Raul Ramos y Sanchez's Blog, page 15

Zimmerman's mother is a Latina. So what?

When Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, David Berkowitz and Charles Manson were apprehended, did a single pundit suggest it was because they were white? But when Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 students at Virginia Tech, the media sought comments from South Koreans across the United States as if the whole community was on trial.

So it is not surprising that the Latino community is now under the microscope because the mother of George Zimmerman, accused of killing Trayvon Martin, is a Latina.

As long as Zimmerman was perceived to be part of the mainstream, he was an individual to be judged on the basis of his character. But once he was identified as a Latino, he became a representative for an entire ethnic group.

Some have gone so far as to defend Zimmerman by suggesting that being a Latino, he could not be prejudiced. Others are claiming he's just another violent, trigger-happy Hispanic. In either case, the results are the same. Zimmerman is nothing more than a cipher for prejudices.

Is every Non-Hispanic White a racist? Of course not. But why would anyone believe every Latino is not? Both assumptions are equally absurd.

Every time an individual is involved in a violent, high profile crime, the media coverage is the same: If the person is a Non-Hispanic White, their ethnicity is not an issue. But if the perpetrator is a minority, it becomes a whole other conversation. Why? Because "white" is the default setting for individuals in the U.S. media.

These preconceptions are so ingrained in our culture, most people fail to recognize them--even when they are glaringly obvious. Sadly, this case shows we are a long way from overcoming our unconscious prejudices.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez


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Among some fine company

This bit of news certainly made my day.
Pop culture searchengine ChaCha.com included me among the "best Hispanic writers in thebeginning of the 21st century"alongside Isabel Allende, Paul Coelho and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It's notevery day the author of just two novels sees his name listed with literarylegends like these. (Maybe my mom issecretly moonlighting at ChaCha.)

Being included in such fine company is the result of those in the industry who put their trust in my work and the friends who have been so generous in their support. My deepest thanks to all of you.

The original post is here.
About ChaCha.com...ChaCha gives free, real-time answers to any question bothonline at ChaCha.com and through mobile phones by either texting"ChaCha" (242-242) or using one of our mobile apps. Through ourunique "ask-a-smart-friend" format, ChaCha has become the leading answersservice with more than a billion questions answered to date all in a fun,conversational format perfect for those in need of fast, free answers whileon-the-go.




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The Etch A Sketch Candidate

The lore of politics is rich with sound bytes that, usually for the worse, defined political careers.

Al Gore was tagged with the claim he invented the internet.
Bush The First was derided for saying "Read my lips. No new taxes."
John Kerry never lived down: "I was for it before I was against it."
Alexander Haig became infamous for "I'm in control here."
Dan Quayle was lambasted with the zinger, "You're no Jack Kennedy."

Today, we may have seen a new sound byte added to that canon. It was contributed by Mitt Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom on CNN after he was asked whether Mr. Romney would move more toward the center in a general election. To which  Fehrnstrom  answered:

"Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's like an Etch A Sketch. You can shake it up and we start all over again."

And there you have it. Mitt Romney the Etch A Sketch Candidate.

It will be curious to see if it sticks. I'm betting it will.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez


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Behind the scenes on PANCHO LAND: The Plot Outline

A look at one author's use of a plot outline Some writers start a novel with a piece of dialog or bit of narrative and see where the story takes them. Others, like me, don't really begin to flesh out scenes until they have a complete plot outline. Pictured above is one of the spreadsheet drafts I used to create PANCHO LAND, the third installment of the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy.

To avoid spoilers, I deliberately reduced the font size, making it impossible to read. But even at this magnification, you can see five columns that trace the developments for each major character during the story. The spreadsheet lets me integrate the varying story lines and keep each moving together toward a coherent conclusion.

Once I know how the story will unfold, I choose which character will serve as point-of-view for each scene. Although the series is written in third person, I try to present each scene from the perspective of a single character. This adds drama and suspense since the reader only knows what that character knows.

Inevitably, as I begin to flesh out the scenes, I find reasons to tweak the plot. This is another place where the plot outline is valuable since it reminds me how that change will affect all the other characters. When I make this kind of change, I keep the original version of the plot outline and create a new version. There are times when I've decided to go back to a previous approach and having the older version saves a lot of work.

The plot outline is the backbone for several other devices many writers use to craft novels. I will be sharing more about these in the coming weeks.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez







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The depths of ignorance

How out of touch are some mainstream Americans with what it means to be a Latino? An example of the depths of that ignorance was on display March 15th when the pep band at Southern Mississippi University chanted "Where's you green card?" as Angel Rodriguez of Kansas State stepped up to the free throw line during an NCAA tournament game.

Rodriguez is from Puerto Rico, and like all Puerto Ricans, he is a U.S. citizen. He has as much need for a green card as any of the native-born students deriding him.

But in their minds, the equation was simple: Latino equals immigrant.

That alone would be ignorant enough. But to taunt Rodriguez by questioning his status reveals the deep-seated sense that every Hispanic is suspect. In small minds like these, Latinos cannot be "real Americans" -- even when they clearly are.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez





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My publisher's Amazon deal on HOUSE DIVIDED

The price on HOUSE DIVIDED is 60% for a limited time.  Hey, in case you're interested, my publisher is running a limited time deal on HOUSE DIVIDED paperbacks -- $5.60 (reg. $11.19). That figures to 60% off. If you or someone you know has been wanting to read my second novel, you might want to check this out.

FIND OUT MORE AT THE HOUSE DIVIDED PAGE ON AMAZON.COM



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A poll: Is "Pancho Land" offensive?

Pancho Land is the working title for my third novel in the America Libre trilogy. Do you think this title is demeaning or offensive? I hope you'll take a moment and share your opinion. Feel free to leave a comment if you are so inspired. Thank you! ~ Raul

Do you find the novel title "PANCHO LAND" offensive?



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Gone writing

With PANCHO LAND, the third installment of the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy due this summer, I will be carving out more time for my fiction work over the next few months. Not to say a breaking story will not prompt an editorial during that time. But I've reached the harvest season for my next novel and will be toiling in that field more intensely.

As the novel progresses, I will be posting elements for your feedback here: some cover designs and perhaps an excerpt or two of the work in progress.

In the meantime, hope you'll check out the blog archive for posts with current relevance.

To the regular readers of this blog I want to say thanks for your interest and support -- and the comments, even when they are dissenting.

So even though I'm not minding the store, leave me a message. I'll reply when I can. As long as we are talking, there is hope.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez


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Joe Arpaio enters Sasquatch territory

"This un-retouched photo of us near his woodland lair shows undeniable evidence of the existence of Sasquatch." --Sheriff Joe ApraioWell, now that Sheriff Joe Arpaio hasgiven us irrefutable proof that President Obama's birth certificate is fake,here are some more headlines we can expect from the good sheriff:
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaioconfirms the existence of Sasquatch.
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaioconfirms Apollo Moon missions were fake.
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio uncoversRoswell alien bodies.
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio provesMr. Rogers was a Navy SEAL.
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio hasproof Richard Gere had gerbil in his rectum.
News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio provesLady Gaga is a hermaphrodite.
News flash: Sheriff JoeArpaio proves blue whale sperm makes oceans salty. 


Back to the Obama investigation... Gasp! Who would have imagined that asheriff accused by the Justice Department of racial profiling, under investigationfor abuses of power, and widely chastised (even by other Republicans) for hisneglect of sex crimes involving children would have found evidence President Obama is not a real American? This man is clearly an impartialparty.
When asked why a local law enforcementofficial under fire for racial prejudice, abuse of power and negligence was conducting afederal level investigation, Sheriff Arpaio replied, "I'm just doing my job."
Some things you justcan't make up. 


Raul Ramos y Sanchez


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Santorum promises religious favoritism as president

"I don'tbelieve in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."--RickSantorum
Rick Santorum is taking a huge gamblein an effort to maintain his precarious lead for the GOP presidential nominationover Mitt Romney. He has doubled down on his support from the religious right. "I don't believe in an America where theseparation of church and state is absolute," Santorum told ABC News. Santorumwent on to criticize an icon among many U.S. Catholics, John F. Kennedy. Accordingto the New York Times, Santorum claimed "he had become sickened after readingJohn F. Kennedy's 1960 speech calling for the rigid separation of religion andpolitics."
How farwe've come.
In his 1960campaign, JFK had to convince a predominantly Protestant U.S. electorate thatthe nation's first Catholic president would not put his religion ahead of thenation. At the time, many voters were worried Kennedy might show favoritism toCatholics or let Papal edicts sway his decisions. Fellow Catholic Rick Santorumhas turned Kennedy's position on its head, promising that as president he willmost certainly show favoritism to his faith. 
Ofcourse, today's voters need not really worry that Santorum will be ahandmaiden of the Catholic clergy. Although Santorum's stand on contraceptionand a woman's right to choose mirror the official views of the Catholic Church,Santorum strongly opposes immigration reform which American Catholic bishops haveopenly supported.
To myknowledge, no one in the media has asked Mr. Santorum to explain this breakwith his widely self-proclaimed faith. I hope someone with access to Santorumwill do this soon.
Interestingly,the most common nativist response to the Catholic Church's support for theundocumented is that a religious organization should stay out of government policy.You see, in this case, many of Santorum's supporters believe there should be a strongseparation between church and state.
RaulRamos y Sanchez


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