Raul Ramos y Sanchez's Blog, page 20
May 31, 2011
Teacher calms kindergarten students as bullets fly outside
On May 27 in Monterrey, Mexico a gunfight between rival cartels erupted in the street outside the kindergarten class taught by Martha Rivera Alinas. As they had been trained, the teacher and the children took refuge on the floor.
With the sounds of automatic weapons shattering the air, Martha calmed her frightened pre-school students, reassuring them with terms of endearment and leading them in a song.
"Nothing bad is going to happen here, precious ones," Martha told the class. "Put your little faces on the floor."
Five people were killed in the shootout outside. Thanks in no small part to the steady reaction of this teacher, none of the children were hurt.
Someone once said courage is grace under pressure. That could not be more true of Martha Rivera Alanis. Moments like these reminds us that for every ruthless cartel gunman there are many more decent, caring souls like this brave teacher.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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May 27, 2011
Social Media resurrected story about Marine slain by AZ SWAT team
The shooting death of Jose Guerena at the hands of a Pima Regional SWAT team happened on May 5. At first, the Sheriff's office reported that some of the SWAT team members had seen muzzle flashes and claimed Jose Guerena fired first. This was later proved false. Four days after the questionable killing, details of the incident were sealed by a judge, barring any further investigation. The story appeared to fade.But late last week, the story hit critical mass on social media sites. Using Twitter, Facebook and hundreds of blogs across the U.S., outraged citizens asked for answers, unwilling to accept the apparent cover-up of the facts by the Pima County Sheriff's office. Yesterday, the Sheriff's office released over 500 pages of documents and a video that attempts to exonerate their actions on May 5th. Today, the major news sources listed below are covering the Jose Guerena story. Hopefully, more will soon follow.
ABC News Fox News CNN New York Daily News Forbes
I applaud everyone on social media who spoke out. You helped shed the light of justice into this case. But this is not the time to let up. We need to press for a federal investigation. This questionable incident demands that unbiased outside observers examine the actions of the Pima Regional SWAT team on May 5th.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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May 23, 2011
Why was Latino Former Marine shot 60 times by Arizona SWAT team?
Another Latino has been shot dead in an Arizona home invasion – and the national media is once again ignoring the story. It happened on May 5 and the news is only now surfacing outside the Arizona media through citizen journalism on blogs, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.
According to the Arizona Daily Star...
Jose was shot 60 times by members of the Pima Regional SWAT team. His bullet riddled body was found by his wife Vanessa and their four-year-old son, Joel. "Mom, my dad was a bad guy? What did my dad do?'" asked Joel according to Vanessa. Her desperate 911 call to save her husband's life was recorded on a chilling YouTube video.
The explanation by the Pima County Sheriff's office for the home invasion has changed since the May 5 shooting. First reports by the Sheriff's office were that the SWAT team's mission was to break up a suspected drug ring and that Jose fired his weapon before the SWAT team fired back. That story was later reversed when it was discovered the safety on Jose's AR-15 was still locked. The motive for the SWAT team's mission was then changed by the Sheriff's office, which now says that "someone in the home" had been suspected of a connection with a home invasion robbery ring. The search warrant and court documents that would reveal what the SWAT team was looking for in Guerena's home have been sealed by a judge and are unavailable to the public.
No drugs, cash or criminal evidence of any kind were found in the home. Neither Jose nor his wife Vanessa has a criminal record. In an attempt to discredit Guerena's character, a lawyer for the AZCOPS law-enforcement union, Michael Storie, told the media that rifles, handguns, body armor and a portion of a law-enforcement uniform were found inside the house where Jose Guerena was shot. However, Storie was forced to admit that if SWAT members had entered the home without incident, those inside "probably ... wouldn't have been arrested."
Ironically, Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik was highly critical of right wing talk radio following the Tucson shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords in January, saying that Arizona had become "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry" thanks to the "vitriol" spread by far-right pundits. Sheriff Dupnik is now stonewalling requests for more details about the case but implied Guerena should not have resisted.
Although virtually ignored by the national media, most Latinos in Arizona know about the 2009 home invasion by Shawna Forde and her Minutemen accomplices posing as Border Patrol agents that led to the shooting death of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father. So it's not surprising José Guerena would have reached for his rifle to defend his family.
Jose served two tours of duty as a decorated Marine in Iraq. He returned from service no doubt grateful to have survived the firefights in that war-torn nation. In a cruel twist of fate, he would die in a hail of bullets in his own home.
This tragic story is shocking and sad. Sadder still is that this tragedy has found no "bounce" in the national media. Had this two-hitch Iraq veteran been named Grady instead of Guerena, I think it would have made headlines across the country.
No federal investigation of the actions by the Pima County SWAT team is planned at this time. And without any significant national media coverage of this questionable incident, that is likely how it will remain.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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According to the Arizona Daily Star...
Jose Guerena, 26, a former Marine, was sleeping after the graveyard shift at Asarco Mission mine about 9:30 a.m. when his wife woke him saying she heard noises outside and a man was at their window. Guerena told his wife to hide in a closet with their 4-year-old son, his wife has said. He grabbed an AR-15 rifle and moments later was slumped in the kitchen, mortally wounded from a hail of gunfire.
Jose was shot 60 times by members of the Pima Regional SWAT team. His bullet riddled body was found by his wife Vanessa and their four-year-old son, Joel. "Mom, my dad was a bad guy? What did my dad do?'" asked Joel according to Vanessa. Her desperate 911 call to save her husband's life was recorded on a chilling YouTube video. The explanation by the Pima County Sheriff's office for the home invasion has changed since the May 5 shooting. First reports by the Sheriff's office were that the SWAT team's mission was to break up a suspected drug ring and that Jose fired his weapon before the SWAT team fired back. That story was later reversed when it was discovered the safety on Jose's AR-15 was still locked. The motive for the SWAT team's mission was then changed by the Sheriff's office, which now says that "someone in the home" had been suspected of a connection with a home invasion robbery ring. The search warrant and court documents that would reveal what the SWAT team was looking for in Guerena's home have been sealed by a judge and are unavailable to the public.
No drugs, cash or criminal evidence of any kind were found in the home. Neither Jose nor his wife Vanessa has a criminal record. In an attempt to discredit Guerena's character, a lawyer for the AZCOPS law-enforcement union, Michael Storie, told the media that rifles, handguns, body armor and a portion of a law-enforcement uniform were found inside the house where Jose Guerena was shot. However, Storie was forced to admit that if SWAT members had entered the home without incident, those inside "probably ... wouldn't have been arrested."
Ironically, Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik was highly critical of right wing talk radio following the Tucson shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords in January, saying that Arizona had become "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry" thanks to the "vitriol" spread by far-right pundits. Sheriff Dupnik is now stonewalling requests for more details about the case but implied Guerena should not have resisted.
Although virtually ignored by the national media, most Latinos in Arizona know about the 2009 home invasion by Shawna Forde and her Minutemen accomplices posing as Border Patrol agents that led to the shooting death of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father. So it's not surprising José Guerena would have reached for his rifle to defend his family.
Jose served two tours of duty as a decorated Marine in Iraq. He returned from service no doubt grateful to have survived the firefights in that war-torn nation. In a cruel twist of fate, he would die in a hail of bullets in his own home.
This tragic story is shocking and sad. Sadder still is that this tragedy has found no "bounce" in the national media. Had this two-hitch Iraq veteran been named Grady instead of Guerena, I think it would have made headlines across the country.
No federal investigation of the actions by the Pima County SWAT team is planned at this time. And without any significant national media coverage of this questionable incident, that is likely how it will remain.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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Another Latino shooting death ignored by the national media
Another Latino has been shot dead in an Arizona home invasion -- and the national media is once again ignoring the story. It happened on May 5 and only now is the story surfacing outside the local media through social media exposure.
According to the Arizona Daily Star...
Jose was shot 60 times by members of the Pima County SWAT team. Their reported mission was to break up a suspected drug ring. No drugs, cash or criminal evidence of any kind were found in the home. Neither Jose nor his wife Vanessa have a criminal record. The first reports by the police claimed Jose fired his weapon and the SWAT team fired back. That story was later reversed when it was discovered the safety on Jose's AR-15 was still locked. Additional evidence on the case is being withheld by the Pima County Sheriff's Office who now say drugs were not the reason for the assault but that "someone in the home" had been suspected of a connection with a home invasion robbery ring. The Sheriff's Office will not say when complete details behind the motive and actions of the SWAT team will be released.
Although virtually ignored by the national media, most Latinos in Arizona know about the home invasion by Shawna Forde and her Minutemen accomplices posing as Border Patrol agents that led to the shooting death of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father. So I'm not surprised José Guerena would have reached for his rifle to defend his family.
Jose served two tours of duty as a decorated Marine in Iraq. He returned from service no doubt grateful to have survived the firefights in that war-torn nation. In a cruel twist of fate, he would die in a hail of bullets in his own home.
This tragic story is shocking and sad. Sadder still is that this story has found no "bounce" in the national media. Had this two-hitch Iraq veteran been named Grady instead of Guerena, I think it would have made headlines across the country.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
[image error]
According to the Arizona Daily Star...
Jose Guerena, 26, a former Marine, was sleeping after the graveyard shift at Asarco Mission mine about 9:30 a.m. when his wife woke him saying she heard noises outside and a man was at their window. Guerena told his wife to hide in a closet with their 4-year-old son, his wife has said. He grabbed an AR-15 rifle and moments later was slumped in the kitchen, mortally wounded from a hail of gunfire.
Jose was shot 60 times by members of the Pima County SWAT team. Their reported mission was to break up a suspected drug ring. No drugs, cash or criminal evidence of any kind were found in the home. Neither Jose nor his wife Vanessa have a criminal record. The first reports by the police claimed Jose fired his weapon and the SWAT team fired back. That story was later reversed when it was discovered the safety on Jose's AR-15 was still locked. Additional evidence on the case is being withheld by the Pima County Sheriff's Office who now say drugs were not the reason for the assault but that "someone in the home" had been suspected of a connection with a home invasion robbery ring. The Sheriff's Office will not say when complete details behind the motive and actions of the SWAT team will be released.
Although virtually ignored by the national media, most Latinos in Arizona know about the home invasion by Shawna Forde and her Minutemen accomplices posing as Border Patrol agents that led to the shooting death of 9-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father. So I'm not surprised José Guerena would have reached for his rifle to defend his family.
Jose served two tours of duty as a decorated Marine in Iraq. He returned from service no doubt grateful to have survived the firefights in that war-torn nation. In a cruel twist of fate, he would die in a hail of bullets in his own home.This tragic story is shocking and sad. Sadder still is that this story has found no "bounce" in the national media. Had this two-hitch Iraq veteran been named Grady instead of Guerena, I think it would have made headlines across the country.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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A review of "Black in Latin America" Episode Four
Episode four of "Black in Latin America" by Harvard's Henry Louis Gates, Jr. focuses on the identity and history of those of Sub-Saharan African descent in Mexico and Brazil. Like the previous three episodes in this breakthrough series, Dr. Gates takes viewers into new territory for most in the United States. For those of us who have been swimming against the powerful tide of Latino stereotypes in the U.S. media, the series is a welcome counter-current.
With a focus on Mexico and Peru, episode four of the series traces the African ancestry in two nations where even many Latinos are unaware of the existence of people with African roots. While this episode accomplished its mission in raising awareness of the black presence in these nations, the historical background was covered in very broad strokes and lacked nuance, understandable in a 51-minute documentary.
One of the most salient features of episode four takes place in the Costa Chica region which Dr. Gates reports as Mexico "blackest" population center. As we watch footage of the locals, it's much more difficult to find people whose outward appearance indicates Sub-Saharan African ancestry than, say, Brazil or Cuba. No mention of this phenomenon is made by Dr. Gates nor is any explanation given. This scarcity of African phenotypes seems especially striking as Dr. Gates accurately reports that nearly a half-million African slaves were imported into Mexico until 1833 when slavery was abolished. Here is where a greater insight into Latin American history would have helped.
Spanish colonization of the Americas stands in sharp contrast to that of the English. The Spaniards began colonizing the Americas nearly a century earlier than the English. More significantly, Spaniards were looking for the largest – and wealthiest – concentrations of native people to conquer and convert to their religion. After exploring the Caribbean along with North and South America, the Spanish conquistadores found these prizes in the civilizations of the Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas of Peru. In 1521 Hernan Cortes overthrew the Aztec rulers in Mexico, setting the pattern for a society consisting of large numbers of indigenous people dominated by a minority of Europeans. Cortes was soon copied by Francisco Pizarro with the Incas in Peru in 1533. These historical facts explain why Sub-Saharan phenotypes are less prevalent in Mexico despite its importation of over 500,000 African slaves. The reason is sheer numbers.
Unlike Cuba, Brazil and other Latin American regions where indigenous populations were sparse (and further decimated by European diseases), the genes of a half-million African slaves were absorbed into the millions of Native American people living in Mexico. Today, the descendants of those Mexican slaves are much more genetically mixed than in many other parts of Latin America.
English colonists, arriving along the coast of North America because it was the shortest route from England across the Atlantic, typically came in family groups from all walks of life. Unlike the Spanish conquistadors who were mostly single men, the English had little use for the indigenous people as sources of brides or labor. What the English wanted most from the natives was their land. As a result, Native Americans were pushed westward through war and treaties by racially-segregated Anglo communities. Later, as lucrative plantation crops like tobacco, rice and cotton increased the demand for cheap labor, the English colonists entered the African slave trade on a large scale. This was the basis of the black-white racial dichotomy that would become the norm in the U.S. until late in the twentieth century. It is against this yardstick that Dr. Gates often measures race relations in Latin America during the series. This preconception is one of the shortcomings of the series.
Another recurring weakness marring "Black in Latin America" is an abundance of mistakes in cultural references. Throughout the series there are errors in indentifying music, places and food. In addition, Dr. Gates often slaughters Spanish pronunciations, something which could have been easily avoided with the help of a consultant. (There are other scholars of African origin like Dr. Franklin W. Knight of Johns Hopkins University who are fluent in Spanish and have a much deeper understanding of Afro-Latino history and culture who might have been consulted for the series.)
All the same, "Black in Latin America" is a landmark television event. Dr. Gates has used his considerable media acumen to help enlighten the U.S. public about a topic woefully ignored. I hope the series is the start of a growing awareness and discussion about the diversity of Latinos, our African roots, and the racism that still haunts all the nations of the Americas.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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May 21, 2011
Bon Voyage! (Please leave your possessions for the needy).
For those leaving by way of Rapture today … Bon Voyage!
Before you go, though, I'd like to make a small request. You see, those of us who will be hanging around here on earth could use some of those worldly possessions you won't need as you ascend into heaven—particularly the needy.
So instead of giving any more of your cash to the likes of Harold Camping (who will be leading you into heaven), how about you make some last minute cash donations to charity? It is the Christian thing to do, after all.
If you don't have a favorite charity, Charity Navigator is great source for finding charities you can trust. Or just invite your neighbors in to take whatever they want from your home. With all the earthquakes, floods and whatnot we can expect back here on earth, every little bit will help.
Thanks and have a pleasant trip.
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May 19, 2011
A "Class H" citizen named Schwarzenegger
Governor Schwarzenegger's son with his Latina housekeeper is a Class H citizen. Allow me to explain.
In my cautionary tales, AMERICA LIBRE and HOUSE DIVIDED, a near-future US is wracked by widespread unrest in Latino communities across the nation, leading to violent clashes between right wing extremists and Latino separatists. In response to the unrest, a US Senator (of the same ilk as today's Arizona legislature) succeeds in passing legislation to divide the warring factions. Among the draconian measures enacted is a new legal classification: Class H -- (H for Hispanic).
Like former New Mexico governor Bill Richards whose mother is of Mexican origin, the son of Governor Schwarzenegger and his housekeeper would be classified Class H under this system.
Yet, in many ways, we already have a Class H system in place.
In the media, news reports and even some academic circles, the US population is divided into four demographic categories: White, Black, Asian and Hispanic. The inherent presumption of these categories is that "Hispanic" is a racial group separate from the other three. The truth is much more complex.
The U.S. Census Bureau states "persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race." Still, it's common even for Latinos to identify themselves as part of "La Raza." But no matter how widespread, the idea of a Hispanic race has no basis in fact. Like the United States, the nations of Latin America have been populated by a mix of people from all over the world along with their indigenous populations. Latin American is no more a race than North American.
My novels serve as a warning to the dangers the US faces when demagogues demonize illegal immigrants -- and alienate the entire Latino population in the process. Another of the problems we face is a colossal misunderstanding of what it truly means to be Latino.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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In my cautionary tales, AMERICA LIBRE and HOUSE DIVIDED, a near-future US is wracked by widespread unrest in Latino communities across the nation, leading to violent clashes between right wing extremists and Latino separatists. In response to the unrest, a US Senator (of the same ilk as today's Arizona legislature) succeeds in passing legislation to divide the warring factions. Among the draconian measures enacted is a new legal classification: Class H -- (H for Hispanic).
Class H designation is given to anyone with a Spanish surname or at least one parent of Hispanic origin. Anyone with a Hispanic spouse is also included. Class H status comprises two categories: citizens and non-citizens. Immediate deportation awaits anyone designated Class H who is not an American citizen. To expedite their relocation, Class H citizens are required to register their home addresses within thirty days with the CIA. Failure to comply will bring a ten thousand-dollar fine and three years' imprisonment.
Like former New Mexico governor Bill Richards whose mother is of Mexican origin, the son of Governor Schwarzenegger and his housekeeper would be classified Class H under this system.
Yet, in many ways, we already have a Class H system in place.
In the media, news reports and even some academic circles, the US population is divided into four demographic categories: White, Black, Asian and Hispanic. The inherent presumption of these categories is that "Hispanic" is a racial group separate from the other three. The truth is much more complex.
The U.S. Census Bureau states "persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race." Still, it's common even for Latinos to identify themselves as part of "La Raza." But no matter how widespread, the idea of a Hispanic race has no basis in fact. Like the United States, the nations of Latin America have been populated by a mix of people from all over the world along with their indigenous populations. Latin American is no more a race than North American.
My novels serve as a warning to the dangers the US faces when demagogues demonize illegal immigrants -- and alienate the entire Latino population in the process. Another of the problems we face is a colossal misunderstanding of what it truly means to be Latino.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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May 18, 2011
A radical idea to save Detroit: Bring in more immigrants.
Excerpts from a New York Times editorial.
Speaking on "Meet the Press" on NBC earlier this month, New York Mayor Michael Bloombergsuggested that Congress "pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agree to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years, start businesses, take jobs, whatever. You would populate Detroit overnight because half the world wants to come here."
That was certainly the experience of New York City, which was on life support in the 1970s until a transfusion of immigrant energy and entrepreneurship brought it roaring back.
Renewal by immigrants is the fundamental American narrative, the story of people in ships, then covered wagons, coming to settle and make fruitful a land that rewarded their courage and grit. Except now that story is scorned and discarded, along with many of those immigrants.
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Speaking on "Meet the Press" on NBC earlier this month, New York Mayor Michael Bloombergsuggested that Congress "pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agree to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years, start businesses, take jobs, whatever. You would populate Detroit overnight because half the world wants to come here."
That was certainly the experience of New York City, which was on life support in the 1970s until a transfusion of immigrant energy and entrepreneurship brought it roaring back.
Renewal by immigrants is the fundamental American narrative, the story of people in ships, then covered wagons, coming to settle and make fruitful a land that rewarded their courage and grit. Except now that story is scorned and discarded, along with many of those immigrants.
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May 17, 2011
Carlos Santana scolds Georgia for new immigration law
(Excerpts from an article by Charles Odum, Associated Press)
ATLANTA — Carlos Santana on Sunday used baseball's annual Civil Rights Game as a platform to admonish Georgia and Arizona for their new immigration laws.
The Grammy-winning musician said he was representing immigrants before adding: "The people of Arizona, and the people of Atlanta, Georgia, you should be ashamed of yourselves."
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal on Friday signed a bill that cracks down on illegal immigration in the state. The bill requires many employers to check the immigration status of new hires and authorizes law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of some suspects.
Georgia's new law shares some similarities to one enacted last year in Arizona.
"This law is not correct. It's a cruel law, actually," Santana said in an impromptu news conference after the ceremony. "This is about fear. Stop shucking and jiving. People are afraid we're going to steal your job. No we aren't. You're not going to change sheets and clean toilets."
Added Santana: "This is the United States. This is the land of the free. If people want the immigration laws to keep passing, then everybody should get out and leave the American Indians here."
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May 9, 2011
Ohioanna Book Festival Report
My second appearance the Ohioanna Book Festival in Columbus, Ohio was another of those moments when the rewards of being an author become most evident. The event was impeccably planned and the festival staff was cheerful and attentive.
Attendance was brisk throughout most of the day and gave authors and readers a chance to discuss their books in person, something rare outside of book store signings. Moreover, having such a diverse group of authors in one place was a treat for me as well. Like the readers who attended, I too enjoyed the chance to chat with authors about the content of their work and the craft behind it.
On break from duty at my assigned table, I recorded a TV interview with Lissy Estrada, a new addition to the Telemundo affiliate in Columbus that will soon be airing locally produced content. Also interviewed by Lissy and producer Jason Perkins was distinguished poet Lou Suarez.
Poet Lou Suarez, Lissete Estrada of Telemundo and a sleep-deprived authorI want to publicly thank Beth Poley and Linda Hengst of the Ohioanna Book Festival for the work they do for Ohio authors and their kind invitation to attend the festival.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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Attendance was brisk throughout most of the day and gave authors and readers a chance to discuss their books in person, something rare outside of book store signings. Moreover, having such a diverse group of authors in one place was a treat for me as well. Like the readers who attended, I too enjoyed the chance to chat with authors about the content of their work and the craft behind it.
On break from duty at my assigned table, I recorded a TV interview with Lissy Estrada, a new addition to the Telemundo affiliate in Columbus that will soon be airing locally produced content. Also interviewed by Lissy and producer Jason Perkins was distinguished poet Lou Suarez.
Poet Lou Suarez, Lissete Estrada of Telemundo and a sleep-deprived authorI want to publicly thank Beth Poley and Linda Hengst of the Ohioanna Book Festival for the work they do for Ohio authors and their kind invitation to attend the festival.
Raul Ramos y Sanchez
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