Latino arts, history and culture
The recent passing of Chicano music icon Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez generated many accolades commenting on his musical activism. Indeed, Chunky epitomized the trovadores (singers, musicians) who have made … [Read more...]
The DNC has nobody to blame but themselves… Some quick thoughts on the recent election. The Democratic establishment, who decided in 2008 that Clinton would be the next President, is in a state of … [Read more...]
Democracy be damned—let’s hate! Conservatives and progressives claim to be polar opposites, but when it comes to hating on people whose political views and actions they don’t like, conservatives … [Read more...]
During the political season, politicos and others wail and whine about low voter turnout among Mexican Americans. The same laments are made about Native Americans. The implication is that we, and the … [Read more...]
Do what I tell you … or the Cucuy will get you! By now I figured I had said everything I wanted to say regarding the current presidential campaign. But then came the onslaught of emails, Facebook … [Read more...]
The Associated Press and lobbyists elect Clinton … Don’t bother voting … we’ve made up your mind… In their classic song, the Mamas and Papas warned us about Monday: “Monday, Monday, can’t trust … [Read more...]
Racism and politics… It is very disappointing to see that racist undertones, overt and covert, on the Republican side as well as on the Democratic side, permeate the 2016 presidential campaign. … [Read more...]
Déjà vu: Bernie Sanders reincarnates Eugene McCarthy… As Yogi Berra noted, it’s déjà vu all over again. As it did forty-eight (48) years ago, the Democratic Party elite-establishment has declared war … [Read more...]
The stench of political hypocrisy… The contradictions and outright hypocrisy permeating contemporary politics are staggering. Hillary Clinton, for example, is the antithesis of what progressives … [Read more...]
Terrorists posing as ‘patriots’… Rallying in support of two ranchers convicted of arson on federal land and who are accused of child abuse (“Oregon Rancher ‘Heroes’ Accused of Child Abuse,” The … [Read more...]
We’ve been priced out of higher education… In the recent Democratic Presidential Debate, self-proclaimed “Democratic Socialist” Sen. Bernie Sanders reiterated his call for free college tuition. … [Read more...]
SANTA ROSA DE LIMA. For the past 85 years, the Santa Rosa de Lima Mission in Tucson’s Old Pascua Yaqui Village has been a spiritual and community anchor of the village. The Yaquis—whose term for … [Read more...]
HISTORY MAKERS ARE ALL AROUND US! One thing I’ve learned in my close-to-50 years of organizing and being in the trenches of the civil-rights movement is that if we are to understand and influence … [Read more...]
Ol’ Yogi had it right… It’s déjà vu all over again. Forty-three (43) years apart, Tucson’s west side fought the same battle with the same folks—a Democratic Mayor and Council—over basically the … [Read more...]
MINING TOWN KIDS- WE'RE EVERYWHERE! Small towns are like big barrios. People know and take care of each other. Which is why Arizona’s mining communities impress me greatly. That, and the people … [Read more...]
PUBLIC COLLEGES BELONG TO THE PUBLIC. The mission statements of community colleges reflect the comprehensive nature of these institutions. More than providers of courses for transfer to a … [Read more...]
Indigenous sacred sites matter… Arizona Democrat House member Ann Kirkpatrick, whose district includes the Apache reservation, teamed up with Republican Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake and … [Read more...]
I like your Christ, but… How things change. When I was growing up, religious folks railed against the commercialization of Christmas. They believed and taught that publicly, Christmas was to be … [Read more...]
“IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK" -- EL CASINO BALLROOM. "If them walls could talk,” El Casino Ballroom in Tucson, AZ, would be loquacious. Since its founding in 1947, El Casino has hosted thousands of … [Read more...]
THE POWER OF FAMILY. A group of young women from Tucson’s south side—the area 1996 Republican presidential candidate Pat Buchanan derisively called “Mexico town"—just made history. Representing … [Read more...]
Mexican American baseball “tiros” and their legacy… Historically, baseball has been very much a part of Mexican American life. In Arizona, the mining towns, which played a huge role in the state’s … [Read more...]
