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We are taking a stand against this dangerous trend towards the incitement of lawlessness and violence. We strongly believe in the First Amendment right of free expression and discourse, even when that expression is abhorrent or not in line with our own beliefs. However, the First Amendment does not protect debate where one side includes the threat or act of violence.

www.StopDomesticTerror.com
A VelvetRevolution.us Campaign

Stop Domestic Terror

Recently, there has been an explosion in threats and acts of domestic terrorism. The majority of these can be traced to groups and individuals who do not accept the results of our recent election or the laws enacted or proposed by those who have been elected. They seek to undermine the democratic process through threats, intimidation, and even outright murder. They can't accept the legitimacy of the President, or a woman's legal right to make choices about her own medical care, or an immigrant's right to be treated humanely under the law, so they carry out acts that are antithetical to American democracy, American values, and both civil and human rights.

The fringe elements that makes up those who commit these acts of terror, are frequently exploited by a continuous wave of rightwing media advocating violence, either directly or indirectly, by commentators amplifying the talking points of extremist religious leaders and extremist political leaders. The fringe is incited on our public airwaves, and urged to take matters into their own hands, with the underlying belief that the Bible and/or U.S. Constitution justify using "whatever means" are necessary to oppose what they believe to be immoral laws.

We are taking a stand against this dangerous trend towards the incitement of lawlessness and violence. We strongly believe in the First Amendment right of free expression and discourse, even when that expression is abhorrent or not in line with our own beliefs. However, the First Amendment does not protect debate where one side includes the threat or act of violence.

We have written a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder outlining our concerns and requesting that he act quickly to address this wave of domestic terrorism. A copy of the letter is here with the exhibits A-F here:

Exhibit A-Pet for Inquiry (FCC Letter)
Exhibit B-Letter to NTIA (NTIA Letter)
Exhibit C-Armed Revolution (Armed Revolution Website)
Exhibit D-Tiller Report (Op Rescue Tiller Baby Killer)
Exhibit E-talk radio(Structural Imbalance of Talk Radio)
Exhibit F-Frank Schaeffer letter (Schaeffer Letter to Holder)

Specifically, we are taking the following steps to address this dangerous trend toward extremism.

1. Urge the Department of Justice to:
   
   

   • study this trend toward the encouragement of violent lawlessness and initiate action to counter it,

   • investigate and prosecute those who are committing and inciting others to commit acts of violence,

   • review whether any media groups are violating antitrust laws by monopolizing media or media markets, or failing in their obligation to meet the "public interest" of their FCC broadcast licenses.

   • support an update and study by the FCC and NTIA of the 1993 report, "The Role of Telecommunications in Hate Crimes."

   • Conduct an investigation into the rise of extremism and violence and the role of the media in this phenomenon

   
   
   

2. Urge Congress to hold hearings on the responsibility of the licensed broadcast media to conduct itself in the public interest
   
   

3. Support legislation to require diversity in media ownership, encourage broader minority ownership of FCC licensed media outlets, and that otherwise reverses the dangerous trend of media monopolies allowed following the passage of Bill Clinton's Telecommunications Act of 1996.
   
   

4. We are calling on the CEOs and Boards of media organizations to denounce and remove hosts, commentators and others who use the media to incite violence and spread lies that lead others to violence.
   
   

5. We are calling on advertisers to cancel all ads on any media that uses the airwaves to spread a message of hate, intolerance, racism, lies and violence.
   
   

6. We are calling on religious leaders to denounce all forms of intimidation and violence, and to cooperate with the Department of Justice by reporting information about those who intend to commit violence.
   
   

7. We are working with leaders in the religious community who have taken a stand against violence, such as Frank Schaeffer, who was one of the architects of the Religious Right. Mr. Schaeffer, who will be promoting this campaign, has written a letter to Eric Holder offering his cooperation and insight into this trend toward violence and offering suggestions on how to address it.
   
   

8. We are supporting the efforts of other organizations that are addressing various aspects of this campaign, such as www.colorofchange.org, www.mediamatters.org, www.shockjock.org, www.rightwingwatch.org, www.splcenter.org, www.nhmc.org., suewilsonreports.com, www.alternet.org, www.freepress.net, www.thinkprogress.org, www.americanprogress.org, www.latinosagansthatespeech.org, www.adl.org, hladc-sf.blogspot.com.
   

We ask other organizations to sign on to this campaign by sending an email to StopDomesticTerror@velvetrevolution.us. Individuals can sign on using the form below. This campaign will include a broad public relations push so we urge everyone to spread the word and for the press to contact us for comment and interviews.

You can make targeted donations to this campaign at with an earmark comment in the box at http://www.velvetrevolution.us/donate.php.


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Michael Jackson, Rest In Peace, farewell dear sister... If you were one.

There are two conditions under which I'd dare to call someone a Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, etc.
The obvious one is when that person self identifies as one.
The other one is when the person in question, engages in sexual acts with a person of the same sex while at the same time, hypocritically, attacks us for the same acts.

I'm making an exception, with great respect, to that rule with Michael Jackson.

So much is being said and written about Michael, some of what I see is a person who went to great lengths so his physical appearance was that of the opposite gender, by definition, he appeared to be and would fit the description of Transgender.

I'm not trying to establish whether or not Michael Jackson was Transgender or a Transgender Woman, these farewell words, are just that, ' farewell dear Michael ', 'what if' and 'thank you' words.

Dear Michael,

I want to say a few things to you and in a selfish manner, to me as well.

You are dead and you are still being disrespected, I saw the words, 'Jacko' and 'Wacko' in print, I won't say that you were a Trangender Woman, however, I'm very comfortable in asking "What if?"

Maybe it is just my imagination, but when I see close up pictures of you, the look in your eyes always jumps at me, in a way, it feels that I'm looking at an Enlakesh of my gender. (Mayan - I am another yourself)

I never fail to glimpse that there is something else behind the facade, I want to say it again for the last time, maybe it is just my imagination, but when I saw your pictures with your children, I didn't see a daddy, I saw a mommy.

There are many of us who are good mothers and, many-times-many, others who have a yearning to be mothers, some will adopt, others will join a man with children and help him raise them as their own, with all the maternal love and care that we are capable of, with the knowledge that this is what we want to do, what we chose to do, fulfilling what we were meant to be, and now are.

There are times when I also see in your eyes an old acquaintance of mine, pain, profound pain at being unable to live your life as who you really are, the pain of knowing that you are being pressured to be ashamed to be who you are and to live your life as they feel you should, the pain of being made to feel guilty because of who you are, pain in knowing that to rebel and be your true self, is to invite more spiritual, emotional and psychological pain into your life, this is in addition to the heavy penalties and punishments in the social, legal, professional, religious and family life for having the audacity to be who you really are, and to live your life as such.

I also self-medicated to stop the pain, but the medication which took away a lot of it, was when I decided to not allow anybody else but me, to define me or to rule my life, realizing at the same time, that the people who call us freaks or mentally ill, are the real sick and deformed freaks in a human caricature.

The doctors and the professors are starting to come out of the woods and into the limelight of the 24/7 networks, I'm afraid it won't be pretty, in all seriousness I can tell you that if you were not already dead, they would psychoanalyze you to your grave, I don't know if you were a Transgender Woman, but you can rest assured that any and all attacks will be confronted, by me if by no one else.

But I don't think you need defending, at least on the surface I also see you as way above that, you were very brave by defying convention in so many ways, you minced the hypocritical crap of "Be yourself" that we are continously fed in "The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave", contributed generously to worthy causes, enjoyed being a parent and who can forget, "We are the World"?

I hope you made the best of the hand nature dealt you, I prefer to think that you did, I have the feeling that we didn't get to really know your true self in life, most likely I'm wrong in my perceptions, I don't know if you were a Transgender Woman, but in case you were, I want to at least in death, acknowledge you as one who felt as I did, I also want to tell you from the bottom of my heart:

You are free now, whomever you may really be, to be who you are.

Farewell dear Michael, rest in peace.

Aurora
070109


PS
Thank you for the great music and performances, you did well, yes indeed, you did good, TXs!
Also, for what is worth, there are many of us around who still think "We Are The World", that "We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For", we will keep advancing the torches of basic human rights and dignity.

We Are The World: Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper, Steve Wonder, Paul simon, kenny rogers, Dionne warwick, willie nelson, Bob dylan, Cindy lauper, & Many Other Friends

Michael Jackson - We are the World [Solo Version]

Lyrics:

Lionel richie
There comes a time when we heed a certain call

Lionel richie & stevie wonder
When the world must come together as one

Stevie wonder
There are people dying

Paul simon
And its time to lend a hand to life

Paul simon & kenny rogers
The greatest gift of all

Kenny rogers
We cant go on pretending day by day

James ingram
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change

Tina turner
We are all part of gods great big family

Billy joel
And the truth, you know, love is all we need

Chorus:
Michael jackson
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving

Diana ross
Theres a choice were making
Were saving our own lives

Michael & diana ross
Its true well make a better day
Just you and me

Dionne warwick
Send them your heart
So theyll know that someone cares

Dionne warwick & willie nelson
And their lives will be stronger and free

Willie nelson
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread

Al jarreau
So we all must lend a helping hand

Chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving

Bob dylan
Theres a choice were making
Were saving our own lives
Its true well make a better day
Just you and me

Michael jackson
When youre down and out, there seems no hope at all

Huey lewis
But if you just believe theres no way we can fall

Cindy lauper
Well, well, well, well let us realize that a change can only come

Kim carnes
When we stand together as one

Chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving

Theres a choice were making
Were saving our own lives
Its true well make a better day
Just you and me

We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving

Theres a choice were making
Were saving our own lives
Its true well make a better day
Just you and me

We are the world......

"Odio a Muerte", Maria Elena Salinas, "¿Denunciarías un Crimen Racial?"

Por: Aurora Grajeda

El Martes 23 de Junio, 2009, vi el programa "Aquí y Ahora" Con Maria Elena Salinas En Univisión, un reportaje titulado "Odio a Muerte", se trata sobre el asesinato del Mexicano Luís Ramírez en Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, el 12 de Julio del 2008, las reacciones e impresiones de los testigos, lo que la Mama de Luís esta pasando y dice, otros aspectos de esta historia.

Odio a Muerte, "Aquí y Ahora" Con Maria Elena Salinas sobre el asesinato de Luís Ramírez in Shenadoah

Al Final del reportaje, hay un segmento en la cual se hace una dramatización de un brutal ataque racial en pleno día y con testigos casuales en esta dramatización, la idea, según Maria Elena la explica, es ver si alguien de los testigos intervendrían para ayudar a la víctima, los resultados fueron muy interesantes y tristes a la vez, aunque algunos de los testigos devuelven mi fe de que algunos de nosotros estamos decididos a ayudar a un semejante en sufrimiento, otros no, no puedo culpar ni exculpar totalmente a los que no intervinieron, porque las razones de algunos hacen eco a los argumentos que muchos de nosotros hemos utilizado en oposición a legislación que permite que los Alguaciles y Policía Metropolitana funcionen como agentes de ICE (387g), una de las personas entrevistadas, Víctor, que era amigo de Luís, hace unos puntos de mucho impacto a través del reportaje, en mi opinión, esta totalmente en lo correcto.

"¿Denunciarías un ataque racial?" NOTA: Al parecer este video fue retirado

El reporte de Maria Elena fue excelente, y repitiéndolo, impactante, la felicito y doy fe en mi reconocimiento de su esfuerzo... Aunque...

... En mi opinión, aunque muy bien hecho, esta incompleto.

Como ya mencione, en el segmento final donde dramatizan un ataque racial, en lo que parecen reflexiones de Maria Elena sobre lo que nos presento, hace una pregunta: "¿Denunciarías un ataque racial?", aplaudo la pregunta por certera aunque esto me lleva a hacer dos preguntas pertinentes,
1.¿que es lo que estas dispuesto@ a hacer, o mas bien, que es lo que estas haciendo para poner un alto, contrarrestarlos o por lo menos aminorarlos?
2. ¿Que es lo que causa que todo este prejuicio y odio se propague en forma tan uniforme y extensa?
Me parece haber oído que este reportaje es parte de una serie, ojala, porque falta llegar al meollo del asunto, ¿que es lo que hace que todo este odio racial se este expandiendo a lo largo y lo ancho de este país?

En un estudio reciente del UCLA, se vislumbra una correlación muy directa y fuerte entre lo que llamamos "La retórica de Odio" En los medios de comunicación y la National Hispanic Media Coalition presento a la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones una "Petition of Inquire on Hate Speech in the Media" (Summary - Full Petition)

Controversia por Hispano asesinado La sentencia de los culpables ha sido muy controversial 06/17/2009 | 2:25

Esto es muy importante, porque va al génesis de la expansión y virulencia del sentimiento anti-inmigrante, Hispano/Latino inmigrantes para ser mas específicos y particularmente contra los Mexicanos.

Si, ojala sea parte de una serie, porque si no se hace la pregunta que hago y que nada mas hago eco a las voces de muchas personas que preguntan lo mismo, el reporte de Maria Elena seria equivalente a un reporte sobre narcotráfico y que se limite a presentar lo que pasa en ventas de drogas en las esquinas de nuestras ciudades, pasando por alto los grandes narcotraficantes que operan al por mayor y a nivel internacional.

Aunque encontré la pagina del video titulado "¿Denunciarías un ataque racial?" y lo que parece ser el video, no se encuentra ahí, no esta ahí "¿¿¿ ???" - este es el video en el que presenta la dramatización de un ataque racial, estando a la expectativa y con cámaras ocultas para obervar las reacciones de los testigos casuales, es al final de este segmento donde Maria Elena hace las reflexiones y la pregunta.
Al parecer fue removido o ¿¿¿ ???.

En el programa que siguió a "Aquí y Ahora", "Ultima Hora", se le hace una entrevista al Sr. Raul Izaguirre ex-presidente de NCLR

El tema era sobre que es lo que causa todo este odio, Don Raul hizo muy buenos puntos "Esto no es nada nuevo" dijo y muestra un libro sobre La Revolución en Tejas, o Los levantamientos en Texas y prácticamente no tuvo tiempo a elaborar un poco sobre el libro, hablo un poco en respuesta a una pregunta ¿de como se hace este odio contra nuestro grupo étnico? Se comienza a antagonizar a los Estadounidenses blancos contra nuestra etnia, pintándonos en forma negativa hasta el punto de deshumanizarnos, a llamarnos criminales y también comenzó a explicar de que había una red en la que se disemina esto, y fue interrumpido, no se le permitió terminar lo que estaba tratando de decir, que en mi opinión es "de que manera se difunde este odio a través de los medios de comunicación, lo que llamamos 'discurso de odio', 'retórica de odio'" (Hate Speech)

Busque el video de esta entrevista y tampoco se encuentra en su sitio, o por lo menos no lo he encontrado aun.

Hay muchas preguntas sin respuesta todavía, entre ellas esta ¿Porque no se saco a relucir la aparente correlación entre los crímenes de odio y la retórica de odio en los medios de comunicación en este reporte y en la entrevista que siguió?, tal vez sea mucho esperar, o pedir, de nuestros medios que nos informen aun yendo a contra de la industria en la que trabajan y expongan lo que están haciendo algunos de sus colegas muy mal informados o mal intencionados.

En aumento los crímenes de odio Los hispanos entre los más afectados 06/16/2009 | 2:22

Y para enfatizar la desesperada necesidad de informar al publico en su totalidad, la pude ver al comenzar a indagar sobre el reporte inmediatamente al terminar este, entre a un foro de discusión en las paginas de Univisión, es cierto, hay indignación ante este crimen tan horrendo cometido contra Luís Ramírez y al ver que parece que hay una licencia que ampara a los malhechores, no solo de este crimen, sino trágicamente de los muchos otros que se han estado cometiendo.
En general los medios (En Ingles principalmente) y el publico exculpa o minimiza el crimen cometido, como si paso al vacío, el resultado de una persona con problemas psicológicos o algo por el estilo, y en ningún momento conectan, por lo menos preguntando, acerca del papel que juegan los Shock Jocks en la radio que vomitan odio e intolerancia todo los días de la semana, de cada semana, de cada ano, contra nuestras comunidades.

Abajo se encuentran algunos de los comentarios, lo mas notable para mi es que para nada se menciona la "Retórica de Odio" y el papel que juega en los "Crímenes de Odio Raciales"

Para mi, el incitar al odio, a la intolerancia, es un "Crimen de Odio" y con todo respeto hago esta ultima pregunta, esta dirigida a Maria Elena y a Univisión, ¿denunciaras un crimen de odio?, en caso de que no estén de acuerdo conmigo de que es un crimen de odio, por lo menos puedo preguntar ¿no creen que seria bueno que se entablara una conversación en el publico sobre el tema?, idealmente acompañado de una investigación oficial de parte de la FCC sobre la retórica de odio en los medios, como lo que la National Hispanic Media Coalition esta
pidiendo

En el Video titulado "En aumento los crímenes de odio", solamente el Sr.. Daniel Herrera, (MALDEF: Coalition Reports) saco a relucir la retórica de odio "hace unos dos anos que los medios de comunicación dejaron que activistas anti-inmigrantes tomaran su odio de hispanos inmigrantes al publico Americano"

La reportera comento como causa "la crisis económica y el lenguage de organizaciones" pero no del papel que juegan los medios, aun después de haber sido introducido en la entrevista por Daniel Herrera.

Recommended Post at The Sanctuary:
"The Luis Ramirez Murder: A Logical Step in the Process of Establishing a Subhuman Class"

Ustedes juzguen.

SFCA062409


Comentarios en el Foro de Discusión en Univisión
Re: Odio a Muerte Por Maria Elena Salinas

Indignacion con la Sentencia - Univision Reacciones a la sentencia de los asesinos de un hispano 06/18/2009 | 1:58

"miramos el show y pensamos que no es justo que esos muchachos esten afuera para seguir matando a otros hispanos! a ellos les deben dar la pena de muerte.
y los jurados por que eran blancos le dieron la rason a ellos! es injusto!!!! y ojala que le den la pena de muerte a todos ellos! las autoridades no estan a si endo nada por los hispanos pero si fuera un blanco al que hubieran matado asta los mandan al pavellon de la muerte... ojala que aiga justicia!"

"que pasa con los hispanosque no hacemos nada al respecto nos estan matando y uno no hace nada parece que tenemos miedo? nosotros somos iguales somos seres humanos . que pasa ya es hora de que tambien nosotros seamos escuchados, lo siento estoy muy molesto por lo que paso y nadie dice nada que pasa con nuestros lideres,ustedes los periodistasque son nuestra voz solo dan las noticias y no hacen nada estoy muy indignado con ese caso yme enoja mucho gracias"

"ESTA HISTORIA NOS TIENE QUE HACER A TODOS LOS LATINOS ABRIR NUESTROS OJOS Y APOYARNOS E UNIRNOS CADA DIA MAS. EN ESTE PAIS SIEMPRE SEREMOS UNOS INTROMETIDOS ASI SEAMOS YA CIUDADANOS AMERICANOS. ESTOS JOVENES QUE COMETIERON ESTA BARBARIDAD CONTRA ESTE MUCHACHO NECESITAN IR A MI PAIS COLOMBIA Y SEGURO QUE ALLA SI LES ENSENAN A SER HOMBRECITOS Y ESO SI QUE NI SE METAN CON UN COLOMBIANO BIEN ATRAVEZADO PORQUE SEGURO QUE LOS HACEN PEDACITO!! LO QUE TUVIERON FUE BUENA SUERTE DE METERSEN CON UNA PERSONA NOBLE Y HASTA INOCENTE!!!"

"BROADCAST BLUES" San Francisco Premiere

Broadcast Blues wins Laurel at Sacramento International Film Festival!

After winning the "Outstanding Environmental Vision" Award at the Sacramento International Film Festival, this high impact Documentary, 4 years in the making and directed by Emmy Award Winner Sue Wilson, is coming to San Francisco's Victoria Theater after a successful premiere in Sacramento on March 22nd 2009 at the Crest Theater

The San Francisco Premiere will be on June 28th 2009 at 4:00 p.m.

In a film review by Gary Chew in Sacramento on March 15, 2009, he had this to say:

In another effort to describe what happens in a society that vigorously embraces the laisse-faire when it comes to the notion that bigger is always better, northern California independent journalist, Sue Wilson almost bites-off more than she can chew with “Broadcast Blues.” In just under 75 minutes, this new documentary chronicles a long list of the electronic media’s snowballing shortcomings over the last three decades.

Broadcast Blues” tackles corporate media growth and consolidation, deregulation, the Fairness Doctrine, manipulation of news content, indecency, the importance of broadcast Localism, how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) responds to citizens who petition it---and more.

I had the opportunity to preview the documentary and I found it gripping; while Broadcast Blues is about the Media Consolidation, about the abuse and misuse of the privilege we give them to transmit over 'our' airwaves, more than anything else, it leaves you with the awareness of the harm it does to our Democracy, to our well-being and that of future generations, it is about the 'dummbing down of America' in order to acquire more power, more control of politics and policies, a dive to the bottom line of obscene profits - Broadcast Blues is a call to Action to get back what is rightfully ours, for our own sake.

This film is for both, the barely informed people on this issue and for the super informed ones, I highly recommend it - I thank and applaud Sue for another outstanding production of her illustrious filmmaker career.

In addition to the great success in Sacramento, she had the distinction of being targeted and attacked by Rush Limbaugh, who did the right thing in following the suggestion that 'when you have to pick a fight with someone, you always engage your better', way to go "Rush", you just may learn a few things sorely missing in you understanding of what a true Democracy is and what The United States of America is supposed to be, get enlightenment on the principled heights we aim to reach and the Ideals we passionately embrace.

PRESS RELEASE / COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

for immediate release

The Movie the Media Does Not Want You to See!

Broadcast Blues blows the whistle on today's media madness, from the rise of Rush Limbaugh to the court ruling that news does not have to be true. This documentary is everything TV and Radio owners do not want you to know, so Common Cause and the Media Alliance are making sure you get a chance to see it, and find out what you can do about it.

Public Interest Pictures' Broadcast Blues features Danny Glover, Naomi Judd, Phil Donahue, Helen Thomas, Amy Goodman and many others. But it's stories of real people who have been damaged and even killed by reckless broadcasters that steal the show.

This special screening of Broadcast Blues will be held 4 PM Sunday, June 28, at San Francisco's Victoria Theater, 2961 16th Street, at the 16th St BART station. Tickets are $12 at the box office, or $10 in advance at www.commoncause.org/broadcastblues .

Directed by Emmy winner Sue Wilson.

"We the People are taking the media back."

# # #

---

para distribución inmediata

La película que los medios de comunicación no quieren que usted vea!

Broadcast Blues suena el silbato en la locura que son los medios de comunicación de hoy, desde el ascenso de Rush Limbaugh en la radio hasta a el fallo judicial de que las noticias no tienen que ser verídicas. Este documental es todo lo que los propietarios de la televisión y la radio no quieren que usted sepa, por lo que Common Cause y la Media Alliance se están asegurando de que usted tenga la oportunidad de verla y saber lo que usted puede hacer al respecto.

Broadcast Blues de "Public Interest Pictures", Presenta a Danny Glover, Naomi Judd, Phil Donahue, Helen Thomas, Amy Goodman y muchos otros. Pero son las historias de personas reales que han sido dañados e incluso asesinados por los imprudentes organismos de radiodifusión, los que se roban el show.

Esta proyección especial de Broadcast Blues se llevará a cabo el Domingo, 28 de junio, a las 4 PM en el Teatro Victoria de San Francisco, en el 2961 de la calle16ª, cerca de la estación del BART de la 16 ª. Los boletos son $ 12 en la taquilla, o $ 10 por adelantado en www.commoncause.org/broadcastblues.

Dirigido por la receptora del premio Emmy, Sue Wilson.

"Nosotros, el Pueblo, estamos reclamando los medios de comunicación"

# # #

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Super Héroe de Univisión Jorge Ramos al rescate, finalmente... ?

Sabio Dicho dice 'que no se debe mirar los dientes a un caballo regalado'

No es eso lo que pretendo, pero se necesita decirlo 'porqué se tardó tanto?'

Latinoamericanos en general, hemos estado bajo la mira de pistolas, rifles y cañones verbales por años, continuamente acribillados con los proyectiles llenos de un lenguage de odio que sale de las lenguas viperinas de los que comúnmente se denominan 'shock jocks' en la radio y televisión en inglés, los exponentes actuales de tal arma letal son, entre la legión que los conforma, Michael Savage, Lou Dobbs, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Neil Boorts, Michele Malkin, et al, como dije son legión y desafortunadamente el espacio disponible es insuficiente para enumerarlos a todos.

Me estoy refiriendo, por supuesto, al lenguage de odio (Hate-Speech) en los Medios de Comunicación que han azusado tanto odio, intolerancia y violencia contra las comunidades tradicionalmente marginadas y excluídas, como lo han sido, entre otras, las de los Imigrantes, Mexicanos, Hispanos y LatinoAmericanos en general.

Espero que se haya deducido al mencionar los 'exponentes actuales del lenguage de odio', de que este problema y las tragedias que causan, no es nada nuevo, espero que todos estemos de acuerdo de que esta es una situación cíclicamente recurrente, basta recordar brevemente los programas 'Bracero', 'Wetback', 'Mexican Repatriation', 'Return to Sender', 'Endgame', las luchas sostenidas contra la exclusión, opresión y la violencia que se desató contra la comunidad México-Americana durante los llamados 'Zoot Suit Riots', 'The Chicano Movement' y la legendaria lucha, aún en vigencia, de los Trabajadores del Campo, iniciada por muchos valientes entre los que cabe mencionar Cesar Chávez, Dolores Huerta y educadores artísticos como Luis Valdez, con el afamado 'Teatro Campesino', levantando la conciencia de nuestro pueblo y otras etnias.

Las luchas, los tiempos, las caras y las voces cambian, pero la temática no, por ende, la pregunta, 'porqué se tardó tanto?', es imperativa.

Y una respuesta, en mi opinión, es mandatoria.

Mi atrevimiento al hacer la demanda, está basado en la realidad de que hasta ahora, nuestros esfuerzos para atraer la atención de nuestras comunidades hacia el problema y las consequentes tragedias, en el mejor de los casos, han recivido una cobertura en los medios en español que refleja a la que hemos recibido de los medios Anglo Sajones, los cuales reportan la noticia sin adentrarse en las causas y su conectión a las consequencias, ó en el peor de los casos, pasan desapersividas por falta de qué? Interés en cubrirlas?

Una notable excepción, fué la extraordinaria reacción a la propuesta para reforma migratoria de Sensenbrenner en el 2006, y vimos los resultados, el público informado, tomó cartas en el asunto como correspondía a la precaria situación en que se pretendía poner a nuestra comunidad.

En respuesta a las protestas, demostraciones y marchas del 2006, el lenguage de odio, la intolerancia y violencia contra nosotros, se incrementó y nuestros medios en español se replegaron y se especula que dócilmente se doblegaron ante la presión, de quién ó por donde vino esa presión, se lo dejo a su criterio, ó si lo prefieren, a su especulación.

Porque, si no hubo presión, como tal vez se declare por parte de los presentadores, entonces cabe preguntar, fué ignorancia de la agravante situation? Ó, Fué simple desinterés y falta de preocupación en nuestro dilema?

Cuando uno de de los mas virulentos mercaderes de odio, Michael Savage, en respuesta a la huelga de hambre de unos valientes estudiantes que trataba de llamar la atención a la necesidad de pasar el DREAM ACT, en su programa del 5 de Julio del 2007, Savage sugerió que sería mejor 'dejarlos morir de hambre, asi se acabaría el problema', con notables excepciones, esta ignominia fué ignorada por nuestros medios de comunicación, la respuesta de un grupo de la indignada comunidad Hispano / Latino del Área de la Bahía, que tomó forma en una protesta el 15 de Agosto del 2007 contra este tipo de lenguage, contra el locutor Michael Savage, contra la estación KNEW, que es desde donde transmite y contra Clear Channel, la Corporación Propietaria, también, en su mayor parte, fué ignorada por los medios en general, incluídos los que supuestamente deben informar a la comunidad hispano-parlante.

Los ataques verbales de este locutor y los demás, continuaron, el odio, la intolerancia y los asaltos físicos, no solamente continuaron, sino que hubo en incremento de ellos, la organización surgida durante la acción contra Savage en el 2007, La Hispano / Latino Anti-Defamation Coalition SF, se mobilizó de nuevo para una vez más, llamar la atención al creciente problema, aunque no fué inesperada, la ignorancia que aún existía sobre este individuo y sus dañinas actividades, aún en nuestros medios de comunicación, la encontramos tanto indignante, como significativa de una falla al cumplimiento del deber de los medios de comunicación, con énfasis en los Hispano Parlantes.

Una protesta / demostración planeada para el 23 de Septiembre del 2008, recibió la promesa de María Celeste, del programa "Al Rojo Vivo", de cubrirla, aparentemente ella despertó a la realidad del gran problema del discurso del odio, a consequencia de un ataque que hizo Michael Savage contra los niños autistas, siendo María Celeste miembro de la Mesa Directiva que aboga por el bienestar de los niños que padecen de autismo, su indignación y respuesta no se hicieron esperar y presentó un segmento sobre lo que Savage dijo, después de acceder a cubrir la action del 23 de Septiembre, se descubrió que había conflicto con la fecha a consequencia de sus vacaciones con anterioridad planeadas, se nos informó que no la podía cubrir en persona, pero que miembros de su equipo lo harían, nadie de su programa se presentó y pues no fué cubierta por ellos.

También Jorge Ramos nos falló, en una entrevista con el Dr. Marcos Gutierrez del Programa 'Hecho en California', en La Grande 1010AM tanto Marcos como Juanita Villegas, que como Marcos es también miembro del HLADC-SF y que llamó al programa, le preguntaron a Jorge si podía de alguna forma cubrir la acción, Jorge dijo que sí lo iba a hacer; el decir que aun estamos esperando su presencia es incorrecto, porque desde el principio hubo dudas de que cumpliera lo prometido, aunque resulta superfluo, lo voy a decir, nunco lo hizo.

Y ahora, después de dos casos con las más extremas consequencias del 'lenguage de odio', finalmente Jorge tiene un segmento sobre estas horrorosos ejemplos de lo pervasivo que es este tipo de discurso en los medios, aunque veo lo positivo del segmento, el mayor enfoque fué sobre los acontecimientos criminales y casi nada sobre los 'shock jocks' que, a mi entender, tienen una relación muy directa de causa y efecto sobre estos incidentes, y la pregunta final que Jorge hizo a sus dos invitadas, sobre lo que se podría hacer para contrarrestar esto, a mi me pareció de lo mas disengenua por parte de Jorge, por la sencilla razón de que aunque se puede trazar la retórica de odio a los grupos anti-imigrantes, no se abordó la indoctrinación y el reclutamiento a las filas de los grupos de odio y a la validación de sus representantes que se hace a travez de los medios de comunicación en Inglés y que presentadores como Jorge Ramos, están en una posición super óptima para contrarrestarlos al simplemente cubrirlos en forma regular y consistente.

Jorge Ramos es considerado uno de "los 25 hispanos más influyentes de Estados Unidos" (revista Time). La revista Latino Leaders dice que es uno de "los 10 Latinos más admirados en Estados Unidos" y "uno de los 100 más poderosos de América Latina". People en Español lo incluyó en su lista de los 100 latinos de mayor influencia en norteamérica.

Jorge Ramos, Super Héroe en acción al rescate, finalmente? Ya veremos, porque hasta ahora, Rick Sánchez de CNN y Geraldo Rivera de FOX News, FOX News? WOW!, hasta ahora han hecho un mejor trabajo que Jorge para desenmascarar y exponer al aire libre el racismo, nativismo y la xenofobia de los que nos odian y atacan en los medios de comunicación.

Si no vieron el programa 'Al Punto', en el video que incluyo immediatemente abajo, pueden ver el segmento al cual me he estado refiriendo, para que juzguen por ustedes mismos si creen que Jorge está en realidad luchando a nuestro lado.

Yo creo que ha hecho muy poco y con lo poco que ha hecho hasta ahora, me instó a hacer la pregunta 'porqué se tardó tanto?'

Hate Speech Has Consequences - It happened again, another Hispanic / Latino Murdered, , Lynched?

We, at the HLADC-SF, firmly believe that 'Hate Speech In the Media", is directly responsible for the hate, intolerance and violence toward Hispanic / Latinos / Immigrants and other minorities such as the LGBTI community, which fosters acts of violence against their members.

We also see similarities to the beginning of Germany's Nazi horror of the 30s, then, as today, entire groups were demonized, hence dehumanized; thus creating a climate of hate and intolerance which permitted the enacting of harsh and inhuman legislation against the targeted groups that, as history tells us, had horrific consequences.

For the ones who say that no ovens have been constructed and that millions have not been killed, we say: One dead is too many, one family separated is one too many, one child or a parent terrorized or separated from each other, is one too many.

It is true, ovens have not been built, but how far are from the Nazi Concentration Camps, the ICE Detention Centers? Detainees have and are dying due to mistreatment and lack of medical attention, children are being incarcerated and many dropped at the border without caregivers, left to fend for themselves and usually falling pray to exploiters / abusers - Isn't this harsh enough?

In Nazi's Germany, it started with a propaganda of hate, we see the same thing happening in the USA - it was all legal then, as it is legal now - It was the Democratically elected German Government committing these crimes against humanity, now it is the Democratically elected US Government committing atrocities, sanctioned by a misinformed and whipped into an anti-immigrant-frenzy electorate, who wraps itself in Patriotism and Religious fervor, aided, abeted and incited into hate and intolerance by media entities and personalities.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that people raised under the traditional climate of racism, xenophobia, nationalism, nativism, dominionism, et al, existing in this country, feel inclined to take matters into their own hands.

So, another 'Mexican' who was actually an Ecuadorean, was murdered in a New York suburb by 7 teenagers, 6 white and, sadly, 1 hispanic and according to a Suffolk prosecutor Monday said the group was "determined" to find a victim of Hispanic descent." In their own words, 'Let's go find some Mexicans to -- -- up,' ", -- "Prosecutors described a planned attack in which the group drove around in an attempt to go "Beaner jumping," as the suspects called it under police questioning. They were seeking out a Hispanic victim after one or more of the suspects days earlier knocked another man down, only to have him escape, prosecutors said."

From whence comes this hate? This desire to 'hunt' a Hispanic to attack?

We know the answer, don't we?

Aurora Grajeda

HLADC-SF

Hispanic / Latino Anti-Defamation Coalition SF

"HATE SPEECH AND MISINFORMATION IN THE MEDIA – A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY"

Prosecutor: Teens targeted Hispanics - 7 arraigned in fatal 'hate crime'

"The county executive, Steve Levy, quickly issued a news release denouncing this latest apparent hate crime in Suffolk County. That should be the first and least of the actions he and other leaders take.

A possible lynching in a New York suburb should be more than enough to force this country to acknowledge the bitter chill that has overcome Latinos in these days of rage against illegal immigration.

The atmosphere began to darken when Republican politicians decided a few years ago to exploit immigration as a wedge issue. They drafted harsh legislation to criminalize the undocumented. They cheered as vigilantes streamed to the border to confront the concocted crisis of Spanish-speaking workers sneaking in to steal jobs and spread diseases. Cable personalities and radio talk-show hosts latched on to the issue. Years of effort in Congress to assemble a responsible overhaul of the immigration system failed repeatedly. Its opponents wanted only to demonize and punish the Latino workers on which the country had come to depend.

A campaign of raids and deportations, led by federal agents with help from state and local posses, has become so pervasive that nearly 1 in 10 Latinos, including citizens and legal immigrants, have told of being stopped and asked about their immigration status, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Now that the economy is in free fall, the possibility of scapegoating is deepening Hispanic anxiety.

It is not yet clear how closely connected Mr. Lucero’s murder is to this broad wave of xenophobia. But there is both a message and opportunity here for officials like Mr. Levy, an immigration hard-liner whose relations with his rapidly growing Latino immigrant constituency have been strained by past crises and confrontations.

Deadly violence represents the worst fear that immigrants deal with every day, but it is not the only one. It must be every leader’s task to move beyond easy outrage and take on the difficult job of understanding and defending a community so vulnerable to sudden outbreaks of hostility and terror."

Prosecutor: Teens targeted Hispanics - 7 arraigned in fatal 'hate crime'

BY ANDREW STRICKLER AND JOHN VALENTI |andrew.strickler@newsday.com john.valenti@newsday.com

12:11 PM EST, November 10, 2008

In front of a courtroom at times crowded with family members of seven teens accused in a fatal hate crime stabbing, a Suffolk prosecutor Monday said the group was "determined" to find a victim of Hispanic descent.

"In their own words, 'Let's go find some Mexicans to -- -- up,' " said Assistant District Attorney Nancy Clifford at First District Court in Central Islip.

Paterson decries killing of Ecuadorean man in Patchogue

BY REID J. EPSTEIN |reid.epstein@newsday.com; Staff writer

November 11, 2008

Gov. David A. Paterson yesterday decried the killing of a Patchogue man from Ecuador as a disgraceful act that "should serve as a source of outrage for all of us," and directed state law enforcement agencies to assist Suffolk Police in its investigation.

"We must remain vigilant and continue our fight to eradicate prejudice in our words and in our actions," the governor said.

His statements came in the wake of a killing that again has put Suffolk at the center of the national spotlight in the debate over immigration reform.

The head of a national Hispanic organization said anti-immigrant rhetoric incites incidents such as Saturday night's fatal stabbing of Marcello Lucero, 38.

A Death in Patchogue

OPINION
Editorial

Published: November 10, 2008

Marcello Lucero was killed late Saturday night near the commuter railroad station in Patchogue, N.Y., a middle-class village in central Long Island. He was beaten and stabbed. The friend who crouched beside him in a parking lot as he lay dying, soaked in blood, said Mr. Lucero, who was 37, had come to the United States 16 years ago from Ecuador.

The police arrested seven teenage boys, who they said had driven into the village from out of town looking for Latinos to beat up. The police said the mob cornered Mr. Lucero and another man, who escaped and later identified the suspects to the police. A prosecutor at the arraignment on Monday quoted the young men as having said: “Let’s go find some Mexicans.” They have pleaded not guilty.

The county executive, Steve Levy, quickly issued a news release denouncing this latest apparent hate crime in Suffolk County. That should be the first and least of the actions he and other leaders take.

A possible lynching in a New York suburb should be more than enough to force this country to acknowledge the bitter chill that has overcome Latinos in these days of rage against illegal immigration.

The atmosphere began to darken when Republican politicians decided a few years ago to exploit immigration as a wedge issue. They drafted harsh legislation to criminalize the undocumented. They cheered as vigilantes streamed to the border to confront the concocted crisis of Spanish-speaking workers sneaking in to steal jobs and spread diseases. Cable personalities and radio talk-show hosts latched on to the issue. Years of effort in Congress to assemble a responsible overhaul of the immigration system failed repeatedly. Its opponents wanted only to demonize and punish the Latino workers on which the country had come to depend.

A campaign of raids and deportations, led by federal agents with help from state and local posses, has become so pervasive that nearly 1 in 10 Latinos, including citizens and legal immigrants, have told of being stopped and asked about their immigration status, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Now that the economy is in free fall, the possibility of scapegoating is deepening Hispanic anxiety.

It is not yet clear how closely connected Mr. Lucero’s murder is to this broad wave of xenophobia. But there is both a message and opportunity here for officials like Mr. Levy, an immigration hard-liner whose relations with his rapidly growing Latino immigrant constituency have been strained by past crises and confrontations.

Deadly violence represents the worst fear that immigrants deal with every day, but it is not the only one. It must be every leader’s task to move beyond easy outrage and take on the difficult job of understanding and defending a community so vulnerable to sudden outbreaks of hostility and terror.

"Individual rights are not subject to a public vote; a majority has no right to vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities."

"Fifty-one percent of a nation can establish a totalitarian regime, suppress minorities and still remain democratic."

The voice of the majority is no proof of justice.
-- Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn
Any law which violates the indefeasible rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all.
Maximilien Robespierre

In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place.
Mahatma Gandhi

It is bad to be oppressed by a minority, but it is worse to be oppressed by a majority.
Lord Acton

HISPANIC / LATINO ANTI-DEFAMATION COALITION SF