Content Areas
United States
[[ Garcia Portraits ]]
Witness to Heritage
Hispanic Leaders
National Issues


Business

Education

Culture
Literature 
Books

Latino(a) Patriots
Amer Revolution Patriots

Surnames

Cuentos
Family History

Orange County, CA  
Los Angeles, CA
California  
Northwestern US
Southwestern US 


Indigenous
Archaeology 
Sephardic
African-American


East Coast
East of Mississippi

Texas
Mexico 

Central & South America

Caribbean/Cuba 

Philippine Islands
Spain

International  



"Government does not tax to get the money it needs; government always finds a need for the money it gets."
      Ronald Regan

Somos Primos

 JANUARY 2011 
133th Online Issue

Editor: Mimi Lozano ©2000-2011

Dedicated to Hispanic Heritage and Diversity Issues
 
Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research


Future Leaders of America

Society of Hispanic Historical & Ancestral Research   
P.O. 490
Midway City, CA 
92655-0490
mimilozano@aol.com
714-894-8161

Board Members:
Bea Armenta Dever
Gloria C. Oliver
Mimi Lozano
Pat Lozano
Cathy Trejo Luijt 
Viola R. Sadler
Tom Saenz
John P. Schmal

Resources:
SHHAR
Networking
Calendar
www.SHHAR.net
Free subscription to:
www.SomosPrimos.com 



"I know no class of my fellowmen, however just, enlighten and humane, 
which can be wisely and safely trusted absolutely with the liberties of any other class."  
Fredrick Douglass

Somos Primos Staff 

Mimi Lozano, Editor
Mercy Bautista Olvera
Bill Carmena
Lila Guzman
John Inclan
Galal Kernahan
Juan Marinez
J.V. Martinez
Dorinda Moreno
Rafael Ojeda
Ángel Custodio Rebollo
Tony Santiago
John P. Schmal

Contributors/Sources

Clark Akatiff
Antonio Alfaro de Prado
Marcela Álvarez
Ruben Alvarez
John Arvizu
Joe Barnes
Arturo Bienedell 
Arne Duncan
Jaime Cader
Roberto Calderon, Ph.D.
Raisa Camargo

Steve Campbell
Bill Carmena
Sylvia Carvajal Sutton
Yolanda Centennial
Jack Cowan
Tim Crump
Richard Duree
Juan Farias
Ron Filion
Gerald Frost 
Lino Garcia, Jr., Ph.D.
Wanda Garcia
Margaret Garza
Eddie Grijalva 
Art Guevara
Jaime Gomez, M.D.
Ron Gonzales
 Bobby Gonzalez 
Sylvia Gonzalez-Hohenshelt 
Aury L. Holtzman, M.D. 
Art Guevara 
Odell Harwell
David Hayes-Bautista, PhD 
Walter Herbeck
C Herrera
John Inclan
Rick Leal
Gloria Levario
Molly Long
Joe Lopez  
Juli Lozano
Cathy Luijt
Bertha Manos
Carl H. Marcoux
Juan Marinez
Eddie Martinez
Laura Martinez
Leroy Martinez
Federico Mata Herrera
V Metcalfe
Don Milligan
Dante Lee Montoya
Eddie Morin
Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Jr.
Cherie Navarro
Irene Navarro 
Vicente Neria Sánchez
Paul Newfield Jr. III
Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Jose M. Pena
Dave Perez
Elisa Perez
Richard Perry
Manuel Quinones 
Angel Custodio Rebollo
Dina Temple-Raston
Jose L Robles de la Torre
Armando Rendon
Clemente Rendón de la Garza 
Crispin Rendon
Gabriel Reyes
Javier Rodriguez 
Laura Rodriguez
Ben Romero
Lorraine Ruiz Frain
Rosalinda Ruiz
Tom Saenz
Placido Salazar
Armando Sanchez
Tony Santiago
Richard G. Santos
Mary Sevilla, CSJ
B. Sharp
Frank Talamantes, Ph.D.
Susanna Taylor
Sue Taylor 
Paul Trejo 
Phillip Thomas Tucker 
Lyn Turner 
Rosemary Valdovinos
Richard R Valencia, Ph.D. 
Angela Valenzuela 
Roberto Vazquez 
Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.
Beatrice Vervuert
Kirk Whisler
Miriam Zoila Pérez
Dear Mimi, I really enjoy your website and I thought 
I would take the time to comment on your featured story of those decendants of Mexican ancestry who submitted their family histories. It was absolutely enthralling for me to read the account of those who were trying to escape the harshness of the revolution in Mexico. They came to this country to follow their dream and they realized their goal. It was a struggle and in the process they contributed greatly to their new nation. Their descendants have every reason to be proud.
Eddie Morin 
eddie_morin@sbcglobal.net
Author of book: "
Valor & Discord, Mexican Americans and the Vietnam War"

===============
Author, Mimi, Thanks again for sharing Somos Primos Newsletter.  We always look forward for the coming issue.  I do like the table of contents as It is, please don't change the format.  Wishing you and all your readers a Happy Holidays Season.  God Bless you and this country.  Mas later, Walter  wlherbeck@sbcglobal.net

 
================
Hi Mimi!

I wonder if you take any time to eat or drink!! You send us fabulous material and I am grateful to you. I am eager to spend more time on genealogy now that I have finished my term of office with our sisters. I don’t even know if we have meetings any more as I have not been able to keep up at all.

Love, Mary  
Mary Sevilla, CSJ
Siena Community
marysevilla@mac.com


================
 
Hello Mimi:
 
Thank you for all the hardwork you and your staff put into the publication of Somos.  I download so much of the materials you send that I now have a library of Somos for myse;f.  The only sad thing about it, is that I never seem to find the time to read everything so I just read in spurts.  But thanks anyway.
Bertha Manos
 
====================================================
You are the bomb!!!
Tim Crump
crumpta@msn.com
 
When I thanked Tim, he wrote . . You're welcome!!....but probably a poor choice of words in today's world.........
========================================================

Thank you Mimi por your great work.  Wish you and all your family and  friends A Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year  Jaime 
Jaime Gomez, M.D.

 

 


UNITED STATES

California, "Parent Trigger" Law
9-11 Hard Hat Pledge
The Latino Professional Network
LAZOS distributed by the Instituto de Los Mexicanos en el Exterior
Telemundo’s MUN2
Census Bureau Interactive Map Widget
Best Thinkers
Mapping America

The Senate blocks the DREAM Act
Dr. France Ann Córdova, A Wise Latina
Increasing Minorities in the Sciences
Hispanics Breaking Barriers, Part XXIV by Mercy Bautista-Olvera
Latino groups give network TV poor grades on diversity 
How Long Do We Have? 
George Washington, the 11th President of the United States
Concise History of Thomas Jefferson's Life
Outline of a Platform for Constitutional Government
Opinion: Young Latinos reconsider political party born in 1970
.
CALIFORNIA "PARENT TRIGGER" LAW

In January, California  passed a law to adopt a parent trigger law, which stipulates that a district make radical changes at a school that has failed to meet benchmarks for four years when at least 51% of parents petition for it.

Parents choose the change they want - conversion to a charter, replacing the principal and staff, re-budgeting, or even closure.

Six other states including are now considering similar laws. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan applauded parents and community organizations for taking charge of their children's future.

One group of parents applying and implementing the law is Compton's McKinley Elementary.  Compton has long been home to a troubled school district, where roughly half of its students drop out of high school. 

Source: Parents demand school turnaround by Christina Hoag, The Associated Press, Dec 8, 2010.


911 Hard Hat Pledge  
9/11 witness: Mosque developers 'adding insult to injury' Chad Groening - OneNewsNow - 12/6/2010 

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation set aside $17 million for the community and cultural enhancement program to provide funding to rebuild the area surrounding the 9/11 attacks. 

A New York City construction worker who witnessed the 9/11 terrorist attacks thinks it's "absolute madness" that the developers of the proposed "Ground Zero" Islamic center have applied for a $5 million federal grant to build their "victory mosque." 

Editor:  Thanks to
Andy Sullivan, a lifelong New York City construction worker and founder of the 911 Hard Hat Pledge is working to prevent the mosque's construction at the proposed site.  He reacts to that news.

"Is that not the most audacious act you've ever seen? This is not only adding insult to injury, it's saying, 'Hey, we know this is hurtful; we know this is almost sacrilegious to you, and guess what -- we're going to make you pay for it now, too,'" laments Sullivan. "This is putting the dagger in your heart, twisting it, and then putting another one in there. It is absolute madness."


LAZOS distributed by the 
Instituto de Los Mexicanos en el Exterior
Sintesis Informativa

Lazos es un servicio informativo del IME, se distribuye de lunes a viernes, y contiene información sobre notas periodísticas publicadas en México, EE.UU., y Canadá sobre la población de origen mexicano y latino en EE.UU. y Canadá.

Esta carpeta contiene notas publicadas en los principales periódicos nacionales y extranjeros, de las cuales son responsables únicamente sus autores.

Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior
Plaza Juárez #20, Col. Centro
Deleg. Cuauhtémoc C.P. 06010
México, D.F. Contacto
Vicente Neria Sánchez
vneria@sre.gob.mx

 

The LATINO PROFESSIONAL NETWORK 
is currently one of the largest associations 
of Latino professionals and students in the country. Based in Los Angeles, the LPN serves as an umbrella organization that 
brings together Latinos from diverse professions and educational backgrounds 
in the spirit of unity and family. The LPN’s mission is to empower Latino professionals by providing them with the tools they need
to succeed in their professional lives and by surrounding them with an expansive support group of over 12,000 Latino professionals. Additionally, we are mindful of the need to create a pipeline between professionals/ employers and students. As such, we are taking affirmative steps to foster mentor/ mentee relationships and ensure that 
students secure worthwhile internships 
while in college and fulfilling employment upon graduation. The LPN is also cognizant of our obligation as Latino professionals to utilize our skills, resources, and education 
to effectuate positive change in the Latino community at large and lend a hand where one is needed. As such, we are in the process of forming collaborative 
partnerships with non-profit agencies and community organizations.

http://www.lpnonline.com/eWebPages/
About-LPN_Mission-Statement.eWeb
 

MUN2 records November best month in network history and continues as leading bilingual cable network.

LOS ANGELES – December 2, 2010 – Continuing its upward ratings climb, Telemundo’s mun2 recorded its best month in the network’s history during Monday through Sunday primetime, according to Nielsen Media Research. As the only nationally measured bilingual cable network by Nielsen NTI, mun2 has an increased distribution to over 35 million households, and is a part of the Telemundo Communications Group, a division of NBC Universal, a lifestyle cable network for today’s culture connectors (C2s) – bicultural Latinos 18-34.


48% of the Latinos in the United States live in California or Texas.  New Mexico is 44% Latino, the highest percentage of any state.

Only Mexico has a larger Latino population than the United States.  (108.7 million vs. 
45.5 million)  Source: U.S. Census Bureau  Interactive Map Widget

The Census Bureau is using digital outreach
to take advantage of America's focus on the upcoming release of apportionment data. Please be sure to visit the Bureau's 
interactive map widget
that enables users to view the history of apportionment and our country’s changing population through the 
past century. The widget can be embedded 
on your website and will be updated when the 2010 data is released.  (We do not know the release date).  

Sent by Rosemary Valdovinos
RValdovinos@Westminster-CA.gov


BEST THINKERS
Recommended by Juan Marinez and Jose M. Pena
http://www.bestthinking.com/thinkers
/politics_government/international_
politics/south_american_politics/guillermo
-a-belt?tab=blog&blogpostid=9664

Mapping America - Census Bureau 2005=9 American Community Survey - 
NYTimes.com
NYTimes.comhttp://projects.nytimes.com
/census/2010/explorer?view=raceethnicity
&lat=40.6311&lng=-73.994&l=12
 
Sent by Bill Carmena   
JCarm1724@aol.com

 
Extract: Dream Act fails to advance in Senate
By Lisa Mascaro and Michael Muskal | Michael.Muskal@latimes.com 
Los Angeles Times (December 18, 2010)
Reporting from Washington and Los Angeles - The Senate rejected a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants on Saturday, a defeat that pushes any effort to reform immigration into the next Congress where conservatives will have even more influence.

In a 55-41 vote, senators failed to advance the Dream Act, which would have provided a way to legalize those immigrants who arrived in the United States illegally as children and who attend college or serve in the military. Three Republican senators voted for cloture, but 60 votes were need to advance the measure. Five Democrats voted no.

Proponents of the Dream Act, formally known as the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, argued the measure was important because it would legalize people who have been educated in the United States where they have lived most of their lives. It was also a way of recognizing those who have served in the military.

But opponents saw the measure as the first step in the battle over broader immigration reform, a politically contentious issue and one that conservatives have fiercely opposed.

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF, issued the following statement on the DREAM Act:

". . . The DREAM Act would help to alleviate the nation's dire need for highly-educated workers and for highly-motivated service members by ending the current practice of discarding through disallowance the contributions of some of our nation's most successful young students."  "The Act also vindicates longstanding national, constitutional values to embrace newcomers and to reject cross-generational punishment." 


[[[ As of June 30, 2009, there were 114,601 foreign-born individuals serving in the armed forces, representing 7.91 percent of the 1.4 million military personnel on active duty. Roughly 80.97 percent of foreign-born service members were naturalized U.S. citizens, while 12.66 percent were not U.S. citizens. In 2010 alone, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) granted citizenship to 11,146 members of the U.S. armed forces - the highest number of service members naturalized in any year since 1955.  According to the Migration Policy Institute, the top two countries of origin for foreign-born military personnel are the Philippines and Mexico.]]]

Click for a White House Fact Sheet on the Dream Act.

Artist Eddie Martinez has created a poster in support of the Dream Act, go to: http://www.eddiemartinezart.com
 




Dr. France Ann Có
rdova

A Wise Latina

Nominated by Elma Gonzalez  
written by 
  Mercy Bautista-Olvera

Dr. France A. Córdova is an Astrophysicist, researcher and the 11th President of Purdue University. She is the first Latina to serve as President of the West Lafayette, Indiana campus. President Barrack Obama has also appointed her to serve as one of the Smithsonian’s Board of regents.

François (France) Anne Córdova was born in Paris, France on August 5, 1947.  She is the daughter Frederick Benito Córdova (1921-2010) a native of Mexico, and Joan McGuinness, an Irish American. Her father Frederick was born in Tampico , Mexico and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He joined the Texas National Guard at the age of 17, subsequently winning an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he graduated and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering in 1946.  

After World War II France’s, father, Frederick Córdova helped by distributing food and clothing overseas. He oversaw the Cooperative for American Remittances Everywhere (CARE), a nonprofit organization. While in France , the couple expected their firstborn to be a boy and planned to name the child Frederick III.

When the baby turned out to be a girl, she was baptized Françoise in the Notre Dame Cathedral. (Córdova later Americanized the name to France ).  Dr. France

Córdova has eleven siblings; Jeanne, William, Marianne, Leslie, LuMarie, Frederick B. III, Vincent, Zoe, Kathleen, Declan and Thomas; all have professional jobs. Córdova is married to science educator Christian J. Foster, with whom she has two children, Anne-Catherine and Stephen.  

Dr. Córdova spent many years growing up in Europe , where her father served with the U.S. State Department. While the family lived in France , they also lived in Germany and Yugoslavia . By then with four small children, the family returned to the U.S. in 1953, settling in West Covina , California . Mr. Córdova founded and became the CEO of Carrara Marble Company of America .  

Dr. France Córdova studied hard and received top grades at school; she attended Bishop Amat High School , a co-ed Catholic school in La Puente , California , east of Los Angeles. As a senior in high school, she earned a spot among California 's "Ten Outstanding Youth." As a senior in high school, she set a good example for her 11 younger siblings.  

While Dr. Córdova was an undergraduate at Stanford University , she spent a summer in a fieldwork anthropological dig near a Zapotec Indian pueblo in Oaxaca, Mexico. Her Mexican heritage prompted her to write a short novel, called “The Women of Santo Domingo,” based on her anthropological fieldwork.  

In 1969, Dr. Córdova earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English, where she graduated cum laude from Stanford University . In the same year, her book, “The Women of Santo Domingo” became one of the ten best entries in the guest editorship contest held by “Mademoiselle” magazine in New York City . As part of her contest entry, Córdova also compiled a collection of Zapotec recipes and turned them into a cookbook. In 1979, Córdova earned a Ph.D. in physics from the California Institute of Technology.  She was one of only two women in a class of eighteen. 

Dr. Córdova while a successful novelist, cookbook author, and guest editor for “Mademoiselle” magazine; returned to school to study physics. While she was pursuing a doctorate in physics, Córdova wrote and edited many newspaper articles as a staff member of the Los Angeles Times news service.  

From 1979 to 1989, Dr. Córdova served as Deputy Group Leader, and headed the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University .  

Dr. Córdova served as a scientist at the Space Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico . From 1980 through 1986, she served as project leader for Astrophysical Processes in Strong Gravitational Fields. She helped mobilize hundreds of her colleagues around the world, amateurs and professionals alike. In the early 1980’s, “Science Digest” named Dr. France Córdova, one of the " America 's 100 Brightest Scientists Under 40" for her attempts to unlock the secrets of the universe.   

From 1989-1993, she worked as a professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University .  

From 1993 to 1996, Córdova worked as the chief scientist at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in Washington D.C. She was the youngest person ever to hold that post. Córdova was awarded NASA’s highest honor the “NASA Distinguished Service” medal.  

In April of 1996, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) produced a miniseries that profiled France A. Córdova’s career and that of 19 other Native American, African American, and Hispanic American scientists and engineers. The six-hour series billed as a celebration of science; conveys their enthusiasm for their chosen disciplines and encourages minorities to pursue careers in math and science. She was also one of the three scientists highlighted in "The Path of Most Resistance" part of the PBS series, Breakthroughs: The Changing Face of Science in America .  

In 1997, Córdova was named one of "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by “Hispanic Business” magazine in Science and Technology. In the same year, Córdova proudly accepted an honorary doctorate from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles , and as a way of recognizing Córdova's contribution to the Mars Pathfinder Space Program, NASA put her name inside a spacecraft that landed on Mars. When the Pathfinder landed on Mars, it was carrying a CD-ROM with a dedication to Córdova.  

More details of her life and work are in Notable Hispanic American Women, Book II (1998) edited by Joseph M. Palmisano and at the Hispanic Heritage website. http://gale.cengage.com/free_resources/chh/bio/cordova_f.htm  

In 1999, Dr. Córdova   was also a featured scientist in the PBS program, Life Beyond Earth.   

Dr. Córdova has been recognized as a “2000 Kilby Laureate,” for "contributions to society through science, technology, innovation, invention, and education." She is a fellow of the American Association for the advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Association for Women in Science (AWIS).  



On April 9, 2002, Córdova was named Chancellor of the University of California 's Riverside campus, where she was also a Professor of Physics and Astronomy. “She [Dr. Córdova] has spearheaded a health sciences initiative that aims ultimately to establish a medical school, an effort that will continue moving ahead despite her departure. UCR is a proud institution with a very clear sense of forward motion, and France deserves a great deal of the credit for that,” stated UC President Robert C. Dynes.  

She also served as Vice Chancellor for research at UC Santa Barbara in California. In the same year “Hispanic Business” magazine Córdova named her one of the 80 Elite Hispanic Women in the April issue 2002.  

Photo courtesy of Purdue University News Service

 

 

(Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger) 
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/inauguration/080411CordovaSpeech.html
                 http://news.uns.purdue.edu/mov/2008/inauguration.mov

 

On April 11, 2007, during her inaugural address, Purdue President France Córdova received the “University Charter Presidential” medallion at the Elliott Hall of Music. Notables attending the event included Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, former Purdue presidents Arthur Hansen, Steven Beering, and Martin Jischke; Marye Ann Fox, chancellor of the University of California – San Diego, Dan Goldin, former administrator at NASA; members of the Purdue board of trustees, Purdue regional campus chancellors, and various state and community leaders.  

On May 7, 2007, France A. Córdova takes the stage after being chosen to serve as Purdue University ’s president.  

On July 16, 2007, Dr. Córdova became Purdue's 11th president. “Helping both undergraduate and graduate students succeed is a top priority, along with fostering an environment in which Purdue discoveries can be put to use to help solve the world's challenges in a process she calls discovery with delivery." Dr. Córdova introduced a number of new initiatives, including ones to enhance student success and provide better channels to encourage interdisciplinary research.  

As president, Dr. Córdova oversees a university system with five campuses across the state, with more than 70,000 students, 18,000 faculty and staff members and an operating budget of more than $2.1 billion. 

On October 10, 2008, Dr. Córdova was inducted into the Stanford University Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame, she was nominated by Stanford University‘s Chicano and Latino organization El Centro Chicano. She talked about her professional journey titled “The Road to Becoming the President of Purdue.”   “The university has a history of recognizing outstanding Chicanos and Latinos. I am honored to be included, especially because this celebrates our diversity," Dr. Córdova stated.  

On November 21, 2008, former President George W. Bush appointed Dr. France Córdova to the National Science Board. Members of the board serve six-year terms, and act as independent policy advisers to the president and Congress.  

Dr. France Córdova asks students to ask themselves what is important to them and what their vision is. She challenges students to look beyond the present into

the future to determine what they want to accomplish in life. She also encourages them to ask if they would have the conviction and vision to stand by their dreams in the face of adversity.    

On September 21, 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Córdova to the Smithsonian Board of Regents. She joined the 17-member Smithsonian Board of Regents, which includes nine citizen members, three members of the House of Representatives, and three members of the Senate, as well as the Chief Justice of the United States and the Vice President. The Board of Regents is the governing body of the Smithsonian Institution.   

Purdue Inductees to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences with France A. CórdovaOn October 9, 2010, three Purdue faculty members including Dr. Córdova were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.     

Dr. Córdova has published more than 150 scientific papers, a National Associate of the National Academies, and is serving a six-year term as a presidential appointee to the National Science Board.  She is also a board member of the Mayo Clinic, Edison International, and Science Applications International Corporation.  Dr. Córdova is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Association of Women in Science. 
 
Left to right: Joseph Francisco, Purdue President France Córdova, R. Graham Cooks, and
Freydoon Shahidi.

Dr. France Cordova's accomplishments are many. Her scientific knowledge is internationally recognized. Not only is she a woman breaking gender boundaries, but also a “Hispanic Breaking Barriers.” Her work perseverance and intelligence are also breaking down cultural stereotypes, and opening doors for others to follow in her footsteps.  

(See Somos Primos December 2010 to view Dr. France Córdova’s father Frederick Benito Cordova’s accomplishments and Obituary) 

 

 


Increasing Minorities in the Sciences
BY ARTHUR GUTIERREZ-HARTMANN
Despite modest increases in the number of underrepresented minorities earning doctoral degrees in the biomedical sciences, the number of tenure-track, funded URM faculty members essentially has remained unchanged for the past 40 years. (Titled "A Remedy for a National Ailment" in print version.)

It is the responsibility of the entire scientific community to promote, support, nurture and mentor underrepresented minority trainees.
It is not only a moral imperative but also the responsibility of the entire scientific community to promote, support, nurture and mentor underrepresented minority trainees. Only when we achieve equality in the diversity of the nation’s work force will the full potential of these URM populations optimally impact the progress of the U.S.

Increasing the Number of Visible Minority Investigators
We only can achieve these goals through synergistic actions by academia and government. The most critical component is to have minority investigators in key positions with high visibility for our undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral URM trainees.

Historically, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences has provided significant funding, approximately $4 billion for nearly 40 years, through the Minority Biomedical Research Support and Minority Access to Research Career programs (1, 2). These programs have positively affected the number of URM students entering biomedical research training programs and resulted in increased numbers of URM graduate students— from approximately 2.3 percent in 1973 to 3 percent in 1985 and 7.2 percent in 2003.

However, the number of URMs attaining tenure-track, National Institutes of Health-funded, research-oriented faculty positions remained disappointingly bleak during this period (3 – 5). Indeed, a National Research Council panel and NIGMS working group reviewing the NIH’s URM efforts concluded that simply obtaining a doctoral degree is too narrow a definition of success and that the NIH needs to increase its efforts if true progress is to be made in increasing URMs in principal investigator-type faculty positions. It is crucial that URM students meet URM investigators who are successful and able to sustain a career that is both intellectually and financially rewarding (2, 6).

From 1966 to 2003, the total number of doctoral degrees awarded in the life sciences increased threefold, yet the total number of tenured scientists essentially has remained constant during this period (5). Only about 39 percent of the most competitive majority doctoral students supported by NIH predoctoral fellowship grants or T32 training grants, and less than 30 percent of those trained at non-NIH institutions, gain tenure-track faculty appointments (5, 7). Thus, given the dramatically reduced number of annual URM doctoral graduates (only 294 of the 4,200 degree earners in 2003) (4, 8), it is clear that even if 30 percent of this URM pool attained tenure-track research faculty positions, it would have little effect. The very limited number of tenure-track faculty positions makes these extremely competitive (8) and is, no doubt, a key contributor to the severe shortage of URMs in research-oriented faculty positions (4).

Holistic Training Approaches
What makes a graduate student the most fit for a PI faculty position? Specifically, what are the features that most reliably correlate with success? Is it personality, critical transition choices, training history, the role of mentors, the impact of the graduate program or the postdoctoral experience? Are the features the same for URM students as for majority students?

Clearly, there are factors separate from purely academic issues that contribute to overall URM success. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Meyerhoff and the University of California, Berkeley Biology Scholars programs, two of the most successful college programs in graduating URMs with science degrees, have been successful precisely because they specifically address nonacademic issues (9, 10). For example, these two programs have strong leaders who address social, academic and scientific enculturation; establish high expectations for performance and goals; establish URM peer support groups, tutors and mentors and actively engage in making institutional culture more inclusive and minimizing covert prejudices.

"Typically, URMs lack faculty role models of the same ethnicity throughout their training, yet this is a critical attribute for success."

While the above nonacademic factors contribute to college success, several additional factors likely have contributed to the very low rate of URMs obtaining faculty positions. These include a focus by the NIH and graduate programs on simply priming the URM pipeline without a clear plan to shepherd URM trainees to faculty positions, a lack of appreciation of the critical importance of URM mentors, ineffective enculturation of an elitist scientific attitude in URMs and poor advising on the importance of the postdoctoral experience with regard to obtaining a research faculty position. In summary, a strong case can be made that these hidden curricular and institutional cultural factors may be the most important in successfully leading URM, and even majority, graduate students to independent PI positions (11).

Postdoctoral Training
Although graduate training is formative, postdoctoral training is defining, because it delineates the work that a trainee will use to start his or her laboratory. Not surprisingly, about 20 of the most elite, research-intensive institutions have generated the vast majority of PIs who currently hold tenure-track, research-oriented faculty positions. Unfortunately, the critical importance of postdoctoral training with a top-notch scientist is not adequately emphasized to URM graduate trainees, who are less likely to move far from home for training, due to financial, cultural, personal and/or family reasons. (9, 10)

A key priority for graduate programs should be leading URM predoctoral students to postdoctoral positions with world-class scientific leaders. Trainees should pursue postdoctoral training with someone who not only does cutting-edge, world-class science but also is a good mentor. Moreover, graduate programs should set high expectations for performance and goals but also establish URM peer support groups and tutors, provide forums for substantive interactions between the most successful scientists and trainees, continuously emphasize the importance of the postdoctoral experience and provide a group of successful URM mentors as role models. It is imperative to establish a growing cadre of URM trainees who will continue to help one another through their careers, much as the Pew Scholars and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators have done, in order to optimize for career success.

Senior Minority Faculty
Typically, URMs lack faculty role models of the same ethnicity throughout their training, yet this is a critical attribute for success. No doubt this is due to the severe paucity of URM faculty in tenure-track, research-oriented positions. Moreover, URM faculty frequently are asked to participate and provide the diversity voice and perspective on national and local committees, but this typically is uncompensated and unrewarded by promotion committees. In this regard, this group is particularly vulnerable and increasingly faced with the difficult decision to reduce their URM volunteer training activities in order to survive. Faculty members who are in this position should be afforded salary support so that they can serve as role models, fully participate in the experience and provide career advice. Perhaps funding agencies should invest more resources at the other end of the pipeline: it may be time for a URM merit award for that most rare breed of all— the highly successful, senior URM faculty.

References
1. Mervis, J. (2006) NIH Wants Its Minority Programs to Train More Academic Researchers. Science 312, 1119.

2. NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity, Report for Fiscal Year 2007.

3. Garrison, H. H., and Brown, P. W. (1985) Minority Access to Research Careers: An Evaluation of the Honors Undergraduate Research Training Program. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

4. Merchant, J. L., and Omary, M. B. (2010) Editorial: Underrepresentation of Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine: The Need to Enhance the Pipeline and the Pipe. Gastroenterology 138, 19?–?26.

5. Yewdell, J. W. (2008) How to Succeed in Science: A Concise Guide for Young Biomedical Scientists. Part 1: Taking the Plunge. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol. 9, 413?–?416.

6. Mervis, J. (2006) NIH Told to Get Serious about Giving Minorities a Hand. Science 311, 328?–?329.

7. Pion, G. M. (2001) The Early Career Progress of NRSA Predoctoral Trainees and Fellows. NIH Publication #00-4900.

8. Committee on National Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists (2000) Addressing the Nation’s Changing Needs for Biomedical and Behavioral Scientists. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.

9. Summers, M. F., and Hrabowski III, F. A. (2006) Preparing Minority Scientists and Engineers. Science 311, 1870?–?1871.

10. Koenig, R. (2009) Minority Retention Rates in Science Are a Sore Spot for Most Universities. Science 324, 1386?–?1387.

11. Powell, D., Scott, J. L., Rosenblatt, M., Roth, P. B., and Pololi, L. (2010) Commentary: A Call for Culture Change in Academic Medicine. Academic Medicine 85, 586?–?587.

Arthur Gutierrez-Hartmann (A.Gutierrez-Hartmann@ucdenver.edu) is a professor at the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado-Denver School of Medicine and the recipient of the inaugural ASBMB Ruth Kirschstein Diversity in Science Award. 

Dr. Frank Talamantes, Ph.D.
Professor of Endocrinology (Emeritus)
University of California
Santa Cruz, California

Res: 83 Sierra Crest Dr.
El Paso, Texas 79902



HISPANICS BREAKING BARRIERS

Part XXIV

By Mercy Bautista-Olvera



The 24th article in the series “Hispanics Breaking Barriers” focuses on contributions of Hispanic leadership in United States government. Their contributions have improved not only the local community but the country as well. Their struggles, stories, and accomplishments will by example; illustrate to our youth and to future generations that everything and anything is possible.

Dr. Ed Hernandez: 
California State Senator, District 24th 
Crisanta Duran:  
U.S. Representative, Colorado, District HD5
Raul Labrador:
  U.S. Representative, Idaho, 1st Congressional District
Jaime Herrera: 
U.S. Representative Washington, 3rd Congressional District
Bill Flores: 
U.S. Representative, Texas, 17th congressional District 



        Dr. Ed Hernandez 




Dr. Ed Hernandez is the current California State Senator for 24th District. A seat   vacated by Gloria Romero after her term was terminated.

Ed Hernandez was born on October 17, 1957. He is married to Diane Hernandez, who is an optometrist. The couple have two daughters, Valerie and Jennifer. 

Ed Hernandez grew up in La Puente; he attended local schools and graduated from Bassett High School.  Hernandez attended both Rio Hondo and Mt. San Antonio Community Colleges. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from California State University at Fullerton, California. 



Ed Hernandez received a scholarship to study optometry at Indiana University. He had only one goal as a young man – to serve the health care needs of the community he came from. After returning home from Indiana, Dr. Ed and his wife   setup their first practice in his hometown of La Puente, California, in the San Gabriel Valley. He has donated his time to the community - providing free eye care to low-income children and working with local schools to examine the eyes of thousands of students.  

While Dr. Hernandez practiced as an optometrist, he worked his way up the ranks of the California Optometric Association, where he served as its president  in 2000 and 2001, advocating in Sacramento on behalf of patients and members of the Association.  Until his election to the California State Assembly, he had also served as President of the California Board of Optometry.

Dr. Hernandez represented the 57th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, La Puente, West Covina, Irwindale, Industry, and other unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County including Valinda, North Whittier, Charter Oak, and Bassett. 

He led the San Gabriel Valley campaign for Proposition 72 (health insurance) and his practices provided care to at-risk diabetic patients. As a health care provider in predominantly low-income communities, he oversaw the need to improve access to health care. He and his wife have together served over 50,000 patients. 

Dr. Hernandez served as one of the few health care providers serving in the state legislature. He served on the Assembly Committee on Health as well as Budget Subcommittee 1 – which has direct oversight over the portions of the budget dealing with Health and Human Services.  These assignments have given Dr. Hernandez the opportunity in what has been this legislative session’s most critical policy debate by improving access to health care for Californians.  He has also served as Chair of the Public Employees Retirement and Social Security Committee (PERSS), and serves on the Business and Professions Committee as well.  

As an Assembly member, Hernandez served as Chair of the San Gabriel Valley Legislative Caucus, made up of 13 Senators and Assembly members representing the greater San Gabriel Valley.  This position has allowed him to work in cooperation with fellow legislators on issues critical to the San Gabriel Valley, including water and transportation.


        Crisanta Duran


Crisanta Duran is the House District 5 Representative in the Colorado Legislature.

Crisanta Disarae Duran was born on August 23, 1980 in Denver, Colorado.  She is the daughter of Ernest Duran and Teresa King-Duran. She descends from six generation of Mexican American. Her father is a labor leader who improves the lives of those who need strong representation. Her mother dedicates herself to assuring that there is affordable housing for struggling families throughout the state of Colorado. She is single.

Crisanta Duran attended Arvada West High School, volunteered at the school as well as at the Clinic Tepeyac, a non-profit health clinic. She graduated from Arvada West High School with honors. She was awarded with a scholarship to attend the University of Denver and received a double major Degree’s in Public Policy and Spanish. Duran attended the University of Colorado School of Law; her peers honored her as President of the Student Bar Association, as well as President of the Latino Law Student Association. On her last year of law school, she received a fellowship to work for the Honorable Judge Alex Martinez in the Colorado Supreme Court. She also worked in an Immigration Clinic program where she successfully argued and won a grant of asylum for an Ethiopian refugee. She earned her Juris Degree at the age of 24 in 2004.

During her studies at the university, she continued her community activities in HD 5. She became an Executive Assistant at Family Star, a Montessori and Early Head Start Center. Duran was often a speaker at North High school, persuading students and obtain a higher education.

Duran worked for the 21,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7. She fought for better paying jobs and access to quality healthcare for thousands of working families across Colorado. During the Sift & Company ICE raids in 2005, she assisted with the preparation of a Writ of Habeas Corpus to ensure immigrant workers detained in the raids received adequate legal representation. “All of these experiences have honed my leadership skills and emboldened my commitment to public service,” stated Duran.

Duran served on the Board of Directors of La Rasa, Democrats Work, Voto Latino, and held posts in Women for Obama and Latino Vote steering Committees, Progressive Majority, and New Era Colorado. She also worked with the creators of a documentary about immigration reform called “Swift Justice,” which was released in 2008.

In 2004, Duran supported and assisted Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar United States Senate campaign.

In January, 2005 and in 2007, Duran was recognized as one of “Colorado’s Movers and Shakers” by the well respected publication, “The Statesman,” she served as Political  Director for Senator Mark Udall’s 2008 United States Senate campaign, here she organized women, diverse community members, labor, seniors, and the LGBTQ community.

In 2008, Duran was elected to serve as President of the Colorado Young Democrats. During a rally at the University of Colorado, Barack Obama acknowledged Crisanta Duran accomplishments by stating: “I want to thank Crisanta Duran, President of the Young Democrats who is representative on what the future of America holds young people like her, who are fighting on behalf of justice, fighting on behalf of workers, trying to make this country better. Whenever I see young people like her, and the young people here today, it inspires me. Thank you Crisanta.”

Video: http://www.duranforcolorado.com 

“I am ready to focus my energies on the issues affecting both HD 5 and Colorado. Our work to lead our community and this great State forward has just begun. I hope you will agree that my political, legal and life experiences make me uniquely qualified to serve in the state legislature as your HD 5 Representative.”

Her parents Ernest and Teresa King-Duran instilled in her the importance of public service, and making a difference by speaking against injustice, dignity and respect.
 

              Raul Labrador


Raul Labrador is currently Western Idaho’s 1st Congressional District Representative.  He previously represented District 14B from 2006 to 2010. 

Raul Labrador was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on December 8, 1967. He was raised by a single mother who instilled in him the importance of education. Raul Labrador is married to Rebecca Johnson-Labrador. They are the parents of five children; Michael, Katerina, Joshua, Diego, and Rafael. They live in Eagle, Idaho, where the five children are enrolled in the local public schools.

Raul Labrador obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish with an emphasis in Latin American Literature from Brigham Young University (BYU), in Provo, Utah. In 1995, he earned his Juris Degree from the University of Washington School of Law.

While living in Seattle, Washington Labrador served as a law clerk in the Office of the United States Attorney and as an Associate Attorney for Cusack & Knowles. 

Labrador moved with his family to Boise in 1996, to work as a Judicial Law Clerk for the United States District Court until 1998. From 1998 through 2000, Labrador worked at Belnap & Curtis and at Herrington Law Offices as an Associate Attorney. Labrador was the owner and managing partner of Labrador Law Offices in Nampa, Idaho.

In 2002, in the Idaho Business Review magazine, Labrador was selected as member of "40 Accomplished Leaders,” under 40.    

In 2006, Labrador was elected to represent the 14B District in the Idaho House State of Representatives. As a Representative Labrador was one of the House leaders who brought forth the Idaho Health Freedom Act, which is the basis for Idaho’s court challenge to federalized health care.

Labrador has been very involved in his church and community, being a member of the Boy Scouts of America, and serving on many committees and appointments within the local, state and national level Republican Parties. Labrador also worked on the School Facilities Committee for Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne, and as Republican Party Precinctman and District Chairman. Most recently, Labrador served as a Commissioner for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs and District 14 State Representative.

Labrador has been a clear and consistent advocate for Idaho values. In the Legislature, Labrador took the lead in fighting against efforts to raise the gas tax. Recognizing that tax cuts stimulate and help grow Idaho’s economy. He proposed comprehensive tax relief for Idaho’s families and businesses. On nearly every issue important to conservatives, Labrador has been a leader in the Idaho Legislature.
 


Jaime Herrera

Jaime Herrera is the current U. S. Representative for Washington 3rd Congressional District.    

Jaime Herrera was born on November 3, 1978 in Glendale, California, east of Pasadena, California.  The family moved to Ridgefield, Washington, Herrera grew up in Southwest Washington.

Jaime Herrera is the daughter of Armando Herrera, and Candice Herrera. Her father is a third generation Mexican American and her mother is of German and Irish descents. Jaime’s parents also adopted her father brother’s three children. She is married to Daniel Beutler.

Jaime Herrera graduated from Prairie High School in Washington, where she played on the girls’ basketball team. She earned an Associate Degree from Bellevue Community College, (later renamed Bellevue College). In 2004, Herrera earned Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Political Science from the University of Washington.

In her winter quarter 2004, Herrera applied and was accepted into the Legislative Intern Program in Olympia, Washington, and was assigned to Republican State Senator. Joe Zarelli. . She coordinated a successful fundraiser for the re-election of President George W. Bush, and won a White House internship. She stayed on in D.C. to work for McMorris Rodgers in her first term, specializing in health care, education and veterans’ issues. 

Jaime Herrera ran for the 18th District seat when a vacancy opened in the 18th Legislative District with the resignation of state Rep. Richard Curtis. She quit her Capitol Hill job, flew home and moved in with her family. On Nov. 18, 2007, she wowed 18th District precinct committee officers with a poised, five-minute presentation emphasizing her background and her views on health care and education reform. Speaking to a reporter from Politico, she downplayed her age and ethnicity. She said, “I’m a different package,” I’m younger. It’s intriguing to some folks, so I’ll take it. But I have never been one that said we need certain quotas for everything.”

Herrera won the appointment. She immediately drove to Olympia to be sworn in, huddled with members of the House Republican Caucus, and cast her vote in a special one-day session held to reinstate a spending limit on local governments after a court ruling had overturned it.

“Neither political party has all the answers,” she told commissioners from Clark and Cowlitz counties on the day she won appointment to the 18th District seat. “My ear is open and my heart is open to both Republicans and Democrats,” stated Herrera.

She was appointed to serve in the House Transportation Committee, where she helped rescued a highway project at Ridgefield Junction.

“My parents taught me God first, family second and service to community a close third,” Jaime Herrera wrote in a letter to precinct committee officers when she was seeking appointment to the 18th Legislative District seat. “Those were the values of our region, too: personal responsibility, a strong work ethic,” Herrera stated in an interview.  



Bill Flores

Bill Flores is the current United States Representative for Texas 17th Congressional District.

Bill Flores was born at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while his father was serving in the military.  Following his father’s service, the family moved back to Stratford, Texas. Nine generations of Bill’s family have called Texas their home. He is of Mexican descent. He and his wife have been married for thirty-one years; the couples have two adult sons, Will and John.

Bill Flores is the oldest of six children. He quickly learned the value of hard work.  At the age of nine, in order to help his father support their family, he began helping his father work cattle for other ranchers in the area as well as for the herd that his father was starting to build. Whether it was helping his father, delivering newspapers, participating in 4-H activities, Boy Scouts, or doing his schoolwork, Bill was always busy.  Although there were hardships, Bill learned early in life that personal responsibility and making your own way are important aspects of our American spirit.

Bill Flores enrolled at Texas A&M University in College Station, where he served as a member of the Corps of Cadets.  He later served as a Ross Volunteer, MSC Vice President, and the Vice President of Finance for the student body. Flores earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University, a private institution.

During March 1990 to August 1997, Bill Flores helped Marine Drilling prevail; he was able to get everyone working as a team.  He and the Marine management team established expense reduction targets, negotiated with their bankers and investors. They set goals, brought employees together as a team.  As a result, Marine emerged at the end of 1992 as a lean, financially stable company, which was one of the best performing NASDAQ stocks in 1993.  Most members of the Marine Team will still say today that nobody out-worked Bill during those difficult years and that without Bill’s negotiating skills, personal sacrifices, determination, and grit, the company would have likely failed, causing the loss of hundreds of jobs.  

Bill Flores also served for Western Atlas, (August 1997 to August 1998); and senior vice president, Gryphon Exploration Company (November 2001 to August 2005); and CEO and President of Phoenix Exploration (November 2005 to December 2009).
 
When it came to deficit spending and growing government programs in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Bill Flores entire career has been spent balancing budgets, meeting payrolls, and ensuring his companies were focused on producing a good product or service that was better and delivered more effectively than the competition.

Before long, Bill Flores was chosen as Chief Financial Officer for a string of successful energy companies, ultimately becoming the CEO and President of Phoenix Exploration, from which he retired in order to pursue public service. 

Bill Flores and his wife are committed to help insure that more young Texans  have the opportunity of higher education; at this time there are  sixteen students at Texas A&M University that receive scholarship or fellowship support from Bill and Gina.  In addition, each summer, dozens of entering Freshmen from underrepresented groups attend Texas A&M Fish Camps on a free or reduced price basis due to the Flores Fish Camp endowment.   

Recognizing the importance of K-12 education for all Americans, Bill and Gina have also been significant supporters of Yellowstone Academy, which provides elementary education in a safe and supportive environment to children in one of Houston’s poorest inner city areas.
  
Bill has honored Veterans as well, by contributing over $ 100.000 programs and institutions in Texas that help provide therapy, training, and counseling to veterans who have been wounded in the global War on Terror.

Gina and Bill are members of Central Baptist Church of Bryan.  In addition to supporting their local Church, Bill and Gina also support several Bryan/College Station organizations with gifts and volunteer service including the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley, Habitat for Humanity, the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of Brazos Valley, Special Olympics, OPAS, the Hope Pregnancy Center, and other local charities.

Bill Flores has enjoyed a successful business career, but has never forgotten where he came from and the values, principles, and character that inspired him along the way.  He views his success as a further responsibility to help empower a new generation of leaders for Texas, to assist those who have protected our nation, and to support conservative causes and candidates.

During his thirty years leading businesses, Bill Flores has helped created more than 500 American jobs with American companies that helped and produce much needed resources to help fuel the economy. He continues to rely on the lessons he learned as a child and young man, spend within your means, work hard to achieve well-planned goals, and form strong teams to overcome obstacles. 


 
Latino groups give network TV poor grades on diversity
By Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, Hispanic Tips (Dec 7, 2010)

The four major networks have failed Latinos when it comes to increasing diversity in front of and behind the camera, a coalition of Latino groups charged Monday in issuing a "report card" on multiculturalism.

Leaders of the National Latino Media Council, which is composed of several advocacy groups, said that while ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox have increased inclusion of African Americans and Asian Americans in front of and behind the camera in 2010, Latino diversity at the networks has declined.

"If I believed in conspiracies, I would say there was a conspiracy behind this," said Alex Nogales, head of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. "This was a terrible year for Latinos at the networks. Don't misunderstand, we don't want what African Americans and Asian Pacific Americans received -- the pie is much bigger than that. We only want what we deserve as the largest minority consumer population in the nation."

[Since the 2008-2009 season the number of PSAs over its public airwaves to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month wass reduced by more than 50%. ]

2010 Television Networks "Report Cards" Reflect a Striking 
Decline in Latino Diversity, December 7, 2010 
(December 8, 2010) Today the National Latino Media Council (NLMC) held a press conference to release the annual Television Network Report Cards. NLMC is disappointed that this annual diversity report card reflects a decline in Latino diversity at the four major television networks - ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox. The report card summarizes progress and shortfalls of the networks' diversity efforts during the 2009-2010 television season. Networks earn overall diversity performance grades, as well as specific grades based on their employment of Latino actors in primetime scripted and reality programming, Latino writers, producers and directors in primetime programming, and Latino entertainment executives. Specific grades are also assigned for program development, procurement and network commitment to diversity and transparency.


How Long Do We Have?

About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:  A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.' 'A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.'  From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is
always followed by a dictatorship.

'The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years.  During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:
1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
3. from courage to liberty;
4. from liberty to abundance;
5. from abundance to complacency;
6. from complacency to apathy;
7. from apathy to dependence;
8. from dependence back into bondage'

Professor Joseph Olson 
Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul

Sent by Gerald Frost  
Telger6@aol.com

   
George Washington, the 11th President of the United States
1. Samuel Huntington 1st President of the United States in Congress Assembled March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781
2. Thomas McKean 2nd President of the United States in Congress Assembled July 10, 1781 to November 5, 1781
3. John Hanson 3rd President of the United States in Congress Assembled November 5, 1781 to November 4, 1782
4. Elias Boudinot 4th President of the United States in Congress Assembled November 4, 1782 to November 3, 1783
5. Thomas Mifflin 5th President of the United States in Congress Assembled November 3, 1783 to June 3, 1784
6. Richard Henry Lee 6th President of the United States in Congress Assembled November 30, 1784 to November 23, 1785
7. John Hancock 7th President of the United States in Congress Assembled November 23, 1785 to June 6, 1786
8. Nathaniel Gorham 8th President of the United States in Congress Assembled June 1786 - November 13, 1786
9. Arthur St. Clair 9th President of the United States in Congress Assembled February 2, 1787 to October 29, 1787
10. Cyrus Griffin 10th President of the United States in Congress Assembled January 22, 1788 to March 4, 1789
11. George Washington 11th President of the United States but 1st under 2nd U.S. Constitution 1789 to 1797
 
Sent by Jack Cowan  Tcarahq@aol.com

 


Concise History of Thomas Jefferson's Life
Thomas  Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early
in life  and never stopped.

At 5, began  studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied  Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied  classical literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered  the College of William and Mary.

At 19, studied  Law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started  his own law practice.

At 25, was  elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the  widely circulated "Summary View of the Rights
of British America"  and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a  Delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the  Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took  three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a Public  Education bill and a statute for Religious Freedom.

At 36, was  elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick  Henry.

At 40, served in  Congress for two years.

At 41, was the  American minister to France and negotiated
commercial treaties  with European nations along with  Ben  Franklin  and John
Adams.

At 46, served as  the first Secretary of State under George
Washington.

At 53, served as  Vice President and was elected president of the
American  Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted  the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active
head of Republican  Party.

At 57, was  elected the third president of the United States.

At 60, obtained  the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nations' size.

At 61, was  elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired  to Monticello.

At 80, helped  President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost  single-handedly created the University of Virginia
and served as  its first president.

At 83, died on  the 50th anniversary of the Signing of the
Declaration of  Independence along with John Adams

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous  failed attempts at government. He understood actual history,  the nature of God, his laws and the nature of man.  That  happens to be way more than what most
understand today.   Jefferson really knew his stuff.  A voice from the past to lead us in the future:

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of  the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this  statement: "This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence  ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception  of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe,  we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those  who are willing to work and give to those who would  not."--- Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it  goes.  A principle which if acted on would save one-half the  wars of the world." ---Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the  pretense of taking care of them." ---Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government  results from too much government." ---Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." ---Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep  and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against  tyranny in government." ---Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the  blood of patriots and tyrants." ---Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of  ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and  tyrannical." ---Thomas Jefferson

Sent by Gerald Frost

 

  Outline of a Platform for Constitutional Government

November 2010

Larry P. Arnn
President, Hillsdale College 
 

TODAY IS THE 223RD anniversary of the submission of the Constitution of the United States for ratification. It is the greatest governing document in human history. And on this day we dedicate our Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship near Capitol Hill here in Washington. Let me explain briefly why we are launching this center. The reason has to do with the times in which we live, and it has to do with the purposes of Hillsdale College.

The times are pretty easy to estimate. I’ll just mention two things about them that are astonishing and fearful. The first is that we have managed, in about the last 30 years of relative peace and unprecedented prosperity, to pile up a debt that rivals the one we piled up while winning the Second World War, the most disastrous and largest war in human history. And this debt is of a different character. The Second World War was going to end at some point, and we were either going to win and go back to living and working and pay off the debt—which is what happened—or else we were going to lose and then the debt would never be paid. In contrast, our debt today has become the ordinary way our government and our country operate. As my father, a schoolteacher in Arkansas and a wise man, used to say, it is the kind of debt that means it really doesn’t matter how rich we’ve become, because we can waste money faster.

The second sign of the times that I’ll mention is this: We have now a figure in the American government called the regulatory czar. Not only is it shameful and wrong for anybody in America to let himself be called that, he takes the title seriously. Indeed, he writes that some people should be allowed to regulate speech rights—to redistribute them, much as the government redistributes wealth—in the name of what he and his political allies regard as fairness. His is a far different kind of argument about speech than the one our Founders made, which was that speech is an individual right. His argument not only opposes the prohibition the founders placed in the First Amendment, which says that “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech,” it rejects the understanding of human nature that grounds the very idea of constitutionalism. James Madison summarized that understanding when he wrote in Federalist 51 that because men are not angels, they need government, but that government must be controlled and limited for the same reason. Because those in our government are men rather than angels, we must not allow them the kind of power that this regulatory czar desires and claims.

There needs to be an argument about whether Madison and the founders are right or this bureaucratic czar and his allies are right with regard to civil liberties, just as there needs to be an argument about whether our nation should keep piling up unsustainable debt. There is going to be an argument about these and other big questions in this city in coming years, and the Kirby Center will have a hand in that argument.

What then of the purposes of Hillsdale College? Those purposes do not change. The College was built in 1844. Just yesterday we had a meeting of our Board of Trustees, and we began that meeting, as we begin every meeting, by reading from the College’s Articles of Association. Those articles commit us to two things. The first is “sound learning,” learning in the liberal arts. This is the kind of learning that lets us answer such questions as: What do we mean by “the laws of nature and of nature’s God”? Who is this God? What is He like? What is man? What is he like? What do we mean by “nature”? These are the ultimate questions. They are the questions in virtue of which ultimately all of our choices are made. And it just so happens that human beings, ever since they have been writing things down, have been writing beautiful things about these questions, things collected in old books. The founders of our country, like the founders of Hillsdale College, thought that if we were to be able to read the Declaration of Independence, and follow its arguments, we would need to read some of these old books. We have always read them at our College. We are not only devoted, we are chained to the reading of them. They are in our core curriculum. There is no escaping them at Hillsdale.

So that’s one thing about the College. And the second is, as they say in the Bible, like unto it. The College is devoted in the first sentence of its Articles of Association to the principles of “civil and religious liberty.” These principles are America’s gift to the world. We are all of us products of that gift. We are not sons of dukes and earls—or of czars. We are Americans because of this gift. And signs are lately that Americans do not much want to give it up. This is a very hopeful thing.

Hillsdale College has always taught the Constitution and has always fought for it. Our teaching of it is intense, difficult, challenging. As for fighting, we are famous in modern times for a decade-long lawsuit against the federal government, and for the fact that we refuse to take money from that government. It is expensive these days, indeed increasingly so, for a college not to take federal money. But we believe that the price of taking it is dearer still.

No one should think, however, that in refusing money from the modern bureaucratic form of government that exists in this city today, we have forgotten our loyalty to the constitutional form that flourished here for so long.

There is only one way to return to living under the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the institutions of the Constitution. We must come to love those things again. And if we love them, then we will serve them. But we cannot love them until we understand them. And we cannot understand them until we know them. So the first step is to study them and teach them, and Hillsdale College comes to Washington meaning to do that. We aim to create an atmosphere in this city of the study and knowledge and understanding and love of the principles of America.

In the previous greatest crisis of the Constitution, when our College was very young, we also served in its defense. In the summer of 1854, with the extension of slavery not just a threat but a reality, the people of Michigan were invited to join together “to protect our liberty from being overthrown and downtrodden.” The result of that meeting was the birth of the Republican Party on July 6 of that year, in Jackson, Michigan, just over 30 miles from the Hillsdale campus. Several College faculty and administration members were leaders of this movement. One of them, Austin Blair, later governor of Michigan, was chosen to be on the committee on resolutions. The first president of Hillsdale College, later lieutenant governor of Michigan, also played a leading role. Among the resolves of that Michigan gathering was the following:

That slavery is a violation of the rights of man as man; that the law of nature, which is the law of liberty, gives to no man rights superior to those of another; that God and nature have secured to each individual the inalienable right of equality, any violation of which must be the result of superior force . . . .

Remembering this history, we have set our minds, in beginning our work at the Kirby Center, to thinking about what a platform for constitutional government today might look like. As was the case in 1854, the specifics of what to do amidst changing circumstances, and in light of the need to enlist the agreement of the American majority, are complex and difficult and require statesmanship. Solving our deepest problems will take years, and will require imaginative policies not yet contrived. But the general principles and goals seem to us clear. They were laid out for us by our fathers. We have set our hands to begin writing them down in the document that follows.

Outline of a Platform for Constitutional Government


On June 17, 1858, Abraham Lincoln said in his House Divided Speech, “If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it.” His analysis was founded upon a profound contemplation of the Declaration of Independence and its embodiment in the Constitution of the United States. It issued in a set of proposals designed first to limit and then to extinguish slavery by strictly constitutional means.

We require a similar kind of analysis today. Our most difficult policy issues are embedded in a vast administrative state that is built without regard for the principles of the Declaration in their true meaning, or for the proper constitutional operation of government.

The Declaration of Independence articulates the place of man in nature: below God and above the beasts. It says that we may be governed only by our consent. Woodrow Wilson and the founders of modern liberalism called these doctrines “obsolete.” They argued that we live now in the age of progress, and that government must be an engine of that progress. This idea changes how we view not only the purpose of government, but also the rights of its citizens.

Franklin Roosevelt added economic security to the natural rights, as the Declaration of Independence states, of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Government grew as a result, especially under Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. And it continues to grow—all in the name of progress. Indeed, the current administration is the most aggressive proponent of the doctrines of Progressivism since they were first introduced.

Under the influence of these new doctrines, the government has grown to be, in simple quantitative terms, the largest single force by far in the land. It now consumes nearly half of all we produce, and it is soon to accumulate a public debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product equal to the largest in our history, matching our debt level at the end of the Second World War. This debt leaves us vulnerable to every mischance that may come upon the nation from abroad or at home. The burden of it stifles enterprise and closes opportunity for all but the well connected.

As the government has grown, it has become a powerful interest in the everyday affairs of the nation. Increasingly, bureaucracy is a factor in every operation our citizens undertake. In the management of our businesses, in the accomplishment of our jobs, in the rearing of our children, and in the very caring for our own bodies, there now are rules too numerous to count. Ominously, these rules now seek even to intrude into the electoral processes by which our free people choose their representatives.

These rules originate in laws passed by Congress that are much too long for anyone to read. After these laws are passed, they are enhanced, expanded, interpreted, and complicated by regulatory agencies. We forget therefore the words of the Father of the Constitution, James Madison:

It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow. Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known, and less fixed?

All these developments, so long entrenched in our politics, are presented by their proponents as a natural extension of the original principles and the original institutions of the nation. Doubtless those who argue this also believe it, but it cannot possibly be true.

Gone now is the caution about human nature that recognizes that human beings must live under law in order to protect their rights, and that those who make and enforce the law are no more likely to be perfect—or less likely to violate the rights of their fellow citizens—than others. The current tendency toward unlimited government undermines the foundation of constitutional rule in our country. That foundation is stated by Madison in a few words: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

Men must be governed because they are imperfect—less than God, less than angels. But then so too are those who make and enforce the law imperfect. They also have interests. Therefore government must have strong powers, but these powers must be limited and checked.

If this is where we are, then it is easy to see “what to do, and how to do it.” We must return to the principles and institutions of the founding of our country. We must revive constitutional rule. To do so, we propose the following four pillars of constitutional government.

1. Protecting the equal and inalienable rights of individuals is government’s primary responsibility.

a. By rights, America’s founders meant those things naturally belonging to us, and those things earned by our own labor. The protection of rights understood in this way breeds harmony in the society, because each of us claims for himself what he can also give to all others. We may all speak, worship, assemble, and keep our justly earned property without taking from another.

b. Each branch of government is subservient to the Constitution.

c. The federal government has the constitutional duty to ensure that each state maintains a republican form of government. This obligation is strengthened and clarified in the 14th Amendment. It must ensure that no state infringes on the rights or the “privileges or immunities” of citizens. Yet it must also recognize the constitutional standing of state governments.

d. The duties of Congress are clearly delineated in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. It should do no more, lest liberty be endangered. It should do no less, else anarchy ensue.

2. Economic liberty is inversely proportional to governmental intrusion in the lives of citizens.

The platform upon which Abraham Lincoln was elected president stated “that the people justly view with alarm the reckless extravagance which pervades every department of the Federal Government.” It urged “a return to rigid economy and accountability” that “is indispensable to arrest the systematic plunder of the public treasury by favorite partisans. . . .” Likewise today:

a. American economic recovery requires that we liberate the American people to work, to save and to invest, secure in their property, confident about the dollar as a store of value, and sure that the government will be an impartial enforcer of the law and of contracts.

b. In all administration of federal programs we must demand the utmost economy, and that every care be taken to avoid further growth and sprawl in the federal administrative establishment.

c. Our massive public investment in entitlement programs must be protected through privatization programs, which should utilize the real practices of insurance against catastrophe and of savings for future needs. In this process our investment must be safeguarded from loss, as the government must keep its contracts.

d. Sound money is among the most sacred of the federal government’s responsibilities, and price stability should be the aim of monetary policy.

e. The federal government must not subsidize corporations or individuals in its tax code or any other policy.

f. Philanthropy is the natural outgrowth of American principles and institutions. It should be encouraged and relied upon, along with local and state government, as the great engine of social reform and the amelioration of distress.

3. To accomplish its primary duty of protecting individual liberty, the federal government must uphold national security.

a. National defense has been for most of American history the chief undertaking of the government under the Constitution. It has been supplanted by the federal entitlement and regulatory state. This reversal of priority hampers growth at home, deprives the American people of scope for self-government, and undermines the defense of the nation.

b. We should pursue relentlessly every form of defense against foreign threats. Especially is this true in the case of attack by weapons of mass destruction. Therefore missile defense and a vigorous policy to combat Islamic and other forms of terrorism are urgently required.

c. We must overcome all international and domestic efforts to undermine American sovereignty, including those mounted through the United Nations and other international organizations, or through efforts to impose new treaties.

d. Promotion of democracy and defense of innocents abroad should be undertaken only in keeping with the national interest.

4. The restoration of a high standard of public and private morality is essential to the revival of constitutionalism. As the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 states, “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” The Constitution itself says nothing about education, for the same reason it says nothing about families or marriage or child-rearing: the federal government should not control or regulate these things. Parents and teachers, not the federal government, teach children. What they teach them matters most, for without proper moral and civic education a republican form of government will falter. With it, and with a strong defense of our right to religious liberty, republican government can flourish.

We close again with the words of Lincoln, from the same speech with which we began. Quoting the Bible, Lincoln said that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” We shall be governed either by ourselves, under a Constitution, or else we shall be governed by the new kind of master invented in our day, the bureaucrat, and by the impenetrable web of rules that he fabricates and enforces.

Let us stand together against the rule of bureaucracy, and for liberty and the Constitution.

Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.
Copyright © 2010 Hillsdale College.
Sent by    hiyawl@att.net


Opinion: Young Latinos reconsider political party born in 1970

By Ruben Navarrette Jr.  
San Jose Mercury News (November 21, 2010)
DALLAS -- Many Latinos have become disgruntled with both political parties, and I can easily see why. One ignores us while the other seems intent on driving us away. The last straw was when Democrats flunked immigration reform, then tried to fool Latinos into thinking Republicans were to blame -- an easy trick to pull off given how often the GOP flirts with nativism. 

Now I hear from people in their 20s who, in their disillusionment, are pining for something that had its heyday before they were born: the Raza Unida Party. 

Founded on Jan. 17, 1970, in Crystal City, Texas, Raza Unida held a binational nominating convention in 1972 in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico. At one point, it was operating in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Its goal: to elect Latinos to office. 

I wondered what the veteranos who lived through that history make of this renaissance for radicals. So I went to the source: Raza Unida co-founder Jose Angel Gutierrez, a 66-year-old attorney and university professor who lives in Dallas. During the Chicano movement of the 1970s, Gutierrez was mentioned as one of the "big four" of Latino leaders -- along with Cesar Chavez in California, Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales in Colorado, and Reies Tijerina in New Mexico. 

Gutierrez and I are now friends, but our relationship got off to a rocky start. The first time we locked horns was on a public affairs television show in Dallas about 10 years ago. I made a snarky comment about how, while his generation of Latinos had the benefit of experience, they also carried baggage since "all the experiences are bad." 

Gutierrez glared at me. And then, on air, he put me in check for my rudeness. "It's too bad the (Texas) Rangers aren't here," he said. "Because what you need is a good a -- whuppin.' " 

Still, what makes us kindred spirits is that we both know what it's like to make our fellow Latinos uncomfortable by saying what they don't want to hear.  I asked Gutierrez what he thought about a new generation of Latinos romanticizing the third party he helped to build. He said it all made sense given the original principle behind Raza Unida. 

"The legacy of the Raza Unida Party is the concept of independent thought and that we can speak for ourselves," he said. "No ventriloquist needed." 

The people who flocked to that movement felt that both parties had failed them. But when the party was over, most of the Raza Unida faithful loyally folded into the Democratic Party -- where they faded into the wallpaper. 

When I asked Gutierrez about gains by Hispanic Republicans in the midterm elections, he agreed that the GOP was making a play for Latino voters. He mentioned how 34-year-old George P. Bush -- son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his Mexican-born wife, Columba -- is heading up Hispanic Republicans of Texas, a political action committee whose goal is to elect more Hispanic Republicans in Texas. 

"Look at the 'little brown one,' " Gutierrez joked, invoking a phrase that George H.W. Bush once used to describe his half-Mexican grandchildren. "Why is he (George P.) invested in that? Why isn't he out there with the other Bushies?" 

These days, Gutierrez's hobbies include tweaking nativists with provocative comments about how Anglos are losing sleep over the browning of the United States. 

"They think this is a white country," he said. "And when someone says the opposite, then that's the demon."  Speaking of fear, one wonders what Gutierrez finds frightening. Answer: The tea party movement.  "It's kind of scary," he said. "They hate everyone." 

Back in the day, those at the bottom knew what they were angry about -- and at whom to direct that anger. 
Today, it's more like a shotgun effect, anger for anger's sake. This might get you some attention. It might even get you elected to a few offices. But, in the end, it won't get you very far. 

Neither will apathy. That's the danger for Latinos, given the shoddy treatment they receive from both parties. 
"Republicans don't have to pay attention to us because we don't give them anything," Gutierrez said. "And Democrats don't pay attention to us because we have no other options."  Well, we don't have many options anymore. But once upon a time, thanks to people like Jose Angel Gutierrez, we did. 

Ruben Navarrette Jr. is a syndicated columnist. He can be contacted at (202) 334-6375  ruben@rubennavarrette.com
Source: National Institute for Latino Policy




Garcia Family Portraits 
by Wanda Daisy Garcia
Daughter of Dr. Hector P. Garcia, M.D.

GARCIA FAMILY PORTRAITS

December is the month when I reminisce about Christmases past in Corpus Christi, Texas, spent at my parents’ home. For over thirty years, I looked forward to making the trip from Austin to Corpus Christi where all the family members converged for three days.  My parents had the usual dinner, tree and all the accoutrements.  Part of the fixtures in the Garcia home was two portraits of my parents which hung in the living room of their home.   For thirty years, I saw the two portraits of my parents and took them for granted until I could see them no more.  After the death of my mother, the portraits were bequeathed to the collection of Dr. Hector Garcia’s papers in the Bell Library at Texas A&M University.   Recalling the portraits caused me to wonder what became of Tkacd Gregoire, the artist.  So I went to the internet and found a site about Mr. Gregoire’s works and immediately sent the below email:

Hi, please allow me to introduce myself.  Approximately around 1965, Mr. Gregoire contacted my father Dr. Hector P. Garcia to paint his portrait.  You can see the attached results of his work in the photos.  The paintings are now in the possession of Texas A&M Bell Library in Corpus Christi, Texas.  I was privileged to meet your father on many occasions.  For 30 years the paintings hung in our living room.  Once my mother died in 2008, the paintings were bequeathed to Texas A&M where my father's archives are housed.

 

I was wondering if you have any notes about the portraits which you would be willing to share with me.  These would really give an added dimension to the portraits.  I can be contacted at this email address.  Thanks in advance for your help.  Sincerely,

 

Daisy Wanda Garcia

The estate responded immediately with the following:

Many thanks for your message, and pictures of the portraits. My father was not a very good record-keeper, so unfortunately I don't have any additional information on these particular pieces. I can only offer a best guess that they were painted in December 1967, when my father spent a few weeks in Texas during his coast-to-coast U.S. tour -- the local Corpus Christi newspaper article on the website offers a precise date stamp of December 18, 1967. Most of his trips prior to then brought him to the Detroit-Cleveland-Chicago area or to Washington D.C. As was his custom, he would try to paint well-respected locals wherever he would go, so this is undoubtedly what led him to your father.

I apologize that I cannot provide more information, but am glad that the paintings have found a new permanent home.

Regards,

Greg Tkacz

 

According to the Corpus Christi Caller Times article “Noted Portrait Painter Visits Corpus Christi”, published on December 18, 1967; Tkacd Gregorie vacationed in Corpus Christi, Texas with his family.  He also held an exhibit in Corpus Christi, Texas at the home of James Andrews on Ocean Dr.  The artist a Ukrainian was a survivor of a concentration camp.  His specialty was portraits and he captured in oils the features of John F. Kennedy and many of the Canadian political, religious and business leaders

So, it was no surprise to any of the Garcia family when he contacted my father, Dr. Hector P. Garcia wanting to paint his portrait. Papa was at the height of his involvement with the LBJ Presidency and the Hispanic Civil Rights Movement and was in the news on a daily basis. Papa was much honored to have been selected by Mr. Gregoire and agreed to being painted if only he would paint my mother Wanda’s portrait as well.  My mother was very excited about this prospect

Mr. Gregoire spent much time visiting with my parents. On the few occasions when I met Mr. Gregoire I was impressed by his attention to detail and color. . Like any proud mother, Wanda showed my paintings to Mr. Gregoire to solicit his opinions.  In conversation, Gregoire mentioned that he had painted the late President JFK and he had kept one of the paintings.  The Kennedy family really wanted to buy the paintings.  Gregoire was not sure that he wanted to sell the painting.  After a few meeting with Mr. Gregoire, I never saw him again.  Much later, he mailed the portraits to my parents and the rest is history.

The Gregoire website states:

To achieve all of the above he produced art of the highest quality that is extremely difficult to duplicate. His extensive use of the palette knife, for example, adds a depth to his work that is difficult to emulate. He also used the finest canvas, oil paints (Fragonard) and frames, most of which were hand-carved in Canada.

 

Many years later, I really studied the portraits of my parents.  Mr. Gregoire captured some character traits in my parents that I had not previously been aware of.  In my mother’s portrait, he painted her with flowers.  Flowers were her passion.  He also captured her aristocratic bearing.  Gregoire captured the qualities of leadership and restless energy of my father. Mr. Gregoire developed arthritis in his hands and quit painting in1981.  He died In 2002.

Now, these portraits are more precious to me because of the memories they evoke and the fact that all the familiars are gone.  I am pleased that the University is now in possession of these two fine portraits and the public will be able to enjoy them forever. In love and light.




 


WITNESS TO HERITAGE

Heritage Activists unite to save Juana Briones House
    Rancho La Purisima Concepcion built by Jose Gregario & Jose Ramon
    Early History of Juan Prado Mesa  and the Juana Briones House
    All concerned enlightened Citizens
California
Juaneño Band of Mission Indians and Achjacheman Nation Honor Ancestors 
Schoolhouse Opens Doors for Latinos: Mendez v. Westminster, CA
A Letter to an Editor: Our Dual Histories by Joe Lopez
Click to Morin Mounument, son saves father's memory


Palo Alto citizens, CA fight to save the Juana Briones house.

 

Heritage Activists unite to save Juana Briones House
Rancho La Purisima Concepcion built 
by Jose Gregario & Jose Ramon
        
Early History of Juan Prado Mesa 
All concerned enlightened Citizens

The 1844 Peninsula foothills home of Juana Briones, a pioneering rancher, businesswoman and herbalist, may soon be demolished, with the permission of a state appeals court.

Owners of a tract in Palo Alto that includes the vacant, earthquake-damaged adobe residence - one of the oldest homes in California - won an important legal round last week when the Sixth District Court of Appeal denied a rehearing to preservationists who challenged a demolition permit the City Council approved in 2007.

A Santa Clara County judge had ruled in favor of the Friends of the Juana Briones House in 2008, saying the city should have conducted an environmental review that included consideration of alternatives to razing the home.

But the appeals court said a demolition permit, under the Palo Alto ordinance, is an administrative act with clear-cut standards, rather than a subjective decision that requires an environmental study. When a city authorizes demolition based on objective criteria, the court said, state law provides no special protection for historic structures.
The court issued the ruling last month and elevated it last week to a precedent for future cases. Unless the state Supreme Court intervenes, the home could be torn down in the spring.

Endangered listing
Among those lamenting the decision was Elaine Stiles, Western program officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit that works with local groups to protect historic sites. This year, the trust listed the Briones home among the nation's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Briones was "a widely known and revered woman in early California history," Stiles said. "There are not a lot of significant features of landscape left from that early settlement period in California."

Gregory Klingsporn, lawyer for the couple who bought the 1.5-acre tract in 1997, said they initially proposed to restore the Briones house while demolishing the surrounding wings, which date from the early 1900s, and building a modern home elsewhere on the site.

The couple, Jaim Nulman and Avelyn Welczer, applied for a demolition permit in 1998 only after the city rejected their first proposal, Klingsporn said.

Palo Alto declared the home a historic landmark in 1987. The state designated the site as a landmark in 1954.

Briones' Bay Area roots extend beyond Palo Alto. She and her two sisters came to live at the Presidio in the 1810s, and Briones and her husband were the first recorded residents of the El Polin Spring area of the Spanish military outpost. 

Briones later lived near what is now Washington Square Park in San Francisco before buying a 4,400-acre rancho on the Peninsula in the 1840s, a land purchase that itself was historic.

Property fight
According to a researcher quoted by the preservationists' lawyers, Briones, after being granted a legal separation from an abusive husband, was allowed by Mexican law to buy property independently of her husband. But after statehood in 1850, Briones - uneducated and illiterate - had to fight for more than 20 years in U.S. tribunals before validating her title to the land.

She was famed as a healer and operated a hospital in her Palo Alto home, said Jeanne Farr McDonnell, executive director of the Women's Heritage Museum in San Francisco and author of a 2008 biography of Briones. 

"People from all over looked for her and sought out her skill," said McDonnell, a member of the group trying to preserve the house.

She said Briones, taught by Native Americans and others familiar with local herbs, went to Bolinas to treat victims of a smallpox epidemic and trained her nephew, who practiced medicine there for the next half-century.

Briones died in 1889. Her daughter sold the home in 1900, and succeeding owners made renovations. Despite suffering damage in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the building remained open for docent-led tours until new owners in 1993 cut off access, McDonnell said.

After those owners made further renovations without a permit, the city's building inspector declared the structure dangerous in 1996 and ordered the old adobe section vacated, the appeals court said.

New owners
Nulman and Welczer bought the property a year later and sought permission to restore the old home while tearing down the wings. City officials argued that a contract giving the owners a property tax break, in exchange for maintaining the historic building, required restoration of the entire structure.

But the city lost a seven-year court battle in 2006 and approved the demolition permit for the building in 2007.

The preservation group went to court the next day, arguing that the city had sidestepped requirements of its own permit process, including review by a municipal historic resources board. Such subjective policy decisions, the group said, triggered a state law that mandates an environmental study and consideration of alternatives.

The appeals court disagreed, saying the rules for razing residential properties in the city are simple: The residence must be vacant, and any tenants must be notified. The historic board had the power to delay demolition but not to prevent it, the court said.

Lawyers for the preservationists say the owners allowed removal of artifacts from the home but barred archaeologists who wanted to examine the adobe structure.

Klingsporn, the owners' lawyer, said he doesn't know whether they still plan to build on the land or sell it, but they have waited long enough to exercise their rights under the demolition permit.

"They bought the property to build a family home that their kids could grow up in," he said. Since then, he said, "their kids have grown up."

E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/29/MNDO1GGP43.DTL#ixzz16slQCPXj 
Sent by Clark forjuanab@yahoo.com





 

Juana Briones plaque No. 524 mounted on a stone post at the Esther Clark Park on Old Adobe Road in Palo Alto. 

Lorri Ruiz Fran stands shows off the very gorgeous cactus plant in Juana's driveway, located close to the plaque.  
The pictures were taken in May, 2007. The marker was formally dedicated in November 2007. 
 
Take care,
Lorri Ruiz Frain
Mountain View, CA

 

 

Dear Folks,
Juana's adobe at Rancho La Purisima Concepcion was originally built by Jose Gregario and Jose Ramon, both being of Indian heritage. When Juana and her family moved to the ranch, they moved into the same house and simply enlarged it. Read the real story below by Rosa McKay Jensen.  

Question: Now, is the County and State in violation of proposing to demolish such a structure? Lorri Frain 

"Juana the Emancipated" by Ruth Teiser
Peninsula Life, September 1948, p. 27-28
"At the corner of Powell and Filbert Streets, in the middle of North Beach, is the unmarked site of San Francisco's first emancipated woman. She was Juana Briones de Miranda, and the first name North Beach ever had was "La Playa de Juana Briones"--Juan Briones' Beach.

Juana Briones achieved emancipation when her life became insupportable at the Presidio with her flagrantly undomesticated husband, soldier Apolinario Miranda. He was so undomesticated that on three separate occasions his superior officer had to report him to headquarters at Monterey for "not living harmously with his wife." Things got so bad that Juana left his bed and board and took her five children over to the rural charms of Powell and Filbert. There in the early 1830's she built herself a little adobe house, bore her sixth child, and settled down to being San Francisco's first female householder.

Long before Apolinario died she achieved the distinction of being known as the Widow Briones. As for Apolinario--he quite often achieved the ignominy of being called by Juana's maiden name. 
Juana could have gone home to mother at Monterey, where she had been born some 40 years earlier. But like many an adopted San Franciscan since, she liked it there and preferred to stay. So she set up her own household and gave her children a good home. And she found a way to support her family as well. She sold milk and vegetables to the families at the Presidio and to the sailing ships that anchored in the harbor. She came to be known in many places beyond California, for history records that she was kind to sick and deserting sailors.

When Juana built her house it was the only structure between the Mission and the Presido (sic). By the middle 1840's, however, others had sprung up. In the cove around the other side of Telegraph Hill the pueblo of Yerba Buena had appeared. The region had become populous--too populous for Juana Briones. She decided to move out farther, down to remote and hilly Rancho La Purisima Concepcion in Santa Clara County. In 1844 she bought the rancho from the two Indians to whom it had earlier been granted, and shortly thereafter she built on it another adobe house..."
Peninsula Life, December, 1948, p.22-4 "Romance of the Ranchos" by Rosa McKay Jensen
EARLY HISTORY of Juan Prado Mesa 

"Juan Prado Mesa, whose rancho, the San Antonio, was located in the Los Altos region, was a soldier in the San Francisco Company in 1828 and a corporal in the Santa Clara Escolta (guard) beginning in 1832. With other advances he became Captain Prado Mesa with a corporal's guard in the Presidio in San Francisco, when it was composed of only a few square huts.

Don Prado had seven children: Augustine, Antonio, Concepcion, Mejin, Francisco, Ramon, and Nicandro. When he was detailed to guard the Santa Clara Mission, he built a square adobe strongly resembling a fort, on the San Antonio Rancho, and there raised his children. The land was later, in 1839, granted to him and his descendants.
The neighboring rancho, the Purisima Concepcion, separated from the San Antonio by the San Antonio Creek, was at first granted to two Indians Jose Gregario and Jose Ramon. The two had, like Don Prado Mesa, lived on the land prior to owning it, and had built a small adobe house there. On June 30, 1840, it became their property. 

After ten years, however, they sold it to Juana Briones de Miranda and Jose Ramon signed the deed by making his mark. Juana was a daughter to the Briones family who came with Father Majin de Catala, the much beloved Franciscan friar, to Monterey and on to Santa Clara Mission in 1794. The Briones family was broken up, before the children were grown, and Juana had lived for a time with her sister Guadalupe in the Mission Dolores, in San Francisco. 

Juana married Apolinario Miranda who owned the Rancho Ojo de Agua de Figueroa in that vicinity. Her marriage seems to have been an unhappy one for her husband was once brought before the alcalde (justice of the peace) for mistreating his wife. He died in 1844 and was buried in the Mission Dolores.
Juana was known as a visiting nurse or mid-wife, and continued to go out on cases even after she and her seven chilren moved to the Purisima Concepcion Rancho. There they lived in the same adobe built by the two Indians, but which Juana enlarged. This house, believed to be the oldest adobe in Santa Clara County, is the only one lived in continuously since its building and is beautifully preserved.

The oldest part, built by the Indians, is just as they left it, and except for a modern stove in front of one fireplace, the part added by Juana is just as she used it. The old well and the patio wall, both over one hundred years old, are well worth the visitor's time, in hunting for the place.  

Juana's sister, Guadalupe, married Ramonde Miramontes of Half Moon Bay and every year, while Juana lived in the old place, Guadalupe and her family attended the reunion and barbecue which lasted for days. They were a musical family and added much to the festivity of the affairs.

By a strange coincidence, the site of the adobe house in which Juana's daughter, Manuela, and her huband, Augustine Mesa, lived, is now the Alta Mesa Memorial Park, but the name, Alta Mesa, meaning high ground, was not, according to its founders--chosen because of the Mesa family, although their name is linked inseparably with the history of the region. 

Pictured: Alvin J. de Mesa, Juana's grandson, who lives in South Palo Alto. He is a direct descendant of the Mesa and Briones families."
#####
Retyped and sent by Lorri Ruiz Frain



Abuelitas and youth are interested in saving Juana Briones house from being demolished. 

Palo Alto Online News, October 27, 2010, 

Court allows demolition of Juana Briones House California appellate court reverses earlier ruling, disappoints historic preservationists 

by Gennady Sheyner and Carol Blitzer 
Palo Alto Online Staff 

Jaim Nulman and Avelyn Welczer got one step closer to building their dream home on the site of the historic Juana Briones house in the Palo Alto foothills, after the state's Sixth Appellate District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that the City of Palo Alto had no choice but to issue their demolition permit.

In a reversal of an earlier decision, the court ruled the city has no choice but to approve a demolition permit for the U-shaped house, which has stood on Old Adobe Road since the 1840s. The house was originally occupied by Juana Briones de Miranda, a businesswoman who separated from her husband in 1844 and became one of California's first female landowners.

The Wednesday decision followed more than a decade of litigation between Nulman and the group Friends of the Juana Briones House, which seeks to protect the dilapidated structure from demolition. The city initially denied Nulman's demolition permit but later approved it after appeals. The Friends group then challenged the approval.

The latest court ruling states that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) did not apply in this case because "approval of that permit was a ministerial act," according to the case summary.

What that means, Nulman's attorney Greg Klingsporn said, is because the owners met the city's building-code requirements and paid the fees, the city had no choice but to issue a demolition permit. Issuing the permit was not a discretionary act on the city's part, he said.

The Nulmans are still a number of weeks away from taking any action on their property, Klingsporn said. First, the case goes back to the original trial court (Superior Court), which has to officially deny the Friends' petition. 

The Friends could appeal to the state Supreme Court, he said.

Jeanne McDonnell, one of the leaders of the Friends group, said the group has not made a decision on whether to appeal the ruling. Members are still holding out hope that someone else will purchase the property and save the house, which was listed earlier this year on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The building was badly damaged in the 1989 earthquake.

McDonnell and other members of the group said they were disappointed in the judge's decision. Clark Akatiff, who is also in the Friends group, said they will continue to promote local awareness of Juana Briones and her historic contributions.

"I'm stunned and very saddened, but I believe there's a lot of people out there who will keep this project going," Akatiff told the Weekly. "I don't know what will happen next."

Klingsporn said his clients presently don't have a demolition permit and have no right to tear the building down. But after Wednesday's decision, he indicated that it's only a matter of time before Nulman and Welczer can proceed with their project.

"The court of appeal determined that the city got it right, and we were entitled to get a permit," Klingsporn said. "Unless a higher court decides otherwise, we will eventually be issued a demolition permit." 
All concerned enlightened Citizens:

It is a fact that the “ Palo Alto City Council declared the home a historic landmark in 1987. The state designated the site as a landmark in 1954” the 1954 designation would have precedent over any municipal, county, city, district administrative determination and that the due process of law would recognize the landmark as the people right of equal protection under the law. It would also seem that eminent domain of the people would protect this cherished property which reflects us as a culture of peoples.

I would be willing to contribute to a purchase fund or legal aid fund if required to help the citizens of California to assert their rights the entire way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sincerely, Dante Lee Montoya, CPA  

 

 

    San Juan Capistrano, CA

On December 8th, a ceremony was held in San Juan Capistrano, CA to honor the memories of ancestors who died there in December 8, 1812 due to an earthquake of a 7.5 magnitude.  The Great Stone Church collapsed killing about 40 tribe members.  

Typically factions of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Achjacheman nation, have performed the ceremony separately and did not invite the public. This year the public was invited.  "We're trying to unify and bring people together, said Jerry Nieblas,  a Juaneño and member of the Historical Alliance.  OC Register, Dec 8, 2010

 

 

 

 


A story lost from History: Mendez v. Westminster
When Sylvia Mendez, 8-years old Opened California’s Schoolhouse Doors for Latinos

Source: 8 Nov. 29, 2010 Hispanic Link Weekly Report
By Raisa Camargo, Washington, D.C.
The column below is reprinted from the Aug.30 edition of  Latino Links Weekly Report following President Obama’s announcement that he is awarding Sylvia Méndez this nation‘s highest medal given to civilians. Story, page 1.) 


History books prompted an evening coffee house mix of three dozen college students and curious capital professionals nearly all females — to listen intently as author Philippa Strum revisited the events behind Méndez v. Westminster, a California Ninth Judicial Circuit Court decision that preceded Topeka’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education by eight years.

Strum’s PowerPoint presentation was a revelation for several Latino students unaware of the Mexican-American family that ended California’s schoolhouse segregation in 1946. Gonzalo and Felícitas Méndez were farmers who tried to enroll their children in a “white” school 100 miles north of the Mexican border. The children were turned away and told to attend a nearby school for Mexican Americans. As Strum describes in her book, “Méndez v. Westminster: School Desegregation and Mexican-American Rights,” the children were seen by the admissions advisor as “visibly darker,” with last names were “all too clearly Mexican.”
Judge Paul McCormick concluded that Spanish-speaking students are unable to learn English if segregated, a paralleled opinion during the Brown case. At Q&A time, a Latina law student said she never heard about the case and asked Strum if she would bring the historic trial to the attention of lecturers at law schools.

Strum, national secretary of the American Civil Liberties Union and a teacher of constitutional law for 35 years in New York City, commented that the case isn’t even mentioned in constitutional law books. Strum, there to promote and sign copies of her book, published this year by the University Press of Kansas, said she discovered the case by accident.

“One day in 2007, I read an article about a postage stamp that had just been issued called Méndez v. Westminster, Having taught constitutional law for all those years, I said, ‘Something is wrong here,’ I had never heard of this case. How is this possible?”

While engaged in research, she found it to be “a very important part of American history.” It set legal precedent at the California Supreme Court level by ruling segregation in California’s schools was unlawful.  California Governor Earl Warren agreed with the court’s decision that “separate but equal” wasn’t really equal. He pushed for state desegregation statutes in 1947. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed him Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1953, a year before the Brown decision.

The California case provided a test run for lawyers in the Topeka case. Aside from legal language, Strum brought the Méndezes’ struggle to life, highlighting facts and photos that depicted their school environment and living conditions. “I was really impressed by the vibrancy of these maltreated communities,…homes they built themselves lacked refrigeration and flush toilets…There was lots of labor organizing in Latino communities...These were not
people who’d be satisfied as second-class citizens, and that was a wonderful thing to see.”

Teaching for Change executive director Deborah Menkart found the lecture inspiring. “When students learn from this and other cases about the role ordinary people can play, it gives them a sense they can, too,” she reacted. “They don’t have to wait for a hero to come along.” Sylvia Méndez, 74, one of the family’s daughters who was first turned away from the segregated school, remembers how it marked her life. She didn’t want to pursue college, but her mother reminded her of their struggle’s significance.

Twelve years ago, Sylvia promised her mom she would promote the story into California‘s history.  Now, as she accepts speaking engagements in public schools, she finds a surprising enthusiasm, “The students — especially Latinos — are so excited, they ask, “Why don’t we know about this history? Why don’t we know it was Latinos who desegregated California?”

Sylvia prompted the introduction of legislation in Sacramento to include the Méndez case into California’s public school textbooks, but the legislation was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. With a different governor to be elected in November, she hopes the lost story that shattered California’s segregated past will inspire all children.

Editor:  Thank you to the many, many readers that sent this article.  Thank you to Mercy Bautista Olvera for the photo.

We want to highlight that Dr. E. Murillo at CSU San Bernardino had an outstanding international educational LEAD conference on March 29, 2010. We had the honor of web broadcasting it.  One of the conference presenters was Sylvia Mendez. Her presentation is available via our free on-demand programming at www.livestream.com/lsacnational  

Armando Sanchez
Exec. Dir. & Producer
LatinoGraduate.net  Global Broadcasting
lsacnational@hotmail.com

 

 

 
Our Dual Histories
Our Dual Histories

In reference to an article by Scott Huddleston's story, “1835's Battle of Béxar recalled this weekend” published in (San Antonio Metro, Dec. 11):  

This was the second “Battle of Béxar.” The first was fought and won by Lt. Col. Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara and the Mexican Army of the North in 1813.

Stories such as this one continue to be told as if they are part of U.S. history, but the 1835 Battle of Béxar, the Goliad battle, and the 1836 Battle of the Alamo are chronological chapters of Mexico's history, not the U.S. Texas did not join the U.S. until 1845 — as a slave state.

That is the mother of all ironies. Mexico abolished slavery in 1829. That was one of the irritants Anglo expatriates in Texas did not like. Most wanted to keep the slaves they brought with them from the U.S. So, a mere nine years after 1836, the Anglos traded their independence and voted to make Texas part of the U.S. as a slave state!

The more your Spanish-surnamed readers learn about their “lost” history, the higher their self-esteem. Hopefully, that will motivate young Hispanic Texans to become well-educated and become productive members of their community. Likewise, the more others learn about early Texas history, the more they will realize that the Spanish-Mexican roots of Texas run deep.

Lastly, the anxiety, mistrust, and animosity, stoked daily by the ugly immigration issue toward anyone who speaks Spanish and practices their centuries-old heritage in Texas, must end. That is why we must continue to educate readers about the seamless history of Texas from its discovery in 1519 until today.

Joe López
Universal City




A Monument Stands in East Los Angeles by Eddie Morin
Click to a son's battle to maintain the title of a monument honoring his father.

 

 


HONORING HISPANIC LEADERSHIP

The Six Reasons Why Hispanic Leadership Will Save America's Corporations
Jose Rodriguez, a Mexican immigrant rights activist, co-founder La Serenata Restaurant
       1932 to November 22, 2010 at 77 years old  

Carlos Guerra Journalist/Activist dies at 63 years-old, December 6, 2010

The Six Reasons Why Hispanic Leadership Will Save America's Corporations 

America's corporations require a new enlightened form of leadership that will give Hispanic professionals greater purpose, put a premium on sustainable innovation, and maintain an ethical approach to performance. 
In his new eBook, The Six Reasons Why Hispanic Leadership will Save America's Corporations, author Glenn Llopis, reveals why Hispanic professionals have the unique opportunity to assume leadership roles in today's new economy that is being shaped by a fiercely competitive global market. You will learn why Hispanic leadership will redefine corporate leadership, and why Hispanic leadership will propel workplace innovation to better serve the increasingly diverse marketplace. In sum, Mr. Llopis' eBook will revitalize a renewed awakening of the powerful immigrant mentality and why Hispanic leadership is both a business and societal imperative for America to grow and prosper. Get your free download today at www.HispanicLeadershipTour.com

Annette Prieto, Executive Director
Center for Hispanic Leadership
www.CenterforHispanicLeadership.com
Sent by Ruben Alvarez, StayConnected OC 




The story of Jose Rodriguez, a Mexican immigrant rights activist and co-founder of the nationally famous La Serenata de Garibaldi Restaurant in Boyle Heights died November 22, 2010, born 1932


By Javier Rodriguez  
BAJOlamiradeJavier@yahoo.com
Jose Rodriguez, the brother, uncle, father, grandfather, husband and friend was hospitalized on Sunday 14 November 2010 due to pneumonia. During the week he suffered a series of complications including a heart failure. He succumbed on the morning of the 22 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. 

Although our parents registered him in Torreon, Coahuila, Jose was really born in Durango the birthplace of revolutionary leader Pancho Villa. It was in 1932, in the mining town of Basis, in the northern Sierra Madre  Mountains. His father Antonio Rodriguez Sanchez, from Guamuchil, Sinaloa, was a miner, a union delegate and an active Cardenista. He was then one of the leaders in a successful union drive at the town’s silver mine which was owned by two English families. Upon the union victory, the “English nobles” fled, the mine was closed and the jobs were lost. Some repression set in, so our father with two children then, Jose and Jacobo, in late 1935 or early 36, packed up and on rented horses, the only transportation then out of the sierra, began the trek northward and ended up in Torreon. Jose, as he vaguely recalled  years ago, was fascinated with the trip and of the entrance to urban life. Jacobo was only a few months old. Our father, with only one year of school, was self educated and in the 14 years in that city, he became an organizer for the Mexican Communist Party as well as for the miners union “El Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Metalurgica de Torreon”. Multifaceted, at sometime he got to  own a small grocery store, a chair factory and stints as a member of the judicial police and as a railroad inspector. In that secure context, the family grew to six sons and our Grandmother Esperanza, Aunt Margarita, Tio Emerio and several extended relatives who followed, enlarged the family tree.  Both Jose and Jacobo were in private school and were considered brilliant students, learned basic English, developed early intellectual ambitions and a popular following in their schools and the colonia we lived in. 

With the end of the Lazaro Cardenas regime and some business setbacks, our father ran out of options and decided to move further north to Juarez, Chihuahua. He first ventured alone to set up the conditions for the family’s second migration. Jose saw his education in danger and resisted but in 1949 he left a promising education, a thriving intellectual environment, his friends, mentor professors and a city he had learned to love in “La Comarca Lagunera”. This time with six children Jose, Jacobo, Jesus, Antonio, Javier and Jaime only a few months old, we packed everything we could, traveled by train and our father happily waited for us at the station. He hired a “taxi” which was a six foot long horse cart, a carreta de caballos, and we crossed the city on one of the main thoroughfares, all the way to the western outskirts of the city to El Arroyo Colorado. What an introductory tour. The city in which General Villa also left his mark, had a population of about 200,000. Today it’s 1.3 million less the several hundred thousand who have escaped the extreme violence brought on by President Calderon’s failed war time policies. 

A defining moment, our tall handsome, bronze mestizo, proud and admired brother began his long journey as a member of the working class, up to managing fine night clubs in the red light district of downtown  Juarez. Not surprising, Pepe was followed by half dozen of his closest school colleagues, who ended up staying  with us at the fascinating border city for years.  At first we lived in utter poverty, at a two room small dwelling with basic plumbing and outside wooden restroom stalls, similar to the ones in the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”. 

However the old man was astute and intrepid. Besides his regular job, he began to set up other business activities such as exporting meat and importing coveted “American groceries”. Soon our father had purchased a late model four door black 1947 Chevrolet. Jose worked in the gastronomic service industry as a dish washer and Isabel and Jorge were born. Our mother Isabel, on several occasions, also worked for months at a time as a house keeper in El Paso. 

Hard times hit again and our father’s adventurous spirit drove him to leave the family to work in the US as a contracted cotton picking bracer, in Texas in early 1954. Family tradition and as the eldest sibling, at the age of twenty one and being a full fledged waiter, along with our mother, Jose took charge of the family, incurring also the  financial responsibilities. During those years he grew to enjoy the movies as well as the music and songs  of the golden years –la epoca de oro del cine mexicano- and he loved to sing and dance. A bohemian at heart, he passed on el filin-the feeling of boleros to the rest of the family members.  

Meanwhile our Father opened up spaces and began his persistent dream of uniting his family once again. At first it was Jacobo and Jesus and on August 19, 1956 the rest of  family  migrated north to Los Angeles, except Jose.. The now seasoned adventurous lad, impeccably dressed, a trademark of the Rodriguez clan, he stayed on and actually moved to a small double closet space within the night club where he was then employed. In a way, with the family migrating to the US, he was freed from the hard labor and more so the responsibility of supporting and leading the family for several consecutive years. At that time he was the most sought after bachelor at La Avenida Juarez and La Mariscal. Sometime after, he and his closest colleagues ventured on a three month countrywide trip, by automobile, to Mexico City and beyond. Of course it was then safe to do so. That trip gave him a broader perspective of life and ambitions. Upon his return he climbed up the latter and managed two clubs owned by his travelling best friend Marco Antonio –by then a millionaire- in the same tourist sector of Juarez. Soon after a year or so of courtship he married Aurora, his life long companion. 

In the US the concept of family unity once again set in when our father, by then a member of HERE Local 11 and a busboy in the old downtown Hilton Hotel, obtained the awaited federal pardon for his beloved son and finally brought him and his expecting spouse Aurora to the “four bedroom home in Boyle Heights” in the Pico Gardens Housing Projects, just a few blocks from where the elegant La Serenata de Garibaldi proudly stands today. Months later, Aurora and Jose’s only son Marco Antonio was born an Angeleno. All this took place east of downtown where we grew up and because then 80% of the tenants in the combined public housing tracts of Aliso Village and Pico were African American, we got our first dose of multiculturalism, began our path towards UCLA and other universities and  we also entered the political arena as radical activists. 

To be precise, it was about 1966  that the fire of the civil rights movement made its appearance in the Mexican neighborhoods of the Southwest and swept us, the Rodriguez Clan, unto the spotlight of the Latino struggle for equality and justice. Jose became an ardent activist in his own right but never leaving his work and family responsibility. He was a passionate supporter of Los Tres de Barrio*, three Boyle Heights youth, also from Pico Gardens, who had shot a federal agent posing as a heroin dealer and were sentenced to forty years in federal prison(There is a 1974 video of a protest at theLA Federal Court that includes Jose, the family, Bert Corona, Antonio Villaraigosa and many other colleagues that will soon be placed on You Tube for Jose). 

Like the rest of the family, in the early 70s he also joined CASA, the pioneering organization of the immigrant rights social movement, founded by the old man Bert Corona, who by the way was also a client of the early more working class oriented “La Serenata”. During those years of radical grass roots activism, there was two characteristics that distinguished Jose, he was known nationally in the organization as the best seller, on the LA Westside streets, of Sin Fronteras, the national left newspaper of CASA. The other was his hospitality and the refuge he gave to several undocumented Mexican political refugees  including, Joel “Negro” Ochoa, Carlos “Napoleon” Arango and Congressman Jose Jacquez Medina. Although his formal education was brief, like his mother and eight siblings, he was a diligent student of dialectical and historical materialism, political economy and other subjects related to political science studied in the collective social circles organized by CASA, which became the pillars of  his political formative years. Surprisingly for many of you, this is the same alternative schooling of several LA Latino political celebrities, which ironically today consider La Serenata their favorite eatery. Of course they can also afford it. 

As time flew, in 1985, about a year after the Rodriguez’ had led the historical first presidential campaign of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in the Latino community in California, the grand idea to enter the restaurant business surfaced and originally it was Jacobo and Antonio who placed it on the table. Specifically it was Jacobo who found the restaurant on 1st Street in Boyle Heights and also procured the $19,000 loan from a friend of his, Manuel “Campers” Moreno, which paid for the restaurant. And so the business, which had housed the “El Dorado Night Club” for decades, was purchased cash from Dona Emilia, with the family home in El Sereno placed as collateral for the loan. 

As with everything else the family engaged in, idealistically in the beginning, the central idea was of creating a space for social activists to gather in Boyle Heights. Pepe became the point man and the business was registered in his and Aurora’s name. A rarity in his career, at that time he was unemployed, although before he had lost more than one job because of his activism.   

To say the least, building the restaurant and maintaining the family’s intense level of activism was difficult in the first years. The 18 year old legalization crusade for the millions of undocumented immigrants was coming to a conclusion and the family, with dozens of other LA activists, was leading the mass street pressure, the petitions and part of the local and national lobbying which culminated with the IRCA Amnesty Law of 1986. At the same time we were directing Antonio’s, first and only electoral exercise for the 14th Council District. Jacobo, a former leader of the original National Chicano Moratorium Committee and organizer with United Electrical Workers Union was a growing businessman. Along with our mother, they were the financial backers, contributing in the first seven years, tens of thousands of dollars. Beside’s hawking the home, the family’s resources and community political influences were put in motion. In essence the making of La Serenata became a community affair. Grass roots and institutional groups, businesses, political leaders, police brass, judges, lawyers, the medical field, etc., became an important layer of the initial reserve clientele of the restaurant. To name a few it included The Mass Coalition for Visas and Rights for the Undocumented, MALDEF, ACLU, TIME Magazine, CISPES, White Memorial Hospital, LA COUNTY FED, Buena Vision Cable and more. Additionally an array of leftist Meetings and celebrations took place and logically the prices were affordable then. Most important also were the very close and long time friends of the family, who made it a mission to contribute their grain of salt, for example: Leo “Shorty” Gonzalez a book keeper in the produce termina,l who had been a school mate of Jacobo in El Paso’s Patterson Institute and in LA became an intimate colleague of Antonio since 1958. For two years, without fail, he sent weekly loads of the finest produce to the restaurant. There was also Froylan “Pajarito” Gomez who made and installed the first neon sign.  And then there was activist Isaura Rivera-Agnos who designed the restaurant’s logo of the white flying dove with the olive branch on the peak. Self Help Graphics contributed the first poster exhibit and dozens of new and old friends gave a part of themselves, including bringing food critics which along with my outreach to the media, brought the first LA Times review piece in the Calendar section,  by Jonathan Gould. 

Considering our radical background and that we had monitored, documented and organized anti police misconduct for many years as well as illegally spied upon by all levels of police agencies, the following is a peculiar anecdote. The late Rudy de Leon, formerly a Hollenbeck Police Station Commander, who knew of the family for years, fell in love with the restaurant’s food and Pepe’s personal attention. Like many other clients, the brother Lo mimaba with distinct touches of the trade. For years Rudy  went to have breakfast and lunch with an array of off duty cops. Then one time he came with an entourage that included a young Emilio, who in the late sixties, as an undercover agent right out of the academy, had infiltrated the old ELA Skill Center in Boyle Heights and spied on several members of Pico Gardens Carnalismo. Several students were actually arrested leaving bad blood hanging. With Rudy almost laughing, Emilio was nervous and tense until Jose and I told him to relax and gave him the welcome mat. Years later he was elected to head La Ley, the Latino arm of the LAPD, and came back many times. We in turn, around 1987, continued denouncing police brutality, founded a human rights clinic that documented close 300 cases of police brutality and assisted about 10,000 immigrants legalize their status. 

In retrospect, what prepared Jose for the coming culinary experience, which was to become also the finest achievement of his lifetime? To begin with it was a lifetime of the family’s long cooking tradition and he picked up our mother’s sazon. Add to that 25 years of continuous  hard disciplined and methodical work in some of the finest Mexican, Italian, French and continental restaurants in LA. Although he never worked the kitchen, he had applied his intuition, curiosity, observance and memorized  essential  creams and  spices. He developed his palate to the point he could separate the essences as he tasted. An early indicator of his culinary talents was the fact that a popular known chef always requested he prepare his version of the internationally famous Ceasar Salad. Additionally he acquired a basic knowledge of wine tasting. Lastly, the only practical experience prior to the restaurant was cooking for the family’s weekly gatherings on Monday evenings, his only day off, at the family home. There, mostly all of us, including wives/husband or girlfriends, the growing nephews and nieces, conversed, shared information, analyzed, planned, conspired, and enjoyed Jose’s succulent main course. He was a voracious meat eater then and actually downed 6 to 12 tortillas per meal. It was puzzling how he never gained excessive weight. 

OPENING THE RESTAURANT

Opening the business became quite an affair. A friend of Pepe and Aurora brought a a cook from Mexicali to assist in the opening. On the first day of the elaboration of the menu, the first issue arose. Present at that first meeting were Jose, Aurora, our mother, the cook and Diana. Jose was adamant about including “El Mananero” as the opening breakfast dish. The plate included eggs, pan cakes, orange juice and unbelievably, the controversy was over including refried beans on a pan cake plate. It was then clarified that the family’s diet, since Torreon, included pan cakes and beans and they were a must on weekend mornings. By then, our mother’s refried beans, regular or Los Frijoles Chinos, a delicacy, as well as el mole, were famous and these recipes have been in the family history as far back as the Mexican revolution, when our grandmother cooked them for our grandfather, Toribio Hernandez Meraz, a member of the landowning class. 

Pepe had a distinct dialectical creative approach to creating new cuisine or improving and polishing traditional dishes. His vision as he conveyed, was to “educate the palate of the building clientele” and that he did. The initial sauce recipes for seafood dishes served, jumbo shrimp or fish filets, were the saquces “Al Cilantro, Isla Mujeres , Salsa La Serenata, and Cream Chipotle”. Along with the mole prepared by our mother, immediately las salsas were a hit and they were included in the first LA TIMES write up a year later. This was an early clear indication of new cuisine in the making created in Boyle Heights, which fused European ingredients with Mexican condiments, especially chiles. Jose’s sazon and –the taste- of La Serenata began their long journey to culinary history and delighting the palates of thousands in LA and the nation, including many luminaries. 

As with other important elements, the involved brothers provided Jose with books brought from across the border on the fish and mariscos caught in the Pacific and on Mexican food in general, and he avidly ate them up.  His monthly relaxing trips with Aurora to Tijuana, Rosarito and Puerto Nuevo became also a constant probing and comparisons of sea foods. Then, there was the coming of our nephew Benjamin Ontiveros, a prized chef from Tijuana who enhanced and helped consolidate el sazon and more so the presentation of the plates, especially the shrimp dishes which were described back in 1991 by Downtown News as “Swimming Flamingos”. For upcoming restaurant owners, the following detail is a must: Jose was diligent on quality and for years personally  inspected every  dish for neatness and taste. 

Having been on the job trained throughout his career, he also hired the best working staff he could find, but always opened the doors and saw to the training of new waiters and runners, bartenders, hostesses and most important the chefs, which absorbed Jose’s sazon and the vast cooking experience of the Serenata’s  cuisine. This is probably the most important legacy left, La Escuela de Pepe. 

Altruistically speaking, something learned from our parents in Mexico, especially Juarez, during those first years many homeless immigrants, mostly new arrivals,  knocked at the restaurant and were fed a plate. Additionally, the family began the traditional Thanksgiving in El Barrio which provided a meal to the poor and the homeless on that holiday. The restaurant closed and  along with KPWR Radio, the Coalition for Visas and the Latino Justice Center and  over 100 volunteers from all over prepared over 75 turkeys and served up to 1,500 people in the neighborhood. 

Lastly, like the rest of us Pepe became an internationalist but maintained strong progressive nationalist sentiments. He always kept abreast of the political reality of Latinos in LA and the nation and unequivocally, was pro immigrant and a supporter of immigration reform and legalization. In 2006 like a true Rodriguez, he and Aurora and La Serenata employees closed down the three Restaurants in support of the Great American Boycott of May 1st and again in 2007. He was always well informed on the political and social reality of Mexico and reading the analytical Mexican  Magazine Proceso was a must every week and so was La Opinion of Los Angeles. He loved to engage you and over the last two years, in the many political conversations he had with me, he was analytically lucid and passionate. Also, as with the past Viet Nam war, he was against the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, he strongly disagreed with America’s foreign policy towards Mexico and Latin America and was an ardent critic of President Felipe Calderon and his absurd war on the Narco class.

Because of his past community involvement and more so because of his culinary accomplishments and the fame reached by the restaurant he is considered a son of Boyle Heights. As many friends have said in these past days, “The restaurant brought pride to our community” and the condolences below best reveal this assertion:   

Dear Javier, I send my condolences and I am sorry for your loss.  Jose was a treasure and held in high esteem by so many, many people.  His contribution to the community brought to it a sense of pride of its culture and history.  His absence is indeed a cause for sadness.  Rosa Martinez

 Rosa is a past editor of UCLA’s Aztlan Journal and was also a member of CASA at the same time as Pepe, and edited the monthly  Sin Fronteras newspaper.

Compañero, Nuevamente te abrazo en estos dias dolorosos. Como te dije que siempre ha sido un placer mis encuentros y me alegro que pude colaborar con Don José en manera de compartir mis fotos, cosa que ha sido todo un honor para mi. Algunas veces me preguntaba el sobre que exactamente pasaba y hacia cuando tomaba tal y tal foto. Veia que realmente las estudiaba con mucho cuidado. Tambien se que le interesaba discutir la problematica de Mexico y el resto de Nuestra America. Mucha veces antes de llegar a visitarlo, paraba y le compraba una edición del Proceso. Le encantaba leer esa excelente revista.

Pues en la manera que puedo ayudar, solo me avisan. Tambien te aviso que a traves estos años, muchos de mis estudiantes visitaban el restaurante para ver las fotos y pues los animaba para que conocieran una buena cocina mexicana. Siempre eran experiencia placenteras y los complementarios positivos acerca lo amable y profesional de los compañeros meseros y en fin el personal. En realidad yo no he visto un grupo tan profesional y sumamente amable. Pienso que todo esto refleja en la enseñanza de Don José  y el cuidado a todo lo que implicaba un buen restaurante y servicio al publico.

Compañero, Carlos Ugalde


Carlos is a retired professor and a well known international photographer with exhibits in many countries including Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba and has had his Photo Exhibit “Mexican Images” at La Serenata -at the request of Jose- for five continuous years. 


The restaurant -and its coveted Mexican recipes- created by Jose, is known as “El Rey de las Salsas-The King of the Sauces”. Under his direction, from a small neighborhood enterprise, the business has grown to a chain of three restaurants located in Boyle Heights, Westwood and Santa Monica. Its clientele is diverse  and it includes Producer Moctesuma Esparza, Salma Hayek, Nicole Kidman, Alfonso and Fernando Arau, Thalia, Paulina Rubio, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jodi Foster, Robert Redford, Sharon Stone, Model Cindy Crawford, Music Producer Pedro Rivera, Gov. Elect Jerry Brown, labor leader Maria Elena Durazo, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Ass. Gil Cedillo, Sen. Kevin de Leon, Congresswoman, Supervisors Gloria Molina and Mark Ridley Thomas, Councilman Jose Huizar, DJ Humberto Luna, Fr. Greg Boyle, ex-Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, the Latino artist community and many other business persons, barristers, judges, trade unionists, former first ladies, US Treasurers, Governors and religious and community leaders.

The name of La Serenata  was chosen by Jose, the brothers added de Garibaldi. In 1992 the business was turned over to Pepe. 

 


Carlos Guerra Journalist/Activist dies at 63 years-old, December 6, 2010
Obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanantonio/obituary.aspx?n=carlos-guerra&pid=146992493 
Carlos Guerra As I Knew Him, Last Week
Posted on 07. Dec, 2010 by Sara Inés Calderón in Culture
see Carlos Guerra alive at www.youtube.com/newstaco.

The day after Thanksgiving I went to visit him in Port Aransas, we did some NewsTaco videos and he made me Thanksgiving Dinner #2. I still have some turkey and broccoli he made in my fridge. Tonight, it dawned on me that I was probably one of the last people to hug him, peck him on the cheek and tell him that I cared for him. I wish I could say it was more than an unfortunate distinction.

I last spoke to Carlos on Saturday night and we had plans to meet this week to do more NewsTaco videos and make plans for our future coverage. I was going to invite him over to my house and he was probably going to offer to feed me. Perhaps he would have told me more of his amazing stories — of the old days as an organizer, or as a jeweler, or a would-be conga player, or whatever else he had dreamed of — and I would have listened and laughed at his jokes. We would have had a great time.

Though it’s not the first time I’ve lost someone very close to me, I can’t say it’s necessarily easier this time around. I had the unfortunate experience of missing a call from the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office Monday and finding out about Carlos’ passing from friends on his Facebook Wall — despite how much this sucked for me, I think it’s a true testament to what an amazing person Carlos was. His power, imagination, dreams and influence reached far beyond the columns he wrote and into peoples’ hearts.

I first met Carlos when I was 19 at an event in San Antonio. He didn’t remember this, but when we were colleagues at the San Antonio Express-News, we really began to get to know each other as friends. Of all of the things I admired about Carlos, perhaps the most powerful for me was the fact that he was a dreamer. I always fell on the more practical side of life, but Carlos, he never put such realistic limitations on himself. He was one of the most alive people I have ever met and, I’m sure up until the time he died, he was dreaming.

There’s too much to say about Carlos that I feel like a few graphs here won’t do him justice, but as I write this all mocosa and distraught, I take heart in the fact that the man changed my life. He was one of the first and only men in my professional life to see past my youthful figure and into my mind, my heart and to genuinely ask me for friendship. He was a friend, a mentor, a confidant and a crazy jokester. In Port Aransas, this is one of the jokes I recorded for our NewsTaco audience: 

It was fun to make those recordings, even if now it makes me sad. Carlos was an extremely generous and caring person to his friends — not that you’d know from his crazy evil eye professional mug shot — but he also cared so much about the world and the things he wrote about that when he talked to you it was hard not to be enraptured by what he said.

Lots of people will miss Carlos for different reasons, but I’ll miss him for my own. ¡Daba tanta lata! But now I’ll miss those inopportune phone calls. He was always ready with wit or funny jokes or an open heart. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do without him, but I have a few ideas. I’m going to continue to promote his scholarship program, because it was something he was truly passionate about, that he really believed in. Another thing I’m going to do is start believing in myself the way he believed in me. But mostly, I think I’m going to honor him for the amazing person he was — not perfect, you understand — but a complete person who understood his humanity and tried like hell to make the world a better place.

Thanks for making me a better person, Carlos, I’m going to miss you. We at NewsTaco are anxious to hear others’ stories of Carlos, please share them here, on Facebook or email us at tips@newstaco.com.

[Photo By Sara Inés Calderón]
http://newstaco.com/2010/12/07/carlos-guerra-as-i-knew-him-last-week

 

Following Carlos Guerra’s Lead
Posted on 08. Dec, 2010 by Sara Inés Calderón in Culture

One of the last conversations I had with Carlos was about my guelito, who died four years ago. “You know,” I told Carlos on the balcony of his condo, “I still miss my guelito all these years later. I still think of him, still wish I could call him, talk to him, it sucks,” I said.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t feel like I could ask my tías, my tíos, my father, my mother and my guelito something, or ask them for advice,” he replied. We both looked out into the Port Aransas sunset (this is what it looked like then) and the conversation kind of flickered out.

I didn’t realize that I would soon be forced to feel the same way about Carlos. It’s only been a few days, but I already feel funny that I haven’t heard from him, read a silly Facebook update or gotten a gentle nudge to have me post something for him on NewsTaco. But as my guelito used to say, “Recordar es vivir,” and so we must with Carlos. He was one of the most alive people I ever met, and I intend to keep him that way, if only in my memory.

Of the most important things Carlos taught me was that, in order to make your voice count, it has to be strong — and getting there as a writer is work. When Carlos first started out writing columns, he told me Hart Stillwell — author and then-columnist for a San Antonio paper — taught him a very important lesson: Writing isn’t art, it’s a craft. If you want to be a good writer, Stillwell told Carlos, then write! Recently, when I was groveling in self-doubt, Carlos said the same thing to me.

Carlos wanted NewsTaco to be a place where Latino issues and voices — of all kinds from all over the place — could find a platform and be heard. He wanted to be able to change the world for the better so that his daughter’s world would be better, because it was the right thing to do, and because I don’t really think he knew any other way to believe. Now that he’s gone, I personally feel more compelled than ever to see his dream to fruition, as do the rest of us at NewsTaco. Latinos must write because Latinos need to have a strong voice and NewsTaco is one place where we hope to make that happen.

It’s been a tough week and there’s likely more Carlos Guerra-related coverage to come, but in the meantime, please know that NewsTaco fully intends to keep pursuing Carlos’ dream. Just because we’ve lost his voice, doesn’t mean we’ve lost his spirit.

http://newstaco.com/2010/12/08/following-carlos-guerras-lead/ 



 


NATIONAL ISSUES
"
Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."
Milton Friedman

Marijuana, Asthma, and Aury L. Holtzman, M.D.   
War on Drugs
2006 Proclamation
Murder of Mother Caught on Camera
Rest in Peace Hero Don Alejo Garza Tamez
Criminals smuggle up to $39 billion in drug money
OWNERSHIP of 1/3 of US private & commercial aircraft UNKNOWN
Officials Worry About Some Latino Converts To Islam
389 Miles: “Living the Border” Documentary
The Migrant Hotel - Where Deportees Find Shelter in Mexicali by David Bacon
Lawyers for Immigrant Defendants Use Culture as a Defense
Piracy: The Real Economic End Game?
Hispanic Farmers Feel Shortchanged by Settlement Offer
Latino Mayor May Be A Glimpse of Things to Come by Maria Hinojosa


"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."
Tacitus

  Marijuana, Asthma, and Aury L. Holtzman, M.D. 
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 essentially ended the medicinal use of cannabis.  In 1941, it was withdrawn from the U.S. pharmaceutical market because of the burdensome requirements of the law.

It has been forty years since the government passed  the Controlled Substance Act.  On October 27, 1970, the Congress of the United States passed, and Richard Nixon signed into law, the act which decriminalized many psychotropic drugs.  Ostensibly the psychoactive drugs were viewed based on whether the drug  had any medicinal qualities, plus the drug's  potential for sustained abuse or addiction. There were five schedules (or divisions). Considerable disagreement arose among scientists and physicians in the subsequent categorizing of a long string of psychoactive drugs.  

 Categories or  schedules were identified basically  by  whether the drug had medicinal  value, and whether it would be considered too dangerous to use as medicine, because of the possibility of its use in treatment leading to addiction.  Marijuana was categorized as a Schedule 1 drug.  Controversy continues to exist about placing marijuana as a Schedule I category.

(1) Schedule I.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision." [20]

Other drugs, by contrast, such as cocaine, methamphetamines, amphetamines, and morphine were identified by the government as schedule 2,  which meant  less dangerous and with some medicinal value. Celebrity overdoses 

Another puzzle is Marinol.  Marinol is a synthetic imitation of the THC (tetra hydro cannabis) agent in marijuana.  It is categorized as a schedule 3 drug.  It is odd that the federal government approves marinol  for medicinal use, which appears to be the major hallucinogenic component  in marijuana, yet ignores the 60-70 other active beneficial agents in marijuana.  

Looking at  some drugs identified as schedule 4 should increase concern about how, who, and why drugs are identified, as such. Valium, xanax, and ativan all can cause fatal over-dose, or a fatal reaction from a well-known with-drawl syndrome.  In other words,  if you take too much xanx you can overdose and die, and if you stop using a high-dose of xanax abruptly, it can cause a seizure and death. 
fatal over-dose on marijuana is almost physically impossible. Properly used, I have observed a great variety, and many diverse benefits in treating with marijuana, appropriate to the medical problem.   Marijuana is a well-used folk remedy in both Central and South America for treating Asthma, and other lung problems.  Many of the asthma patients who seek to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation here in the U.S. used marijuana medically for asthmatic problems in their mother country. 

The active ingredient in marijuana, THC (tetra hydro cannabis) is a proven bronchial dilator and therefore very helpful to increase oxygen lung capacity.  Perhaps the US  needs to research inexpensive treatments for health, practiced in other countries, and find out why they work (i.e. acupuncture).  

I do not advocate smoking.  I strongly appose smoking of any form, tobacco and/or marijuana. Although smoking marijuana does give instant relief to the asthmatic, long term use can cause irreparable damage.  Some people use a water-pipe or a bong, mistakenly believing that it is  healthier than smoking marijuana. It is immediately effective in giving relief during an asthmatic attack; however, the potential long term damage should be reason enough, not to use that method for marijuana treatment of asthma. 

My suggestions for including marijuana in the treatment of asthma:

VAPORIZE I believe the best method for medicating with marijuana for asthma, is to vaporize. To vaporize you use a machine that heats the cannabis to a temperature that the resin that contains the active therapeutic cannabinoids evaporate out of the cannabis and into the air where it can be inhaled. This produces no smoke, but still causes the bronchial dilatation. If patients choose to medicate for asthmas with a vaporizer, I recommend that they do as much research in choosing a vaporizer, as they would in buying a car. A good vaporizer will run in the neighborhood of $300-400. A good vaporizer should have no knobs, dials, or displays. The temperature should be properly preset at the factory, and its use should be simple: Place the cannabis in the machine, plug it in, turn it on, and wait five minutes. With vaporizing, the effects will be much stronger than smoking. A good vaporizer will give you 80% of the resin dose contained in the cannabis, but smoking will release only about50% or less.

TEA A lot of patients tell me that they use marijuana in the form of an herbal tea to treat asthma. They said the the remedy was commonplace, mostly in el campo, where they didn't have medical access, or any other treatment for asthma. A lot of Hispanics have come in specifically for a recommendation to be able to get marijuana to use for treatment of asthma with marijuana tea. I find their comments interesting because tea made with water does not extract THC from the marijuana leaves. It extract other agents which apparently have bronchial dilatation actions, without the psychotropic properties.. THC is only one of 60-70 therapeutic class of chemicals found in cannabis.

TINCTURE
An  easily administered treatment is the use of a tincture which is an alcohol or glycerin solution of marijuana extract. The tincture is used sublingually by placing one of two drops of the beneath the tongue.  Tinctures are made by combining finely chopped marijuana with either alcohol or glycerin,  Books on preparing tincture can be found on the website, www.FSBookco.com .

In summary there are large numbers of people in Central, South American, and also large numbers of  Americans making use of marijuana out of necessity, due to inadequate access to medical care and/or lack of  funds for medical care and  medication.   

I highly recommend that anyone currently under treatment for asthma by a physician, continue their current treatment and not attempt to self-medicate with cannabis. Asthma patients who are under a physician care and have found cannabis to benefit their asthma could consider the addition of cannabis, but only as a supplement to their regular medical treatment,  They should remain under the supervision of their  physician and discus treatment options with their physician. An excellent  resource is " Marijuana Medical Handbook" by Rosenthal,et al. It can be found at www.FSBookco.com .

http://www.mybuddrh.com
http://aurylorholtzmanmd@hotmail.com
http://win4sports.com/auryholtzmanmd/auryholtzmanmd/htm

 

 

   

THE DRUG WAR

   


In 2006, newly elected Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on the seven major drug networks, launching a bloodbath between traffickers and military and civilian authorities, and among the networks themselves. 

Since then nearly 30,000 people have been killed, and the gangs have won control of large swaths of northern Mexico to ferry their product to customers in the U.S.

In 2007, the Justice Department estimated that the Mexican drug trade generated as much as $24. billion.  By 2009, it was $39 billion.  This year, the government declined to make a projection. 
OC Register, Dec 5, 2010


Editor: Website devoted to observing global drug trade activities: http://insightcrime.org/ 
US blog on prison systems and current criminal justice news: http://curenewyork.wordpress.com and questions new email... curenewyork@aol.com 

 
MURDER of MOTHER CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: A grieving mother was murdered in front of entrance to the governor's palace in the capital of Chihuahua.  Marisela Escobedo, campaigning to bring the confessed killer of her 16-year old daughter, Rubi Marisol Frayre, to justice was gunned down December 16 in view of a closed-circuit television camera. 

In 2008, Sergio Rafael Barraza, a known member of Los Zetas had confessed to killing his girl-friend Rubi Marisol Frayre and dismembering her body.   

Rubi's mother, Marisela Escobedo tracked down Barraza and lead the police to him. Even though Barraza confessed and identified the site where he'd buried the girl, a three-judge panel acquitted Barraza of the murder and freed him. 

After complaints from then Gov. Jose Reyes Bacza, an appeals court over-turned the verdict and instated a 50-year jail term.  It was the mother, Marisela Escobedo who once again tracked down Barraza.  Barraza escaped capture.  Mrs. Bacza life had been threatened by friends of Barraza.  "If they are going to kill me, let them do it right here to shame the government," she said in a challenge that tragically was fulfilled.

A 20-second video captured a man existing a car, approaching Escobedo who ran across the street and was shot in the head at the entrance of the palace. 

"Mom killed demanding justice for slain teen" by Tim Johnson, McClatchy Newspapers, via OC Register, 12-19-2010

Grim History:  Since 1993, a string of murders of women and girls has afflicted Chihuahua state, continuing past 2003 when the federal government created units to prosecute the killers.  News reports put the tally from the killing spree as high as 1,000.

Fact:  In 2007, the city of Cuidad Juarez averaged less than one murder per day. Today, it is over 8 murders a day and counting. Juarez, has become the murder capital of the world. 

 
Rest in Peace Hero Don Alejo Garza Tamez
(Translated from Spanish)

The mob demanded Nov. 13 Don Alejo Garza Tamez surrender his property. The 77 year old man refused and barricaded himself in his farm. He killed 4 and wounded 2 terrorists.

Milenio Mexico 11/22/2010 
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.- The cartel demanded Don Alejo Garza Tamez surrender his property. The 77 year old man refused and barricaded himself in his farm, killing 4 of them and wounding 2 bombers.

When Mexican Marines arrived at the ranch outside of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, they saw a bleak scenario with the main house half destroyed by gunfire and grenades. Outside were four dead bodies and two unconscious wounded subjects.

Inside there was only one body, Don Alejandro, owner and timber businessman. Inspection found weapons and ammunition at all the doors and windows. In the end, they found the man had designed his own defense strategy to fight alone. On Nov. 13, a group of men had told him he had 24 hours to deliver his property to them.

With almost 8 decades of life, he told them he would not give them his property, and would be there waiting, he said flatly. He told his employees not to come to work the next day, and spent the night preparing.

At 4am, they came. After a violent gunfight where the farmer seemed to be everywhere, they tried grenades against him. After several of them were killed and a quick reconnaissance, they chose to leave as they believed the military would soon arrive.

Shortly after the Marines arrived, and slowly, patiently reconstructed the events, they found just a rancher, a man who loved his property more than anything in the world and literally defended it to the death.

In the last hunt of his life, Don Alejo surprised the group of assassins who wanted to impose the law of the jungle on his ranch. These Marines will never forget the scene: a 77 year old man swept away four gunmen before he died fighting as the best soldier, with dignity, honor and courage.

Rest in peace Don Alejo Garza Tamez.
marinezj@anr.msu.edu

Report: 
Criminals smuggle up to $39 billion in drug money, US stops $41 million
By Diana Washington Valdez \ El Paso Times

MEXICO IN FOCUS: Analysis on news out of Mexico  12/01/2010 

The Government Accountability Office is calling for urgent action to stop cross-border currency smuggling after federal officials seized $41 million in cash in a little more than a year. 

U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., asked the GAO last year to examine the transportation of bulk cash proceeds from drug sales in the United States to Mexico or Canada. After finishing its investigation, the GAO produced its findings in the report, "Moving Illegal Proceeds." 

According to the report, the National Drug Intelligence Center estimates that criminals smuggle between $18 billion and $39 billion each year across the Southwest border alone.  Between March 2009 and June 2010, after Customs and Border Protection was asked to step up efforts to stem the flow of bulk cash, U.S. agents seized about $41 million in illicit bulk cash leaving the United States at border crossings.  

Because Customs and Border Protection does not conduct full-time inspections of outbound traffic, and because other measures are lacking, only a fraction of the illicit cash flow is seized. 

The GAO report said technology is creating new money laundering concerns. One of the examples cited is stored value cards. These are prepaid cards loaded with value or currency that are used to move illegal proceeds across the border and around the world. 

Unlike with cash, there are no laws in place that require border-crossers to declare the value of prepaid cards they may be transporting.  Mobile phones are also being used with greater frequency to conduct money transactions that may be difficult to detect. 

Roger Maier, spokesman for Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, said that as of August of this year, CBP had seized $40.9 million in illicit southbound cash along the Southwest border, a 16.1-percent increase over the same period during the previous year. 

"We do not typically comment on the number, frequency or duration of outbound operations, although they have increased," Maier said. The Mexican government has complained that cash and weapons that flow south of the border enable drug cartels to conduct the kind of bloody battles that have killed thousands of people in Mexico. 

The GAO report said arms as well as cash are being seized at the border.  "In June 2010, officers conducting outbound operations at the San Luis, Arizona, port of entry seized a large sport utility vehicle, 114 grenades, and over 2,500 rounds of various types of ammunition," the report said. 

Sen. Bingaman of New Mexico said "this report makes clear that we can't solve this problem unless we improve our border infrastructure and technological capabilities. Doing so would make it possible for us to seize billions of dollars per year and deprive drug traffickers of the proceeds that finance their deadly operations." 

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140. 
El Paso Times staff writer Daniel Borunda contributed to this story.

Sent by Roberto Calderon, Ph.D. 
beto@unt.edu 

 


OWNERSHIP of  1/3 of US private & commercial aircraft UNKNOWN
The Federal Aviation Administration is missing information on who owns one-third of the 357,000 private and commercial aircraft in the United States - a gap the agency fears could be exploited by terrorists and drug traffickers.

the records are in such disarray that the FAA says it is worried that criminals could buy planes without the government's knowledge, or use the registration numbers of other aircraft to evade new computer systems designed to track suspicious flights.

It has ordered all owners to be register their aircraft in an effort to clean up its files.

About 119,000 of the aircraft on the U.S. registry have "questionable registration" because of missing forms, invalide addresses, unreported sales or other paperwork problems, according to the FAA.  In many cases, the FAA cannot say who owns a plane or even whether it is still flying or has been junked.

Already there have been cases of drug traffickers using phony U.S. registration numbers, as well as instances of mistaken identify in which police raided the wrong plane because of faulty record keeping.   OC Register, 12/10/10 

 

 
Officials Worry About Some Latino Converts To Islam


by Dina Temple-Raston NPR (December 9, 2010)

The FBI arrested Antonio Martinez, a 21-year-old Muslim convert, Wednesday and charged him with plotting to blow up a military recruitment center. There are two things about this case that make it particularly interesting to counterterrorism officials. The first is that Martinez appears to have been radicalized in the U.S. The second is that he is Latino. Latino converts to radical Islam have been connected to terrorism cases in this country with increasing frequency - and officials are trying to understand why. 

The FBI began tracking Martinez, who also went by the name Muhammad Hussain, in October. That's when, according to the criminal complaint against him, Martinez allegedly struck up a conversation with an FBI source and told him that he wanted to attack U.S. military personnel.

 Martinez allegedly believed that the U.S. had long been at war with Muslims, and he said that Muslim brothers needed to strike back. After taping hours of Martinez's conversations, the FBI ended up providing him with what he thought was a car bomb. He allegedly parked it outside an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Md., on Wednesday and was arrested after he allegedly tried to detonate it. 

The explosives were inert and no one, Justice Department officials said, was ever in any danger. While there is already some discussion about Martinez having been entrapped by a terrorism sting operation launched by the FBI, officials say to concentrate on that misses another wrinkle in the case: Why do a small number of Latinos in this country seem to convert not just to Islam but to a radical form of it? 

"In some ways, it is not the volume [of conversion] necessarily. It is not like folks are worried about vast communities or subcommunities of Latinos joining al-Qaida," said Juan Zarate, a former deputy national security adviser in the Bush administration who is now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "What has got people's attention is the nature of individuals who have been caught in this web." 

The individuals involved have been at the center of what terrorism officials consider important cases. There is Jose Padilla, the former Chicago native who pleaded guilty to training with al-Qaida; or Daniel Maldonado, a Latino-American who was one of the first U.S. citizens to join an al-Qaida affiliate group in Somalia. Officials also point to Bryant Neal Vinas, a Latino from Long Island who found himself in al-Qaida's inner circle a couple of years ago. He talked to the group's leadership about how to attack the Long Island Rail Road and, according to officials close to the case, "has been a gold mine of information about al-Qaida ever since." 

"It's both the nature of these individuals but also their case studies, the substantive dimensions of their work, and who they are in contact with, and what they represent that I think is why Latino converts have garnered some attention from counterterrorism analysts and the community," Zarate said. "These are cases people are still following. They are still instructive." 

One of the reasons these officials are interested in Latino converts is that al-Qaida appears to be. The terrorist group has specifically recruited Latinos under the assumption that they could move in and around the United States without arousing suspicion. 

Before Wednesday's arrest, the most recent terrorism case involving a Latino happened over the summer. That's when two New Jersey men, Mohammed Alessa and Carlos Almonte, were arrested as they boarded a plane for Somalia. They allegedly planned to join the ranks of a terrorist group there called al-Shabab. The New York Police Department, the FBI and New Jersey law enforcement had had the two men under surveillance for years; Almonte, in particular, became of interest because he was Latino and allegedly so firmly embraced radical Islam.

"Carlos Almonte was of Dominican heritage, a naturalized U.S. citizen, from a middle-class family; his father was a school bus driver; and he grew up in a Catholic family," said Mitch Silber, the head of the New York Police Department's intelligence unit. "And as Almonte started to change, he dropped his non-Muslim friends and his change was visible to others." 

Almonte allegedly started hanging out with members of Revolution Muslim, an Islamist group in New York, and joined their online chats. He began talking about what he saw as America's war on Islam. Those are two things that he apparently had in common with the suspect in this latest case, Martinez. 

Officials say the Internet isn't the only place radicalizing these Latino converts. Authorities have been tracking an increasing number of Latino converts who embrace radical Islam in prison. The concern, Zarate says, is that prison recruits will redirect their criminal energies and engage in terrorism. 

"I think that it is in that intersection with prison radicalization, gang culture, religious zealotry that you have a potential problem," Zarate said. "I wouldn't say it is a wave, but it is a potential problem authorities watch for."

National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP)

101 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10013
800-590-2516

Useful informational web sites on Immigration laws & issues: http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/
Facts and Stats about on Current Immigration issues http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=818  
Both Sent by Rafael Ojeda, Tacoma, Washington

 


389 Miles: “Living the Border” Documentary
389 Miles Director Luis Carlos Davis named "Man of the Year" by Arizona Daily Star
Trailer http://www.389miles.com/trailer.html  

“Luis Carlos Davis is a voice you've never heard, with stories that seem incomprehensible. He has now become the first-ever filmmaker to gain the confidence of a coyote -- those faceless smugglers who charge exorbitant fees to cross people over the border into the United States, and his film is, unbeknownst to most Americans, at the heart of this immigration controversy.”  - Shirin Sadeghi, THE HUFFINGTON POST

Somewhere along the Arizona-Mexico border, in a house that is less than a mile from the fence, Chuy, a human smuggler, agreed to be a participant in 389 Miles “Living the Border”. He had two conditions: first, only the camera assistant and I would know about the interview and second, I would provide him with assurance that his face would be covered. Fortunately, I remembered my brother Armando’s Blue Demon (Mexican wrestler) Mask and quickly procured it. During the interview he talked about the life experiences which influenced him to become a human smuggler and the corruption on both sides of the border. Finally, he described how he had witnessed as a young boy playing in his neighborhood right next to the border fence, a mother losing her fetus as she jumped from the top and her husband missed catching her. That is one of the reasons why he will never smuggle children into the U.S. When the interview ended, Chuy got up, said good-bye and left. To this day, I have never seen Chuy or my brother’s Blue Demon mask.   - Luis Carlos Davis, Director

389 Miles “Living the Border” is a great and successful effort to capture the diverse and complex nature of the migration issue along the US-Mexico border. Its multilayered approach makes it a unique and valuable document.
- Raúl López Echeverría, Director of Centro Superior de Producción Cinematográfica

Sent by Juan Marinez 
marinezj@anr.msu.edu


 
THE MIGRANT HOTEL - WHERE DEPORTEES FIND SHELTER IN MEXICALI
By David Bacon
New America Media, 12/22/10
http://newamericamedia.org/2010/12/the-migrant-hotel---where-deportees-find-shelter.php 
MEXICALI, Mexico-- Last year, almost 400,000 people were deported from the United States. That's the largest wave of 
deportations in U.S. history, even larger than the notorious "Operation Wetback" of the 1950s, or the mass deportations during the 
Great Depression.

Often the Border Patrol empties buses of deportees at the border gates of cities like Mexicali in the middle of the night, pushing people through at a time when nothing is open, and no services are available to provide them with food or shelter. Most deportees are young people. They had no money in their pockets coming to the United States, and have nothing more as they get deported back to Mexico.

These are invisible people. In the wave of anti-immigrant hysteria gripping the United States, no one asks what happens to the 
deportees once they're sent back to Mexico. In Mexicali, a group of deportees and migrant rights activists have taken over an old, abandoned hotel, formerly the Hotel Centenario (the Hundred Year Hotel). They've renamed it the Hotel Migrante, or the Migrant Hotel. Just a block from the border crossing, it gives people deported from the United States a place to sleep and food to eat for a few days before they go home, or try to cross the border again. The government gives it nothing. Border Angels, the U.S.-based immigrant rights group, provides what little support the hotel gets. A cooperative of deportees cooks the food and works on fixing the building.

During the winter, about 50-60 people live there at any given time, while five or six more knock on its doors every night. Last 
summer, at the peak of the season when people try to cross the border looking for work, the number of deportees seeking shelter at the hotel rose to over 300.

"A lot of people get hurt trying to walk through the mountains around Mexicali," says Benjamin Campista, a cooperative member. "It's very cold there now, and when they get caught and deported, many are just wearing a T-shirt and tennis shoes. Some get 
sick -- those we take to the hospital. The rest stay here a few days until their family can send them money to get home, or until they 
decide to try to cross again."

Border Angels and the hotel collective agreed to pay the landlord 11,000 pesos a month in rent (about $900 USD), but they're 
already six months behind. Every day hotel residents go out to the long lines of people waiting to cross through the garita (the legal 
border crossing). They ask for money to support the hotel, and each person gets to keep half of what they're given. The other half goes mostly for food for the evening meal. Deportees have plenty of time to explain their situation to people standing in line, since on a recent afternoon the wait to get through the garita was two hours.

Every day Campista hears deportees tell their stories. "Three brothers stayed here last summer, before they tried to cross. 
A month later one came back. I saw him on the roof, crying as he looked at the mountains where the other two had died from the heat. 

A woman came here with her two-month-old baby. Her husband had died in the desert too." "We're human beings!" Campista exclaims. "We're just going north to try to work. Why should we die for this? Our governments should end these violations of human rights. Then our hotel wouldn't even be necessary.


Lawyers for Immigrant Defendants Increasingly Use Culture Arguments as a Defense
Associated Press
 

The lawyer for an African woman charged with smuggling young girls from Togo to New Jersey said her trial was about cultural norms that failed to translate in America. Twelve American jurors saw it as a clear-cut example of human trafficking, and she was sentenced to 27 years in prison. Both sides focused on the cultural nuances of the case; the defense arguing the woman was a benevolent mother figure who helped young girls escape a life of poverty; the prosecution accusing her of using the threat of African voodoo curses to keep the girls subjugated. 

Prosecutors alleged Afolabi brought at least 20 girls between the ages of 10 and 19 from West African nations on fraudulent visas to New Jersey, effectively enslaving them and forcing them to work in African hair braiding salons for no pay.

For the complete article, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-cross-
cultural-lawyers%2C0%2C298261.story
 
Sent by lazos@lazos.tralcom.com


Piracy: The Real Economic End Game?
Commerce News, December 11, 2010

All across Mexico, roving vendors, street stands, storefronts and even trendy bars peddle pirated DVDs, masquerade tequila, copy-cat fashion brands and other untaxed goods. With hefty price hikes in store for cigarettes next month, tobacco is emerging as the latest pirated, hot commodity.

Overall, the value of the so-called underground economy, which is anything but subterranean, reaches nearly $75 billion annually, according to a prominent Mexican business leader.

Jorge Davila Flores, president of the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism, said the annual cash flow in the pirate sector tops the amount of money made from oil by three times, outstrips migrant remittances by almost four times and buries tourist dollars by seven times.

The value of the burgeoning black market also vastly exceeds the sum of foreign direct investment in Mexico, which is expected to hover between $19 and $22 billion in 2010. In fact, the $75 billion generated by the pirate economy every year is not much less than the total $81 billion in direct foreign investment that Mexico attracted between 2006 and 2009, according to American Chamber of Commerce/Mexico statistics cited by a border trade publication.

If Davila Flores’ numbers are more or less in the ballpark, the cash pile from pirated goods dwarfs the estimated $19-$39 billion per year earned from the sale of illicit drugs.

“Piracy is an industry, contraband is an industry.” Davila Flores said. “Everything that surrounds this economic activity is a grave problem.”

In a Mexico City press conference, the business leader said the number of employers in the informal economy-at least 1.3 million-vastly surpasses the 833,000 employers enrolled in the Mexican Social Security Institute, which some Calderon administration officials have said confronts a looming solvency crisis. Of course, employers in the informal sector do not pay
social security or other payroll taxes.

According to the Regus Business Tracker firm, 40 percent of Mexico’s economically active population is “employed” in the informal sector, with the percentage expected to rise to 50 percent by 2020 if current trends continue. The World Bank reports that half the enterprises in Mexico City alone sub-contract with the informal sector.

Smuggling is a centuries-old story in Mexico, and has long been a fixture of the US-Mexico border economy, but the volume of illegally-imported and pirated goods has reached unprecedented levels in recent years due to Mexico’s trade liberalization policies, customs corruption, new opportunities for money laundering, and the lure of cheap products in a low-wage economy. Openings to countries like China and Vietnam have laid new pipelines for pirate goods. In short, almost picture perfect
conditions exist for a thriving, irregular economy.

While the US government and media focus on Mexico’s battles over the illegal drug trade, violence and threats of violence are increasingly related to conflicts over control of the broader underground economy and the multiple products and services of a mammoth but slippery economic sector.

Additional sources: Tribuna de San Luis/El Sol de Mexico, December 11, 2010. Article by Alejandro Duran and Arturo Lino. La Jornada/Notimex, December 10, 2010 Juarez/El Paso Now, October 2010.


Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico

For a free electronic subscription email: fnsnews@nmsu.edu
Sent by
Walter L. Herbeck Jr.  wlherbeck@gmail.com


Hispanic Farmers Feel Shortchanged by Settlement Offer By Brandi Grissom
The Texas Tribune, 
bgrissom@texastribune.org New York Times (December 9, 2010)
 
Modesta Salazar remembers playing baseball with her 12 brothers and sisters on the family farm outside the South Texas town of Pearsall, where her father and brothers grew cotton, corn and maize. "All this was beautiful," she said wistfully, looking out over more than 500 acres of once-lush fields that are now scrubland, overtaken by mesquite trees and cactus. "Now it's just stories."  

The cause of the decline, Mrs. Salazar said, is discrimination by the United States Department of Agriculture since the 1960s in the awarding of loans and other federal benefits to minority farmers.  

She and more than 1,000 other Hispanic farmers in Texas and other states sued the U.S.D.A. a decade ago, demanding that the government make reparations and change its ways. Last month, Congress agreed to multibillion-dollar settlements for mistreatment - but with black and American Indian farmers. Hispanic farmers say the government has offered them a laughable sum by comparison.  

"The government seems to be of the view they can simply throw some money - and very little money at that - at the problem, and ignore completely the practices that caused these lawsuits," said Stephen Hill, a partner at the Howrey law firm in Washington and the lead lawyer in the Hispanic farmers' case.  

The Agriculture Department acknowledges the mistreatment that has been alleged. Secretary Tom Vilsack has said his agency is committed to resolving past discrimination cases, and government officials insist they are working to ensure that the plaintiffs get a quick and equitable settlement. But the Agriculture and Justice Departments argue that the Hispanics' suit is different from the one brought by blacks and Indians. Unlike the other minority farmer lawsuits, judges who presided over the Hispanic farmers' case said the group did not share enough in common to file a class-action lawsuit.

Mrs. Salazar's father, Juan Rodriguez, bought the farm in 1952. Neighbors told him that the two previous owners had each lost the farm and warned him that local Agriculture Department agents would try to drive off his family as well. A few years later, a local bank told Mr. Rodriguez that he owed $1,000 - a loan he did not remember receiving - and that he would lose the land if he did not pay it. An Anglo woman at the bank who had seen a similar scenario before wrote Mr. Rodriguez a check on the spot, saving the farm.  

Problems with the Agriculture Department persisted, Mrs. Salazar said, and loans needed for planting would come too late or not at all.  

When he died in 1982, his sons took over the Pearsall farm and also encountered problems with the Agriculture Department. Loans were denied, and even when high-level officials ordered local agents to lend the family money, it never came. The brothers filed complaints, sent letters and pleaded for help. One by one, Mrs. Salazar said, her brothers had to leave the farm until finally only her brother Modesto Rodriguez remained.

When he had a series of disabling strokes, Mrs. Salazar continued the struggle. Today, the farm's only inhabitants are a few cattle and horses and a small group of abandoned dogs. In 2001, the government began foreclosure proceedings that are on hold, pending the outcome of the lawsuit.  

This year, the Justice and Agriculture Departments offered Hispanic farmers $1.33 billion to settle their discrimination claims and the claims of women farmers in a similar lawsuit. Then, Congress approved a settlement of more than $2.25 billion with black farmers - even though census data indicated that nationwide there were about twice as many Hispanic farmers. The government's offer would also cap damages for individual Hispanic farmers at $50,000.

Mr. Hill and other lawyers on the case told government lawyers that the proposal was "woefully inadequate." Since then, Mr. Hill said, negotiations are at a standstill.

Government officials said they had gone to great lengths to be fair to Hispanic farmers. If not for Mr. Vilsack's efforts to settle the claims quickly and fairly, the officials said, each of the thousands of Hispanic farmers would have to spend years arguing in court. (The current offer, they said, allows farmers who believe they are entitled to more than $50,000 to pursue their cases in court.)

"We believe that the voluntary settlement process we set forward is a fair option," said Jessica Smith, a Justice Department spokeswoman.

As Mrs. Salazar stepped over cactus and cooed at dogs that roam the ruins of mobile homes and rusted farm trucks, she said she hoped the case was resolved in her lifetime. Maybe some of her dozens of nieces and nephews will be able to make a living here, she said, and finally vindicate her family after years of mistreatment.

"We've gone through hell," she said. "I'm willing to do anything."

Shared by National Institute for latino Policy   www.Nthp.org



Latino Mayor May Be A Glimpse of Things to Come

by Maria Hinojosa
NPR News (December 12, 2010)


There's a good chance America will eventually look like San Antonio. Demographically, the Texas city is a glimpse into the American future - a majority Latino community, where English is the language of choice. 

The mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro, is young, photogenic, well-educated and barely speaks Spanish. Yet he may very well be the model of a new kind of Latino leadership.
 

A Place In Mainstream America


The 36-year-old mayor is hard to pick out of a crowd. When he spoke at a rally for a San Antonio school bond issue earlier this year, Castro looked a lot like the young people he was addressing. 

"We have an obligation, in this year 2010, to ensure that a whole new generation of young people has the best facilities, the best opportunity, to succeed in our schools," he said. "We need this bond issue for the future of our young people." 

And that future is going to be hard to ignore. Every 30 seconds, a Latino turns 18 in America. That's just one reason to pay attention to San Antonio, where Latinos already are the majority. Like Latinos across the United States, San Antonio's Latinos are trying to figure out their place in mainstream American life. 

"In the past few months, especially with what's happening in Arizona, it seems like there's a target on the back of many Latinos, and a casting-aside of their worth in the United States. And the first instinct is to pull up your fist and fight  back, but I don't think that's necessarily the right course," Castro says.

"I think the right course is to work with the community, to register voters, to take them out, to focus on the positive. And if you go out and vote, politicians are going to have to listen to you."
 

A Mother And A Mayor For Role Models
 

Castro and his twin brother, Joaquin, who now serves in the Texas state Legislature, were politicized at an early age by the example of their mother, Rosie Castro, a single mom and activist. She was a driving force in the Raza Unida Party of the 70s. 

"I took him and his brother out to the polls all the time so that they could see me vote," she says. "They would sometimes come help deliver a sign at one of these houses.  In my generation, we were not at the public policy table. You had to insert yourself into the political realities. You had to go to city hall and demand things." 

Today, Rosie's son sits at the head of the public policy table, at least in San Antonio. 

"Julian is a new generation of Latino leader in an interesting sort of way," says Henry Flores, a political scientist and dean of the Graduate School at Saint Mary's University in San Antonio. "He'll clearly tell you that two of his role models were his mother and Henry Cisneros. His mother because it kind of gave him a sense of community and activism, and Henry Cisneros because it showed a way to govern and a way to hold himself up in public." 

Henry Cisneros served four terms as the mayor of San Antonio before serving on Bill Clinton's cabinet as HUD secretary.

"Rosie came up through the streets and was a community activist," Flores says, "but she came from the outside and was never accepted by the establishment, per se. Henry Cisneros was brought in by an Anglo establishment  and eventually established himself."
 

A New Generation of Latino Politicians


 "Rosie and Henry kind of laid the groundwork for [Castro's] arrival, and, in an electoral sort of way, in a participatory sort of way, he represents a third wave of Latino politicians," Flores says. Castro seems to agree. 

"You do have plenty of folks at the school board, the city council level, the mayoral level, the representative and senator level who are a new generation of Latinos, that are well-educated, that can make policy and debate with the best of the folks around the  nation," he says. 

Hopefully they won't forget that legacy, Castro continues, but also adapt to the "America of 2010." 

"Make policy that's gonna help Latinos, yes," he says, "but also then help everyone that they represent." Castro may very well be the sort of Latino politician we see more of in the next American generation.



 


BUSINESS

National Conference
"Accessing The Federal Marketplace"
With Native American Business Development Tools


Orlando, Florida
February 1st & 2nd - 2011 


National Conference
- The USHCC and the National 8(a) Association are teaming up in Orlando Florida on February 1st & 2nd for two days of business match-making to help your company access prime contracts and subcontracts in the Federal marketplace. We will have a strong contingent of Native American companies present at the conference to talk about teaming relationships with SDBs, 8(a)s, WOBs, SDVOSBs, and HUB-Zone firms.

Federal Marketplace
- If you are interested in the $550 BILLION federal marketplace, this conference is for you!!

Special 8(a) Business Development Tools
- The focus will be on how to take advantage of the special 8(a) business development tools of the Tribal, Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiian companies. These include 8(a) sole-source set-aside contracts of unlimited size. This means that you can team up with a Native firms and go after large set-aside contracts on a sole-source basis.

Tribal, Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiian companies are also considered small business for purposes of subcontracting with major federal prime contractors. You can team up with Native firms and go after large subcontracts with major prime contractors.

Primary Topic Areas
- The focus will be Federal contracting and subcontracting including:
How to work with federal agencies
New regulations and requirements under recent legislation
Working with prime contractors
Organizing joint ventures
Forming teaming agreements
Strategic planning for capturing federal contracts  

Industry Focus
- The focus of this conference will be to bring qualified firms together to form strong partnerships to serve the Federal government and its major prime contractors. The key areas of interest will be: Information technology, telecommunications, construction, environmental remediation, oil, gas and natural resource development, defense and aerospace manufacturing, and so forth.

Basically, match-making will focus on anything and everything that the Federal government buys. If your company has a product or service that the federal government buys, the Native American firms want to talk to you about teaming opportunities.

Match-making
- In addition to a full program of presentations on contracting opportunities and forming teaming relationships, there will be an open-forum match-making session at the end of each day. At these informal match-making sessions, you will interact with executives of Tribal, Alaska Native Corporations and Native Hawaiian companies to chat about potential teaming relationships in your areas of expertise.

Federal Marketplace
- If you are interested in the $550 BILLION federal marketplace, this conference is for you!!

Incredible Venue
- The conference will be held at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in the heart of Orlando Florida. The Conference will take place on February 1st and 2nd. This is the perfect time for you to take a break from the wintery cold to come do business in warm, sunny Orlando. Enjoy the warm weather, the dynamic business atmosphere, maybe even squeeze in a day of golf at one of Disney's 5 major golf courses!

Room Rates
- We are offering a fantastic room rate of $159 per night if you sign up before the end of December. This rate makes this event the must attend business vacation of the year!!

Registration
- Conference registration is $395. To registrar for the conference, please go to the website of the National 8(a) Association at:   www.national8aassociation.org


US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
1424 K Street NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20005

 

 

 


EDUCATION

From the Barrio to the Board Room
American Universities See Decline in Foreigners Earning Science Doctorates
White House Fact Sheet on the DREAM Act

From the Barrio to the Board Room
When Robert Renteria set off in search of telling his story, he never expected what he would write to be used in schools around the country, much less youth prisons, churches and community based organizations.  He also never expected to create a comic book version of that same story.  But then again, most of Renteria's journey since he published "From the Barrio to the Board Room (Writers of the Round Table Press, 2008)" has been unexpected.

 Renteria came from humble beginnings, sleeping in a dresser drawer as an infant and growing up amidst abuse, drugs and gang-life.  As a teenager he was shot at, stabbed, and gave back his fair share. But when he his biological father, who had abandoned the family when Robert was 3, died alone in a halfway house on skid row, Renteria realized he was destined for the same path if he didn't make some serious changes.  With the encouragement of his grandfather, he went back to school for his G.E.D., joined the military, served honorably for more than seven years and then climbed the ladder of Corporate America, becoming the VP of a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Eventually Renteria opened up his own business, but it was a young man who wanted to learn his secrets to success that helped Renteria realize that his story was worth sharing.  He partnered with writer and Publisher Corey Michael Blake who helped him put together the first book in both English and Spanish and then brought him together with SmarterComics. 

The graphic novel, produced by Writers of the Round Table Inc., communicates Renteria's 3 secrets to success: hard-work, dedication and education, in a format tailor made for today's youth. By using powerful illustrations by artist Shane Clester, Renteria's story is clearly communicated to a generation that is comfortable with quick bites of information. Students reading the books are leaving gangs, going back to school, applying to college, and some are following in Robert’s footsteps and serving in the armed forces after experiencing the program. The book is currently available in English with a Spanish version due out for release in the coming weeks.

Together, SmarterComics, Renteria and Blake are making the announcement, today, December 10th, that for the next two weeks (until midnight on Christmas Eve), the Mi Barrio graphic novel will be available in English for free atwww.SmarterComics.com to the first 1,000 visitors. “This is an investment in our teens and at-risk youth's education and future," said Renteria who was recently named Chicago Latino of the Year, and now chairs the From the Barrio Foundation. Working closely with Cheryl Maraffio, the foundation's executive VP who lost her son to gang violence, and with Blake and SmarterComics, Renteria spends his days delivering hope to the Hispanic youth of America.

The Offer: 1,000 free digital copies of Mi Barrio from SmarterComics
Where: www.smartercomics.com 

When: From Noon December 10th until midnight December 24th

 About the From the Barrio Foundation
The From the Barrio Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation committed to using Renteria’s life, business experience and role as a civic leader to help eliminate conditions that foster violence, delinquency, drugs, and gangs. The books From the Barrio to the Board Room and Mi Barrio are tools and Renteria is a resource who promotes education, a sense of pride and accomplishment, and self-esteem within the youth of area communities. For more information, visitwww.fromthebarrio.com.

Corey Michael Blake
President, Writers of the Round Table Inc.
Executive Editor, Writers of the Round Table Press
Direct: 224.475.0392



American Universities See Decline in Foreigners Earning Science Doctorates . .  Paul Basken  November 29, 2010


Editor:
"I am glad to read that foreign students earning science and engineering doctorates degrees at our universities have decreased.   The US does not have the resources to educate a population of students who will not be adding to the future of our country.  Foreign students will be returning to their countries, having occupied seats that could have been filled by American students.  In the past, private universities welcomed foreign students who could pay the exorbitant tuition costs.   However state universities wanting to create the same diverse cosmopolitan atmosphere are recruiting and awarding grants to foreign students, pre-grad and post-grad, putting them in competition with our own students. 

I am totally in support of the DREAM Act.  I believe we have enough diversity among our undocumented students, who have graduated from our high schools, have prepared to go to college, and want to attend our state schools.  Our state schools should be serving their needs. They will be staying in the United States and are our future."    Mimi


The number of doctorates in science and engineering earned by foreign students at American universities shrank last year by 3.5 percent, the first drop in more than five years, the National Science Foundation reported.

The decline came despite an overall increase in the total number of doctorates issued by American universities, up 1.6 percent over 2008 levels, as well as a net increase in the science and engineering fields, up 1.9 percent over 2008, the NSF said in an annual review.

Doctorates earned by science and engineering students holding temporary visas fell to 12,217 in 2009, from 12,686 the year before, a likely reflection of factors that include tougher economic conditions worldwide, an NSF analyst said.

"I would look to the usual suspects" in explaining the reduction, including job-market conditions both overseas and in the United States that might lead students to delay graduation, said the study's author, Mark K. Fiegener, a project officer at the NSF.

The reduction also may have been foreshadowed by data earlier in the decade showing that the enrollment of international students at American graduate schools had slowed or even declined, Mr. Fiegener said. That slowdown was attributed by experts to factors that included the sagging economy, increasing competition from higher-quality universities abroad, and restrictions on the issuance of U.S. visas.

Controversy and Competitiveness
Those factors reflect the controversial nature of foreign-student enrollment, especially in the sciences. The Obama administration and the Bush administration before it both sought to encourage such enrollment, calling foreign students critical to the future of the United States' technological and economic competitiveness. Many in Congress have pushed back, however, reflecting voter fears that foreigners would compete for scarce jobs.

The National Academies produced a report in 2005, "Rising Above the Gathering Storm," from a study committee that made a series of recommendations to Congress for improving American economic competitiveness, including granting more visas to foreign students in science and engineering. The committee issued a follow-up report this past September complaining that many of its key recommendations remained unaddressed.

The decline in doctorates in 2009 could largely reflect visa-processing problems that slowed graduate-school enrollment several years ago, said Albert H. Teich, director of science and policy programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. If that's the case, Mr. Teich said, doctorate rates among foreigners "probably will" increase again in future years.

But the lack of a guaranteed ability to stay in the country after graduation may continue to deter foreign students, said Susan Traiman, director of education and work-force policy at the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of large American companies. The group has long called for a policy of granting a green card to every recipient of an advanced degree. "That's clearly not happening," Ms. Traiman said.

The NSF data also showed drops in doctorates in several engineering fields, including electrical engineering, down 10 percent to 1,694, and chemical engineering, down 7 percent to 808. Universities issued a total of 7,634 engineering doctorates in 2009, down 3 percent from the previous year.

The overall increase in all categories of science and engineering doctorates issued in 2009 by American institutions was largely due to growth among women, up 5 percent to 13,593, the NSF reported. Men earned 19,849, a decline of five doctorates from their 2008 total.

The NSF figures also showed that Americans from racial and ethnic minority groups are earning doctorates at a faster pace than white students are, and that the proportion of 2009 doctorate recipients with employment prospects in the coming year was slightly below the level reported in 2008.

 
Roberto Vazquez    admin@lared-latina.com

 


             
White House Fact Sheet on the DREAM Act
*****************************************************
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
U.S. Department of Education, Hispanic Outreach
Dec. 1, 2010
******************************************************
 
Dear Colleagues: 
Here are a few updates on the DREAM Act, including a White House fact sheet and an article by Secretary Arne Duncan.
In addition, don’t forget to visit the White House Initiative on Facebook and its newly revamped Web page!
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. White House Fact Sheet on the DREAM Act
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DREAM ACT: GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, GOOD FOR OUR SECURITY,
GOOD FOR OUR NATION
 
The DREAM Act is common-sense legislation drafted by both Republicans and Democrats that would give students who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our country’s well-being by serving in the U.S. armed forces or pursuing a higher education. It’s good for our economy, our security, and our nation. That’s why the DREAM Act has long enjoyed bipartisan support. It’s limited, targeted legislation that will allow only the best and brightest young people to earn their legal status after a rigorous and lengthy process, and applies to those brought to the United States as minors through no fault of their own by their parents, and who know no other home.
 
Our country will reap enormous benefits when the DREAM Act is finally enacted:
 
  • The DREAM Act will contribute to our military’s recruitment efforts and readiness. Secretary of Defense Gates has written to DREAM Act sponsors citing the rich precedent of non-citizens serving in the U.S. military and stating that “the DREAM Act represents an opportunity to expand [the recruiting] pool, to the advantage of military recruiting and readiness.”  The DREAM Act is also a part of the Department of Defense's 2010-2012 Strategic Plan to assist the military in its recruiting efforts.
 
  • The DREAM Act will make our country more competitive in the global economy.  Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has stated that passing the DREAM Act will allow “these young people to live up to their fullest potential and contribute to the economic growth of our country.”  In particular, the DREAM Act will play an important part in the nation’s efforts to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020,” something vital for America to remain competitive in today’s global economy.
 
  • The DREAM Act will have important economic benefits.  According to a recent UCLA study, students that would be impacted by the DREAM Act could add between $1.4 to $3.6 trillion in taxable income to our economy over the course of careers, depending on how many ultimately gain legal status.  This income is substantially higher than the income they would earn if they were unable to attend and complete a college education.  In fact, research indicates that the average college graduate earned nearly 60 percent more than a high-school graduate.  We have much to gain from doing right by these young people.    
 
  • The DREAM Act will allow our immigration and border security experts to focus on those who pose a serious threat to our nation’s security.  Secretary Napolitano believes this targeted legislation provides a firm but fair way to deal with innocent children brought to the U.S. at a young age so that the Department of Homeland Security can dedicate their enforcement resources to detaining and deporting criminals and those who pose a threat to our country. 
 
Myths vs. Facts: DREAM Act
 
As the public debate on the DREAM Act moves forward, it is vital that the facts on this important legislation remain clear. The Dream Act is good for our economy, our security, and our nation. And the lenghty and rigorous process the DREAM Act establishes will ensure that our nation is enriched with only the most promising young people who have already grown up in America. In fact, according to a recent analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, just 38 percent of all potential beneficiaries will successfully complete the DREAM Act’s rigorous process and earn permanent immigration status.
 
Myth: Opponents claim the DREAM Act is “amnesty.”
 
Fact: The Dream Act requires responsibility and accountability of young people who apply to adjust their status under the DREAM Act, creating a lenghty and rigorous process.
 
  • Young people must meet several requirements in order to qualify for the conditional status it will provide them.  These requirements include entering the country when they were under 16 years old, proving they have continuously lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years and graduated from a U.S. high school or obtained a GED; demonstrating their good moral character; proving they have not committed any crimes that would make them inadmissible to the country. Only then can they obtain a conditional status for a limited period of time. 
 
  • After their six year conditional status, these same individuals will need to meet additional requirements to move on to the next phase of this process.  Specifically, they must have attended college or served in the U.S. military for at least 2 years, and once again, pass criminal background checks, and demonstrate good moral character. If young people are unable to fulfill these requirements, they will lose their legal status and be subject to deportation.
 
  • Only applies to individuals who entered the U.S. as children.  According to DREAM Act’s provisions, beneficiaries must have entered the United States when they were under 16 years old. 
 
  • DREAM Act applicants will be responsible for paying fees to cover the costs of USCIS processing their applications. According to Section 286(m) of Immigration and Nationality Act provisions, the cost of having U.S. Customs and Immigration Services process DREAM Act applications will be covered by the application fees.
 
  • DREAM Act applicants would be subject to rigorous criminal background checks and reviews.  All criminal grounds of inadmissibility and removability that apply to other aliens seeking lawful permanent resident status would apply and bar criminal aliens from gaining conditional or unconditional LPR status under the DREAM Act.  Additionally, decisions to grant status are discretionary, and any alien with a criminal record not automatically barred by these provisions would only be granted status when and if the Secretary exercises her discretion favorably.
 
Myth: Opponents claim the DREAM Act would encourage more students to immigrate illegally, and that applicants would just use it to petition for relatives.
 
Fact: The DREAM Act only applies to young people already in the United States who were brought here as children, it would not apply to anyone arriving later, so it cannot act as a “magnet” encouraging others to come.  Furthermore,. DREAM Act applicants would not be able to petition for any family member until fulfilling lengthy and rigorous requirements outlined above, and even then, they would have to wait years before being able to successfully petition for parents or siblings.
 
  • DREAM Act beneficiaries would only be able to petition for entry of their parents or sibling if they have satisfied all of the requirements under the DREAM Act.  Even then, they would be subject to the same annual caps waiting periods in order to petition for their relatives; the bottom line is that it would take many years before parents or siblings who previously entered the country illegally could obtain a green card.
 
Myth: Opponents claim the DREAM Act would result in taxpayers having to subsidize student loans for those students who register through the DREAM Act.
 
Fact: DREAM Act students would not be eligible for federal grants, period.
 
  • An alien who adjusts to lawful permanent resident status under DREAM qualifies only for certain specified types of Federal higher education assistance.  Undocumented youth adjusting to lawful permanent resident status are only eligible for federal student loans which must be paid back, and federal work-study programs, where they must work for any benefit they receive. They would not eligible for federal grants, such as Pell Grants.   
 
What They’re Saying:
 
Editorials and experts around the country are agreeing that the DREAM Act is good for our nation, and have called on Congress to pass it:
 
Former Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, a Republican, said on a conference call on November 29th it would be a “shame” not to pass the bill in the lame duck.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, said “[The Republican Party] needs to take a hard look at some of the positions they’ve been taking. We can’t be anti-immigration, for example.  Immigrants are fueling this country.  Without immigrants America would be like Europe or Japan with an aging population and no young people to come in and take care of it.  We have to educate our immigrants.  The DREAM Act is one way we can do this.”
 
Former Illinois Republican Governor Jim Edgar voiced his support for DREAM in an op-ed in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune, writing:  “A rational approach to comprehensive immigration reform should begin with the young people who were brought here as babies, toddlers and adolescents…A nation as kind as ours should not turn its back on them. Congress needs to support the sensible, humane approach embodied in legislation known as the Dream Act.  The measure charts a rigorous path that undocumented youths must negotiate to gain legal status and qualify for citizenship, and supporting it would be both good government and good politics."
The Wall Street Journal published an editorial that argues: “Restrictionists dismiss the Dream Act as an amnesty that rewards people who entered the country illegally. But the bill targets individuals brought here by their parents as children. What is to be gained by holding otherwise law-abiding young people, who had no say in coming to this country, responsible for the illegal actions of others?  The Dream Act also makes legal status contingent on school achievement and military service, the type of behavior that ought to be encouraged and rewarded.”
On August 11, 2010, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee explained to NPR the economic sense of allowing undocumented children to earn their citizenship:  "When a kid comes to his country, and he's four years old and he had no choice in it – his parents came illegally. He still, because he is in this state, it's the state's responsibility - in fact, it is the state's legal mandate - to make sure that child is in school. So let's say that kid goes to school. That kid is in our school from kindergarten through the 12th grade. He graduates as valedictorian because he's a smart kid and he works his rear end off and he becomes the valedictorian of the school. The question is: Is he better off going to college and becoming a neurosurgeon or a banker or whatever he might become, and becoming a taxpayer, and in the process having to apply for and achieve citizenship, or should we make him pick tomatoes? I think it's better if he goes to college and becomes a citizen."
Education, military, religious and business leaders support the DREAM Act:  The legislation is supported by a wide range of leaders from the education, military, and business fields, and from religious orders including the United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; the evangelical movement, the Jewish community; and many others.
David S. C. Chu, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness under George W. Bush, called for action on the DREAM Act to strengthen the military.  “If their parents are undocumented or in immigration limbo, most of these young people have no mechanism to obtain legal residency even if they have lived most of their lives here.  Yet many of these young people may wish to join the military, and have the attributes needed - education, aptitude, fitness, and moral qualifications.” [CQ Congressional Testimony; ”Immigration and the Military”; July 10, 2006]
Margaret Stock, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve (retired); a former professor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; and an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, said: “Potential DREAM Act beneficiaries are also likely to be a military recruiter’s dream candidates for enlistment …  In a time when qualified recruits—particularly ones with foreign language skills and foreign cultural awareness – are in short supply, enforcing deportation laws against these young people makes no sense. Americans who care about our national security should encourage Congress to pass the DREAM Act.” [Margaret D. Stock, “The DREAM Act: Tapping an Overlooked Pool of Home Grown Talent.” The Federalist Society, Washington, DC. Engage: The Journal of the Federalist Societies Practice Group, Volume 6, Issue 2, October 2005]
Bill Carr, former Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy, called DREAM “very appealing” to the military “because it would apply to the ‘cream of the crop’ of students. Mr. Carr concluded that the DREAM Act would be "good for [military] readiness." [Donna Miles, “Officials Hope to Rekindle Interest in Immigration Bill Provision.” American Forces Press Service. June 11, 2007]
Conservative military scholar Max Boot supports the DREAM Act:  “It's a substantial pool of people and I think it's crazy we are not tapping into it.”  The DREAM Act “would not only offer a welcome path toward citizenship for many promising young people but also might ease some of the recruitment problems that Army has been facing of late.” [Max Boot, “Dream a Little Dream,” Commentary Magazine, September 20, 2007]
The Center for Naval Analyses issued a report finding that immigrants in the military have high levels of performance and lower rates of attrition.  The report noted that non-citizens add valuable diversity to the armed forces and perform extremely well, often having significantly lower attrition rates than other recruits.  The report also pointed out that “much of the growth in the recruitment- eligible population will come from immigration.” [CNA, “Non-Citizens in Today’s Military. Final Report.” April 2005.

 http://www.cna.org/documents/D0011092.A2.pdf]

Senator Richard Durbin Makes a Compelling Case for DREAM: “This is the choice the DREAM Act presents to us. We can allow a generation of immigrant students with great potential and ambitions to contribute more fully to our society and national security, or we can relegate them to a future in the shadows, which would be a loss for all Americans.” [Senator Richard Durbin, Floor Statement, “DREAM Act as an amendment to the Defense authorization bill,” Friday, July 13, 2007
Editorial Pages supporting the DREAM Act
  1. New York Times: Dreaming of Reform, Nov. 30, 2010
  2. Wall Street Journal (National): A Worthy Immigration Bill, Nov. 29, 2010
  3. Santa Rosa Press-Democrat (Calif.): Step forward, Nov. 21, 2010
  4. Battle Creek Enquirer (Mich.): Step toward real reform, Nov. 19, 2010
  5. Fresno Bee: Sorting out hypocrisy on illegal immigration, Nov. 19, 2010
  6. Los Angeles Times: A path to college, Nov. 17, 2010
  7. Sacramento Bee: DREAM Act should be the law of the land, Nov. 17, 2010
  8. La Opinión: The time is now!, Nov. 16, 2010
  9. Denver Post: To-do list for short session, Nov. 16, 2010
  10. Berkshire Eagle: Reform is a pipe dream, Nov. 15, 2010
  11. Sheboygan Press: DREAM Act has merit, but do it right way, Oct. 3, 2010
  12. Myrtle Beach Sun-News: Dream deferred, Oct. 1, 2010
  13. Rock Hill Herald (S.C.): Give DREAM Act a chance, Sept. 27, 2010
  14. Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, Tenn.): DREAM of being a citizen, Sept. 27, 2010
  15. Milwaukee Journal Sentienal: Editorial -- Dreams deferred, Sept. 21, 2010
  16. San Francisco Chronicle: Editorial -- Senate should pass DREAM Act, Sept. 21, 2010
  17. Arizona Republic: Editorial -- Pass DREAM Act the right way, Sept. 21, 2010
  18. New York Times: Dream Time, Sept. 20, 2010
  19. Los Angeles Times: The DREAM Act deserves a yes vote, Sept. 20, 2010
  20. New York Daily News: Make the DREAM come true: Proposed law would clear path to earned citizenship, Sept. 20, 2010
  21. La Opinión: A reasonable strategy, Sept. 20, 2010
  22. Chicago Tribue: Pass the Dream Act, Sept. 20, 2010
  23. Newsday: Create a path to citizenship, Sept. 20, 2010
  24. Aurora Sentinel: Colin Powell is the right's voice of reason on immigration, Sept. 19,2010
  25. Deseret News: Pass the DREAM Act, Sept. 17, 2010
  26. El Diario: Sí al ‘DREAM Act’, Sept. 17, 2010
  27. Chicago Sun-Times: Give kids here illegally chance to go to college, Sept. 16, 2010
  28. San Jose Mercury News: Dream Act should transcend immigration debate, Sept. 16, 2010
  29. Aurora Sentinel: Everyone benefits when this DREAM comes true, Sept. 14, 2010
  30. Arizona Republic: The Dream Act is long overdue, Aug. 19, 2010
  31. Fort Worth Star Telegram: Politics interrupts a dream, Aug. 19, 2010
  32. Washington Post: Dream Act could save immigrant students from deportation, Aug. 12, 201 (reprinted in the Herald-Sun (North Carolina) under the title “More American DREAMers”)
  33. Fort Worth Star Telegram: Deporting students isn't the best answer to immigration problems, Aug. 10, 2010
  34. La Opinión - The DREAM Act can’t wait, Aug. 8, 2010
  35. Wichita Eagle: No leadership on immigration, Aug. 6, 2010
  36. Akron Beacon Journal: DREAM of an act, Aug. 5, 2010
  37. Los Angeles Times: Wake up and pass the DREAM immigration reform act, June 26, 2010
  38. Boston Globe: Case of Harvard student shows urgency of immigration reform, June 18, 2010
  39. New York Times: Courage in Arizona, May 19, 2010
  40. Kansas City Star: Protests could block American dream, May 19, 2010
  41. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The Dream Act: a path for dreams to come true, March 20, 2010
  42. Philadelphia Inquirer: Reaching for a dream, March 6, 2010
  43. Tallahassee Democrat: Dare to DREAM, Feb. 9, 2010
  44. Seattle Times: Pass the Dream Act to give undocumented young people a future, Jan. 28, 2010
  45. Miami Herald:  Congress must pass DREAM Act, June 26, 2009
  46. Philadelphia Inquirer: They’re not going away, May 1, 2009
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.  Article on the DREAM Act by Education Secretary Arne Duncan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Economic prosperity and national security through the DREAM Act
By Secretary Arne Duncan - 11/30/10 06:15 PM ET
Even in tough times, Americans have used their freedom, common sense and respect for one another to do the right thing for the nation. Today, we face one of those times. There are thousands of hard-working, patriotic, young people who are leaders in their communities and who are looking for an opportunity to attend college or serve our country in the military, but they cannot, through no fault of their own. Congress has the opportunity to offer them and our country a brighter future by coming together in a bipartisan way to pass the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act will open the doors of higher education and military service to young people who were brought to America without documentation by their parents when they were children. If they are able to meet several requirements, they will have the chance to earn a legal status. Specifically, they will have to prove that they came to the United States before the age of 16, have lived here for at least five years, don’t have a criminal record, are not removable or inadmissible from the country, are of good moral character and graduated from a U.S. high school, obtained a GED, or have been admitted to an institution of higher education. Today, these students are living in fear of the next step of their lives, and attending college or other postsecondary education is difficult, while serving our country in the military is near impossible.  
Passing the DREAM Act will unleash the full potential of young people who live out values that all Americans cherish — a strong work ethic; service to others; and a deep loyalty to our country. It will also strengthen our military, bolster our global economic competitiveness and increase our educational standing in the world.
By opening the American Dream of college for these bright, talented youth, we will unleash an academic force into the U.S. higher-education system. The result will be a new generation of college graduates who will help strengthen our economic security. This new generation will be a new set of future taxpayers who will contribute much more as college graduates than they ever would as struggling workers moving from one under-the-table job to another. They will help build the economy of the 21st century. 
From a national security perspective, the DREAM Act will give the military the opportunity to recruit students who are eager to serve at a time when there’s a growing shortage of potential soldiers. The Defense Department’s strategic plan names the passage of the DREAM Act as one of its goals to help maintain a mission-ready all-volunteer force. Military leaders understand that at this critical time in our history, when we face countless threats to our way of life and the supply of soldiers does not match the demands being placed on our armed forces, a new pool of highly qualified candidates willing to put their lives on the line for America is a major plus for the country.
The students who will benefit from the DREAM Act are some of our country’s best and brightest. They were raised and educated in America. They include community leaders and volunteers who are committed to service in their neighborhoods. They are valedictorians and star athletes. They text and go to the mall. They are Americans in every sense of the word. They have deep roots here and are loyal to the country that has been the only home they’ve ever known. They want to serve our country and hope to become pediatricians, teachers and engineers. They are exactly the type of young people America should be embracing.
But, unlike their classmates, DREAM Act students are in a bind. It goes against the basic American sense of fairness to punish children for the choices of their parents. But thousands of young people find themselves in that position. We can’t let them continue to live unfulfilled lives of fear and squandered hopes. We must rise above the heated political rhetoric and embrace this common-sense approach. And we need to do it now before we lose this generation. It’s who we are as Americans, at our best.
Duncan is the U.S. Secretary of Education.
 
 
*****************************************************************************
Juan A. Sepúlveda, Jr.
Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics
 
Ida R. Eblinger Kelley
Director, Hispanic Outreach and Communications
U.S. Department of Education
*****************************************************************************

Background on the DREAM Act: Short introductory memo on the DREAM Act
http://americasvoiceonline.org/DREAM101 

DREAM Act Talking Points: Five reasons to support the DREAM Act
http://americasvoiceonline.org/ReasonsForDream 

DREAM Act Resources by State: A state-by-state guide to the DREAM Act
http://americasvoiceonline.org/DreamPacket 

DREAM Act Editorials: Newspapers from around the country voice their support for the DREAM Act
http://americasvoiceonline.org/research/entry/editorial_boards_call_for_passage_of_the_dream_act  

Analysis of Potential DREAM Act Beneficiaries: MPI report on the numbers of DREAM Act eligible people
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/pubs/DREAM-Insight-July2010.pdf 

Let Us Serve: Stories of DREAM Act eligible youth who are ready to serve in the Armed Forces
http://www.letusserve2010.org/ 

The DREAM Act and the Economy: IPC says the DREAM Act creates economic opportunities
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/dream-act-creating-economic-opportunities  

The Economic Potential of DREAM Act Beneficiaries: A report from UCLA NAID on the economic potential of DREAM Act beneficiaries   http://naid.ucla.edu/uploads/4/2/1/9/4219226/no_dreamers_left_behind.pdf 

*
 


 


CULTURE

Some old Mexican Melodies
Marvel Comics
Bringing Sweet Slices of Mexico to Edmonton
Roses in December: Our Lady of Guadalupe Day
Lionsgate and Televisa Unite on Films for Hispanics
Some old Mexican Melodies.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXxnjF0Ddbs&feature=related 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iuXVpAMdKM&feature=related

Sent by Jose M. Pena
Marvel Comics is about to unveil its newest comic book featuring a “typical” New York high school student by day who fights crime with her martial arts skills by night – the twist? The character is a Latina named Anya Corazon.

Apparently, Anya has appeared in past Marvel issues as Araña, a member of the “Spider Society” – she can’t spin webs like Spider-Man so she relies on her talents in the martial arts to catch the bad guys … oh, and she has an exoskeleton which apparently, is very important when fighting crime. 

Sylvia Gonzalez-Hohenshelt  sylvia_hohenshelt@nthp.org

 Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior
Plaza Juárez #20, Col. Centro
Deleg. Cuauhtémoc C.P. 06010
México, D.F. 
Sent by Vicente Neria Sánchez
vneria@sre.gob.mx


Bringing Sweet Slices of Mexico to Edmonton, Canada

Cravings for Latin treats give rise to new bakery, La Monarca
by Liane Faulder, Edmonton Journal

Ninfa Castellanos, left, and Sergio Manrique are co-owners
of La Monarca, a new bakery in South Edmonton, Canada 

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Bringing%
20sweet%20slices%20Mexico%20Edmonton/
3943931/story.html
 


Cravings for Latin treats give rise to new bakery, La Monarca. Edmonton has a new Latin bakery called La Monarca. The bakery will specialize in Latin sweets, such as polvoron (chocolate-vanilla cookies), conchas (sweet, shell-shaped buns) and pastel tres leches (a meringue frosted cake). Located at 4119 106th St., the bakery is co-owned by Sergio Manrique, who hails from Mexico but has lived in Edmonton for the past five years, working to help settle new immigrants through his job at the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. "I'm craving the stuff we have in Mexico," he says of his decision to open a bakery. "When I see something familiar from home, it touches my heart." He used to frequent the Old Bread Factory (a Mexican bakery in Whitemud Crossing which sadly closed). He thinks there are enough Latin people in Edmonton with roots in places like El Salvador and Guatemala to make a go of his new business. 



ROSES IN DECEMBER: OUR  LADY  OF  GUADALUPE  DAY

By Felipe de Ortego y Gasca

Scholar in Residence, Western New Mexico University

 


For more than 475 years Mexicans and their progeny around the globe have been celebrating the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego at Tepeyac–near Mexico City–on December 12, 1531. Accounts of that appearance have varied over the years, but essentially the story is that on his way to seek Bishop Zumarraga’s help in healing his sick uncle, Juan Diego, Indio, encountered a woman en-route dressed in  blue gossamer studded with stars who called him by name.  

Surprised, Juan Diego listened to her charge that he ask the Bishop to build a church on the site where she stood. Dutifully, Juan Diego related the message to the skeptical Bishop who explained that he needed a sign of some sort from the lady in blue in order to carry out her request. Upon hearing Juan Diego’s account of his conversation with the Bishop, la Virgin de Guadalupe (as she has come to be called) instructed Juan Diego to gather some roses from nearby which he did, placing them in the fold of his tilma.  

Carrying the roses to the Bishop, Juan Diego is greeted by Bishop Zumarraga with words of incredulity, “Roses, roses in December–this is the sign?” The Bishop was expecting something more ethereal, failing to realize that roses do not bloom in the mountain heights of Mexico in December. Taken aback, Juan Diego dropped the hold on  his tilma and the roses fell to the floor where upon the Bishop and those attending him dropped to their knees. Startled by the actions of the clerics, Juan Diego could not see the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe which had embedded itself on the surface of his tilma. That was the sign. The Bishop promptly built a cathedral to honor the lady in blue, and from that time on the Madonna of Tepeyac has become the national religious symbol of Mexico.  The tilma is on display at the Basilica in Tepeyac.  

Mexicans of all faiths acknowledge Guadalupe as the patron saint of Mexico. In our house when I was growing up in San Antonio, Texas, my mother kept a home altar for la Virgin de Guadalupe. That altar kept us reverential when we were in its presence. Her picture hung prominently on the wall above the alter, next to the picture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who with the help of Guadalupe got us through the hard times of the Depression.  

As a Marine during World War II, the picture of Guadalupe in my wallet kept me confident that she would keep me from harms way. Even later, as a grown man I clung to that childhood belief in Guadalupe. For years my wife and I have kept a statuette of the Virgin in our home.  

However, what has sustained my spiritual bond with Guadalupe is the play I wrote about her in 1981 at the request of Arch-Bishop Patrick Flores of San Antonio to commemorate the 450th anniversary of her appearance to Juan Diego. The title of the play is Madre de Sol / Mother of the Sun, set within the first dozen years of Spanish rule in Mexico starting with the encounter of Montezuma and Cortez in 1519.  

The play premiered at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio in September of 1981 and ran until December 12th of that year. At the direction of the Arch-Bishop, Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rodriguez, from the La Mama Theater in New York, was invited by Father Virgilio Elizondo to direct the play. Henry Cisneros’ brother George wrote the music for the play. John Igo, drama critic for the San Antonio Light, gave the show a rave review. After his role in Madre del Sol, Jesse Borrego went on to star in the TV production of Fame and then a successful movie career.  

In February of 1982, the Arch-Bishop of Mexico City invited us to mount the play at the Teatro Antonio Casso  in Tlatelolco. Mrs. Portillo, wife of the presi-dent of Mexico, introduced the play to the first audience of its Mexican run. The following year, in 1983, with the help of the Meadows Foundation and the Conference of Christians and Jews, Madre del Sol was staged in Dallas. The last production of Madre del Sol was mounted by Ozzie Rodriguez at the La Mama in 1984.  

For me, the challenge of Madre del Sol was creating it as a trilingual play–English, Spanish, and Nahuatl–engendering comments from both English-language and Spanish-language audiences that despite its linguistic structure, they understood every word in the play.  

As we approach the 500th anniversary of Guadalupe’s appearance to Juan Diego on that felicitous day of 1531, one wonders about the celebratory homage of the 500th Anniversary. Perhaps roses will bloom where least expected and in December.  

Copyright © 2007 by the author. All rights reserved.

 

 

|
Lionsgate and Televisa Unite on Films for Hispanics
By Brooks Barnes, New York Times Service
Miami Herald, September 15, 2010

Lionsgate’s African-American-focused film business, anchored by Tyler Perry titles, has becomea gold mine for the studio. Movies with predominantly black casts that tell stories rooted in black culture — surprise! — bring out a sizable black audience.

Now Lionsgate is trying to pull off the same trick with Latino-focused films. The studio, in partnership with Televisa, the media conglomerate based in Mexico City, isbetting millions of dollars on that notion. On Tuesday, the companies announced the creation of Pantelion Films, which will release eight to 10 movies annually over the next five years that are aimed at Latino moviegoers in the United States.

The films will represent a mix of genres, as varied as romantic comedies and action thrillers.Some will be presented in English and some in Spanish. Pantelion’s first title, “From Prada toNada,” about two spoiled rich sisters who are forced to move in with their poor aunt in East LosAngeles, is scheduled for release in January.

“If we tell emotionally resonant stories and explore the roots of Spanish-speaking people, there isa very attractive opportunity here,” said Emilio Azcarraga Jean, chief executive of GrupoTelevisa. “People like to see themselves represented on the screen.”Hollywood has repeatedly tried to till this ground, without success. In 1999, two Los Angeles companies announced plans to release as many as a dozen Spanish-language films in the United States a year. That effort fizzled after audiences ignored two early releases. In 2003, Universal Pictures scrapped a distribution agreement with Arenas Entertainment, a Latino film label.

Samuel Goldwyn Films got burned when it tried to tap the Hispanic market in 2001 with films like “Tortilla Soup.” At the time, Meyer Gottlieb, Samuel Goldwyn’s president, told The Los Angeles Times, “When it comes to filmed entertainment, they don’t view themselves as Latinos.They want to see it because everybody else wants to see it.”But Azcarraga and Jon Feltheimer, chief executive of Lions Gate Entertainment, say they are confident they can succeed, citing figures showing that 37 million Hispanic moviegoers bought 300 million tickets in 2009, a per movie-goer rate of more than eight tickets a year, the highest of any ethnic group.

Analysts say that, compared with other groups, Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the movie-going audience and buy more DVDs. “We have been interested in this market for a long time, but now we really think we can turn itinto a business,” Feltheimer said.The difference this time, the executives involved say, is experience. 

Lionsgate has a successful track record in marketing movies to niche audiences. Televisa’s strength is in production. AndPantelion has a potential ace up its sleeve: AMC Entertainment, North America’s second-largestmovie theater chain behind Regal Entertainment. AMC’s chief executive, Geraldo Lopez, has agreed in advance to dedicate at least one screen in50 of its theaters to Pantelion films. “Gee, if we can give them more culturally relevant product we may just get them to come to themovies a little bit more,” said Lopez.


 
 


LITERATURE

History Not Type 
http://www.historynothype.com/blacklegend.htm 
History Not Type, text: When Rubén Sálaz (Márquez) was born, his parents named him after the great Nicaraguan poet in hopes that he would be a writer.  He is now the owner of fourteen copyrights for his published works.  Sálaz heard both Spanish and English at home so he grew up bilingual and bicultural.  He was a conscientious student but the books were tempered with experience.  He labored in the fields so he understands the plight of migrant farm workers.  He sold newspapers on the streets and learned what the barrio was really like.  After high school he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in history, Spanish, and Education.  (He remembers that one English professor told him, "no one will ever hire you as a writer," and one chairman of the history Department suggested that he not continue in the study of history.)  But Sálaz would not allow academic people to discourage him for long and he continued educating himself, searching out Hispanic American history which was never presented to him in high school or university studies. His various books are the result. Sálaz makes his home in Alburquerque, NM.

Shared by Armando Rendon, Editor: Somos en escritos 
http://somosenescrito.blogspot.com/  the Latino literary online magazine, invites writers of Chicano, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Hispanic origin to submit manuscripts to somossubmissions@gmail.com .

Please read the first posting, http://somosenescrito.blogspot.com/2010/02/bienvenidos.html Bienvenidos, for more information about the magazine.


 


BOOKS

MexicanRoots.com
Libros Para Latinos Book Review
Tango Mike Mike, story of Medal of Honor recipient, Roy P. Benavidez 
Iberoamericana Vervuert Publishing Corp.

Whitewashed Adobe Project by William Deverell
Theatre, Performance, and Memory Politics in Argentina by Brenda Werth
Mexican Americans in Los Angeles by Alex Moreno Areyan
Chicano Students and the Courts: 
     Mexican American Legal Struggle for Educational Equality by Richard R. Valencia
Exodus from the Alamo, The Anatomy of the Last Stand Myth by Philip Thomas Tucker
Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas: 
     Mexican Workers and Job Politics During World War II by Emilio Zamora
Lucas and His Loco Beans: 
     A Tale of the Mexican Jumping Bean by Ramona Moreno Winner
Katrina in Five Worlds/Katrina en Cinco Mundos by Kathy Saade Kenny
Juan Verdades, The Man Who Couldn’t Tell a Lie by Joe Hayes
Gabriel García Márquez through memory lane

Mi Vida, a story of Faith, Hope and Love by Jose N. Harris
Northern New Spain: A Research Guide, 
     by Thomas C. Barnes, Thomas H. Naylor, and Charles W. Polzer
This website includes a listing of books which focus on Mexican history and genealogy.  IT IS WONDERFUL!!
http://www.mexicanroots.com/index.php?p=1_14


LPNnews:
Dear Editor, Our Libros Para Latinos Book Review program provides you with free articles about books that we feel your readers will want to know about.  Please remember that there are photos and word document versions of the article at the end of this email.

Gracias, Kirk Whisler  kirk@whisler.com



Tango Mike Mike is the story of Green Beret Roy P. Benavidez and his heroic action in Vietnam that earned him the Medal of Honor. His story is truly amazing and is a tribute to all the Vietnam Vets whose stories haven’t been told. Read the book: The Last Medal of Honor: The True Story of Green Beret Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez and His Six-Hour Battle in Hell.
http://biggeekdad.com/2010/01/tango-mike-mike

For information about Iberoamericana Editorial Vervuert and all their publications:  http://www.ibero-americana.net/en/index.html.

La Revolución mexicana en la literatura y el cine, Díaz Pérez, Olivia C.; Gräfe, Florian; Schmidt-Welle, Friedhelm (eds.)

La guerra civil española en la novela actual: silencio y diálogo entre generaciones ,
Corredera González, María

Relación de las fábulas y ritos de los incas. Edición crítica de Paloma Jiménez del Campo. Transcripción paleográfica de Paloma Cuenca Muñoz. Coordinación de Esperanza López Parada

Humanismo, mestizaje y escritura. En los 400 años de los "Comentarios reales" 
Mora, Carmen de; Serés, Guillermo; Mercedes Serna (eds.)

Beatrice Vervuert 
Iberoamericana Vervuert Publishing Corp.
9040 Bay Hill Blvd.  Orlando, FL 32819 
Tel. +1 407 217 5584  Fax +1 407 217 5059



More Information on a 4 part documentary and related projects based on William Deverell's book can be viewed at: http://www.whitewashedadobe.com/ 


Whitewashed Adobe Project: 
Review by Walter Dominguez, 10/5/2010

"From 1850 to 1950, El pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles was transformed from a small frontier outpost in the distant Mexican territory of Alta California into a sprawling and storied American city called Los Angeles – its economic and cultural influence extending across the nation and the world. How did this remarkable achievement happen? What were the unique circumstances that provided Los Angeles with a way to greatness, and the remarkable and diverse people who envisioned and built this urban phenomenon? Whitewashed Adobe: The 
Rise of Los Angeles – a four-part television series and multi-platform project seeks to answer these questions…

Astonishingly, the saga of how Los Angeles rapidly ascended has never received a comprehensive treatment in television and digital media… until now. In four one-hour television documentary episodes and companion multi-platform project, Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles tells the compelling story of the remarkable and often painful transformation of Los Angeles through an innovative multi-ethnic and multi-racial prism. It reveals a city that from its Native American, Spanish and Mexican beginnings and throughout the takeover by Anglo Americans was racially and ethnically diverse, and its people creative and determined. Where despite continuing segregation, discrimination, ethnic tensions and even sometimes violence, Los Angeles’ predominant Anglos and its Mexican and other minorities found ways to collaborate and fashion one of the most magnetic and important cities of the world."

Images: Photographic & Postcards Images Acknowledgements: • The Huntington Library, San Marino, California • La Plaza History Society & Archive, Los Angeles, California • Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley • California History Room, California State Library, Sacramento • Seaver Center for Western History Research, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles • Collection of William Deverell, Pasadena, California • Archivo Práxedis, Los Angeles, California. All rights reserved by the copyright holders. No reproduction without permission.

Book  Available from UC Press.

 

Theatre, Performance, and Memory Politics in Argentina
Hardcover Palgrave Macmillan October 26, 2010
ISBN-10: 0230104347
Brenda Werth

In Argentine theatre spanning from the democratic transition to the early twenty-first century, the expression of human fragility has taken diverse forms, revealing the Tranformative engagement of performance with memory politics and human rights over the course of the post dictatorial period. 
This book examines the intervention of theatre and performance in the memory politics surrounding Argentina’s return to democracy and in the context of the growing influence of global economic, legal, and cultural systems in the nineties onward. Though staged locally, the plays and performances analyzed in this book invite spectators to imagine global communities, to rethink shifting definitions of solidarity and justice, and to reflect on the relationship between the politics of memory, identity, and place.

 


Mexican Americans in Los Angeles  
by Alex Moreno Areyan

 

Alex Moreno Areyan’s new book “Mexican Americans in Los Angeles” features UCLA faculty UCLA faculty highlighted in documenting community members’ achievements in Los Angeles by Elizabeth Case
Published November 5, 2010 in Campus, News 
Updated: November 5, 2010
http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2010/11/alex_moreno_areyans_new_book_
mexican_americans_in_los_angeles_features_ucla_faculty
 

Persistence, perseverance and determination.

“Those are the values that drive me and should drive everybody,” said Alex Moreno Areyan, who held a signing for his book, “Mexican Americans in Los Angeles,” Wednesday at the Chicano Studies Open House.

Areyan’s book focuses on the achievements of Mexican American actors, entertainers, educators, politicians and social leaders from Los Angeles. He said some goals of the book were to document the achievements of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles and emphasize the importance of their education to community members.

In his book, Areyan documented the achievements of five UCLA faculty members, including David Hayes-Bautista, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Areyan chose to profile Hayes-Bautista for his research into the Latino Epidemiological Paradox, which showed that despite greater risk factors such as average lower income, Latinos have fewer heart attacks, fewer cases of cancer, and live an average of three years longer than comparative populations. The professor of medicine is working to develop health care policies that more accurately reflect the needs of the Latino community.

Hayes-Bautista said he believes Areyan’s book will help bridge the gap between his generation, and today’s college-aged Latinos, who are separated both by age and by culture. 

“(This) book is a way of preserving the memory of the Chicano generation,” he said.

Also featured are Carlos Haro, the assistant director emeritus of the Chicano Studies Research Centre, and Reynaldo Macias, professor of Chicana and Chicano studies, who helped establish the Chicana and Chicano studies department as undergraduates in the late 1960s. 

“UCLA is an institution that has a history with regards to Chicano education,” Haro said. 

The other UCLA faculty in Areyan’s book are history professor Juan Gomez-Quiñones and UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero.

“These are the people that took the political beating that it took to establish a Chicana and Chicano studies department,” Areyan said. “They are a source of inspiration to the kids (in the Mexican American community).”

Although UCLA was the 33rd stop on his book signing tour, Areyan said his visit to UCLA was especially important to him because of his ties to the university. He conducted the majority of his research on campus and obtained many of his photographs from the UCLA archives. In the 1970s, Areyan worked as the university director of Affirmative Action, and his wife and daughter are former Bruins.

“The cover of the book came out of this room,” Areyan said of the photo collection at the Chicano Studies Research Center Library in Haines Hall. The cover photograph shows a scene from the campaign to elect Edward Roybal to the Los Angeles City Council.

As a child, Areyan traveled throughout California with his family as a migrant farm worker. His father could neither read nor write, and he attended more than 30 elementary, middle and high schools before graduating from Redondo Union High School in 1960. He worked as a human resource administrator before releasing “Mexican Americans in Los Angeles.” His academic career culminated just 10 years ago with a master’s degree in human resources and an organizational diagnosis from the University of San Francisco.

“Just tell me that I can’t do something. That gets me fired up,” Areyan said. “Anything is possible.”


Alex Moreno Areyan. Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL., Portsmouth, NH, and San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978-0-7385-8006-7

Sent by Roberto Calderon, Ph.D. 
Beto@unt.edu

 

 

Chicano Students and the Courts: The Mexican American Legal Struggle for Educational Equality by Richard R. Valencia
Subject: Valencia wins book award 

Dr. Richard R. Valencia---Professor of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin, Fellow of the Cissy Parker McDaniel Fellow Fund, and Faculty Associate of the Center for Mexican American Studies-- won a Runner Up Award at the recent 14th Annual University Co-op Robert W. Hamilton Book Awards Banquet. His book, Chicano Students and the Courts: The Mexican American Legal Struggle for Educational Equality (2008, Critical America Series, New York University Press), competed against 70 other books published by UT Austin faculty. Dr. Valencia's award came with a $3,000 prize. The Hamilton Book Awards are among the highest honors of literary achievement given to published authors at The University of Texas at Austin.

Best, Richard 

Richard R. Valencia, Ph.D.
Professor, Educational Psychology
Fellow, Cissy Parker McDaniel Fellow Fund 
Richard.Valencia@mail.utexas.edu
 
The University of Texas at Austin
College of Education, George I. Sánchez Bldg.
Suite 506K, 1 University Station, D5800
Austin, TX 78712-0383  Office: 
(512) 471-0378  Fax: (512) 471-1288

Sent by Roberto Calderon, Ph.D.  beto@unt.edu 


Dear Mimi,

Hope you are doing well. Just wanted to pass along a good review of my book, Exodus from the ALamo. The Anatomy of the Last Stand Myth from the magazine Universitas, from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. The last sentence emphasized, "Tucker attempts to break down the racism against the Tejano and Mexican people fueled by Alamo legends." This is an important message and needs to get out.

Hope that you and your family have a great holiday season.

Phil
(Dr. Phillip Thomas Tucker)

Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas: 
Mexican Workers and Job Politics During World War II by Emilio Zamora

I write to share wonderful news that Emilio Zamora won another major book award, this time from the Philosophical Society of Texas http://www.pstx.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=2&Itemid=8  for the best book for 2010, winning the best book in Texas for fiction and non-fiction. This is now the fourth award for his book, Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas: Mexican Workers and Job Politics During World War II (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2009). The other awards are from the Texas State Historical Association, the Texas Institute for Letters, and the Tejano Geneological Society, Austin, Texas. Were it not that he had already won the T.R. Fehrenbach award for The World of the Mexican Worker in Texas, he would have been a solid candidate for that one, too (inside info :-)

He receive the award in my hometown of San Angelo, Texas this past Saturday on December 4, 2010. 
Emilio’s breadth of work and scholarship encourages the view that a forceful re-articulation of human and civil rights is the direction that we, too, must take for these times of deepening inequalities.

I’ve read this book. It is excellent and it’s a great Christmas gift and available for purchase at Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=
Claiming+Rights+and+Righting+Wrongs+in+Texas&x=0&y=0
 

Angela Valenzuela 
valenz@austin.utexas.edu
 


 



Lucas and His Loco Beans: A Tale of the Mexican Jumping Bean
Ramona Moreno Winner
, Nicole Velasquez, Mary McConnell - 2002 - Juvenile Fiction - 32 pages
Lucas's grandfather takes him to a spot near his ranch where the seeds grow that are known as Mexican jumping beans, in a story that also includes information ...
books.google.com/books?isbn=0965117413

Editor:  Ramona Moreno Winner made presentations at El Paso, TX schools. Students learned what makes a jumping bean jump, where they grow, and the life cycle of the cydia saltitans (jumping bean moth). Students were then able to hold the seeds in their hands and feel the wiggling of the larva inside. 

The fun continued with "Freaky Foods From Around the World!" Teachers and students were introduced to foods from different cultures and then had the pleasure of sampling baked crickets prepared at home by Mrs. Winner. Many different cultures eat these tasty treat which are a wonderful source of protein.

“I love your book becus I 
love your pichrs and I love
the wrsz. Are you mord?”

If you would like to invite Mrs. Winner for your next school assembly, contact  bsharp@brainstorm3000.com.

Award winning author, Ramona Moreno Winner visits Dr. Sue Shook Elementary School in El Paso with cultural and science based assemblies. Channel 7 News captured the multicultural experience of eating crickets! 
See clip at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf3dmIhO334  
An introduction to the Mexican Jumping Beans

“You are a great author
and it has a lot of detel.”Sent by bsharp@brainstorm3000.com


Katrina in Five Worlds/Katrina en Cinco Mundos by Kathy Saade Kenny
Hello Mimi,  I hope that all is well with you. Yesterday I met the author and I purchased her book about her Palestinian grandmother who immigrated from Bethlehem to other countries including Mexico. The first part of the book relates the story and information about the grandmother in English. The second part of the book tells the same information -but now in Spanish.

The name of the book is "Katrina in Five Worlds/Katrina en Cinco Mundos" by Kathy Saade Kenny. I have completed reading the English part of the book. It has received a Best Books Awards Finalist award (according to USA Book News). The table of contents includes:

Katrina's Worlds
The Sa'ade Family in late-Ottoman Bethlehem
Katrina's Childhood in Tzarist Russia
Marriage and Loss in Revolutionary Mexico
California in the 20's and the Great Depression
Return to Palestine
Independent Life in California
About the Author

You can get more information about the book by going to www.KatrinaInFiveWorlds.com  
The Mexican chapter of the book states on page 29: "In the early 20th century San Pedro was a flourishing town of 7,000 residents and surprisingly multi-cultural. The local cotton industry, which exported to the United States, supported the relatively large Arab community, as well as Spanish, English, Chinese and Filipino immigrants, the descendants of whom are still there today. The Kabaade family home was a large Moorish-style brick structure that closely resembled the architectural stye of the Palestinian hill country. Several buildings of similar style and vintage can still be seen in San Pedro."

The grandmother did speak Spanish, plus she had other family member in Mexico. And from what I understand, there are still relatives in Mexico. The granddaughter (Kathy Saade Kenny) and her husband both have Mexican citizenship and often stay at their property (dwelling) in Mexico. The grandmother was an Orthodox Christian, closely affiliated (if not basically the same denomination) to the Greek Orthodox Church.

The granddaughter/author from what I recall is half Irish and half Palestinian. I can't remember what her husband's Mexican connection is, but I would assume that some of her relatives are part Hispanic by now. In any case, I have contacts with a woman in Costa Rica who is 100% of Palestinian heritage, but she was born in Costa Rica, doesn't speak Arabic and speaks only Spanish and English. There are many cases of Arabs in Latin America like this, where they no longer speak Arabic and have assimilated the Hispanic ways.

Sent by Jaime Cader
jmcader@yahoo.com

Juan Verdades
The Man Who Couldn’t Tell a Lie in English, or in Spanish!

By Joe Hayes

In this clever retelling from master storyteller Joe Hayes, a wealthy ranchero bets the farm that trusted employee Juan Verdades cannot tell a lie. When a beautiful woman tempts Juan into making a foolish mistake, he wonders if he can admit his wrongdoing.

Unavailable in print since 2008
, the new paperback edition features gorgeous watercolor illustrations from Joseph Daniel Fielder and, of course, some classic Joe Hayes storytelling in both English and Spanish.


The Reviews Are In... Publisher's Weekly
calls Juan Verdades "decidedly satisfying" :

"Spanish words and phrases dot the characters' dialogue, enhancing the regional flavor. Fiedler's spare, earth-toned paintings convey the particulars of the setting, from traditional garb to the sprawling landscapes as well as the timelessness of folklore."

While Children's Literature says: "This is a beautifully done picture book...The story is rich and will provide much for young readers to think about, long after the tale is told."

To learn more about Juan Verdades or to order your copy today, click here.
Contact:
701 Texas Ave.
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: (915) 838-1625
Fax: (915) 838-1635www.cincopuntos.com

Distributed to the trade by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, Inc.www.cbsd.com
1-800-283-3572


Gabriel García Márquez through memory lane

 

Gabriel García Márquez through memory lane
by Marcela Álvarez
 
Nobel Prize winning author Gabriel García Márquez, brings us his new opus, "Yo no vengo a decir un discurso", published by Vintage Español. This latest release collects some of the most memorable speeches given by this celebrated writer. The compilation begins with his high school commencement speech on November 17, 1944, in Zipaquirá, and ends in 2007 in Cartagena de Indias, both in Colombia.  On that occasion, the literature world commemorated a milestone: the publication of one hundred million copies of One Hundred Years of Solitude.    
 
From Bogota, Caracas, Habana, Mexico City, to Paris, Los Angeles and Panama City, in 22 chapters the book covers different periods of the author's life and his views on a wide range of topics: friendship -the special bond with fellow writers Álvaro Mutis and Julio Cortázar-, his love for cinema and his passion for journalism ("the most noble profession"), Latin America, poetry and the environment, among others. In the chapter How I began to writehe explains that his career began with a short story he sent to Eduardo Zalamea Borda, director of the literary supplement at El Espectador newspaper in Bogota.  In one of his columns, Zalamea surmised that the new generation of young Colombian writers, which included García Márquez, had nothing to offer in those days (early 1950s). Feeling a pang of solidarity towards his colleagues, he wrote to Zalamea. Silenced and impressed by the audacity of the young writer, and upon reading the story, Zalamea apologized and heralded the arrival of "the new genius of Colombian letters".    
 
The book also includes Brindis por la poesía (A toast for poetry), the much-acclaimed acceptance speech he gave in Stockholm on December 10, 1982, upon receiving the Nobel Literature Prize.  
 
An extremely shy and reserved person, García Márquez has often described the act of public speaking "as the most terrifying of human commitments." The last entry in the book is a speech he gave at the Academies of the Spanish Language before the King and Queen of Spain on March 26, 2007, in Cartagena de Indias, the idyllic seaside port of western Colombia. The writer began by saying "not even in my wildest dreams, when I was writing One Hundred Years of Solitude, I'd ever imagined that one day I would see an edition of one million copies of this book".  
 
At this time the Nobel laureate is working on a new novel, "We'll Meet in August". No publication date has been set.  
 
About the author: l García Márquez was born on March 6 1928, in the small and tropical town of Aracataca in northern Colombia. He grew up with his maternal grandparents. He attended law school but quit to devote himself to journalism and later on literature. In 1958 he married Mercedes Barcha with whom he had two sons, Rodrigo and Gonzalo. He has lived in Mexico since 1962. 
 
 
For more information on this book and/or other books, please visit www.tintafresca.us

 


Mi Vida loco, a homeless heroes road to redemption

December 7th, 2010 
By Cherie Navarro, Santa Ana Military Culture Examiner

Mi Vida is like a Latino Forest Grump story.  However, it is the true-life story of Jose Harris, his challenging  childhood, Army enlistment as a cook, but eventually ending up a Paratroopers, Airborne Ranger then Green Beret, obtaining and losing success, an ultimately finding out what matters most in life. Detroit-born, Jose Harris is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and the University of California, Berkeley.  He is a former foster child, nurse, social worker, psychological and academician.  He currently resides in Anaheim, California with his imaginary dog Jackie.

When I was approached to write a piece on Jose N. Harris’s new book, Mi Vida, and share his personal story I readily agreed, “Absolutely!”  Only after I began to learn more about Harris, a local Anaheim resident, did my enthusiasm change to “what did I get myself into this time?”  This is not a story I feel worthy to tell.   

This American Veteran’s life reads more like a John Grisham novella than a biography.  Personally, I have always vowed to family that I will never pen my memoirs; some of the most amazing stories deserve to remain untold.  And yet, often the ability to verbally recount our life experiences to others has a special way of offering an internal healing perspective all of it’s own; a new omniscient reflection into emotions and insights previously non-existent.  After spending six years residing in an automobile, homeless, following a prestigious special forces Army Ranger career which took Harris across the globe, what would be left to be done besides write it all down?  Harris actually participated in the life that so many Americans traverse monthly to the cinema to only imagine!    

American’s become homeless for so many various reasons: lack of resources, mental illness, they are hiding from the law, other criminals, or possibly they are hiding from the demons in their own mind which are not fabrications but real factual memories of places and events which cannot be erased.  (No matter how many Sci-Fi movies or conspiracy theorists believe they can be.)  The latter is the harsh reality for so many of our American Veterans living daily with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.  This illness can strike at any moment, any individual, (not just Veterans, but also victims,) and in the case of Harris many years later following a highly productive education and medical career.  The emotions involved with PTSD are entirely debilitating, they can render a healthy person sickly in moments with anxiety or real manifested physical illness. 

One of the greatest juxtapositions found in present day American culture is that we want to feel constantly safe and secure from the ‘bad guys,’ we want our large SUVS, soccer games on Saturdays, church on Sunday and to spend our moments at work day dreaming about the weekend.  As an entire culture, we want to believe (and many do,) that beyond our borders the entire planet has these same humble aspirations.  Unfortunately, the good and evil of existence is that they do not share our way of life.  There are some very scary people in this world and the United States government is sometimes forced to become involved in matters that are well beyond the scope of this article.  Certainly things that none of us want to acknowledge or know have occurred in our civilized society today; I would honestly prefer to remain ignorant.  Not because I do not care, I do, but rather because the knowing is what leads men and women like Harris to PTSD’s front door. 

For these personal reasons cited, I will not be reading Harris’s novel, instead I will probably gift a copy to one of the men in my life.  However, for everyone out there with a stronger stomach than mine, please visit his website directly, read Harris’s biography and purchase a copy of his book.  Let’s help this fellow American know how much we care that he stepped forward to ‘answer the call’ of freedom and liberty when others, like myself, walked faster back to our track homes. 

Also, the reason that despite my hesitations I chose to write this piece is because I too once loved and married a soldier who became Special Forces.  To remind anyone reading, these decisions to volunteer for the most dangerous assignments and units in the military do not just affect the soldier.  They strongly affect the lives of every person in their family, who must try to love the soldier both before and after their time of service.  Unfortunately for the families this means they must learn to love and live with two entirely different people.       

Check it out: http://www.mivida2010.com/

"Northern New Spain: A Research Guide, by Thomas C. Barnes, Thomas H. Naylor, and Charles W. Polzer

Recommended: "Northern New Spain: A Research Guide, by Thomas C. Barnes, Thomas H. Naylor, and Charles W. Polzer, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona, 1981

This book was researched and produced to help authors in their own researches of the New Spain Spanish Records. I am currently reading about the military places and names regarding New Spain. However, this book offers sources of the general with online DRSW Master Index for limited purposes.

Respectfully submitted, Leroy Martinez

 

 

 


LATINO(A) PATRIOTS

The Longoria Affair at Veteran's Day Celebration
US Submarine Rescued entire B-29 WWII crew 
Vietnam Wall's Amazing Website
History of the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner
URLs for Veteran Services
Marine stabbed, stabber "accidentally" mangled!
The Only Good Thing About the Good Old Days is That They Never Came Back, said
     WW II Veteran by Richard G. Santos
Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti by Tony (The Marine) Santiago
Hispanics in the United States Air Force by Tony (The Marine) Santiago

http://www.mynewsletterbuilder.com/tools/refer.php?s=2144683948&u=22211776&v=3&key=3edd&skey=c317cb0d9f&url=http://www.thelongoriaaffair.com
The Longoria Affair at Veteran's Day Celebration

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Alard was presented with a poster of The Longoria Affair, signed by director/producer John J. Valadez. The presentation was made by Howard Hernandez and Jake Alarid, of the American GI Forum City of Commerce, CA Chapter during its Veteran's Day Celebration. El 11 de noviembre empezó a estar disponible el documental en español por internet.

Source: Gabriel Reyes
Sent by Juan Marinez

 

US Submarine Rescued entire B-29 WWII crew 

An entire crew of a B-29 (12 aviators) was rescued by a US submarine after their plane was shot down in 1944/5   70 miles off the coast of Japan.  The entire rescue was filmed in color video but then sat in a guy's closet until now.  This is a story from a Denver TV station of one of those rescued aviators to whom the video was delivered. It also shows their transfer to another submarine that is likely headed back to port before the one that accomplished the rescue. 
  
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid347
62914001?bctid=672454611001
 


Sent by Bill Carmena 
JCarm1724@aol.com
 

View a video that shares the history of what was happening that inspired the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Iwa-
lSVqA1M&vq=medium

Sent by Paul Trejo PGBlueCoat@aol.com 

Vietnam Wall's Amazing Website

The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. It is phenomenal!!!!! Click on the site at the bottom then chose a state. First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals. 

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm  

Sent by Juan Farias 
jnbfarias@sbcglobal.net
 

Book: Valor & Discord, Mexican Americans and the Vietnam War by Eddie Morin

This penetrating new release details the actual accounts of veterans of the controversial Vietnam war. Over 30 photos. Includes commemorative postcard.



Marine stabbed, stabber "accidentally" mangled!

November 27, 2010.....Associated Press
 

AUGUSTA , Ga. - A U.S. Marine reservist collecting toys for children was stabbed when he helped stop a suspected shoplifter in eastern Georgia .

Best Buy sales manager Orvin Smith told The Augusta Chronicle that man was seen on surveillance cameras Friday putting a laptop under his jacket at the Augusta store.

When confronted, the man became irate, knocked down an employee, pulled a knife and ran toward the door.   Outside were four Marines collecting toys for the service branch's "Toys For Tots" program.

Smith said the Marines stopped the man, but he stabbed one of them, Cpl. Phillip Duggan, in the back. The cut did not appear to be severe.

The suspect was transported to the local hospital with two broken arms, a broken leg, possible broken ribs, assorted lacerations and bruises he obtained when he "fell" trying to run after stabbing the Marine.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was held until police arrived. The Richmond County Sheriff's office said it is investigating.

Sent by Bill Carmena  JCarm1724@aol.com

 


The Only Good Thing About the Good Old Days 
is That They Never Came Back, said WW II Veteran

by Richard G. Santos

richardgsantos@yahoo.com
   

 


Retired Marine Corps Sergeant Ramon Valle Trevino passed away two weeks ago. I met him about three years ago in his native hometown of Pearsall.

Born January 24, 1918, he was a son of Cayetano Trevino and Refugia Valle Trevino. Ramon grew up during the Great Depression. He remembered going to school barefooted with very little if any breakfast. If lucky, supper might have consisted of a pot of pinto beans but many nights there was nothing to eat and going hungry was common. “We had to accept that way of life as we weren’t the only ones living under these conditions” wrote Trevino in his 1993 GED essay. “There were men trying to earn a living at 50 cents or maybe 75 cents a day. To me these were the worst days of my life. Some people have called those awful years ‘the good old day’. To me the only good thing about ‘the good old days’ is that they never came back”.

The last statement is surprising as Pearsall’s Mr. T (as he was known), had served in the Marine Corps during WW II. He enlisted September 9, 1942 at Los Angeles, California. Immediately after boot camp, he was posted to the Pacific Theatre of War where he served from November 1, 1942 to May 9, 1945. His unit was the AMPRAC Company, HPBN, 3rd Marine Brigade. He was posted as a field cook. Like the vast majority of veterans, he did not speak about his wartime experiences. Yet, Trevino saw action in the island hopping tactics painfully wrestling one island after another from the entrenched Japanese Imperial forces at great losses to both sides. As cited in his discharge papers, Trevino served in the “defense of Midway Islands from July 1, 1943 to March 7, 1945”.

Although trained as a cook by the Marines, after the war Trevino settled in the San Fernando Valley of California where he became a master mason. He soon owned his own business expanding to include incinerators, cement work and general masonry work in Los Angeles, Bel Aire and Beverly Hills. Although a successful California based businessman, he never forgot his parents and family in Pearsall, He “continued to save and send money” says his son Raymond Trevino. He would frequently visit and finally bought a lot on which he built a house. Ramon V. Trevino retired to his hometown in 1991 and accepted the position of Frio County Probation Officer until he retired in 2008. It should be added with high regards that the WW II veteran and retired businessman and later Probation Officer earned his GED certificate in March 1993 at the age of 73!

About three years ago when I met Ramon V. Trevino, I found him to be modest and soft spoken almost to the point of being humble. He did no speak of his wartime experiences nor of his highly successful business in California. However, he could not accept the frequently heard gripes of younger generations complaining about “hard times”. “It is true that when I was growing up (during the Great Depression) you could buy a hamburger for a nickel but few could afford it at a salary of 50 cents a day”, he noted. I feel I am leaving this world in a lot better shape that I found it. I feel we have never had it so good.” 

As a member of what has been called “The Great Generation” that served in World War II, they certainly left us a better world. Unfortunately, many never learned the lessons and today we see a drift back to the highly segregated, discriminatory, poverty stricken world before WW II. In conclusion, we most sincerely thank Retired Marine Corp Sergeant Ramon V. Trevino and all other veterans for their contributions and sacrifices to the world, our nation and communities. Muchisimas gracias Mr.T and may you rest in peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CARMELITA_SCHIMMENTI.jpg

Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti

Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti
First Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General in US Air Force


By Tony (The Marine) Santiago

nmb2418@aol.com


Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti (born in 1936), was an officer of the United States Air Force, who in 1985 became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General, Vigil-Schimmenti was the Chief of the U. S Air Force Nurse Corps, Office of the Surgeon General; Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Early years

Vigil-Schimmenti was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she lived at her family's ranch between Edgewood and Moriarty. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1954. In 1957, she received her nursing diploma from the Regina School of Nursing of Albuquerque.

Military career

Vigil-Schimmenti joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958 and was assigned to the Air Force Nurse Corps. From August 1958 until September 1960, she served as an operating room nurse and general duty nurse at the USAF Medical Center Wright-Patterson, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. During the time she served at at the USAF Medical Center Wright-Patterson, she was able to complete the flight nurse course at Gunter Air Force Base in Alabama. In 1960, Vigil-Schimmenti was assigned as a general duty nurse at USAF Dispensary, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where she served until May 1962, when she was transferred to the 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, where she was a flight nurse until August 1964.
]
In August 1964, Vigil-Schimmenti left to attend the University of Pittsburgh and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. In July 1966, she was assigned to the USAF School of Health Care Sciences, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, as an instructor in the Medical Service Specialist Course.

Vietnam War

Vigil-Schimmenti served in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. In June 1968, Vigil-Schimmenti, was named the charge nurse in the school health program and primary care screening nurse at USAF Dispensary, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

Return to the United States

In January 1971, she returned to the United States and was assigned to David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., as charge nurse emergency services and primary care clinic, charge nurse oncology clinic and home care service.
Vigil-Schimmenti attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from August 1973 until August 1974 and earned a Master of Public Health degree. Following graduate studies, she was transferred to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where she served as charge nurse, clinical coordinator and facility design coordinator.
Vigil-Schimmenti served in various positions until March 1983, when she was selected as command nurse, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. In October 1985, Vigil-Schimmenti became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General. She assumed the duties of Chief of the U. S Air Force Nurse Corps, Office of the Surgeon General; Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

Later years

Vigil-Schimmenti retired from the Air Force in 1988. Guring her service years she attended the Air War College and the Inter-Agency Institute. Vigil-Schimmenti is a member of the American Nurses Association, Texas Nurses Association, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, National League for Nursing, Air Force Association and the Aerospace Medical Association.

Awards and recognitions

Among Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti's decorations and medals were the following:
Badges:


 

 

 


Hispanics in the United States Air Force

          By: Tony (The Marine) Santiago

 

             
 


'''Hispanics in the United States Air Force''' can trace their tradition of service back to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, which was the predecessor of the United States Air Force which was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. Hispanic is an ethnic term employed to categorize any citizen or resident of the United States, of any racial background, of any country, and of any religion, who has at least one ancestor from the people of Spain or is of non-Hispanic origin, but has an ancestor from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or some other Hispanic origin. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are the Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the estimated Hispanic population of the United States is 42.7 million (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.), thereby making the people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority as of July 1, 2005.                         

Hispanics, both men and women, have reached the top ranks of the Air Force, serving their country in sensitive leadership positions on domestic and foreign shores. Hispanics, however currently account for a total of 4.9% of the enlisted personnel making the United States Air Force the military branch with the lowest average of Hispanic recruits.                     

            

                                    Prelude to World War II

Before the United States entered World War II, Hispanic Americans were already fighting on European soil in the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted ''coup d'état'' by parts of the army, led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco, against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. Hispanic Americans fought on behalf of both of the factions involved, the "Nationalists" as members of the Spanish Army and the "Loyalists" (Republicans) either as members of the Abraham Lincoln International Brigade or as aviators in the Yankee Squadron led by Bert Acosta (1895–1954).

                 United States Army Air Forces and World War II

 
When the United States officially entered the war on December 7, 1941, Hispanic Americans were among the many American citizens who joined the ranks of the United States Armed Forces as volunteers or through the military draft. Some Hispanics, such as Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini and Alberto A. Nido, served and fought for two different countries as members of the Royal Canadian Air Force and the British Royal Air Force before joining the United States Army Air Force.

Those who were qualified pilots or had received private flying lesson were assigned to the newly formed United States Army Air Force (USAAF) and served as active combatants in both the European and Pacific Theaters of war.
 

                                             

                                Brig. Gen. Elwood R. Quesada  


Among the Hispanics who played an instrumental role as a commander during the conflict was Brigadier General Elwood R. "Pete" Quesada, (1904–1993).  Quesada(who eventually would become a Lieutenant General) was assigned as a Brigadier General in October 1940 to military intelligence in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps. He became commanding general of the 9th Fighter Command where he established advanced headquarters on the Normandy beachhead on D-Day plus one, and directed his planes in aerial cover and air support for the Allied invasion of the European continent. He was the foremost proponent of "the inherent flexibility of air power", a principle he helped prove during World War II.

In December 1942, Quesada took the First Air Defense Wing to North Africa. Shortly thereafter, he was given command of the XII Fighter Command and in this capacity would work out the mechanics of close air support and Army-Air Force cooperation.<ref name="Quesada"/>

The successful integration of air and land forces in the Tunisia campaign forged by Quesada and the Allied leaders became a blueprint for operations incorporated into Army Air Forces field regulations—FM 100-20, "Command and Employment of Air Power", first published on July 21, 1943—and provided the Allies with their first victory in the European war. Principles such as the co-equality of ground and air force commanders, centralized command of tactical aircraft to exploit "the inherent flexibility of air power", and the attainment of air superiority over the battlefield as a prerequisite for successful ground operations formed the core of tactical air doctrine. In October 1943, Quesada assumed command of the IX Fighter Command in England, and his forces provided air cover for the landings on Normandy Beach. Among Quesada's many military decorations were the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart and an Air Medal with two silver star devices.

 

Fighter pilots and bombardiers

 
A "flying ace" or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The term "ace in a day" is used to designate a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more enemy aircraft in a single day. Since World War I, a number of pilots have been honored as "Ace in a Day".
 

                                                     

                                         Lt. Oscar Francis Perdomo

First Lieutenant Oscar F. Perdomo, (1919–1976), the son of Mexican parents, was born in El Paso, Texas. When the war broke out, Perdomo joined the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet and was trained to pilot the P-47 Thunderbolt. After receiving his pilot training, he was assigned to the 464th Fighter Squadron, which was part of the 507th Fighter Group that was sent to the Pacific Island of Ie Shima off the west coast of Okinawa.

The atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945, but while the Allies awaited Japan's response to the demand to surrender, the war continued. On August 13, 1945, 1st Lt. Perdomo shot down four Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" fighters and one Yokosuka K5Y "Willow" Type 93 biplane trainer. This action took place near Seoul, Korea when 38 Thunderbolts of the 507th Fighter Wing encountered approximately 50 enemy aircraft. This action was Lt. Perdomo's tenth and final combat mission, and the five confirmed victories made him an "Ace in a Day" and earned him the distinction of being the last "Ace" of World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action and the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

Lieutenant Colonel Donald S. Lopez, Sr., USAAF fighter ace was assigned to the 23rd Fighter Group under the command of General Claire Chennault. The mission of the fighter group (the "Flying Tigers") was to help defend Chinese nationals against Japanese invaders. During 1943–1944, Lopez was credited with shooting down five Japanese fighters, four in a Curtiss P-40 and one in a North American P-51.

Captain Michael Brezas, USAAF fighter ace, arrived in Lucera, Italy during the summer of 1944, joining the 48th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Fighter Group. Flying the P-38 aircraft, Lt. Brezas downed 12 enemy planes within two months. He received the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with eleven oak leaf clusters.

Captain Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini, Royal Air Force and USAAF, was a flight commander whose last combat mission was attacking the airfield at Milano, Italy. His last flight in Italy gave air cover for General George C. Marshall's visit to Pisa. Gilormini was the recipient of the Silver Star Medal, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Captain Alberto A. Nido, Royal Canadian Air Force, the British Royal Air Force and the USAAF. He flew missions as a bomber pilot for the RCAF and as a Supermarine Spitfire fighter pilot for the RAF. As member of the RAF, he belonged to 67th Reconnaissance Squadron who participated in 275 combat missions. Nido later transferred to the USAAF's 67th Fighter Group as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Captain Robert L. Cardenas, USAAF, served as a B-24 Liberator aircraft pilot in the European Theater of Operations with the 506th Bombardment Squadron. He was awarded the Air Medal and two oak leaf clusters for bombing missions before being shot down over Germany in March 1944. Despite head wounds from Anti-aircraft flak, he made his way back to Allied control.  

Lieutenant Richard Gomez Candelaria, USAAF, was a P-51 Mustang pilot from the 435th Fighter Squadron of the 479th Fighter Group.  With six aerial victories to his credit, Candelaria was the only pilot in his squadron to make "ace". Most of his victories were achieved on a single mission on April 7, 1945, when he found himself the lone escort protecting a formation of USAAF B-24 Liberators.  Candelaria defended the bombers from at least 15 German fighters, single-handedly destroying four before help arrived.  He was also credited with a probable victory on an Me 262 during this engagement.  Six days later, Candelaria was shot down by ground fire, and spent the rest of the war as a POW. After the war, Candelaria served in the Air National Guard, reaching the rank of Colonel prior to his retirement.
 

                                                                    

                Lt. Francisco Mercado, Jr. awarded   the Distinguished Flying Cross by General Leon W. Johnson

Lieutenant Francisco Mercado, Jr.,USAAF, flew 35 combat missions as a Bombardier over enemy occupied Continental Europe as a member of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew ten missions as the Squadron Lead Bombardier, and one as the Group Lead Bombardier on December 30, 1944, on a mission to the Railroad Bridge at Altenahr, Germany. On July 21, 1944, he earned a membership into the exclusive "Caterpillar Club" after he parachuted over England while returning from a mission with a crippled B-24.

Technical Sergeant Clement Resto, USAAF, was not an "ace" but served with the 303rd Bomb Group and participated in numerous bombing raids over Germany. During a bombing mission over Duren, Germany, Resto's plane, a B-17, was shot down. He was captured by the Gestapo and sent to Stalag XVII-B where he spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. Resto, who lost an eye during his last mission, was awarded a Purple Heart, a POW Medal and an Air Medal with one battle star after he was liberated from captivity.

Corporal Frank Medina, USAAF, was an air crew member on a B-24 that was shot down over Italy. He was the only crew member to evade capture. Medina explained that his ability to speak Spanish had allowed him to communicate with friendly Italians who helped him avoid capture for eight months behind enemy lines.

When Staff Sergeant Ernest Gallego, USAAF tried to enlist, he was too young and when he was finally of age, he failed the depth perception test and therefore chose gunnery school. Gallego and his crew flew on many missions from their base in Italy.

 

                                               

                          Staff Sergeant Eva Romero Jacques  

One of the first Hispanic women to serve in the USAAF was Staff Sergeant Eva Romero Jacques. Romero Jacques, who spoke Spanish and English and had three years of college, spent two years in the Pacific Theater, 1944 in New Guinea and 1945 in the Philippines, as an administrative aide. She survived a plane disaster when the craft in which she was on crashed in the jungles of New Guinea.

 

                                  United States Air Force  

The United States Air Force was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. That same year Quesada was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as the first commander of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). However, Quesada quickly became disillusioned as he saw how TAC was being ignored while funding and promotions were largely going to the Strategic Air Command. In December 1948, Air Force Chief of Staff Hoyt Vandenberg stripped TAC of its planes and pilots and reduced its status to that of a planning headquarters under the newly formed Continental Air Command. Quesada protested and  asked for a  re-assignment. In 1951, Quesada requested an early retirement from the Air Force.  

Among the Hispanics who continued to served in the newly formed Air Force where Major Oscar F. Perdomo, who retired in 1950, Lieutenant Colonel Donald S. Lopez, Sr., who was an associate professor of thermodynamics at the United States Air Force Academy, retiring from the Air Force in 1964, Captain Robert Cardenas, who piloted the XB-42 Mixmaster and XB-43 Jetmaster. He was assigned chief test pilot for bomber aircraft and flew all prototypes of that class for the next four years.

On October 14, 1947, Cardenas was assigned the Officer in Charge of Operations and was the command pilot for the B-29 Superfortress that launched the X-1 experimental rocket plane in which Charles E. Yeager became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound. In 1948, then-Major Cardenas was the Officer in Charge of Flight Test Division at Muroc Air Force Base and was Chief Air Force Test Pilot of the Northrop YB-49 flying wing. Colonel Mihiel Gilormini, who was named base commander to the 198th Fighter Squadron in Puerto Rico and Colonel Alberto A. Nido who together with Gilormini and Lieutenant Colonel Jose Muñiz played an instrumental role in the creation of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard on November 23, 1947. Both Gilormini and Nido were eventually promoted to Brigadier General and served as commanders of PRANG.

 

                                        Korean War

                                              

                              Captain Manuel J. Fernandez Jr.  

The Korean War was an escalation of a civil war between two rival Korean regimes, each of which was supported by external powers, with each trying to topple the other through political and guerrilla tactics. The conflict was expanded by the United States and the Soviet Union's involvement as part of the larger Cold War. The main hostilities were during the period from June 25, 1950 until the armistice (ceasefire agreement) was signed on July 27, 1953. In July 1950, there were about 20,000 Hispanics in the armed forces. Over the next three years, nearly 148,000 Hispanic-Americans volunteered for or were drafted into military service. As in other conflicts, Hispanics fought as members of the Armed Forces.  

1953, Captain Salvador E. Felices, who joined the Air Force in 1947, flew in 19 combat missions over North Korea, during the war, as combat operation officer for the 344th Bombardment Squadron. In 1954, he was reassigned and stationed at the Castle Air Force Base in California. He was assigned in 1952, to the 303rd Bombardment Wing as the 359th Bombardment Squadron operations officer. Felices participated in a bombing competition, using a B-29 Superfortress equipped with an APQ-7 radar set and a Norden bombsight rate head. This would eventually lead the way to the development of the current techniques of synchronous radar bombing used today.  

During the war, Orlando Llenza flew as a pilot in the 9th Air Refueling Squadron.  During his career he flew the T-6 Texan, B-25 Mitchell, Boeing KB-29M tanker, KC-97 StratotankerF tanker, T-33 Shooting Star Shooting Star, F-86 Sabre D, E, F and H models, F-104 Starfighter, and the C-47 Skytrain, C-54 Skymaster, C-131 Samaritan transports. After Llenza retired from active duty he was named Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard by Puerto Rico's Governor Carlos Romero Barceló, a position which he held from 1977 to 1983. He retired with the rank of Major General.  

Captain Manuel John "Pete" Fernandez, was the third-leading American ace in the Korean War.  Fernandez had 14.5 kills during his 9 months in Korea. Prior to this Capt Fernandez, who joined the Air Force's predecessor, the USAAF during WW II, was an advanced instructor at Nellis Air Force Base Gunnery School in Las Vegas, NV.  

Cardenas was assigned to Wright Field and Edwards Air Force Base testing new fighters and bombers during the Korean War, he was assigned to Wright Field and Edwards Air Force Base testing new fighters and bombers.

                                            Post Korean War

                                                  

Operation Power-Flite' was the first round-the-world nonstop flight by a jet airplane.  

In 1955, Felices completed the instructor course for the B-52 Stratofortress. In January 1957, he participated in a historic project that was given to Fifteenth Air Force by the Strategic Air Command headquarters known as "Operation Power-Flite". ''Operation Power-Flite'' was the first around the world flight by an all-jet aircraft. He later completed a course on the KC-135 aircraft at the Boeing Company Ground School and participated in its flight test program. He wrote the first flight curriculum and initial qualification requirements for future SAC pilots. In July 1957, Felices delivered the first KC-135 to SAC Headquarters and he was the first to pilot the first flight of a KC-135 made by the then joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1958, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for landing a B-52 without the right rear landing gear.  

Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti joined the Air Force in 1958 and held clinical, teaching and administrative positions all over the world.

                                        Vietnam War

The war was fought between the communist North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the United States and other nations. The United States entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. Military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s and combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Involvement peaked in 1968 at the time of the Tet Offensive. The U.S. government did not begin keeping separate statistics on Hispanics until 1979. Therefore, the exact number of Hispanics who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era is unknown. The statistics that were kept by the Department of Defense, in accordance to the Vietnam War Statistics, included Hispanics among Caucasians.  

Then Colonel Cardenas flew F-105 Thunderchief combat missions during the war and was later assigned to McConnell AFB as a trainer for the F-105. In 1968, Colonel Cardenas was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to Command of the Air Force Special Operations Force at Eglin Air Force Base.  Following his assignment to Eglin AFB, he became Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force in Spain. In 1968, Colonel Cardenas was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned to Command of the Air Force Special Operations Force at Eglin Air Force Base.  Following his assignment to Eglin AFB, he became Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force in Spain.  There he negotiated with Muammar al-Gaddafi the withdrawal of US forces from Wheelus Air Base in Libya. Cardenas retired as a Brigadier General in 1973.  

Major General Salvador E. Felices held various positions within the military. On June 1968, he was named commander of the 306th Bombardment Wing. He flew 39 combat bombing missions over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War in a B-52 aircraft. In 1969, he became the commander of the 823rd Air Division which covered the regions of Florida, Puerto Rico, North Carolina and Georgia. On May 1970, Felices was named Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of Strategic Air Command. He was responsible for SAC's intercontinental ballistic missile operational testing programs.".  

Brigadier General Antonio Maldonado, who in 1967 became the youngest pilot and Aircraft Commander of a B-52 Stratofortress nuclear bomber, was assigned in January 1971, to the 432nd Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance Wing, Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. His active participation in the war included 183 air combat missions over North and South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia logging more than 400 combat flying hours in the F-4C Phantom.  

Brigadier General Antonio J. Ramos, was a Lieutenant in November 1971, assigned to the 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Phan Rang Air Base and Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. In August 1972, was transferred to U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield in Thailand where he was the Base Operations Officer until November 1972.  

Brigadier General Jose M. Portela, as a First Lieutenant, was sent to the Republic of Vietnam during the war and participated in numerous combat missions. On June 8, 1972, he was promoted to Captain and on September 1972, was reassigned to the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina as a C-5 pilot. During his stint there he was assigned to the C-141s and in 1972 became the youngest C-141 Starlifter aircraft commander and captain at the age of 22. He served at CAF until July 1973, when he joined the Air Force Reserve as a C-5A Initial Cadre at the 312th Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base in California.  

Brigadier General Ruben A. Cubero was a Captain when he was sent to the Republic of Vietnam on May 1969 and assigned to the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Tay Ninh West where he flew a OV-10 and served as a forward air controller.  On November 1969, he was reassigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, at Bien Hoa Air Base.

 

                                              

     An F-86H, one of the fighter planes flown by Colonel Negroni

Colonel Hector Andres Negroni, was a Captain when he participated in combat missions during the war and accumulated over 600 combat hours. During his tour he served in the 553th Reconnaissance Squadron stationed in Korat, Thailand and as Chief of Combat Operation in the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron in Udon, Thailand.  

Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti obtained a Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1966 and a Masters of Arts in public health in 1974. She attended the Air Force Flight Nurse School, the Air War College and the Inter-Agency Institute. Vigil-Schimmenti served in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. In June 1968, Vigil-Schimmenti, was named the charge nurse in the school health program and primary care screening nurse at USAF Dispensary, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa.

 

                               Operation El Dorado Canyon

                                                 

 F-111 Aardvark Memorial Plaque with Ribas-Dominicci's name inscribed

On April 15, 1986, Major Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci was one of the pilots who participated in the Libyan air raid, known as Operation El Dorado Canyon, as member of the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, .  His F-111F was shot down in action over the disputed Gulf of Sidra off the Libyan coast. Ribas-Dominicci and his weapons systems officer, Capt. Paul Lorence, were the only U.S. casualties of said operation. Both men's names are engraved in the F-111 "Vark" Memorial Park located in Clovis, New Mexico. Ribas-Dominicci was awarded the Purple Heart and posthumously promoted to the rank of Major, effective April 15, 1986.

 

                         United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA ), located immediately north of Colorado Springs, Colorado in El Paso County, Colorado, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Air Force. Graduates of the four-year program receive a Bachelor of Science degree and most are commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force. As of 2010, Hispanics made up 10% of the academy's student body.  

In 1961, Héctor Andrés Negroni earned a bachelor of science degree in Engineering with a major in Public Affairs in the Air Force Academy making him one of the first Hispanics to graduate from said academy. Negroni was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was awarded his navigator wings.  

On October 7, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed legislation permitting women to enter the United States service academies. On June 26, 1976, Captain Linda Garcia Cubero was among 157 women that entered the Air Force Academy with the Class of 1980. In 1980, Cubero made history when she became a member of the first class of women to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy. There she earned her BS degree in Political Science and her free-fall parachute wings.  Upon her graduation she was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.  

On July 1991, Ruben A. Cubero was named Dean of the Faculty, becoming the first person of Hispanic heritage in that position. As Dean of the Faculty, Cubero commanded the 865-member dean of the faculty mission element and oversaw the annual design and instruction of more than 500 undergraduate courses to 4,000 cadets in 19 academic departments. He led and supervised four support staff agencies and directed the operation of faculty resources involving more than $250 million. Cubero established the Air Force Academy's first Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. On August 3, 1991, Cubero was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. Cubero retired from the Air Force on July 1, 1998.  He had more than 6,000 flight hours.

 

                            Sensitive leadership positions

                                             

                 Brigadier General Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti  

In 1973, Héctor Andrés Negroni was assigned to the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, serving as an aircraft commander, flight commander, assistant operations officer, and wing chief of aircrew training. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1977 and became the Commander of the 3rd Mobile Aerial Port Squadron. In 1978, he was named the Chief of Liaison for the Joint United States Military Group in Spain. The Spanish Government presented Negroni with its highest Air Force peacetime award, the Aeronautical Merit Cross for his contributions to the successful implementation of the United States-Spain Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and in 1981 promoted to Colonel.  

José M. Portela served in the position of Assistant Adjutant General for Air while also serving as commander of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. Portela is the only reservist ever to serve as director of mobility forces for Bosnia. Besides the Vietnam War, he also participated in the following military operations: The Persian Gulf War, Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Portela retried with the rank of Brigadier General.  

Lieutenant General Leo Marquez was the deputy chief of staff for logistics and engineering, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He was awarded a commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps program upon graduation from New Mexico State University and entered active duty as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in November 1954. In June 1979 he become deputy chief of staff for plans and programs at Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Marquez served as commander of Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, from July 1981 to July 1983. Marquez, who retired on August 1, 1987, was promoted to Lieutenant General on August 1, 1983.  

In April 1984, Antonio Maldonado was transferred to K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. During the years which he spent there (1984–1987) he assumed  various leadership positions: Deputy Commander for Operations (1984), 410th Bombardment Wing; Vice Commander (September 1984)and Commander(July 1985). While commanding the 410th, General Maldonado won numerous top Air Force awards including the coveted Omaha Trophy (best combat Wing) and the 390th Bombardment Group Memorial Trophy (best Wing Commander). On May 1987, Maldonado was reassigned once more to the Pentagon where he served as Chief, Strategic Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In June 1988 he became Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center, the Pentagon. On September 1 of that same year, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.  

On July 1989, Maldonado was named Chief, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Madrid, Spain, becoming the senior Department of Defense representative to that country. His responsibilities included providing overall direction to U.S. elements in Spain on status of forces, security assistance programs and other defense and base agreement matters. He also provided overall coordination for US offensive operations out of Spain during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Brigadier General Maldonado retired from the United States Air Force on September 1, 1991 with more than 4,000 hours of flight, after 27 years of service of active duty service.  

In 1985, Carmelita Vigil-Schimmenti became the first Hispanic female to attain the rank of Brigadier General in the Air Force and was the first female general from New Mexico. She received her nursing diploma from Regina School of Nursing in Albuquerque. Because of her work on the base, she decided to join the military as a nurse. Vigil-Schimmenti retired from the Air Force in October, 1988.  

In April 2003, Brigadier General Ricardo Aponte became the Deputy Director for Operations, Headquarters United States Southern Command in Miami, Florida. In October 2004, he was named Director, J-7, of the United States Southern Command. His directorate is the focal point for transformation initiatives, knowledge management, experimentation and gaming within the U. S. Southern Command. The directorate seeks out new concepts and rigorously tests them both in simulation and as part of operational experiments. The first transformation initiative was the start-up of the Secretary of Defense mandated Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ). The SJFHQ, consists of planning, operations, knowledge management, and information superiority experts who form the backbone of the Joint Task Force command structure in the event of contingency operations. Aponte retired July 1, 2007.

In August 1997, Brigadier General Antonio J. Ramos became the first Hispanic to serve as commander, Air Force Security Assistance Center, Air Force Materiel Command, and dual-hatted as Assistant to the Commander for International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command. Brigadier General Ramos retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1999.

 

                                         Air Force Combat Action Medal

                                                   

                        Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón-López  

Chief Master Sergeant Ramón Colón-López is pararescueman who on June 13, 2007, became the first Hispanic, among the first six airmen, to be awarded the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal, bestowed upon him by Air Force Chief of Staff General Teed Michael Moseley at the Air Force Memorial, in Washington, DC. The medal was created to recognize Air Force members who are engaged in air or ground combat "outside the wire" in combat zones. Airmen who are under direct and hostile fire, or who personally engaged hostile forces with direct and lethal fire are eligible to receive the award. On March 11, 2004, Colón-López together with his Advance Force Operations Team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. His helicopter came upon hostile enemy fire, however Colón-López continued on his mission which resulted in the capture of 10 of the enemy and the destruction of multiple rocker propelled grenades and small caliber weapons. In January 2005, after Colón-López returned to the United States, he was named Superintendent of Training and later Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.

 

                      National Hispanic Heritage Week  

                             

                           Trend of Hispanic enlistment

(Source: Department of Defense, Population Representation in the Military Services, Fiscal Year 2004; and data provided by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense).  

On September 17, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated a week in mid-September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan extended that week to a month-long observance. The National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for Americans to educate themselves about the influences Hispanic culture has had on society. The Air Force has realized that the fastest growing group in both the United States and the Marines are Hispanics, and have joined the rest of the United States in the celebration of the contributions which ''Hispanics in the United Air Force'' have made to that military institution by celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15.  

However, the number of Hispanics in the Air Force do not over-represent their percentage of the population. Today the United States Department of Defense faces a nationwide problem in recruiting men for the all volunteer Armed Forces because of the w ar in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet according to the data provided by the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Hispanic recruiting numbers have not increased into that service. Compared with the United States Marine Corps where Hispanics comprise 18 percent of the enlisted personnel, the Air Force Hispanics only comprise 4.9 percent of the enlisted men.


 


PATRIOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Visita de San Antonio (Texas) a Macharaviaya, España
Expedientes militares en Espana y la America Hispana: El apellido Alfaro

Los visitantes y Alcalde, posan en la Plaza Bernardo de Gálvez, junto a la placa puesta con anterioridad por los "Sons of the American Revolution"
Ayuntamiento de Macharaviaya
Viernes, 19 de Noviembre de 2010 

Visita de San Antonio (Texas) a Macharaviaya, España

 

 

El domingo 14 de noviembre, visitó Macharaviaya, una representación de San Antonio, Texas (Estados Unidos de América), entre ellos había descendientes de los españoles que quedaron allí tras la retirada de España de aquellos territorios tras 300 años de dominación, sorprendentemente aún conservan el acento español de aquellos tiempos, según nos contó la portavoz del grupo Dña. Sylvia Carvajal Sutton. También vinieron descendientes de Cervantes, y todos ellos miembros de los Hijos e Hijas de la Revolución Americana y de la Orden de Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez.

El Grupo fue recibido en el Ayuntamiento por el Alcalde, y estos hicieron entrega de un libro dedicado sobre la historia de Texas, ranchos, contribución española a la independencia etc. Escrito  por el Sr. Robert H. Thonhoff y titulado “The Texas connection” with the American Revolution. Después, Dña. Sylvia Carvajal hizo entrega al Alcalde de una bandera del estado de Texas. Posteriormente dieron un recorrido por el pueblo, verdadero motivo de su visita, conocer la “ciudad” donde nació Bernardo de Gálvez.

Una vez más nuestro municipio es honrado con una visita que nos hace sentirnos más orgullosos de la contribución de nuestro ilustre antepasado, Bernardo de Gálvez, en el nacimiento de la nación más importante de la tierra.

 

El Alcalde da la bienvenida y expresa su satisfacción por la visita a los ciudadanos de San Antonio (Texas)   La Sra. Sylvia Carvajal, en nombre de todos, hace entrega de un libro sobre la historia de Texas.

Sylvia Carvajal hace entrega de la bandera de Texas al Alcalde

El Alcalde se dirige a los presentes y les habla de la historia de Macharaviaya y la familia Gálvez. Todas las fotos de la visita aqui:
http://www.macharaviaya.es/index.php?
option=com_ content&view=article&id
=158:-visita-de-san-antonio- texas&catid
=1:noticias-destacadas&Itemid=70
 

Sent by 
Mary Ann (Molly) Long de Fernandez de Mesa
molly@telefonica.net 

Visita al Museo de los Gálvez

Recorrido por las calles del pueblo

 

 
Expedientes militares en Espana y la America Hispana: El apellido Alfaro
El apellido Alfaro escrito por Antonio Alfaro de Prado
http://alfaro.genealogica.net/index.php/monografias/8-militares.html

Editor: Jammed packed with historical information on the surname Alfaro, starting with:
Archivo General Militar de Segovia

Conserva las hojas de servicios de las Armas de Artillería, Ingenieros Caballería e Infantería. Es posible solicitar información en relación con el personal que causó baja en el ejército hace más de 20 años, enviándose la documentación por contrareembolso. Procedimiento: remitir una carta con la mayor cantidad de datos posibles al fax o dirección a continuación:  Archivo Histórico General Militar de Segovia. Plaza de Reina Victoria Eugenia. 41071 Segovia  Nº Fax/Teléfono: +34 921 460 757. También vía e-mail:   archivosg@mde.es  Esta dirección electrónica esta protegida contra spam bots. Necesita activar JavaScript para visualizarla  

Según la obra Archivo General Militar de Segovia - Indice de Expedientes Personales , Vol. 1-9, Instituto Luis de Salazar y Castro, Madrid, Ediciones Hidalguía, 1959-1963, estos son los expedientes de militares cuyo primer apellido fue Alfaro:
Alfaro, Agustín- Inf. 1793. Noble
Alfaro, Antonio, Inf. 1839
Alfaro, Calixto- Cab, 1850*
Alfaro, Fermín- Contador del Estado, 1826*
Alfaro, Francisco- Inf.1802.Honrada
Alfaro, Francisco- Ing 1870*
Alfaro, Francisco- Inf 1872*
Alfaro, Francisco-Sanid.1881*
Alfaro, Gaspar- Inf 1787* Honrada
Alfaro, José- Inf.1794* Noble
Alfaro, José- Inf 1795. Noble
Alfaro, José- Inf 1799. Noble
Alfaro, José- Cab. 1807 Noble
Alfaro, José- Inf 1823*
Alfaro, José María- Guard. de Corps, 1802*
Alfaro, Juan- Guardia Civil, 1833. Honrada
Alfaro, Ramón- Inf. 1839. Noble
Alfaro, Simón- Inf 1809.Noble
Alfaro Abreu, Francisco- Sanid. 1896*
Alfaro Aguilar, Salvador- Inf 1836. Honrada
Alfaro Agusto, Salvador- Cuerpo de Francos, 1836
Alfaro Aspal, Gregorio- Ing. 1907Alfaro y Bachis, Domingo- Inf.1807 Noble
Alfaro Belenzátegui, José- Inf 1794. Noble
Alfaro Cantabrana, Eduardo- Inf.1848
Alfaro Coll, Federico- Inf 1923*
Alfaro y Echans, Antonio- Inf 1833
Alfaro Feu, José- Inf 1808
Alfaro Gil, Francisco- Inf. 1869
Alfaro Inguas, Bruno- Inválidos, 1860
Alfaro Ladrón de Guevara, Francisco- Inf 1861
Alfaro Méndez, José- Administrativo 1860

 

Alfaro Mira, Sacramento. I, 1871
Alfaro Miranda, Francisco- Capellán 1862
Alfaro Molina, Eustaquio- Carab. 1870
Alfaro Ortega, Sebastián- 1759. Conde.
Alfaro Palacios, Ramón- Inf. 1935
Alfaro del Pueyo, Carlos- Int. 1916
Alfaro Rubio, Rufino- Inf 1871
Alfaro Ruiz de Castro, Andrés- Cab.1816. Noble
Alfaro y Ruiz de Castro, Antonio- Inf. 1806 Noble
Alfaro y Saavedra, José- Cadete 1871
Alfaro y Sánchez, Félix- Inf 1824* Noble
Alfaro Sandobal, Ramón- Inf 1829 Noble
Alfaro Sandobal, Ramón- Inf. 1834
Alfaro Sandoval, José- Cab.1837*
Alfaro Sandoval, Teodoro. Art 1816
Alfaro Servan, José- Inf 1864
Alfaro Solano, Gregorio- Admón.Mtar. 1890
Alfaro y Somaureu, Bernardo- Inf 1833*
Alfaro Tercero, Fernando- Inf 1928
Alfaro y Teu, José- Inf 1808 Noble
Alfaro Triay, Enrique- Inf 1883
Alfaro Ursia, Daniel- Capellán, 1913
Alfaro Vicente, Enrique- Inf. 1849*
Alfaro y Villegas, José- Farm. 1794*
Alfaro Vizcaínos, Eustaquio- Alab.1894
Alfaro Zabazo, Ramón- Ing 1867
Alfaro Zarabazo, Sabas- Inf 1874

El año que se indica corresponde al de ingreso en el ejército, salvo aquellas fechas que llevan asterisco en cuyo caso falta documentación y se cita un año en el que ya pertenecía al mismo.

 

SURNAMES
OTERO


WHO ARE WE AND WHY DID WE BEGIN THEOTEROS.COM FAMILY HISTORY PROJECT?
Share Family Clan Information, GURULE Family Newsletter

http://www.theoteros.com/About_The_Oteros.html

On February 2009, 73-year-old Celia Otero Sinohui Hinojosa visited the Tubac Historical Society in southern Arizona hoping to find her ancestral roots. Throughout her early years, Celia heard countless stories of how she was related to the Otero pioneer family | the first to receive a Spanish land grant in present-day Arizona. She and her sister Maria Velia were raised by their grandparents, Ricardo Otero and Francisca Quijada Otero, in Tucson, Tubac, and Nogales, Arizona. Celia asked her daughter Diana Hinojosa DeLugan to find out how she was related to the Oteros, and that is why and how this project began.

In 1989, an Otero family bicentennial reunion was held in Tubac. Individuals from Spain, Mexico, and from across the United States attended. Sadly, many attendees left the reunion with the same question that Celia had growing up, "how am I related to the Otero family of Tubac?" We are excited to report that due to this Project many answers have been found.

Over the past year, TheOteros.com has conducted research at the historical societies in Tucson, Tubac, and Nogales, Arizona. We have been joined by Otero family descendants in our group quest to preserve the Otero family history (see below for a list of current contributors). The Otero family descendants' collaborative efforts have donated photos, oral history, and documents to the Otero Family History Collection. In addition, Otero Family contributors have been hard at work building a family tree that now spans more than 10 generations.  As this is a work in progress, we encourage anyone interested in participating to contact Diana DeLugan, TheOteros.com administrator, by filling out the contact form here.

We welcome contact from anyone searching for their Otero roots and rich history. We offer research support where we can.  In addition, we have selected a few books available in our Stores which may assist in Hispanic genealogy research, southwest history books, and books by and about Oteros. View some of our resources and the bookstores here.

Editor:  Somos Primos has included the Otero surname in previous issues over 40 times.  The reader with a special interest in the Otero surname, may want to check review some of the information by going to:
http://www.google.com/custom?q=Otero&sa=Google+Search&domains=www
.somosprimos.com&sitesearch=www.somosprimos.com
 



  SHARE FAMILY CLAN INFORMATION

Gurule Family Newsletter
12-page online newsletter published & edited 
by Patricia Sanchez Rau
http://www.gurulefamily.org/resources/newsletters/newsletter_dec_10.pdf

For the benefit of the Jacques Grolet/Gurulé Family Descendents – All rights reserved.
We welcome the contribution of story ideas, stories, genealogy queries and milestone events in your lives. You may submit them to: Patricia Sanchez Rau by e-mail leadville5@aol.com  or Angela Lewis or e-mail to gen4nm@nmia.com 

Editor: Congratulations to Patricia . .  Great newsletter with items of historical depth.

Somos Primos welcomes family clan information. 
Please feel especially invited to send an article about what your family clan is doing. 


 


CUENTOS

Bajo El Arbol De Lagrimas by Yolanda Centennial
Wizard of Odds on a Toy Boat by Ben Romero

Bajo El Arbol De Lagrimas.
A story from a manuscript by Yolanda Centennial

yoliekline631@gmail.com


Grandma was 4’10” tall and weighed about 100 pounds almost all her life, that I can recall. Her features were very distinctive of a Mexican Indian bloodline; high cheek bone, dark almost reddish looking skin. She wore her long black hair in braids with ribbons entwined along the ends of each braid. She was born in Mexico in 1904, that was all I knew.  

She never had much to say and rarely had an opinion. She was soft spoken and seemed timid when speaking. Her stare was sad and tearful looking. One day in 1969 while we were sitting outside under a pecan tree, I finally asked her where she was from and where was she born. (We were not allowed to ask questions as children, only to sit and be quiet or go outside and play.) She paused a few seconds, slowly stared up at the sky to gather her thoughts, and then softly said, “I was born in Panuco, Veracruz.”  “There was so much going on.”  She pauses a few seconds again. “That was when Pancho Villa and Zapata were involved with the revolution.” She pauses again as if gathering her picture memories. “I was just a child maybe five years old living in Panuco.” “I can’t remember what my mother and father looked like, only that they were there.” “We lived in a farm and we had chickens and horses.” “I was so young and remember being afraid.” “How did you end up in San Antonio?”  I asked. “I don’t really know.” “Something happened to my father and mother.”  “My brother, two sisters and I were separated from each other.” “There was a person who said she was my Madrina.”  “I was brought on a ship from Veracruz, Mexico with my Madrina.” “I remember crying for a long time and asking for my mother.” “I found out later in life that one of my sisters was on the same ship with me,” she said.  Tears rolled down her cheeks; she stared straight ahead and said, “To this day, I still don’t know what happened to my family.”  

It’s unimaginable how much suffering was endured by many children during that time in Mexico. In my grandmother’s case, this “Madrina” was probably a coyote taking children to the United States for profit. There were many other children whose lives were completely changed because of these unscrupulous thieves. My grandmother managed to survive, obviously. She was raised with people she didn’t know. I’m sure she never received a hug or told she was loved. Heaven knows how much more she was mistreated by strangers. She learned to cook and clean houses; was taught to obey or face the wrath of the Madrina. Grandma terribly feared this lady.  I’m sure grandma prayed everyday for her salvation from this Hell. Her plans were to someday run away and make it on her own. She saved what little money she could hide and bought a piece of land on the west side of San Antonio.  Grandma built her little “casucha.” It was not a palace nor was it something to brag about, but it was her home. How proud she must have been!  I am blessed to have learned kindness, honesty, hard work and love of family from her. She never became rich or famous, but she made a life with what she had.  I know she would have been extremely happy had her parents been there with her. She passed away in 1971.  


Yolanda writes: I have started writing memories and stories of my grandmother's life. I hope to someday complete it and perhaps publish it as a book.

 


WIZARD OF ODDS ON A TOY BOAT
by Ben Romero


In 1967, when I was fourteen years old, we lived in a rental house in Fairview, New Mexico. In the backyard was a shallow cement pond where my younger brothers often played. 

One day I was stuck taking care of my brother, Joseph, and I let him take a plastic toy boat from the bathtub and play with it in the pond. He was only three and-a-half years old, and I was bored watching him play, so I decided to have some fun with him.

“Can you say toy boat?” I asked.

“Toy boat,” he answered, clear as a bell.

“Can you say it lots of times? Fast? Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.”

“Toy boat, toy boit, toi boit,” he responded.

I laughed at his frustration. 

“Can you say it fast?” he asked.

“Toy boat, toy boat, toi boit! Auggghh.” I couldn’t do it either.

He smiled and tried again. “Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.”

“That was a fluke!” I said. Nobody can do it twice. Try again.”

He said it faster. “Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat.”

What were the odds that a three-year-old kid could breeze through a tongue-twister twice? I gave up and changed the subject. What if someone saw my baby brother beat me at my own game?


Nearly forty-five years later, my brother called and said he was making a trip to California to visit with my family and me. He said he only had a couple of days to spend with us, but hoped we could take him to the coast.


“Maybe we can go deep sea fishing?” he suggested.

I had been deep sea fishing only once in my life, and one time was more than enough for me. It had resulted in seasickness, an experience that has remained with me for twenty-five years.

“Are you sure you want to go out into choppy waters in a tiny boat?” I asked, in hopes of discouraging him.

“It sounds like fun. I hear there are places in Morro Bay where we can pay a fee and spend several hours fishing.” 

I remembered a promise I made to myself that I would never go out into the ocean on a small boat again.

“You might want to rethink that,” I said. “Once you’re way out there, it feels like you’re on a toy boat. And if you get sick or cold, they won’t turn back.”

“Where’s your spirit of adventure?” he asked. “I thought you enjoyed fishing.”

“How about whale watching, instead?” I suggested. “Monterey has places at the wharf where we don’t even need a reservation.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Whale watching sounds like fun. I’ve never seen a whale up close before. Maybe we can get Louie to join us.”

I hung up the phone and gazed at my wife, who had overheard my side of the conversation.

“You once told me,” she said, “that there was nothing of this earth that could make you get on a small boat in the ocean again. I’ve gotta work all week, so I can’t go with you. Do you want me to buy you some motion sickness pills?”

Her words hurt my pride for some reason. “No need,” I said. “We’re not going fishing, so I won’t be looking straight down at the water this time. I can handle looking out at the distance. Besides, we’re going to invite Louie, too.”

She laughed. “Your brother, Louie, won’t go out on a boat. He’s too smart. Mark my words.”


My brothers arrived on Monday, accompanied by Louie’s wife and daughter. We decided to eat dinner with all my children before taking an evening trip to the casino. I secretly hoped Joseph would be too tired to go to the coast the following day. 

Joseph is not much of a gambler. He followed me around for a while, appearing to be bored. But the Keno machine responded favorably to his touch and he hit six numbers out of six within a few minutes.

“I’m ahead four hundred dollars,” he announced. “I’m ready to go anytime you are.”

I wasn’t ready to leave, and neither was the rest of the family. Joseph wandered from one Keno machine to another, and everywhere he went, he won. Five numbers out of five on the second machine, followed by four out of four numbers on the third and fourth machines. What were the odds?

It was past midnight when we left the casino. Joseph was $700 ahead. The rest of us were at least a few dollars in the negative.


Joseph was up and ready early Tuesday morning. I told him it was best to wait until the morning traffic cleared before leaving for the coast. I also thought there would be a better chance that we would arrive too late at Monterey to get on board.

When we reached the wharf, people were boarding a boat. We were told it would get back just as the sun goes down. Joseph smiled and pulled out $40 for his ticket. I sighed and pulled out my money. My niece bought her ticket, and we looked at brother Louie.

“You guys go ahead,” he said. “Sylvia and I are going to look at the shops and get something to eat. We’ll meet you here at dusk.”

There was no time to argue. We were about to miss the boat. As the rest of us boarded, Louie and Sylvia stood on the pier taking pictures of us.

As we headed out to sea, I focused my sights on the sea lions, pelicans, and sailboats in the distance, cautious not to look straight down at the water. The waves rose high in some spots and I clung to the rail, as did the other passengers. A couple with a young child kept a firm hold on their daughter’s hand. The little girl squealed with joy at the rising and lowering of the boat. I looked at my niece and she sat quiet and content on a bench. My brother did not look so tranquil.

“I’ve seen enough,” he said, after we spotted a few playful dolphins.

“We’ve only been gone a half-hour,” I said. “We’re going to be out another three hours.”

By the time the boat stopped in what seemed like the middle of the ocean, a lady approached the boat’s first mate. “I don’t feel so good,” she muttered.

“It’ll be all right,” the man reassured her. “If you get nauseous, just lean over the rail.”

I looked at my brother. He looked pale.

“Are you okay?” I asked, feeling nauseous myself.

“That lady’s feeding the fish back there,” he said.

A moment later, a bearded young man clung to the back rail, then went down on his knees and made a retching sound that almost caused me to lose my lunch.

The captain‘s bellowing voice filled the intercom. “Everyone look at three o’clock and eight o’clock,” indicating locations from the boat. “Both appear to be humpback whales, you can tell by the blowholes.”

The excitement made us forget about the rocking boat and our stomachs for a while. Our cameras snapped photos and we ran from one side of the boat to the other. My brother smiled from ear to ear as an enormous tail flipped out of the water. Even the bearded young man stood up for a few minutes, still clutching the back rail. 

A few more sightings on the long ride back to shore pleased the crowd. All I wanted to do was get back to a warm, stable shore. When I looked around to see how my brother was doing, I saw him next to the bearded man, feeding the fish. 

As we left the boat, we noticed the couple with the young child. The little girl looked pale, cold, and dizzy. I was relieved that I’d managed to survive the boat ride without puking. My niece said I looked kind of sick, and I wondered how she was able to sit through the entire tour without getting dizzy.

After dinner and a lot of teasing of Joseph by the rest of us, we started the long drive home. Somebody mentioned the casino and Joseph’s good fortune the night before, and we ended up making a detour back over there.

Tired as I was from the day’s driving and excitement, my luck with the machines was pretty good. At least I was staying a little bit ahead. 

Joseph looked glum for a while, but then he hit five numbers out of five and perked up. Before long, he moved to another machine and won another couple hundred dollars. 

When I dropped him off at the airport the next morning, my brother shook my hand and said, “This is the first trip I’ve taken where I get to go home with more money than I started with. What are the odds?”

As for me, the odds of ever boarding a toy boat and going out into the ocean again are less than none.

Ben Romero
bromero98@comcast.net
www.benromero.com


 


FAMILY HISTORY

Looking for a Town?
Títulos Nobiliarios
Researching Colorado heritage
National Archives and Records Administration, New Blog
Access to NARA’s Archival Databases (AAD) 
Southern California Genealogical Society 
MexicanRoots.com
Family Search status: 160 Million Records 
Big Changes at FamilySearch.org
Tip: If you are looking for a town and can't find it.  Maybe there was a name changed.  I did a google search for current name of city of Boca de Leones in Mexico

I got this:  Antonio Gómez de Castro and Nicolasa Baes de Treviño, at the mining town of Boca de Leones, present-day Villaldama, Nuevo León. ... PLUS . . Carnestolendas, now the site of Rio Grande City, Texas, on the north side of the river. ... By 1766 Garza Falcón had established a ranching outpost named Santa Petronila five leagues ...
Títulos Nobiliarios 
El objeto de crear este blog es difundir toda la información relacionada con los títulos nobiliarios, poniendo especial hincapié en los archivos y centros que conservan documentación relacionada, la bibliografía sobre los mismos, y cualquier noticia interesante al respecto.
http://titulosnobleza.blogspot.com/ 

URL for many resources for researching Colorado heritage.
www.mykunci.com/news/hispanic-
genealogy-center.html
carnicas-ireland
.com/passanger-elijah-spencer-genealogy-grout/

fieldofyoga.com/devilbiss-donald-crabtree-genealogy/


National Archives and Records Administration, NARA, 
Recent post on their Blog about the 2010 census.  

"Have you ever wondered what it will be like to research the 2010 Census records in the future? The decisions about what is permanently kept are being made today, and you can have your say. Right now, the appraisal site: 
http://blogs.archives.gov/records-express/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/n1-029-10-5-appraisal.pdf  

Records schedule
http://blogs.archives.gov/records-express/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010-census-records-schedule-n1
-029-10-5.pdf
  
of the 2010 Census are available for public review and comment. 
There is a Records Express blog post_ http://blogs.archives.gov/records-express/?p=1016 and a notice http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/11/30/2010-30216/records-schedules-availability-and-request-
for-comments#p-19
 
in the Federal Register, but we also wanted to make sure those of you who follow NARAtions are aware of the opportunity to review and comment."

********************
This is a chance to make comments that will become part of a permanent record.  
http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/?p=3762 

Source: California State Genealogical Alliance
Cathy Lujit, SHHAR Liaison 



Access to NARA Archival Databases (AAD) 
  http://aad.archives.gov/aad/

Show All Series >>
Browse by Category Genealogy/ Personal History Casualties Civilians Military Personnel Passenger Lists Prisoners of War Indexes to Photographs Textual Records Private Sector Businesses Foundations Labor Unions Securities Places Countries States Counties Cities/Towns Zip Codes Wars/ International Relations Civil War World War II Korean War Vietnam War Cold War Diplomatic Records Government Spending Contracts Grants and Assistance

Time Spans 1800 –1900 1900 –1940 1940 –1955 1955 –1965 1965 –1975 1975 –1985 1985 –1995 1995 – present Browse by Subjects

Be sure and Browse by Subject
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/subject-list.jsp

Sent by Bill Carmena
JCarm1724@aol.com


Southern California Genealogical Society 
Jamboree 2010 lectures are now available on CD at the SCGS Library!

The Library’s collection now includes:
73 lectures from Jamboree 2010 
82 lectures from Jamboree 2009
10 lectures from the 2009 seminar sponsored by the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS) 

A choice, altogether, of 165 lectures. These CDs are located in CD Cabinet #2 in order of acquisition number. Lists of lecture topics for each speaker that show CD acquisition numbers are available at the library to help you find the CDs you want to play. Bring your own headphone set or borrow one at the library. 

Submitted on behalf of V Metcalfe


MexicanRoots.com
 Editor:  I can't say enough about this website. 

 http://www.mexicanroots.com/index.php?p=1_1 

This site is dedicated to helping family historians trace their Mexican ancestry and build their Hispanic family trees.  Mexico has an incredible amount of genealogical records because of records kept by the Catholic Church, but finding those records can be difficult if you don't know where to look.  This website is a resource which brings all this different information together onto one site. 


Read our Recent Posts on famous Hispanic genealogies and family history. Trace your ancestors in Mexico

Start your search by learning how to use the FamilySearch.org FREE searchable database, with over 2 million baptisms and 300,000 marriage records from Mexico.  Find out how to view and print scanned copies of millions of available Catholic Church records dating back to the 1600's.  The records from FamilySearch.org are mostly prior to the 1930’s, but in some cases there are records up to the 1950’s.  
                                  Trace your Mexican-American ancestors

Ancestry.com and other sources can be used to find immigration information about your ancestors who came to the United States from Mexico.  To find your Mexican ancestors you need to know some basic information such as their names, year of birth, and place of birth.  If you know the village or town that your ancestor lived, you can then look to the nearest church for records.  Spanish settlers established towns and missions throughout the current boundaries of Mexico and the southwest United States.   Mexican Genealogy 101

Spain ruled Mexico from the time Cortes arrived in 1519 until the Mexican Revolution in 1821.  Roman Catholic Spanish priests recorded baptisms, marriages, deaths, and confirmations of local people in books kept as far back as the 1600’s.  These books record not only the names, but also place of birth, parents, grandparents, godparents, and racial information.  Most Mexicans have a mixed heritage of Spanish and native American or Amerindian, which is evidenced by the number of baptisms which list the child as “mulatto” or “mestizo”.  Take a look at our pages on Spanish TerminologyRacial Terminology, and Spanish Names to learn more about your Hispanic heritage.  

Check out a list of 50 questions to ask when interviewing family members during genealogy research.  Learn more about the History and Geography of Mexico to learn where your ancestors were from and understand how your family was influenced by important events in history. 

The Southwestern United States was part of Mexico until the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 and Spanish Missions and towns as far north as San Francisco, California.  The U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California have a strong Hispanic influence and history.  Also read our pages about the Catholic Churches of Mexico, and Interesting facts about Mexico

Learn about the new genealogical method of tracing your Mexican ancestry through DNA Testing.

To explore our site further, check out our Sitemap or Links pages for more research tools, or Contact Us for with your questions.  Use the menu at the top of any page to link to different areas of this website.

NEW: Learn to Trace your Puerto Rican genealogy here.



Family Search status: 160 Million Records 

 We are excited to announce that, with three weeks of the year left, our indexing volunteers have completed over 160 million records. New projects now available include records from Canada, England, Russia, and the United States. Completed collections that will soon be available on beta.familysearch.org include records from these countries as well as from Germany. So far this year, over 100 million new records from countries too numerous to list have been added to the beta search site. Visit beta.familysearch.org and click on the All Record Collections link to see how many countries are represented.

We hope this information has been helpful to you, and we appreciate all that you do to help move family history forward.

Sincerely, FamilySearch   

 


Big Changes at FamilySearch.org


SALT LAKE CITY–FamilySearch announced (Dec. 14) several changes today for its family history website,  FamilySearch.org. Online patrons will find millions of new records and images, over 40,000 helpful articles, over 100 interactive courses of instruction, and a dynamic forum to ask personal genealogy questions. The changes have been in testing for some time. FamilySearch will continue to implement the new website in phases to ensure all critical elements are functioning as desired. Once complete, the website will be promoted more broadly.

 The new site offers the following free benefits to FamilySearch patrons:

•        Millions more scanned, historical documents and indexes that are published more frequently.
•        An improved search experience that looks through more content and gives more accurate results.
•        A thriving online genealogical community where patrons can give and receive help.
•        One user name and password for all FamilySearch products and services.
•        Responsive, reliable, and scalable hardware and software that will allow the site to grow and improve.


FamilySearch has published a helpful document called “Adjusting to the New Version of www.familysearch.org” and a video tutorial that summarizes the changes to the new site.  These new guides can be found under the “Changes at FamilySearch.org” link.  The prior version of the site will still be available through the transition period.

FamilySearch International is the largest genealogy organization in the world. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch has been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. FamilySearch is a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.


 

 


ORANGE COUNTY, CA

January 8: SHHAR Meeting: Exploring the "MexicanRoots.com" website
January 8:
Grand opening of  new Grijalva Sports Center facility
Story of an Historic Orange County Church by Albert V. Vela, Ph.D.

What: Exploring the "MexicanRoots.com" website.

When: Saturday, January 8, 2011 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Where: Orange Family History Center, 674 S. Yorba Street, Orange, CA.

Details: A free presentation...Everyone welcome...No cost. The presentation by Mimi Lozano, SHHAR President and Publisher/Editor of Somos Primos, is sponsored by the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR). The presentation will include a discussion of the genealogical records kept by Catholic Churches in Mexico. Learn how to use the "MexicanRoots.com" website to find those difficult records and trace your Hispanic/Latino ancestry.

One-to-one research assistance is provided from 9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Presentation begins at 10:15 a.m.

For more information on this event, call Mimi Lozano at 714-894-8161.

 

Please Join Us!
Saturday, January 8, 2011

The dream is now a reality! The long awaited Sports Center at Grijalva Park is here and ready to serve its community! This state-of-the-art, energy efficient, *LEED designed 26,200-square-foot sports center is located at 368 North Prospect Avenue and features a dance room with a wood floor, ballet barres and mirrored wall, a large multipurpose room, and a spacious gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts and plenty of fan seating.

*LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) 
is a certification system indicating that a building was designed and built to be environmentally sound. 

Try It, You’ll Like It! 

In celebration of the grand opening of our new facility we are offering FREE single-day class trials the week of January 10-15, 2011 in the Sports Center at Grijalva Park. “Try It, You’ll Like it!” includes classes such as, fencing, water color painting, cardio pump, swing dancing, and much more! Pre-registration for free classes starts the week of November 8. You will need to complete a registration form and mail, fax, or walk-in it into the Community Services Department located at 230 East Chapman Avenue, Orange CA 92866 or register online for a small convenience charge. 

Sent by Eddie Grijalva 
grijalvaet@sbcglobal.net


  Story of an Historic Orange County Church

Albert V. Vela, Ph.D. 
cristorey@comcast.net
Growing up in Westminster in the 1940s and 50s, I always wondered about the origins of the Japanese church used by Blessed Sacrament Church. I grew up on Spruce Street on the same block as the Church. I remember that Fr John McFadden, our first pastor, taught us our catechism lessons in this small wooden church in 1946 when I was in third grade at the newly integrated Seventeenth Street School. It was a small A-frame building with an east-west orientation. Barrio altar boys rang the tower bell to announce the beginning of Mass. Parishioners, Mexican Americans and Anglos, entered from Olive Street, the west side. Across from us on the North Plaza and South Olive Street corner was the beautiful First Presbyterian church and their meeting hall.


First Presbyterian Church

As a teenager growing up in the 1950s, I recalled hearing that our church was purchased from the Japanese. From the Japanese? How could this be? There were no Japanese families in Westminster that I knew of in the 1940s.
Recently I came across important sources that have cleared up my mystery. One is an old copy of the Westminster Herald dated Friday, July 9, 1948 which I found in the Westminster Historical Museum directed by Joy Neugebauer. The front page displays a large photo of the church along with two smaller pictures. One picture is of our genial pastor, Fr McFadden. He was an electrical engineer before he was ordained. He spoke English and delivered homilies Spanish with an accent. (Why he sounded angry when he gave his sermons I never knew until I learned that brimstone and fire were the style of the times.) He’s standing in front of the new rectory (1946) on the south side of the church. The second photo shows Sr Thaddeus, a Columban missionary nun who arrived in 1948.  The "Japanese" Mission Church used by Blessed Sacrament Parish ca 1942


Aerial view of Blessed Sacrament Church, School and Sigler Park, CA, 1979

I shared a digital photo of the “Japanese” church with Janice Munemitsu. She wrote, “Yes, that looks like the building.” Janice is related to the Munemitsu family that leased their Westminster farm to Gonzalo Méndez in 1942. As we know, Méndez spearheaded the drive to integrate Mexican American students in town Westminster, Santa Ana, and Orange. He and the other plaintiff Mexican American families are fondly remembered for their successful 1945 court case, Méndez at al. vs Westminster, et al.


Leaora Blakely wrote the article, “Tiny Country 
Church Makes Fourth Move” in that 1948 issue of
 the Westminster Herald. She remarked that Blessed Sacrament planned to move the “Japanese” church 
to an area near Talbert (now Fountain Valley) for the Catholic Mexican American residents living there. Apparently the Mexican American community known as Colonia Juárez needed it for religious services. 

Religious Procession moving South on Olive St. ca. 1946. First Presbyterian Church in Background on N/W Corner of North Plaza and Olive Streets.  Don Natividad Mendoza on left Carrying Canopy, Fr John McFadden Under Canopy.

Religious Procession moving South on Olive St. Shows old Bolsa Methodist Episcopal South Church used by Blessed Sacrament Church ca. 1947
Clarence Nishizu, an Orange County Japanese farmer during the 1930s – 1960s, mentions in the book of the same name, Clarence Nishizu, that Japanese farmers raised Mexican chili peppers, sugar beets, and lima beans in Talbert/Fountain Valley as well as in Garden Grove, Buena Park, Smeltzer, Wintersburg, and Anaheim. He says that “Some of the Issei (first generation Japanese) farmers wanted a church, so the first Presbyterian Mission, now Wintersburg Presbyterian Church. . . in Garden Grove, was built in 1910,” (p. 58). Clarence comments about the Reverend Takeshi Ban. He states, “[His} story is a classic in itself,” (p. 2). 

It was to be moved following the construction of the new Blessed Sacrament Church completed in time for Christmas in 1950. This was to be the final move of this historic mission church. Lupe Fisher has fond memories of the mission church sponsoring Jamaicas (bazaars) in the 1950s in Colonia Juárez. Today it is located on Ward Street south of Warner. The Holy Spirit Catholic Church uses it as a thrift shop. This, then, was the fourth move of this historic 128-year church.

It was a labor of love originally built in 1882 with donated materials and labor. In his book, The Story of the Town of Bolsa (2003), Douglas Westfall narrates that parishioners of the “Methodist Episcopal South Church from Greenville (then old Newport) had been holding services in Bolsa for several years,” (p. 26). He adds that the father of Walter Knott of Knott’s Berry Farm was an early minister here.

The Latin American Mission used it next. From 1927 to 1929 it served immigrants from Mexico who labored in area agricultural fields. A Reverend Pedro Robles held services here during those two years. It’s possible that the Methodist Church supported the Latin American Mission.

According to Westfall and Leaora Blakely, Japanese pastor S. T. Ban moved the building and locates it on the Ball Ranch in 1926. Seven years later, in 1933, Rev. Ban buys property on South Olive Street in Westminster and moves the church there. It was during this move on March 10, 1933 that the Long Beach earthquake hit causing some damage to the church. Following restoration it is supposed that the Westminster School District contracted with the Rev. Ban to use it as a school in the fall. The reason is that the Seventeenth Street School, a brick building, suffered extensive damage from the severe quake.


The building was for sale in 1942 when the Japanese communities in Orange County were being relocated for security reasons to remote places like Poston, Arizona and Manzanar, California. The Catholic Diocese of Los Angeles purchased the abandoned building that year. 





Historic St. Isidore Mission Church, Los Alamitos. Previously in the 1920s and 30s Mexican American Catholics in the Westminster barrio traveled the four miles to the mission church of St. Isadore (1921), Los Alamitos, for Mass and religious instruction. Masses were also held in barrio homes for the convenience of the faithful. 

The first two pastors of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Fathers John McFadden and Robert Ross, resided at St. Isidore in 1939. Father Kevin McNally, ordained in 1941 at age 27, came to Los Alamitos shortly in the early 1940s. They and the other Columban Fathers were headquartered at the rectory built in 1946 on South Olive Street. The mission church of St. Isidore was assigned to the Columban Fathers in 1941. It had been under the care of the mother Church, St. Boniface, in Anaheim. 

If you follow carefully the movement of the Blessed Sacrament mission church, you will notice that it’s been moved three times and not four, as Blakely observes in her article for the Westminster Herald. She no doubt meant to write that it had been at three previous different locations, that this would be its fourth move: Bolsa Avenue and Wright, the Ball Ranch, Westminster, and now Fountain Valley. May this veritable mission church building survive another 128 years! 

The Original Bolsa Church now in Fountain Valley, now in care of Holy Spirit Parish.

 

 

 

 


LOS ANGELES, CA

A Monument Stands in East Los Angeles
Los Angeles Family Center
January 22 and 23rd, Getty Museum lectures


A Monument Stands in East Los Angeles
by Eddie Morin


World War II was especially harsh on the Mexican-American citizens since the community experienced an inordinate amount of casualties even as they were oppressed with discrimination in housing, employment and educational opportunities. In East Los Angeles, one of the largest areas in California that houses citizens of Mexican descent, a committee was formed to draw attention to the disparities in human and civil rights despite great sacrifices for freedom’s cause

Dedicated to assert that its sons and daughters had earned the right to full citizenship and its attendant benefits, the Latin American Civic and Cultural Committee worked tirelessly to raise funds so that a monument could be erected in honor of the Mexican community members who had served so honorably. 

When the ground was broken one year later, a meaningful plaque read: 

December 7, 1946

This ground broken for the

Erection of a memorial as an

Everlasting tribute to the

American sons and daughters of

Mexican descent who gave all

In World War II


The site that was picked was ideal, a triangular shaped island on Brooklyn Avenue, (now Cesar E. Chavez Avenue), with a smaller island on the opposite side of the street. The area had formerly been called Five-Points. The committee was spearheaded by Zeferino and Julia Ramirez and members of the Chamber of Commerce. Also lending assistance were Pete Aguilar Despart and Raul Morin of VFW Post 4696. The following year the goal was realized and the monument’s inscription read:

IN MEMORIUM

THE MEXICAN COLONY GRATEFULLY  DEDICATES

THIS MONUMENT TO THE SACRED MEMORY OF THE

AMERICAN SOLDIERS OF MEXICAN DESCENT WHO

GAVE THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR II 1941-1945

FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY DEDICATED MAY 30, 1947

ERECTED BY THE LATIN AMERICAN CIVIC AND CULTURAL COMMITTEE

As the monument pointed out the casualty list was long but so too, was the list of heroes and the monument became a tradition for Memorial Day observance in East Los Angeles. 

As a cognitive parallel to events, Raul Morin penned his accounts of the Mexican American Medal of Honor recipients of World War II and Korea. The book was a first of its kind and was eagerly received by a public who yearned to know more about its heritage. The accomplishment was a fitting one for Raul Morin who had dedicated himself to veteran and community causes.

Raul Morin spoke out and wrote editorials against discriminatory practices, he decried the disparity of the grand jury system and was an unrelenting critic of police brutality. He
spearheaded the effort to get a park in East Los Angeles named after Eugene Obregon, a Medal of Honor recipient. 

An egregious lack of Hispanic representation in the officiating of boxing events motivated Raul Morin to address the state Sports Commissioner and this resulted in a newsworthy event. Costelo Cruz and Joey Olmos made history as they became California’s first Hispanic referees. As Joey Olmos said, I really didn’t think I had a chance to become a referee. Because of Raul Morin’s encouragement I reached that goal.”

Raul Morin received invitations to the inaugurations of both John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. He was asked by the Johnson administration to participate on a panel of civil rights along with Vicente T. Ximenez. He also served on Mayor Yorty’s Community Advisory Committee. At Raul Morin’s demise, the family received a letter of condolence from the White House expressing their acknowledgement of his service to the nation. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also adjourned in his honor but they did something more notable: following the suggestion of Commissioner Alarico Ortega and Felix Ontiveros, they issued a proclamation naming the park located at the Five-Points area of East Los Angeles as Raul Morin Square. It was officially dedicated on May 7, 1968.

The monument includes a plaque that states quite simply, Raul Morin: Soldier, Patriot, Author and yet it does not begin to tell the entire story. His deeds are remembered fondly and there are many who state that he had a positive influence on their lives but now there are plans to redesign the area and that is where the controversy begins.

Because of increased traffic and an expanding Metro system, a conversion to a traffic circle at the Five-Points has been planned. There is some debate with the decisions being made by the planners and there is also strong reaction as to what name should be used. Completion for the traffic circle is slated for 2012 but the sorest issue of all is whether to continue calling it “Morin Memorial Square” or to opt for the new version “All Wars Memorial”. Morin Memorial Square was officially dedicated and approved by the Los Angeles City Council with signatures that include Gilbert Lindsay, Art Snyder, Billy Mills, Tom Bradley, Enarni Bernardi, John Ferraro, and the rest who stipulated that it would stand for perpetuity and that it included the area on both sides of the street. Nowhere does the monument mention All Wars, in fact, it seems to have emanated solely from a committee that is convinced that it is improving matters.


Memorial Day 2009  
Left to right: Manuel Martinez, Frank Aragon, Eddie Morin and Jerry Jaramillo

There is no rational for a change. In fact, there is already an All Wars Memorial in East Los Angeles. It is located at Atlantic Boulevard Park on Sixth Street and Atlantic Boulevard, (570 S. Atlantic). This has not deterred the All Wars Committee who have gone so far as to insist that the name existed at the Five-Points from the start even though a thorough examination of the facts proves that this is just not so. Ironically, some of the members of this so-called All Wars Committee are members of VFW Post 4696, an organization that Raul Morin helped to found. The Morin Committee has as one of its members, Rudy Hernandez a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and other Medal of Honor heroes have offered their support too namely Alfred Rascon and Walter Ehlers.

The planning committee which includes both sides of the issue along with city engineers will have a meeting in January 2011 to further discuss matters. Developments will be forthcoming.  Eddie Morin is the son of Raul Morin and a Vietnam Veteran. He has also written an account of the Mexican American Medal of Honor recipients of that war.  
Eddie Morin can be reached at: eddie_morin@sbcglobal.net

 

 
Los Angeles Family Center
The reopened  Los Angeles Family Center is the second major LDS family history resource in the nation to reflect the new emphasis on digital access and training spaces. The upgraded facility underwent extensive renovation and electronic upgrades.  The LAFHC has 54 illuminated monitors, 90 new computers, and 18 large desk top film readers.

One of the more popular features in the "fish bowl" rooms were two, side by side, 70-inch monitors capable of airing live training sessions on family history from any location wired with teleconferencing capabilities in the world.  It was demonstrated how teachers could hold classes with specialized experts in their field without anyone having to travel out of state or, perhaps out of the country.
Church News, week ending Nov 27, 2010

  January 22 and 23rd, Getty Museum lectures
January 22, 7 p.m.:  Mesoamerichanics, Artists Einar and Jamex de la Torre explore their approach to reinterpreting the classics of Mesoamerican sculptured to suite their current circumstance of living on both sides of the Mexican-American border.
Jamuary 23, 7 p.m.: Los Angeles-based documentary filmaker and writer Jesse Lerner - wjhose films have been shown at the Sundance film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Musuem - discusses the persistence of ancient Mexican visual culture in the modern imagination and as a theme that runs through his work.

 

 


CALIFORNIA
 

January 21 - 23, 2011, Los Californianos Quarterly, Paso Robles 
Cowboy Coffee by Richard Duree
California Spanish Genealogy Compiled by Ron Filion
Anuncio de la 2nda Conferencia Anual de la Sociedad Genealogica Nueva Galicia
Tiburcio Vasquez's story retold in "Bandito"
Joaquin Murrieta, Robin Hood of El Dorado
January 21 - 23, 2011, Los Californianos Quarterly Meeting  in Paso Robles 
Our upcoming quarterly meeting will  be held in Paso de Robles. The location was selected so we can visit the newly restored Mission San Miguel. But Paso Robles itself is a very interesting place, historically and today. You will be able to eat, drink, shop, and sight-see while taking a walking tour of the historic downtown buildings including:  The Granary used in the 1880s for flour production and storage is now the home of Cool Hand Luke’s Restaurant and Bar.  The Municipal Bath House Built by and for the City, today is Powell's Sweet Shoppe.  The Cosmopolitan Hotel began as a bar and rooming house as early as the 1860s and today it is the Pine Street Saloon.  The Paso Robles Children's Museum is housed in the Paso Robles Firehouse built in 1930's. Information on 75 wineries in town and the walking tour will be in your registration packets. The Anglim Winery occupies the Historic Paso Robles Railroad Depot. Beer lovers will want to visit the Firestone-Walker Brewery & Tasting Room. Firestone-Walker Brewing Co. is an award winning microbrewery featuring fresh unpasteurized pale ales. The River Oaks Hot Springs Spa is just north of town.  We have a scheduled tour of the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum. It contains artifacts from early Indian settlements, vintage farm and ranching equipment, antique vehicles, clothing, and hundreds of items from pioneer homes and businesses.  A restored one room school house built in 1886 and  the area’s first brick jail are on the property. The Paso Robles Area Historical Society in the Carnegie Library, located in the downtown City Park, has photographs and documents of the history of North San Luis Obispo County. including the San Luis Obispo County Title/Patent books 1850-1946.   

San Miguel is seven miles north of Paso Robles where we tour the Rios Caledonia Adobe, built under the direction of Petronilo Rios. From 1860-1886 it served as an Inn and Stage stop  on the road from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Our major event is the afternoon tour of the newly renovated Mission San Miguel will be led by John Warren, historian and Curator of the San Miguel Mission Museum. After repairs from earthquake damage, the mission church is once again a busy, popular wedding site. Joseph Barnes negotiated a time for us to see it.  After  a happy hour and dinner at the Mission San Miguel Auditorium, art historian Pamela Huckins and  Julianne Burton-Carvajal, PhD. present "The Legacy of Esteban Munras: Painted Walls and Family Documents." Esteban Munras is credited in designing the painted decoration of the church and sacristy at Mission San Miguel and supervising the Native Americans who painted them. Mission San Miguel is the only one of our
21
missions that retains its original decorative scheme intact. Our Sunday morning brunch and general membership meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. at the San Miguel Mission  auditorium. Our speaker will be Wallace Ohles on "The Lands of  Mission San Miguel and Rancho El Paso de Robles." Mr. Ohles is a member of Friends of the Adobes since 1971 for which he authored the book Lands of Mission San Miguel. 

Headquarters:    Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
        2455 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
        805-238-6500

Special Room Rate  $99 + tax per night (also Thursday, Jan 20 and Sunday, Jan 23) Hotel Reservation Deadline  Monday, Jan 5th   Call Now REGISTRATION FORM ATTACHED. Meeting Registration due January 15, 2011 Questions? Call Joseph Barnes at 661-254-1642 or email jebsep@yahoo   


     
 
Cowboy Coffee by Richard Duree
A cup of real Cowboy Coffee will make a believer out of the most skeptical and finicky coffee drinker.  It's "black as death, strong as love, sweet as sin, hot as hell."  And it's smooth as silk, without a trace of bitterness.  Here's how the experts do it.

You need a metal pot with a wide base and narrow top.  Add the amount of water you wish to brew and measure an appropriate amount of freshly ground coffee beans.  Just pour the ground coffee onto the top of the water, then, with the lid off, heat the water until it just comers to a boil.  Remove the port from the heat and pour a cupful of cold water over the coffee grounds; give it a minute or so to settle the grounds.  Then, pour off a cup, sample and and toss the remainder of the cup (don't know why, but that's what the expert said to do).  At the point the coffee is ready to serve. 

It takes about 50% more coffee than a normal drip coffee process.  There is some disagreement among experts whether or not to add cold water; some say the grounds will settle in about five minutes without the cold waters.  An alternative method is to just remove the lid from the pot for a minute or so to the let the grounds cool.

Editor: I found this description very interesting because I remember watching my Mom, under the direction of my Dad, prepare coffee in this way, . I remember being puzzled by  the act of pouring cold water into a pot that was brewing hot coffee. Why would you cool off the coffee and stir up the grounds?  Apparently, because it worked.

Richard Duree is president of the Living History Society of Mission San Juan Capistrano.
 


California Spanish Genealogy 
Compiled by Ron Filion for SFgenealogy

SOLDIERS OF THE [ANZA 1775] EXPEDITION As the soldiers of Anza's expedition were the founders and first settlers of the city of San Francisco, it becomes a matter of historical importance to know who and what they were. They left their imprint on the civilization of California and their names are as familiar as household words to all who know the country. The list is now given for the first time and the particulars concerning the families were taken from the Spanish archives of California, destroyed by the fire of 1906. In giving the members of the families I only enumerate the children accompanying the expedition. Many more were born in California. 

1. Ensign José Joaquin Moraga was born in 1741; died in San Francisco and was buried July 15, 1785, in the mission church whose corner stone he laid in 1782. Moraga was an able assistant to Anza and received his commission as lieutenant on the arrival of the expedition at San Gabriel. He accompanied his commander on the survey of the peninsula and river of San Francisco, and on Anza's departure for Mexico, took command of the expedition. He founded the presidio and mission of San Francisco and was the first commander, retaining the position until his death nine years later. He founded the mission of Santa Clara in 1777, and in the same year the pueblo of San José Guadalupe (San José). His record as an officer is an honorable and stainless one. His wife was María del Pilar de Leon y Barcelo. She did not accompany the expedition, being sick in Terrenate at the time, but with her son Gabriel, joined her husband in San Francisco February 20, 1791, the government paying the cost of transportation: three hundred and eighty dollars and twenty-five cents. The only child of Moraga I find any record of was his son Gabriel, born at the presidio of Fronteras, Sonora, in 1765; buried in Santa Barbara, California, June 15, 1823; married, first, Ana María, daughter of Juan Francisco Bernal; second, Joaquina, daughter of Francisco Javier Alvarado, and sister of Pio Pico's wife. Don Gabriel enlisted in the San Francisco company December 1, 1783, and served for twenty-two years as private, corporal, and sergeant, at the presidios of San Francisco and Monterey and in command of various mission escoltas of those districts. On March 10, 1806, he received his commission as alférez and was assigned to the San Francisco garrison. On August 16, 1811, he was made brevet lieutenant for gallantry in a battle with the Indians on the strait of Carquines, and on October 30, 1817, he was made a full lieutenant and ordered to Santa Barbara. His hoja de servicios of December 1820, shows thirty-seven years service and forty-six expeditions against the Indians. He applied for retirement on account of chronic rheumatism and other infirmities, and Governor Sola, Captain José Darío Argüello, and other officers, as well as padres Señan and Payeras, testified in terms of highest praise regarding his character and the value of his services, but no attention was paid to his request. In 1806 Moraga explored and named the San Joaquin river and he made a number of expeditions to and beyond the Tulares. Don Gabriel is described as a tall, well built man of dark complexion, brave, gentlemanly, and the foremost soldier of his day in California. His son Joaquin, was grantee of Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados in Contra Costa county, and a portion of Moraga valley on said rancho is still in possession of his descendants. Another son, Vicente, was grantee of Pauba in Riverside county. 

2. Sergeant Juan Pablo Grijalva was born in La Valle de San Luis, Sonora, in 1742; died in San Diego, California, June 21, 1806. He enlisted in the presidial company of Terrenate, Sonora, January 1, 1763, and served twenty-four years in the ranks before he received a commission—eleven of them at the presidio of San Francisco. On the 20th of July 1787, he was commissioned alférez and attached to the San Diego company. In 1796 he applied for retirement on account of infirmities contracted during his long services. Governor Borica endorsed his application, recommending that he be retired with the rank of lieutenant as a reward for his services to the king. He was retired as alférez with half pay—two hundred dollars a year. The following November he was made lieutenant, his pension remaining the same. Grijalva brought with him in the expedition his wife, María Dolores Valencia, and three children: María Josefa, age nine; María del Carmen, age four; and Claudio, a baby. Josefa married Sergeant Antonio Yorba, who came with Portolá in 1769 as sergeant of Catalan volunteers. She became the mother of one of California's great families, grantees of Santa Ana de Santiago, Las Bolsas, and Lomas de Santiago. Carmen married Pedro Regalado Peralta, son of Gabriel. Of Claudio I know nothing. The name of Grijalva died out in California. 

3. Corporal Domingo Alviso lived but a short time after reaching San Francisco. He was buried March 11, 1777, and the libro de difuntos gives neither age nor place of birth. With him came his wife, María Angela Trejo, and four children: Francisco Javier, age ten; Francisco, age nine; María Loreta, age five; and Ignacio, age three. The family became a large and influential one and were grantees of Natividad, Cañada Verde y Arroyo de la Purisima, Milpitas, Potrero de los Cerritos, El Quito, Cañada de los Vaqueros, and Rincon de los Esteros. The town of Alviso was named for Ignacio. 

4. Corporal José Valerio Mesa was born in 1734 in Opodepe, a mission on the Horcasitas river a little above San Miguel in Sonora. His wife, María Leonor Barboa, and six children, born at the presidio of Altar, accompanied him to California. They were: José Joaquin, age twelve; José Ignacio, age nine; Ignacio Dolores, age eight; María Manuela, age seven; José Antonio, and Juan, age three. Valerio's grandson, Juan Prado, son of José Antonio, became an ensign and comandante of San Francisco under Vallejo. This family received the following grants: San Antonio (Santa Clara county), Los Médanos, Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito, and Soulajule. 

5. Corporal Gabriel Peralta was born at the presidio of Terrenate, in Sonora, in 1731; died in Santa Clara, California, October 22, 1807. His wife, Francisca Javier Valenzuela, and four children: Juan José, age eighteen; Luis María, age seventeen; Pedro Regalado, age eleven; and María Gertrudis, age nine, accompanied the expedition. Luis María enlisted in the Monterey company December 2, 1781, and served in the ranks for forty-five years. He was eight years a private, twelve years a corporal, and twenty-five years a sergeant. He was a soldier, engaged in many expeditions against the Indians, and was several times recommended for promotion to the commission grade of alférez, but never received it. He was retired invalido in 1826, and died in San José in 1851, aged ninety-three. 

On June 20, 1820, Don Pablo Vicente de Sola, governor of California, granted to Sergeant Luis Peralta the San Antonio rancho, eleven square leagues—48,825 acres, perhaps the most famous as well as the most valuable of all the California grants. It includes the sites of the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley. The Rinconada de los Gatos, the Cañada del Corte Madera, and the San Ramon ranchos were also given to the descendants of Corporal Peralta. 

6. Juan Antonio Amézquita was born in Metape, Sonora, in 1739. He enlisted at the presidio of Tubac July 9, 1764, and was retired invalido November 1, 1788. On October 1, 1786, he was transferred to Monterey where in 1813 he was living with his third wife, María Micaela Sotelo. Juan Antonio's wife, Juana María de Guana, and five children: Manuel Domingo, age twenty-three; María Josefa, age twenty; María Dolores, age ten; María Gertrudis, age about three; and María de los Reyes, a babe, came with the expedition. With this family was Rosalia Zamora, wife of the oldest son, Manuel Domingo—who was also called Salvador Manuel and Manuel Francisco. María Josefa became the wife of Ensign Hermenegildo Sal. 

7. José Ramon Bojorques, born in the city of Sinaloa in 1737, brought with him his wife, Francisca Romero, and three children: María Antonia, age fifteen, wife of José Tiburcio Vasquez; María Micaela, age thirteen; and María Gertrudis, age twelve. With the family was the husband of María Micaela, José Anastacio Higuera. 

8. Justo Roberto Altamirano was born in Aguage, Sonora, in 1745. He brought with him his wife, María Loreta Delfin, and two sons: José Antonio and José Matias. Matias died in 1783, and José Antonio in 1789. Justo Roberto had a number of children born in San Francisco and Santa Clara, but the name has died out in California. 

9. Ignacio Linares was born in San Miguel de Horcasitas in 1745; died in San José Guadalupe, California, June 5, 1805. His wife, María Gertrudis Rivas, and four children: María Gertrudis, age seven; Juan José Ramon, age five; María Juliana, age four; and Salvador, age one; came with the expedition. 

10. Carlos Gallegos brought his wife, María Josefa Espinosa, but no children. I know nothing about him except that he was sent to the mission of the Colorado and was killed by the Yumas in the rising of 1781. 

The above ten constitute the veteran soldiers of the Sonora presidios who volunteered to cast their lot in California. The recruits were: 

11. Juan Salvio Pacheco lived but a short time in California. I do not know the date or place of his birth. He died before July 21, 1777, but the family he founded became a large one. He brought with him to California his wife, María del Carmen del Valle, and five children: Miguel, age twenty; Ignacio, age fifteen; Ignacia Gertrudis, age fifteen; Bartolomé Ignacio, age ten; and María Barbara, age ten. Juan Salvio's descendants were grantees of Potrero de los Cerritos, Arroyo de las Nueces, Santa Rita, San José Rancho, San Ramon, Monte del Diablo, and Positos ranchos. The towns of Pacheco in Contra Costa and Pacheco in Mann counties are named for this family. 

12. José Antonio Garcia was born in Culiacan, Sonora, and died in Santa Clara, California, January 25, 1778, the first death recorded (gente de razon) on the books of that mission. His wife, María Josefa de Acuña, and five children: María Graciana, María Josefa, José Vicente, José Francisco, and Juan Guillermo, accompanied the expedition. 

13. Pablo Pinto was born in the city of Sinaloa in 1732; buried in San Francisco December 1, 1783. He brought with him his wife, Francisca Javier Ruelas, and four children: Juan María, age seventeen; Juana Santos, Juana Francisca, and José Marcelo. The husband of Juana Santos, Casimiro Varela, accompanied the family. Another daughter of Pablo Pinto was with the expedition—Teresa, wife of the poblador, Nicolas Galindo. The marriage of Juana Francisca to Mariano Cordero, a soldier of the Monterey garrison, November 28, 1776, is the first marriage recorded in the libro de casamientos of San Francisco. 

14. Antonio Quiterio Aceves was born in La Valle de San Bartolomé, Durango, in 1740. He brought with him his wife, María Feliciana Cortes, and six children: María Petra, age thirteen; José Cipriano, age eleven; María Gertrudis, age six; Juan Gregorio, age five; Pablo, age three; and José Antonio, age two. Aceves was granted the Salinas rancho, four leagues on the Salinas river, in 1795, one of the earliest grants. 

15. Ignacio María Gutierrez, brought his wife, Ana María de Osuna, and three children: María Petronia, age ten; María de Los Santos, age seven; and Diego Pascual, born on the Gila, en route. 

16. Ignacio de Soto, was born in the city of Sinaloa in 1749, and died in Santa Clara, California, February 23, 1807. His wife, María Barbara Espinosa de Lugo, was a sister of the soldier Francisco de Lugo, whose daughter, María Antonia, became the mother of General Vallejo. She, with two children: María Antonia, age two; and José Antonio, age one, accompanied her husband. The first white child born in San Francisco was Francisco José de los Dolores Soto, son of Ignacio and Barbara, born August 10, 1776. The child was hastily baptized ab instantem mortem, but he lived to become a great Indian fighter and died in 1835, a sargento distinguido. I have a record of fourteen children born in California to Ignacio and Barbara Lugo de Soto, and their descendants were grantees of the following ranchos: Cañada de la Segunda, El Piojo, San Matias, San Lorenzo, Cañada de la Carpintería, Cañada del Hambre, Capay, San Vicente, Los Vallecitos, and Bolsa Nueva. 

17. José Manuel Valencia was born in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico, in 1749, and died in Santa Clara, California, in 1788. His wife, María de la Luz Muños, and three children accompanied him to California. The children were: María Gertrudis, age fifteen years; Francisco María, age eight; and Ignacio María, age three. His descendants were granted Alcanes rancho and Cañada de Pinole. 

18. Luis Joaquin Alvarez was born in the city of Sinaloa in 1740. He brought with him his wife, María Nicolosa Ortiz, and two children: Juan Francisco and María Francisca. 

19. José Antonio Sanchez was born in the city of Sinaloa in1751. He brought his wife, María de los Dolores Morales, and two children: María Josefa, age seven; and José Antonio, age two; also, Ignacio Cardenas, a prohijado—adopted son. Sanchez was a man of some education and wrote a beautiful hand. The family became prominent in San Francisco and José Antonio, second, became ensign and comandante of San Francisco and famous for his skill and courage as an Indian fighter. In 1827 he was permitted to occupy the rancho nacional which was afterwards formally granted him. This was the great Buri Buri rancho immediately south of the city and county of San Francisco, comprising 15,793 acres, now belonging, in part, to the Spring Valley Water Company. In 1836 José Antonio 2d was retired with forty-five years' service to his credit. He passed the rest of his life on his rancho and at the mission of Dolores. He appears on a padron of San Francisco in 1842 as an hacendado (farmer). He was a brave and honest man, and somewhat given to asserting his rights. He became involved in a controversy with the priests over the question of tithes, which Sanchez, following the example of Vallejo and other prominent landowners, refused to pay. In consequence of this quarrel he was denied the comforts of religion on his death bed and for a time, Christian burial. He died June 22, 1843, and was finally given ecclesiastic interment in the cemetery of the mission on July 5th. His son, Francisco, grandson of Anza' s trooper, was comandante of San Francisco at the time of the conquest and was the Captain Sanchez who captured Alcalde Bartlett and commanded the Mexican forces at the battle of Santa Clara. Francisco was granted the San Pablo rancho. 

20. Manuel Ramirez Arellano was born in Puebla in 1742 and brought with him his wife, María Agueda de Haro, and son, José Mariano. He was retired in 1786 and removed to Los Angeles. He had three children born in Santa Clara and three more born in Los Angeles. The family was quite prominent in the south and the name became changed to Arellanes. Manuel Ramirez was alcalde of Los Angeles in 1790, and his daughter, María Martina married Don Ignacio Martinez, later comandante of San Francisco, and was the mother of some of California's famous beauties. Don Teodoro Arellanes, son of Manuel, born in Santa Clara, November 5, 1782, is mentioned by Davis, Robinson, and other writers as a ranchero prince. The family obtained the Guadalupe, El Rincon, and La Punta de la Laguna ranchos. 

21. Joaquin Isidro de Castro was born in the city of Sinaloa in 1732. He brought with him his wife, María Martina Botiller, and nine children: Ignacio Clemente, age twenty; María Josefa, age eighteen; María Encarnanacion, age twelve; María del Carmen, age ten; José Mariano, age 9; José Joaquin, age six; Francisco María, age two; Francisco Antonio, and Cárlos. This was a very large family and became connected by marriage with most of the prominent families of California. One granddaughter married Governor Alvarado, and another married Cárlos Antonio Carrillo and became mother of five beautiful daughters, all of whom married Americans. One of the earliest grants of land in California was made to Joaquin Isidro who, together with his son-in-law, Mariano Soberanes, was granted Buena Vista on the Salinas river in 1795. In 1801 Castro was given La Brea. His sons and grandsons were given the following ranchos and islands: Aptos, Del Refugio, El Sobrante, Laguna de Teche, Las Llagas, Las Paicines, Las Animas, San Andrés, San Gregorio, San Lorenzo, San Pablo, San Ramon, Shoquel, Solis, Vega del Rio del Pájero, Isla de la Yegua (Mare Island), and Isla de Yerba Buena. The Castros of Monterey and the Castros of San Francisco call each other cousin. General José Castro belonged to the Monterey family. 

22. Felipe Santiago Tapia, born in Culiacan in 1745, brought his wife, Juana María Filomena Hernandes (or Juana María Cardenas) and the following children: José Bartolomé, Juan José, José Cristoval, José Francisco, José Victor, María Rosa, age fifteen; María Antonia, age thirteen; María Manuela, age ten; and María Ysidora, age four. José Bartolomé, who settled at San Luis Obispo was grantee of Topanga Malibu rancho in 1804. His son, Tiburcio, was granted Cucamonga rancho. 

23. Juan Francisco Bernal, born in Rancho del Tule, in the district of Sinaloa, in 1737, brought his wife, María Josefa de Soto, sister of Ignacio, and seven children: José Joaquin, age thirteen; Juan Francisco, age twelve; José Dionisio, age ten; José Apolonario, age nine; Ana Maria, age five; María Teresa de Jesus, age three; and Tomás Januario. This family received the following lands: Rincon de las Salinas y Potrero Viejo (South San Francisco), Rincon de Ballena, Santa Teresa, Laguna de Palos Colorados, Embarcadero de Santa Clara, El Alisal, and Cañada de Pala. Bernal Heights, San Francisco, is a part of Rincon de Salinas. 

24. Juan Atanasio Vasquez, born in Agualulco, Sonora, in 1735, brought his wife, María Gertrudis Castelo, and three children: José Tiburcio, age twenty; José Antonio, age ten; and Pedro José. This family received Corral de Tierra, Chamisal, and Soulajule ranchos. 

25. Juan Agustin Valenzuela, born in Real de los Alamos, Sonora, in 1749, brought his wife, Petra Ignacio de Ochoa, and one child: María Zepherin. 

26. Santiago de la Cruz Pico was born in San Miguel de Horcasitas in 1733. In 1777 he was transferred from San Francisco to the San Diego presidio and founded a large family in the south. His sons all enlisted in the presidial companies, as did the sons of the other soldiers, and one, José Dolores, being transferred to Monterey, founded the northern branch of the family. Santiago brought with him to California his wife, María Jacinta Vastida, and seven children, all born in San Javier de Cabazan, on the Rio Piastla, Sonora. The children were: José Dolores, age twelve; José María, age eleven; José Miguel, age seven; Francisco Javier, age six; Patricio, age five; María Antonia Tomasa, and María Josefa. José María, son of Santiago, was the father of Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California. Andrés, another son of José María was, perhaps, the ablest member of the family of Pico. He was in command of the Californians at the battle of San Pascual and was present and took part in the engagements at the San Gabriel river and La Mesa. As commander of the national forces in California he signed the capitulation of Cahuenga, January 13, 1847, which ended the war. He was member of the assembly in 1851; presidential elector, 1852; land receiver and brigadier general of militia, 1858; and state senator 1860-1. Antonio María, son of Dolores, was lieutenant of militia, captain of defensores, member of constitutional convention, presidential elector in 1860, and register of the land office at Los Angeles in 1862. Another son of Dolores, José de Jesus, was captain of defensores. He broke his parole and was captured and condemned to death, but was pardoned by Frémont whom he assisted in bringing about the treaty of Cahuenga. The descendants of Santiago de la Cruz Pico received the following grants: Agua Caliente, Arroyo Seco, Bolsa de San Cayetano, Piedra Blanca, El Pescadero, Jumal, La Habra, Los Flores, Moquelamo, El Paso de Bartolo Viejo, Punto del Año Nuevo, San José del Gracia de Simi, Santa Margarita, Temecula, Valle de San José, and Casa Loma. 

27. José Vicente Felix, was born in Real de los Alamos, Sonora, in 1741. His wife, Manuela Piñcuelar, was the woman who died in childbirth, the first night out from Tubac. Seven children came with the expedition: José Francisco, José Doroteo, José de Jesus, José Antonio Capistrano, María Loreta, María Antonia, and Maria Manuela. José Vicente was transferred to the San Diego company before 1782 and in 1802, or earlier, was given the Felix rancho just north of the pueblo of Los Angeles—now within the city bounds. 

28. Sebastian Antonio Lopez brought his wife Felipa Neri (or Felipa Xermana) and three children: Sebastian, María Tomasa, and María Justa. I have no information about this family. 

29. José Antonio Sotelo died in San Francisco January 20, 1777, the second death recorded in the libro de difuntos. The name of his wife is given by Pedro Font as Gertrudis Peralta, but the above register has it Manuela Gertrudis Buelna. They brought one child: Ramon. 

30. Pedro Antonio Bojorques, born in Sinaloa in 1754, brought his wife, María Francisca de Lara, and daughter, María Agustina, age four. The wife died January 28, 1777, the third death in San Francisco, and Pedro married the widow of Corporal Domingo Alviso, María Angela Trejo, on the 20th of July following. His son, Bartolomé, was grantee of Laguna de San Antonio, six leagues in Marin county. 

Accompanying the expedition were four families of settlers (pobladores) and three solteros (bachelors). The families were: 

1. José Manuel Gonzales, with his wife, María Micaela Bojorques, and children: Juan José, Ramon, Francisco, and María Gregoria. José Manuel was made a poblador of San José Guadalupe. 

2. Nicolas Galindo, born in Real de Santa Eulalia in 1743, brought with him his wife, María Teresa Pinto, daughter of Pablo, and one child: Juan Venancio, one year old. Nicolas enlisted, in the San Francisco company and served until 1794, when he was retired and his son, José Rafael, took his place. José Antonio Galindo, son of Juan Venancio, received on September 23, 1835, the first grant of land in San Francisco: La Laguna de la Merced, twenty-two hundred and twenty acres in the southwestern part of the city and county. On May 12, 1837, Galindo sold this rancho to Francisco de Haro, for one hundred cows and twenty-five dollars in goods. It now belongs to the Spring Valley Water Company and is valued at four million dollars. Galindo also received in 1835, the Sausalito rancho which he sold to William A. Richardson the following year. Other members of this family received town lots in San Francisco and the lands of the Santa Clara mission. A granddaughter of Nicolas Galindo married James Alexander Forbes, English consul at Monterey. 

3. Nicolas Antonio Berreyesa, born in Sinaloa in 1761, was accompanied by his sister, Isabel, age twenty-two, both unmarried. Nicolas married Gertrudis, daughter of Gabriel Peralta, and Isabel married Juan José Peralta, her brother. Nicolas enlisted in the San Francisco company October 1, 1782. His son, José de los Reyes, born in Santa Clara, January 6, 1785, was one of the first victims of the war of conquest. He was a retired sergeant with thirty-seven years’ service to his credit. He was killed June 28, 1846, by Frémont's men as he landed from a boat at San Rafael on his way to Sonoma to visit his son who was alcalde at that place. With him were two sons of Francisco de Haro, Francisco and Ramon, bearers of dispatches from Castro to his lieutenant Joaquin de la Torre. José Reyes Berreyesa was owner of the land on which the New Almaden quicksilver mines were situated The members of this family received the following grants: Cañada de Capay, Rincon de Musulacon, Chirules, San Vicente, Malacomes, Milpitas, and Las Putas. Nicolas wrote his name Berrelleza. 

4. María Feliciana Arballo, widow of José Gutierrez, accompanied the expedition with her two little girls: María Tomasa Gutierrez, age six, and María Estaquia Gutierrez, age four. She left the expedition at San Gabriel, where on March 6, 1776, she was married to Juan Francisco Lopez, a soldier of the guard. The marriage ceremony was performed by Fray Francisco Garcés, missionary to the Colorado river tribes, who, it will be remembered, Anza had left at the junction of the rivers. Garcés had gone up the Colorado to visit the Mojaves and had crossed the Mojave desert, arriving at San Gabriel after the expedition had passed up the coast. Little María Estaquia, thirteen years later, married José María Pico whom she had first known when, a boy of eleven, he accompanied his family with the expedition. She became the mother of Pio Pico. María Feliciana had, by her second husband, María Ignacia de la Candelaria Lopez, who married Joaquin Carrillo of San Diego, and became the mother of General Vallejo's wife and four other daughters whose loveliness is duly recorded in the pages of this historia verdadera. After her husband's death María Ignacia Lopez de Carrillo, who was a most beautiful woman, was granted, in 1841, the rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa in Sonoma county, where she lived with her son Ramon. She is buried in the ruined mission of San Francisco Solano, at Sonoma. Her remains were laid under the font where it would receive the holy water that fell from the hands of devout worshippers. 

The three solteros were: Don Francisco Muños, Pedro Perez de la Fuente, Marcos Villela. 

Villela became a poblador at San José Guadalupe. Of the others, I know nothing. 

Source:Eldredge, Zoeth Skinner. The Beginnings of San Francisco. 1912: San Francisco. Note 12. 
Submitted by Ron Filion to SFGenealogy  GO HOME

 

 


ANUNCIO DE LA 2NDA CONFERENCIA ANUAL DE LA
SOCIEDAD GENEALOGICA NUEVA GALICIA 

La Sociedad Genealógica Nueva Galicia, enfocada en estudios genealógicos coloniales del área Nueva Galicia de México, se le hace sumamente grato hacerles saber que la 2nda Conferencia anual será realizada en Rancho Cucamonga, California (aproximadamente 45 millas al este de Los Ángeles) el próximo 30 de Abril del 2011. La conferencia presentará al Dr. Eric Van Young, Profesor de Historia en la Universidad de California en San Diego, quien dará una charla sobre la historia colonial de Guadalajara y sus familias latifundistas. Otro conferencista será el Sr. Arturo Ramos, moderador de Nuestros Ranchos, un sitio de web sobre la Genealogía Méxicana, cuyas charlas se centrarán en las investigaciones del Archivo General de México City y PARES, dos Archivos en línea. También vamos a tener a otros presentadores. 

Si estas interesado en atender esta conferencia, por favor ponte en contacto con Rosalinda Ruíz al NGGSConference@yahoo.com. Necesitamos poder proyectar el número de personas interesadas antes del 30 de Agosto de 2010 (hay asientos limitados). La registración comenzará el 1 de Octubre del 2010.

El sitio en línea de la Sociedad Genealógica Nueva Galicia es http://www.nuevagalicia.org/index.htm.
Rosalinda Ruiz
lareina2@ix.netcom.com

Tiburcio Vasquez's story 
retold in  "Bandito"
 
Carl Nolte, Chronicle Staff Writer
  Sunday, Novr 21, 2010
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/11/21/MNS51GECOA.DTL 

In the dusky light of an autumn evening, this part of the world looks a little unreal, half in shadows, half lit by the setting sun. It is no wonder so many myths have sprung up around California.

The Gold Rush is one of the most enduring. A bonanza, a mother lode of solid gold, is found in the hills, and thousands of people come to California from all over the world, in search of a new life. They are pioneers, intrepid men and woman who found a great state in the Wild West. The Gold Rush, the historian Kevin Starr said once, is part of the DNA of California.

The reality was a bit different. Though most of the pioneers were good people, plenty were not: gunmen and robbers, tough guys who would kill in the blink of an eye. They preyed particularly on the Indians and the earlier Spanish-speaking settlers, people who called themselves Californios.

The Americans who took California also squatted on the land, took what they wanted and pushed the Californios aside. John Boessenecker, a San Francisco lawyer and historian, describes what happened next: "The Gold Rush," he writes, "more than anything else, completely changed the lives of the Californios, and began their rapid economic and political decline ... Californios, especially the peones, vaqueros and campesinos, became a displaced people."

But out of this experience grew another myth - the noble outlaw who robbed the rich and spared the poor, who avenged the crimes of the evil men who had stolen the land, a handsome, dashing bandito who was a combination of Robin Hood and Zorro.

This was Tiburcio Vasquez, the grandson of the men and women who founded both San Francisco and San Jose, a charming robber who terrorized the state for years. Boessenecker is perhaps the country's leading authority on Vasquez, and his new book, "Bandito" (University of Oklahoma Press) tells the story.

Vasquez was born in Monterey in 1835 and, driven by a hatred of the Americans he called gringos, led a life of crime. He was a robber and a thief and was involved in at least nine killings. He frequented San Francisco's Barbary Coast, committed crimes up and down California and led four bloody prison breaks from San Quentin. Once, he and his gang seized an entire small town.

Vasquez was as famous as Jesse James in his day. The Chicago Tribune called him "the most noted desperado of modern times."

He had another side. Vasquez was a cultured man, fluent in both English and Spanish. "He had a magnetic personality," Boessenecker said. "He danced, he sang, he read novels, he wrote poetry. He was extremely gregarious. He was a gentleman bandit."

Vasquez also was careful about his own people. "He was highly popular among the Californios," Boessenecker said, "He paid for his lodging, he paid for his food. He didn't rob Hispanic people."

And the Californios protected him - he lived among them when he was on the run. To them, he was a hero.

Vasquez was finally captured in Southern California, sent north to be tried for robbery and murder, and found guilty. A huge crowd attended his hanging in San Jose, on March 19, 1875.

"I am innocent of murder and am not afraid to die," he said just before he was hanged.

In one sense, Tiburcio Vasquez did not die. There are Tiburcio Vasquez health clinics in southern Alameda County and a county park and high school in Los Angeles County are named for him.

But what is the truth about Vasquez? Boessenecker has studied him for over 40 years.

"The idea of noble bandit is uniform in all cultures," Boessenecker said, "but in the final analysis he was a robber."

Was he a killer, too? "He always said he never killed anyone," Boessenecker said. "He said the other guy did it."

"The story of Tiburcio Vasquez," Boessenecker writes, "is shrouded in mystery and myth."

E-mail Carl Nolte at cnolte@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/21/MNS51GECOA.DTL
This article appeared on page A - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle © 2010 Hearst Communications Inc.
Sent by John Arvizu    hot_ss@yahoo.com 



Joaquin Murrieta, Robin Hood of El Dorado
Sent by Art Guevara & The Cross Creek Cowboys (Re-enactors) 
Joaquin Murrieta (sometimes spelled Murieta or Murietta) (ca. 1829–July 25, 1853?), also called the Mexican or Chilean Robin Hood or the Robin Hood of El Dorado, was a semi-legendary figure in California during the California Gold Rush of the 1850s. He was either an infamous bandit or a Mexican patriot, depending on one's point of view.[2] Murrieta was partly the inspiration for the fictional character of Zorro. His name has, for some political activists, symbolized resistance against Anglo-American economic and cultural domination in California. The "Association of Descendants of Joaquin Murrieta" is devoted to putting forth that Murrieta was not a "gringo eater," but instead that "He wanted to retrieve the part of Mexico that was lost at that time in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo."[3]

Bitter dispute surrounds the figure of Joaquin Murrieta, who he was, what he did, and many of his life's events. This is well summarized by the words of historian Susan Lee Johnson: "So many tales have grown up around Murrieta that it is hard to disentangle the fabulous from the factual. There seems to be a consensus that Anglos drove him from a rich mining claim, and that, in rapid succession, his wife was raped, his half-brother lynched, and Murrieta himself horse-whipped. He may have worked as a monte dealer for a time; then, according to whichever version one accepts, he became either a horse trader and occasional horse thief, or a bandit."[2]

Murrieta's head: The Rangers severed Three-Fingered Jack's hand and the alleged Murrieta's head as proof of the outlaws' deaths, and preserved them in a jar of alcohol.[2] The jar was displayed in Mariposa County, Stockton, and San Francisco, and later traveled throughout California; spectators could pay $1 to see them. Seventeen people, including a Catholic priest, signed affidavits identifying the head as Murrieta's, alias Carrillo, enabling Love and his Rangers accordingly received the reward money.

However, 25 years later, O. P. Stidger claimed that he heard Murrieta's sister say that the head was not her brother's.[5] At around the same time, numerous sightings of old man Murrieta were reported. A few people claimed that Capt. Love failed to display the head at the mining camps, which was not true.[6] It was even alleged by an anonymous Los Angeles based correspondent to the San Francisco Alta California Daily, in August 1853, that Love and his Rangers murdered some innocent Mexican mustang catcher and bribed people to swear out affidavits. The preserved head was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. 



 


NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES

Luis Saul Moscoso elected to Washington Legislature
Cesar A. Rico Rodriguez honored panelist of Seattle Museum of Flight
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Serving the Treaty Tribes of Western Washington


Luis Saul Moscoso

Iowa Alum & Dubuque Native elected to Washington State Legislature

Union man just got elected in the Washington State House of Representatives.  He was sworn in as Representative of the 1st Legislative District in the courtroom of Judge Marcine Anderson, King County District Court, Shoreline.
 
Luis is the first Hispanic male to serve in the Legislature in 14 years since with the retirement of Emilio Cantu (41 LD) in 1996. He is proud to join two long-serving Latinas, Senator Margarita Prentice and Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney as the only three Hispanics in the State Legislature for the 2011-2013 Biennium.

Sent Rafael Ojeda
Tacoma,WA
RSNOJEDA@aol.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rafael Ojeda with Cesar A. Rico Rodriguez 

For more information please contact education@museumofflight.org or info@museumofflight.org
The Museum of Flight | 9404 East Marginal Way South | Seattle | WA | 98108
Sent by Rafael Ojeda  rsnojeda@aol.com


In observation of Veterans Day, on Saturday November 13, 2010,  the Seattle Museum of Flight presented a special panel honoring and
recognizing the contributions of America's veterans. The event hosted four combat pilots who flew jets and achieved aerial victories in many of America's recent conflicts. Special guests of honor were Chuck DeBellevue, recognized by the USAF as an Ace for his six aerial victories over MiGs in the Vietnam conflict,  Cesar Rodriguez, who flew an F-15 over Kosovo and in the first Gulf War, attaining a total of three aerial victories; Robert Titus, who gained two victories while flying the F-4 now on display in the Museum; and John A. Madden, Jr., who scored three aerial victories. The program started at 2 p.m. in the William M. Allen Theater. A FREE Educator Open House was held on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

 


Panelist, left to right: John A. Madden,  Chuck DeBellevue,  Robert Titus,  Cesar A. Rico Rodriguez 




Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
Serving the Treaty Trib es of Western Washington
Oct 25th, 2010 • Category: NWIFC Blog
 
 
Lummi Nation fishermen will receive more than $3 million in assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, it was announced today.
 
Lummi fishermen have been among the most affected by the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon.
 
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3,390,568 grant to assist about 300 workers affected by fishing industry layoffs in the Lummi Nation, located near Bellingham, Wash.
 
“Layoffs in the fishing industry constitute a serious crisis for this community,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Just as we are committed to helping workers in other communities across the country, we will ensure these workers get the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to promptly enter good jobs that pay family-supporting wages and offer real opportunities for advancement.”
 
Awarded to and operated by the Lummi Nation, this grant will assist fishermen dislocated as a result of the decline in sockeye salmon. The affected workers will have access to dislocated worker services, which may include basic skills training, individual career counseling and occupational skills training to help them transition to stronger areas of the tribal economy. The Lummi tribal development plan indicates that job opportunities are available in Lummi- and state-owned fish hatcheries, as well as metal fabrication, outboard motor repair and equipment parts businesses.
 
Of the $3,390,568 announced today, $847,644 will be released initially. Additional funding up to the amount approved will be made available as the grantee demonstrates a continued need for assistance.
 
National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor’s discretionary fund and are awarded based on an applicant’s ability to meet specific guidelines.
 
 
The Seattle Native Circle is part of The Native Circle. Please visit the website for more information and previous newsletters.
http://thenativecircle.org/NC Cities/Seattle/Seattlehome.html

Contact us at thenativecircle@gmail.com

Sent by Don Milligan 
donmilligan@comcast.net

 

 


SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
   

'Silk Stocking' trooper served on Mexican border by Carl Henry Marcoux
El Paso Museum of History Opens January 2011
Family History Expo Kicks Off 2011 in Mesa
Southwest’s Mexican Roots: The Untold Stories By David E. Hayes-Bautista

'Silk Stocking' trooper served on Mexican border

November 04, 2010|By CARL HENRY MARCOUX
http://articles.ocregister.com/2010-11-04/news/24821256_1_mexican-border-regiment-cornelius-vanderbilt/2 
 

The Orange County Register, Orange County, California invited residents to share family stories of how the Mexican Revolution had affected their family. The series organized by Ron Gonzales, News Team Leader, consisted of 14 articles, and reflected the diversity of experiences and adaptations made by migrating families.  The December issues of Somos Primos included 13 articles.  The Silk Stocking article conclude the entire series.  

Carl Henry Marcoux, author of the article is an 83 year old Retired insurance executive, writer and historian who holds a doctorate in history from UC Riverside. Mr. Marcoux explains, on his father's experience, "It got me interested in Mexico. I did my dissertation on Mexican politics – on Plutarco Calles, the man who formed the PRI" – the country's Institutional Revolutionary Party.
During the 1910-1920 conflict, about a million of Mexico's 15 million citizens died, and nearly 900,000 immigrated to the United States.

To contact Ron Gonzales, 

My father, Henry Marcoux, was a salesman of fancy imported foods and liquor on New York City's Park Avenue in 1916.

One of his customers was Cornelius Vanderbilt, a direct descendant of the original Cornelius Vanderbilt of railroad fame.

The current Vanderbilt at this time held the rank of major in the Seventh New York National Guard Regiment, housed in its own armory on Park Avenue. Vanderbilt got to know my Dad pretty well over the months that the latter sold food and wine to the mansions along the well known street.

He invited my Dad to join the regiment that operated more as a social club than a military unit.

The Seventh, known as "the Silk Stocking Regiment," held dances at the armory every weekend. The members wore West Point style uniforms and paraded through the city on patriotic holidays.

Occasionally they would journey to Long Island to practice marksmanship, their only duty outside of the city itself.

To my father, joining the regiment seemed like an excellent opportunity to improve his social and business life.

Imagine his consternation when he and his fellow weekend soldiers were called to active duty. Shortly after he signed up, the regiment was ordered to Texas on the Mexican border.

The Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa, had in 1916 launched a series of attacks against Americans both south and north of the border, claiming that the Americans had sided with his enemy, Venustiano Carranza, who led his opposing Mexican Constitutionalist Forces in the Mexican Revolution.

The Americans replied by ordering Gen. John J. Pershing and the regular army to enter Mexico, seek out Villa and punish him for his attacks on American personnel and property.

Pursuit of Villa turned out to be a useless task. The Americans could not even find him in the wilds of northern Mexico.

The regular American Army forces were so limited that Pershing's campaign involved almost all of the existing regulars. The government ordered the New York National Guard to the Mexican border to preclude further moves north by the Mexicans.

For the New Yorkers the move to McAllen, Texas, their new headquarters, was a shock and a surprise. The camp was established approximately seven miles north of the border. The site was home to small prairie dogs, horned toads, snakes, tarantulas and centipedes.

At this time of the year south Texas experienced heavy seasonal rains and sometimes hurricanes. The town had no paved streets. When Vanderbilt shipped his limousine to the camp he discovered that it could not be driven in the area because of the road conditions. The encampment was a sea of mud.

The Seventh Regiment, being basically a parade unit, lacked the necessary organization to operate in such an environment. For example, no cooks had been recruited at the company level.

Private Marcoux, born in 1888 and having been a food salesman in civilian life, drew the assignment of cook for the regiment's M Company. Canned corn beef and hardtack were the staples that had been brought down from New York. Marcoux sought to supplement these rations by buying chickens and eggs from local farmers.

On one occasion he bought rattlesnake meat caught by the locals and served it to the troops as "eel stew." The new cook was the target of a great deal of criticism until he last managed to acquire at least the rudiments of army cooking.

Most of the military activity for the regiment consisted of ever lengthening daily marches. Initially the distances were six or seven miles, but as the troops hardened, the distances increased to fourteen. Rifle ranges were established to improve the men's marksmanship.

Officers of the Constitutionalist army across the border were invited to see the New Yorkers march and operate their weapons, including their American machine gun companies. The Mexicans expressed some doubts about the effectiveness of American operations in the rough northern Mexican countryside.

The Americans were not impressed with what they observed of the Mexican contingents. These were poorly armed, lacked adequate shoes and clothing and had a large number of 15- and 16-year-olds in their ranks. Fortunately no occasion arose that led to actual fighting between the two groups.

Finally, by November 1916, the New Yorkers were ordered back to their home state. The presence of American troops had ended incursions by the Mexican irregulars into U.S. territory. They received a hearty welcome from the local citizenry when they arrived in New York.

However, the regiment's civilian soldiers were scarcely back on their jobs when seven months later, the entire New York Guard was called up for service in World War I.

Because of their recent Mexican experience they were considered among the most capable American units available for service. The New Yorkers were sent for brief training on trench warfare in South Carolina and then shipped to France.

The Seventh was renamed the 107th of the newly created 27th Division, composed primarily of New Yorkers. Gen. Pershing, now commander of the American troops in France, offered the 27th's troops to the British 2nd Army, battling for their lives against the Germans on the Hindenburg line.

In the subsequent second battle of the Somme, the Americans suffered a casualty rate approaching 70%, but helped the Allied army break the Hindenburg line.

My Dad, now a mess sergeant, was put in charge of a food column moving hot meals on a regular basis to the troops in the forward trenches. The Germans attempted to stop the flow by shelling the mule trains used in the transfer. Dad suffered some shrapnel wounds in the course of this action.

After the Germans surrendered, the New Yorkers came home to march in the Victory Parade up 5th Avenue.

In 1919 Sergeant Marcoux was mustered out. He came west to San Francisco to work with his brother Joe in the insurance business.

He established his own insurance brokerage shortly thereafter and maintained a profitable personal lines business for the following forty years. He retired in 1960, and died in 1964 at age 76.

###

Military

Get the latest military headlines and features daily at ocregister.com/military and updates via Twitter by following @OCMilitary.

 

 

 
El Paso Museum of History Opens January 2011
An exhibit coming to the El Paso Museum of History from Spain will explore the first 300 years of Spanish enterprises in the New World. The story will be told by nearly 140 rare documents, maps, illustrations and paintings – many of which have never been displayed outside of Spain. This exhibit, entitled The Threads of Memory: Spain and the United States (El Hilo de la Memoria: España y los Estados Unidos), will open in El Paso in early January, 2011. 

To herald the coming of this once in a lifetime exhibit and in celebration of the National Day of Spain, the El Paso Museum of History with the cooperation of the Consulate General of Spain is pleased to present Dr. Luis Laorden from Madrid, Spain who will give an illustrated talk on When West Texas was New Mexico: Spanish Maps tell the tale. The year 1492 was a key one for Spain and the New World. Columbus’ discovery of America brought profound and dramatic changes to life as it was then known in both Europe and the Americas. It is a tale of glory and deceit; great successes and shocking failures, of creation and destruction. It is the drama of life wrought by men and women larger than life. Using maps as his guide, Dr. Laorden will discuss the Spanish exploration and expansion into what we know as northern Mexico, New Mexico and West Texas. 

Dr. Luis Laorden has been a Civil Engineer since 1963, having received his doctorate degree in 1966 from Madrid University, Madrid, Spain. After a long career as a professional engineer he is now specializing on the Spanish heritage in what is now the United States of America. He has written articles and delivered lectures at well-known institutions of Spain. Dr. Laorden is now finishing a four volume compendium about the Spanish presence in the Southwest of the US, soon to be published. Dr. Laorden is an active member of Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Trail Association (CARTA), and other cultural associations in the US and Spain. 

Attendance to this special lecture will be by invitation only and limited space is available on a first come first served basis. Anyone interested in attending should call for an invitation or RSVP to (915) 351-3588. 
Images courtesy of Dr. Luis Laorden 

The El Paso Museum of History exists for the educational benefit of the community and visitors. It promotes the understanding and significance of the rich multicultural and multinational history of the border region known as the Pass of the North. 

Sue Taylor 
Senior Education Curator 
El Paso Museum of History 
510 North Santa Fe Street 
El Paso, TX 79901 
TEL 915-351-3588 FAX 915-351-4345 

The El Paso Museum of History exists for the educational benefit of the community and visitors. It promotes the understanding and significance of the rich multicultural and multinational history of the border region known as The Pass of the North. 
Sent by cherrera1951@hotmail.com



Family History Expo Kicks Off 2011 in Mesa


Dear Family History Consultants, Center Directors, and Extraction Directors and Assistants,

The first Family History Expo for 2011 is taking place in Mesa, Arizona. This is a great opportunity not only for learning from the experts how to further your own family history research, but also for inviting members of the community and general public—whether beginner or advanced—who share your love of genealogy to attend. The Arizona Family History Expo is sponsored by Family History Expos (a private company). The expo will be held January 21–22, 2011, at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 North Center Street, Mesa, Arizona.

Over 100 classes will be presented by more than 50 national and local speakers as well as staff from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can review the class schedule at www.fhexpos.com/expos/

Exhibitors from throughout the U.S. will teach about the latest products and services available in the industry. Representatives from various genealogical societies will also be on site.

There is no cost for attending the keynote address, visiting the exhibit hall, or attending the three free classes scheduled on Saturday for family history consultants, stake directors, and priesthood leaders.

All general questions about the expo should be directed to:

E-mail: Expo@FHExpos.com
Phone: 1-801-829-3295
Web: http://www.fhexpos.com/expos/



Southwest’s Mexican Roots: The Untold Stories

By David E. Hayes-Bautista
Editor: This marvelous essay was found on a website dedicated to Mexican family history research.  It is a wonderful resource of 49 pages of helps, suggestions, and data:  http://www.mexicanroots.com/index.php?p=1_1 


PART I

Thanks to overwhelming Latino support in last November’s election, on Jan. 20, Barack Hussein Obama placed his hand upon the bible used by Abraham Lincoln for his inauguration, and took the oath of office as this nation’s 44th president. What few people know is that, nearly 150 years ago, Latinos were also vigorously involved in assuring Lincoln’s re-election to the presidency in 1864 so that he could see the Civil War to its end, spread freedom to all, and bequeath a bible for President Obama to use.

The first year of the American Civil War was disastrous and disheartening for the supporters of freedom and democracy. Confederate troops bent on continuing slavery and tyranny had beaten the Union forces in nearly every major battle. The French emperor Napoleon III took advantage of the Confederacy’s victories to send his troops into Mexico to depose a democratic president, Benito Juarez, and impose his puppet emperor, Maximilian of Austria. For a while, it looked as if slavery and tyranny would characterize the North American land mass. But suddenly, like a ray of lightning in a night storm, on May 5, 1862, hope lit up the sky at the gates of Puebla. The outgunned and outmanned Mexican army, fighting to preserve freedom and democracy, decisively beat back the army of slavery and tyranny, throwing the mighty French army back to its base on the coast.

Bursting with joy, Mexicans in California immediately celebrated the first major victory of freedom and democracy by commemorating the battle of the Cinco de Mayo. And Mexican enthusiasm was needed. After its sluggish start, the Civil War had devolved into a stalemated series of see-saw battles, the Union forces winning some, and the Confederate forces winning others, over the following three years.

In the middle of this bloody stalemated battle against slavery and tyranny, Lincoln’s first term as president was coming to an end, and he had to convince the American electorate to let him continue the war to its conclusion. This was not going to be easy. Across the land, Lincoln’s authority was weak.

Certainly, the Confederacy did not recognize him, calling Jefferson Davis its legitimate president. In the North and in the West—including California—supporters of the Confederacy, called Copperheads, did not lose any opportunity to stir up dissent. Even worse, a “Peace Party” had formed. Weary of four years of war, unwilling to extend the hand of liberty to the enslaved, this new party headed by former U.S. General McClelland, challenged Lincoln’s prosecution of the seemingly endless, bloody war. Make peace now! They exclaimed. Let the south go, let them keep their slaves, it’s none of our business. Their simplistic slogans appealed to a war-weary American public.

Lincoln was in trouble, under pressure to cease his efforts….
But he enjoyed the support of Mexicans in California, who opposed slavery with all their fiber, who had insisted California join the union as a free state. Concerned about the future of the Union without Lincoln as president, early in October in 1864, a large group of Mexicans and other Latinos met in San Francisco, at the Terpsichore Hall on Pacific and Stockton Streets, to discuss how they could support their embattled candidate, Abraham Lincoln.  A young firebrand who had just moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles, Francisco P. Ramirez, exhorted the crowd to organize its efforts, as did the Mexican Consul, Jose Maria Vigil and a number of other orators. Speaking in the Spanish language common to California for nearly a century at that point, the speakers urged those Latinos present, the “Children of the Americas,” hailing from California, Mexico, Central America and South America, to become involved in this very important election that could decide the future of the United States.

Acting on the old Spanish dicho, “La union hace la fuerza” the Latinos present decided to form a new organization to support Lincoln and his fight for freedom: the “Club Unionista Hispano-Americano de Lincoln y Johnson” (Andrew Johnson was his vice-presidential candidate). The editor of La Voz de Mejico, one of the many Spanish-language newspapers of 19th century in California, exhorted those Latinos who were naturalized citizens of the US to vote for Lincoln, and urged those immigrant Latinos who were not yet naturalized become so in order to defend freedom and democracy in the upcoming election.  To drive the point home that America’s battles were also Latino battles, the editor of La Voz de Mejico pointed out that:

“nuestro destino se halla identificado con nuestro pais adoptivo—la causa de la union es la misma que Mejico sostiene” (our destiny is the same as that of our adopted country—the cause of the Union is the same that Mexico supports)

PART II

In 1864, a group of Mexicans in San Francisco founded the Club Unionista to fight for President Abraham Lincoln’s re-election and against General McClelland’s Peace Party’s support of the Confederacy and the continuation of slavery.

In coalition with other Lincoln supporters, including the “Irish Club for Lincoln and Johnson,” the group decided to drum up enthusiasm for Lincoln by holding a nighttime torchlight parade through the streets of San Francisco. Club Unionista members prepared themselves for what was to come; officers groomed their horses in anticipation of the big event.

A number of Mexican and Latino militia had been formed in the state by that time, in Los Angeles, Sonora, New Almaden and Marysville. The militia in San Francisco called itself the “Artilleros,” and wore uniforms that included “blusas encarnadas” (blood-red shirts).

Finally on the night of October 16, 1864, the pro-Lincoln parade was to begin. Excitedly, members of the Club Unionista crowded into the rooms of the Terpsichore Hall. At the command of Captain Guillen, the Artilleros marched forward. Behind them, four abreast, the Club Unionista members marched out into the street, holding their flaming torches aloft. The mounted officers came behind, astride their spirited horses.
The banners and signs carried by Club Unionista members bore evidence of their bi-lingual and bi-cultural heritage. One bilingual sign that tied together the American Civil War and the French Intervention in Mexico read:

“Honest Abe is our man—Muera Maximiliano” (Death to Maximilian)

Another banner listed the civil and military heroes of the war on both fronts, Mexico and the Atlantic coast: “Lincoln—Juarez, Grant—Negrete”

Yet another gave a decidedly negative opinion of the leaders of the Confederacy and the French in Mexico: “Maximiliano el usurpador — Davis el traidor” (Maximilian the usurper, [Jefferson] Davis the traitor).

And still another banner made reference to Lincoln’s emancipation of the slaves: “Dios hizo al hombre y Lincoln lo declaró libre.” (God created man, and Lincoln declared him free)

And finally, one simple banner tied together the events of the Battle of Puebla and the Battle of Gettysburg in the defense of freedom and democracy: “Puebla, 5 de mayo de 1862.”

Along the parade route, a huge Mexican flag could be seen floating in the air in front of the editorial offices of the Spanish-language newspaper La Voz de Mejico: a banner hung from the window read “La Voz de Mejico-Lincoln y Johnson.”

But as the marchers passed the corner of Market and Montgomery streets, the enemy showed its face. A group of Confederate sympathizers had gathered and began to yell out insults. Before their cause could gather steam, however, they were quickly drowned out by the louder voices of Mexican patriots.

For nearly two hours the Club Unionista marched through the streets of San Francisco, singing and cheering for freedom and democracy. At one point they saw another group of Mexicans, from Petaluma, carrying a large Mexican flag, the flag of freedom and democracy, with a banner that read:

“Nosotros ayudaremos…a echar fuera los invasores de Méjico” (We are going to help…throw the invaders out of Mexico).

Reporting on the event the next day, the editor of La Voz de Mejico described the event as: “destinada à ejercer una influencia pronunciada en este Estado, animando à todos, inspiràndoles valor y resolucion para sostener hast el ultimo trance los principios de libertad y progreso” (destined to exert a great influence in this state, creating enthusiasm in every heart, inspiring courage and resolution to support the principles of freedom and progress to the end).

But there were Copperheads and Confederate sympathizers who wanted Lincoln’s re-election stopped at any cost. The Mexicans would have to redouble their efforts if their president were to win re-election and save the union.

PART III

Gold! As soon as the discovery was announced, many Atlantic-Americans* from the southern states flocked to California, a number bringing their slaves with them. The original “southern strategy” was to extend slave-holding territory from the Old South all the way to the Pacific Ocean. But freedom-loving Mexicans in California frustrated that intention.

Slavery had been abolished in Mexico in 1829, while California was still part of the Republic of Mexico. So strong was the desire for freedom for everyone, twenty years later Mexicans helping to write the California constitution in Monterey in 1849 insisted that the state enter the US as a free territory.

As the US moved towards civil war over the question of slavery, Confederate sympathizers, called “Copperheads” after the snake that strikes with deadly poison, lost no chance to agitate in support of the Confederacy. The first senator from California, David Gwinn, was an unabashed supporter of southern slavery. James Watson, state senator from Los Angeles, was proud to be a Copperhead. As soon as the Confederate guns boomed on Fort Sumter, groups of southern sympathizers journeyed to the Old South to take up arms against the US government headed by Abraham Lincoln.

As Mexicans in California generally opposed slavery and supported democratically elected governments both in the US and Mexico, it did not take long for them to clash with the Copperheads who supported slavery and oligarchy. At the large torchlight parade in San Francisco in October of 1864, Mexicans marchers in support of Lincoln shouted down a group of Confederate hecklers who supported the so-called “peace candidate,” former General George McClelland, who ran on the platform of letting the southern states go if they wanted to leave the United States and keep their slaves.

Mexican miners founded the mining town of Hornitos in Mariposa County in 1849 and by 1864 the town still had a very large Mexican population, which supported Lincoln. Late in October, Mexicans there helped stage a pro-Lincoln rally, and, as in San Francisco, the flags of both Mexico and the US headed the procession as symbols of freedom and democracy.

But the Atlantic-American population harbored a hard core of Confederate sympathizers, supporters of McClelland and his “peace platform.”  Disgusted that Mexicans should be so obvious in their support for Lincoln, a Copperhead in Hornitos was reported to have said: “We don’t expect to get, and we don’t even want, the Mexican vote in this campaign.”

The Copperheads soon put their words about rejecting the Mexican vote into action. After the speeches were over and the crowd had drifted away, the Copperheads wheeled a six-inch canon into the plaza where the flags waved, and deliberately shot a hole through the flag of the Mexican Republic, then fled into the night. This defilement of the flag outraged Mexicans: The editor of the Spanish-language newspaper, “La Voz de Mejico,” likened this act to the firing of Confederate guns at the America flag flying over Fort Sumter.

The mutilated Mexican flag was carried to San Francisco to be repaired, but before being mended, it was displayed in the office of “La Voz de Mejico” so that the Mexican community could see firsthand the outrage committed by the forces of slavery and tyranny. Far from disheartening Mexicans, this act of confederate vandalism only encouraged the Mexicans to redouble their effort to re-elect Lincoln.

The editor of “La Voz de Mejico” wrote: “invitamos a todos los mejicanos y demas hispano-americanos que tenga derecho de votar, que redoblen sus esfuerzos desde hoy hasta el dia de la eleccion presidencial, en favor de la causa de la Union” (We invite all Mexicans and other Hispanic-Americans who have the right to vote to redouble their efforts from today until the day of the presidential election, in support of the cause of the Union).

And now, the election to vote for Lincoln and freedom or for McClelland and slavery was only weeks away. What more could Mexicans do to ensure that freedom and democracy would characterize the North American land mass?

PART IV

The calls to support President Abraham Lincoln’s re-election by Mexicans and other Hispanics could be heard all across California in the days leading up to the November 8, 1864 election.

Just days before Lincoln’s fate and that of the United States was to be decided, Valentin Alviso, a young member of an old Californio family in San Leandro, stood in front of a Mexican flag and addressed the Spanish-speaking residents of Alameda County in their native language, urging them not to be indifferent to the great political issues facing the US in Lincoln’s re-election bid.

In Los Angeles, the US Army and its band marched from its headquarters in Drumm Barracks in San Pedro all the way to the Plaza where the pueblo was founded in 1781. They stopped at the headquarters of the Junta Patriotica Mejicana, where a formation mostly made up of Hispanics—Californios, Mexicans, Central and South Americans—waited to join them on the march. The flags of Mexico and the US, symbols of freedom and democracy, preceded the marchers carrying banners written in Spanish denouncing slavery, tyranny and separatism. Coming to a halt in front of the Lafayette Hotel, Filomeno Ibarra, President of the Junta Patriotica, speaking in Spanish reminded the crowd that the fight against slavery and tyranny was being waged both in the US and Mexico:

“nosotros los Mejicanos…tenemos los mismos sentimientos de los americanos del Norte y sostenemos la union y la libertad…Es nuestro deber como mejicanos verdaderos, sostener el partido liberal de los Estados Unidos, dando nuestro voto a Lincoln y Johnson…” (We, the Mexican population…have the same sentiments as the North Americans and we support the Union and freedom…. It is our duty as true Mexicans to support the liberal party of the United States, giving our vote for Lincoln and Johnson)

While Ibarra’s words were met with loud applause, a small group of Confederate sympathizers tried to disrupt the crowd with cheers for the opposition candidate, General McClelland: they were quickly silenced.

Along the Central Coast, Mexican Assemblyman Ramon Hill lit up crowds of Mexicans and other Hispanics in Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura with energetic speeches in Spanish supporting the Union. Joining him on the speaker’s stand were prominent Mexicans from Santa Barbara, General Covarrubias and Agustin Janssen.

“la poblacion mejicana se compone de… patriotas que… estan en favor del partido de Lincoln y votaran el boleto unionists.”  (The Mexican population is composed of… patriots who… are in favor of the party of Lincoln and will vote the unionist ballot”)

Over in Contra Costa County, the Club Unionista in Martinez invited the Clubs from San Ramon, Lafayette and Antioch to a giant pro-Lincoln rally in Pachecoville. A band played, and a canon thundered out volleys to welcome them. When the crowd spied the Mexican flag entering the rally, everyone, Mexicans and Atlantic-Americans alike, applauded and shouted out anti-slavery, anti-secessionst and anti-monarchist slogans. Senor Berreyesa addressed the crowd in Spanish, as did an Atlantic American, Mr. Matheson, who had mastered Spanish as a second language. The correspondent to La Voz de Mejico noted:

“Los nativos californios de este condado estan todos unidos en favor de Lincoln y Johnson” (The Native Californians in this county are all united behind Lincoln and Johnson)
Mexicans spoke all around the state in favor of Lincoln and the union. Santos Berreyesa spoke in Napa, and the San Francisco-based president of the Club Unionista Hispano-Americano, Agustin Splivalo, spoke to crowds of Hispanic-Americans living in Sacramento, Marysville, Placerville and Oroville, where he found:

“los ciudadanos hispano-americanos bien informados de las cuestiones politicas del dia y dispuestos a apoyar con sus votos a nuestros candidatos, Lincoln y Johnsons.” (The Hispanic-American citizens well informed about the political issues of the day and are willing to support our candidates, Lincoln and Johnson, with their votes)

As Election Day approached, La Voz de Mejico noted that Hispanic-American political involvement was at its highest level since California joined the US in 1850:

“Esta es la primera vez que la poblacion hispano-americano haya participado de una manera tan activa en las cuestiones politicas del pais” (This is the first time that the Hispanic-American population has participated this actively in the political issues of this country)
And when the election results were announced, the Spanish-language newspaper proudly headlined the result:

“Mayoria Unionista en el Estado” (Unionist majority in the state).
Lincoln had won, the Union was saved, the Civil War was to be pursued to its end, and the hand of liberty was to be extended to all Americans. Mexicans and other Hispanic-Americans were as energetic a part of the election in 1864 as they were last fall in the election of 2008.

Mexicans, Latinos, Lincoln and Obama—an American tradition: In Spanish, of course.

David E. Hayes-Bautista is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His most recent book is La Nueva California: Latinos in the Golden State (University of California Press, 2004) To read more of his articles, visit www.egpnews.com 

 

 

 


INDIGENOUS

Mural in Capitol, Baptism of Pocahontas
KPBS and Union Bank Honor Hispanic Heritage Month 
       and American Indian Heritage Month Local Heroes
Nakum, Preserving & promoting Native Americans indigenous to Texas & Northeastern Mexico.
Infinity of Nations

Baptism of Pocohontas
John Gadsby Chapman
Oil on canvas, 12' x 18'
1839; placed 1840
One of four historic murals located in the Capitol's Rotunda

This painting depicts the ceremony in which Pocahontas, daughter of the influential Algonkian chief Powhatan, was baptized and given the name Rebecca in an Anglican church. It took place in 1613 or 1614 in the colony at Jamestown , Virginia , the first permanent English settlement on the North American continent. Pocahontas is thought to be the earliest native convert to Christianity in the English colonies; this ceremony and her subsequent marriage to John Rolfe helped to establish peaceful relations between the colonists and the Tidewater tribes.  

The figures of Pocahontas and the officiating minister are given prominence by their placement, their bright white clothing, and the light that shines upon them. Pocahontas kneels on the top level of a stepped dais, her head bowed and her hands clasped before her. Reverend Alexander Whiteaker raises his eyes and his left hand, while his right hand rests on the baptismal font. John Rolfe, Pocahontas’s future husband, stands behind her.

Other colonists and members of Pocahontas’s family look on, displaying a range of emotions. At the left of the painting, Sir Thomas Dale, deputy governor of the colony, has risen from his chair near the font to observe the event. Pocahontas’s regally dressed brother, Nantequaus, turns away from the ceremony as her uncle Opachisco leans in from the right. The seated, brooding figure of another uncle, Opechankanough, turns completely away from the ceremony while Pocahontas’s sister, with an infant, watches from the floor.

Chapman received the commission for the Rotunda painting in 1837 and selected Pocahontas as its subject. He may have chosen to paint her baptism because he had already (in 1836) completed a scene that showed her more widely depicted rescue of John Smith. Seeking to depict the scene of this ceremony accurately, Chapman traveled in England and America to examine objects and buildings from the early seventeenth century. Because the Jamestown church had since been torn down, he based his setting on a church that he believed to be of similar age and incorporated features appropriate to the colony, such as the pine columns; many details were based on a written description by a Jamestown resident. Chapman created this painting in Washington , D.C. , in the loft of a barn on G Street, N.W. His life during the time in which he worked on it was marked by great sadness and misfortune: his son died in February 1838, and two weeks later his daughter was born prematurely and survived only ten hours. He was also under mounting pressure from debts and worked quickly on the canvas to collect his payment; after completing it he noted in his day book that the money he received from the government for the painting was “barely equivalent to its cost” to him. The painting was delivered to the Capitol and installed in November 1840.

This painting has undergone various cleaning, repair, and restoration treatments. In 1925, it was relined because of the damage it suffered from currents of heated air rising from the floor registers. Finding a manufacturer in the United States to provide such a large canvas proved difficult, and the canvas was eventually ordered from a company in Brussels . In 1980 the painting was attached to an aluminum panel to help it resist the effects of changes in temperature and humidity. All of the Rotunda paintings were most recently surface cleaned in 2008.

An engraving of Chapman’s painting appeared on the reverse of the First Charter $20 National Bank Notes issued in 1863 and 1875.

John Gadsby Chapman was born on August 11, 1808, in Alexandria , Virginia . He received encouragement and instruction from history painter George Cooke and portraitist Charles Bird King, and he studied further in Philadelphia . In 1828 he traveled to Italy to study the Old Masters, and in 1831 he returned to America to create landscapes and portraits, which he exhibited in Washington , D.C. ; Richmond ; and Philadelphia . He moved in 1834 to New York City , where he became a member of the National Academy of Design and illustrated books and magazines. He also began a series of history paintings depicting events in colonial-era America , and their success led to the commission for Baptism of Pocahontas, his best-known work. In 1850 he and his family settled in Rome , where he prospered by selling his works to American tourists. In the 1860s, however, the Civil War curtailed tourist travel; in the 1870s his wife died and he relied on fellow Americans for charity. His health failing, he returned to the United States in 1884 and lived with his son in Brooklyn . He died on November 28, 1889.

Source of Information: Wallbuilders  David Barton's tour of the capital.
Text: http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/index.cfm 

Sent by Susanna Taylor

 

November 04, 2010

KPBS and Union Bank Honor Hispanic Heritage Month and American Indian Heritage Month Local Heroes
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and American Indian Heritage months, Union Bank has partnered with KPBS to honor four extraordinary San Diegans during its 13th Annual Local Heroes Awards program. Recognized for exemplary leadership and dedication to serving their communities, these Heroes join eight other dedicated community members in the year-long celebration.

The Hispanic Heritage month honorees are Gracia Molina Enriquez de Pick, founder and professor of Chicano/a Studies and International Activist for Women’s Rights; and Carolina Alcoser Ramos, Latino Services Coordinator for the San Diego LGBT Community Center. The American Indian Heritage month honorees are: Harry Paul Cuero, Jr., council member of the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians and Dwight Kala Lomayesva, III, executive director of American Indian Recruitment Programs. [Read below credentials and accomplishments.]

KPBS and Union Bank
“Our Union Bank Local Heroes program began in San Diego in 1998, and we are proud of this expanded partnership with KPBS,” said Union Bank Executive Vice President George Ramirez. “We honor and thank these community leaders, who have committed themselves to improving the lives of others who live within the vibrant and rich cultural mosaic of San Diego. Their contributions are vital as they advocate for, support and provide inspiration to members of our communities who are often underserved.”

KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo said, “KPBS is excited to again partner with Union Bank to celebrate this year’s Local Heroes. These heroes embody a strong, ongoing commitment to community service, and we are pleased to showcase their work through our video profiles which are currently airing on KPBS TV and KPBS.org. We want residents of San Diego to have an opportunity to learn more about and appreciate the extraordinary contributions these dedicated individuals provide to our community.”

San Diego’s Hispanic Heritage month and American Indian Heritage month honorees are:

Gracia Molina Enriquez de Pick has been an educator, feminist, student mentor and community activist for women’s equality, indigenous communities, labor and immigrants’ rights for over 60 years. As a faculty member at Mesa College, she founded and wrote the curricula for the first associate’s degree in Chicano/a Studies. At UC San Diego, she was one of the founders and a faculty member for the university’s Third College (now named Thurgood Marshall College). She is a founder of IMPACT and the Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional, the first national feminist Chicana Association. She has served as the Chicana Caucus Chair of the National Women’s Political Caucus and on the National Council of La Raza. Her book, “Mujeres en la Historia & Historias de Mujeres,” published in 2008, highlights women in Mexican history, covering the indigenous period prior to 1492 through the first half of the 20th century.

Carolina Alcoser Ramos is the coordinator of Latino/a Services for the San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center. Ramos is a co-founder of the Black/Brown Coalition, a national organization to bring together African American and Latino/a people. She has served as a San Diego Human Relations Commissioner; is a member of the San Diego Unified School District Superintendent’s Commission on LGBT issues in Education and is a sensitivity trainer for the San Diego City Social Services Department. She speaks at schools, universities and military bases throughout San Diego on issues of LGBT equality and immigrant rights. Ramos has served as the Regional Director of Bienestar Human Services and as a domestic violence advocate for the Palomar Pomerado Health Family Violence Program and on the Board of Directors of PACTO Latino Aids Organization. KPBS and Union Bank

Harry Paul Cuero, Jr. is a tribal advocate, curator of tribal history and master singer of Bird Songs. He has served as treasurer, cultural director and chairman of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and is currently a member of Campo’s Executive Committee. As the cultural director for Campo, Cuero worked with tribal youth, teaching them native song and dance and encouraging them to participate in tribal ceremonies. A traditional Bird Singer for over 30 years, Cuero and a group of Kumeyaay youth performed cultural Bird Songs with the San Diego Symphony. He has also performed traditional Bird Songs during the pre-game ceremony of the 1998 Super Bowl game in San Diego and performed at the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. He and other Bird Singers also performed at the White House for President Bill Clinton.

Dwight Kala Lomayesva, III, a member of the Hopi tribe of Arizona, has tirelessly served the San Diego American Indian Community for over 20 years. As Executive Director of the American Indian Recruitment Programs (AIR), his primary focus has been the expansion and improvement of educational opportunities for American Indian youth. AIR was created by Lomayesva as an afterschool program and adopted by the American Indian Advisory Committee under the SDSU department of American Indian Studies in late 1993. In addition to promoting higher educational opportunities for participants, who are tutored and mentored by college students, AIR also offers a culturally relevant component that instills a sense of pride and increased self-esteem among the students. The AIR programs have expanded to the University of San Diego, the University of California, San Diego and Palomar College.

These outstanding citizens will join eight other Local Heroes in this year-long celebration of cultural diversity. All 12 honorees will be honored at the 2010 Local Heroes Awards on Tuesday, November 16, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The awards ceremony is being held in the Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla.

About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $80 billion at September 30, 2010. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., is a full service commercial bank providing an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 397 banking offices in California, Washington, Oregon and Texas, as well as two international offices, on September 30, 2010. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG, NYSE:MTU), one of the world’s largest financial organizations. Visit www.unionbank.com for more information.

About KPBS
KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University, serving the region with TV, Radio and Internet content that is educational as well as entertaining and free of commercial interruption. 


  Nakum

Preserving and promoting the cultures, traditions, ceremonies, and languages of Native Americans indigenous to Texas and Northeastern Mexico.
The Institute solicits and develops articles and publications that will be disseminated to the general public, on topics pertaining to the indigenous people in this area. As articles, publications, and other materials are developed or identified, the Institute collects these and maintains a library and archive. These collections will be available to the public for further research and to preserve the culture, traditions, ceremonies and languages of our ancestors in one central, accessible location.

For centuries, the identities of the peoples native to the U.S. Southwest and Northern Mexico have been subject to legal, political, and social interpretations that serve colonial interests. The mission of Nakum, the Coahuiltecan word meaning “we speak” or “I speak to you,” is to offer a public forum through which scholars of Native and Chicana/o studies can do precisely what the title suggests: speak from their own perspectives.

In keeping with the general mission of the Indigenous Cultures Institute, this journal offers a space for the continued exploration of Hispanics’ indigenous identities. The journal thus brings together many of the conversations that the Institute has cultivated and, through its online presence, makes them available to a vast and growing audience of scholars, journalists, creative writers, and students with an abiding interest in hearing the voices of those who contribute to those discussions.

Editorial Board
Lydia French, Managing Editor
Mario Garza, Chair of the Indigenous Cultures Institute’s Board of Directors
Norma Cantú, University of Texas at San Antonio, Department of English
Shannon Speed, University of Texas at Austin, Anthropology Department

Call for Papers
Letter from the Indigenous Cultures Institute Chair

Creative Work
In Xochitl, In Cuicatl
Qwo-Li Driskill
Qwo-Li Driskill is a Cherokee (non-citizen) Two-Spirit/Queer activist, writer, and performer also of African, Irish, Lenape, Lumbee, and Osage ascent. S/he is the author of Walking with Ghosts: Poems and a co-editor (with Chris Finley, Brian Joseph Gilley, and Scott Lauria Morgensen) of Queer Indigenous Studies: Critical Interventions in Theory, Politics and Literature, forthcoming from University of Arizona Press. Qwo-Li is an assistant professor in the Department of English at Texas A&M University.

Scholarly Articles
Historical Recovery, Colonial Mimicry, and Thoughts on Disappearing Indians in Elena Zamora O’Shea’s El Mesquite book, review by Kirby Brown, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation., Kirby Brown is a PhD candidate in the department of English and Indigenous Studies Initiative at the University of Texas at Austin. His dissertation, Stoking the Fire: Nationhood in Early Twentieth Century Cherokee Writing, examines how four Cherokee writers variously remembered, imagined, and performed Cherokee nationhood in the period between tribal dissolution in 1907 and reorganization in the early 1970s. Published and forthcoming essays engaging contemporary Indigenous critical theory, constitutional criticism in Native literatures, and Native interventions in the Western can be found in Sovereignty Separatism and Survivance: Ideological Encounters in Native North America (2009), Studies in American Indian Literatures (2011), and The Oxford Companion to Indigenous American Literatures (2012).

The Borderlands of Borderlands: Tres Vistas by Lydia A. French
Lydia French, a doctoral candidate in the Department of English and a portfolio student in the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, is currently competing her research into the cultural and theoretical work of recorded popular music in contemporary American Indian and Chicana/o fiction. Her dissertation, “Sonic Gentitud: Popular Music and the Literary Nations of Aztlan,” examines the intersectionality of state and cultural nationalisms as/at the intersection of popular music and narrative.

Indigeneity and Mestizaje in the Texas Borderlands: Emergent Readings of the Post-Conquest by Sheila Marie Contreras
Sheila Marie Contreras is Associate Professor of English and Director of the Chicano/Latino Studies Program at Michigan State University. Her book, Blood Lines: Myth, Indigenism and Chicana/o Literature, was published by the University of Texas Press in 2008. Currently, she is at work on a new project, Mestizaje/Métissage: Post-Conquest Cultural Politics in the Americas.

Review by T. Jackie Cuevas of Nepantleras in the “Borderlands of Difference”  
T. Jackie Cuevas teaches in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at Syracuse University. Originally from South Tejas, Cuevas is a member of Macondo, the socially conscious creative writing collective founded by author Sandra Cisneros. Cuevas’s writing has appeared in Ixua Review, Sinister Wisdom, and in the introduction to the third edition of Gloria Anzaldúa’s Borderlands / La Frontera: The New Mestiza (Aunt Lute, 2007).

Sent by Armando Rendon,
Editor of online blog, Somos en escrito 

INFINITY OF NATIONS by N.F. Karlins
"Infinity of Nations" blows out any previous Native American show
http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/reviews/karlins/infinity-of-nations-heye-center12-1-10.asp  

"Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian," Oct. 23, 2010-Oct. 25, 2020, at the George Gustav Heye Center, 1 Bowling Green, New York, N.Y. 10004

Ten years seems like a long time for an exhibition to be up, but maybe not for something like "Infinity of Nations" at the National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center in lower Manhattan. 

I’ve visited the exhibition three times and have only begun to see many of the approximately 700 works in the show. Yes, 700. The show’s subtitle "Art and History in the Collection of the National Museum of the American Indian" hints at how extensive its reach is -- works from Native American cultures from the southern tip of South America to the northern top of Canada. 

Better still is the quality of the objects in the show. "Infinity of Nations" blows out any previous Native American show in this country for breadth but also dazzle. These exquisite objects range in date from several painted clay female figurines from the Valdivia culture of Ecuador (ca. 3500 BC), the oldest known pottery in the Western hemisphere, to pieces made recently. 

Larry Beck, a Seattle-born sculptor whose Yup’ik heritage got him interested in the masking traditions of the Northwest Coast, made his Walrus Spirit in 1982 from found objects. Drawing on Pop Art influences, its sleek construction and distinctive, diffident personality certainly made me smile.

Ten headdresses, emphasizing the splendor of Native American art-making, kick off the show in a room of their own. An Amazonian Brazilian headdress or cope of white, blue and red heron and macaw feathers, is not only radiant but underlines the continuity in some cultural groups, since it was made in 1990. 

The remainder of the exhibition is divided into ten geographical areas with works from multiple cultural groups in each. Their being adjacent suggests how porous these spaces were to cultural exchange and, in many cases, still are. 

Items made with materials foreign to the areas of their production evoke complex trade networks. An incised whelk shell gorget from the Mississippian culture from a site in Tennessee, far from any sea, attests to far-flung trade routes ca. 1250-1350, when the piece was made. The warrior with a severed head looks very much like a Mesoamerican figure. He is seen dancing in imitation of the Morning Star, a symbol of masculinity. Yet the mounds made by the Mississippian culture preceded those in Mesoamerica. The unknowns, particularly about this region, offer lots of opportunities for further research. 

Sometimes we know a bit more about connections. The Hohokam, an early Pueblo-people that inhabited western Mexico and the extreme deserts in what is now the United States Southwest, left traces of a rich material culture that connected them to California and Mexico. When something upended their settlements in the Southwest, some migrated to Chihuahua, Mexico where a stunning effigy jug of painted clay was created around 1200-1400.

Only a few more strictly utilitarian items are included, and they tell stories, like the arrows (1911-16) made by the man believed to be the last member of the Yahi tribe in California, suggesting how much has been lost. 

Historical pieces remind viewers of how Indians were perceived and how convoluted their relationships with non-Natives. An etched copper alloy "Peace Medal" of 1676 from the Massachusetts Bay Colony was given to Christian Indian scouts, who helped the British defeat other Native Americans fighting against colonial expansion. The image of the Native American is from the Massachusetts seal. 

Of course, trade beads from non-Natives were transformed into fabulous, wearable art from one end of North America to the other. I expect fashionistas will get even more ideas about beading and fringe than they have in the past from Native Americans with this show. 

A drop-dead gorgeous Inuit woman’s parka from Nunavet, Canada, successfully integrates geometric and floral motifs. The delightful color scheme is the result of about 160,000 glass beads and ivory toggles. A caribou skin and teeth, cloth, and metal were also used in its construction sometime around 1895-1915, during the booming whaling days of Hudson Bay. And moccasins, ca. 1880, associated with Peo Peo T’olikt, an Indian warrior who eventually became a rancher in Idaho, sprout trippy flowers in vivid colors that are unforgettable. 

Whether the piece is a Mayan stone carving of a ball-player from Guatemala around 600-750 or a painted wood mask from Bob Harris, a Kwakwaka’wakw carver, from Vancouver Island in Canada around 1900, each is outstanding. 

With so many works, curator Cécile R. Ganteaume, associate curator of the National Museum of the American Indian, has singled out one object from each of the ten geocultural areas to highlight in its own case. A Native American discusses the piece at the push of a button. 

If you don’t have much time, I’d suggest floating through the show, stopping when something arrests your attention, and also taking advantage of the insights provided by the Native Americans. The exhibition is so rich that it deserves multiple visits. And since it’s up for ten years, we have some time.

My only suggestion to the museum would be to devote even more area to these wonderful objects if they ever tackle a show of this size again. I know space was a concern, and they look terrific in the space allotted; yet I yearned to see many of the smaller sculptural pieces in the round, perhaps in their own cases. 

For the moment, I can hardly wait to go back.
N.F. KARLINS is a New York critic and art historian.

Sent by Juan Marinez
marinezj@anr.msu.edu


 

 

ARCHAEOLOGY

DNA Neanderthal genetic material in living people 
5,500-year-old leather lace-up moccasin found in Armenia 
Robot used to explore ancient tunnel at Teotihuacan ruins
Scientists from te Max Planck Institute in Germany decoded DNA taken from Neanderthal skeletons in Croatia and found that some of the genetic material exists in people alive today.  Anthropologists previous believed the the early human relative simply died out, but the latest findings show that interbreeding must have taken place.   OC Register Parade, Dec 5, 2010, pg 8 An international team of archaeologists discovered what's thought to the the worlds' oldest leather shoe in a cave in Armenia.  Thanks to the cave's cool, dry conditions, th 5,500-year-old leather lace-up moccasin (about a woman's size 7) was so well-preserved that even its laces were intact. 
OC Register Parade, Dec 5, 2010, pg 6
Robot used to explore ancient tunnel at Teotihuacan ruins, 
1st for Mexican archaeology
Jorge Barrera, Associated Press
The full Article, with any associated images and links can be viewed here.
http://www.startribune.com/science/107226758.html 

TEOTIHUACAN, Mexico - The first robotic exploration of a pre-Hispanic ruin in Mexico has revealed that a 2,000-year-old tunnel under a temple at the famed Teotihuacan ruins has a perfectly carved arch roof and appears stable enough to enter, archaeologists announced Wednesday.

Archaeologists lowered the remote-controlled, camera-equipped vehicle into the 12-foot-wide (4-meter) corridor and sent wheeling through it to see if it was safe for researchers to enter. The one-foot (30-cm) wide robot was called "Tlaloque 1" after the Aztec rain god.

The grainy footage shot by the robot was presented Wednesday by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History. It shows a narrow, open space left after the tunnel was intentionally closed off between A.D. 200 and 250 and filled with debris nearly to the roof.

Archaeologist Sergio Gomez says the footage showed the arched-roof tunnel was an example of sophisticated work by the ancient inhabitants of Teotihuacan, which is located just north of modern Mexico City.

"All of the passage, more than 100 meters (yards) long was excavated in the rock perfectly, and in some places you can even see the marks of the tools the people of Teotihuacan used to make it," said Gomez.

Well-worked blocks and a smoothly-arched ceiling showed the tunnel was not natural, but rather a man-made structure that researchers believe lead to possible burial chambers.

Researchers hope to clear the debris blocking the tunnel's mouth and enter passageway by late November or early December.

Robots have been used before in Egypt. In 2002, a robotic vehicle was used to discover a hidden door and chamber in the Great Pyramid built by the pharaoh Khufu more than 4,000 years ago.

But the INAH, as Mexico's archaeology agency is known, said it appeared to be the first robotic exploration in Mexico and probably in the Americas.

After excavating a vertical shaft that leads to the tunnel entrance, the mouth of the passageway was discovered in July. Ground-penetrating scanner images showed that the passageway lies 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface, and runs beneath the Temple of Quetzacoatl, in the central ceremonial area of the ruins.

The scanner images appear to show chambers that branch off the tunnel and archaeologists think they may hold the tombs of some of the ancient city's early rulers.

Experts say a tomb discovery would be significant because the social structure of Teotihuacan remains a mystery after nearly 100 years of archaeological exploration at the site, which is best known for the towering Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun.

No depiction of a ruler, or the tomb of a monarch, has ever been found, setting the metropolis apart from other pre-Hispanic cultures that deified their rulers.

Vertical excavations begun in 2009 to reach the mouth of the tunnel suggest it was a ruler's tomb, Gomez said. Rich offerings were tossed into the tunnel at the moment it was closed up, including almost 50,000 objects of jade, stone, shell and pottery, including ceramic beakers of a kind never found before at the site.

The complex of pyramids, plazas, temples and avenues was once the center of a city of more than 100,000 inhabitants and may have been the largest and most influential city in pre-Hispanic North America at the time.

But nearly 2,500 years after the city was founded — and about 2,100 years after the Teotihuacan culture began to flourish there — the identity of its rulers remains a mystery. The city was abandoned by the time the Aztecs arrived in the area in the 1300s and gave it the name "Teotihuacan," which means "the place where men become gods."

Sent by Mercy Bautista-Olvera 

 


SEPHARDIC


The Jews of Cape Verde Jewish History Project 
 

Leadership
While we know much of the history of Jews expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, the story of Sephardic Jews who traveled first to Morocco and Gibraltar and then in the mid 19th century to an archipelago 375 miles off the coast of West Africa is a fascinating but little known part of that history. Descendants of the Cape Verde Jews along with Carol Castiel, director of public affairs programming at Voice of America, founder and director of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project, will tell you about this remarkable history.  Lecture offered in December, Co-sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation. 

The Cape Verde Jewish History Project, founded in 2007, works in conjunction with the descendants of the Jewish families of Cape Verde to accomplish its goals. Many descendants throughout the world are collaborating on various aspects of the Project such as providing oral testimonies, technical support, and financial assistance.?? 

An organization called the Cape Verde-Israel Friendship Society (AMICAEL) was formed between Cape Verde and Israel in 1994. An AMICAEL subcommittee is also collaborating on the Project.

The seeds of the Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project were sown in the late 1980’s while Carol Castiel was managing a United States Agency for International Development- (USAID) funded scholarship program for Portuguese-speaking Africa at the African-American Institute in New York City. From her Cape Verdean students, many with Jewish surnames, she learned of the Jewish cemeteries throughout the islands. Castiel continued to travel to the archipelago in the 1990’s as an independent consultant/free-lance journalist. Her trips coincided with a resurgence of interest in Jewish roots on the part of many descendants who were pressing for the restoration of the dilapidated cemeteries.

Since then, Castiel has contributed time and effort to interviewing descendants, publishing articles, and making presentations about the Jewish presence in Cape Verde. Initially called “The Jews of Cape Verde Project: Preservation of Memory,” the project was affiliated with B’nai B’rith International. In 2007, the Project, now renamed “The Cape Verde Jewish Heritage Project” received independent 501(c)(3) status and can now more effectively raise funds to achieve its goals of preserving the cemeteries and telling the story of Cape Verde’s Jewish heritage.

 


AFRICAN-AMERICAN

Senate Approves $4.6 Billion Discrimination Settlement For Black Farmers, Indians
by Mary Clare Jalonick, 

WASHINGTON — The Senate has approved almost $4.6 billion to settle long-standing claims brought by American Indians and black farmers against the government.

The money has been held up for months in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans squabbled over how to pay for it. The two class action lawsuits were filed over a decade ago.

The settlements include almost $1.2 billion for black farmers who say they suffered discrimination at the hands of the Agriculture Department. Also, $3.4 billion would go to Indian landowners who claim they were swindled out of royalties by the Interior Department. The legislation was approved in the Senate by voice vote Friday and sent to the House.

President Obama in a statement praised the Senate for passing the bill and urged the House to move forward on it. He said his administration is also working to resolve separate lawsuits filed against USDA by Hispanic and women farmers.

"While these legislative achievements reflect important progress, they also serve to remind us that much work remains to be done," he said.

Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe from Browning, Mont. and the lead plaintiff in the Indian case, said Friday that it took her breath away when she found out the Senate had passed the bill. She said was feeling despondent after the chamber had tried and failed to pass the legislation many times. Two people who would have been beneficiaries had died on her reservation this week.

"It's 17 below and the Blackfeet nation is feeling warm," she said. "I don't know if people understand or believe the agony you go through when one of the beneficiaries passes away without justice."

John Boyd, head of the National Black Farmers Association, said the passage of the black farmers' money is also long overdue. "Twenty-six years justice is in sight for our nation's black farmers," he said.

Lawmakers from both parties have said they support resolving the long-standing claims of discrimination and mistreatment by federal agencies. But the funding has been caught up in a fight over spending and deficits. Republicans repeatedly objected to the settlements when they were added on to larger pieces of legislation. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., satisfied conservative complaints by finding spending offsets to cover the cost.

The legislation also includes a one-year extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which gives grants to states to provide cash assistance and other services to the poor, and several American Indian water rights settlements in Arizona, Montana and New Mexico sought by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

In the Indian case, at least 300,000 Native Americans claim they were swindled out of royalties overseen by the Interior Department since 1887 for things like oil, gas, grazing and timber. The plaintiffs would share the settlement.

The Cobell lawsuit has dragged on for almost 15 years, with one judge in 2008 comparing it to the Charles Dickens' "Bleak House," which chronicles a never-ending legal suit. Using passages from that novel, U.S. District Judge James Robertson noted that the "suit has, in course of time, become so complicated" that "no two lawyers can talk about it for five minutes without coming to a total disagreement as to all the premises."

The Indian plaintiffs originally said they were owed $100 billion, but signaled they were willing to settle for less as the trial wore on. After more than 3,600 court filings and 80 court decisions, the two sides finally reached a settlement in December.

"Personally I still think we're owed a hundred billion dollars, but how long do you drag this thing out?" Cobell said Friday. "Do you drag it out until every beneficiary is dead? You just can't do that."

Cobell said she feels confident about passage in the House, where the two settlements already have passed twice as part of larger pieces of legislation.

For the black farmers, it is the second round of funding from a class-action lawsuit originally settled in 1999 over allegations of widespread discrimination by local Agriculture Department offices in awarding loans and other aid. It is known as the Pigford case, named after Timothy Pigford, a black farmer from North Carolina who was an original plaintiff.

The government already has paid out more than $1 billion to about 16,000 farmers, with most getting payments of about $50,000. The new money is intended for people – some estimates say 70,000 or 80,000 – who were denied earlier payments because they missed deadlines for filing. The amount of money each would get depends on how many claims are successfully filed.

The bill passed Friday would be partially paid for by diverting dollars from a surplus in nutrition programs for women and children and by extending customs user fees.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said with the passage of the Cobell settlement: "This is a day that will be etched in our memories and our history books."

The Obama administration has aggressively moved to resolve the discrimination cases after most of them have lingered a decade or more in the courts. Last month, the Agriculture Department offered American Indian farmers who say they were denied farm loans a $680 million settlement.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said passage "marks a major milestone in USDA's efforts to turn the page on a sad chapter in our history."

www.huffingtonpost.com 

 

   
EAST COAST

January 15:  Bobby Gonzalez, the Last Puerto Rican Indian
Gonzales Group, Knowledge and Business Solutions

Booby Gonazalez at Carlitos - July 13, 2006 - by Wilfredo Irizarry

Saturday, January 15, 2011, 4 pm presentation and book signing in New York.

The Last Puerto Rican Indian

By Bobby Gonzalez

A collection of Dangerous Poetry that pays homage to our Taino ancestors and our living brothers and sisters...

Bobby González photo by Wilfredo Irizarry.

 

Bobby, Clarisel and Luis
The Last Puerto Rican Indian on Bronxnet
Bobby with "Chatting With Friends" 
TV show host Clarisel Gonzalez and publisher 
Luis Cordero at Bronxnet in Lehman College-
Friday, September 15, 2006

AT the Nuyorican Poets Cafe - August 23, 2006
Bobby at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe -
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Photo by Luis Cordero

Bobby Gonzalez, Ibrahim Gonzalez and Nando Alvaricci at WBAI Sunday, August 20, 2006

The Last Puerto Rican Indian on WBAI radio.
Bobby Gonzalez was welcomed to WBAI Radio on Sunday, August 20, 2006 by "Barrio Block" show hosted by Ibrahim Gonzalez and Nando Alvaricci. Bobby recited "Anacaona" one of the poems on his book "The Last Puerto Rican Indian.
Editor:  Bobby does point out that the Last Puerto Rican Indian . .  has not been born yet.
For more information, go to:  http://www.cemipress.com/index_0410.html 

Thanks to TheMULatino we can show you Bobby Gonzalez on YouTube performing "Thank You Mr. Columbus"

"And then
she begins to sing
and cry with joy,
knowing that she will soon be walking
in the radiant spirit land
where the ancient ones dwell. "

From "Anacaona" ©Bobby González

 

TGG footer
A Case Study of the Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania Multicultural Market
By: Gonzales Group

Since 2000, we have seen a significant shift in the profile of consumers.  The multicultural consumer has grown both in population size and in buying power.  The findings of this study paint a complex, yet insightful picture of the Multicultural community. Given the rapid growth rate of Hispanic, Asian, and African-American population, the Gonzales Group examines Mount Lebanon, utilizing data compiled by the U.S. Census to identify the overall market potential within the multicultural segments. 
 
Overall, the total population of Mount Lebanon is expected to decline by 4.46% between 2010-2015. The Hispanic population will experience the largest growth, growing by 98.00%.

From 2000 to 2010 Mount Lebanon saw the Hispanic and Asian population increase by 39.16% and 15.19%, respectively, while the African-American population increased by .96%.  The traditional White non-Hispanic population decreased by 10.04%.  

Delivering Multicultural Business Solutions
Contact@thegonzalesgroup.com



 


EAST OF MISSISSIPPI

A new home in Michigan: the Mexican-American experience in Muskegon
Archeological dig uncovers fragments of life at a Spanish outpost in 18th-century Louisiana
City Archives New Orleans Public Library
A new home in Michigan: the Mexican-American experience in Muskegon

On Sunday, December 12, 2010 a Mass was held in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe and the unveiling of the 216 page book commemorating the stories of 38 families that lived in Ryerson Heights “La Colonia” beginning in 1942.  Our Lady of Grace Parish- 495 Getty, Muskegon, MI.  For more information contact: Irene Navarro (231) 773-9504  latinosworkingforthefuture@gmail.com

Sent by Juan Marinez 
marinezj@anr.msu.edu
 


In search of An archeological dig uncovers fragments of life
at a Spanish outpost in 18th-century Louisiana
by MaryAnn Sternberg
 
 
Intro: One dump Saturday morning in March of 2008, Rob Mann extracted a dainty, white porcelain shard from a neat, shallow square trench carved into Glen Cambre’s front yard. Carefully turning the fragment over, Mann revealed a lovely floral motif— a
pattern of brown stems and green and blue petals and leaves on a white background, hand-painted, delicately sketched. It was a shard of a Chinese export teacup.
 
Rob Mann is Louisiana’s Southeast Regional Archeologist with a professional expertise in historical American archeology. He can identify the teacup and other artifacts unearthed from the Cambre greensward— fragments of French faience and coarse Spanish earthenware, brick rubble, nails, chunks of coal, pieces of bone— as
evidence of daily life of the residents of Galveztown, a Spanish colonial community perched at the confluence of Bayou Manchac and the Amite River between 1779 and
1806. But he can’t establish the provenance of the artifacts because, although the settlement’s history and significance has been studied and well documented, virtually nothing of Galveztown’s material culture is known.
 
Sent by Bill Carmena
JCarm1724@aol.com

 

City Archives
New Orleans Public Library
http://nutrias.org/~nopl/inv/digest/digest52.htm
 
 

Digest of the Acts and Deliberations of the Cabildo Pertaining to the MILITARY

 
Subject Book Volume Page Date Description
Military 1
193 7/22/1774 Governor: Unzaga; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – The Royal Commission confirming the title of Don Cecilio Odoardo as Civil and Military Lieutenant Governor, names him also, General Counsellor of the Militia of the City, as prescribed by law. (Royal document on page 195.)
Military 1
313 4/9/1779 Governor: Galvez; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – At this time the Attorney General calls attention to the lack (due to a state of war) of Militia in this Province to keep order and safeguard the roads. (See “Slaves and Savage Negroes.”)
Military 2
1 9/8/1779 Governor: Galvez; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – Don Pedro Piernas, Commandant of the Plaza, notifies the Cabildo of the declaration of war against His Britanic Majesty by Royal Decree of May 18th of the present year. (See Bernardo De Galvez, under “Governors” Part I of this Digest, for further details of this war.)
Military 2
9 12/24/1779 Governor: Galvez; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – Copies of a Royal Order are received for distribution to the Councils, Commandants and Justices, in which His Majesty authorizes his American subjects to regard the subjects of His Britanic Majesty as hostile.
Military 2
19 3/20/1780 Governor: Galvez; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – Galvez reports the surrender of Mobile and encloses a casualty list of the dead and wounded.
Military 2
29 5/26/1780 Governor: Galvez; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – In submitting a sworn statement of the funds of the year 1779, the City Treasurer makes known “that the Militia of this city left in expedition for Baton Rouge, Mobile and Pensacola; and as a result the lodging places as well as the taverns which were in operation, no longer existed.” The Commissioners ordered that the Militia pay what they owe to the City Treasury “for pool and bar room bills as soon as they come back to the city.”
Military 2
39 10/27/1780 Governor Galvez: Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – Don Luis Boisdore presents an official document stating the impossibility of making the collection of taxes due the City Treasury by the Cabaret owners, as they are soldiers of the Battalion stationed in the Plaza who sell and operate without license, through one pretext or another, concluding, that these collections are not to be charged to his account. (See “Taverns.”)
Military 2
59 5/25/1781 Acting Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – Don Luis Boisdore is discharaged as City Treasurer (page 58) and among various shortages in his accounts is an item of 509 Pesos which he could not collect due to the absence of the debtors at war. (It is later revealed, page 87, by a letter from the Cabildo to Galvez in which they remind him that he saw fit to release the Major Domo from payment of this amount.)
Military 2
211 2/6/1784 Acting Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – At this time an official document from the Governor of this Province was presented accompanied by a definite treaty of peace between Spain and England. At the previous meeting the Acting Governor ordered the city illuminated for three nights, and the “Te Deum” sung. – (On page 155 of Cabildo Book 3, Volume I, mention is made of a document containing this Treaty with England, but it is not shown.)
Military 3 I 37 1/14/1785 Acting Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – A Royal Order is presented concerning privileges allowed to disbanded soldiers so that they may come into possession of their estates.
Military 3 I 142 12/22/1786 Acting Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Sr. – An official letter is received from the Governor informing the Cabildo of the grace granted by His Majesty to the officers and Sergeants of the Battalion of Militia of this city, granting them the enjoyment of Military Statutes in recognition of their services in the last war with Britain. (Letter on page 143.)
Military 3 II 5 1/18/1788 Acting Governor: Miro; Royal Ensign: De Reggio, Jr. – The Governor presented a Royal Order granting commissions, “signed by His Royal Hand,” to the officers of the Militia of this province for services rendered during the last war, and extending the same grace to others who might serve in the future.
Military 3 III 73 6/28/1793 Governor: Carondelet; Royal Ensign: Almonaster – The Governor informs the Cabildo that His Majesty has decided to declare war on France because of repeated insults and hostilities that nation has committed against our Nation. The Commissioners agreed to contribute to the expense of the war. Later (page 132) a letter of thanks is received from the King.
Military 3 III 74 7/5/1793 Governor: Carondelet; Royal Ensign: Almonaster – The Governor presented a Royal Edict concerning the creation of a company of Royal guards for the American gentlemen.
Military 4 I 165 12/16/1796 Governor: Carondelet; Royal Ensign: Almonaster – At this time the Governor informs the Cabildo that His Majesty has declared war on the King of England. The Commissioners informed themselves of the contents of this letter and agreed to file same in the usual manner.
Military 4 III 224 9/5/1800 Acting Governor: Vidal; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – At this time the Commissioners take up with the Governor the abuse committed by the men in the Army in evading the payment of debts due to military prerogatives and statutes which have been granted them. – (The Governor’s reply is on page 226.)
Military 4 IV 8 10/10/1800 Acting Governor: Vidal; Royal Ensign: De La Ronde – Don Pedro de la Roche calls attention to the fact that in the session held on September 12th, it was decided to forward a petition to the King concerning privileges granted to men in Military Service.

Back to the Introduction to the Digest

5/15/2002--we


 

 


TEXAS

H.R. 1231, VA hospital to the McAllen-Harlingen area
Report shows Texas a main engine of U.S. job growth
Lucy Rede Franco: The Other Sister by La Prima Elisa Perez
Ancelmo Bergara - Unsung Tejano Hero Who Would Not Die by Richard G. Santos
Col. Juan N. Sequin, Tejano Patriot and Hero of the Alamo by Lino Garcia, Jr., Ph.D.
Rio Grande Valley Veterans are asking for your support to pass H.R. 1232.  The purpose of the bill is to bring a full-service  VA hospital to the McAllen-Harlingen area.  Many disabled and impoverished Veterans can no longer travel To Audie Murphy.  A full service VA hospital in The Valley, will greatly help EVERY VETERAN presently being served by Audie Murphy, to get better follow-up care, without waiting TWO YEARS for an appointment.

How much more suffering is expected of our aging, impoverished and disabled Veterans?

Placido Salazar,
USAF Retired Vietnam Veteran 
(210) 658-9756
psalazar9@satx.rr.com

Report shows Texas a main engine of U.S. job growth

Posted Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010 
By Steve Campbell 
sfcampbell@star-telegram.com
 

Texas created more than half the jobs in the nation over the last year, according to a report released Thursday.

In the monthly review of the Texas economy for October, Ali Anari and Mark Dotzour of the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University reported that the state added 166,000 jobs during the year ending in September for an annual growth rate of 1.6 percent. During the same period, the U.S. economy gained 321,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 0.2 percent.

The private sector is driving job creation in Texas, Anari said in a statement. "The private sector posted an annual employment growth rate of 1.9 percent compared with 0.5 percent for the U.S. private sector during the year," he said.

Every metro area in Texas except Lubbock had more jobs in September 2010 than in September 2009.

Waco topped the list with a 2.4 percent growth rate, followed by Austin (2.3 percent), Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood (2.3 percent), College Station (2 percent) and McAllen (2 percent).

The four biggest metro areas didn't fare as well, with Dallas gaining 1 percent, Fort Worth-Arlington adding 0.9 percent, San Antonio up 0.7 percent and Houston at 0.1 percent. Lubbock dropped 0.2 percent.

"All Texas industries except trade, construction and information had more jobs in September 2010 than they did 12 months earlier," Anari said.

Mining and logging, which includes oil and gas drilling, led in job creation with a 14.1 percent gain (27,900 jobs). The average number of active rigs increased from 379 in October 2009 to 688 this month, according to Hughes Tool Co.  Government, the biggest employment sector in the state with 1,817,700 jobs, increased 0.6 percent (10,900 jobs).

The biggest decrease was in the information industry, including Internet service providers, Web search portals, publishing, broadcasting and telecommunications. The sector's employment dropped by 7.3 percent (14,600 jobs) to 186,200 jobs.

Steve Campbell, 817-922-9281

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/28/2585867/report-shows-texas-a-main-engine.html#ixzz15z4X1IRP 

 


Lucy Rede Franco: The Other Sister
By La Prima Elisa Perez

Much has been written about Lucia “Chita” Rede Madrid (see: “My Desert Flower” blog). Two articles in National Geographic, and media coverage of her “private lending library” catapulted her to worldwide fame, leaving her equally accomplished sister Lucy Rede Franco in the background.

I first learned about Lucy when I found a booklet inscribed: “To my dear cousin Ofelia: from Lucy Franco”.  I found this booklet among my mother’s (Ophelia) belongings.
An article entitled ALL IN THE FAMILY relates the legacy of Antonia Lujan Rede, mother of Lucia Chita Rede Madrid, and Lucy Rede Franco.  It tells how as an adolescent, Antonia traded goat’s milk in exchange for English lessons. She continued her pursuit of a higher education, and at age seventeen– the young lady who got her first pair of shoes at age nine was teaching English in the mining town of Shafter, Texas. (“La Plazuela” to locals)  Shafter was founded by her husband’s grandfather, Francisco Rede, (an Indian Captive).  (see: “Los Redes” blog)   Little did the young lady know that she was nurturing a legacy that lives on to this day!

In 1921 the teaching tradition was passed on to Lucy when upon receiving her teaching credential she was assigned to the little Redford schoolhouse. Continuing the tradition; her brother, Edmundo Rede was a teacher in Socorro, Texas.  Alberto Rede taught in San Pedro California.  Delfina Rede Chavez (mother of Denise) taught in Las Cruses, New Mexico, and Lucia (Chita) Madrid taught in Redford, Texas.



Lucy married Manuel Franco in 1924.  Together they had eight children, all of whom obtained college degrees!

Lucy and Manuel Franco retired to live in Presidio, Texas. Their lovely home is directly across the Lucy Franco High School–a fitting tribute to a dedicated teacher.

Lucy received her B.A. at the Sul Ross University at age 54!  In 1959 she was named “TEXAS MOTHER OF THE YEAR” by the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs.  In 1960, Lucy was named “Texas Mother of the year” by the American Mother’s Committee of New York.

As of this year, the Franco children have established “The Lucy Rede Franco Scholarship Endowment” at her Alma Mater – The Sul Ross State University, in Alpine, Texas.

The legacy lives on.
Prima Elisa

Dave Perez  462dave@gmail.com
http://primaelisa.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/lucy-rede-franco-the-other-sister/ 



ANCELMO BERGARA  - UNSUNG TEJANO HERO WHO WOULD NOT DIE

 By

Richard G. Santos richardgsantos@yahoo.com

 
          Jose Ancelmo Bergara (aka Vergara) was born at the Villa de San Fernando de Bexar (now San Antonio) in 1778. He appears in the 1790 census as a son of Juan Jose Bergara and Maria Bernarda de Carabajal. Ancelmo’s brothers were Antono Pru (22), Francisco (21) and Jose Manuel (3). Their father seems to have been one of the cavalrymen of the Segunda Compania de San Carlos de Parras del Alamo.  The Second Company of the mounted militia unit was stationed at the abandoned Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission thus became known as the garrison of the Alamo Unit. Hence the mission became known as “The Alamo”. Ancelmo’s mother was a descendant of the Tlaxcaltecan Native Americans who founded San Esteban de Tlaxcala across the river from Saltillo, Coahuila in 1598. Ninety years later, some Tlaxcaltecans were among the third and final founding of Monclova, Coahula in 1688.

No longer considered Native Americans, the Carabajal family was among the 1716-1718 founders of the Villa de Bexar before the arrival of the Canary Island families in 1731. Notwithstanding name similarities, the Tlaxcaltecan Carabajals were not related to the family of the founder of Nuevo Leon, Portuguese Sephardic Jewish conquistador, Don Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva.

          In 1811 Militia Captain Juan Bautista Chapa overthrew the Governor of Spanish Texas and the Bergaras were sure to have participated as they were members of the militia. This seems to be verified in that the following year when Ancelmo Bergara is a member of the rebel company commanded by Carlos Despallier at Nacogdoches. He served as a courier informing the people of Bexar that the Republican Army of the North under Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara had invaded Texas and were determined to overthrow the Spanish Government of Texas. According to Peter Schwarz in his book Forgotten Battlefield (pp 21-22), Ancelmo Bergara and his companion Luis Grande were captured and executed. That is not accurate. It is most likely that Bergara was arrested and held at the Alamo jail.

The rebel army took Nacogdoches and Goliad before advancing on Bexar. They defeated the Spanish forces at Battle at the Rosillo in March 1813 and entered Bexar on April 1st.  They freed the prisoners form the Alamo jail and temporarily kept the Governor and his staff at the same jail. Five days later rebel leader Gutierrez de Lara issued the first written, formal Declaration of Independence against Spain. On or about the same day, the Governor and staff were told they were being taken to Nacogdoches but instead were executed at the Rosillo battlefield.

Due to U.S. intervention, Gutierrez de Lara was replaced as commander of the Republican Army by Jose Alvarez de Toledo. The Tejano volunteers under the leadership of Miguel Menchaca voiced their distrust and disapproval of Alvarez de Toledo. Nonetheless, the rebel army met a better armed Spanish force under General Joaquin de Arredondo on August 18, 1813. The rebels were defeated at the Battle at the Encinos del Rio Medina along the Camino Real directly north of Pleasanton-Poteet.

Ironically, the Sons of the American Revolution incorrectly list Ancelmo Bergara as one of the rebels killed in the encounter. That also, did not occur.   

Ancelmo was probably one of the many un-identified Tejanos survivors of the Battle at the Medina that fled to Louisiana and did not return until after 1821 when Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Like other surviving Tejano rebels he might have also served under Andrew Jackson at the battle at New Orleans and later under Jean Lafitte at Galveston Island.  Although references are made to the Tejano rebels, no muster roll listing the men has been found.

For the record, Ancelmo Bergara reappears in 1836 as a member of Juan N. Seguin’s company during the Texas Revolution. He was probably one of the spies sent by Seguin and Bowie to check the advance of Santa Anna’s Centralist Army.  It is very possible that Ancelmo was on scouting duty when the battle at the Alamo started.  Or he was one of the men who accompanied Juan N. Seguin when the defenders asked Houston for assistance. It is known that immediately after the battle, it was Ancelmo Bergara who appeared before Sam Houston reporting the Alamo had fallen. Houston ordered Ancelmo be arrested and jailed until he could verify the report. Houston later stated he did not wish to alarm the volunteers from the U.S. or residents of Texas. Consequently, Ancelmo was jailed until his report was verified.

Ancelmo Bergara returned to duty under the command of Colonel Juan N. Seguin and Captain Antonio Menchaca. History does not record Ancelmo’s activity until he is discharged from military duty on April 2,1837. On that date Antonio Menchaca and Juan N. Seguin verified that Ancelmo Bergara was a Sergeant in the Second Regiment of Cavalry in the army of the Republic of Texas. Ancelmo Bergara who, two different writers claim to have been killed first in 1811 then in 1813, served in the 1835-36 Texas Revolution and discharged in 1837. While in Houston, Texas on June 26, 1837, Ancelmo sold the title and all rights to the land given him as a Texas Revolution Veteran to William Fairfox.  He signed with an X as he did not know how to write.

The man who would not die reappeared in November 1838. At 60 years of age, Ancelmo was a witness in the historic lawsuit between the Bexar Land District and San Patricio Land District. Ancelmo and three other Sanantonianos testified as to the exact route of the “old Presidio Road” also known as Camino Real del Medio that divided the land two districts. In so doing, the men identified all water crossings and campsites from Bexar, via present Poteet, Charlotte, Cotulla, Catarina and finally the Presidio del Rio Grande (present Guerrero, Coahuila). They also testified that the Upper Camino Real via Frio Town was not established until 1806. 

At this time this writer does not know when unsung Texas hero Ancelmo Bergara finally passed away and where he is buried. Like many Sanantonianos after 1848, he might have moved to present Wilson, Atascosa, Medina or Frio counties. On the other hand, he might have been among the men of Juan N. Seguin who moved to Coahuila in 1842 to serve as spies for the Republic of Texas. Serving under the Mexican Army (yet loyal to Texas) they formed a unit called “Defensores de Bexar”. They caused so much trouble wherever they went, that the Mexican Army ordered the unit to be disbanded and Seguin to be tried as a Texas spy. Many of the men and their families returned to Texas with Seguin after the end of the U.S.-Mexico War in 1848. Therefore, the place of death and burial of Ancelmo Bergara on either side of the Rio Grande is unknown. It is interesting to note, however, that the Bergara family of Dilley, Texas may be among his descendants. Until more is known, Ancelmo Bergara will remain one of the many unsung, un-recognized Tejano heroes of Spanish, Mexican, both Republics of Texas and early US statehood history. As an after thought, I am sure that if Ancelmo had still been alive during the U.S. Civil War he would have joined the Confederate Army of Texas.  Like his mentor and commander Juan N. Seguin, he was also a Tejano rebel in search of a battlefield. But alas, the rebel who would not die faded into the unread pages of Texas history.

Finally, National Park Service historian of the Camino Real de los Tejas Dr. Susan Boyle did not know, nor was she aware of, the1838 lawsuit detailing the route of the Camino Real del Medio featuring Ancelmo Bergara as one of the deponents. I gave NPS a copy of the document in Spanish and another in English both dated 1838. I added a land survey map depicting the road in Atascosa County dated 1842.  This will be discussed at the Saturday November 20 meeting of the Nacimiento del Camino Real at Lytle’s Community Center at 10AM. The public is invited to attend.   


End …………… End ………………… end ………………….. end

 Zavala County Sentinel ……….. 17 – 18 Nov 2010
 Sent by Juan Marinez marinezj@anr.msu.edu

 

Article appeared Dec. 12-13 in the Brownsville Herald

COL. JUAN N. SEGUIN-TEJANO  PATRIOT AND HERO OF THE ALAMO

Dr. Lino García, Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Spanish Literature LGarcia@UTPA.Edu

 

        Col. Juan Nepomuceno Seguín was born on October 27, 1806 in San Fernando de Béjar, New Spain ( now San Antonio, Texas) , the son of Juan José Erasmo María de Jesús Seguín and Josefa Augustina Bercerra Seguín, one of San Antonio’s oldest and noblest of families, both native born Tejanos, and prominent cattle and land baron of early Colonial Spanish Texas.  Juan Erasmo’s grandfather settled in San Antonio in 1722, just four years after the founding of Presidio San Antonio de Valero in 1718. Thus, their heir, Juan N. Seguín,  enjoyed the privileges of a refined and cultured environment.  Juan N. Seguín married María Gertrudis Flores de Abrego, from a well known San Antonio ranching Tejano family of long standing. Four of her brothers : Captain Salvador Flores, Captain Manuel Flores, Lieutenant Nepomuceno Flores, and Private José María Flores all participated and joined their brother in law, Juan N. Seguín, in his struggle against  tyranny that pitted Tejanos against General Antonio de Santa Ana’s Army.  Historians have normally ignored Seguín’s and other Tejanos’ accomplishments in the development of Texas and their vast contributions to the initial framework and struggle for Texas Independence. The seguín family as well as other eminent Tejanos of early times believed in liberty, and were fair-minded individuals who showed great respect for families, friends, and fellow Tejanos in their communities. They were the original settlers of Texas, and had inherited the positive qualities of Spanish character, strong family ties, good neighbor relations, excellent education and upbringings, as well as  the qualities of decency and high regard for human beings. These are what led Col. Juan N. Seguín to become one of the most revered and respected heroes of the Texas Independence movement during the 1830’s. 

      He first became aware of the tyranny that was to fall on his beloved Texas when the Mexican Constitution of 1824 completely ignored all basic human rights that previously had been granted to all citizens and subjects of México. 

There are several things one must remember about this tumultuous period in the development of Texas, and to set the historical record straight,  I have enumerated them below: 

1.)  The territory of “ las provincias de los Tejas” was part of New Spain until  1821, and from then until 1845 was an integral part of the country of México, and responded to the  Mexican authorities in Coahuila.

2.)  The citizens of  Texas after 1821  were all Mexican nationals ( citizens of the country of México), including Tejanos, and Texians ( residents of Texas not of Hispanic origin), which included   Stephen F. Austin and the  recently arrived northern colonists.

3.)  The Independence Movement of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s “  El Grito” of September 16, 1810, that also helped to liberate Tejanos, as well as  the later on the Battle of the Alamo of 1836,  were both  part of Mexican History, and not of the US.

4.)  The Battle of the Alamo of 1836 was a Civil War within the confines of Mexican History, and all participants on both sides were, in essence, fighting their own countrymen.

5.)  General Antonio de Santa Ana, as despot and ill liked that he was, came to “ las provincias de los Tejas”  to protect  Mexican territory, and not as an invader; this , then, destroys the myth of freedom loving Americans fighting an invading Mexican Army, long propagated in Texas History books. This perception painted all Tejanos, who looked like the enemy, spoke like the enemy, worship like the enemy, thus, were also considered the enemy ; an idea that was, indeed, alive for decades in our state. 

The above statements will hopefully help erase some perceptions regarding the role of the Tejanos during this period of Texas history, therefore  easing some of the damage done to the Tejano psyche over the years; as well as leveling history’s playing field and bestowing some well deserved dignity to the role of the Tejanos in the development of  Texas. 

     At that time, General Antonio de Santa Ana had taken complete control of the Mexican Government, and had already incurred the wrath of most intellectuals and men of peace in México. This provided Col. Juan N. Seguín with the opportunity to convene, in 1834, the first revolutionary meeting held on Texas soil protesting the new demands and actions of the Mexican Government, and one such complaint  was that it was too far away to properly conduct its business in favor of the Tejanos and Texians. Seguín distributed a circular requesting citizens to form a Texas Constitutional Convention in San Antonio to address these issues that he felt were unfair.  He was, indeed,  the first individual to proclaim the changes entering the lives of the people of Texas, and the dangers that were in complete disregard for the way of life that they had all enjoyed. 

In 1834, Seguín was appointed Territorial Governor ( Jefe Político) of Texas; and the following year in 1835 he recruited Tejano fighters to defend against the forces of Santa Ana’s army, as well as providing food, horses, and shelter to his own troops. In the 1835, during the Siege of Béjar ( San Antonio).  Seguín and his  Tejano “ rancheros”  and Texian volunteers attacked the forces of the enemy, and re-affirmed their commitment to end the tyranny. The Tejanos were the first ones to initiate the movement for Independence with two skirmishes on Texas soil against tyranny and in support of freedom : the first one was the “ de las Casas revolt” of 1811 in San Antonio, and the second one, the Battle of Medina  in 1813, near that city also. Thus,  the Tejanos were the  first ones to initiate the skirmishes,  they were the first ones to die in battles, and unfortunately, the first ones to be forgotten in the pages of history.

              Although serving at the Battle of the Alamo of 1836, he did not actually participate in the final battle, as with his knowledge of both English and Spanish, he acted as courier for the soldiers fighting, and he was chosen to carry the message , via enemy lines,  that Texians and Tejanos would never surrender. When he returned to the Alamo, it had already fallen to Santa Ana’s forces, and in 1837, Seguín directed the burial of the fallen heroes of the Battle of the Alamo. He would also block the Mexican Army from going across the Brazos River, thus prevented them from overrunning the Texians. Later on at the Battle of San Jacinto, he played an important role when his Tejano Cavalry fought and helped secured this battle, causing grave damage to Santa Ana’s Army. 

      After Texas became a Republic, Seguín headed the San Antonio Military Forces, commanding a large army in defense of the New Republic. In 1839, he was elected State Senator representing San Antonio, resigning a year later to concentrate on other matters pertaining to the defense of the newly created Republic; only to return to public life as Mayor of San Antonio in 1841. Other  prominent Tejanos also served gallantry in the Texas of that time, and four of them were: Lorenzo de Zavala y Sáenz, Antonio de Navarro, Blas Herrera, Francisco Ruiz, and thousands of Tejanos, either involved in the actual battles, or by providing food, shelter, and horses to the revolutionary soldiers. After the Battle of the Alamo of 1836, Texas was flooded with adventurers, and land hungry northerners who were unfamiliar with the Tejanos’ long and loyal efforts in their fight for freedom, and thus their loyalties to the new social order were often challenged, and at times the Tejanos were confused with the enemy , causing many Tejanos to suffer rejection in their own land, and also causing  great damage to the Tejano psyche for decades to follow.  Seguín was vehemently opposed to his defense of Tejano rights and this led to  Seguín  fleeing to México “to seek refuge among his enemies”,  where he was arrested and was forced to serve in the Mexican Army. 

         In 1848, Seguín returned to his beloved Texas, and lived shortly at his Father Juan Erasmo Seguín’s hacienda in Floresville. His later activities were also very productive, as he served twice as Justice of the Peace of Bexar County, and as County Judge of Wilson County, becoming a founding father of the Democratic Party in Bexar County. He was , indeed, a son, husband, father, statesman, a veteran commander of many Texas battles, a scholar, and the savior of San Antonio, Texas.  Juan N. Seguín was and is a legendary individual in the Independence Movement, and has been an unsung hero of Texas who is seldom given credit for his and his families’ vast contributions to the development of present day Texas. He died on August 27, 1890, at the age of 63, while living in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México where his son Santiago served as Mayor and is buried in Seguín, Texas, the city named after him in 1838, and  where the town honors him with a large monument showing him on horseback and with his sable drawn .
 

Brownsville native Dr. Lino García, Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Spanish Literature at UTPA-Edinburg. He can be reached at: (956) 381-3441 or at: LGarcia@UTPA.Edu



 


MEXICO
 

Families of General Teran, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Volume Two (1815-1819)”  by Crispin Rendon
Exploring Colonial Mexico
Personajes en la Historia de Mexico por Jose Leon Robles de la Torre
Manuel Robles Pezuela
General Miguel Miramón
Defunciones de Higueras, N.L. Investigó Tte. Cor. Intdte.Ret. Ricardo Raúl Palmerín Cordero.
Libro de Bautismos de Alamos, Sonora, Tte. Cor. Intdte.Ret. Ricardo Raúl Palmerín Cordero
Church records are available for 22 Mexican States
Fray Juan Cerrado
Hispanic Genealogy: El Catastro de Ensenada, 1749 a 1756
Nuevos Hallazgos en la Ascendencia del Adcelantado de Costa Rica Juan Vazquez de Coronado  
    por Federico Mata Herrera
La familia de Francisco Gutierrez de Lara
Moctezuma Lineage
“Families of General Teran, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Volume Two (1815-1819)”  by Crispin Rendon is now online.  
It can be downloaded at:  http://home.earthlink.net/~shharmembers/genteranmarriagesvol2.pdf

 

Exploring Colonial Mexico

   

Dos Pilas: two extraordinary baptismal fonts.  Two contrasting late 16th century examples of extraordinary interest in Mexico State can be found at Zinacantepec, just outside Toluca, and Tepepan near Xochimilco.
Becom
  Two photographic exhibits currently on display: The first can be seen at the newly restored Mission San Miguel, California, until February 2011. The show consists of large scale photographs by the well known California photographer Jeffrey Becom taken at the five Sierra Gorda mission churches, founded by Padre Junípero Serra and others in the present state of Querétaro, Mexico. These colorful church fronts are among the most stunning in Mexico. Drawings by artist Richard Perry are also on exhibit there.  
© Jeffrey

A Joyful Noise:
Music and Musicans in the Painted Ceilings of Michoacán

The second event is an exhibit of images from the spectacular painted ceilings of churches in western Michoacán. Entitled A Joyful Noise: Music and Musicans in the Painted Ceilings, it features a selection from photographs by Carolyn Brown that illustrate this theme.


This exhibit is now open at the Cathedral of Guadalupe in Dallas, Texas, and will run until December 12. This inaugural show is part of a larger project, entitled Heavens Above, now under development in coordination with co-director Richard Perry, that will showcase the extraordinary variety of images from these luminous painted ceilings .

Richard Perry
ESPADANA PRESS
Exploring Colonial Mexico
http://www.colonial-mexico.com

 












Manuel Robles Pezuela

PERSONAJES EN LA HISTORIA DE MÉXICO

Por: JOSÉ LEÓN ROBLES DE LA TORRE

RUMBO AL BICENTENARIO DE LA INDEPENDENCIA DE MÉXICO, 1910-2010 General e ingeniero don Manuel Robles Pezuela, vigésimo noveno Presidente de México, del 23 de diciembre de 1858 al 21 de enero de 1859.

General e ingeniero don Manuel Robles Pezuela, vigésimo noveno Presidente de México, del 23 de diciembre de 1858 al 21 de enero de 1859.Datos del Tomo V de XIII, Libro 34 de mi obra inédita: "La Independencia y los Presidentes de México", relacionados con el ingeniero y General don Manuel Robles Pezuela, vigésimo noveno Presidente de México del 23 de diciembre de 1858 al 21 de enero de 1859, nacido el 23 de mayo de 1817, en la ciudad de Guanajuato, siendo hijo de don Francisco Robles, Ing. y Coronel y de su esposa doña Josefina Pezuela.

Estudió su primaria en Guanajuato y posteriormente pasó a la Ciudad de México donde ingresó al colegio de Minería.

El 24 de noviembre de 1835 ese año obtuvo los premios de Química, Cosmografía e Inglés. Terminó la carrera de ingenieros en Minas en 1840, obteniendo el título respectivo con honores por haber sido uno de los mejores y brillantes estudiantes. Su padre fue director del colegio de Minería y su hermano Luis también fue ingeniero, así que era una familia de ingenieros.

El 30 de enero de 1844, fue ascendido a Teniente Coronel de Ingenieros del Ejército Mexicano y fue enviado a Veracruz con el cuerpo de ingenieros del que muy pronto fue su comandante.

El Ejército Norteamericano atacó el Puerto de Veracruz y desembarcó en la ciudad de Veracruz en mayo de 1847 no obstante los esfuerzos del Ejército Mexicano por detenerlos, celebrándose la capitulación del puerto el 28 de marzo.

El Teniente Coronel de ingenieros don Manuel Robles Pezuela, al retirarse de Veracruz, fue enviado por el General Canalizo a Cerro Gordo para hacer un reconocimiento, donde estaba acampado el General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Se trataba de realizar urgentemente algunos trabajos de fortificación para detener al Ejército Norteamericano que tenía las miras en la capital de la República. Cerro Gordo se perdió ante el potente ataque de las fuerzas invasoras que traían mejor armamento y parque suficiente y la capital del país cayó en manos de los norteamericanos, dando lugar al Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo firmado el dos de febrero de 1848.

El 16 de enero de 1851, al subir a la Presidencia el General don Mariano Arista, nombró al ingeniero y general don Manuel Robles Pezuela como Ministro de la Guerra, durando en el cargo hasta el 18 de junio de 1852 y terminada su gestión fue enviado a Veracruz como Comandante Militar.

El 23 de diciembre de 1858 Robles Pezuela recibió la Presidencia de la República por entrega que le hizo el General Félix Ma. Zuloaga y duró en el cargo hasta el 21 de enero de 1859, volviendo como comandante del Ejército a Veracruz.

Las cosas estaban muy divididas y se luchaba entre los liberales que sostenían el Gobierno de Juárez por el centro y norte del país, y los conservadores que tenían la capital de la República con su Gobierno.

El Gobierno de Juárez concedió amnistía al General Robles Pezuela, fijándole residencia en Sombrerete, Zacs., pero Robles en lugar de obedecer, se dirigió rumbo a Tehuacán, Puebla, siendo perseguido y aprehendido el 21 de marzo de 1862 y entregado al General Zaragoza en San Andrés Chalchicomula, donde Zaragoza ordenó el fusilamiento de Robles el 23 siguiente. Sus restos fueron sepultados en algún panteón del lugar San Andrés Chalchicomula.

Posteriormente, el 11 de julio de 1863, el Gobierno conservador mandó una comisión para recoger los restos del valiente general e ingeniero que había servido a la patria contra el Ejército invasor norteamericano en Veracruz. Ya en la capital de la República, se rindieron a Robles Pezuela los honores y homenajes que merecía.


  
General Miguel Miramón

PERSONAJES EN LA HISTORIA DE MÉXICO

Por: JOSÉ LEÓN ROBLES DE LA TORRE

RUMBO AL BICENTENARIO DE LA INDEPENDENCIA DE MÉXICO, 1810-2010, Y BICENTENARIO DE LA REVOLUCIÓN MEXICANA, 1910-2010 

 


Don Miguel Gregorio de la Cruz Atenógenes Miramón y Tarelo trigésimo Presidente de México. El más joven al subir al poder de tan sólo 28 años de edad.

Datos del Tomo V de XIII, Libro 35 de mi obra inédita: "La Independencia y los Presidentes de México", relacionados con el General don Miguel Miramón y Tarelo, cuyo nombre completo al bautisterio, fue el de Miguel, Gregorio de la Luz Atenógenes Miramón y Tarelo, trigésimo Presidente de México, el más joven de toda la Historia de México en subir al poder, de tan sólo 28 años de edad, el dos de febrero de 1859 hasta el 28 de diciembre de 1860, nacido en la Ciudad de México el día 17 de noviembre de 1831, siendo hijo legítimo del Teniente Coronel don Bernardo Miramón y de su esposa doña María del Carmen Tarelo.

Sus estudios primarios los hizo con profesores particulares, ya que su familia era de recursos económicos holgados y luego pasó al Colegio Militar para estudiar la carrera de las armas, en el Castillo de Chapultepec, como lo habían hecho su padre, sus tíos y hermanos mayores.

En 1847 dejó el Colegio por la guerra de los norteamericanos que ya habían combatido en Padierna, Molino del Rey y otros lugares hasta tomar la capital del país. Los estudiantes del Colegio Militar defendieron su colegio hasta sus últimas fuerzas, pues el poderío invasor era incontenible por la superioridad de armamento.

Estudió durante seis años donde estuvo como alumno, cabo, sargento segundo y subteniente de artillería.

En octubre de 1852 ingresó a la Armada y en sus primeros combates fue herido y por haber derramado su sangre en defensa de la patria se le impuso la cruz y medalla al mérito. Ahí conoció a Conchita Lombardo a la que pretendió, pero ella le dijo que cuando le llevara su banda de General volverían a hablar. En julio de 1853, regresó al Colegio Militar para impartir la cátedra de tácticas militares. En julio de 1855 fue ascendido a Teniente Coronel y para 1856 junto con su amigo Osollo, recibieron la banda de General en Palacio Nacional.

Su primer acto de General fue el de visitar a Conchita Lombardo, que era hija de familias ricas, y le presentó su banda de General y ella recordó lo que antes le había ofrecido. Se hicieron novios, y para el 20 de octubre de 1858 pidió su mano en matrimonio y por las premuras de la guerra, se casaron el día 21 del mismo mes, aunque dice don José Ramón Malo en sus memorias, que la boda religiosa fue el día 24. La boda civil fue en Palacio Nacional y el Presidente y su esposa fueron los padrinos. El matrimonio tuvo cuatro hijos, Miguel, Concha, Guadalupe y Rafael.

El día dos de febrero de 1859, subió el General Miramón a la Presidencia de la República, siendo el más joven de la historia de México en llegar a la silla presidencial a tan sólo escasos 28 años de edad, el 28 de diciembre de 1860, siendo el trigésimo Presidente.

A principios de 1861 se embarcó para La Habana, donde lo alcanzó su esposa Conchita y de allí partieron a Europa, instalándose por poco tiempo en París, porque Napoleón III le ofreció muchas ayudas a cambio de que le cediera parte del territorio nacional en la Baja California a lo que le contestó que él no vendía su parria y se retiró de Francia radicándose en España. Se entrevistó con el Papa Pío IX y éste le impuso la gran cruz de Pío IX.

De regreso en México, el Emperador Maximiliano lo invitó a formar parte de su Ejército Imperial y él aceptó, para combatir a las fuerzas republicanas.

Después de muchas batallas, se realizó el sitio de los conservadores y Maximiliano en la ciudad de Querétaro y después de un largo tiempo de combates, no pudieron romper el cerco de las fuerzas republicanas y fueron hechos prisioneros y después de un juicio sumario, se les notificó el 16 de junio la sentencia de ser pasados por las armas.

Fue hasta el 19 de junio de 1867 en que se cumplió la sentencia llevados al Cerro de las Campanas en Querétaro, fueron fusilados Maximiliano, Miramón y Mejía.

Conchita Lombardo, recogió el cadáver de su esposo y lo llevó a la Ciudad de México para darle cristiana sepultura en el Panteón de San Fernando, de donde posteriormente se sacaron sus restos y se llevaron a la Catedral de Puebla, donde fueron colocados en la nave del Sagrado Corazón, a donde los fui a localizar en 1968, viendo una placa de mármol que dice: "Miguel Miramón, fusilado en Querétaro el 19 de junio de 1867. RIP".

Ver (September 2008 en Somos Primos) historia de “Los Niños Héroes de Chapultepec,” en inglés General Miguel Miramón fue uno de los Niños Héroes de Chapultepec.   

Source: www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx

Sent by Mercy Bautista-Olvera

 

DEFUNCIONES DE HIGUERAS, N.L.

Investigó Tte. Cor. Intdte.Ret. Ricardo Raúl Palmerín Cordero.
Le envío estos registros de defunciones de Higueras, N.L. que investigué hace varios años, estas personas murieron durante la Guerra de Intervención Norteamericana 1846-1848.

Reciba un afectuoso saludo así como para los colaboradores y lectores de SOMOS PRIMOS, 
de su amigo.

Tte. Cor. Ricardo Raúl Palmerín Cordero
duardos43@hotmail.com  

En el film de defunciones número 0605498-02 de Higueras, N.L.  que  posee la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días, se encuentran los registros de las personas que fueron asesinadas por las tropas norteamericanas durante la Guerra de Intervención 1846-1848.-  

Recordemos a estos Héroes olvidados con un postrer reconocimiento para ellos y sus descendientes.

Datos investigados  por el  que esto escribe  el año de 2002 en el Centro de Historia Familiar de San Luis  Potosí, que se encuentra en  Terrazas y N. Zapata.-  

12 de octubre de 1847, en el camposanto de la villa de N.S. de Marín , el présbitero Juan Nepomuceno Váes de Benavidez, dí eclesiástica sepultura en tramo de veinte reales a los huesos de Don Pedro Garza, soltero, hijo legitimo de Jesús Garza y Catarina Caballero, fue muerto por los americanos en el campo , de 25 años de edad se sepultó en Marín.-  

12 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos  del finado Don Agapito Guerra, casado  con Antonia Pais, fue muerto por los americanos, de 40 años de edad.-  

17 de octubre de 1847,dí eclesiástica sepultura  a los huesos de Antonio González, casado con Juliana Treviño, fue muerto por los americanos de 50 años de edad se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

17 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de Manuel González, hijo legítimo  de Don Antonio González y Doña Juliana Treviño, fue asesinado por los americanos de 17 años de edad se sepultó  en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

21 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de José María González casado con  María del Refugio González, fue asesinado por los americanos , de 47 años de edad se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

21 de octubre de 1847,dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de Cristóbal Treviño, hijo legítimo de Julián  Treviño y de Francisca González, fue asesinado por los americanos, de 29 años de edad, se sepultó  en  Guadalupe.-  

21 de octubre de 1847,dí eclesiástica sepultura a Agapito González, soltero, hijo legítimo de Felipe González y de María  Gertrudis González, fue asesinado por los americanos, de 23 años de edad se sepultó en Guadalupe.-  

25 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura  a los huesos de José González. Casado con Gertrudis Flores, fue asesinado por los americanos, de 29 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

25 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a Don Félix Flores, viudo, asesinado  en el campo por los americanos, de 59 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

25 de octubre de 1847, dí  eclesiástica sepultura  a Pablo Flores, casado con María Antonia González, fue asesinado por los americanos en el campo, de 36 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

28 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a Marcial Flores, casado con Ramona González, fue muerto por los americanos en el campo, de 27 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

28 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura  a Juan Guajardo casado con Paula  Pompa, fue asesinado por los americanos en el campo, de 27 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

31 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica  sepultura a Ygnacio González, casado con Manuel Treviño. Fue asesinado por los americanos en el campo, de 40 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

31 de octubre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de Ramón González, soltero hijo legítimo de Cayetano González y de María Petra  de la Garza , fue asesinado por los americanos, de 34 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

2 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de de José Anastacio Garza, casado con Viviana Caballero, fue muerto por los americanos, de 34 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

2 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a José Teodoro Garza, soltero, hijo legítimo de Favián  Garza y de Josefa González, fue muerto por los americanos, de 19 años de edad, se sepultó en la hacienda de Guadalupe.-  

2 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de José Leonardo Garza, casado con María Sóstenes Cano, fue muerto por los americanos, de 27 años de edad, se sepultó en Guadalupe.-  

8 de Noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura  a Tomás Escamilla , casado con Ynés Villarreal, fue muerto por los americanos en el campo, de 40  años de edad, se sepultó en Papagayos.-  

14 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a Rafael Guzmán , casado con Dolores Livas , fue muerto por los americanos, de 30 años de edad, se sepultó en la villa.-  

14 de noviembre de 1847,dí eclesiástica sepultura a Eugenio Livas , casado con Cornelia Aguirre, fue muerto por los americanos , de 46 años de edad, se sepultó en la villa.-  

18 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de de Ygnacio Casas,  viudo, fue muerto  por los americanos , de 73 años de edad, se sepultó en Guadalupe.-  

18 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura  a los huesos de Gabriel Casas, viudo, fue muerto por los americanos , de 30 años de edad, se sepultó en Guadalupe.-  

18 de noviembre  de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura  a los huesos de José María Casas, soltero, hijo legítimo  de Ygnacio Casas y Juana Treviño, fue muerto por los americanos, de 23 años de edad, se sepultó en Guadalupe.-  

21 de noviembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos de Zeferino Caballero, casado con María del Refugio García , fue muerto por los americanos, de 33 años de edad, se sepultó en la villa.-  

3 de diciembre de 1847, dí eclesiástica sepultura a los huesos  de José Ramón Guzmán , soltero , hijo legítimo  de Pedro Guzmán y de Faustina González, fue asesinado por los americanos, de 14 años de edad, se sepultó en las villa.-

 

 LIBRO DE BAUTISMOS DE ALAMOS, SONORA.
 
 Imagen del bautismo del General y Presidente de la República Mexicana 
Don José Félix de la Santisima Trinidad Zuloaga Trillo.
  Verdadero nombre, no Félix María como lo han escrito y su fecha de nacimiento 
es el 31 de Marzo de 1813 en Alamos, Sonora. 
                                                     



Márgen izquierdo. Jose Felix de la Santisima Trinidad.

 
"En esta Yglesia parroquial de los Alamos en cinco de abril de mil ochocientos trece, yo Dn.Juan Nicolas Quiros Cura por S.M. bautise solemnemente puse los Stos. Oleo, y Sagrado crisma á un niño español que nacio el treinta y uno de Marzo, y se le pusieron los nombres de Jose Felix de la Santisima Trinidad, hijo legmo. de D. Manuel Jose Zuloaga y de Da. Mariana Trillo, y fueron padrinos D.Manuel  de Anguis y Da. Serafina Barrera a quienes adverti el parentesco y obligaciones  contraidas y por ser verdad lo firme."
 
                                            D. Juan Nicolas Quiros

Mandado por Tte. Cor. Ricardo Raúul Palmerín Cordero
 

 
Church records are available for 22 Mexican States

Good morning Mimi:    Church records are available for 22 Mexican States for viewing on-line FREE!”   Amen to the LDS Church for this incredible opportunity.  I am betting there are unexpected Church records available on these films, i.e. Church census of the those faithful attending that particular Church.  I am dedicated to you and Somos Primos.  Don’t hesitate to contact me Mimi.  Saludos, abrazos,  Manuel Quinones, Jr. MANUEL.QUINONESJR@US.ARMY.MIL

Mexican Church records, for the following Mexican States, on-line, free on: https://beta.familysearch.org/s/image/show   

·       Aguascalientes

·       Albacete

·       Baja California

·       Baja California Norte

·       Baja California Sur

·       Campeche

·       Chihuahua

 

·       Coahuila

·       Colima

·       Distrito Federal

·       Durango

·       Guerrero

·       Hidalgo

·       Jalisco

 

 

·       Morelos

·       México

·       Nuevo León

·       Sinaloa

·       Sonora

·       Tamaulipas

·       Tlaxcala

·       Zacatecas

 

 

 

There is no need to order them through the local Family History Center.  You can view the actual Church record on your personal computer at home.  The Mexican Church records have been digitalized and are of exceptional clarity.  A person can print a Church entry you are interested in and you can magnify the Church record page for closer viewing.

For example, for my beloved Estado de Nuevo Leon, you can view all of the Church records for Monterrey, Cadereyta, and Cerralvo.  There are 38 other Ciudad/Pueblo Church records for el Estado de Nuevo Leon available for viewing on-line.  Go to https//beta.familysearch.org/s/image/show to see the list of Church records in Cuidades/Pueblos located in Nuevo Leon.

Not all Mexican Church records for all Mexican States are available for viewing on-line as yet.  Note that Civil records are not available for viewing on-line.

Manuel Quiñones, Jr.
MANUEL.QUINONESJR@US.ARMY.MIL

 


FRAY JUAN CERRADO

Cuando llegaron los españoles a la zona que llamaron de Nueva Galicia, actualmente pertenece a México, se enfrentaron a muchos conflictos, ya que los indios no respondían a la buena voluntad de los frailes que trataban de ayudarles y al mismo tiempo enseñarles la doctrina cristiana.

El obispo de Nueva Galicia, Fray Pedro de Ayala, autorizó a los franciscanos para la fundación de un monasterio en la villa de San Miguel de Culiacán siendo nombrado guardián de dicho monasterio, Fray Gaspar Rodríguez, quien con dieciséis sacerdotes emprendió la difícil labor que se le había encomendado.

Entre esos dieciséis religiosos, estaba Fray Juan Cerrado, natural de Palos de la Frontera, hijo de Luís García y de Marina de Triana. Este fraile había marchado como lego y fue en el Convento de San Francisco de México,  donde profesó y llegó a ser Guardián de la Casa Principal.

La esperanza del obispo se vio cumplida, ya que la labor de esos religiosos empezó a dar frutos muy pronto, aún cuando la hostilidad de los nativos, seguía en el ambiente.

Pero muere el obispo Pedro de Ayala y los asuntos del obispado regresaron a manos del Cabildo Eclesiástico, que estaba dominado por los seculares, que decidieron nombrar un vicario para San Miguel, destinando para ello, al bachiller Juan Pérez.

Tan pronto llegó Juan Pérez a San Miguel de Culiacán, se enfrentó a los religiosos y forzó, tanto a los españoles como a los indígenas, para que no asistieran a los oficios que ofrecieran los franciscanos, alegando que “no tenían autoridad para impartir los sacramentos”,

Excomulgó a unos españoles y después les cobró dinero por levantarles el pecado espiritual. Incluso mandó azotar a una pareja de indios, Antonio y Maria, porque habían solicitado directamente a Fray Gaspar, que los uniera en matrimonio.

La tensión llegó a un extremo, que Fray Gaspar Rodríguez y sus compañeros Juan Cerrado y Juan Luque, se enfrentaron al Vicario verbalmente e incluso, se dice, llegaron a las manos.

El Cabildo envió a un investigador y el bachiller Juan Pérez fue retirado de la villa y los tres religiosos continuaron su labor doctrinal, con mucho éxito.

Fray Juan Cerrado murió a los 28 años, por heridas de flecha en un ataque de  los indios

                                    Ángel Custodio Rebollo   acustodiorebollo@gmail.com 

Hispanic Genealogy: El Catastro de Ensenada, 1749 a 1756
By Lynn Turner, AG
Monday, November 29, 2010

El Catastro de Ensenada, 1749 a 1756

Hace unas semanas FamilySearch pusó todas las imagenes del Catasto de Ensenada de la provincia de La Rioja. FamilySearch incluyó todas las secciones del catastro que son:

- Autos generales
- Bienes de legos o seglares
- Bienes de eclesiásticos
- Personal de eclesiásticos
- Respuestas generales
- Memoriales de legos o seglares
- Memoriales de eclesiásticos

El Catastro de Ensenada fue un padron que hizo los reyes de Castillo y Leon entre los años 1749 a 1756. El Ministerio de Cultura ha puesto las Respuestas generales en su sitio - Pares. Este sitio tambien tiene mucha mas informacion sobre el Catastro.  Logrño/La Rioja es la primera provincia que FamilySearch ha puesto en la red. En tiempo otras provincias estarán tambien.

Posted by Lynn Turner, AG at 5:57 PM   Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz 
Labels: Catastro de Ensenada, España, genealogía española


About Me: Lynn Turner, AG I graduated from BYU in Family History and Genealogy in 2004. My areas of expertise include Spain and Latin American. Currently I work for FamilySearch as a Record Specialist. I hope you enjoy the blog! View my complete profile

FamilySearch esta preparando de poner los indices de Nicaragua, Peru, y Chile que hicieron los voluntarios en FamilySearch Indexing 112 days ago  ICAPGen me pidió que enseñara una clase en su conferencia y en la conferencia de Ogden FHC. Más detalles ya viene. 131 days ago. Hispanic Genealogy: El sitio: BYU Script Tutorial http://goo.gl/b/bbor 131 days ago




NUEVOS HALLAZGOS EN LA ASCENDENCIA DEL ADELANTADO
DE COSTA RICA JUAN VAZQUEZ DE CORONADO

       Federico Mata Herrera
Académico de Número de la Academia
Costarricense de Ciencias Genealógicas


       Uno de los personajes más relevantes de la historia costarricense es sin duda Juan Vázquez de Coronado, conquistador, primer gobernador y primer Adelantado de Costa Rica . Aparte de su trascendencia histórica como uno de los principales forjadores de la nación, Vázquez de Coronado es uno de los principales genearcas de la población costarricense , hasta tal punto que un difundido estudio evidencia que es progenitor de una verdadera élite, que hacia
1975 le había dado al país 29 de sus 44 Jefes de Estado y cerca de dos centenares de diputados .

       No obstante, la investigación de los antepasados de Juan Vázquez de Coronado parecía haberse agotado en las valiosos trabajos realizadas hace medio siglo por el ilustre genealogista Norberto de Castro , quien encontró en la
Biblioteca Nacional de España un manuscrito que contiene la genealogía que sirve de base a este trabajo .

       Afortunadamente, desde entonces se han producido nuevas publicaciones de corte histórico y genealógico y se han reeditado algunos trabajos clásicos, que si bien es cierto no tratan directamente de la ascendencia de la familia Vázquez de Coronado, desarrollan algunas de sus ramas colaterales, pudiéndose en algunas ocasiones remontarse en su genealogía hasta épocas muy antiguas, como se expondrá a continuación.

Ascendientes directos de Juan Vázquez de Coronado

       Don Juan Vázquez de Coronado y Anaya, nacido en Salamanca en 1523 y muerto en un naufragio en 1565, fue I Adelantado de Costa Rica , según merced concedida por el rey Felipe II en Aranjuez el 8 de abril de 1565. Pasó muy joven a América, con sólo 17 años, y se estableció primero en México y luego en Guatemala en donde comenzó a desempeñar cargos oficiales, tales como Diputado del Cabildo de la ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros y Alcalde Ordinario de Guatemala. En 1548 casó con Isabel Arias Dávila , hija de una de las principales familias de la zona, pues su padre era el capitán Gaspar Arias Dávila, uno de los conquistadores de Nueva España y Guatemala. Con posterioridad pasó a El Salvador en donde disfrutó de una encomienda en Naolingo, y fue nombrado Alcalde Mayor de San Salvador en 1549. Más tarde aparece ocupando el mismo cargo en Honduras en 1556, y en Nicaragua en 1561 y finalmente en Costa Rica en 1562. En el país destacó por la manera pacífica y justa con la que ejecutó las tareas de
conquista, siendo muy respetado y estimado tanto por los indios como los colonos españoles . En 1565 viajó a España en donde por su méritos el rey Felipe II de concedió el cargo de Gobernador de Costa Rica y el título hereditario de Adelantado de Costa Rica, no obstante, en el viaje de regreso para tomar posesión de sus cargos, su nave desapareció en una borrasca frente a las costas del sur de España .

       Fue su padre Gonzalo Vázquez de Coronado y Luján, nacido hacia 1500 y muerto en Valladolid en 1540. Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez, mayorazgos de su familia. Alguacil Mayor perpetuo de la Real Audiencia y Chancillería de Valladolid. Contrajo nupcias con Antonia de Guzmán y Arauzo, de quien desciende la rama mayor de la familia, herederos de los señoríos y cargos y que fue luego titulada con el Vizcondado de Monterubio y el Marquesado de Coquilla en 1693 y posteriormente adquirió por matrimonio el Condado de Montalvo y otras muchas posesiones . El Adelantado de Costa Rica desciende de una relación extramatrimonial con Catalina de Anaya, de la que no se tienen más detalles, pero que indudablemente pertenece a una de las familias más principales de Salamanca .

       Su abuelo fue Juan Vázquez de Coronado y Sosa de Ulloa, muerto en 1532, Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez, Corregidor de Segovia y de Jerez de la Frontera y Capitán General de la Frontera. Prefecto de Granada, estuvo al servicio de los Reyes Católicos y de Carlos I. Regidor de Salamanca. Fundador del mayorazgo de su casa el 16 de diciembre de 1522. Casó con Isabel de Luján, dama de la reina Isabel I de Castilla la Católica, natural de Madrid e hija de Juan de Luján el Bueno y de María de Luzón, de quienes se hará referencia más adelante.

       El segundo abuelo fue Gonzalo Vázquez de Coronado y Rodríguez de Grado, muerto en 1492, Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez, en tierras de Salamanca. Contrajo nupcias en Toro con Catalina de Sosa y Ulloa, hija del Doctor Gonzalo Ruiz de Ulloa, miembro del Consejo del rey Enrique IV, y de Catalina de Sosa.

       Su tercer abuelo fue Juan Vázquez de Coronado y Monroy, muerto en 1465, Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez y de las tierras de su Casa en Galicia, las cuales vendió con posterioridad. El rey Juan II de Castilla le
otorgó la facultad para amayorazgar sus bienes, pero no ejerció este poder. Casó con Mari Hernández, hija de Pedro Rodríguez Caballero y Mayor Alvarez de Grado. Los Rodríguez eran una de las familias principales de Salamanca y por eso fueron sobrenombrados "caballero", con posterioridad, una de sus ramas, denominada Rodríguez de las Varillas, se convirtió en una de las familias con mayor poder en la ciudad.

       El cuarto abuelo fue Pedro Vázquez de Cornado y Ulloa , muerto en Salamanca en 1392, Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez, en tierras de Salamanca, y de las posesiones de su familia en Galicia, quien al morir fue
sepultado en la iglesia de Santo Tomé, templo que fue demolido para dar lugar a la actual Plaza de los Bandos . Casó con Berenguela Fernández de Monroy, hija de Ruy González de Monroy, Señor de Tornadizos y Berenguela González de Texeda, progenitores de la Casa de Monroy en Salamanca, y de quienes también se hará referencia más adelante.

       El quinto abuelo fue Juan Vázquez de Cornado, muerto en 1371, quien se estableció en Salamanca y fue en esta localidad I Señor de Coquilla y de la Torre de Juan Vázquez, y continuó con la posesión de las tierras de su Casa en
Galicia. Contrajo nupcias en Galicia con Mencía de Ulloa, de la que no se tienen referencias, pero que indudablemente es descendiente de una de las más antiguas y poderosas familias de la zona.

       Su sexto abuelo fue Gonzalo Rodríguez de Cornado, muerto en 1341, señor de Azuaga y de la Casa de Cornado en el lugar del mismo nombre en Galicia , Alcalde Mayor de Córdoba y ayo del infante Pedro, futuro rey Pedro I el Cruel de Castilla . También fue Caballero de Santiago en donde ejerció el cargo de Comendador Mayor de León. Su esposa fue Elvira Arias, natural de Galicia, de quien se desarrollará su ascendencia con posterioridad. Hermano de este caballero fue Vasco Rodríguez de Cornado, muerto en 1338, quien fue uno de los personajes más importantes de su tiempo, Gran Maestre de la Orden Militar de
Santiago y Adelantado Mayor de Castilla.

       En un documento que se encuentra en el Archivo de la Universidad de Salamanca se menciona al que vendría ser el sétimo abuelo del Adelantado y antepasado más antiguo del que se tiene noticia, llamado Juan Vázquez Cronado
(sic), muerto en 1329, quien vivió en Galicia.

       Finalmente, debe mencionarse a Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, tío del Adelantado de Costa Rica, y quien es el personaje más destacado de su familia, pues fue conquistador y Gobernador del Reino de la Nueva Galicia, situado al
noroeste del actual México, y es célebre por su vana expedición en búsqueda de las Siete Ciudades de Cíbola, que lo llevó a descubrir gran parte del norte de México y del centro y el oeste de Estados Unidos. Este caballero casó en México con Beatriz de Estrada, llamada la Santa, hermana de Leonor de Estrada, antepasada de la familia Alvarado. De su padre, el Tesorero y Gobernador Alonso de Estrada Hidalgo, Señor de Picón, se ha afirmado repetida e infundadamente que era hijo bastardo del rey Fernando el Católico, lo cierto es que no existe prueba documental alguna que demuestre esta aseveración .

Sent by John Inclan  
fromgalveston@yahoo.com


La familia de Francisco Gutierrez de Lara
La hacienda de San Pedro esta ubicada en el municipio de Zuazua, Nuevo León
(al norte de Monterrey) y fue adquirida y restaurada por la Universidad Autónoma de N.L.(UANL)

El Fundador - constructor fue don Alonso de Treviño en el siglo XVIII.
Cuando murió don Alonso sus hijos fraccionaron la Hacienda y la vendieron a varios compradores
entre ellos los que compraron la mayor parte fue la familia de Francisco Gutierrez de Lara, que eran parientes de Don José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara, pero no fue él quién compró la Hacienda, hay que recordar que a Don Bernardo le habían quitado todos sus bienes en Revilla.

Don José Bernanrdo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara Uribe murió en la Villa de Santiago, N.L. ( al sur
de Monterrey) el 13 de mayo de 1841 y allí fue sepultado (en el altar lateral de la parroquia).

Actualmente en la ex-hacienda de San Pedro se encuentra el Centro de Información de Historia Regional de la UANL.

Atentamente: Clemente Rendón de la Garza
cronistahmt@hotmail.com



MOCTEZUMA, Lineage

 

Huehueh Acamapitchtli se casó con Ilancueitl (hija de Ahcolmiztli), procreando   a: Acamapitchtli     n. 1307.

Acamapitchtli y madre no conocida, procrearon  a: Huitzilihuitl  n. 1381, m. 1417 y  Izcoatl   ¿?, m. 1440.

Huitzilihuitl se casó con Tlatoani (hija de Tezozomoc), procreando  a: Chimalpopoca  n. 1397, m. 1427 y  Moctezuma Ilhuicamina n. ¿?, m. 1468.

Moctezuma Ilhuicamina y madre no conocida, procrearon  a: Huitzilxochtzin.

Izcoatl se casó con Tlacuitlaatzin, procreando a: Emperdor Tezozomoczin {señor de Escpuzalco} m. ¿?.

Emperador Tezozomoczin se casó con Atotoztli, procreando a: Quaqupicahuac, {primer Rey deSantigo} Ahitzotl, Axayacatl n. ¿?, m. 1481 y  Tizoc.

Axayacatl se casó con Azcalxochitl Xochiquetzal (hija de Netzahualcoyotl), procreando a: Cuitlahuac, Tezozomoc y Moctezuma Xocoyotzin    n. 1466, m. 30 junio 1521.

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin es el padre  de: Cuauhtemoc {Don Fernndo Cortes Moctezuma Guichilihuitl el Emperador (así fue bautizado)}


Tormento de Cuauhtemoc

         Aplicóse el tormento al emperador de los Mexicanos y sufrióle en su compañía el señor de Tlacópam, pariente y amigo suyo: ungiéndoles los piés y las manos con aceite, exponiéndoseles después a fuego manso. Cuauhtemoc soportó en silencio y con gran dignidad aquel martirio; pero llegó un momento en que el señor de Tlacópam, no pudiendo ya contenerse, lanzó un gemido débil y volvió el rostro hacia su soberano. Cuauhtemoc  le miró con altivez y después de haberle contemplado un  momento  le dijo; ¡ Hombre de poco corazón! ¿ estoy yo acaso en algún baño o deleite ?  El señor de Tlacópam desmayó en el tormento y prometió hacer revelaciones. {Los historiadores contemporáneos dicen que Cortés y Alderete, avergonzados y admirados  de la energía de Cuahutemoc, suspendieron el tormento}

Cuauhtemoc {Don Fernndo Cortes Moctezuma Guichilihuitl el Emperador} es el padre  de: Don Diego de Mendoza de Austria Moctezuma.

Don Diego de Mendoza de Austria Moctezuma es el padre de: Don Baltazar de Mendoza Moctezuma.

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin se casó con Acatlan, procreando  a: Ana de Moctezuma  n. ¿?, m. 1 julio 1520,

         Diego Huanitzin,  Elvira de Moctezuma, Francisca de Moctezuma,  Ines de Moctezuma { Princesa Tecuichpo}  n. ¿?, m. 1 julio 1520.

Hernan Cortes (hijo de Martin Cortes de Monroy y Catalina Pizarro Altamirano) se casó con  Ana de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Maria Cortes.

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin y Miyahuaxochitl, procrearon  a: Pedro de Moctezuma  n. 1503, m. 8 septiembre 1570.

Pedro de Moctezuma se casó con Catalina Quiazuchitl, procreando a: Diego Luis de Moctezuma.

Diego Luis de Moctezuma se casó con Francisca de la Cueva y Valenzuela (hija de Francisco de la Cueva Bocanegra y Isabel de Valensuela), procreando  a: Cristobal de Moctezuma,

         Felipe Marcelino de Moctezuma,  Francisca Antonia de Moctezuma,  Francisco de Moctezuma y de la Cueva y   Maria de Moctezuma y de la Cueva.

Francisca Antonia de Moctezuma se casó con Ines Pizarro.

Juan de Arellano y Grado se casó con Maria de Moctezuma y de la Cueva.

Diego Luis de Moctezuma y Quiyauhxochtzin, procrearon  a: Pedro Tesifon de Moctezuma.

Pedro Tesifon de Moctezuma se casó con Geronima de Porras y Castillo, procreando a: Diego Luis Tesifon de Moctezuma y  Teresa Francisca Tesifon de Moctezuma.

Diego Luis Tesifon de Moctezuma se casó con Isabel Ana de Loaysa y Ocalle, procreando  a: Geronima de Moctezuma Loaysa de la Cueva.

Jose Sarmiento de Valladares y Arines {m. 1708} se casó con Geronima de Moctezuma Loaysa de la Cueva, procreando  a: Melchora de Moctezuma Valladares y Guzman  n. ¿?, m. 15 agosto 1715.

Diego Luis Tesifon de Moctezuma se casó en segundas nupcias con Luisa Joffre de Loaysa y Carrillo, procreando       a: Maria Geronima Moctezuma y Joffre.

Jose Sarmiento de Valladares y Arines se casó en segundas nupcias con Maria Geronima Moctezuma y Joffre, procreando  a: Fausta Dominga Sarmiento Valladares  n. 1693.

Diego Cisneros y Guzman se casó con Teresa Francisca Tesifon de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Geronima Manuela Cisneros de Guzman.

Pedro de Moctezuma se casó en segundas nupcias con Ines Tiacapan, procreando  a: Martin de Moctezuma.

Moctezuma Xocoyotzin y Tecalco (hija de Totoquihuatzin), procrearon  a: Axayacatl  n. ¿?, m. junio 1520 y         Isabel de Moctezuma  n. 11 julio 1510 Tenochtitlan, m. 9 diciembre 1550.

Cuitlahuac se casó con su sobrina carnal Isabel de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Cacama.

Cuauhtemoc {Don Fernndo Cortes Moctezuma el Emperador}   se casó con su media hermana Isabel de Moctezuma en sus segundas nupcias. {no tuvieron descendencia}

Hernan Cortes (hijo de Martin Cortes de Monroy y Catalina Pizarro Altamirano)  se casó 1520 en segundas nupcias con Isabel de Moctezuma en sus terceras nupcias, procreando a: Leonor Cortes Moctezuma       n. a. 1529 Tenochtitlan, m. 1562.

Diego Arias de Sotelo se casó con Leonor Cortes Moctezuma, procreando  a: Ana Sotelo de Moctezuma,           Cristobal de Sotelo   n. ¿?, m. 1607,   Fernando Sotelo de Moctezuma y Petronila Navarro.

Cristobal de Sotelo se casó con Juana de Heredia Patiño.

Fernando Sotelo de Moctezuma se casó con Maria de Villaseñor y Corona (hija de Juan de Villaseñor y Cervantes y Catalina Corona), procreando  a: Ana del Espiritu Santo Sotelo de Moctezuma, Diego Sotelo de Moctezuma, 
Fernando Sotelo de Moctezuma,  Juan Sotelo de Moctezuma   n. ¿?, m. 11 noviembre 1643  y  Leonor de la Trinidad Sotelo de Moctezuma.

Juan Sotelo de Moctezuma se casó con Maria Hurtado de Mendoza, procreando  a: Maria de Moctezuma.

Bernardo de Bocanegra se casó 13 febrero 1638 con Maria de Moctezuma.

Martin Navarro se casó con Petronila Navarro, procreando  a: Maria de Gabay y Francisca Gabay.

Pedro Fernandez de Vaulus se casó con Maria de Gabay, procreando  a: Juan Fernandez de Vaulus.

Juan Fernandez de Vaulus se casó con Leonor Becerra (hija de Juan Lopez de Elizalde y Aberruza y Leonor Becerra y Sanchez de Mendoza), procreando a: Leonor Fernandez.

Nicolas de Arellano se casó 12 julio 1664 con Leonor Fernandez, procreando  a: Cristobal de Arellano    b. 3 mayo 1665,   Nicolas de Arellano      b. 15 diciembre 1666,      Jose de Arellano   b. 9 abril 1675 y   Leonor de Arellano      b. 11 agosto 1681.

Cristobal de Arellano se casó 1698 con Graciana Romero.

Cristobal de Valderrama se casó 1531 con Leonor Cortes Moctezuma en sus segundas nupcias, procreando       a: Leonor Valderrama Cortes de Moctezuma      n. ¿?, m. 1562.

Juan de Tolosa se casó 1537 con Leonor Cortes Moctezuma en sus terceras nupcias, procreando  a: Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma,   Juan de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma y  Leonor de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma.

Juan Perez de Oñate (hijo de Cristobal de Naharriondo Perez de Oñate y Catalina Salazar de Cadana) se casó 1588 con Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma, procreando   a: Maria Perez de Oñate Cortes y  Cristobal de Oñate        n. 1589, m. 1612.

Vicente de Zaldivar Oñate Mendoza (hijo de Vicente de Zaldivar y Oñate y Magdalena Mendoza Salazar) se casó 17 agosto 1616 con Maria Perez de Oñate Cortes, procreando  a: Ana de Oñate,  Isabel de Oñate,  Juan Zaldivar y Oñate y  Nicolas de Zaldivar y Oñate.

Cristobal de Oñate se casó 1611 con Maria Gutierrez del Castillo, procreando  a: Juan Perez de Narriahondo y Castillo  n. 1612, m. 1679.

Cristobal de Zaldivar y Oñate (hijo de Vicente de Zaldivar y Oñate y Magdalena de Mendoza Salazar) se casó con Leonor de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma, procreando       a: Juan de Zaldivar Cortes Moctezuma    n. ¿? Zacatecaz,          Leonor Cortes Moctezuma y Vicente Zaldivar Cortes Moctezuma.

Juan de Zaldivar Cortes Moctezuma se casó con Isabel Altamirano de Castilla (hija de Fernando Gutierrez de Altamirano y Francisca de Castilla Osorio y Sosa, procreando   a: General Cristobal de Zaldivar  y Altamirano de Castilla.

General Cristobal de Zaldivar  y Altamirano de Castilla se casó con Francisca de Miranda y Escobar, procreando       a: Juana de Zaldivar Miranda y  Joseph de Zaldivar Miranda    b. 23 diciembre 1648 Puebla.

Jose de Magaña y Castilla se casó 6 agosto 1684 Asuncion, Distrito Federal con Juana de Zaldivar Miranda, procreando   a: Maria Manuela Antonia de Magaña y Castilla.

Juan Rodriguez de San Miguel (hijo de Jose Rodriguez de San Miguel y Juana de Bustamante) se casó 1 marzo 1699 Puebla {dato de John Inclan} con Maria Manuela Antonia de Magaña y Castilla, procreando   a: Mariana Rodriguez Magaña y Castilla.

Martin de Zelada Ruiz {nat. de Castilla España} (hijo de Mateo de la Zelada y Manuela Ruiz Basurto) se casó 1 septiembre 1720 con Mariana Rodriguez Magaña y Castilla, procreando  a: Maria de los Dolores Zelada Rodriguez Magaña         n. ¿? Puebla.

Felix Ignacio de Sandoval Torres (hijo de Felipe Cayetano Cardenas Sandoval Rojas y Francisca Xaviera de Torres) se casó 9 marzo 1750 con Maria de los Dolores Zelada Rodriguez Magaña, procreando  a: Felix Mariano de San Ignacio de Sandoval Zelada    16 diciembre 1751,  Maria Paula Ignacia de Sandoval Zelada,  Jose de Sandoval Zelada  b. 15 abril 1754 y  Maria Dolores Gertrudis Sandoval Zelada    b. 15 agosto 1765, Asuncion, D. F.

Felix de Sandoval Zelada se casó con Maria Guadalupe Lasso de la Vega.

Ildefonso Caballero de los Olivos y Vicarres se casó 6 octubre 1774 con Maria Paula de Sandoval Zelada.

Jose de Sandoval Zelada se casó con Ignacia Dominga Xaviera Salamanca Andonaegui.

Alonso de Grado se casó 1521 con Isabel de Moctezuma en sus cuartas nupcias.

Pedro Gallego de Andrada (hijo de Hernan Garcia Jaramillo y Mayor Gallego de Andrada) se casó 1525 con Isabel de Moctezuma en sus quintas nupcias, procreando      a: Juan de Dios de Andrada Moctezuma        n. 1530, m. 1577 y
Juana de Andrada Moctezuma.

Juan de Dios de Andrada Moctezuma se casó con Maria de Castañeda, procreando   a: Felipe de Andrade Castañeda, Hernando de Andrade Castañeda,   Ysabel de Andrade Castañeda, Juan de Andrade Castañeda y Pedro de Andrade Castañeda.

Juan de Dios de Andrada Moctezuma se casó en segundas nupcias con Maria de Iñiguez, procreando  a: Pedro de Andrade y Iñiguez.

Juan Cano de Saabedra (hijo de Pedro Cano y Catarina Gomez de Saabedra) se casó 1526 con Isabel de Moctezuma en sus sextas nupcias, procreando  a: Catalina Cano Moctezuma,  Gonzalo Cano Moctezuma,  Ysabel de Jesus Cano Moctezuma,  Juan Cano de Moctezuma    n. ¿?, m. 2 enero 1579 y   Pedro Isabel Cano Moctezuma   ¿?, m. 1576.

Gonzalo Cano Moctezuma se casó con Ana de Prado Caledron, procreando a: Juan Cano de Moctezuma y Prado y       Maria Cano de Moctezuma y Prado   n. 1540.

Juan Cano de Moctezuma y Prado se casó con Isabel Mejia y Figueroa, procreando  a: Diego Cano de Moctezuma y Maria Cano de Moctezuma.

Antonio Augdelo Calderon se casó con Maria Cano de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Diego de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma, Jose Trinidad de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma y Maria  de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma.

Diego de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma se casó con Maria Navarrete, procreando  a: Antonio de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma.

Antonio de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma se casó con Josefa Velazquez, procreando  a: Antonio de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma.

Jose Trinidad de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma se casó con Maria Antonia de Sacramento, procreando  a: Maria Josefa del Carmen de Augdelo.

Antonio Hernandez se casó 26 febrero 1775 con Maria Josefa del Carmen de Augdelo.

Nicolas de Aviles se casó 3 febrero 1691 con Maria de Augdelo Cano de Moctezuma.

Juan Cano de Moctezuma se casó 6 enero 1559 con Elvira de Toledo, procreando  a: Juan de Toledo Moctezuma y    Pedro de Toledo Moctezuma.

Juan de Toledo Moctezuma se casó con Mariana de Carvajal Toledo Ovando y Torres, procreando    a: Francisco de Torres Moctezuma y  Juan de Moctezuma Carvajal y Toledo.

Francisco de Torres Moctezuma se casó con Isabel de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Francisco de Moctezuma y Torres.

Francisco de Moctezuma y Torres se casó con Circa Pacheco, procreando  a: Maria Manuela de Moctezuma Pacheco.

Juan de Moctezuma Carvajal y Toledo se casó con Isabel Pizarro, procreando a: Mariana Cano de Moctezuma.

Alvaro de Vivero se casó febrero 1650 con Mariana Cano de Moctezuma, procreando  a: Isabel de Vivero Moctezuma y  Maria de Vivero    n. ¿?, m. 24 agosto 1683.

Pedro Antonio Roco de Godoy se casó con Isabel de Vivero Moctezuma.

Juan de Carvajal se casó con Maria de Vivero, procreando  a: Bernardino de Carvajal     n. 1667, m. 17 mayo 1728.

Bernardino de Carvajal se casó 1686 con Maria Josefa de Lancaster (hija de Agostinho de Lancaster y Joanna Enriquez de Noroela), procreando    a: Juan Antonio de Carvajal    b. 22 mayo 1688, m. 22 agosto 1747.

Juan Antonio de Carvajal se casó con Francisca de Zuñiga y Arellano, procreando   a: Manuel Bernardino de Carvajal y Zuñiga.

Manuel Bernardino de Carvajal y Zuñiga se casó con Maria Micaela de Gonzaga y Caracciolo, procreando       a: Angel de Carvajal y Gonzaga.

Angel de Carvajal y Gonzaga se casó con Vicenta Fernadez de Cordova y Pimentel.


Pedro Isabel Cano Moctezuma se casó con Ana de Arriaga, procreando
    a:  Maria Cano y Arriaga.

Gonzalo de Salazar se casó con Maria Cano y Arriaga.



CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA 

La Melenita
Peruvian Nobel Prize Laureate:Mario Vargas LLosa.

Hola a todos: con bastante demora va el fondo de pantalla de diciembre 2010. En este caso enviamos el interior del salón de peinados "La Melenita", en el los años 40, se ubicaba en pleno centro de San Francisco, en Bv. 25 de Mayo. no era el único porque competía con otros sitios bien reconocidos como, por ejemplo, la Maison Muruzetta.  Vean la cantidad de personas que trabajaban en el lugar, no solo peinando sino también para algunos tramientos de belleza y manicura.  Tengan todos un buen fin año y mejor comienzo de 2011. Archivo Gráfico y Museo Histórico de la Ciudad de San Francisco y la región, Argentina 

Mandado por Arturo Bienedell 
arturobienedell@yahoo.com.ar
Peruvian Nobel Prize Laureate:Mario Vargas LLosa.  (#3 on the video). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/10/05/GA2010100503982.html?sid=ST2010121001751 
Sent by Rafael Ojeda  rsnojeda@aol.com 

 

 

 


CARIBBEAN/CUBA

Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966
Antonio Maceo: Cuban Patriot and Hero
Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966
by Miriam Zoila Pérez
Colorlines Online, Wednesday, December 8 2010
http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/12/what_cuban_americans_should_teach_us_about_immigration_reform.html 

Ever since the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966, Cubans who have made it the United States have been put on an automatic path to citizenship. Cubans in the U.S. have reaped the benefits of this special status, my family included. My parents came to the U.S. with their families as pre-teens in the first wave of exiles from Cuba. Their respective families had different motivations for coming, but both were fleeing the new Castro government and its intrusion in their lives and their businesses. What for them, as for many who came over in the original wave, was meant to be a temporary visit until Castro was defeated, has become a multi-generation resettlement. I was born here, along with some other 652,000 Cuban-Americans, all of us with the advantage of parents who have been able to work and live legally since day one. It's virtually impossible to be an undocumented Cuban in the United States.

In today's immigration climate, and particularly during the debate happening right now on the DREAM Act, it's hard to imagine legislation as generous as our long-standing policy toward Cubans in the United States. Conservatives have tried to paint the DREAM Act as some sort of amnesty. In reality, the DREAM Act is an extremely narrow piece of legislation offering a select group of youth a long and challenging path to citizenship. When compared to the policy that allowed my parents to come to the U.S,, it looks positively draconian. 

The DREAM Act includes a path to citizenship, but the current version also includes a 10-year probationary period and required military service or college attendance. In the most recent iteration of the bill, it also prohibits DREAMers from accessing health care benefits during that time. Cubans had (and have) none of these restrictions, and are able to become legal permanent residents within one year of being in the U.S. and citizens five years later.
U.S. immigration policy toward Cubans has been an extremely good thing for the Cuban-American community and should be a model for immigration policy toward other immigrant groups as well. Statistics show what a boon this special status has been for Cubans in the U.S. The fourth largest Latino group in the U.S., we outperform all other Latino groups in basically every category linked to economic status, according to data from the Pew Hispanic Center. Cubans are almost twice as likely as other Latinos to have a college degree (25 percent as opposed to 12.9 percent). Cubans have a median income that is $5,000 higher than other Latino groups. Only 13.2 percent of Cubans are living in poverty, as opposed to 20.7 percent of other Latinos. The list goes on. Based on 2008 census data, in homeownership, employment rates, number of insured, across the board Cuban Americans do better than all other Latino groups.
It would be overly simplistic to claim that Cubans in the U.S. have thrived simply because of their path to citizenship. Race and class inevitably play a factor in these differences as well. Whereas the overwhelming majority of Latin American immigrants to the U.S. are driven by economic motivations, Cubans have had a strong political motivation, in response to the Communist leanings of the Castro government and his Cuban revolution. This shaped significantly who left Cuba, particularly in the initial wave of immigration in the 1960s. Cubans who came then were more likely to be well-educated professionals, some with significant access to resources, but all with skills and education that enabled them to establish businesses and careers in the U.S.

But Cubans also received significant assistance from the federal government, which provided not only special immigration status but also low-interest loans for small businesses and education, access to public programs like welfare and Medicaid, and even low-cost English language classes. Again, against the backdrop of today's anti-immigrant climate it's hard to image such a generous policy toward immigrants having any chance of making it through Congress now.

Cubans are also more likely than other Latino groups to identify as white. According to a Pew analysis of 2004 Census data, 86 percent of Cubans identified as white, as opposed to 60 percent of Mexicans and 50 percent of Puerto Ricans. Whether all of these Latinos who are self-identifying as white are actually seen as such by the general public is impossible to know. (Some of this also must be attributed to the oddly-defined Census categories, which give Hispanics a less than representative list of races from which to choose.) But Pew still found that there were education and income differences for those Latinos who self-identified as white. "Hispanics who identify themselves as white have higher levels of education and income than those who choose 'some other race.' " This self-definition seems to have its limits in terms of impact on achievement levels though, as Cubans still under-perform economically when compared to non-Hispanic whites in the U.S.

While Cuban exiles in the U.S. have had many advantages, it's also important to recognize that most of them came here with little of the wealth or property they'd accrued in Cuba. Some left it behind thinking it was just a temporary stay, others were forced to leave their assets and property behind in return for permission to leave the island. By the time my maternal grandparents came to the U.S. in 1962, they were allowed to bring only three changes of clothing each. Some Cubans may have had money in bank accounts in Miami, or figured out ways to smuggle valuables or cash out. But the vast majority who came initially (and almost everyone who has come since) arrived empty-handed. What they did bring, however, is a crucial combination of skills, education and immigration status that have been central to Cuban success.

This success has been mostly ignored in the immigration debate-despite the fact that it could be a key argument in support of a path to citizenship in immigration reform. The economic success of Cubans hasn't just benefited those of us in the Cuban-American community; it has benefited the U.S. as a whole. Lower rates of poverty, higher rates of education and the ability to work and, of course, pay taxes (not just sales tax, but income and property taxes as well) means good things for the U.S. overall. Cuban Americans are proof positive of what an immigrant group can achieve when given a path to citizenship.

What is so incredible about this policy toward Cubans is that it has endured half a century and some 10 Presidents, including some of our most conservative in recent memory. It is unlikely that this policy towards Cubans was prompted solely by feelings of good will toward the Cuban people. The policy was a Cold War-era attempt (along with the long-standing Cuban embargo) at fighting against Communism and Castro. The conservative support for this policy is representative of the endurance of anti-Castro policies, as well as the unusual relationship between the Cuban-American community and the Republican Party, a relationship forged after John F. Kennedy's botched Bay of Pigs invasion. 

Whatever drove the policy in Washington, what's significant is its outcome. Whereas immigrants today are faced with countless roadblocks to success even when they are documented, Cubans have been given every type of assistance necessary to guarantee our success. And it's worked.

Congress now has an opportunity to grant these same rights to another immigrant group-the DREAMers, young people raised in the U.S. without documents. If the DREAM Act is passed, these young people will have to jump through hoops that the Cubans never did, but they'll also reap the benefits of joining the ranks of documented immigrants. Even conservatives should agree that having an immigrant population in the U.S. that is out of poverty and into the workforce is a key driver toward economic success for the entire nation.

Dr. Carlos Muñoz, Jr. 
Professor Emeritus, Department of Ethnic Studies
510-642-9134  http://ethnicstudies.berkeley.edu/faculty/munoz 



Latin American Current Affairs

Antonio Maceo: Cuban Patriot and Hero
December 7, 2010
Editor: Introduction to essay

 
Antonio Maceo, in a single combat action, one of more than 800 in which he took part, usually leading the charge of his troops, he was wounded 8 times: 4 in the left chest, 1 in the left shoulder, and 3 in his right hand.

At the age of 23, Antonio Maceo had said goodbye to his pregnant wife and baby daughter and as a private joined the Cuban patriots immediately after the Grito de Yara, which on 10 October 1868 launched the Ten Years’ War. For bravery under fire in his native Oriente province he is promoted to sergeant, then very quickly to lieutenant, and by the end of 1868 Maceo is a captain. His actions in the attack on Guantánamo in January of 1869 merit his promotion to major, and by March he is a lieutenant colonel. In 1870 he is wounded in combat for the first time, then again, and a third time at his camp. Despite the seriousness of his injuries he defeats the enemy, and two months later he has recovered and is fighting again. Maceo’s fame grows.

On 6 August 1877, a few months short of the end of that war, Antonio Maceo, by then a brigadier general, was shot 8 times on his horse as he charged the Spanish lines at Mangos de Mejía, near the town of Barajagua in Oriente. In his award-winning biography, Octavio R. Costa says that Maceo’s officers, thinking him dead, carried the body to a nearby house. Amazingly, a few days later Maceo regained consciousness. The top Spanish commander learned that Maceo was alive but immobilized. Convinced that his capture or death would put an end to the fighting, General Martínez Campos dispatched 3,000 soldiers to find Maceo at all costs.

Maceo is moved from the house on a stretcher to a safer location. But the Spanish troops set an ambush. Maceo jumps from the stretcher onto his horse and gets away. After three days of moving about in rough terrain, with hardly any food or rest, Maceo has evaded the enemy. He tells his escort troops that he is feeling better.

As Maceo gradually recovers, the war is winding down. Martínez Campos makes several proposals for a negotiated peace. Dissension grows in the Cuban ranks. But Antonio Maceo goes on fighting for Cuba’s freedom. In January 1878, now a major general, he launches several successful attacks until, in the first week of February, Maceo defeats the famous San Quintín battalion, which had fought throughout the Ten Years’ War. In three days of hard fighting at San Ulpiano, Maceo’s troops kill or wound 245 Spanish soldiers, including ten officers, while two Cuban officers and one soldier lose their lives and five are wounded.

To read the full essay on Maceo, please go to:
http://www.bestthinking.com/thinkers/politics_government/international_politics/
south_american_politics/guillermo-a-belt?tab=blog&blogpostid=9664

Sent by Jose M. Pena 
 JMPENA@aol.com 



 

 

Philippine Islands

Catalog of Filipino Names
Tuason Family, only noble Filipino family


Katálogo ng mga Apelyidong Pilipino

(Catalog of Filipino Names)

© 1995-98 by Hector Santos
All rights reserved.

One of the more obvious marks left by Spanish rule in the Philippines is the prevalence of Hispanic surnames among Christianized Filipinos. Those who lived in remote areas and were not subjugated escaped this fate. Many people in the mountain areas of Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Palawan, and other places retained their way of life, their culture, and their way of naming themselves. Thus, a Yam-ay in Mindoro today does not have a name like Claudette Villanueva as would probably have been the case had she lived among the conquered people.

Before the Spaniards arrived, a person's second (family, not middle) name was usually taken from one of his children. Thus, Timbô who had a son named Pitík was known as Timbô, amá ni Pitík. Compare this with the Western custom of sons taking their names from their fathers like Peter, son of John, or Peter Johnson. Sometimes, a physical feature was used to describe a person like Pitong Kirat for a certain Pito who only had one good eye.

Many early Christianized Filipinos named themselves after the saints so much so that it caused consternation among the Spanish authorities. Apparently, Christianization worked much too well and there were soon too many Santoses, San Joses, San Antonios, and San Buenaventuras to suit those in power. They were forced to change their last names unless they could prove that their family had been using it for several generations.

Another unacceptable custom was that siblings took on different last names like they had always done before the Spaniards came. All these "problems" resulted in a less efficient system of collecting taxes.

And so, on November 21, 1849 Governor General Narciso Clavería ordered a systematic distribution of family names for the natives to use. The Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos was produced and approved names were assigned to families in all towns. Name distribution was so systematic that civil servants assigned family names in alphabetical order causing some small towns with only a few families to end up with all names starting with the same letter. (This interesting situation remained until fairly recent times when people became more mobile and started seeking mates from other towns.)

One result of the Hispanization of Filipino names was the change in the way traditional names (placenames, too) were pronounced. Since Hispanic names were just sounds that didn't mean much, names like "Dimalantá" became "Dimalanta" (the accent shifting to the penultimate syllable) and "Julag-ay" became "Júlagay" (the accent shifting from the penultimate to the first and the glottal catch disappearing). This tended to hide the meanings of the names and made them more of an abstract entity just like Hispanic names. At the same time, the new pronunciation sounded more Hispanic and this step completed the transformation of some families, at least in their own minds, to an erzats class of pseudo-Spaniards.

This list has brought about many interesting emails with more names and stories about their origins. Most were proud to have real Filipino names unlike the majority of us who have Hispanic surnames. However, one took exception to having his name, Agulto, listed as an indigenous Filipino name. He claimed he was a Filipino whose ancestors were Sheppardic Jews from Spain and he found it offensive for his name to be called truly Filipino. Of course, I immediately removed Agulto from this list.

Go to the site for a  list of truly Filipino names that remained in use even after the Clavería edict: http://www.bibingka.com/names/ 

 

 


Tuason Family, only noble Filipino family

 

From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Tuason_Family

The Tuasons are the only noble Filipino family, that is they were elevated by the King of Spain Carlos IV to the Spanish nobility by a royal decree of 1782. They are descended from an intermix of Chinese, Spanish and Filipino families.

The great patriarch of the Tuasons was an Chinese immigrant from Fukien, Son Tua who settled in Binondo, Manila in the early 18th century. He came to Manila to engage in the galleon trade. Quickly amassing wealth because of his business acumen, he became possibly the richest man in the Philippines by late 18th century.

Son Tua as the Most Prominent 18th c. Filipino

His prominent role in Philippine society was only emphasized during its British Occupation from 1762 to 1764 when Son Tua was one of the very few residents to rally people around the Spanish colonial troops. He even financed and helped direct counterattacks. He was promoted to colonel and he organized 1,500 Chinese mestizos, which was dubbed the Battalion of the Royal Prince. It was a treacherous time for Spain in the Philippines, as the British invasion had weakened Spain's power and occasioned rebellions and demands for independence.

In gratitude for helping the Spanish Governor General Simon de Anda drive the British redcoats out of Manila he was exempted him from paying tributes for two generations in 1775 and he was encouraged to hispanize his name. In that time it was the practice to reverse the syllabry of a Chinese name, so Son-tua was hispanized to Tua-son. From that time on he was called Don Antonio Tuason.

He was awarded large tracts of prime land. Family lore relates that the governor general promised Don Antonio that whatever lands he could encircle by horseback from sunrise to sunset would be his. Being very astute Don Antonio prepared several horses in different stations in what was known the Diliman and Mariquina area. Through this feat Don Antonio made sure that he traversed thousands of hectares in a day. Thus began the Tuason real estate empire which survives to this day.

By this time the Tuasons had emerged as the leading Chinese mestizo family not only in Binondo, but in the entire Philippines. This prestige was further elevated when the King of Spain conferred a noble title on the family in 1782. To express his gratitude Don Antonio was posthumously allowed by the King of Spain, Carlos IV, to found a mayorazgo (noble estate) on February 25, 1794. The mayorazgo was officially approved by the King's decree of August 20, 1795.



 


SPAIN

More Proof That Vikings Were First to America
El Corsario Cavendish
More Proof That Vikings Were First to America
By Lisa Abend   Nov. 26, 2010 

Jack Heretik of the Knights of Columbus portrays the 15th century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus during a Columbus Day event in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, 2010
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2033038,00.html#ixzz16SPu2cQm
 
Jonathan Ernst / Reuters 
Pity poor Leif Ericsson. The Viking explorer may well have been the first European to reach the Americas, but it is a certain Genoan sailor who gets all the glory. Thanks to evidence that has until now consisted only of bare archeological remains and a bunch of Icelandic legends, Ericsson has long been treated as a footnote in American history: no holiday, no state capitals named after him, no little ditty to remind you of the date of his voyage. But a group of Icelandic and Spanish scientists studying one mysterious genetic sequence — and one woman who's been dead 1,000 years — may soon change that. 

Ten years ago, Agnar Helgason, a scientist at Iceland's deCODE Genetics, began investigating the origin of the Icelandic population. Most of the people he tested carried genetic links to either Scandinavians or people from the British Isles. But a small group of Icelanders — roughly 350 in total — carried a lineage known as C1, usually seen only in Asians and Native Americans. "We figured it was a recent arrival from Asia," says Helgason. "But we discovered a much deeper story than we expected." (From the Archives: See TIME's cover story on the Vikings.)

Helgason's graduate student, Sigridur Sunna Ebenesersdottir, found that she could trace the matrilineal sequence to a date far earlier than when the first Asians began arriving in Iceland. In fact, she found that all the people who carry the C1 lineage are descendants of one of four women alive around the year 1700. In all likelihood, those four descended from a single woman. And because archeological remains in what is Canada today suggest that the Vikings were in the Americas around the year 1000 before retreating into a period of global isolation, the best explanation for that errant lineage lies with an American Indian woman: one who was taken back to Iceland some 500 years before Columbus set sail for the New World in 1492. (See the top 10 things you should know about Columbus.)

"Quantitatively, the importance of the discovery is fairly minimal," says Carles Lalueza, a researcher at Barcelona's Institute of Evolutionary Biology, who collaborated on the project. "You're talking about a few people on a remote island. But qualitatively, the fact that there is evidence for the transmission of genes between two continents at that early a date is very exciting." (See pictures of Italians in America.)

And it's not just the mere fact of contact that is intriguing. Until now, the historical evidence has suggested that while the Vikings may have reached the Americas, they didn't really engage with the indigenous population. "According to the sagas, the Vikings had troubles with the locals and couldn't settle there, so they returned to Iceland," says Helgason. "But if we're right, it will mean they didn't just sail there and come back. They had real contact with them." (Comment on this story.)

For now, the story of the lone American Indian woman taken on a Viking ship to Iceland remains a hypothesis. To prove it will require finding the same genetic sequence in older Amerindian remains elsewhere in the world — family members, as it were, of that 1,000-year-old woman who ended up so far from home. That sounds like a daunting task, but Helgason and his team hope that as news of their finding spreads, other geneticists will re-examine remains they have already studied for evidence of the same lineage. (See the eerie beauty of Iceland's volcano from earlier this year.)

In the meantime, Helgason will also be exploring one other possible explanation for the unexpected finding. Though unlikely, the presence of the C1 lineage could indicate that it originated in those ancient populations who dispersed from Europe into Asia and the Americas. In other words, instead of a single American Indian carrying the lineage to Europe, it may have risen out of primitive Europe and migrated to different parts of the world. "If that's the case, we'd be talking about 14,000 years ago," says Helgason. "So even if we're wrong about this one Amerindian woman, the other answer would be even more spectacular." 

Sent by John Inclan
fromGalveston@yahoo.com

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2033038,00.html#ixzz16SPj7yCk

 


El Corsario Cavendish

 

 

Ya hemos hablado en otros artículos del galeón que unía México y las Islas Filipinas durante los siglos XVI al XVIII,  además de los apetecibles cargamentos que llevaba en sus rutas. Para Manila, cargaban plata del Perú en barras y en moneda, semillas, tabaco, garbanzos y plantas de vid e higueras, entre otras mercancías y con destino a Acapulco, traían tejidos de seda, alfombras persas, algodón, pólvora, biombos y porcelanas, marfil y diferentes especias.

Después que Magallanes cruzó el estrecho, aparecieron por el Pacifico barcos de distintas nacionalidades europeas, especialmente ingleses y ya sabemos que los ingleses que merodeaban por esos mares tenían permiso como corsario de Isabel I de Inglaterra, la reina virgen, para atacar y saquear a los barcos españoles.

Uno de estos corsarios, Thomas Cavendish, le tenía puesto el ojo al galeón de Manila, por lo que en la primera ocasión, en noviembre de 1587,  cuando llegaba a las costas de California y amparado por la niebla, se acercó al “Santa Ana”, que así se llamaba la nave, y sorprendió a los castellanos que entre tripulación y pasajeros alcanzaban las 150 personas.

Aunque el capitán Tomás de Alzola, repartió espadas, lanzas y trabucos, solo pudieron hacer frente al primer ataque de los piratas, porque en la segunda oleada el “Santa Ana” fue capturado y tanto tripulación como pasajeros fueron llevados a tierra, mientras los hombres de Cavendish  encallaban el barco español y se dedicaban a su saqueo.

Curiosamente, el “Santa Ana”, anteriormente iba armado con varios cañones, pero en este viaje consideraron que por el Pacifico encontrarían pocos piratas y los desmontaron dejándolos en tierra para la defensa de Manila.

Una vez llevaron al “Desiré”, el barco de Cavendish, todo lo de valor que encontraron, escogieron a dos pilotos, y varios esclavos y marineros para que les ayudaran en la navegación, entregando a los que dejaron en tierra, telas, espadas y arcabuces para su defensa, además de comida para algún tiempo y los abandonaron a su suerte, ahorcando antes a Juan de Almendrales que se les enfrentó cuando le hicieron prisionero, empleando un lenguaje soez y despectivo para los ingleses.

Tan pronto marcharon los piratas, los españoles pusieron manos a la obra y lograron reflotar y reparar el “Santa Ana”, con la tela que les dejó Cavendish hicieron una vela y el 6 de enero de 1888 lograron llegar, doce de ellos enfermos, a Acapulco.

                                                 Angel Custodio Rebollo

 

 


INTERNATIONAL

Coloquio de Historia Canario-Americana
The Portuguese American Historical and Research Foundation, Inc.
Book: Christopher Columbus Was Son of Polish King
How a lunar eclipse helped Columbus' crew avoid hunger by John Stanley
Older issues of the "Coloquio de Historia Canario-Americana".
http://www.coloquiosdehistoriacanarioamericana.es/especial/pn-3 

The Portuguese American Historical and Research Foundation, Inc.

http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/boat.html

Non-Profit organization incorporated under the laws of North Carolina. Dedicated to the Research of Early American History and the Portuguese Making of America. 501 (c) (3)
Send your comments by email to: portugal@portuguesefoundation.org
P.A.H.R. Foundation, Inc. - 277 Industrial Park Road - Franklin, NC 28734 - USA
Fax: (828) 369-3751 Site maintained by Susan Deetz.

 

Portuguese Passenger Ship Lists

A data base is under construction, and we expect to have the names of Portuguese passengers that have come to the new world since the 16th century. During the 19th century, lists such as the ones shown below are easily available.

The information below has been reproduced from this web site: www.dholmes.com/ships.html. We suggest a visit to this web site for more information.

More ships lists may be searched at The Compass--Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild: istg.rootsweb.com/newcompass/pcindex.html



Arrivals of Portuguese to North-America before the 18th Century
1492 With Columbus: João Areias from Algarve, Portugal
1539 With Hernando de Soto: André de Vasconcellos, Álvaro Afonso, João Álvares de Valverde, Abião Lopes, Gavião Lopes, Manuel de Torres, Simão Rodrigues do Marão, Mem Roiz Pereira, Domingo Sardinha, Fernão Pegado, Estevão Pegado and Antonio Martins Segurado
1560/6 Diogo de Ferreira from Porto, Portugal
1560/6 Francisco Gil from Lisbon, Portugal
1560/6 Francisco Merida de Molina and his wife Guiomar Pereira from Lisbon, Portugal
1566 With Pedro Menéndes de Aviles: Antonio Pereira, a native of Porto, Portugal
1578/85 Diogo Martins from Campo Maior, Portugal
1578/85 Leonor Nunes, Bartolomeu Garcia, Isabel Soares, Bartolomeu Fernandes, all from Evora, Portugal

 

Sent by Margaret Garza  Mage1935@aol.com 

 


Book: Christopher Columbus Was Son of Polish King

 
MADRID, Spain (Nov. 29) -- A new biography of Christopher Columbus claims that the man who discovered the Americas was neither Italian nor Spanish but the son of an exiled Polish king who lied to keep his real lineage secret.

Christopher ColumbusPortuguese historian Manuel Rosa says he spent 20 years digging through medieval documents and genealogy for his book "Columbus: The Untold Story," published this month in Spain. A professor at Duke University in North Carolina, Rosa believes that Columbus was actually the son of exiled Polish King Vladislav III and a Portuguese noblewoman, and that he lied to protect his father's true identity.
AP A Portuguese historian's new book claims that Christopher Columbus was actually the son of an exiled Polish king and a Portuguese noblewoman, and that he lied to protect his father's true identity.

Conventional wisdom has said that Columbus was from a family of humble Italian weavers, born in 1451 to Domenico Columbo, a weaver who also ran a cheese stall in the city of Genoa. But Rosa believes the explorer was able to woo monarchs into funding his seafaring adventures only because he was in fact descended from royalty himself -- from Poland.

He cites documents that he claims reveal that Columbus and his brother both had access to four European royal courts -- a rare feat for supposedly poor Genoese weavers. Rosa also believes that Columbus himself was married to a woman from the Portuguese aristocracy in 1479, years before his first Atlantic voyage, and that the marriage helped him secure contacts and funding for his trips.

"The sheer weight of the evidence presented makes the old tale of a Genoese wool-weaver so obviously unbelievable that only a fool would continue to insist on it," Rosa told London's Daily Mail newspaper.

In 1498, Columbus signed his last will and testament with the words "being I born in Genoa" -- but Rosa writes that the document is now believed to be a forgery, written 80 years after his 1506 death by Italians who wanted to lay claim to his legacy.

Rosa's work has caught the attention of National Geographic, which sent a producer to Spain and Portugal this month to begin researching a documentary on his findings, according to a press release from the book's publisher.

Columbus' ancestors have long been a topic of intrigue and speculation among historians. Even though the explorer claimed to have been born in Genoa to a textile family, other theories have claimed his true roots lie in Portugal, Greece, Spain or even Scotland. There's some evidence that Columbus sought to obscure his origins, which could reveal that he was really Jewish or a double agent working for the Portuguese royal family.

"Our whole understanding of Christopher Columbus has for 500 years been based on misinformation. We couldn't solve the mystery because we were looking for the wrong man, following lies that were spread intentionally to hide his true identity," Rosa told The Daily Telegraph.

The new book, Rosa's third about Columbus, says the great navigator's father was in fact Vladislav, who is long thought to have died in the Battle of Varna against the Ottomans in 1444. Rosa believes that he actually survived and fled to live in exile on the island of Madeira, a Portuguese territory, where he married a Portuguese noblewoman who gave birth to Columbus. On Madeira, Vladislav was known as "Henry the German," the book says.

Many paintings of Columbus show that he was red-haired, fair-skinned and blue-eyed -- all features more common in Poland than in Italy. Columbus' coat of arms was also strikingly similar to that of the Polish king, and a painting of the explorer housed in Seville, Spain, shows a crown hidden in his sleeve.

Rosa said there's plenty of evidence to support his theory, but his next project will try to back up his thesis indisputably -- with DNA evidence.

"I have made a request to the Cathedral in Krakov to examine remains from the tomb of Vladislav II, who could turn out to be the grandfather of Columbus," Rosa told the Telegraph. "It would prove the truth of my theory."
 
Sent by Bll Carmena
JCarm1724@aol.com

 


How a lunar eclipse helped Columbus' crew avoid hunger

by John Stanley

February 1504 - Christopher Columbus was in a bad way.  In the course of his fourth visit to the New World, badly leaking ships left him stranded on what is now Jamaica.  The inhabitants, initially hospitable, had grown hostile at the crew's transgressions and had threatened to cut off the crew's food supply.

While consulting his ephemerides, charts that give the positions of astronomical objects at given times, Columbus realized that astronomers had predicted that a lunar eclipse would be visible in a couple of days.

The day before the eclipse, he told the local leaders that if they didn't change their minds, the moon would disappear from the sky.
They scoffed, but after the eclipse occurred, as predicted on Feb. 29, they relented.

Four months later, Columbus and his crew were rescued. He returned to Spain in November, never to return to the New World.
"The story sounds too good to be true," said Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky & Telescope magazine. "But it really happened."

Sent by John Inclan fromgalveston@yahoo.com

                    12/30/2010 08:01 AM