fruitvale on February that I was afraid that since we were now so in the open, so visible for many other groups in this country including racists, white supremacists, kks, etc., that these infamous groups would have now all the reasons (according to them) to take on us. I was afraid that in some of the demonstrations the despicable minutemen would appear any moment and shoot at us (actually, in this February demonstration we were warned before hand that this group was organizing a counter-protest).
But Jason then told me something that will always be with me: "you should not allow that fear overpowers you to the point of not fighting for your rights, you have to put those fears aside and go out and march and demonstrate and fight for your rights". And boy, did I go out and demonstrate!! I did not miss not even one march or demonstration after this. I will forever be grateful to him for those words.
Those are certainly joyus moments, when one can finally come outside and say "this is me, this is who I am, I am a human being and I demand respect for me, for my people and for my culture". What a wonderful experience! Like a rite of passage! What a climatic moment when we realized that we were millions and saw each other face to face, recognized each other, walked together, when we realized that we were not alone, that we are capable of demanding respect and recognition, no more, no less. That we are strong, willing and able to fight. These were precious moments for the history of this country, for the history of our communites and for our own personal lifes.
But then ... of course, this was not going to stop here, right? Now that we are in the open, we continue our fight, we continue organizing ourselves demanding what is just: that our human rights are respected, that we should be respected. But we are not the only ones that continue moving forward with new strategies. There's also a dark side to all this wonderful experience.
This dark side is represented of course by the biggots and the zealots and the self-righteous, the ones that call themselves the "owners" of this land ("this land is my land", well of course not! duh! This land IS NATIVE AMERICAN LAND!). From many fronts, these groups of biggots are attacking us:
On February the 8th, an unknown, unidentified group in the Arizona desert kidnapped a group of immigrants, killing two of them and injuring two more. Where are they? Who are they? What are they doing to those immigrants? Nobody knows. And maybe nobody will. Ever. (Do we, in this 21st century know who lynched so many African-Americans in the Deep South?)
Other biggots are passing xenofobic laws prohibiting landlords to rent rooms to people that do not have immigration papers causing massive expulsion of immigrants. Other biggots, this time at university campus, such as Santa Clara University are organizing "South of the Border" or "Border Patrol" parties where they exhibit (poor people, really, poor people, so full of that social cancer called xenophobia) all their venom and racism towards Latino immigrants.
Other biggots are posing as potential "employers" and talk to immigrants and "interview" them for jobs - only to call the migra once the candidates are in front of them.
Examples like these abound. Unfortunately.
Much of this hateful behavior has been steered by the media (Lou Dobbs, O'Reilly, etc.) , so they are to blame for much of the damage. However, were the people a little bit more intelligent, not too sick, not too ignorant, they wouldn't be taking this shit. But they do, they are ignorant, an easy prey for manipulation.
I hope one day they could overcome that ignorance and don't allow the despicable bullies to manipulate them. But that's their issue (even though it greatly affects us), that's their problem, they should find ways to fix themselves. What matters to me is us. Nowadays, lots of immigrants are scared, and rightly so, and don't want to speak out. When I try to talk to them about the infamous raids or to give them information about how to protect ourselves, not all of them are eager to hear, they are afraid that I'm posing as somebody supporting them but that in reality I'm only a bait to get them. It won't be an easy task to gain their confidence or to make them speak out. It is going to be difficult. But this is our only hope, we have to get together and organize ourselves, this is our only chance to survive the biggotry. The African-American civil rights movement had its dead, and we, like them, we'll have ours too. We already have more than three thousand dead, and counting. When will these hate crimes stop? NO MORE DEATHS!! Immigrants: UNITE AND ORGANIZE. This is our only chance to survive!!
With the wonderful marchas and demonstrations that occurred last spring where millions of us poored into the cities and towns demanding respect and calling the congress to stop the application of the infamous proposition HR 4437 we made ourselves, the invisible, finally visible.
It was wonderful and it was freightening at the same time. I remember telling Jason, after a demonstration in Fruitvale on February that I was afraid that since we were now so in the open, so visible for many other groups in this country including racists, white supremacists, kks, etc., that these infamous groups would have now all the reasons (according to them) to take on us. I was afraid that in some of the demonstrations the despicable minutemen would appear any moment and shoot at us (actually, in this February demonstration we were warned before hand that this group was organizing a counter-protest).
But Jason then told me something that will always be with me: "you should not allow that fear overpowers you to the point of not fighting for your rights, you have to put those fears aside and go out and march and demonstrate and fight for your rights". And boy, did I go out and demonstrate!! I did not miss not even one march or demonstration after this. I will forever be grateful to him for those words.
Those are certainly joyus moments, when one can finally come outside and say "this is me, this is who I am, I am a human being and I demand respect for me, for my people and for my culture". What a wonderful experience! Like a rite of passage! What a climatic moment when we realized that we were millions and saw each other face to face, recognized each other, walked together, when we realized that we were not alone, that we are capable of demanding respect and recognition, no more, no less. That we are strong, willing and able to fight. These were precious moments for the history of this country, for the history of our communites and for our own personal lifes.
But then ... of course, this was not going to stop here, right? Now that we are in the open, we continue our fight, we continue organizing ourselves demanding what is just: that our human rights are respected, that we should be respected. But we are not the only ones that continue moving forward with new strategies. There's also a dark side to all this wonderful experience.
This dark side is represented of course by the biggots and the zealots and the self-righteous, the ones that call themselves the "owners" of this land ("this land is my land", well of course not! duh! This land IS NATIVE AMERICAN LAND!). From many fronts, these groups of biggots are attacking us:
On February the 8th, an unknown, unidentified group in the Arizona desert kidnapped a group of immigrants, killing two of them and injuring two more. Where are they? Who are they? What are they doing to those immigrants? Nobody knows. And maybe nobody will. Ever. (Do we, in this 21st century know who lynched so many African-Americans in the Deep South?)
Other biggots are passing xenofobic laws prohibiting landlords to rent rooms to people that do not have immigration papers causing massive expulsion of immigrants. Other biggots, this time at university campus, such as Santa Clara University are organizing "South of the Border" or "Border Patrol" parties where they exhibit (poor people, really, poor people, so full of that social cancer called xenophobia) all their venom and racism towards Latino immigrants.
Other biggots are posing as potential "employers" and talk to immigrants and "interview" them for jobs - only to call the migra once the candidates are in front of them.
Examples like these abound. Unfortunately.
Much of this hateful behavior has been steered by the media (Lou Dobbs, O'Reilly, etc.) , so they are to blame for much of the damage. However, were the people a little bit more intelligent, not too sick, not too ignorant, they wouldn't be taking this shit. But they do, they are ignorant, an easy prey for manipulation.
I hope one day they could overcome that ignorance and don't allow the despicable bullies to manipulate them. But that's their issue (even though it greatly affects us), that's their problem, they should find ways to fix themselves. What matters to me is us. Nowadays, lots of immigrants are scared, and rightly so, and don't want to speak out. When I try to talk to them about the infamous raids or to give them information about how to protect ourselves, not all of them are eager to hear, they are afraid that I'm posing as somebody supporting them but that in reality I'm only a bait to get them. It won't be an easy task to gain their confidence or to make them speak out. It is going to be difficult. But this is our only hope, we have to get together and organize ourselves, this is our only chance to survive the biggotry. The African-American civil rights movement had its dead, and we, like them, we'll have ours too. We already have more than three thousand dead, and counting. When will these hate crimes stop? NO MORE DEATHS!! Immigrants: UNITE AND ORGANIZE. This is our only chance to survive!!
Friday, February 16, 2007
My right ear
Friday January 26 – Patricia developed cold or flu like symptoms: soar throat, aching body, fortunately no fever was present
Weekend of January 27-28 – Rested those two days
Monday January 29 – The symptoms were still very strong
Tuesday January 30 – Since the symptoms wouldn’t go away, decided to visit the office of Dr. Eischel – was attended by FPPA Paula Price who diagnosed a viral infection and that Patricia should go home and rest. Prescribed ibuprofen 600mg.
Wednesday January 31 - The symptoms were still very strong
Thursday February 1 to Sunday February 4 – Situation slightly improved
Monday February 5 – At midday presented a fever; couldn’t take temperature though as Patricia was in her office and did not have a thermometer. The symptoms were: warm or even hot eyes, very tired in general, aching body, red eyes, plus when swallowing there was a click on the right ear. Could hear perfectly; no pain whatsoever in right ear. Made an appointment to visit FPPA Paula Price next day.
Tuesday February 6 (around 10am) - FPPA Paula Price saw Patricia and sent her for blood lab tests to get a better picture of what was going on, though mentioned that it might be only a very tough virus. Saw both ears and said both were full of wax so she ordered a lavash, a procedure that Patricia had gone through in the past in the same doctor’s office, with no problems whatsoever . The nurse proceeded to wash both ears and began with the right ear. After the first two or three seconds of the procedure a very sharp, unbearable pain in the right ear was felt by Patricia, she began to cry since the pain was just too much. The nurse said Patricia was very pale. Patricia began having problems with her balance (though she was seated) and was asked by the nurse to lie down while she called FPPA Paula Price. At the same time a weird noise, kind of static initiated in the right ear. When Paula showed up she decided to manually clean the ears. The right ear was very irritated and in lots of pain but Paula said everything was going to be fine.
Tuesday February 6 (around 4pm) -The pain in the right ear kept on increasing during the day so Patricia called Dr. Eischel’ office, left a vm with one of the people in the desk, was said Paula was going to get back to her. Patricia took two aspirins to mitigate the pain but the pain didn’t subside. Paula didn’t get back to her.
Wednesday February 7 (early morning) -Patricia called Dr. Eischel’ office again, talked to another person in the desk, told them she’d been waiting for Paula and hadn’t heard from her yet, told them about the symptoms. The pain in the right ear continue to increase.
Wednesday February 7 (around 2pm) -Paula finally called Patricia, who described the pain (plus al the noises and the fact that she could not hear now) in the right ear she was suffering. Paula asked her to come to the office whenever there was an opening available, which turned out to be next day @ 10:30am. At around 6pm same day Patricia noted there was discharge coming out of her right ear, this discharge was brownish. Patricia tried to get out this brownish liquid; once she couldn’t get more the pain began to slightly subside.
Thursday February 8 (10:30am) - Paula saw Patricia and diagnosed infection in the right ear, also mentioned there was a “hole” in the eardrum, a hole she hadn’t spotted on Tuesday 6 previous to the lavash. She diagnosed ibuprofen 800mg and amoxicillin (2 500mg capsules per day, during ten days). Told her the eardrum would be healing by itself. Asked her to get an appointment next week to follow up on this.
Wednesday February 14 (9am) -Paula saw Patricia and told her the hole in her eardrum was not healing so she decided to send her to a specialist. But before this she requested Dr. James Eischel’s opinion, he agreed to send me to a specialist.
Thursday February 15 -Appointment with Dr. Robert Wu, ear specialist.
The appointment was good, with a very professional and knowledgeable specialist -- he did a procedure in my right eardrum which consisted of applying a patch to the hole to help it grow - the problem was that except for the hole the rest of the membrane was pretty much healed so he had to scratch it again to sort of stimulate it -he said the window for a membrane to heal itself is between two to seven days after it has been broken and in my case yesterday was the 10th day. So, there's ONLY 20% chance this procedure will work!! Thus there is an 80% chance that I have to go thru real surgery!! And all this because of medical malpractice!
...........................................
Pues resulta que el timpano de mi oido derecho estaroto!!
El 6 de febrero fuí a consulta con el medicopues la infeccion en la garganta no cedía (normalmente solo me dura maximo siete dias, pero esta vez ya llevaba doce dias), me revisó los oidos y dijo que tenia que lavarlos. Cuando apenas habian empezado a lavar el oido derecho sentí un dolor de lo mas horrible que se puedenimaginar, inmediatamente empecé a llorar y dice la enfermera que me puse muy palida y que estaba a punto de desmayarme. Si hubiera estado parada me caigo pues inmediatamente perdí el balance.
En este momento fue cuando ellos me rompieron el tímpano al aplicar el agua con demasiada fuerza. La enfermera llamó al médico y este continuó con el proceso solo que en forma manual, es decir sin agua, solo con una especie de pinzas. Me dio pastillas para el dolor y me dijo que dentro de poco me iba a sentir mejor. Pero no fue asi, en las siguientes 48 horas desarrollé una infección en el mismo oído, regresé el jueves 8 de febrero, esta vez me recetó penicilina (primera vez en casi diez años que tomo penicilina) y me dijo que tenía un hoyo en el tímpano pero que se iba a cerrar pronto. Aquí debió haberme enviado con el especialista pero no lo hizo.
El miercoles 14 regresé a revisión y el hoyo famoso no habia cerrado nada, asi que esta vez si me enviaron con el especialista. Yo le dije que ellos mismos me habian roto el tímpano con la lavada pero ellos lo negaron, solo se disculparon de que yo he estado pasando por todo esto. Ayer jueves 15 finalmente fui con un especialista quien confirmó que el hoyo si fue hecho durante la lavada del oído. El procedió a ponerme un parche en el tíimpano para ayudar a que se recupere el mismo, pero me dijo que como ya han pasado muchos dias de la rotura inicial (diez dias del 6 al 15 de feb) solo hay un 20% de probabilidades que este procedimiento funcione.
Asi que tengo 80% de probabilidades de que si no funciona tenga que hacerme una operacion en el oido para restituir el timpano. En esta cirugia tomarian parte de mi piel y esta la injertarian en el timpano. Me dio veinte dias para que el parche haga su trabajo, pero si el 16 de marzo el hoyo no ha cerrado entonces voy a operación.
Hoy vine a trabajar normal pero no puedo hablar mucho pues la vibracion de mi voz afecta mi tímpano, el cual después de cuatro horas continuas de trabajo ya esta muy molesto asi que ya me voy a casa. Jason y yo estamos muy enojados con el medico que me hizo esto y vamos a ver si podemos aplicar una accion legal en su contra, sin embargo, el especialista nos dijo que esto sería muy difícil pues los abogados cobrarian mucho dinero y nosotros ganariamos muy poco.
De cualquier manera vamos a ver si por lo menos logramos que nos pidan una disculpa formal y por escrito y que paguen los gastos en los que tenga que incurrir si me operan. Bueno, pues yo pensaba celebrar mi cumpleaños bailando todos los dias (danza azteca, danza africana y un poco de salsa y merengue), pero el otorrino me dijo que por lo menos por diez dias debo dejar que mi oído descanse. Y no debo hablar mucho pues la vibracion de mi voz molesta a mi oído.
De cualquier manera lo que me reconforta es que el especialista dijo que no es daño irreversible, lo peor que puede pasar es que me tengan que operar pero después de eso voy a estar bien. Asi que mejor me alegro que no tengo algo mas serio y celebro mi cumpleaños meditando sobre la vida (en vez de bailar TODOS los dias - a lo mejor tomo Tai chi o meditacion, como ven? Algo tengo que hacer, no?).
Weekend of January 27-28 – Rested those two days
Monday January 29 – The symptoms were still very strong
Tuesday January 30 – Since the symptoms wouldn’t go away, decided to visit the office of Dr. Eischel – was attended by FPPA Paula Price who diagnosed a viral infection and that Patricia should go home and rest. Prescribed ibuprofen 600mg.
Wednesday January 31 - The symptoms were still very strong
Thursday February 1 to Sunday February 4 – Situation slightly improved
Monday February 5 – At midday presented a fever; couldn’t take temperature though as Patricia was in her office and did not have a thermometer. The symptoms were: warm or even hot eyes, very tired in general, aching body, red eyes, plus when swallowing there was a click on the right ear. Could hear perfectly; no pain whatsoever in right ear. Made an appointment to visit FPPA Paula Price next day.
Tuesday February 6 (around 10am) - FPPA Paula Price saw Patricia and sent her for blood lab tests to get a better picture of what was going on, though mentioned that it might be only a very tough virus. Saw both ears and said both were full of wax so she ordered a lavash, a procedure that Patricia had gone through in the past in the same doctor’s office, with no problems whatsoever . The nurse proceeded to wash both ears and began with the right ear. After the first two or three seconds of the procedure a very sharp, unbearable pain in the right ear was felt by Patricia, she began to cry since the pain was just too much. The nurse said Patricia was very pale. Patricia began having problems with her balance (though she was seated) and was asked by the nurse to lie down while she called FPPA Paula Price. At the same time a weird noise, kind of static initiated in the right ear. When Paula showed up she decided to manually clean the ears. The right ear was very irritated and in lots of pain but Paula said everything was going to be fine.
Tuesday February 6 (around 4pm) -The pain in the right ear kept on increasing during the day so Patricia called Dr. Eischel’ office, left a vm with one of the people in the desk, was said Paula was going to get back to her. Patricia took two aspirins to mitigate the pain but the pain didn’t subside. Paula didn’t get back to her.
Wednesday February 7 (early morning) -Patricia called Dr. Eischel’ office again, talked to another person in the desk, told them she’d been waiting for Paula and hadn’t heard from her yet, told them about the symptoms. The pain in the right ear continue to increase.
Wednesday February 7 (around 2pm) -Paula finally called Patricia, who described the pain (plus al the noises and the fact that she could not hear now) in the right ear she was suffering. Paula asked her to come to the office whenever there was an opening available, which turned out to be next day @ 10:30am. At around 6pm same day Patricia noted there was discharge coming out of her right ear, this discharge was brownish. Patricia tried to get out this brownish liquid; once she couldn’t get more the pain began to slightly subside.
Thursday February 8 (10:30am) - Paula saw Patricia and diagnosed infection in the right ear, also mentioned there was a “hole” in the eardrum, a hole she hadn’t spotted on Tuesday 6 previous to the lavash. She diagnosed ibuprofen 800mg and amoxicillin (2 500mg capsules per day, during ten days). Told her the eardrum would be healing by itself. Asked her to get an appointment next week to follow up on this.
Wednesday February 14 (9am) -Paula saw Patricia and told her the hole in her eardrum was not healing so she decided to send her to a specialist. But before this she requested Dr. James Eischel’s opinion, he agreed to send me to a specialist.
Thursday February 15 -Appointment with Dr. Robert Wu, ear specialist.
The appointment was good, with a very professional and knowledgeable specialist -- he did a procedure in my right eardrum which consisted of applying a patch to the hole to help it grow - the problem was that except for the hole the rest of the membrane was pretty much healed so he had to scratch it again to sort of stimulate it -he said the window for a membrane to heal itself is between two to seven days after it has been broken and in my case yesterday was the 10th day. So, there's ONLY 20% chance this procedure will work!! Thus there is an 80% chance that I have to go thru real surgery!! And all this because of medical malpractice!
...........................................
Pues resulta que el timpano de mi oido derecho estaroto!!
El 6 de febrero fuí a consulta con el medicopues la infeccion en la garganta no cedía (normalmente solo me dura maximo siete dias, pero esta vez ya llevaba doce dias), me revisó los oidos y dijo que tenia que lavarlos. Cuando apenas habian empezado a lavar el oido derecho sentí un dolor de lo mas horrible que se puedenimaginar, inmediatamente empecé a llorar y dice la enfermera que me puse muy palida y que estaba a punto de desmayarme. Si hubiera estado parada me caigo pues inmediatamente perdí el balance.
En este momento fue cuando ellos me rompieron el tímpano al aplicar el agua con demasiada fuerza. La enfermera llamó al médico y este continuó con el proceso solo que en forma manual, es decir sin agua, solo con una especie de pinzas. Me dio pastillas para el dolor y me dijo que dentro de poco me iba a sentir mejor. Pero no fue asi, en las siguientes 48 horas desarrollé una infección en el mismo oído, regresé el jueves 8 de febrero, esta vez me recetó penicilina (primera vez en casi diez años que tomo penicilina) y me dijo que tenía un hoyo en el tímpano pero que se iba a cerrar pronto. Aquí debió haberme enviado con el especialista pero no lo hizo.
El miercoles 14 regresé a revisión y el hoyo famoso no habia cerrado nada, asi que esta vez si me enviaron con el especialista. Yo le dije que ellos mismos me habian roto el tímpano con la lavada pero ellos lo negaron, solo se disculparon de que yo he estado pasando por todo esto. Ayer jueves 15 finalmente fui con un especialista quien confirmó que el hoyo si fue hecho durante la lavada del oído. El procedió a ponerme un parche en el tíimpano para ayudar a que se recupere el mismo, pero me dijo que como ya han pasado muchos dias de la rotura inicial (diez dias del 6 al 15 de feb) solo hay un 20% de probabilidades que este procedimiento funcione.
Asi que tengo 80% de probabilidades de que si no funciona tenga que hacerme una operacion en el oido para restituir el timpano. En esta cirugia tomarian parte de mi piel y esta la injertarian en el timpano. Me dio veinte dias para que el parche haga su trabajo, pero si el 16 de marzo el hoyo no ha cerrado entonces voy a operación.
Hoy vine a trabajar normal pero no puedo hablar mucho pues la vibracion de mi voz afecta mi tímpano, el cual después de cuatro horas continuas de trabajo ya esta muy molesto asi que ya me voy a casa. Jason y yo estamos muy enojados con el medico que me hizo esto y vamos a ver si podemos aplicar una accion legal en su contra, sin embargo, el especialista nos dijo que esto sería muy difícil pues los abogados cobrarian mucho dinero y nosotros ganariamos muy poco.
De cualquier manera vamos a ver si por lo menos logramos que nos pidan una disculpa formal y por escrito y que paguen los gastos en los que tenga que incurrir si me operan. Bueno, pues yo pensaba celebrar mi cumpleaños bailando todos los dias (danza azteca, danza africana y un poco de salsa y merengue), pero el otorrino me dijo que por lo menos por diez dias debo dejar que mi oído descanse. Y no debo hablar mucho pues la vibracion de mi voz molesta a mi oído.
De cualquier manera lo que me reconforta es que el especialista dijo que no es daño irreversible, lo peor que puede pasar es que me tengan que operar pero después de eso voy a estar bien. Asi que mejor me alegro que no tengo algo mas serio y celebro mi cumpleaños meditando sobre la vida (en vez de bailar TODOS los dias - a lo mejor tomo Tai chi o meditacion, como ven? Algo tengo que hacer, no?).
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Articulos sobre inmigración
San Francisco Chronicle
Museum celebrates Mexican death themes
Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The house of the dead awaits your arrival.
Just off the courtyard of a former Carmelite convent here, half a dozen clay sculptures of the dark Aztec underworld lord Mictlantecuhtli fix you with voracious grins and hollow eyes. In a next-door gallery, scores of miniature skeletons strum instruments, cavort in beery fiestas and enlace their bony limbs in fervid love making.
If the mood at Mexico's 2-month-old National Museum of Death feels more celebratory than sepulchral, that's hardly surprising. Although most Western cultures tend to treat death with fear and loathing, Mexicans prefer to embrace it.
San Francisco Chronicle
Study says more minorities ended up with high-cost mortgages
Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Minorities were far more likely than whites to be given high-cost subprime mortgages last year, according to a study to be released today by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an advocacy group.
In the Bay Area, the disparity between high-cost home loans made to minorities and whites was particularly pronounced, even among borrowers with similar incomes, the study found.
San Francisco Chronicle
Judge stays rule requiring employers to fire illegal immigrants
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2007
A federal judge in San Francisco blocked the Bush administration Friday from imposing a rule requiring employers to fire workers identified as illegal immigrants in government records or face possible prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney granted a nationwide temporary restraining order sought by the AFL-CIO and affiliated unions to keep the government from sending letters to employers demanding that they clear up workers' citizenship status.
The order will be in effect until Oct. 1, when another federal judge will consider whether to grant an injunction that would block the rule until a trial on the unions' lawsuit against the government is held.
San Francisco Chronicle
THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE
Legality of local anti-immigrant laws in doubt
There are few court rulings to serve as guidelines in field long considered federal turf
Karin Brulliard, Washington Post / San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
(08-29) 04:00 PDT Washington --
As local officials from Missouri to Texas to Pennsylvania increasingly respond to public discontent over illegal immigration by passing ordinances, law scholars say a key question remains: Are local regulations legal?
The validity of the measures, designed to regulate an area long considered part of the federal domain, is among the murkiest territories in the already-byzantine field of immigration law, they say, largely because local leaders have never before felt impelled to act, and so there are few specific court rulings to offer clarity.
"You have this complex overlay of statutes and regulations and court cases, and you've got this federalism question of ... what has traditionally been federal power and what the states can do," said Jan Ting, a Temple University law professor. "There could not be an area of law that is less clear than this, I think."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Carroll, Friday, June 1, 2007
------------------------------------
Good morning, I understand that you're illegal. Or rather, your status is illegal. That is, you're in the wrong place. Yes, you're in your home, but your home is in the wrong place.
------------------------------------
One way to get clarity on foreign policy issues is to turn the dynamic around. Pretend you are a citizen of the other country; what would you think and what would you do?
If you were an Iraqi, four years after you were invaded by a foreign power because it had been attacked by people who shared your religion and general geographic area but not much else (sort of like the United States retaliating for Pearl Harbor by attacking Korea), and you had seen your cities destroyed and your friends either dead or displaced, what would you do? Better yet: What would most members of the current administration suggest that you do? What would be the patriotic thing to do?
------------------------------------
San Francisco Chronicle, viernes abril 27, 2007
The human face of immigration raids in Bay Area
Arrests of parents can deeply traumatize children caught in the fray, experts argue
Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, April 27, 2007
Immigration agents arrested siblings Victor and Elvira Mendoza, 21 and 17, when it turned out the fugitive they were looking for no longer lived at the Mendozas' home. Officers detained 6-year-old U.S. citizen Kebin Reyes for 12 hours when they arrested his father as an illegal immigrant.
..........................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle, jueves abril 26, 2007
OAKLAND
Measures to oppose U.S. raids
Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Measures to oppose U.S. raids
Oakland city officials Wednesday announced two new resolutions condemning recent federal immigration raids and formalizing the city's intention not to cooperate with the U.S. government effort to deport undocumented residents.
The resolutions, one by Mayor Ron Dellums and the other by Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, both condemn the recent raids, including one Friday at an East Oakland manufacturer.
...........................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle, miércoles febrero 21, 2007
A SHARED GOAL
Divided by class, soccer rivals united by love of the game
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Richmond High's boys soccer team spends winters playing behind the poorly lit corner of 23rd and Maricopa streets, where the corner-store windows are protected by bars, the pavement is cracked and potholed, and the temporary street sign touting a revitalization project is obscured by graffiti.
Monte Vista High's soccer team plays in Danville, off to the side of Stone Valley Road, where the rolling hills are green with damp grass and oak trees, the mansions are double-decked and garage doors come in threes at the end of winding driveways.
......................................................................
La Jornada, martes 13 de febrero de 2007.
México, campeón de la inmigración: 11 millones de expulsados a EEUU
El TLCAN y la apertura indiscriminada detonaron el aumento explosivo de la migración, advierte red internacional
Sólo entre 2000 y 2005 se perdieron 900 mil empleos en el campo
ISRAEL RODRIGUEZ
México se ha convertido en el campeón de la migración mundial, superando a países como India, Filipinas, Marruecos y Turquía, con 11 millones de connacionales en Estados Unidos, y 28 millones de personas de origen mexicano en aquel país, aseguró Raúl Delgado, director de la Red Internacional de Migración y Desarrollo.
.............................................................................
Identity theft probe results in raids in 6 states
Federal agents arrest illegal workers at meatpacking plants
Nicole Gaouette, Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
(12-13) 04:00 PDT Washington -- Federal officials raided six meatpacking plants across the country Tuesday in the culmination of a 10-month investigation triggered by allegations that illegal immigrants were using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens.
The raids, all at plants operated by Swift & Co., resulted in arrests of workers on immigration violations and some existing criminal warrants, with charges of aggravated identity theft possible at a later date, officials said. The number of arrests was not immediately known. The company was not charged.
.............................................................................
Gringos turn tide crossing border
Boomer retirees invading Mexico
Mike Davis, San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The visitor crossing from Tijuana to San Diego thesedays is immediately slapped in the face by a hugebillboard screaming, "Stop the Border Invasion!"Sponsored by Grassfire.com, the same truculent sloganreportedly insults the public at other bordercrossings in Arizona and Texas.
The Minutemen, once caricatured in the press asgun-toting clowns, are now haughty celebrities ofgrassroots conservatism, dominating AM hate radio aswell as the even more hysterical ether of theright-wing blogosphere. In the heartland as well as inborder states, Republican candidates vie desperatelyfor their endorsement. With the electorate alienatedby the dual catastrophes of Baghdad and New Orleans,the Brown Peril has suddenly become the Republicandeus ex machina for retaining control of Congress innext month's elections.
...............................................................................
Influx of English learners a challenge for California
Tyche Hendricks, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/29/06
Almost 30 percent of the non-English speakers in the United States live in California, many of them in households that are "linguistically isolated" because they lack adults or teenagers proficient in English, according to data from the 2000 census...
.............................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle
THE BAY AREA'S MINORITY MIGRATION - POPULATION SHIFT: Inner cities shrinking as nonwhites seek better schools and lives
Leslie Fulbright, San Francisco Chronicle, 08/15/06
After spending most of his life in Berkeley, Peter Wilson packed up his family last year and moved to Antioch, one of the Bay Area's fastest growing cities. "Berkeley was getting really expensive," said Wilson, 49, who lives with his wife, Yvette, three...
San Francisco Chronicle
THE BAY AREA'S MINORITY MIGRATION - U.S. IMMIGRANTS: Census data find 16% rise in 5 years -- many go to new destinations
Rick Lyman, San Francisco Chronicle, 08/15/06
The number of immigrants living in American households rose 16 percent over the last five years, fueled largely by recent arrivals from Mexico, according to fresh data released by the Census Bureau. And increasingly, immigrants are bypassing the...
.............................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle
Cheaper China taking business away from Mexico
Jeans factories face increasing competition
Monica Campbell, Chronicle Foreign Service
Thursday, April 6, 2006
(04-06) 04:00 PDT Tehuacan, Mexico -- Down an alley, past Doberman-guarded factories, Reyna Rodriguez sits behind a tall, unmarked metal gate sewing 1,400 pockets a day onto Abercrombie & Fitch designer jeans for $70 a week.
The constant pressure to produce keeps her from chatting with co-workers or taking as many restroom breaks as she feels she needs. She leaves her station only after a floor manager, who checks her progress every two hours, hands her an exit pass -- proof that the petite, bespectacled Rodriguez has met her daily quota.
.............................................................................
Grapes of Wrath, Revisited - Napa Valley celebrates the good life -- but things aren't quite as rosy for the workers who pick the grapes
Glen Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/19/04
To arrive in the Napa Valley, as either resident or tourist, is to have -- well, arrived. It takes an impressive cache of ducats to buy a home in St. Helena or Calistoga, where modest cottages fetch close to a million and anything with any real elbow room...
.............................................................................
Museum celebrates Mexican death themes
Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The house of the dead awaits your arrival.
Just off the courtyard of a former Carmelite convent here, half a dozen clay sculptures of the dark Aztec underworld lord Mictlantecuhtli fix you with voracious grins and hollow eyes. In a next-door gallery, scores of miniature skeletons strum instruments, cavort in beery fiestas and enlace their bony limbs in fervid love making.
If the mood at Mexico's 2-month-old National Museum of Death feels more celebratory than sepulchral, that's hardly surprising. Although most Western cultures tend to treat death with fear and loathing, Mexicans prefer to embrace it.
San Francisco Chronicle
Study says more minorities ended up with high-cost mortgages
Carolyn Said, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Minorities were far more likely than whites to be given high-cost subprime mortgages last year, according to a study to be released today by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, an advocacy group.
In the Bay Area, the disparity between high-cost home loans made to minorities and whites was particularly pronounced, even among borrowers with similar incomes, the study found.
San Francisco Chronicle
Judge stays rule requiring employers to fire illegal immigrants
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, September 1, 2007
A federal judge in San Francisco blocked the Bush administration Friday from imposing a rule requiring employers to fire workers identified as illegal immigrants in government records or face possible prosecution.
U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney granted a nationwide temporary restraining order sought by the AFL-CIO and affiliated unions to keep the government from sending letters to employers demanding that they clear up workers' citizenship status.
The order will be in effect until Oct. 1, when another federal judge will consider whether to grant an injunction that would block the rule until a trial on the unions' lawsuit against the government is held.
San Francisco Chronicle
THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE
Legality of local anti-immigrant laws in doubt
There are few court rulings to serve as guidelines in field long considered federal turf
Karin Brulliard, Washington Post / San Francisco Chronicle
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
(08-29) 04:00 PDT Washington --
As local officials from Missouri to Texas to Pennsylvania increasingly respond to public discontent over illegal immigration by passing ordinances, law scholars say a key question remains: Are local regulations legal?
The validity of the measures, designed to regulate an area long considered part of the federal domain, is among the murkiest territories in the already-byzantine field of immigration law, they say, largely because local leaders have never before felt impelled to act, and so there are few specific court rulings to offer clarity.
"You have this complex overlay of statutes and regulations and court cases, and you've got this federalism question of ... what has traditionally been federal power and what the states can do," said Jan Ting, a Temple University law professor. "There could not be an area of law that is less clear than this, I think."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Carroll, Friday, June 1, 2007
------------------------------------
Good morning, I understand that you're illegal. Or rather, your status is illegal. That is, you're in the wrong place. Yes, you're in your home, but your home is in the wrong place.
------------------------------------
One way to get clarity on foreign policy issues is to turn the dynamic around. Pretend you are a citizen of the other country; what would you think and what would you do?
If you were an Iraqi, four years after you were invaded by a foreign power because it had been attacked by people who shared your religion and general geographic area but not much else (sort of like the United States retaliating for Pearl Harbor by attacking Korea), and you had seen your cities destroyed and your friends either dead or displaced, what would you do? Better yet: What would most members of the current administration suggest that you do? What would be the patriotic thing to do?
------------------------------------
San Francisco Chronicle, viernes abril 27, 2007
The human face of immigration raids in Bay Area
Arrests of parents can deeply traumatize children caught in the fray, experts argue
Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, April 27, 2007
Immigration agents arrested siblings Victor and Elvira Mendoza, 21 and 17, when it turned out the fugitive they were looking for no longer lived at the Mendozas' home. Officers detained 6-year-old U.S. citizen Kebin Reyes for 12 hours when they arrested his father as an illegal immigrant.
..........................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle, jueves abril 26, 2007
OAKLAND
Measures to oppose U.S. raids
Jim Herron Zamora, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Measures to oppose U.S. raids
Oakland city officials Wednesday announced two new resolutions condemning recent federal immigration raids and formalizing the city's intention not to cooperate with the U.S. government effort to deport undocumented residents.
The resolutions, one by Mayor Ron Dellums and the other by Council President Ignacio De La Fuente, both condemn the recent raids, including one Friday at an East Oakland manufacturer.
...........................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle, miércoles febrero 21, 2007
A SHARED GOAL
Divided by class, soccer rivals united by love of the game
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Richmond High's boys soccer team spends winters playing behind the poorly lit corner of 23rd and Maricopa streets, where the corner-store windows are protected by bars, the pavement is cracked and potholed, and the temporary street sign touting a revitalization project is obscured by graffiti.
Monte Vista High's soccer team plays in Danville, off to the side of Stone Valley Road, where the rolling hills are green with damp grass and oak trees, the mansions are double-decked and garage doors come in threes at the end of winding driveways.
......................................................................
La Jornada, martes 13 de febrero de 2007.
México, campeón de la inmigración: 11 millones de expulsados a EEUU
El TLCAN y la apertura indiscriminada detonaron el aumento explosivo de la migración, advierte red internacional
Sólo entre 2000 y 2005 se perdieron 900 mil empleos en el campo
ISRAEL RODRIGUEZ
México se ha convertido en el campeón de la migración mundial, superando a países como India, Filipinas, Marruecos y Turquía, con 11 millones de connacionales en Estados Unidos, y 28 millones de personas de origen mexicano en aquel país, aseguró Raúl Delgado, director de la Red Internacional de Migración y Desarrollo.
.............................................................................
Identity theft probe results in raids in 6 states
Federal agents arrest illegal workers at meatpacking plants
Nicole Gaouette, Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
(12-13) 04:00 PDT Washington -- Federal officials raided six meatpacking plants across the country Tuesday in the culmination of a 10-month investigation triggered by allegations that illegal immigrants were using the stolen identities of U.S. citizens.
The raids, all at plants operated by Swift & Co., resulted in arrests of workers on immigration violations and some existing criminal warrants, with charges of aggravated identity theft possible at a later date, officials said. The number of arrests was not immediately known. The company was not charged.
.............................................................................
Gringos turn tide crossing border
Boomer retirees invading Mexico
Mike Davis, San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The visitor crossing from Tijuana to San Diego thesedays is immediately slapped in the face by a hugebillboard screaming, "Stop the Border Invasion!"Sponsored by Grassfire.com, the same truculent sloganreportedly insults the public at other bordercrossings in Arizona and Texas.
The Minutemen, once caricatured in the press asgun-toting clowns, are now haughty celebrities ofgrassroots conservatism, dominating AM hate radio aswell as the even more hysterical ether of theright-wing blogosphere. In the heartland as well as inborder states, Republican candidates vie desperatelyfor their endorsement. With the electorate alienatedby the dual catastrophes of Baghdad and New Orleans,the Brown Peril has suddenly become the Republicandeus ex machina for retaining control of Congress innext month's elections.
...............................................................................
Influx of English learners a challenge for California
Tyche Hendricks, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/29/06
Almost 30 percent of the non-English speakers in the United States live in California, many of them in households that are "linguistically isolated" because they lack adults or teenagers proficient in English, according to data from the 2000 census...
.............................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle
THE BAY AREA'S MINORITY MIGRATION - POPULATION SHIFT: Inner cities shrinking as nonwhites seek better schools and lives
Leslie Fulbright, San Francisco Chronicle, 08/15/06
After spending most of his life in Berkeley, Peter Wilson packed up his family last year and moved to Antioch, one of the Bay Area's fastest growing cities. "Berkeley was getting really expensive," said Wilson, 49, who lives with his wife, Yvette, three...
San Francisco Chronicle
THE BAY AREA'S MINORITY MIGRATION - U.S. IMMIGRANTS: Census data find 16% rise in 5 years -- many go to new destinations
Rick Lyman, San Francisco Chronicle, 08/15/06
The number of immigrants living in American households rose 16 percent over the last five years, fueled largely by recent arrivals from Mexico, according to fresh data released by the Census Bureau. And increasingly, immigrants are bypassing the...
.............................................................................
San Francisco Chronicle
Cheaper China taking business away from Mexico
Jeans factories face increasing competition
Monica Campbell, Chronicle Foreign Service
Thursday, April 6, 2006
(04-06) 04:00 PDT Tehuacan, Mexico -- Down an alley, past Doberman-guarded factories, Reyna Rodriguez sits behind a tall, unmarked metal gate sewing 1,400 pockets a day onto Abercrombie & Fitch designer jeans for $70 a week.
The constant pressure to produce keeps her from chatting with co-workers or taking as many restroom breaks as she feels she needs. She leaves her station only after a floor manager, who checks her progress every two hours, hands her an exit pass -- proof that the petite, bespectacled Rodriguez has met her daily quota.
.............................................................................
Grapes of Wrath, Revisited - Napa Valley celebrates the good life -- but things aren't quite as rosy for the workers who pick the grapes
Glen Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/19/04
To arrive in the Napa Valley, as either resident or tourist, is to have -- well, arrived. It takes an impressive cache of ducats to buy a home in St. Helena or Calistoga, where modest cottages fetch close to a million and anything with any real elbow room...
.............................................................................
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Tomates y anginas
Este es un remedio náhuatl/mexicano/azteca que se usa cuando las anginas se encuentran irritadas. Mi papá me aplicó ese remedio cuando yo era niña y era muy efectivo, además de ecológico y muy sano. Hace unos días me dio una super infección viral en la garganta y yo extrañaba muchísimo este remedio. Por esos días hablé con mi papá, le pregunté sobre dicho remedio, cómo lo había aprendido, de quién, etc. y esto fue lo que me contó:
Una vez cuando yo era un niño como de ocho años mis anginas se me irritaron muchísimo y mi mamá me llevó con la Tia Petra (de parte de mi papá Rafael Juárez), esa tía me quería mucho, yo era su sobrino consentido. Cuando ella me vió llegar le dijo a mi mamá: "¡pero mira como esta mi muchachito, mira nadamás que enfermo está! ¿Porqué no me lo habían traido?"
Entonces la Tía Petra dijo que me iba a curar, así que tomó un tomate, lo partió en dos, tomó una mitad y le quitó las semillas y todo lo que tiene enmedio, la volteó, la tomó entre sus dedos de modo que sus dedos tocaran la parte externa del tomate (1), me dijo que abriera la boca bien grande, y con esta mitad de tomate me sobó las anginas, tan fuerte, tan fuerte y tan bien hecho que hasta sentí que me alzaba al sobarme. Hasta me quedé profundamente dormido después de la sobada, y al despertar ¡ya me sentía muy bien!"
Tiempo después de esa primera sobada mi papá le preguntó a su tía sobre cómo se le hacía para sobar así y ella le enseñó su manera de sobar con tomates. Mi papá aprendió tan bien que al poco tiempo el también sobaba a sus hermanos, aparte de sobarse el mismo cada vez que le dolían las anginas.
(1) La mitad del tomate se toma con dos dedos (el medio y el indice), el tomate tiene que estar como cazuelita, con la carnita se soban las anginas, con la otra mitad se soba la parte del cuello donde estan las anginas.
Mi mamá me contó que para aliviar las anginas también es bueno sobar el brazo, pues esto ayuda a desinflamar las anginas. La palma de la mano tiene que estar hacia arriba, y se soba justo antes del doblez del brazo.
Una vez cuando yo era un niño como de ocho años mis anginas se me irritaron muchísimo y mi mamá me llevó con la Tia Petra (de parte de mi papá Rafael Juárez), esa tía me quería mucho, yo era su sobrino consentido. Cuando ella me vió llegar le dijo a mi mamá: "¡pero mira como esta mi muchachito, mira nadamás que enfermo está! ¿Porqué no me lo habían traido?"
Entonces la Tía Petra dijo que me iba a curar, así que tomó un tomate, lo partió en dos, tomó una mitad y le quitó las semillas y todo lo que tiene enmedio, la volteó, la tomó entre sus dedos de modo que sus dedos tocaran la parte externa del tomate (1), me dijo que abriera la boca bien grande, y con esta mitad de tomate me sobó las anginas, tan fuerte, tan fuerte y tan bien hecho que hasta sentí que me alzaba al sobarme. Hasta me quedé profundamente dormido después de la sobada, y al despertar ¡ya me sentía muy bien!"
Tiempo después de esa primera sobada mi papá le preguntó a su tía sobre cómo se le hacía para sobar así y ella le enseñó su manera de sobar con tomates. Mi papá aprendió tan bien que al poco tiempo el también sobaba a sus hermanos, aparte de sobarse el mismo cada vez que le dolían las anginas.
(1) La mitad del tomate se toma con dos dedos (el medio y el indice), el tomate tiene que estar como cazuelita, con la carnita se soban las anginas, con la otra mitad se soba la parte del cuello donde estan las anginas.
Mi mamá me contó que para aliviar las anginas también es bueno sobar el brazo, pues esto ayuda a desinflamar las anginas. La palma de la mano tiene que estar hacia arriba, y se soba justo antes del doblez del brazo.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Ceremonia Azteca
Estoy muy emocionada pues mañana voy a participar en una ceremonia de danza azteca por primera vez. Empecé a bailar danza azteca desde el 2 de mayo del 2006, exactamente un día después de que ocurrieron las grandes marchas por los derechos de los inmigrantes en este país.
Ese día yo asistí a la marcha en San Francisco y vi que al frente de todos iba un grupo de danzantes aztecas quienes bailaban sin descanso y a quienes todos los inmigrantes apoyaban con muchos aplausos y porras. Yo llevaba mi cámara y les tomé muchas fotos. Yo había querido bailar danza azteca desde hacia mucho tiempo pero por una cosa o por otra no lo habia podido hacer. Pero al ver a los danzantes en la marcha decidi que ya era tiempo asi que el siguiente dia me presenté en el Centro Cultural de la Mision de San Francisco y ¡grande sería mi sorpresa al descubrir que el grupo que bailaba al frente de la marcha era el mismo grupo que bailaba regularmente en el Centro de la Mision!
Desde ese día he tratado de asistir a la danza lo mas seguido posible pues no solo me gusta mucho sino tambien siento una especie de paz espiritual cada vez que bailo, ¿será el humo del copal, los tambores, el llamado de la concha marina, la energía de todos los danzantes ... ? No lo se, pero al terminar la danza me siento muy en paz conmigo misma.
Estoy muy emocionada porque va a ser la primera vez que participe en una ceremonia así, en una ceremonia igual a las que asistían y en las que participaban mis ancestros, mis bisabuelos, mis tatarabuelos ... Voy a usar ropa de manta bordada de Oaxaca, cinto de Chiapas tejido en telar de cintura, chachayotes de Puebla (los caracoles que van en las piernas abajo de las rodillas) y el ayacachtli (guaje) que me regaló Ceci en Navidad.
El grupo con el que bailo, se llama Mixcóatl-Anahuak, es el organizador y anfitrión de esta ceremonia. Hace unos momentos hablé con el maestro del grupo y me comentó que invitó a cerca de veinte grupos de danzantes quienes vienen a bailar con nosotros. Ellos vienen de San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Salinas, etc. Dice que esperamos alrededor de cien danzantes y sus familiares. Tambien esperamos a gente de la comunidad. Y como buenos anfitriones a todos, absolutamente a todos les vamos a dar de comer.
Va a ser muy impresionante ver bailar a cien danzantes, todos juntos, muchos con plumas y penachos, todos con indumentaria azteca, con chachayotes.
Ya me voy, tengo que preparar mi ropa para la gran ceremonia de mañana. Deseenme suerte.
Ese día yo asistí a la marcha en San Francisco y vi que al frente de todos iba un grupo de danzantes aztecas quienes bailaban sin descanso y a quienes todos los inmigrantes apoyaban con muchos aplausos y porras. Yo llevaba mi cámara y les tomé muchas fotos. Yo había querido bailar danza azteca desde hacia mucho tiempo pero por una cosa o por otra no lo habia podido hacer. Pero al ver a los danzantes en la marcha decidi que ya era tiempo asi que el siguiente dia me presenté en el Centro Cultural de la Mision de San Francisco y ¡grande sería mi sorpresa al descubrir que el grupo que bailaba al frente de la marcha era el mismo grupo que bailaba regularmente en el Centro de la Mision!
Desde ese día he tratado de asistir a la danza lo mas seguido posible pues no solo me gusta mucho sino tambien siento una especie de paz espiritual cada vez que bailo, ¿será el humo del copal, los tambores, el llamado de la concha marina, la energía de todos los danzantes ... ? No lo se, pero al terminar la danza me siento muy en paz conmigo misma.
Estoy muy emocionada porque va a ser la primera vez que participe en una ceremonia así, en una ceremonia igual a las que asistían y en las que participaban mis ancestros, mis bisabuelos, mis tatarabuelos ... Voy a usar ropa de manta bordada de Oaxaca, cinto de Chiapas tejido en telar de cintura, chachayotes de Puebla (los caracoles que van en las piernas abajo de las rodillas) y el ayacachtli (guaje) que me regaló Ceci en Navidad.
El grupo con el que bailo, se llama Mixcóatl-Anahuak, es el organizador y anfitrión de esta ceremonia. Hace unos momentos hablé con el maestro del grupo y me comentó que invitó a cerca de veinte grupos de danzantes quienes vienen a bailar con nosotros. Ellos vienen de San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Salinas, etc. Dice que esperamos alrededor de cien danzantes y sus familiares. Tambien esperamos a gente de la comunidad. Y como buenos anfitriones a todos, absolutamente a todos les vamos a dar de comer.
Va a ser muy impresionante ver bailar a cien danzantes, todos juntos, muchos con plumas y penachos, todos con indumentaria azteca, con chachayotes.
Ya me voy, tengo que preparar mi ropa para la gran ceremonia de mañana. Deseenme suerte.
Monday, January 15, 2007
No a "Apocalypto"
La Jornada: "Mel Gibson nos debe pedir disculpas" afirma Jorge Miguel Cocom Pech, escritor maya
La Jornada: La gloria de la cultura maya no puede figurar en una película de persecuciones: Earl Shorris
La Jornada: Apocalypto refuerza ideas erróneas sobre los mayas: Rosado May
San Francisco Chronicle
'Apocalypto' does disservice to its subjects
Zachary X. Hruby, Special to The Chronicle
Monday, December 11, 2006
La Jornada: La gloria de la cultura maya no puede figurar en una película de persecuciones: Earl Shorris
La Jornada: Apocalypto refuerza ideas erróneas sobre los mayas: Rosado May
San Francisco Chronicle
'Apocalypto' does disservice to its subjects
Zachary X. Hruby, Special to The Chronicle
Monday, December 11, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Organización para el bautizo
Así es como la familia se organizó para contribuir al bautizo del BBtín:
Pa - va a pagar la comida: 13 pollos, tamales, refrescos, alcohol (brandy, cerveza)
Ma - pagó la misa ($500), el arroz, el mole (5 kilos para cien personas, 1 kilo alcanza para 20 personas), las flores ($1,200), ponche, las servilletas bordadas
July - donó dos borregos
Ceci - compró las canastitas, saleros, servilleteros para cada mesa
Paty - las invitaciones hechas en Oakland!
Paco - paga la carpa y los meseros
Sandra - Centros de mesa y portada de globos
Abuelita de Janett - dos guajolotes
Mamá de Janett - música
Pa - va a pagar la comida: 13 pollos, tamales, refrescos, alcohol (brandy, cerveza)
Ma - pagó la misa ($500), el arroz, el mole (5 kilos para cien personas, 1 kilo alcanza para 20 personas), las flores ($1,200), ponche, las servilletas bordadas
July - donó dos borregos
Ceci - compró las canastitas, saleros, servilleteros para cada mesa
Paty - las invitaciones hechas en Oakland!
Paco - paga la carpa y los meseros
Sandra - Centros de mesa y portada de globos
Abuelita de Janett - dos guajolotes
Mamá de Janett - música
Friday, December 22, 2006
Tequila, my golden rules
Recently a friend of mine asked me about what to keep in mind when buying tequila. Here's my answer:
Here are my golden rules that I use when buying tequila:
• The tequila has to be añejo or reposado, which means it has aged and looks yellowish, not white at all. The white tequila is very young and though it tastes really good –pretty much all margaritas are prepared with this kind of tequila- it hasn’t yet fully achieved the more complex and sophisticated flavor the aged tequilas have. Añejo is the oldest thus is more expensive but it’s the best. To fully enjoy añejos and reposados you have to take them on a straight shot.
• The tequila has to be made of 100% agave (some labels say “100% blue agave”)
• The tequila has to come from Jalisco, Mexico. Similar to Champagne, which has to come from that specific French region to be called Champagne, if it’s made elsewhere it’ll be called “sparkling wine”. However, Tequila a town in Jalisco, Mexico is the ONLY place on earth with the kind of soil needed to plant blue agave and create tequila. We in Mexico have lots of other alcohol drinks that come from agave but they are not tequila, they are mezcal (from Oaxaca), or pulque (from Central Mexico), etc. These are as good and complex as any good tequila (if I could tell you about pulque, you’d forget about tequila!), just they are not tequila.
The regular and well known brands that I prefer in Mexico and that strictly comply with my rules (I think you can find them here too) are: El Jimador (reposado, not expensive at all but darn good!), Sauza Conmemorativo (reposado/añejo though it’s Sauza is also good), Cazadores (both white and reposado are good), Don Julio (reposado, good!), Herradura Añejo (Yummy! I love it!), Corralejo Añejo (only for very special occasions).
Then there’s a plethora of new and very sophisticated tequilas (like the one I brought to Trish’s party) which names I don’t remember (maybe “Milagro”?) so in these cases I just follow my three rules above.
Note that I’m not a connoisseur so I’m only passing on info that I’ve gathered during the years from my own experiences and from friends and family. Somebody from Jalisco or from the “PhD” program that Elaine mentioned last night might give you more or better info.
Hope I didn’t sound too academic (boring! …)
Salucita!
-----------------------
Also see:
A new name in Tequila
San Francisco socialite provides the cash; Southern California woman, the image
Linda Murphy, Special to The Chronicle
Friday, September 15, 2006
(09-15) 04:00 PDT AMATITAN, Mexico -- Drive 30 minutes northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, and a periwinkle carpet of blue agave plants begins to unfold, at first in patches, then eventually covering entire hillsides of red soils deposited 200,000 years ago by the eruption of Tequila Volcano.
Look closer and the lavender-blue plush shag becomes jagged and severe. The blue agave's razor-sharp, barbed, 6-foot-long leaves pierce the sky -- and any gringa foolish enough to get too close.
Here are my golden rules that I use when buying tequila:
• The tequila has to be añejo or reposado, which means it has aged and looks yellowish, not white at all. The white tequila is very young and though it tastes really good –pretty much all margaritas are prepared with this kind of tequila- it hasn’t yet fully achieved the more complex and sophisticated flavor the aged tequilas have. Añejo is the oldest thus is more expensive but it’s the best. To fully enjoy añejos and reposados you have to take them on a straight shot.
• The tequila has to be made of 100% agave (some labels say “100% blue agave”)
• The tequila has to come from Jalisco, Mexico. Similar to Champagne, which has to come from that specific French region to be called Champagne, if it’s made elsewhere it’ll be called “sparkling wine”. However, Tequila a town in Jalisco, Mexico is the ONLY place on earth with the kind of soil needed to plant blue agave and create tequila. We in Mexico have lots of other alcohol drinks that come from agave but they are not tequila, they are mezcal (from Oaxaca), or pulque (from Central Mexico), etc. These are as good and complex as any good tequila (if I could tell you about pulque, you’d forget about tequila!), just they are not tequila.
The regular and well known brands that I prefer in Mexico and that strictly comply with my rules (I think you can find them here too) are: El Jimador (reposado, not expensive at all but darn good!), Sauza Conmemorativo (reposado/añejo though it’s Sauza is also good), Cazadores (both white and reposado are good), Don Julio (reposado, good!), Herradura Añejo (Yummy! I love it!), Corralejo Añejo (only for very special occasions).
Then there’s a plethora of new and very sophisticated tequilas (like the one I brought to Trish’s party) which names I don’t remember (maybe “Milagro”?) so in these cases I just follow my three rules above.
Note that I’m not a connoisseur so I’m only passing on info that I’ve gathered during the years from my own experiences and from friends and family. Somebody from Jalisco or from the “PhD” program that Elaine mentioned last night might give you more or better info.
Hope I didn’t sound too academic (boring! …)
Salucita!
-----------------------
Also see:
A new name in Tequila
San Francisco socialite provides the cash; Southern California woman, the image
Linda Murphy, Special to The Chronicle
Friday, September 15, 2006
(09-15) 04:00 PDT AMATITAN, Mexico -- Drive 30 minutes northwest of Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, and a periwinkle carpet of blue agave plants begins to unfold, at first in patches, then eventually covering entire hillsides of red soils deposited 200,000 years ago by the eruption of Tequila Volcano.
Look closer and the lavender-blue plush shag becomes jagged and severe. The blue agave's razor-sharp, barbed, 6-foot-long leaves pierce the sky -- and any gringa foolish enough to get too close.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Trying to move on (my rap) / II
I wanted to talk to you because I wanted to make a proposal; the position I'm in right now is way below my capabilities and I feel I need something bigger and more important to be a part of. Which is why I thought of talking to you. What I'd really like is to be a complex problem solver and being challenged every day.
I really feel everywhere I've been I've performed beyond my expectations and would consider myself in the top 5% of people I've worked with, so I'd appreciate it if you consider me for a current open position in your area or even for a created position so that I can contribute at a higher level that I'm able to now.
Despite having a temporary contract many people have told me that my work is at a higher level than many permanent employees
....................
I need a position with more responsabilities or challenges whether is here or somewhere else but I need a position like that.
I've been in the top 5% though I haven't had the chance to work with you and you haven't been able to see me directly
I really feel everywhere I've been I've performed beyond my expectations and would consider myself in the top 5% of people I've worked with, so I'd appreciate it if you consider me for a current open position in your area or even for a created position so that I can contribute at a higher level that I'm able to now.
Despite having a temporary contract many people have told me that my work is at a higher level than many permanent employees
....................
I need a position with more responsabilities or challenges whether is here or somewhere else but I need a position like that.
I've been in the top 5% though I haven't had the chance to work with you and you haven't been able to see me directly
Trying to move on (advice) / I
Hoy hablé con B al cuadrado y me dio los siguientes consejos:
You are really smart, I wish I had a job for you, if I had one I'd hire you immediately. Your resume looks really good and shows your analytical skills and how good you are.
- To stay in the campus and learn about it apply for a lower job that you'd like, ie, AA3, here you could easily shine and demonstrate them (this is what you need to do, demonstrate to others that you can do this kind of work) that you know how to do Bairs and analytical stuff
- Write your work products: if you have done analytical work, write it so that you can show it in your interviews
- Apply for jobs even if they don't look interesting because when you go to the interviews that's where you'll learn more things about the job that are not posted and also you can tell them you can do more and they can offer you more things to do
- It takes about five years to get to a level you want or to move up the ladder, but even if you are comfortable in one position don't stay there for more than two years, you always have to look for more challenging stuff and move on
- Look for analysts positions in departments
- Get references not only from supervisors (maybe not in this case since they don't have to know you are looking for other places) but also from:
* Users that you have worked with
* Co-workers
* People that you have worked with in special projects
- Just keep on doing it, apply for as many jobs as you can
También me dijo que cuando yo solicité un trabajo con ella el año pasado ella realmente quería que yo obtuviera el puesto pero yo estaba compitiendo contra alguien con mucha mas experiencia que yo en el área de presupuesto si esta persona no se hubiera presentado el trabajo me lo hubieran dado a mí.
You are really smart, I wish I had a job for you, if I had one I'd hire you immediately. Your resume looks really good and shows your analytical skills and how good you are.
- To stay in the campus and learn about it apply for a lower job that you'd like, ie, AA3, here you could easily shine and demonstrate them (this is what you need to do, demonstrate to others that you can do this kind of work) that you know how to do Bairs and analytical stuff
- Write your work products: if you have done analytical work, write it so that you can show it in your interviews
- Apply for jobs even if they don't look interesting because when you go to the interviews that's where you'll learn more things about the job that are not posted and also you can tell them you can do more and they can offer you more things to do
- It takes about five years to get to a level you want or to move up the ladder, but even if you are comfortable in one position don't stay there for more than two years, you always have to look for more challenging stuff and move on
- Look for analysts positions in departments
- Get references not only from supervisors (maybe not in this case since they don't have to know you are looking for other places) but also from:
* Users that you have worked with
* Co-workers
* People that you have worked with in special projects
- Just keep on doing it, apply for as many jobs as you can
También me dijo que cuando yo solicité un trabajo con ella el año pasado ella realmente quería que yo obtuviera el puesto pero yo estaba compitiendo contra alguien con mucha mas experiencia que yo en el área de presupuesto si esta persona no se hubiera presentado el trabajo me lo hubieran dado a mí.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Where am I?
It was a crisp and sunny fall afternoon. After a shitty day at work (too much politics, too much "reorganization") I was exhausted and headed back home. Walking as usual along Fulton street I was just thinking about the new changes in my office, what would they bring for me? What would I do next? How soon should I look for another job? How should I "sell" my excellent set of skills to get a better position or a better salary, a raise? What, how, where ...?
As I was totally embeded in those thoughts I could feel the chilly wind in my face and at the same time I could feel the sun nicely touching my cheeks. I could not completely enjoy seeing the trees or the foliage that adorns Fulton street because I was so absorbed in my thoughts, but I saw them and knew they were there.
Suddendly, after crossing Carleton street a very different thought and question made me stop, this thought brought me to a screeching halt: Where am I? Is this Mexico or the US? I mean, I know I'm not lost I know I should continue walking south and I know how to get to my home, but ... is this street in Mexico or in the US?
I couldn't make up my mind. I couldn't remember exactly where I was. I didn't know which one of "my" two countries this street was in. I had to literally shake my head but the answer wouldn't come. This numbness lasted maybe for a couple of minutes but it seemed like an eternity to me. It felt like I was frozen in time and space with no available answer to my question.
Suddendly, as fast as this thought came I remembered: this is Fulton street in Berkeley, this is the US. Duh!
But, but ... Why did this happen to me? Was it because I was so embeded in my thoughts? Because I was tired? Or maybe because Fulton street is as part of my life as José María Mata or as Fco. J. Macín or as Espiridion Moreno?
Or maybe all of the above?
More transformations, more changes, more movements as time goes by. I'm a witness of my own changes, some of them I can see them wide open, some others are very subtle.
I feel at ease here, I feel at ease there. I have friends here, I have friends there. I dance here, I dance there. I have Jason here, I have dear family there.
Where am I? Where is my home?
I think I should be where my love is. I think my home is where my love is. My love is here in Berkeley with Jason. My love is there with Don Marce, Doña Paulita, Naty, Vira, July, Mary, Ceci, Paco y Janett, Sandra, Jorge, BBtin, Mayra, Ariana ...
But wait, don't I love to dance at Malonga? Don't I love Mama Naomi and Papa Zak? Don't I love taking their classes at Laney? Don't I love la danza azteca con el Güero en la misión? Don't I love being a tour guide for children and youth and showing them with pride art from my culture?
You bet I do!
Creo que mi corazón es como un pichonero, y ahí le caben muchos amores. Y como un pichonero, mi corazón tiene muchas casas.
As I was totally embeded in those thoughts I could feel the chilly wind in my face and at the same time I could feel the sun nicely touching my cheeks. I could not completely enjoy seeing the trees or the foliage that adorns Fulton street because I was so absorbed in my thoughts, but I saw them and knew they were there.
Suddendly, after crossing Carleton street a very different thought and question made me stop, this thought brought me to a screeching halt: Where am I? Is this Mexico or the US? I mean, I know I'm not lost I know I should continue walking south and I know how to get to my home, but ... is this street in Mexico or in the US?
I couldn't make up my mind. I couldn't remember exactly where I was. I didn't know which one of "my" two countries this street was in. I had to literally shake my head but the answer wouldn't come. This numbness lasted maybe for a couple of minutes but it seemed like an eternity to me. It felt like I was frozen in time and space with no available answer to my question.
Suddendly, as fast as this thought came I remembered: this is Fulton street in Berkeley, this is the US. Duh!
But, but ... Why did this happen to me? Was it because I was so embeded in my thoughts? Because I was tired? Or maybe because Fulton street is as part of my life as José María Mata or as Fco. J. Macín or as Espiridion Moreno?
Or maybe all of the above?
More transformations, more changes, more movements as time goes by. I'm a witness of my own changes, some of them I can see them wide open, some others are very subtle.
I feel at ease here, I feel at ease there. I have friends here, I have friends there. I dance here, I dance there. I have Jason here, I have dear family there.
Where am I? Where is my home?
I think I should be where my love is. I think my home is where my love is. My love is here in Berkeley with Jason. My love is there with Don Marce, Doña Paulita, Naty, Vira, July, Mary, Ceci, Paco y Janett, Sandra, Jorge, BBtin, Mayra, Ariana ...
But wait, don't I love to dance at Malonga? Don't I love Mama Naomi and Papa Zak? Don't I love taking their classes at Laney? Don't I love la danza azteca con el Güero en la misión? Don't I love being a tour guide for children and youth and showing them with pride art from my culture?
You bet I do!
Creo que mi corazón es como un pichonero, y ahí le caben muchos amores. Y como un pichonero, mi corazón tiene muchas casas.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Tlacuil-something
Creo que ya soy todo un caso (lingüístico-social) para Chomsky, George Lakoff, Ilan Stavans, etc. Bueno, no es que yo sea única porque creo que esto les pasa a todos los inmigrantes que tienen que usar un idioma diferente a su idioma natal.
De cualquier manera, no deja de ser fascinante para mí el hecho de observar, de atestiguar con mis propios ojos (y con mis propios oídos) la transformación lingüística por la que estoy pasando.
Yo ya estaba muy consciente de que uso espanglish en muchas conversaciones en mi vida diaria en mis interacciones con Jason, que es con quien hablo exclusivamente español o en mis interacciones periódicas con otros hispano-parlantes. Por ejemplo, Jason y yo usamos la palabra "chicudo" para referirnos a bebés con mejillas gorditas, o incluso usamos el derivado "chicudín" cuando el bebé de marras es muy "cute" o sea, es muy tierno y bonito. Cuando vemos un bebé con estas características decimos "ay, ¡que cute está ese chicudín!"
También estoy consciente de que uso otras palabras o construcciones del idioma inglés cuando hablo español. Claro, trato de no decir "aplicación" en vez de forma o solicitud, y ¡mucho menos digo "te hablo pa tras"! ¡Esta frase realmente se me hace horrible! Aunque entiendo porqué y de donde viene.
Pero este "self-awareness" (y sigo con lo apochado) no me preaparó para lo que me escuché decir en un video-caset que grabé en julio del 2005. Resulta que yo estaba entrevistando a mi mamá y a mi tía Agustina en la casa de mi tía de San Esteban Ecatitlán. Me estaban contando cómo preparaban un mole y cuando terminaron yo les pregunté: "no entendí una parte, ustedes mencionaron un ingrediente, ustedes dijeron algo como, algo como tlacuil ... tlacuil ... " y mi mamá y mi tía decían, no, no dijimos eso, pero yo insistí y les dije, sí, si dijeron algo así, dijeron "tlacuil-something".
¿¡Qué!?, respondieron las dos, y yo seguí insistiendo pero ellas siguieron diciendo, no, no. Así que llegó un momento en que dejé de insistir. Esa vez no reparé en su sorpresa cuando yo dije "tlacuil-something", bueno, ni siquiera reparé en que YO había dicho eso, ni siquiera me dí cuenta. Hasta hace unos días que estaba revisando dicho casete.
Creo que los cambios lingüísticos siguen y seguirán operando en mí y yo voy a notar algunos, pero está claro que no voy a poder notarlos todos.
Aquí voy en el camino a apocharme y a usar dos lenguajes que son muy diferentes entre sí.
De cualquier manera, no deja de ser fascinante para mí el hecho de observar, de atestiguar con mis propios ojos (y con mis propios oídos) la transformación lingüística por la que estoy pasando.
Yo ya estaba muy consciente de que uso espanglish en muchas conversaciones en mi vida diaria en mis interacciones con Jason, que es con quien hablo exclusivamente español o en mis interacciones periódicas con otros hispano-parlantes. Por ejemplo, Jason y yo usamos la palabra "chicudo" para referirnos a bebés con mejillas gorditas, o incluso usamos el derivado "chicudín" cuando el bebé de marras es muy "cute" o sea, es muy tierno y bonito. Cuando vemos un bebé con estas características decimos "ay, ¡que cute está ese chicudín!"
También estoy consciente de que uso otras palabras o construcciones del idioma inglés cuando hablo español. Claro, trato de no decir "aplicación" en vez de forma o solicitud, y ¡mucho menos digo "te hablo pa tras"! ¡Esta frase realmente se me hace horrible! Aunque entiendo porqué y de donde viene.
Pero este "self-awareness" (y sigo con lo apochado) no me preaparó para lo que me escuché decir en un video-caset que grabé en julio del 2005. Resulta que yo estaba entrevistando a mi mamá y a mi tía Agustina en la casa de mi tía de San Esteban Ecatitlán. Me estaban contando cómo preparaban un mole y cuando terminaron yo les pregunté: "no entendí una parte, ustedes mencionaron un ingrediente, ustedes dijeron algo como, algo como tlacuil ... tlacuil ... " y mi mamá y mi tía decían, no, no dijimos eso, pero yo insistí y les dije, sí, si dijeron algo así, dijeron "tlacuil-something".
¿¡Qué!?, respondieron las dos, y yo seguí insistiendo pero ellas siguieron diciendo, no, no. Así que llegó un momento en que dejé de insistir. Esa vez no reparé en su sorpresa cuando yo dije "tlacuil-something", bueno, ni siquiera reparé en que YO había dicho eso, ni siquiera me dí cuenta. Hasta hace unos días que estaba revisando dicho casete.
Creo que los cambios lingüísticos siguen y seguirán operando en mí y yo voy a notar algunos, pero está claro que no voy a poder notarlos todos.
Aquí voy en el camino a apocharme y a usar dos lenguajes que son muy diferentes entre sí.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Odio hacia lo tropical
Artículo de Víctor M. Toledo publicado en La Jornada el viernes 15 de diciembre del 2006
Todos somos mesías tropicales
"Durante siglos, las regiones tropicales del mundo fueron, para el imaginario de la civilización europea, las porciones más enigmáticas, paradisiacas, inexpugnables y peligrosas del orbe. Y no se trataba solamente de las zonas intertropicales del globo, que aloja montañas, sabanas y aun regiones áridas, sino especialmente de las áreas tropicales húmedas de las bajoplanicies, ahí donde la lluvia y la temperatura alcanzan sus valores máximos. La percepción fue, como casi siempre sucede, contradictoria. Por un lado el atractivo de un paraíso desconocido; por el otro el rechazo hacia un mundo que resultaba inhóspito e incomprensible."
.........................................
Después de leer este artículo me pregunto, ¿será por eso que mis amigas las "blancas" odian, pero realmente odian (and this is kind of freaky) y desprecian al Peje? Pero si ni lo conocen, ¿cómo pueden odiarlo? Una cosa es odiar a "dubia" pero bueno, este cuate ha cometido genocidio, así que no odiarlo ya sería mucho. Pero, ¿el Peje? ¿Qué les ha hecho?
Ahora, aclaro que el multicitado no es mi héroe favorito pero yo definitivamente no lo odio. Además el ayudó a mis papás al darles dinero para despensa, cosa que NUNCA ANTES NADIE había hecho. Y claro, los papás de mis amigas "las blancas" obviamente no necesitan dicho dinero, ellos siempre han tenido dinero (si hacemos una investigación histórica sería interesante encontrar la fuente de sus ingresos) así que no necesitan unos quinientos pesos del Peje.
Hay otras culturas que son igualmente odiadas por ser tropicales (porque son expresiones fuertes y enérgicas de vida, porque sus danzas son como torrentes de vida, como explosiones de vida que nada ni nadie puede detener, no tienen miedo de su cuerpo y están orgullosos de el). Estas culturas han sido golpeadas, destrozadas, perseguidas ... pero con todo y esto siguen adelante y defendiendo orgullosos su cultura y sus tradiciones.
...................................
La interpretación de Víctor Toledo, una caricatura: Krauze La Jornada domingo 17 de diciembre del 2006
Víctor Manuel Toledo responde a Enrique Krauze La Jornada martes 19 de diciembre del 2006
Todos somos mesías tropicales
"Durante siglos, las regiones tropicales del mundo fueron, para el imaginario de la civilización europea, las porciones más enigmáticas, paradisiacas, inexpugnables y peligrosas del orbe. Y no se trataba solamente de las zonas intertropicales del globo, que aloja montañas, sabanas y aun regiones áridas, sino especialmente de las áreas tropicales húmedas de las bajoplanicies, ahí donde la lluvia y la temperatura alcanzan sus valores máximos. La percepción fue, como casi siempre sucede, contradictoria. Por un lado el atractivo de un paraíso desconocido; por el otro el rechazo hacia un mundo que resultaba inhóspito e incomprensible."
.........................................
Después de leer este artículo me pregunto, ¿será por eso que mis amigas las "blancas" odian, pero realmente odian (and this is kind of freaky) y desprecian al Peje? Pero si ni lo conocen, ¿cómo pueden odiarlo? Una cosa es odiar a "dubia" pero bueno, este cuate ha cometido genocidio, así que no odiarlo ya sería mucho. Pero, ¿el Peje? ¿Qué les ha hecho?
Ahora, aclaro que el multicitado no es mi héroe favorito pero yo definitivamente no lo odio. Además el ayudó a mis papás al darles dinero para despensa, cosa que NUNCA ANTES NADIE había hecho. Y claro, los papás de mis amigas "las blancas" obviamente no necesitan dicho dinero, ellos siempre han tenido dinero (si hacemos una investigación histórica sería interesante encontrar la fuente de sus ingresos) así que no necesitan unos quinientos pesos del Peje.
Hay otras culturas que son igualmente odiadas por ser tropicales (porque son expresiones fuertes y enérgicas de vida, porque sus danzas son como torrentes de vida, como explosiones de vida que nada ni nadie puede detener, no tienen miedo de su cuerpo y están orgullosos de el). Estas culturas han sido golpeadas, destrozadas, perseguidas ... pero con todo y esto siguen adelante y defendiendo orgullosos su cultura y sus tradiciones.
...................................
La interpretación de Víctor Toledo, una caricatura: Krauze La Jornada domingo 17 de diciembre del 2006
Víctor Manuel Toledo responde a Enrique Krauze La Jornada martes 19 de diciembre del 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
La ruptura familiar en México causada por la inmigración
Artículo publicado en New Yor Times (inglés) el martes 19 de diciembre de 2006.
Three sisters: Making a Life in the U.S., but Feeling Mexico’s Tug
Chapter 1: Raquel
by Julia Preston
SAN ANTONIO — It is the fourth quarter, with South San Antonio High School holding a narrow lead over its archrival in the biggest football game of the year, and most everyone in the bleachers is standing and hollering. But not Raquel Rodríguez.
Artículo publicado en La Jornada, jueves 14 de diciembre de 2006.
Soledad y carencias, legado de las esposas de migrantes
Matilde Pérez U. enviada
Pánuco, Zac., 13 de diciembre. Todas las mañanas, antes de iniciar las labores de su casa y después en el campo, María de Jesús pedía al Niño de las Palomitas y al Santo Niño de Atocha que protegieran a su esposo y que ''tentaran su corazón'' para que regresara a su pueblo, con su familia; así lo hizo durante cinco años. Pero se cansó.
Three sisters: Making a Life in the U.S., but Feeling Mexico’s Tug
Chapter 1: Raquel
by Julia Preston
SAN ANTONIO — It is the fourth quarter, with South San Antonio High School holding a narrow lead over its archrival in the biggest football game of the year, and most everyone in the bleachers is standing and hollering. But not Raquel Rodríguez.
Artículo publicado en La Jornada, jueves 14 de diciembre de 2006.
Soledad y carencias, legado de las esposas de migrantes
Matilde Pérez U. enviada
Pánuco, Zac., 13 de diciembre. Todas las mañanas, antes de iniciar las labores de su casa y después en el campo, María de Jesús pedía al Niño de las Palomitas y al Santo Niño de Atocha que protegieran a su esposo y que ''tentaran su corazón'' para que regresara a su pueblo, con su familia; así lo hizo durante cinco años. Pero se cansó.
Like dogs
On the morning of December 12, 1531, it is said that the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec or Náhuatl Native while he was walking on the Tepeyac Hill located in what is now known as México City.
When he first saw her he cried and confided to her that the recently arrived Spaniards treated all Native people with contempt and cruelty and asked her "why is it that all of us Natives are treated like dogs?". The Virgin replied that she was there to help all of them, that Juan Diego was her xocoyotzin (my dear son, in Náhuatl), that she was Tonantzin (Mother Earth) and that BOTH Spaniards and Náhuatls were equal and equally valuable to her and that all of them were her children. Since then millions of people in Mexico and abroad seek her guidance, help and protection and revere her as our Mother.
This occurred 290 years before slavery was officially abolished in Mexico and 334 years before it was abolished in the US.
Fast forward 475 years later, move north of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande as they call it here).
On the morning of December 12, 2006, while more than five million Mexicans were celebrating our beloved Virgin of Guadalupe in the outskirts of Tepeyac Hill, more than ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED immigrant workers, working in the plants of the meat packing company called Swift located in six different states, were raided, handcuffed, arrested and sent to undisclosed locations. To this day no lawyer has been able to contact them. They were arrested under the premise that they were using either false social security numbers or numbers that belong to other people. According to the corresponding authorities they were after only 170 individuals. Why did they arrest more than 1,300 then?
The immigrant communities in those states (Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Iowa and Minnesotta) have been terrorized and shattered, this will bring unknown consequences to all. Among the known and immediate consequences is the fate of the innocent victims of all: the children. According to reports from immigrant and human rights groups in Colorado, there are AT LEAST hundred children that have become orphans instantly in that state. They don't have parents anymore as their parents have been arrested and nobody knows their whereabouts. Or worse, even if they knew about them, their parents will most likely be deported to their countries of origin. A headline from a Colorado newspaper reads "breast-feeding mother missing in raid", she had left her new born baby at her home with a baby-sitter. What will happen to this baby?
According to the law when an employee is not officially allowed to work here but was anyway hired by a company, the enforcement (arrests) should be applied to the employers, not the employee.
What kind of punishment is this? This is a dirty war against immigrants, correction, this is a dirty war against BROWN immigrants. This is a demonstration of hate, nothing to do with security or la chingada, as immigrants come here looking for jobs because in their countries of origin and due to the infamous IMF, World Bank, Nafta etc. (organisms that are controlled by this country) there are no jobs. And also, because the employers here like to hire them as these immigrants represent low costs for the companies.
Most of the thirteen hundred arrested come from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Peru and most of them are Native American (Maya, Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Inca, Quechuas, etc.) or of Native descent. This is their land. They have inhabited this land for thousands of years, not only for two hundred years or less.
This happened exactly 475 years after a Native American asked "why are we treated like dogs?". Unfortunately today, the question still applies. WHY ARE WE TREATED LIKE DOGS?
...................................
I already called my representatives here in California and asked them to take a critical stand against these horrible events and that they STOP this human tragedy happening in those six states and to STOP the raids. I called the representatives below and to my dismay, nobody knew what I was talking about, I had to give them lots of details and even mentioned newspapers articles and radio programs to them.
I urge you to call your representatives too and ask them to stop this war against colored immigrants.
Barbara Lee (510) 763-0370
Barbara Boxer (415) 403-0100
Diane Feinstein (415) 393-0707
For more information:
La Jornada, jueves 14 de diciembre, 2006.
Redadas en plantas empacadoras en EUA
Democracy Now, Thursday, December 14, 2006.
More than 1,200 arrested in six state immigration raid (READ transcript)
(READ transcript)
(LISTEN to interview - go to minute 42:16)
Rocky Mountain News, Thursday, December 14, 2006
ICE accuses Swift & Co. of skirting deportations
The fallout: At least 100 kids parentless
San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Identity theft probe results in raids in 6 states / Federal agents arrest illegal workers at meatpacking plants
Marta Granillo (right) cries for her husband and others arrested by federal officials at a Swift meat processing plant in Greeley, Colo. Rocky Mountain News photo by Ahmad Terry via Associated Press
When he first saw her he cried and confided to her that the recently arrived Spaniards treated all Native people with contempt and cruelty and asked her "why is it that all of us Natives are treated like dogs?". The Virgin replied that she was there to help all of them, that Juan Diego was her xocoyotzin (my dear son, in Náhuatl), that she was Tonantzin (Mother Earth) and that BOTH Spaniards and Náhuatls were equal and equally valuable to her and that all of them were her children. Since then millions of people in Mexico and abroad seek her guidance, help and protection and revere her as our Mother.
This occurred 290 years before slavery was officially abolished in Mexico and 334 years before it was abolished in the US.
Fast forward 475 years later, move north of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande as they call it here).
On the morning of December 12, 2006, while more than five million Mexicans were celebrating our beloved Virgin of Guadalupe in the outskirts of Tepeyac Hill, more than ONE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED immigrant workers, working in the plants of the meat packing company called Swift located in six different states, were raided, handcuffed, arrested and sent to undisclosed locations. To this day no lawyer has been able to contact them. They were arrested under the premise that they were using either false social security numbers or numbers that belong to other people. According to the corresponding authorities they were after only 170 individuals. Why did they arrest more than 1,300 then?
The immigrant communities in those states (Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas, Iowa and Minnesotta) have been terrorized and shattered, this will bring unknown consequences to all. Among the known and immediate consequences is the fate of the innocent victims of all: the children. According to reports from immigrant and human rights groups in Colorado, there are AT LEAST hundred children that have become orphans instantly in that state. They don't have parents anymore as their parents have been arrested and nobody knows their whereabouts. Or worse, even if they knew about them, their parents will most likely be deported to their countries of origin. A headline from a Colorado newspaper reads "breast-feeding mother missing in raid", she had left her new born baby at her home with a baby-sitter. What will happen to this baby?
According to the law when an employee is not officially allowed to work here but was anyway hired by a company, the enforcement (arrests) should be applied to the employers, not the employee.
What kind of punishment is this? This is a dirty war against immigrants, correction, this is a dirty war against BROWN immigrants. This is a demonstration of hate, nothing to do with security or la chingada, as immigrants come here looking for jobs because in their countries of origin and due to the infamous IMF, World Bank, Nafta etc. (organisms that are controlled by this country) there are no jobs. And also, because the employers here like to hire them as these immigrants represent low costs for the companies.
Most of the thirteen hundred arrested come from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Peru and most of them are Native American (Maya, Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Inca, Quechuas, etc.) or of Native descent. This is their land. They have inhabited this land for thousands of years, not only for two hundred years or less.
This happened exactly 475 years after a Native American asked "why are we treated like dogs?". Unfortunately today, the question still applies. WHY ARE WE TREATED LIKE DOGS?
...................................
I already called my representatives here in California and asked them to take a critical stand against these horrible events and that they STOP this human tragedy happening in those six states and to STOP the raids. I called the representatives below and to my dismay, nobody knew what I was talking about, I had to give them lots of details and even mentioned newspapers articles and radio programs to them.
I urge you to call your representatives too and ask them to stop this war against colored immigrants.
Barbara Lee (510) 763-0370
Barbara Boxer (415) 403-0100
Diane Feinstein (415) 393-0707
For more information:
La Jornada, jueves 14 de diciembre, 2006.
Redadas en plantas empacadoras en EUA
Democracy Now, Thursday, December 14, 2006.
More than 1,200 arrested in six state immigration raid (READ transcript)
(READ transcript)
(LISTEN to interview - go to minute 42:16)
Rocky Mountain News, Thursday, December 14, 2006
ICE accuses Swift & Co. of skirting deportations
The fallout: At least 100 kids parentless
San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Identity theft probe results in raids in 6 states / Federal agents arrest illegal workers at meatpacking plants
Marta Granillo (right) cries for her husband and others arrested by federal officials at a Swift meat processing plant in Greeley, Colo. Rocky Mountain News photo by Ahmad Terry via Associated Press
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