Democracy for New Mexico

Guest Blog: We Didn't Cross Any Borders, They Crossed Us

This is a guest blog by JaciCee that originally appeared as a diary on Daily Kos:

Okay, maybe we did cross a couple of borders.  We marched up through Central America and Mexico and entered Native American land when we first settled here.  But since the early 1600's we haven't moved.  Who are we?  The first families and explorers that settled into New Mexico.  You know, that state that sets between Texas and Arizona and is north of Mexico and under Colorado.  We are actually part of the United States and have been since 1912.  Many Americans don't know that.  In case you don't believe me, check this out.  One of our local publications features stories about misperceptions and flat out ignorance about our state.

Let's talk a little about what happened before we became a state in 1912.  I'll give you a quick historical rundown but if you want more on our state's rich history, go here or here.

The Native American cultures were thriving here when the Spaniards first arrived.  Those incredible cultures date back to at least 1100 A.D.  The first Europeans arrived in New Mexico with Francisco Vasquez de Coronado's expedition in 1540.  Up until 1821 we lived under the Spanish flag.  In 1821 Mexico acquired New Mexico from Spain.  We then lived under the Mexican flag until 1846 when we fell under US control.  In 1862 Albuquerque surrendered to the South during the Civil War.  In 1912 we officially became a state.  We have lived under three flags without going anywhere. 

Some of our families had relatives living south of the New Mexican territory.  The borders were open. We could travel all over and see who we liked.  These relationships still exist today.

Why does this matter?  My family arrived here in 1603.  They came here with other families.  They married other Spaniards, Indians and Mexicans.  They created an incredibly diverse human landscape that is still thriving today.  These same families, whether they live in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe, Espanola or Taos still speak Spanish in their homes.  Many still have accents.  They are Americans. They are dark, light, tall, short, skinny and fat.  They have brown eyes, blue eyes and green eyes. Many outsiders can't tell the difference between a sixth generation New Mexican or an illegal immigrant.

I have been somewhat silent about the immigation debate. I have some pretty strong views about it but not until I saw this yesterday did I become absolutely enraged.

Some local Republicans have decided it is cool to drive a billboard around Albuquerque with the slogan "Mayor Chavez's sanctuary city for criminal illegal immigrants!"  They are pissed off because Mayor Chavez refuses to use the Albuquerque Police Department to round up "illegal aliens."  According to Allen Weh, a local Republican:

"We’re talking about public safety, and in the area of public safety, my view and our view is it’s a non-negotiable item, we’re all in this together, we all live in this city, we all live in this state, and our families should be safe,"

Safety?  I would like to see some hard facts from Mr. Weh about how many crimes are committed by illegal immigrants in New Mexico. But I doubt any New Mexican will get any facts from hatemongers.  I don't call them hatemongers lightly either.  Look at the message they are currently driving around a major US city that has a huge Hispanic population.  They are associating the workers they depend on to manicure their lawns, clean their houses, work on their roofs, care for their children, clean their hotel rooms, wash their dishes, cook their food, pick their chile crops to the level of a criminal.  I feel bad for the children of the shadow workers, who on their way to school, have to watch a billboard rolling by on a publicly funded street that equates their mother or father to a murderer.

I feel worse though that Republicans, like Weh, think they have a right to be abusive and uninformed towards a population that they know nothing about.  I am sure Weh could not tell an American citizen from an illegal in this state. 

Kudos to Mayor Marty for standing firm on this.

"And I will not have the police stopping Americans based on the color of their skin, so they need to get off it and help our congressional delegation find meaningful solutions to our immigration dilemma," said Mayor Martin Chavez.

That is my greatest fear; that someday somebody who has moved to New Mexico from a flyover state will question me or my children about our citizenship. My family has been here for multiple generations. Each of those generations has produced family members who served our nation during times of war.

Before you consider immigration reform, please think about how any of those reforms will affect American citizens, like me.

Editor's Note: This is a guest blog by JaciCee. It was originally posted as a diary on Daily Kos.

Guest blogs provide our readers with an opportunity to express themselves and may or may not represent our views. If you'd like to submit a post for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the page.

Tonight: Univision Dem Prez Debate in Spanish & English

Spanish-language TV station Univision is hosting a Dem presidential candidate debate tonight from 6:00 to 7:30 PM Mountain Time. Albuquerque viewers can tune in to the live broadcast from the University of Miami on KLUZ-TV, channel 41, or on Comcast cable channel 15. The broadcast will also be available on Radio Cadena Univision and online at Univision.com. It's the first presidential debate to be broadcast entirely in Spanish, as well as the first to specifically address Latino issues.

Seven of the eight contenders for the Dem presidential nomination will participate. Sen. Joe Biden will miss the event to prepare for next week's Senate Foreign Relations hearing with Gen. Petraeus, which he will chair. Only two, Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Chris Dodd, speak fluent Spanish, but that actually shouldn't be much of a factor in the debate.

Univision anchors Maria Elena Salinas and Jorge Ramos will ask the questions in Spanish but the candidates will hear them translated into English via the UN-style earpieces they'll be wearing. Their answers in English will be translated into Spanish be an interpreter for the TV viewers. English-speaking viewers can watch using the closed caption service on their TVs.

Expect glitches and delays. Plus, I can't imagine that Richardson and Dodd will refrain from showing off their prowess in Spanish at some point, even though the rules say they must speak English during the debate. Why? Univision claims it's to give everyone a level playing field. Both Richardson and Dodd have objected to the rule.

News from SAGE Council

From SAGE Council:
Jam the Ballot Box Music Fest! Get Out the Vote! The Jam the Ballot Box music fest is an all ages show featuring four Native American rock bands. Come rock out as we celebrate Native voters! Call JR at 260-4696 if you are interested in volunteering at the event!

What: Jam the Ballot Box music fest
When: Saturday, September 15th, 7 PM
Where: The Compound, 3206 San Mateo NE, ABQ
Cost: $10

Native American Voters Alliance (NAVA): Get Out the Vote! Water & Urban Indian Healthcare. NAVA is off to a good start, but we need your help to make it a success! This year, we're concentrating on two issues: water, and urban Indian healthcare.

Water: Currently, Albuquerque uses an unsustainable amount of water. We are exceeding our yearly water budget by at least 18 billion gallons of precious and non- renewable groundwater. We must protect water availabilty for future generations!

Native American healthcare: Although NAVA was successful in securing funding for Urban Indian healthcare earlier this year, it is clear that much more needs to be done to ensure quality, accessible healthcare for Native Americans!

We need your help to get out the Native vote! Come with us as we go out into our community to make positive change! We phonebank Monday-Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM and we're going doorknocking Saturday and Sunday from10 AM - 1 PM. Call the office at 260-4696 to sign up to volunteer!

We Made Our Debut at NACA! SAGE Council stepped into our first classroom two weeks ago to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th graders the concepts of community organizing. Wow! What an experience! Our class is awesome! The students are truly exceptional and went above and beyond our expectations when we discussed topics like racism and stereotypes. Their knowledge, insight, and ability to see through all the hype was amazing. Our experience so far has been challenging but also very rewarding. We'll keep you updated on how it's going! If you are interested in helping, or if you know of activities that would be fun for the class, please call our office at 260-4696.

Mark Your Calendar for Desert Rock Event! October 5th-7th! Next month after the city elections, SAGE Council will resume our role as supporters of the Dooda Desert Rock (DDR) resistance. DDR has asked SAGE to help with petition-signing and a demonstration at the Shiprock Fair. The details are yet to be confirmed, but SAGE is thinking of taking a caravan or a busload of people from Albuquerque to help gather signatures to oppose the Desert Rock power plant, and to help with the demonstration during the opening parade. Ideas, suggestions, and donations to make this trip possible are greatly appreciated! Call the office if you want to sign up to go with us!

SAGE Council is an Indigenous and people of color-led organization using community organizing to build power through action, education, leadership development and political participation. Our commitment to social change and self determination is based on values that honor the environment and all people. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think about how we are doing at SAGE. You can sign up for our email newsletter at our website.

SAGE Council Web: https://www.sagecouncil.org
Email:  sage@sagecouncil.org 
Phone: 505-260-4696

Katrina: Two Years of Neglect and Corruption

Two years ago today. Nothing but incompetence, thievery, corruption, neglect and false promises from the powers that be since then. Beyond shameful. Almost everything positive has been done by volunteers or the residents themselves. Learn more and sign the petition urging the Senate to pass Chris Dodd's Gulf Coast Recovery Bill of 2007 (S1668). Be forewarned: This horror could happen to any community next, with similarly dismal and dire results.

Bush and his "compassionate conservative" cohorts have broken so many parts of our government just to show that "government is the problem, not the solution." They seem to have no intention of doing what needs to be done quickly or fairly in the Gulf Coast region. Unfortunately, too many Democratic members of government have been almost as bad -- passive, at best, in effectively addressing the emergency and keeping the issue alive.

We all know what the real problem is -- greed on the part of elite corporate and development interests coupled with a refusal by key political forces to provide meaningful oversight that demands accountability for the massive money flows that are going to enrich the few at the expense of the many. It's like a free-for-all for the worst among us, encouraged from above by those who are supposed to represent the needs of the people.

Here's an excellent report on the current status of New Orleans from a city councilwoman who ran for office and won after getting stonewalled by her nonresponsive representatives. Excerpt:

We are in fact doing our part locally in New Orleans despite contrary comments by the Bush administration. Our intense civic activity and government reform initiatives are serious indicators of our local commitment to do our part for the recovery.  But we are drowning in federal red tape. We are being nickel and dimed to death by Bush’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. We are resource-starved at the city level. The mission here is not accomplished.  What we need is Presidential leadership, not just another speech filled with empty promises.

... I hope you can take the time to click on the link to my , Press Release and Fact Sheet so you can realize that New Orleans will not allow the discussion of our recovery be anything but factual and done via the reality based community and not through spin and talking points.

For the facts, read this report released this week by the Institute for Southern Studies and RFK Center for Human Rights. For more ideas on how to help, visit the website of the People's Hurricane Relief Fund and Oversite Coalition.

I'm sure our criminal president won't let anything bother him as he visits New Orleans today, bragging about what's been done and "vowing" to do more. Nothing ever really bothers the The Decider unless it's someone telling him the truth to his face.

Tonight On KUNM's Espejos de Aztlan: Topahkal Health Collective

From Javier Benavidez:
Check out KUNM 89.9FM tonight, Monday, August 20th, at 8:00 PM for a half-hour live interview with Andru Ziwasimon, MD, of the Topahkal Health Collaborative. Topahkal is an independent clinic interweaving traditional/indigenous medicines with conventional family practice medicine. They serve over 5,000 uninsured individuals and families annually and are located in the heart of the South Valley in Albuquerque, NM.

Next Sunday, August 26th, from 6 PM to 10 PM, Topahkal will host a celebration and fund-raiser at the Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center (on the corner of Silver and Harvard in the university area). Music will be provided by Nuevo Mexico Presente, La Junta and Le Chat Lunatique. Patients, their families, and supporters are invited to join in the homemade food, silent art auction, dancing and fun. For more information, please contact Cecilia at the Peace and Justice Center at (505) 268-9557.

Espejos de Aztlan has been on-air since 1979 and is part of the Raices Collective which conducts programming on news, culture and music from a Latino perspective on KUNM 89.9FM. For more information or to submit input about Espejos de Aztlan, please visit the "Raices" link at https://kunm.org/culture/.

Editor's Note: For more information on the work of Topahkal Health Collaborative, click:

• Healing Ourselves, Healing the Earth
• Healthy Choices; The Topahkal Health Collaborative Blends Traditional and Alternative Methods
• Albuquerque Tribune Event Item

Check Out NM Black Expo August 24-25

From the NM Office of African-American Affairs:
The Inaugural New Mexico Black Expo 2007, "The African-American Experience in New Mexico," will be held in Albuquerque on August 24-25, presented by the NM Office of African-American Affairs and cosponsored by Isshin Ryu Club Inc.

This event will promote the Black Experience in the state. On Friday evening, at 6:00 PM, Ms. Gianni North, and African American writer and filmmaker, will show her film on HIV-AIDS in the Black community. A short question and answer period will follow. A panel of statewide community representatives will discuss “Issues in the Black Community”. The location is the newly opened African American Performing Arts Center and Exhibit Hall at 310 San Pedro NE on the State Fair Grounds.

Starting at 10:00 AM on Saturday morning at Civic Plaza, there will be vendors, informational booths, speakers, food, and live entertainment. Health screenings, arts and crafts, and voter registration will also be part of the activities. The Expo will conclude at 7:00 PM. Here's a DETAILED SCHEDULE:

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE attached flyer:

• Download frontside.pdf
• Download backside.pdf

Friday, Night (August 24th, 6 PM - 9 PM, African American Performing Arts Center, State EXPO Fairgrounds)

6:00 PM: Film - Affected: The AIDS Project By Gianni-Amber North

6:30 PM: Film Discussion with Writer/Director Gianni-Amber North and Kenneth Winfrey

7:00 PM: Community Panel Discussion: "Contemporary Black Issues in New Mexico "

• Phyllis Hubbard D.D., Ayurvedic Practitioner and N.D. Pending (Albuquerque, NM)
• Dr. Nancy Lopez, Professor of Sociology, UNM, Author of Hopeful Girls, Troubled Boys: Race and Gender Disparity in Urban Education
• Festus Addo-Yobo, Black Programs Director, NMSU (Las Cruces, NM)
• Gloria Brown-Lopez & Child, Parent, Graduate Student & Professor NMHU (Las Vegas, NM)
• Kenneth Winfrey, Artists, Activist, Web/Graphics Guru (Albuquerque, NM)
• Sylvester Stanley, Gallup Police Department (Gallup, NM)
• Barbara Laval, National Science Education Institute for Excellence in Astrobiology and Astrophysics, UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)

WILL HAVE A MODERATOR, TIME LIMITS ON ANSWERS and QUESTIONS FIELDED FROM THE AUDIENCE

9:00 PM: End (Promote Saturday Activities)

Saturday (August 25th, 10 AM - 7 PM, Civic Plaza, Downtown Albuquerque)

Vendors are set up and open for business and the informational tables are on hand

Main Stage

10:00 AM: Parental Advisory (Education w/ David Gregory Cox, Mary Juzang & Jasper Mathews)

11:15 AM: Fiscal Responsibility in the Black Community (Finance w/ Ron Hinson & Gerald Watson)

12:00 PM: OFFICIAL START OF CEREMONY: Dr. Harold Bailey-Open/ Eugene Pickett-Drums/Dr. Sina Aurelia Soul-Both National Anthems

12:30 PM: New Mexico Mass Choir (Music)

1:00 PM: Macedonia Youth Drill Team (Step Team)

1:30 PM: Steven Harrison (Music)

2:00 PM: Chris Dracup (Music)

2:30 PM: Voices of Angels (African Refugees) (Song)

3:00 PM: Eulogistic Alliance (Music)

3:30 PM: Poetry Interlude (Grace, Jazz Cuffee, Yagazi) (Poetry)

4:00 PM: Phocus (Music)

4:30 PM: Isshin Ryu (Martial Arts Demonstration)

5:00 PM: Sweet Life (Music)

5:30 PM: JMAR (Music)

6:00 PM: Dr. Bailey, Closing Remarks

More Info:
Hakim Bellamy
Social and Community Programs Coordinator
New Mexico State Office of African American Affairs
1015 Tijeras NW, Suite 102
Albuquerque , NM 87102
Office: (505) 222-9442
Toll Free: (866) 747-6935
Fax: (505) 222-9489
E-mail: edwardh.bellamy@state.nm.us
www.state.nm.us/hsd/oaaa