La Voz de Aztlan, December 13 1984
Item
Title
La Voz de Aztlan, December 13 1984
Creator
Associated Students of Fresno State
Relation
La Voz de Aztlan (Daily Collegian, California State University, Fresno)
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
12/13/1984
Format
PDF
Identifier
SCUA_lvda_00155
extracted text
La Voz de Aztlan
Tuesday
CSU, Fresno
Anti-Draft
Conference
By
Al Robles
Contributing Writer
Unlike the period surrounding
Vietnam the current phase- of U.S.
militarism is being challenged by a
greater level of organized resistance
as was demonstrated in a recent
conference on the draft and U.S.
militarism held in San Jose, Nov. 17
and 18.
The significance of the conference,
distinguishing it from previous events
taking place around similar issues,
was underscored by the fact that it
was the first national gathering of
Third World anti-draft, anti-militarism, and non-intervention activists
and Vietnam -veterans. Sponsored
by the Draft Information Alliance
(DIA), the Conference On U.S.
Militarism and Third World Communities dealt with a variety of
issues and perspectives on the draft
and U.S. militarism including strategies on education and resistance
within Third World communities.
. The line-up of speakers reflected
upon the diversity of experiences
along cross cultural lines including
Thomas Banyacya, a Hopi elder and
keynote speaker who recounted his
efforts at resisting the draft during
WWII on the grounds of his religious
beliefs and the ensuing harassment
from government officials resulting
in a jail sentence. Tom LeBlanc, of
the American Indian Movement and
the Internaional Indian Treaty
Council, related his experience in
the Vietnam war and the racism
directed against him by his fellow
combatants. The sense of alienation
that he experienced often, as he said,
led him to feel that he had more in
common with the Vietnamese as a
person of color.
The second keynote speaker was
Kwame Ture of the All African
People's Revolutionary Party who
delivered a vibrant message about
organizing the mass movement.
Ture's main point stressed organization within any people's movement as the key factor in developing
beyond the level of a spontaneous
movement. "The spontaneous movement," he stated "will force the
enemy to grant concessions with
inherent limitations."
Ture was well known in the 60's as
Stokely Carmichael, a founder of
the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)~
Equally captivating was the presentation by Audrey Shenandoah,
of the Onondoga Nation, who articulated her experience as a mother
raising her sons to respect the tribal
values passed down through the
generatl?ns. ~he felt, as she stated,
that registration and the .draft represent nothing more than a_pre~aration to go to war and, thus, m du~ct
contradiction of such values which
view life as sacred and command a
love of all humanity.
.
The entertainment offered a sttm.• see DIA, page 4
Fresno State M.E.CH.A. at the statewide conference
November 11 and 12, 1984.
Jose Robledo /La Voz de Aitlan
ME C hA S1atewide Review
By Larry Gonzalez
Staff Writer
The M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference was held November 10, and 11,
1984, at the University of California,
Irvine campus. The conference theme
was, "De Los Despojos De La Eterna
Lucha Brotan Nuevas /magenesBrindis De Liberacion. "The conference was sponsored by U. C. Irvine
M.E. Ch.A.
Manuel Gomez, director of U. C.
Irvine £OP/ SAA, delivered the keynote address to four-hundred students, representing M. E. Ch.A.
organizations from throughout the
state of California.
"1984 at U. C. Irvine, the
M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference is
taking place and our history continues. A history of our people
coming together, an event in the
memory of our people. Perhaps y ou
will recall the significance of today,"
Gomez said.
"Our history is not in the books,
magazines, or televisions, it is written
in the scars of your parents, the
wrinkles of your grandparents. You
must know that you will continue
the struggle. We cannot forget the
assasinations of our past. We must
not isolate ourselves from the community M.E.Ch.A. is the longest
standing Chicano student organization· in the history of the United
States. It is an incredible legacy that
you have inherited. You have social
responsibility to help and _protect
the young and the old, and to help
our future. It is in your hearts,
hands, and minds, that we will be
free people," Gomez concluded.
Following the keynote address,
the students attended workshops on
Educational Rights of Undocumented
Students; Immigration Reform;
. M.E.Ch.A. Leadership Orientation
for High School Students; Problems
in Political Representation, Anti
Chicano Legislation; Barrio Issues;
The Draft: Convert and Overt Recruitment, Educational Crisis for
Chicanos; The Survival of Chicano
Studies, Central America; and a
Synopsis of the Chicano Movement
Its Present Direction. All Resolutions called for plans of action in our
campuses and communities. After
the workshops, Raul Ruiz, a professor of Chicano Studies at California State University, N orthridge,
or a participant in the 1st Chicano
Moratorium ( 1970), addressed. the
general assembly.
"One fo the most meaningful
developments in your education is
the development of your consciousness. You should have a consciosness
of your community, culture, and
your family.
"Nothing at this school or any
other university will give you what
your master teachers-your parentshave taught to you. As students and
professionals we should make our
experiences as meaningful as those
experiences of our own families/' he
said.
.,
In rega~o the Chicano Movement in the late 1960's, Ruiz said,
"Students were the main integral
part of this movement, they were the
center, the core."
Ruiz singled out the Viet Nam
war as the issue that has had the
most significant impa~t on the
Chicano Movement.
By relating the Viet Nam war to
today, he asked the students to
seriously take up the iss·ue of Nicaragua, with urgency.
"In Central America when you
hear about revolutionaries, we are
talking about fourteen and fifteen
year olds, named Maria and
Roberto. People who loo~ the same
as ourselves. I think there is a so
called mandate to stand up and say,
what we [United States] are doing is
wrong and not to accept the U.S.
government's role in this affair. He
stressed that there cannot be change
unless each one of us participates in
the change.
"That lawyer who is not an activist,
is not a lawyer, and that teacher who
is not an activist is not a teacher.
Some have abandoned that role.
There is nothing else more important
in all your life, than your role as an
activist." The second day's general
assembly featured keynote speaker
Bill Flores, one of the organizei:s...of
the Latino Agenda Coalition.
Flores worked directly with the
minority plank during the democratic convention. He said the democratic convention ignored Blacks and
Latinos, and before Ronald Reagan's
landslide victory, the Democratic
Party had already moved to the
right. ln regards to Latino elected
officials in the Southwest, Flores
said politically Latinos are underrepresented . ln California, Latinos
make up 28% of the population, and
only make up 7.8% of all elected
officials. In New Mexico, Latinos
make up 45% of the population and
only make up 29% of all elected
officials. In Colorado, Latinos make
up 14% of the population and make
up only 7% of all elected officials.
And in Texas, Latinos make up 26%
of the population and only make up
13.8% of all elected officials.
Flores also said that President
Reagan received 70% of the white
vote and for the first time in history,
the Democratic party did not even
attempt to go after the South.
Flores said, "they do not want
democracy in this country, they do
not allow us to vote on whether we
invade Grenada, or mine the harbors
of Nicaragua. And in comparing the
United States election to the Nicaraguan elections Flores said, "The
F.S.L.N. got 67% of the popular
vote in a country where 80% of the
popular electoral voted. How can it
be called a questionable victory?
They try to make us believe we live
in the most democratic society in the
world, and we do not!"
Flores noted, that during the previous elections, the Reverend Jesse
Jackson, received 90% of the black
vote. He said, "the Jackson campaign
brought together new people. If we 're
going to have any type of democracy
we have got to get Blacks and
Latinos into office."
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
Decmeber 13, 1984
Panel Addresses Lat i n America
A group of professors from Stanford University and CSUF closed
the Latin American Week of November 12-16 by conducting a panel
titled lAtin America-Today and
Tomorrow.
During the three-hour panel, the
five professors discussed foreign
policy toward Latin America, political and social development, social
change and literature, violence and
human rights, and Latin America's
external debt.
The panel began with Dr. Manuel
Pena, CSUF La Raza Studies professor, introducing the five panelists
to a capacity crowd in room 101 of
the Industrial Arts Building.
After Pena's brief introduction,
which stressed the importance of the
human element as the mayor theme
of the panel, Dr. Lea Ybarra, CSUF
La Raza professor, opened the panel
with the topic of U.S. Foreign Policy
toward Latin America.
Ybarra started by reading several
newspaper articles on Latin American
refugees in the United States, which
depicted the pain and turmoil the
refugees went through in their countries.
According to Ybarra, President through literature by Latin American
Reagan's foreign policy of sending authors, explained Dr. Fernando
military aid to those countries only Alegria, a Stanford University professor.
aggravates the situation.
Although Alegria noted that literStressing on the fact that Chicanos
ary
censorship and self-imposed or
and Latinos in the United States
have a common historical back- forced exile were two characteristics
ground, Ybarra said, "That's you of Latin American authors, he said
and I they are killing. Those faces on that the poets had found a way
the evening news are our faces. Their around that by creating the Nuevo
Canto and the Collective Theatre.
tragedy is our tragedy."
"This means that we are caught in
Alegria said that although there
a conflict that we can no longer exists a high illiteracy rate and
government censorship, the songs
ignore," she said.
Dr. Manuel Figueroa, CSUF La . and plays are creating an awareness
Raza professor, added to ·the same in the people's minds to change the
plea. He said that because we hear or repressive social condition of their
read about the political arrests, the own countries.
violence, the ignoring of human
"It's affecting public opinion in a
rights through television and the massive way," he said.
paper, we shouldn't think "violence
Dr. Freeman Wright, CSUF prois far away, but never in our world." fessor of political science, the second
Figueroa, whose topic entailed speaker of the panel, pointed out
violence and human rights, was asked several criteria of modern politiby a student to say something posi- zation that are necessary for any
tive about the Latin American country to seek economic and political independence.
people.
"We are strong. We have managed
One of Wright's criterion was for
to survive years of repression," he international self-determination. He
said the countries had to take specific
said.
This survival has been possible steps to seek autonomy in inter-
Letters to La Voz
Editor:
The members of MEChA wish to
applaud the local chapter of the
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their recent decision to not
be a part of Coor's manipulative
marketing network in their refusal
to accept their contributions . .It is
indeed encouraging to see responsible people set an example for our
community which has, in recent
times, become a prime target of the
machinations of a right-wing administration and of parasites such as the
Adolf Coors Co.
More than ever at this time we
need to steadfastly support the boycott despite its "unfashionable"
image among the sellouts and opportunists within our community who
are quick to give in to the co-optive
program of a rich and powerful corporation. We feel that the agreement
announced in L.A. last month (in
which Coors pledged to spend $350
million dollars to support "Hispanic"
owned businesses and distributorships) is _little more than another
veiled attempt at recapturing their
market losses, resulting significantly
from the boycott's effectiveness, and
to, more immediately, reinforce their
false image as advocates of minority
causes.
It was partly in response to this
that MEC}lA, at its recent statewide
conference at U.C. Irvine, passed its
latest resolution to counteract Coor's
deceptive public relations movidas
within the Chicano/ Latino community and to expose those selfserving vendidos who want only disregard the boycott to the detriment
of their raza.
Again, with this in mind, we feel
that the Chamber has taken a principled stand on an otherwise controversial issue (particularly in the
face of such unpopular reaction from
the statewide body) and support
them in their decision.
One heart, one struggle,
Mario Huerta
CSUF MEChA
P.S. Boycott Coors
La Voz is accepting applic~tions for the
Spring Semester. The following positions are
available:
• Reporters
• Artist
• Photographers
• Production
For more information, contact Marcella
Martinez at 294-2486 or call La Raza Studies.
Special to La Voz
Jennifer Colby will present an
Exhibition of paintings entitled
"Mujeres: La misma sangre, esperanza y lucha" (Women: One spirit,
blood and struggle) at Gallery 25 ,
1526 Fulton, Fresno, December 7th
through the 30th. The reception for
the artist will be Sunday,: December
9 from 3-6 p.m. and a fundraiser for
the California Student Christian
Movement will be held at the gallery
on December 14 from 7-9 p.m.,
featuring a slide presentation on
Nicaragua, music, food and a raffle.
Colby is a graduate student in Art
at CSUF. She lived in Argentina in
1980-81 and has visited Nicaragua
twice this· year. In Fresno, she has
been active in the Latin America
Support Committee and the Interfaith Coalition for Valley Medical
Center. Her art exhibit is inspired by
these experiences.
Nine painted banners will hang in
a line that stretches from Chile to
Aztlan. Each represents a different
woman. "I want to stress the connection these women have. One blood
that runs from the source of their
indigenous, one spirit, hope of
national affairs.
Wright also noted that because of
the increasing amount of military
aid to El Salvador ($65 million in
1980) that "we 're right in the middle
of it, and that's hardly self-determination."
Although the mayor theme of the
panel was the human element, Dr.
Francisco Tomic, of Stanford University, addressed the $360 billion
Latin American debt.
After citing several reasons for the
large debt, Tomic said that the U.S.
is the only country in the world that
can believe "the illusion" that they
can forget the rest of the world.
"It's our common responsibility
to do something about it," he said.
LaVoz
l.eTt ers to the editor are welcome.
We reserve the right to edit materials. A ll letters must be signed an d
typed and remain property of La
Voz de A ztlan. Deadlinefor submission is one week bef ore printing.
For more information, ca/1294-2486
strength and future and one struggle
against the powers of imperialism
that flow from the U.S. policy under
Reagan." Her painting style is contemporary, using bold simplified
colors and elements of collage. It is
political, yet, subtle art. But the
message comes through about Latina women who face the double
oppression of race and sex. Jennifer
emphasizes the cultural elements and
each piece will be titled with a paragraph about the women in Spanish
and English.
Juanita: "She is the new woman
of Nicaragua, participating in every
level of the revolution. Everything
has changed, be/ore Ciudad Sandino had little transportation into
Managua, now she leads the Barrio
committee to achieve it. Sin la Mujer,
No hay Revolucion." Maria Elena:
"/ heard that my friends in Chile
have been imprisoned by Pinochet.
In the 11th year of his rule he has
become brutal, rounding up masses
of people. Maria Elena had always
stood by her people." Virginia:
'!Chicana, India, she struggled with
her own people, farm workers in
Colorado, she also fought for the
freedom of the Salvadoran people,
Raza will not kill Raza."
M.E.Ch.A.
Dance
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Friday, Dec. 14, 1984
Place: 3742 E. Balch St.
(Mario's place)
Pagel
La Voz de Aztlan
December 13, 1984
Chicano Expression
A SET OF RULES
LAPODA
A chicano paints on a vacant wall,
Getting up early in the morning
Mam~ is making the lonche for papa and us.
it is vandalism
An anglo paints on the same wall;
it is art.
A set of rules for each color,
with each group far apart.
Papa waking the children to get ready for work
Oldest daughter getting up with no trouble at all.
Youngest daughter getting tired and sleepy
Crying and complaining of having to wake up early.
A chicano kills;
it is murder.
An anglo kills;
The other children are already up and eating breakfast,
While mama is making tortillas and tacos de chorizo.
it is protection.
A set of rules for each color,
each with a sharp distinction.
The familia is off, a la poda nos vamos.
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
A chicano rebels;
he is a traitor.
An anglo rebels,
he is fighting for equality.
A set of rules for each color,
with each man fighting for dignity.
Look Papa, the viego is already waiting for us.
Kiko, I see you brought all your familia-ar.
These rows are yours and watch those kids,
I don't want them cutting the wrong vines.
A man is named Gonzales;
he is mexican.
A man is named Jones;
he is American.
A set of rules for each color;
a set of rules for each culture;
a set of rules for each.man.
The viejo gets in his Chevy S-10,
He'll be back at noon.
Can't make any money if we're all in the same row.
Papa says, '~Pelon and Cha a in this row,
Margaret and Amy in this row,
Me and your mama will work in this other row.
A set of rules
even when we all live in the same country;
a set of rules
·
even when all men are created ... "equal."
Nomas unos cuaritos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
The children start cutting all the vines and leaving just one.
Estamos podando, who said it was hard.
Es hora de lonche y ay biene el viejo.
Kiko, "I told you to watch-thos·e kids." ··
"You people just don't understand.
' •••
::
By Larry D. Lunsford
<1
"Take your kids and get off my land."
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
By Veronica Misquez
OUR ANCESTORS WERE HERE
YET WE ARE TOLD TO GO BACK
OUR GRANDMOTHERS SHED A TEAR
OUR TEACHERS HIDE THE FACTS
who am I?
Growing up, running free, being ME,
But where do I belong?
Through the years people change, times change,
But where do I belong?
Hitting walls feeling low
Do I know who I am?
Time to run, trying to hide
But do I know Who I Am?
Why do I feel like I don't belong?
Where do I fit in?
Can I really feel like part of the crowd?
Where is my place in this world?
Time to search, time to find
What I need to know.
Be myself, open up, see all life has to offer.
Put it all together to make good sense.
OUR PARENTS WANT US ASSIMILATED
FOR THEY ARE TIRED OF BEING DISCRIMINATED
OUR GRANDPARENTS WANT US TO RETAIN OUR CULTURE
TO LEARN OF OUR INDIAN BACKGROUND
TO BECOME EDU CATED
Find the road to happiness; it's out there
Where people can be what they want to be.
Be someone and make a difference,
Make this world a better place to be.
I found my place, my spot was waiting,
Now I am ready to be myself.
Life is full of surprises, full of changes,
Just be ready to believe in your heart.
THEN RETURN TO OUR HOMETOWN
WE ARE LEFT CONFUSED
BUT THOSE OF US WHO TRY MUST STRUGGLE
WHILE THE ANGLOS GLIDE BY
MANY OF US BECOME DISCOURAGED
I'm coming out, I'm feeling good,
YES, I AM PROUD!
To say that in this world of ours,
I was born BROWN!
I am happy, I belong
I am alive, and I am ready.
I have found all I've lost.
I am ME, and that is all I have to be.
FOR WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUT DOWN
AND TREATED AS THOUGH WE WERE DIRT FROM THE GROUND
By Armando Rivera
La Voz cle Aztlan
Page4
'" December,13, 1984
"La Virgen ·de/ Tapeyac" Premieres
San Juan Bautista-A warm.joyous Christmas tradition continues in
the Old Mission in San Juan Bautista
with another run ofEl Teatro Campesino 's "La Virgen de/ Tepeyac, "the
Four Apparitions of Our Lady of
Guadulupe, December 8th through
the 23rd. This is the eleventh time
that El Teatro Campesino has performed "La Virgen"which is part of
the special, Christmas-time tradition
ofproducing special,family-oriented
theatrical presentations in San Juan
Bautista.
"La Virgen del Tepeyac" is a
beautiful and inspiring adaptation
of the 16th century play which deals
with the four miracle apparitions of
the Virgen of Guadalupe to the
humble Mexican Indian, Juan Diego
in 1531. The miracle was a gesture of
divine love and faith that changed
history and served as thefoundation
of Christianity among the indigenous
people of Mexico and the Americas.
Through the years, "La Virgen del
tepeyac" has evolved into a joyous
celebration of drama, music and
dance with the cooperation of the
Mission parish San Juan Bautista
and the theatrical expertise of El
Teatro Campesino.
Susie Esquivel of Los Angeles will
play the role of"La Virgen, "Andres
DIA con 't from page 1
ulating reflection of the political
spirit of the two-day conference
which included ml,lsic by Felix
Alvarez, a Brown Beret and member
of a community theatre group,
Teatro de los Pobres. Backing him
up was a conjunto he refered to
jokingly as "punk mariachis"who
performed songs with themes ranging from Reaganomics to El Salvador, including a tribute to slain
archbishop Oscar Romero.
An interesting expression of political themes via popular culture was
presented by Damian and Herbert
Siguenza who performed rap music
directly reflecting on the palitieal
realities within the Chicano community. (One might note that such a
format offers a welcome alternative
to the aloof lyrical style of Michael
Jackson).
Conference workshop dealt with
the following topics: Building the
Resistance: Mobilizing our Communities Against Militarism and the
Draft; The Potential For Third
World Resistance Within the Military; Chafe No. We Won't Go!
Monreal of San Diego will play
"Juan Diego" and Jose Alvarez of
Los Angeles will appear as the
"Obispo," the Bishop of Mexico.
This year:~ "La Virgen" production
will be directed by Tony Curiel who
also directed last year's Christmastime production of "La Pastore/a."
Tony is the assistant director to El
Teatro Campesino 's Artistic Director Luis Valdez who is starring in
"Corridos, "a play which the Teatro
is staging at the historic Variety Arts
Theater in Los Angeles beginning
the first of December.
"La Virgen de/ Tepeyac" begins
December 8th with an 8:00 p.m.
performance. There will be a special
presentationat8:00p.m. Wednesday,
December 12th, the feast day of Our
Lady of Guadalupe with a half-price
admission. There will be five, 2:00
p.m. matinee presentations including
a special half-pr.iced showing on
Friday, December 21st. El Teatro
Campesino recommends advance
tickets and reservations through our
box office at 705 Fourth St, San
Juan Bautista,phone (408)623-2444.
VISA and Master Charge are accepted. Group discounts are available as well as lower priced tickets
for students, senior citiz ens and
children.
MEChA con 't from page 1
Flores also spoke of the possibility Universal registration is gomg to
of a progressive coalition being lead to our improvement."
Counter-recruitment, Non registra- formed by taking into account that
Flores concluded by asking the
tion and Draft Resistance; and Mili- 95% of the black population, 75% of students to take a stand against a
the Latino population, 65% of the possible U.S. invasion of Nicaragua.
tarism and World View.
Perhaps the most outstanding Asian population, and 36% of the
"There will be no vote on whether
highlight of the conference was a white populations participated in we will invade Nicaragua. We must
DIA slideshow titled The Military the Rainbow Coalition. He said a make our voices heard loud and
and the Draft: A Third World Per- block could be formed that would clear. We must make a political
spective. Narrated by Hector constitute a new majority.
•
statement that there will be no
Molina, of KPFA radio in Berkeley,
Refering to the Democratic Party, invasion. We must begin to build
the slideshow presented a compre- he said, "right now the Democratic strong coalitions to end an invasion
hensive look at the issues of regis- Party is meeting (post meeting). How as soon as possible. I am very contration and the draft, U.S. militarism many ofus are in that meeting? How fident that if there are bombs dropand interventionism, war, racism, many blacks are in that meeting? ped in Nicaragua, they will explode
sexism, and the plight of Third How many poor people are in that in the barrios of the U.S." The bimeeting? The Democratic Party annual Statewide M.E.Ch.A. conWorld people in the U.S.
Coming out of the plenary session represents the more liberal elements ference concluded with caucusing of
were evaluations and various re- of the middle class. With us (rainbow schools to review the resolutions,
solutions some of which included coalition) coming together and say- and a plennary session where the
establishing an informational news- ing this was not a defeat, we made a resolutions were adopted by the Calletter as part of the process initiated tremendous gain this year. The little ifornia Statewide ~ 1. E.Ch.A. body.
by the conference and organizing a gains are important. Even if Walter
The next M.E.Ch.A. Statewide
student tour to conduct presenta- Mondale had won that would not conference will be hosted by C.S.U.
tions on high school and college have been enough. We need organ- Sacramento, in March, 9, 10, and
campuses throughout the state. It izations now more than ever to . 11, 1985, which will include a rally at
was also resolved that the next con- address our social issues, [because] the state capital.
ference be held ·next year; although
., . .
no specific date was set it is expected
DONDE ESTAN MIS HIJOS?
to take place during the later part of
the year, more than likely during the
Summer or early Fall, in any case an
event worth looking forward to.
?Donde estan los hijos que pari?
!Busco sus rostros en donde quiera
Y solo encuentro desconocidos!
Tal vez sean los mios,
Pero de mi no se acuerdan.
Chicano
Youth
!Mascaras de vanidad y collares de orgullo se cuelgan,
Conletence
Les prohiben pensar de donde vinieron!
RI
!Bebieron leche de la extranjera
Al L "f •W l f ltlT[RfST[O IN UIIITY H\R RAZA
111:
fROM
r•f ( t,A - llt'\V IMl ( NTO ( STUOIANTIL CHICANn 0£ AZTLAN
Y luego les dio por dejarme en el olvido!
A urn lY POTL UC K - THURSDAY, O[C[MOfR I], lQ84 S .00 PM - 7·0()P"
UPSTAIRS CAr[T[RIA , ROOM 200
" £'/l PV!\N( H~S HI S OR H(R nwN '>P[CIAL 11EANINC. WHICH TH(Y r.1vr TO
THf I• Liff . PART or THE H[Arl!NG OF LIFE fOR Hf IS TO BETTE~
TII[ LIVI"'• Cntl()ITIONS OF P[OPL[ (If MEXICAN ANO LATINO O(~~(NT
l IVl'lf, IN HIE UNIT£0 STATES . I WISH TO CltCOURAr.[ OTH(R P(OPLt
WIi ii \ll(H A 11[ANINr. IN THEIR LIFE Tn UNITE, IN ORO[R TO Cflll(CTJ V(l~ FULFILL THAT HEAN!Nr. . "
11[ HAYf ' qA~T[O THIS l£TT£D, WITH THE ()U()T( BY A YOu11r. CHICANn WHI) IN
IQIQ, PUT n11T
~
CALL FOR COr.4ITH[NT AND UNITY .
~Rf l~VJTIN(, ALL CHICANO/LATINO STUDfNTS •. A~ INDIVIDUALS OR oRr,AN-
moo
Yo les ofreci el jugete caro de la libertad del ser
Que su padre La Revolucion compro,
llAT lllll~ Tll (014[ ANO l'HT ANO TALK TO (V[RYBODY ,
nPf.JNllATlnris ~R[ A5K£0 TO BRINt:
Y los tiene engridos con dulces de prosperidad.
THE MEAN I Ne; OF THIS
ltTTfP . I~ WIIAT HAS COHP[llEO US TO 00 THE SA'I( .
·•r
Si!! Esa extranjera me los ha robado
IF THEY CAN, TO THF P(lTLUK .
TH(
Pero lo han rechazado!
Oh!! !Si mis hijos volvieran a mi!
PURPnS( nr THIS MCETINr. IS TO DAOV[ TO nuRSELV[S THAT WE CIIN COM[ TO,
(;fTHf p ~~o AC.PH ON S(JII[ COMIIJN r,OAL FOR OURSELVES ANO OUR COl't'UNIT•.
~i solo pudiera ser como la gallina
HOPErUUY , THIS UN RE TH( FIRST STEP TO A LONG RAllt;E WAL OF UNITINC.
IJS fOR • CllfMlN CAUSE WHICH IS, TH[ BETTERMENT OF (ll/R PEOPLE.
S()t(lS ttJCHOS y s~s UNO.
H. E.Ch . A
Que junta sus polluelos debajo de sus alas,
Loca de felicidad yo viviria
Y tratando de borrar resentimientos plagados por odios mezquinos,
Los tornaria en pensamientos que semejan lo divino!
C"llfOflNA SI Alf l.NVfflSITY FRESNO
!Todo esto en gratitud yo haria,
Si mis hiios volvieran a mi!!!
.
Tuesday
CSU, Fresno
Anti-Draft
Conference
By
Al Robles
Contributing Writer
Unlike the period surrounding
Vietnam the current phase- of U.S.
militarism is being challenged by a
greater level of organized resistance
as was demonstrated in a recent
conference on the draft and U.S.
militarism held in San Jose, Nov. 17
and 18.
The significance of the conference,
distinguishing it from previous events
taking place around similar issues,
was underscored by the fact that it
was the first national gathering of
Third World anti-draft, anti-militarism, and non-intervention activists
and Vietnam -veterans. Sponsored
by the Draft Information Alliance
(DIA), the Conference On U.S.
Militarism and Third World Communities dealt with a variety of
issues and perspectives on the draft
and U.S. militarism including strategies on education and resistance
within Third World communities.
. The line-up of speakers reflected
upon the diversity of experiences
along cross cultural lines including
Thomas Banyacya, a Hopi elder and
keynote speaker who recounted his
efforts at resisting the draft during
WWII on the grounds of his religious
beliefs and the ensuing harassment
from government officials resulting
in a jail sentence. Tom LeBlanc, of
the American Indian Movement and
the Internaional Indian Treaty
Council, related his experience in
the Vietnam war and the racism
directed against him by his fellow
combatants. The sense of alienation
that he experienced often, as he said,
led him to feel that he had more in
common with the Vietnamese as a
person of color.
The second keynote speaker was
Kwame Ture of the All African
People's Revolutionary Party who
delivered a vibrant message about
organizing the mass movement.
Ture's main point stressed organization within any people's movement as the key factor in developing
beyond the level of a spontaneous
movement. "The spontaneous movement," he stated "will force the
enemy to grant concessions with
inherent limitations."
Ture was well known in the 60's as
Stokely Carmichael, a founder of
the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)~
Equally captivating was the presentation by Audrey Shenandoah,
of the Onondoga Nation, who articulated her experience as a mother
raising her sons to respect the tribal
values passed down through the
generatl?ns. ~he felt, as she stated,
that registration and the .draft represent nothing more than a_pre~aration to go to war and, thus, m du~ct
contradiction of such values which
view life as sacred and command a
love of all humanity.
.
The entertainment offered a sttm.• see DIA, page 4
Fresno State M.E.CH.A. at the statewide conference
November 11 and 12, 1984.
Jose Robledo /La Voz de Aitlan
ME C hA S1atewide Review
By Larry Gonzalez
Staff Writer
The M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference was held November 10, and 11,
1984, at the University of California,
Irvine campus. The conference theme
was, "De Los Despojos De La Eterna
Lucha Brotan Nuevas /magenesBrindis De Liberacion. "The conference was sponsored by U. C. Irvine
M.E. Ch.A.
Manuel Gomez, director of U. C.
Irvine £OP/ SAA, delivered the keynote address to four-hundred students, representing M. E. Ch.A.
organizations from throughout the
state of California.
"1984 at U. C. Irvine, the
M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference is
taking place and our history continues. A history of our people
coming together, an event in the
memory of our people. Perhaps y ou
will recall the significance of today,"
Gomez said.
"Our history is not in the books,
magazines, or televisions, it is written
in the scars of your parents, the
wrinkles of your grandparents. You
must know that you will continue
the struggle. We cannot forget the
assasinations of our past. We must
not isolate ourselves from the community M.E.Ch.A. is the longest
standing Chicano student organization· in the history of the United
States. It is an incredible legacy that
you have inherited. You have social
responsibility to help and _protect
the young and the old, and to help
our future. It is in your hearts,
hands, and minds, that we will be
free people," Gomez concluded.
Following the keynote address,
the students attended workshops on
Educational Rights of Undocumented
Students; Immigration Reform;
. M.E.Ch.A. Leadership Orientation
for High School Students; Problems
in Political Representation, Anti
Chicano Legislation; Barrio Issues;
The Draft: Convert and Overt Recruitment, Educational Crisis for
Chicanos; The Survival of Chicano
Studies, Central America; and a
Synopsis of the Chicano Movement
Its Present Direction. All Resolutions called for plans of action in our
campuses and communities. After
the workshops, Raul Ruiz, a professor of Chicano Studies at California State University, N orthridge,
or a participant in the 1st Chicano
Moratorium ( 1970), addressed. the
general assembly.
"One fo the most meaningful
developments in your education is
the development of your consciousness. You should have a consciosness
of your community, culture, and
your family.
"Nothing at this school or any
other university will give you what
your master teachers-your parentshave taught to you. As students and
professionals we should make our
experiences as meaningful as those
experiences of our own families/' he
said.
.,
In rega~o the Chicano Movement in the late 1960's, Ruiz said,
"Students were the main integral
part of this movement, they were the
center, the core."
Ruiz singled out the Viet Nam
war as the issue that has had the
most significant impa~t on the
Chicano Movement.
By relating the Viet Nam war to
today, he asked the students to
seriously take up the iss·ue of Nicaragua, with urgency.
"In Central America when you
hear about revolutionaries, we are
talking about fourteen and fifteen
year olds, named Maria and
Roberto. People who loo~ the same
as ourselves. I think there is a so
called mandate to stand up and say,
what we [United States] are doing is
wrong and not to accept the U.S.
government's role in this affair. He
stressed that there cannot be change
unless each one of us participates in
the change.
"That lawyer who is not an activist,
is not a lawyer, and that teacher who
is not an activist is not a teacher.
Some have abandoned that role.
There is nothing else more important
in all your life, than your role as an
activist." The second day's general
assembly featured keynote speaker
Bill Flores, one of the organizei:s...of
the Latino Agenda Coalition.
Flores worked directly with the
minority plank during the democratic convention. He said the democratic convention ignored Blacks and
Latinos, and before Ronald Reagan's
landslide victory, the Democratic
Party had already moved to the
right. ln regards to Latino elected
officials in the Southwest, Flores
said politically Latinos are underrepresented . ln California, Latinos
make up 28% of the population, and
only make up 7.8% of all elected
officials. In New Mexico, Latinos
make up 45% of the population and
only make up 29% of all elected
officials. In Colorado, Latinos make
up 14% of the population and make
up only 7% of all elected officials.
And in Texas, Latinos make up 26%
of the population and only make up
13.8% of all elected officials.
Flores also said that President
Reagan received 70% of the white
vote and for the first time in history,
the Democratic party did not even
attempt to go after the South.
Flores said, "they do not want
democracy in this country, they do
not allow us to vote on whether we
invade Grenada, or mine the harbors
of Nicaragua. And in comparing the
United States election to the Nicaraguan elections Flores said, "The
F.S.L.N. got 67% of the popular
vote in a country where 80% of the
popular electoral voted. How can it
be called a questionable victory?
They try to make us believe we live
in the most democratic society in the
world, and we do not!"
Flores noted, that during the previous elections, the Reverend Jesse
Jackson, received 90% of the black
vote. He said, "the Jackson campaign
brought together new people. If we 're
going to have any type of democracy
we have got to get Blacks and
Latinos into office."
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
Decmeber 13, 1984
Panel Addresses Lat i n America
A group of professors from Stanford University and CSUF closed
the Latin American Week of November 12-16 by conducting a panel
titled lAtin America-Today and
Tomorrow.
During the three-hour panel, the
five professors discussed foreign
policy toward Latin America, political and social development, social
change and literature, violence and
human rights, and Latin America's
external debt.
The panel began with Dr. Manuel
Pena, CSUF La Raza Studies professor, introducing the five panelists
to a capacity crowd in room 101 of
the Industrial Arts Building.
After Pena's brief introduction,
which stressed the importance of the
human element as the mayor theme
of the panel, Dr. Lea Ybarra, CSUF
La Raza professor, opened the panel
with the topic of U.S. Foreign Policy
toward Latin America.
Ybarra started by reading several
newspaper articles on Latin American
refugees in the United States, which
depicted the pain and turmoil the
refugees went through in their countries.
According to Ybarra, President through literature by Latin American
Reagan's foreign policy of sending authors, explained Dr. Fernando
military aid to those countries only Alegria, a Stanford University professor.
aggravates the situation.
Although Alegria noted that literStressing on the fact that Chicanos
ary
censorship and self-imposed or
and Latinos in the United States
have a common historical back- forced exile were two characteristics
ground, Ybarra said, "That's you of Latin American authors, he said
and I they are killing. Those faces on that the poets had found a way
the evening news are our faces. Their around that by creating the Nuevo
Canto and the Collective Theatre.
tragedy is our tragedy."
"This means that we are caught in
Alegria said that although there
a conflict that we can no longer exists a high illiteracy rate and
government censorship, the songs
ignore," she said.
Dr. Manuel Figueroa, CSUF La . and plays are creating an awareness
Raza professor, added to ·the same in the people's minds to change the
plea. He said that because we hear or repressive social condition of their
read about the political arrests, the own countries.
violence, the ignoring of human
"It's affecting public opinion in a
rights through television and the massive way," he said.
paper, we shouldn't think "violence
Dr. Freeman Wright, CSUF prois far away, but never in our world." fessor of political science, the second
Figueroa, whose topic entailed speaker of the panel, pointed out
violence and human rights, was asked several criteria of modern politiby a student to say something posi- zation that are necessary for any
tive about the Latin American country to seek economic and political independence.
people.
"We are strong. We have managed
One of Wright's criterion was for
to survive years of repression," he international self-determination. He
said the countries had to take specific
said.
This survival has been possible steps to seek autonomy in inter-
Letters to La Voz
Editor:
The members of MEChA wish to
applaud the local chapter of the
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their recent decision to not
be a part of Coor's manipulative
marketing network in their refusal
to accept their contributions . .It is
indeed encouraging to see responsible people set an example for our
community which has, in recent
times, become a prime target of the
machinations of a right-wing administration and of parasites such as the
Adolf Coors Co.
More than ever at this time we
need to steadfastly support the boycott despite its "unfashionable"
image among the sellouts and opportunists within our community who
are quick to give in to the co-optive
program of a rich and powerful corporation. We feel that the agreement
announced in L.A. last month (in
which Coors pledged to spend $350
million dollars to support "Hispanic"
owned businesses and distributorships) is _little more than another
veiled attempt at recapturing their
market losses, resulting significantly
from the boycott's effectiveness, and
to, more immediately, reinforce their
false image as advocates of minority
causes.
It was partly in response to this
that MEC}lA, at its recent statewide
conference at U.C. Irvine, passed its
latest resolution to counteract Coor's
deceptive public relations movidas
within the Chicano/ Latino community and to expose those selfserving vendidos who want only disregard the boycott to the detriment
of their raza.
Again, with this in mind, we feel
that the Chamber has taken a principled stand on an otherwise controversial issue (particularly in the
face of such unpopular reaction from
the statewide body) and support
them in their decision.
One heart, one struggle,
Mario Huerta
CSUF MEChA
P.S. Boycott Coors
La Voz is accepting applic~tions for the
Spring Semester. The following positions are
available:
• Reporters
• Artist
• Photographers
• Production
For more information, contact Marcella
Martinez at 294-2486 or call La Raza Studies.
Special to La Voz
Jennifer Colby will present an
Exhibition of paintings entitled
"Mujeres: La misma sangre, esperanza y lucha" (Women: One spirit,
blood and struggle) at Gallery 25 ,
1526 Fulton, Fresno, December 7th
through the 30th. The reception for
the artist will be Sunday,: December
9 from 3-6 p.m. and a fundraiser for
the California Student Christian
Movement will be held at the gallery
on December 14 from 7-9 p.m.,
featuring a slide presentation on
Nicaragua, music, food and a raffle.
Colby is a graduate student in Art
at CSUF. She lived in Argentina in
1980-81 and has visited Nicaragua
twice this· year. In Fresno, she has
been active in the Latin America
Support Committee and the Interfaith Coalition for Valley Medical
Center. Her art exhibit is inspired by
these experiences.
Nine painted banners will hang in
a line that stretches from Chile to
Aztlan. Each represents a different
woman. "I want to stress the connection these women have. One blood
that runs from the source of their
indigenous, one spirit, hope of
national affairs.
Wright also noted that because of
the increasing amount of military
aid to El Salvador ($65 million in
1980) that "we 're right in the middle
of it, and that's hardly self-determination."
Although the mayor theme of the
panel was the human element, Dr.
Francisco Tomic, of Stanford University, addressed the $360 billion
Latin American debt.
After citing several reasons for the
large debt, Tomic said that the U.S.
is the only country in the world that
can believe "the illusion" that they
can forget the rest of the world.
"It's our common responsibility
to do something about it," he said.
LaVoz
l.eTt ers to the editor are welcome.
We reserve the right to edit materials. A ll letters must be signed an d
typed and remain property of La
Voz de A ztlan. Deadlinefor submission is one week bef ore printing.
For more information, ca/1294-2486
strength and future and one struggle
against the powers of imperialism
that flow from the U.S. policy under
Reagan." Her painting style is contemporary, using bold simplified
colors and elements of collage. It is
political, yet, subtle art. But the
message comes through about Latina women who face the double
oppression of race and sex. Jennifer
emphasizes the cultural elements and
each piece will be titled with a paragraph about the women in Spanish
and English.
Juanita: "She is the new woman
of Nicaragua, participating in every
level of the revolution. Everything
has changed, be/ore Ciudad Sandino had little transportation into
Managua, now she leads the Barrio
committee to achieve it. Sin la Mujer,
No hay Revolucion." Maria Elena:
"/ heard that my friends in Chile
have been imprisoned by Pinochet.
In the 11th year of his rule he has
become brutal, rounding up masses
of people. Maria Elena had always
stood by her people." Virginia:
'!Chicana, India, she struggled with
her own people, farm workers in
Colorado, she also fought for the
freedom of the Salvadoran people,
Raza will not kill Raza."
M.E.Ch.A.
Dance
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Friday, Dec. 14, 1984
Place: 3742 E. Balch St.
(Mario's place)
Pagel
La Voz de Aztlan
December 13, 1984
Chicano Expression
A SET OF RULES
LAPODA
A chicano paints on a vacant wall,
Getting up early in the morning
Mam~ is making the lonche for papa and us.
it is vandalism
An anglo paints on the same wall;
it is art.
A set of rules for each color,
with each group far apart.
Papa waking the children to get ready for work
Oldest daughter getting up with no trouble at all.
Youngest daughter getting tired and sleepy
Crying and complaining of having to wake up early.
A chicano kills;
it is murder.
An anglo kills;
The other children are already up and eating breakfast,
While mama is making tortillas and tacos de chorizo.
it is protection.
A set of rules for each color,
each with a sharp distinction.
The familia is off, a la poda nos vamos.
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
A chicano rebels;
he is a traitor.
An anglo rebels,
he is fighting for equality.
A set of rules for each color,
with each man fighting for dignity.
Look Papa, the viego is already waiting for us.
Kiko, I see you brought all your familia-ar.
These rows are yours and watch those kids,
I don't want them cutting the wrong vines.
A man is named Gonzales;
he is mexican.
A man is named Jones;
he is American.
A set of rules for each color;
a set of rules for each culture;
a set of rules for each.man.
The viejo gets in his Chevy S-10,
He'll be back at noon.
Can't make any money if we're all in the same row.
Papa says, '~Pelon and Cha a in this row,
Margaret and Amy in this row,
Me and your mama will work in this other row.
A set of rules
even when we all live in the same country;
a set of rules
·
even when all men are created ... "equal."
Nomas unos cuaritos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
The children start cutting all the vines and leaving just one.
Estamos podando, who said it was hard.
Es hora de lonche y ay biene el viejo.
Kiko, "I told you to watch-thos·e kids." ··
"You people just don't understand.
' •••
::
By Larry D. Lunsford
<1
"Take your kids and get off my land."
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
By Veronica Misquez
OUR ANCESTORS WERE HERE
YET WE ARE TOLD TO GO BACK
OUR GRANDMOTHERS SHED A TEAR
OUR TEACHERS HIDE THE FACTS
who am I?
Growing up, running free, being ME,
But where do I belong?
Through the years people change, times change,
But where do I belong?
Hitting walls feeling low
Do I know who I am?
Time to run, trying to hide
But do I know Who I Am?
Why do I feel like I don't belong?
Where do I fit in?
Can I really feel like part of the crowd?
Where is my place in this world?
Time to search, time to find
What I need to know.
Be myself, open up, see all life has to offer.
Put it all together to make good sense.
OUR PARENTS WANT US ASSIMILATED
FOR THEY ARE TIRED OF BEING DISCRIMINATED
OUR GRANDPARENTS WANT US TO RETAIN OUR CULTURE
TO LEARN OF OUR INDIAN BACKGROUND
TO BECOME EDU CATED
Find the road to happiness; it's out there
Where people can be what they want to be.
Be someone and make a difference,
Make this world a better place to be.
I found my place, my spot was waiting,
Now I am ready to be myself.
Life is full of surprises, full of changes,
Just be ready to believe in your heart.
THEN RETURN TO OUR HOMETOWN
WE ARE LEFT CONFUSED
BUT THOSE OF US WHO TRY MUST STRUGGLE
WHILE THE ANGLOS GLIDE BY
MANY OF US BECOME DISCOURAGED
I'm coming out, I'm feeling good,
YES, I AM PROUD!
To say that in this world of ours,
I was born BROWN!
I am happy, I belong
I am alive, and I am ready.
I have found all I've lost.
I am ME, and that is all I have to be.
FOR WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUT DOWN
AND TREATED AS THOUGH WE WERE DIRT FROM THE GROUND
By Armando Rivera
La Voz cle Aztlan
Page4
'" December,13, 1984
"La Virgen ·de/ Tapeyac" Premieres
San Juan Bautista-A warm.joyous Christmas tradition continues in
the Old Mission in San Juan Bautista
with another run ofEl Teatro Campesino 's "La Virgen de/ Tepeyac, "the
Four Apparitions of Our Lady of
Guadulupe, December 8th through
the 23rd. This is the eleventh time
that El Teatro Campesino has performed "La Virgen"which is part of
the special, Christmas-time tradition
ofproducing special,family-oriented
theatrical presentations in San Juan
Bautista.
"La Virgen del Tepeyac" is a
beautiful and inspiring adaptation
of the 16th century play which deals
with the four miracle apparitions of
the Virgen of Guadalupe to the
humble Mexican Indian, Juan Diego
in 1531. The miracle was a gesture of
divine love and faith that changed
history and served as thefoundation
of Christianity among the indigenous
people of Mexico and the Americas.
Through the years, "La Virgen del
tepeyac" has evolved into a joyous
celebration of drama, music and
dance with the cooperation of the
Mission parish San Juan Bautista
and the theatrical expertise of El
Teatro Campesino.
Susie Esquivel of Los Angeles will
play the role of"La Virgen, "Andres
DIA con 't from page 1
ulating reflection of the political
spirit of the two-day conference
which included ml,lsic by Felix
Alvarez, a Brown Beret and member
of a community theatre group,
Teatro de los Pobres. Backing him
up was a conjunto he refered to
jokingly as "punk mariachis"who
performed songs with themes ranging from Reaganomics to El Salvador, including a tribute to slain
archbishop Oscar Romero.
An interesting expression of political themes via popular culture was
presented by Damian and Herbert
Siguenza who performed rap music
directly reflecting on the palitieal
realities within the Chicano community. (One might note that such a
format offers a welcome alternative
to the aloof lyrical style of Michael
Jackson).
Conference workshop dealt with
the following topics: Building the
Resistance: Mobilizing our Communities Against Militarism and the
Draft; The Potential For Third
World Resistance Within the Military; Chafe No. We Won't Go!
Monreal of San Diego will play
"Juan Diego" and Jose Alvarez of
Los Angeles will appear as the
"Obispo," the Bishop of Mexico.
This year:~ "La Virgen" production
will be directed by Tony Curiel who
also directed last year's Christmastime production of "La Pastore/a."
Tony is the assistant director to El
Teatro Campesino 's Artistic Director Luis Valdez who is starring in
"Corridos, "a play which the Teatro
is staging at the historic Variety Arts
Theater in Los Angeles beginning
the first of December.
"La Virgen de/ Tepeyac" begins
December 8th with an 8:00 p.m.
performance. There will be a special
presentationat8:00p.m. Wednesday,
December 12th, the feast day of Our
Lady of Guadalupe with a half-price
admission. There will be five, 2:00
p.m. matinee presentations including
a special half-pr.iced showing on
Friday, December 21st. El Teatro
Campesino recommends advance
tickets and reservations through our
box office at 705 Fourth St, San
Juan Bautista,phone (408)623-2444.
VISA and Master Charge are accepted. Group discounts are available as well as lower priced tickets
for students, senior citiz ens and
children.
MEChA con 't from page 1
Flores also spoke of the possibility Universal registration is gomg to
of a progressive coalition being lead to our improvement."
Counter-recruitment, Non registra- formed by taking into account that
Flores concluded by asking the
tion and Draft Resistance; and Mili- 95% of the black population, 75% of students to take a stand against a
the Latino population, 65% of the possible U.S. invasion of Nicaragua.
tarism and World View.
Perhaps the most outstanding Asian population, and 36% of the
"There will be no vote on whether
highlight of the conference was a white populations participated in we will invade Nicaragua. We must
DIA slideshow titled The Military the Rainbow Coalition. He said a make our voices heard loud and
and the Draft: A Third World Per- block could be formed that would clear. We must make a political
spective. Narrated by Hector constitute a new majority.
•
statement that there will be no
Molina, of KPFA radio in Berkeley,
Refering to the Democratic Party, invasion. We must begin to build
the slideshow presented a compre- he said, "right now the Democratic strong coalitions to end an invasion
hensive look at the issues of regis- Party is meeting (post meeting). How as soon as possible. I am very contration and the draft, U.S. militarism many ofus are in that meeting? How fident that if there are bombs dropand interventionism, war, racism, many blacks are in that meeting? ped in Nicaragua, they will explode
sexism, and the plight of Third How many poor people are in that in the barrios of the U.S." The bimeeting? The Democratic Party annual Statewide M.E.Ch.A. conWorld people in the U.S.
Coming out of the plenary session represents the more liberal elements ference concluded with caucusing of
were evaluations and various re- of the middle class. With us (rainbow schools to review the resolutions,
solutions some of which included coalition) coming together and say- and a plennary session where the
establishing an informational news- ing this was not a defeat, we made a resolutions were adopted by the Calletter as part of the process initiated tremendous gain this year. The little ifornia Statewide ~ 1. E.Ch.A. body.
by the conference and organizing a gains are important. Even if Walter
The next M.E.Ch.A. Statewide
student tour to conduct presenta- Mondale had won that would not conference will be hosted by C.S.U.
tions on high school and college have been enough. We need organ- Sacramento, in March, 9, 10, and
campuses throughout the state. It izations now more than ever to . 11, 1985, which will include a rally at
was also resolved that the next con- address our social issues, [because] the state capital.
ference be held ·next year; although
., . .
no specific date was set it is expected
DONDE ESTAN MIS HIJOS?
to take place during the later part of
the year, more than likely during the
Summer or early Fall, in any case an
event worth looking forward to.
?Donde estan los hijos que pari?
!Busco sus rostros en donde quiera
Y solo encuentro desconocidos!
Tal vez sean los mios,
Pero de mi no se acuerdan.
Chicano
Youth
!Mascaras de vanidad y collares de orgullo se cuelgan,
Conletence
Les prohiben pensar de donde vinieron!
RI
!Bebieron leche de la extranjera
Al L "f •W l f ltlT[RfST[O IN UIIITY H\R RAZA
111:
fROM
r•f ( t,A - llt'\V IMl ( NTO ( STUOIANTIL CHICANn 0£ AZTLAN
Y luego les dio por dejarme en el olvido!
A urn lY POTL UC K - THURSDAY, O[C[MOfR I], lQ84 S .00 PM - 7·0()P"
UPSTAIRS CAr[T[RIA , ROOM 200
" £'/l PV!\N( H~S HI S OR H(R nwN '>P[CIAL 11EANINC. WHICH TH(Y r.1vr TO
THf I• Liff . PART or THE H[Arl!NG OF LIFE fOR Hf IS TO BETTE~
TII[ LIVI"'• Cntl()ITIONS OF P[OPL[ (If MEXICAN ANO LATINO O(~~(NT
l IVl'lf, IN HIE UNIT£0 STATES . I WISH TO CltCOURAr.[ OTH(R P(OPLt
WIi ii \ll(H A 11[ANINr. IN THEIR LIFE Tn UNITE, IN ORO[R TO Cflll(CTJ V(l~ FULFILL THAT HEAN!Nr. . "
11[ HAYf ' qA~T[O THIS l£TT£D, WITH THE ()U()T( BY A YOu11r. CHICANn WHI) IN
IQIQ, PUT n11T
~
CALL FOR COr.4ITH[NT AND UNITY .
~Rf l~VJTIN(, ALL CHICANO/LATINO STUDfNTS •. A~ INDIVIDUALS OR oRr,AN-
moo
Yo les ofreci el jugete caro de la libertad del ser
Que su padre La Revolucion compro,
llAT lllll~ Tll (014[ ANO l'HT ANO TALK TO (V[RYBODY ,
nPf.JNllATlnris ~R[ A5K£0 TO BRINt:
Y los tiene engridos con dulces de prosperidad.
THE MEAN I Ne; OF THIS
ltTTfP . I~ WIIAT HAS COHP[llEO US TO 00 THE SA'I( .
·•r
Si!! Esa extranjera me los ha robado
IF THEY CAN, TO THF P(lTLUK .
TH(
Pero lo han rechazado!
Oh!! !Si mis hijos volvieran a mi!
PURPnS( nr THIS MCETINr. IS TO DAOV[ TO nuRSELV[S THAT WE CIIN COM[ TO,
(;fTHf p ~~o AC.PH ON S(JII[ COMIIJN r,OAL FOR OURSELVES ANO OUR COl't'UNIT•.
~i solo pudiera ser como la gallina
HOPErUUY , THIS UN RE TH( FIRST STEP TO A LONG RAllt;E WAL OF UNITINC.
IJS fOR • CllfMlN CAUSE WHICH IS, TH[ BETTERMENT OF (ll/R PEOPLE.
S()t(lS ttJCHOS y s~s UNO.
H. E.Ch . A
Que junta sus polluelos debajo de sus alas,
Loca de felicidad yo viviria
Y tratando de borrar resentimientos plagados por odios mezquinos,
Los tornaria en pensamientos que semejan lo divino!
C"llfOflNA SI Alf l.NVfflSITY FRESNO
!Todo esto en gratitud yo haria,
Si mis hiios volvieran a mi!!!
.
La Voz de Aztlan
Tuesday
CSU, Fresno
Anti-Draft
Conference
By
Al Robles
Contributing Writer
Unlike the period surrounding
Vietnam the current phase- of U.S.
militarism is being challenged by a
greater level of organized resistance
as was demonstrated in a recent
conference on the draft and U.S.
militarism held in San Jose, Nov. 17
and 18.
The significance of the conference,
distinguishing it from previous events
taking place around similar issues,
was underscored by the fact that it
was the first national gathering of
Third World anti-draft, anti-militarism, and non-intervention activists
and Vietnam -veterans. Sponsored
by the Draft Information Alliance
(DIA), the Conference On U.S.
Militarism and Third World Communities dealt with a variety of
issues and perspectives on the draft
and U.S. militarism including strategies on education and resistance
within Third World communities.
. The line-up of speakers reflected
upon the diversity of experiences
along cross cultural lines including
Thomas Banyacya, a Hopi elder and
keynote speaker who recounted his
efforts at resisting the draft during
WWII on the grounds of his religious
beliefs and the ensuing harassment
from government officials resulting
in a jail sentence. Tom LeBlanc, of
the American Indian Movement and
the Internaional Indian Treaty
Council, related his experience in
the Vietnam war and the racism
directed against him by his fellow
combatants. The sense of alienation
that he experienced often, as he said,
led him to feel that he had more in
common with the Vietnamese as a
person of color.
The second keynote speaker was
Kwame Ture of the All African
People's Revolutionary Party who
delivered a vibrant message about
organizing the mass movement.
Ture's main point stressed organization within any people's movement as the key factor in developing
beyond the level of a spontaneous
movement. "The spontaneous movement," he stated "will force the
enemy to grant concessions with
inherent limitations."
Ture was well known in the 60's as
Stokely Carmichael, a founder of
the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)~
Equally captivating was the presentation by Audrey Shenandoah,
of the Onondoga Nation, who articulated her experience as a mother
raising her sons to respect the tribal
values passed down through the
generatl?ns. ~he felt, as she stated,
that registration and the .draft represent nothing more than a_pre~aration to go to war and, thus, m du~ct
contradiction of such values which
view life as sacred and command a
love of all humanity.
.
The entertainment offered a sttm.• see DIA, page 4
Fresno State M.E.CH.A. at the statewide conference
November 11 and 12, 1984.
Jose Robledo /La Voz de Aitlan
ME C hA S1atewide Review
By Larry Gonzalez
Staff Writer
The M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference was held November 10, and 11,
1984, at the University of California,
Irvine campus. The conference theme
was, "De Los Despojos De La Eterna
Lucha Brotan Nuevas /magenesBrindis De Liberacion. "The conference was sponsored by U. C. Irvine
M.E. Ch.A.
Manuel Gomez, director of U. C.
Irvine £OP/ SAA, delivered the keynote address to four-hundred students, representing M. E. Ch.A.
organizations from throughout the
state of California.
"1984 at U. C. Irvine, the
M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference is
taking place and our history continues. A history of our people
coming together, an event in the
memory of our people. Perhaps y ou
will recall the significance of today,"
Gomez said.
"Our history is not in the books,
magazines, or televisions, it is written
in the scars of your parents, the
wrinkles of your grandparents. You
must know that you will continue
the struggle. We cannot forget the
assasinations of our past. We must
not isolate ourselves from the community M.E.Ch.A. is the longest
standing Chicano student organization· in the history of the United
States. It is an incredible legacy that
you have inherited. You have social
responsibility to help and _protect
the young and the old, and to help
our future. It is in your hearts,
hands, and minds, that we will be
free people," Gomez concluded.
Following the keynote address,
the students attended workshops on
Educational Rights of Undocumented
Students; Immigration Reform;
. M.E.Ch.A. Leadership Orientation
for High School Students; Problems
in Political Representation, Anti
Chicano Legislation; Barrio Issues;
The Draft: Convert and Overt Recruitment, Educational Crisis for
Chicanos; The Survival of Chicano
Studies, Central America; and a
Synopsis of the Chicano Movement
Its Present Direction. All Resolutions called for plans of action in our
campuses and communities. After
the workshops, Raul Ruiz, a professor of Chicano Studies at California State University, N orthridge,
or a participant in the 1st Chicano
Moratorium ( 1970), addressed. the
general assembly.
"One fo the most meaningful
developments in your education is
the development of your consciousness. You should have a consciosness
of your community, culture, and
your family.
"Nothing at this school or any
other university will give you what
your master teachers-your parentshave taught to you. As students and
professionals we should make our
experiences as meaningful as those
experiences of our own families/' he
said.
.,
In rega~o the Chicano Movement in the late 1960's, Ruiz said,
"Students were the main integral
part of this movement, they were the
center, the core."
Ruiz singled out the Viet Nam
war as the issue that has had the
most significant impa~t on the
Chicano Movement.
By relating the Viet Nam war to
today, he asked the students to
seriously take up the iss·ue of Nicaragua, with urgency.
"In Central America when you
hear about revolutionaries, we are
talking about fourteen and fifteen
year olds, named Maria and
Roberto. People who loo~ the same
as ourselves. I think there is a so
called mandate to stand up and say,
what we [United States] are doing is
wrong and not to accept the U.S.
government's role in this affair. He
stressed that there cannot be change
unless each one of us participates in
the change.
"That lawyer who is not an activist,
is not a lawyer, and that teacher who
is not an activist is not a teacher.
Some have abandoned that role.
There is nothing else more important
in all your life, than your role as an
activist." The second day's general
assembly featured keynote speaker
Bill Flores, one of the organizei:s...of
the Latino Agenda Coalition.
Flores worked directly with the
minority plank during the democratic convention. He said the democratic convention ignored Blacks and
Latinos, and before Ronald Reagan's
landslide victory, the Democratic
Party had already moved to the
right. ln regards to Latino elected
officials in the Southwest, Flores
said politically Latinos are underrepresented . ln California, Latinos
make up 28% of the population, and
only make up 7.8% of all elected
officials. In New Mexico, Latinos
make up 45% of the population and
only make up 29% of all elected
officials. In Colorado, Latinos make
up 14% of the population and make
up only 7% of all elected officials.
And in Texas, Latinos make up 26%
of the population and only make up
13.8% of all elected officials.
Flores also said that President
Reagan received 70% of the white
vote and for the first time in history,
the Democratic party did not even
attempt to go after the South.
Flores said, "they do not want
democracy in this country, they do
not allow us to vote on whether we
invade Grenada, or mine the harbors
of Nicaragua. And in comparing the
United States election to the Nicaraguan elections Flores said, "The
F.S.L.N. got 67% of the popular
vote in a country where 80% of the
popular electoral voted. How can it
be called a questionable victory?
They try to make us believe we live
in the most democratic society in the
world, and we do not!"
Flores noted, that during the previous elections, the Reverend Jesse
Jackson, received 90% of the black
vote. He said, "the Jackson campaign
brought together new people. If we 're
going to have any type of democracy
we have got to get Blacks and
Latinos into office."
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
Decmeber 13, 1984
Panel Addresses Lat i n America
A group of professors from Stanford University and CSUF closed
the Latin American Week of November 12-16 by conducting a panel
titled lAtin America-Today and
Tomorrow.
During the three-hour panel, the
five professors discussed foreign
policy toward Latin America, political and social development, social
change and literature, violence and
human rights, and Latin America's
external debt.
The panel began with Dr. Manuel
Pena, CSUF La Raza Studies professor, introducing the five panelists
to a capacity crowd in room 101 of
the Industrial Arts Building.
After Pena's brief introduction,
which stressed the importance of the
human element as the mayor theme
of the panel, Dr. Lea Ybarra, CSUF
La Raza professor, opened the panel
with the topic of U.S. Foreign Policy
toward Latin America.
Ybarra started by reading several
newspaper articles on Latin American
refugees in the United States, which
depicted the pain and turmoil the
refugees went through in their countries.
According to Ybarra, President through literature by Latin American
Reagan's foreign policy of sending authors, explained Dr. Fernando
military aid to those countries only Alegria, a Stanford University professor.
aggravates the situation.
Although Alegria noted that literStressing on the fact that Chicanos
ary
censorship and self-imposed or
and Latinos in the United States
have a common historical back- forced exile were two characteristics
ground, Ybarra said, "That's you of Latin American authors, he said
and I they are killing. Those faces on that the poets had found a way
the evening news are our faces. Their around that by creating the Nuevo
Canto and the Collective Theatre.
tragedy is our tragedy."
"This means that we are caught in
Alegria said that although there
a conflict that we can no longer exists a high illiteracy rate and
government censorship, the songs
ignore," she said.
Dr. Manuel Figueroa, CSUF La . and plays are creating an awareness
Raza professor, added to ·the same in the people's minds to change the
plea. He said that because we hear or repressive social condition of their
read about the political arrests, the own countries.
violence, the ignoring of human
"It's affecting public opinion in a
rights through television and the massive way," he said.
paper, we shouldn't think "violence
Dr. Freeman Wright, CSUF prois far away, but never in our world." fessor of political science, the second
Figueroa, whose topic entailed speaker of the panel, pointed out
violence and human rights, was asked several criteria of modern politiby a student to say something posi- zation that are necessary for any
tive about the Latin American country to seek economic and political independence.
people.
"We are strong. We have managed
One of Wright's criterion was for
to survive years of repression," he international self-determination. He
said the countries had to take specific
said.
This survival has been possible steps to seek autonomy in inter-
Letters to La Voz
Editor:
The members of MEChA wish to
applaud the local chapter of the
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their recent decision to not
be a part of Coor's manipulative
marketing network in their refusal
to accept their contributions . .It is
indeed encouraging to see responsible people set an example for our
community which has, in recent
times, become a prime target of the
machinations of a right-wing administration and of parasites such as the
Adolf Coors Co.
More than ever at this time we
need to steadfastly support the boycott despite its "unfashionable"
image among the sellouts and opportunists within our community who
are quick to give in to the co-optive
program of a rich and powerful corporation. We feel that the agreement
announced in L.A. last month (in
which Coors pledged to spend $350
million dollars to support "Hispanic"
owned businesses and distributorships) is _little more than another
veiled attempt at recapturing their
market losses, resulting significantly
from the boycott's effectiveness, and
to, more immediately, reinforce their
false image as advocates of minority
causes.
It was partly in response to this
that MEC}lA, at its recent statewide
conference at U.C. Irvine, passed its
latest resolution to counteract Coor's
deceptive public relations movidas
within the Chicano/ Latino community and to expose those selfserving vendidos who want only disregard the boycott to the detriment
of their raza.
Again, with this in mind, we feel
that the Chamber has taken a principled stand on an otherwise controversial issue (particularly in the
face of such unpopular reaction from
the statewide body) and support
them in their decision.
One heart, one struggle,
Mario Huerta
CSUF MEChA
P.S. Boycott Coors
La Voz is accepting applic~tions for the
Spring Semester. The following positions are
available:
• Reporters
• Artist
• Photographers
• Production
For more information, contact Marcella
Martinez at 294-2486 or call La Raza Studies.
Special to La Voz
Jennifer Colby will present an
Exhibition of paintings entitled
"Mujeres: La misma sangre, esperanza y lucha" (Women: One spirit,
blood and struggle) at Gallery 25 ,
1526 Fulton, Fresno, December 7th
through the 30th. The reception for
the artist will be Sunday,: December
9 from 3-6 p.m. and a fundraiser for
the California Student Christian
Movement will be held at the gallery
on December 14 from 7-9 p.m.,
featuring a slide presentation on
Nicaragua, music, food and a raffle.
Colby is a graduate student in Art
at CSUF. She lived in Argentina in
1980-81 and has visited Nicaragua
twice this· year. In Fresno, she has
been active in the Latin America
Support Committee and the Interfaith Coalition for Valley Medical
Center. Her art exhibit is inspired by
these experiences.
Nine painted banners will hang in
a line that stretches from Chile to
Aztlan. Each represents a different
woman. "I want to stress the connection these women have. One blood
that runs from the source of their
indigenous, one spirit, hope of
national affairs.
Wright also noted that because of
the increasing amount of military
aid to El Salvador ($65 million in
1980) that "we 're right in the middle
of it, and that's hardly self-determination."
Although the mayor theme of the
panel was the human element, Dr.
Francisco Tomic, of Stanford University, addressed the $360 billion
Latin American debt.
After citing several reasons for the
large debt, Tomic said that the U.S.
is the only country in the world that
can believe "the illusion" that they
can forget the rest of the world.
"It's our common responsibility
to do something about it," he said.
LaVoz
l.eTt ers to the editor are welcome.
We reserve the right to edit materials. A ll letters must be signed an d
typed and remain property of La
Voz de A ztlan. Deadlinefor submission is one week bef ore printing.
For more information, ca/1294-2486
strength and future and one struggle
against the powers of imperialism
that flow from the U.S. policy under
Reagan." Her painting style is contemporary, using bold simplified
colors and elements of collage. It is
political, yet, subtle art. But the
message comes through about Latina women who face the double
oppression of race and sex. Jennifer
emphasizes the cultural elements and
each piece will be titled with a paragraph about the women in Spanish
and English.
Juanita: "She is the new woman
of Nicaragua, participating in every
level of the revolution. Everything
has changed, be/ore Ciudad Sandino had little transportation into
Managua, now she leads the Barrio
committee to achieve it. Sin la Mujer,
No hay Revolucion." Maria Elena:
"/ heard that my friends in Chile
have been imprisoned by Pinochet.
In the 11th year of his rule he has
become brutal, rounding up masses
of people. Maria Elena had always
stood by her people." Virginia:
'!Chicana, India, she struggled with
her own people, farm workers in
Colorado, she also fought for the
freedom of the Salvadoran people,
Raza will not kill Raza."
M.E.Ch.A.
Dance
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Friday, Dec. 14, 1984
Place: 3742 E. Balch St.
(Mario's place)
Pagel
La Voz de Aztlan
December 13, 1984
Chicano Expression
A SET OF RULES
LAPODA
A chicano paints on a vacant wall,
Getting up early in the morning
Mam~ is making the lonche for papa and us.
it is vandalism
An anglo paints on the same wall;
it is art.
A set of rules for each color,
with each group far apart.
Papa waking the children to get ready for work
Oldest daughter getting up with no trouble at all.
Youngest daughter getting tired and sleepy
Crying and complaining of having to wake up early.
A chicano kills;
it is murder.
An anglo kills;
The other children are already up and eating breakfast,
While mama is making tortillas and tacos de chorizo.
it is protection.
A set of rules for each color,
each with a sharp distinction.
The familia is off, a la poda nos vamos.
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
A chicano rebels;
he is a traitor.
An anglo rebels,
he is fighting for equality.
A set of rules for each color,
with each man fighting for dignity.
Look Papa, the viego is already waiting for us.
Kiko, I see you brought all your familia-ar.
These rows are yours and watch those kids,
I don't want them cutting the wrong vines.
A man is named Gonzales;
he is mexican.
A man is named Jones;
he is American.
A set of rules for each color;
a set of rules for each culture;
a set of rules for each.man.
The viejo gets in his Chevy S-10,
He'll be back at noon.
Can't make any money if we're all in the same row.
Papa says, '~Pelon and Cha a in this row,
Margaret and Amy in this row,
Me and your mama will work in this other row.
A set of rules
even when we all live in the same country;
a set of rules
·
even when all men are created ... "equal."
Nomas unos cuaritos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
The children start cutting all the vines and leaving just one.
Estamos podando, who said it was hard.
Es hora de lonche y ay biene el viejo.
Kiko, "I told you to watch-thos·e kids." ··
"You people just don't understand.
' •••
::
By Larry D. Lunsford
<1
"Take your kids and get off my land."
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
By Veronica Misquez
OUR ANCESTORS WERE HERE
YET WE ARE TOLD TO GO BACK
OUR GRANDMOTHERS SHED A TEAR
OUR TEACHERS HIDE THE FACTS
who am I?
Growing up, running free, being ME,
But where do I belong?
Through the years people change, times change,
But where do I belong?
Hitting walls feeling low
Do I know who I am?
Time to run, trying to hide
But do I know Who I Am?
Why do I feel like I don't belong?
Where do I fit in?
Can I really feel like part of the crowd?
Where is my place in this world?
Time to search, time to find
What I need to know.
Be myself, open up, see all life has to offer.
Put it all together to make good sense.
OUR PARENTS WANT US ASSIMILATED
FOR THEY ARE TIRED OF BEING DISCRIMINATED
OUR GRANDPARENTS WANT US TO RETAIN OUR CULTURE
TO LEARN OF OUR INDIAN BACKGROUND
TO BECOME EDU CATED
Find the road to happiness; it's out there
Where people can be what they want to be.
Be someone and make a difference,
Make this world a better place to be.
I found my place, my spot was waiting,
Now I am ready to be myself.
Life is full of surprises, full of changes,
Just be ready to believe in your heart.
THEN RETURN TO OUR HOMETOWN
WE ARE LEFT CONFUSED
BUT THOSE OF US WHO TRY MUST STRUGGLE
WHILE THE ANGLOS GLIDE BY
MANY OF US BECOME DISCOURAGED
I'm coming out, I'm feeling good,
YES, I AM PROUD!
To say that in this world of ours,
I was born BROWN!
I am happy, I belong
I am alive, and I am ready.
I have found all I've lost.
I am ME, and that is all I have to be.
FOR WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUT DOWN
AND TREATED AS THOUGH WE WERE DIRT FROM THE GROUND
By Armando Rivera
La Voz cle Aztlan
Page4
'" December,13, 1984
"La Virgen ·de/ Tapeyac" Premieres
San Juan Bautista-A warm.joyous Christmas tradition continues in
the Old Mission in San Juan Bautista
with another run ofEl Teatro Campesino 's "La Virgen de/ Tepeyac, "the
Four Apparitions of Our Lady of
Guadulupe, December 8th through
the 23rd. This is the eleventh time
that El Teatro Campesino has performed "La Virgen"which is part of
the special, Christmas-time tradition
ofproducing special,family-oriented
theatrical presentations in San Juan
Bautista.
"La Virgen del Tepeyac" is a
beautiful and inspiring adaptation
of the 16th century play which deals
with the four miracle apparitions of
the Virgen of Guadalupe to the
humble Mexican Indian, Juan Diego
in 1531. The miracle was a gesture of
divine love and faith that changed
history and served as thefoundation
of Christianity among the indigenous
people of Mexico and the Americas.
Through the years, "La Virgen del
tepeyac" has evolved into a joyous
celebration of drama, music and
dance with the cooperation of the
Mission parish San Juan Bautista
and the theatrical expertise of El
Teatro Campesino.
Susie Esquivel of Los Angeles will
play the role of"La Virgen, "Andres
DIA con 't from page 1
ulating reflection of the political
spirit of the two-day conference
which included ml,lsic by Felix
Alvarez, a Brown Beret and member
of a community theatre group,
Teatro de los Pobres. Backing him
up was a conjunto he refered to
jokingly as "punk mariachis"who
performed songs with themes ranging from Reaganomics to El Salvador, including a tribute to slain
archbishop Oscar Romero.
An interesting expression of political themes via popular culture was
presented by Damian and Herbert
Siguenza who performed rap music
directly reflecting on the palitieal
realities within the Chicano community. (One might note that such a
format offers a welcome alternative
to the aloof lyrical style of Michael
Jackson).
Conference workshop dealt with
the following topics: Building the
Resistance: Mobilizing our Communities Against Militarism and the
Draft; The Potential For Third
World Resistance Within the Military; Chafe No. We Won't Go!
Monreal of San Diego will play
"Juan Diego" and Jose Alvarez of
Los Angeles will appear as the
"Obispo," the Bishop of Mexico.
This year:~ "La Virgen" production
will be directed by Tony Curiel who
also directed last year's Christmastime production of "La Pastore/a."
Tony is the assistant director to El
Teatro Campesino 's Artistic Director Luis Valdez who is starring in
"Corridos, "a play which the Teatro
is staging at the historic Variety Arts
Theater in Los Angeles beginning
the first of December.
"La Virgen de/ Tepeyac" begins
December 8th with an 8:00 p.m.
performance. There will be a special
presentationat8:00p.m. Wednesday,
December 12th, the feast day of Our
Lady of Guadalupe with a half-price
admission. There will be five, 2:00
p.m. matinee presentations including
a special half-pr.iced showing on
Friday, December 21st. El Teatro
Campesino recommends advance
tickets and reservations through our
box office at 705 Fourth St, San
Juan Bautista,phone (408)623-2444.
VISA and Master Charge are accepted. Group discounts are available as well as lower priced tickets
for students, senior citiz ens and
children.
MEChA con 't from page 1
Flores also spoke of the possibility Universal registration is gomg to
of a progressive coalition being lead to our improvement."
Counter-recruitment, Non registra- formed by taking into account that
Flores concluded by asking the
tion and Draft Resistance; and Mili- 95% of the black population, 75% of students to take a stand against a
the Latino population, 65% of the possible U.S. invasion of Nicaragua.
tarism and World View.
Perhaps the most outstanding Asian population, and 36% of the
"There will be no vote on whether
highlight of the conference was a white populations participated in we will invade Nicaragua. We must
DIA slideshow titled The Military the Rainbow Coalition. He said a make our voices heard loud and
and the Draft: A Third World Per- block could be formed that would clear. We must make a political
spective. Narrated by Hector constitute a new majority.
•
statement that there will be no
Molina, of KPFA radio in Berkeley,
Refering to the Democratic Party, invasion. We must begin to build
the slideshow presented a compre- he said, "right now the Democratic strong coalitions to end an invasion
hensive look at the issues of regis- Party is meeting (post meeting). How as soon as possible. I am very contration and the draft, U.S. militarism many ofus are in that meeting? How fident that if there are bombs dropand interventionism, war, racism, many blacks are in that meeting? ped in Nicaragua, they will explode
sexism, and the plight of Third How many poor people are in that in the barrios of the U.S." The bimeeting? The Democratic Party annual Statewide M.E.Ch.A. conWorld people in the U.S.
Coming out of the plenary session represents the more liberal elements ference concluded with caucusing of
were evaluations and various re- of the middle class. With us (rainbow schools to review the resolutions,
solutions some of which included coalition) coming together and say- and a plennary session where the
establishing an informational news- ing this was not a defeat, we made a resolutions were adopted by the Calletter as part of the process initiated tremendous gain this year. The little ifornia Statewide ~ 1. E.Ch.A. body.
by the conference and organizing a gains are important. Even if Walter
The next M.E.Ch.A. Statewide
student tour to conduct presenta- Mondale had won that would not conference will be hosted by C.S.U.
tions on high school and college have been enough. We need organ- Sacramento, in March, 9, 10, and
campuses throughout the state. It izations now more than ever to . 11, 1985, which will include a rally at
was also resolved that the next con- address our social issues, [because] the state capital.
ference be held ·next year; although
., . .
no specific date was set it is expected
DONDE ESTAN MIS HIJOS?
to take place during the later part of
the year, more than likely during the
Summer or early Fall, in any case an
event worth looking forward to.
?Donde estan los hijos que pari?
!Busco sus rostros en donde quiera
Y solo encuentro desconocidos!
Tal vez sean los mios,
Pero de mi no se acuerdan.
Chicano
Youth
!Mascaras de vanidad y collares de orgullo se cuelgan,
Conletence
Les prohiben pensar de donde vinieron!
RI
!Bebieron leche de la extranjera
Al L "f •W l f ltlT[RfST[O IN UIIITY H\R RAZA
111:
fROM
r•f ( t,A - llt'\V IMl ( NTO ( STUOIANTIL CHICANn 0£ AZTLAN
Y luego les dio por dejarme en el olvido!
A urn lY POTL UC K - THURSDAY, O[C[MOfR I], lQ84 S .00 PM - 7·0()P"
UPSTAIRS CAr[T[RIA , ROOM 200
" £'/l PV!\N( H~S HI S OR H(R nwN '>P[CIAL 11EANINC. WHICH TH(Y r.1vr TO
THf I• Liff . PART or THE H[Arl!NG OF LIFE fOR Hf IS TO BETTE~
TII[ LIVI"'• Cntl()ITIONS OF P[OPL[ (If MEXICAN ANO LATINO O(~~(NT
l IVl'lf, IN HIE UNIT£0 STATES . I WISH TO CltCOURAr.[ OTH(R P(OPLt
WIi ii \ll(H A 11[ANINr. IN THEIR LIFE Tn UNITE, IN ORO[R TO Cflll(CTJ V(l~ FULFILL THAT HEAN!Nr. . "
11[ HAYf ' qA~T[O THIS l£TT£D, WITH THE ()U()T( BY A YOu11r. CHICANn WHI) IN
IQIQ, PUT n11T
~
CALL FOR COr.4ITH[NT AND UNITY .
~Rf l~VJTIN(, ALL CHICANO/LATINO STUDfNTS •. A~ INDIVIDUALS OR oRr,AN-
moo
Yo les ofreci el jugete caro de la libertad del ser
Que su padre La Revolucion compro,
llAT lllll~ Tll (014[ ANO l'HT ANO TALK TO (V[RYBODY ,
nPf.JNllATlnris ~R[ A5K£0 TO BRINt:
Y los tiene engridos con dulces de prosperidad.
THE MEAN I Ne; OF THIS
ltTTfP . I~ WIIAT HAS COHP[llEO US TO 00 THE SA'I( .
·•r
Si!! Esa extranjera me los ha robado
IF THEY CAN, TO THF P(lTLUK .
TH(
Pero lo han rechazado!
Oh!! !Si mis hijos volvieran a mi!
PURPnS( nr THIS MCETINr. IS TO DAOV[ TO nuRSELV[S THAT WE CIIN COM[ TO,
(;fTHf p ~~o AC.PH ON S(JII[ COMIIJN r,OAL FOR OURSELVES ANO OUR COl't'UNIT•.
~i solo pudiera ser como la gallina
HOPErUUY , THIS UN RE TH( FIRST STEP TO A LONG RAllt;E WAL OF UNITINC.
IJS fOR • CllfMlN CAUSE WHICH IS, TH[ BETTERMENT OF (ll/R PEOPLE.
S()t(lS ttJCHOS y s~s UNO.
H. E.Ch . A
Que junta sus polluelos debajo de sus alas,
Loca de felicidad yo viviria
Y tratando de borrar resentimientos plagados por odios mezquinos,
Los tornaria en pensamientos que semejan lo divino!
C"llfOflNA SI Alf l.NVfflSITY FRESNO
!Todo esto en gratitud yo haria,
Si mis hiios volvieran a mi!!!
.
Tuesday
CSU, Fresno
Anti-Draft
Conference
By
Al Robles
Contributing Writer
Unlike the period surrounding
Vietnam the current phase- of U.S.
militarism is being challenged by a
greater level of organized resistance
as was demonstrated in a recent
conference on the draft and U.S.
militarism held in San Jose, Nov. 17
and 18.
The significance of the conference,
distinguishing it from previous events
taking place around similar issues,
was underscored by the fact that it
was the first national gathering of
Third World anti-draft, anti-militarism, and non-intervention activists
and Vietnam -veterans. Sponsored
by the Draft Information Alliance
(DIA), the Conference On U.S.
Militarism and Third World Communities dealt with a variety of
issues and perspectives on the draft
and U.S. militarism including strategies on education and resistance
within Third World communities.
. The line-up of speakers reflected
upon the diversity of experiences
along cross cultural lines including
Thomas Banyacya, a Hopi elder and
keynote speaker who recounted his
efforts at resisting the draft during
WWII on the grounds of his religious
beliefs and the ensuing harassment
from government officials resulting
in a jail sentence. Tom LeBlanc, of
the American Indian Movement and
the Internaional Indian Treaty
Council, related his experience in
the Vietnam war and the racism
directed against him by his fellow
combatants. The sense of alienation
that he experienced often, as he said,
led him to feel that he had more in
common with the Vietnamese as a
person of color.
The second keynote speaker was
Kwame Ture of the All African
People's Revolutionary Party who
delivered a vibrant message about
organizing the mass movement.
Ture's main point stressed organization within any people's movement as the key factor in developing
beyond the level of a spontaneous
movement. "The spontaneous movement," he stated "will force the
enemy to grant concessions with
inherent limitations."
Ture was well known in the 60's as
Stokely Carmichael, a founder of
the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)~
Equally captivating was the presentation by Audrey Shenandoah,
of the Onondoga Nation, who articulated her experience as a mother
raising her sons to respect the tribal
values passed down through the
generatl?ns. ~he felt, as she stated,
that registration and the .draft represent nothing more than a_pre~aration to go to war and, thus, m du~ct
contradiction of such values which
view life as sacred and command a
love of all humanity.
.
The entertainment offered a sttm.• see DIA, page 4
Fresno State M.E.CH.A. at the statewide conference
November 11 and 12, 1984.
Jose Robledo /La Voz de Aitlan
ME C hA S1atewide Review
By Larry Gonzalez
Staff Writer
The M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference was held November 10, and 11,
1984, at the University of California,
Irvine campus. The conference theme
was, "De Los Despojos De La Eterna
Lucha Brotan Nuevas /magenesBrindis De Liberacion. "The conference was sponsored by U. C. Irvine
M.E. Ch.A.
Manuel Gomez, director of U. C.
Irvine £OP/ SAA, delivered the keynote address to four-hundred students, representing M. E. Ch.A.
organizations from throughout the
state of California.
"1984 at U. C. Irvine, the
M. E. Ch.A. Statewide Conference is
taking place and our history continues. A history of our people
coming together, an event in the
memory of our people. Perhaps y ou
will recall the significance of today,"
Gomez said.
"Our history is not in the books,
magazines, or televisions, it is written
in the scars of your parents, the
wrinkles of your grandparents. You
must know that you will continue
the struggle. We cannot forget the
assasinations of our past. We must
not isolate ourselves from the community M.E.Ch.A. is the longest
standing Chicano student organization· in the history of the United
States. It is an incredible legacy that
you have inherited. You have social
responsibility to help and _protect
the young and the old, and to help
our future. It is in your hearts,
hands, and minds, that we will be
free people," Gomez concluded.
Following the keynote address,
the students attended workshops on
Educational Rights of Undocumented
Students; Immigration Reform;
. M.E.Ch.A. Leadership Orientation
for High School Students; Problems
in Political Representation, Anti
Chicano Legislation; Barrio Issues;
The Draft: Convert and Overt Recruitment, Educational Crisis for
Chicanos; The Survival of Chicano
Studies, Central America; and a
Synopsis of the Chicano Movement
Its Present Direction. All Resolutions called for plans of action in our
campuses and communities. After
the workshops, Raul Ruiz, a professor of Chicano Studies at California State University, N orthridge,
or a participant in the 1st Chicano
Moratorium ( 1970), addressed. the
general assembly.
"One fo the most meaningful
developments in your education is
the development of your consciousness. You should have a consciosness
of your community, culture, and
your family.
"Nothing at this school or any
other university will give you what
your master teachers-your parentshave taught to you. As students and
professionals we should make our
experiences as meaningful as those
experiences of our own families/' he
said.
.,
In rega~o the Chicano Movement in the late 1960's, Ruiz said,
"Students were the main integral
part of this movement, they were the
center, the core."
Ruiz singled out the Viet Nam
war as the issue that has had the
most significant impa~t on the
Chicano Movement.
By relating the Viet Nam war to
today, he asked the students to
seriously take up the iss·ue of Nicaragua, with urgency.
"In Central America when you
hear about revolutionaries, we are
talking about fourteen and fifteen
year olds, named Maria and
Roberto. People who loo~ the same
as ourselves. I think there is a so
called mandate to stand up and say,
what we [United States] are doing is
wrong and not to accept the U.S.
government's role in this affair. He
stressed that there cannot be change
unless each one of us participates in
the change.
"That lawyer who is not an activist,
is not a lawyer, and that teacher who
is not an activist is not a teacher.
Some have abandoned that role.
There is nothing else more important
in all your life, than your role as an
activist." The second day's general
assembly featured keynote speaker
Bill Flores, one of the organizei:s...of
the Latino Agenda Coalition.
Flores worked directly with the
minority plank during the democratic convention. He said the democratic convention ignored Blacks and
Latinos, and before Ronald Reagan's
landslide victory, the Democratic
Party had already moved to the
right. ln regards to Latino elected
officials in the Southwest, Flores
said politically Latinos are underrepresented . ln California, Latinos
make up 28% of the population, and
only make up 7.8% of all elected
officials. In New Mexico, Latinos
make up 45% of the population and
only make up 29% of all elected
officials. In Colorado, Latinos make
up 14% of the population and make
up only 7% of all elected officials.
And in Texas, Latinos make up 26%
of the population and only make up
13.8% of all elected officials.
Flores also said that President
Reagan received 70% of the white
vote and for the first time in history,
the Democratic party did not even
attempt to go after the South.
Flores said, "they do not want
democracy in this country, they do
not allow us to vote on whether we
invade Grenada, or mine the harbors
of Nicaragua. And in comparing the
United States election to the Nicaraguan elections Flores said, "The
F.S.L.N. got 67% of the popular
vote in a country where 80% of the
popular electoral voted. How can it
be called a questionable victory?
They try to make us believe we live
in the most democratic society in the
world, and we do not!"
Flores noted, that during the previous elections, the Reverend Jesse
Jackson, received 90% of the black
vote. He said, "the Jackson campaign
brought together new people. If we 're
going to have any type of democracy
we have got to get Blacks and
Latinos into office."
La Voz de Aztlan
Page2
Decmeber 13, 1984
Panel Addresses Lat i n America
A group of professors from Stanford University and CSUF closed
the Latin American Week of November 12-16 by conducting a panel
titled lAtin America-Today and
Tomorrow.
During the three-hour panel, the
five professors discussed foreign
policy toward Latin America, political and social development, social
change and literature, violence and
human rights, and Latin America's
external debt.
The panel began with Dr. Manuel
Pena, CSUF La Raza Studies professor, introducing the five panelists
to a capacity crowd in room 101 of
the Industrial Arts Building.
After Pena's brief introduction,
which stressed the importance of the
human element as the mayor theme
of the panel, Dr. Lea Ybarra, CSUF
La Raza professor, opened the panel
with the topic of U.S. Foreign Policy
toward Latin America.
Ybarra started by reading several
newspaper articles on Latin American
refugees in the United States, which
depicted the pain and turmoil the
refugees went through in their countries.
According to Ybarra, President through literature by Latin American
Reagan's foreign policy of sending authors, explained Dr. Fernando
military aid to those countries only Alegria, a Stanford University professor.
aggravates the situation.
Although Alegria noted that literStressing on the fact that Chicanos
ary
censorship and self-imposed or
and Latinos in the United States
have a common historical back- forced exile were two characteristics
ground, Ybarra said, "That's you of Latin American authors, he said
and I they are killing. Those faces on that the poets had found a way
the evening news are our faces. Their around that by creating the Nuevo
Canto and the Collective Theatre.
tragedy is our tragedy."
"This means that we are caught in
Alegria said that although there
a conflict that we can no longer exists a high illiteracy rate and
government censorship, the songs
ignore," she said.
Dr. Manuel Figueroa, CSUF La . and plays are creating an awareness
Raza professor, added to ·the same in the people's minds to change the
plea. He said that because we hear or repressive social condition of their
read about the political arrests, the own countries.
violence, the ignoring of human
"It's affecting public opinion in a
rights through television and the massive way," he said.
paper, we shouldn't think "violence
Dr. Freeman Wright, CSUF prois far away, but never in our world." fessor of political science, the second
Figueroa, whose topic entailed speaker of the panel, pointed out
violence and human rights, was asked several criteria of modern politiby a student to say something posi- zation that are necessary for any
tive about the Latin American country to seek economic and political independence.
people.
"We are strong. We have managed
One of Wright's criterion was for
to survive years of repression," he international self-determination. He
said the countries had to take specific
said.
This survival has been possible steps to seek autonomy in inter-
Letters to La Voz
Editor:
The members of MEChA wish to
applaud the local chapter of the
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their recent decision to not
be a part of Coor's manipulative
marketing network in their refusal
to accept their contributions . .It is
indeed encouraging to see responsible people set an example for our
community which has, in recent
times, become a prime target of the
machinations of a right-wing administration and of parasites such as the
Adolf Coors Co.
More than ever at this time we
need to steadfastly support the boycott despite its "unfashionable"
image among the sellouts and opportunists within our community who
are quick to give in to the co-optive
program of a rich and powerful corporation. We feel that the agreement
announced in L.A. last month (in
which Coors pledged to spend $350
million dollars to support "Hispanic"
owned businesses and distributorships) is _little more than another
veiled attempt at recapturing their
market losses, resulting significantly
from the boycott's effectiveness, and
to, more immediately, reinforce their
false image as advocates of minority
causes.
It was partly in response to this
that MEC}lA, at its recent statewide
conference at U.C. Irvine, passed its
latest resolution to counteract Coor's
deceptive public relations movidas
within the Chicano/ Latino community and to expose those selfserving vendidos who want only disregard the boycott to the detriment
of their raza.
Again, with this in mind, we feel
that the Chamber has taken a principled stand on an otherwise controversial issue (particularly in the
face of such unpopular reaction from
the statewide body) and support
them in their decision.
One heart, one struggle,
Mario Huerta
CSUF MEChA
P.S. Boycott Coors
La Voz is accepting applic~tions for the
Spring Semester. The following positions are
available:
• Reporters
• Artist
• Photographers
• Production
For more information, contact Marcella
Martinez at 294-2486 or call La Raza Studies.
Special to La Voz
Jennifer Colby will present an
Exhibition of paintings entitled
"Mujeres: La misma sangre, esperanza y lucha" (Women: One spirit,
blood and struggle) at Gallery 25 ,
1526 Fulton, Fresno, December 7th
through the 30th. The reception for
the artist will be Sunday,: December
9 from 3-6 p.m. and a fundraiser for
the California Student Christian
Movement will be held at the gallery
on December 14 from 7-9 p.m.,
featuring a slide presentation on
Nicaragua, music, food and a raffle.
Colby is a graduate student in Art
at CSUF. She lived in Argentina in
1980-81 and has visited Nicaragua
twice this· year. In Fresno, she has
been active in the Latin America
Support Committee and the Interfaith Coalition for Valley Medical
Center. Her art exhibit is inspired by
these experiences.
Nine painted banners will hang in
a line that stretches from Chile to
Aztlan. Each represents a different
woman. "I want to stress the connection these women have. One blood
that runs from the source of their
indigenous, one spirit, hope of
national affairs.
Wright also noted that because of
the increasing amount of military
aid to El Salvador ($65 million in
1980) that "we 're right in the middle
of it, and that's hardly self-determination."
Although the mayor theme of the
panel was the human element, Dr.
Francisco Tomic, of Stanford University, addressed the $360 billion
Latin American debt.
After citing several reasons for the
large debt, Tomic said that the U.S.
is the only country in the world that
can believe "the illusion" that they
can forget the rest of the world.
"It's our common responsibility
to do something about it," he said.
LaVoz
l.eTt ers to the editor are welcome.
We reserve the right to edit materials. A ll letters must be signed an d
typed and remain property of La
Voz de A ztlan. Deadlinefor submission is one week bef ore printing.
For more information, ca/1294-2486
strength and future and one struggle
against the powers of imperialism
that flow from the U.S. policy under
Reagan." Her painting style is contemporary, using bold simplified
colors and elements of collage. It is
political, yet, subtle art. But the
message comes through about Latina women who face the double
oppression of race and sex. Jennifer
emphasizes the cultural elements and
each piece will be titled with a paragraph about the women in Spanish
and English.
Juanita: "She is the new woman
of Nicaragua, participating in every
level of the revolution. Everything
has changed, be/ore Ciudad Sandino had little transportation into
Managua, now she leads the Barrio
committee to achieve it. Sin la Mujer,
No hay Revolucion." Maria Elena:
"/ heard that my friends in Chile
have been imprisoned by Pinochet.
In the 11th year of his rule he has
become brutal, rounding up masses
of people. Maria Elena had always
stood by her people." Virginia:
'!Chicana, India, she struggled with
her own people, farm workers in
Colorado, she also fought for the
freedom of the Salvadoran people,
Raza will not kill Raza."
M.E.Ch.A.
Dance
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Friday, Dec. 14, 1984
Place: 3742 E. Balch St.
(Mario's place)
Pagel
La Voz de Aztlan
December 13, 1984
Chicano Expression
A SET OF RULES
LAPODA
A chicano paints on a vacant wall,
Getting up early in the morning
Mam~ is making the lonche for papa and us.
it is vandalism
An anglo paints on the same wall;
it is art.
A set of rules for each color,
with each group far apart.
Papa waking the children to get ready for work
Oldest daughter getting up with no trouble at all.
Youngest daughter getting tired and sleepy
Crying and complaining of having to wake up early.
A chicano kills;
it is murder.
An anglo kills;
The other children are already up and eating breakfast,
While mama is making tortillas and tacos de chorizo.
it is protection.
A set of rules for each color,
each with a sharp distinction.
The familia is off, a la poda nos vamos.
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
A chicano rebels;
he is a traitor.
An anglo rebels,
he is fighting for equality.
A set of rules for each color,
with each man fighting for dignity.
Look Papa, the viego is already waiting for us.
Kiko, I see you brought all your familia-ar.
These rows are yours and watch those kids,
I don't want them cutting the wrong vines.
A man is named Gonzales;
he is mexican.
A man is named Jones;
he is American.
A set of rules for each color;
a set of rules for each culture;
a set of rules for each.man.
The viejo gets in his Chevy S-10,
He'll be back at noon.
Can't make any money if we're all in the same row.
Papa says, '~Pelon and Cha a in this row,
Margaret and Amy in this row,
Me and your mama will work in this other row.
A set of rules
even when we all live in the same country;
a set of rules
·
even when all men are created ... "equal."
Nomas unos cuaritos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
The children start cutting all the vines and leaving just one.
Estamos podando, who said it was hard.
Es hora de lonche y ay biene el viejo.
Kiko, "I told you to watch-thos·e kids." ··
"You people just don't understand.
' •••
::
By Larry D. Lunsford
<1
"Take your kids and get off my land."
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
By Veronica Misquez
OUR ANCESTORS WERE HERE
YET WE ARE TOLD TO GO BACK
OUR GRANDMOTHERS SHED A TEAR
OUR TEACHERS HIDE THE FACTS
who am I?
Growing up, running free, being ME,
But where do I belong?
Through the years people change, times change,
But where do I belong?
Hitting walls feeling low
Do I know who I am?
Time to run, trying to hide
But do I know Who I Am?
Why do I feel like I don't belong?
Where do I fit in?
Can I really feel like part of the crowd?
Where is my place in this world?
Time to search, time to find
What I need to know.
Be myself, open up, see all life has to offer.
Put it all together to make good sense.
OUR PARENTS WANT US ASSIMILATED
FOR THEY ARE TIRED OF BEING DISCRIMINATED
OUR GRANDPARENTS WANT US TO RETAIN OUR CULTURE
TO LEARN OF OUR INDIAN BACKGROUND
TO BECOME EDU CATED
Find the road to happiness; it's out there
Where people can be what they want to be.
Be someone and make a difference,
Make this world a better place to be.
I found my place, my spot was waiting,
Now I am ready to be myself.
Life is full of surprises, full of changes,
Just be ready to believe in your heart.
THEN RETURN TO OUR HOMETOWN
WE ARE LEFT CONFUSED
BUT THOSE OF US WHO TRY MUST STRUGGLE
WHILE THE ANGLOS GLIDE BY
MANY OF US BECOME DISCOURAGED
I'm coming out, I'm feeling good,
YES, I AM PROUD!
To say that in this world of ours,
I was born BROWN!
I am happy, I belong
I am alive, and I am ready.
I have found all I've lost.
I am ME, and that is all I have to be.
FOR WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUT DOWN
AND TREATED AS THOUGH WE WERE DIRT FROM THE GROUND
By Armando Rivera
La Voz cle Aztlan
Page4
'" December,13, 1984
"La Virgen ·de/ Tapeyac" Premieres
San Juan Bautista-A warm.joyous Christmas tradition continues in
the Old Mission in San Juan Bautista
with another run ofEl Teatro Campesino 's "La Virgen de/ Tepeyac, "the
Four Apparitions of Our Lady of
Guadulupe, December 8th through
the 23rd. This is the eleventh time
that El Teatro Campesino has performed "La Virgen"which is part of
the special, Christmas-time tradition
ofproducing special,family-oriented
theatrical presentations in San Juan
Bautista.
"La Virgen del Tepeyac" is a
beautiful and inspiring adaptation
of the 16th century play which deals
with the four miracle apparitions of
the Virgen of Guadalupe to the
humble Mexican Indian, Juan Diego
in 1531. The miracle was a gesture of
divine love and faith that changed
history and served as thefoundation
of Christianity among the indigenous
people of Mexico and the Americas.
Through the years, "La Virgen del
tepeyac" has evolved into a joyous
celebration of drama, music and
dance with the cooperation of the
Mission parish San Juan Bautista
and the theatrical expertise of El
Teatro Campesino.
Susie Esquivel of Los Angeles will
play the role of"La Virgen, "Andres
DIA con 't from page 1
ulating reflection of the political
spirit of the two-day conference
which included ml,lsic by Felix
Alvarez, a Brown Beret and member
of a community theatre group,
Teatro de los Pobres. Backing him
up was a conjunto he refered to
jokingly as "punk mariachis"who
performed songs with themes ranging from Reaganomics to El Salvador, including a tribute to slain
archbishop Oscar Romero.
An interesting expression of political themes via popular culture was
presented by Damian and Herbert
Siguenza who performed rap music
directly reflecting on the palitieal
realities within the Chicano community. (One might note that such a
format offers a welcome alternative
to the aloof lyrical style of Michael
Jackson).
Conference workshop dealt with
the following topics: Building the
Resistance: Mobilizing our Communities Against Militarism and the
Draft; The Potential For Third
World Resistance Within the Military; Chafe No. We Won't Go!
Monreal of San Diego will play
"Juan Diego" and Jose Alvarez of
Los Angeles will appear as the
"Obispo," the Bishop of Mexico.
This year:~ "La Virgen" production
will be directed by Tony Curiel who
also directed last year's Christmastime production of "La Pastore/a."
Tony is the assistant director to El
Teatro Campesino 's Artistic Director Luis Valdez who is starring in
"Corridos, "a play which the Teatro
is staging at the historic Variety Arts
Theater in Los Angeles beginning
the first of December.
"La Virgen de/ Tepeyac" begins
December 8th with an 8:00 p.m.
performance. There will be a special
presentationat8:00p.m. Wednesday,
December 12th, the feast day of Our
Lady of Guadalupe with a half-price
admission. There will be five, 2:00
p.m. matinee presentations including
a special half-pr.iced showing on
Friday, December 21st. El Teatro
Campesino recommends advance
tickets and reservations through our
box office at 705 Fourth St, San
Juan Bautista,phone (408)623-2444.
VISA and Master Charge are accepted. Group discounts are available as well as lower priced tickets
for students, senior citiz ens and
children.
MEChA con 't from page 1
Flores also spoke of the possibility Universal registration is gomg to
of a progressive coalition being lead to our improvement."
Counter-recruitment, Non registra- formed by taking into account that
Flores concluded by asking the
tion and Draft Resistance; and Mili- 95% of the black population, 75% of students to take a stand against a
the Latino population, 65% of the possible U.S. invasion of Nicaragua.
tarism and World View.
Perhaps the most outstanding Asian population, and 36% of the
"There will be no vote on whether
highlight of the conference was a white populations participated in we will invade Nicaragua. We must
DIA slideshow titled The Military the Rainbow Coalition. He said a make our voices heard loud and
and the Draft: A Third World Per- block could be formed that would clear. We must make a political
spective. Narrated by Hector constitute a new majority.
•
statement that there will be no
Molina, of KPFA radio in Berkeley,
Refering to the Democratic Party, invasion. We must begin to build
the slideshow presented a compre- he said, "right now the Democratic strong coalitions to end an invasion
hensive look at the issues of regis- Party is meeting (post meeting). How as soon as possible. I am very contration and the draft, U.S. militarism many ofus are in that meeting? How fident that if there are bombs dropand interventionism, war, racism, many blacks are in that meeting? ped in Nicaragua, they will explode
sexism, and the plight of Third How many poor people are in that in the barrios of the U.S." The bimeeting? The Democratic Party annual Statewide M.E.Ch.A. conWorld people in the U.S.
Coming out of the plenary session represents the more liberal elements ference concluded with caucusing of
were evaluations and various re- of the middle class. With us (rainbow schools to review the resolutions,
solutions some of which included coalition) coming together and say- and a plennary session where the
establishing an informational news- ing this was not a defeat, we made a resolutions were adopted by the Calletter as part of the process initiated tremendous gain this year. The little ifornia Statewide ~ 1. E.Ch.A. body.
by the conference and organizing a gains are important. Even if Walter
The next M.E.Ch.A. Statewide
student tour to conduct presenta- Mondale had won that would not conference will be hosted by C.S.U.
tions on high school and college have been enough. We need organ- Sacramento, in March, 9, 10, and
campuses throughout the state. It izations now more than ever to . 11, 1985, which will include a rally at
was also resolved that the next con- address our social issues, [because] the state capital.
ference be held ·next year; although
., . .
no specific date was set it is expected
DONDE ESTAN MIS HIJOS?
to take place during the later part of
the year, more than likely during the
Summer or early Fall, in any case an
event worth looking forward to.
?Donde estan los hijos que pari?
!Busco sus rostros en donde quiera
Y solo encuentro desconocidos!
Tal vez sean los mios,
Pero de mi no se acuerdan.
Chicano
Youth
!Mascaras de vanidad y collares de orgullo se cuelgan,
Conletence
Les prohiben pensar de donde vinieron!
RI
!Bebieron leche de la extranjera
Al L "f •W l f ltlT[RfST[O IN UIIITY H\R RAZA
111:
fROM
r•f ( t,A - llt'\V IMl ( NTO ( STUOIANTIL CHICANn 0£ AZTLAN
Y luego les dio por dejarme en el olvido!
A urn lY POTL UC K - THURSDAY, O[C[MOfR I], lQ84 S .00 PM - 7·0()P"
UPSTAIRS CAr[T[RIA , ROOM 200
" £'/l PV!\N( H~S HI S OR H(R nwN '>P[CIAL 11EANINC. WHICH TH(Y r.1vr TO
THf I• Liff . PART or THE H[Arl!NG OF LIFE fOR Hf IS TO BETTE~
TII[ LIVI"'• Cntl()ITIONS OF P[OPL[ (If MEXICAN ANO LATINO O(~~(NT
l IVl'lf, IN HIE UNIT£0 STATES . I WISH TO CltCOURAr.[ OTH(R P(OPLt
WIi ii \ll(H A 11[ANINr. IN THEIR LIFE Tn UNITE, IN ORO[R TO Cflll(CTJ V(l~ FULFILL THAT HEAN!Nr. . "
11[ HAYf ' qA~T[O THIS l£TT£D, WITH THE ()U()T( BY A YOu11r. CHICANn WHI) IN
IQIQ, PUT n11T
~
CALL FOR COr.4ITH[NT AND UNITY .
~Rf l~VJTIN(, ALL CHICANO/LATINO STUDfNTS •. A~ INDIVIDUALS OR oRr,AN-
moo
Yo les ofreci el jugete caro de la libertad del ser
Que su padre La Revolucion compro,
llAT lllll~ Tll (014[ ANO l'HT ANO TALK TO (V[RYBODY ,
nPf.JNllATlnris ~R[ A5K£0 TO BRINt:
Y los tiene engridos con dulces de prosperidad.
THE MEAN I Ne; OF THIS
ltTTfP . I~ WIIAT HAS COHP[llEO US TO 00 THE SA'I( .
·•r
Si!! Esa extranjera me los ha robado
IF THEY CAN, TO THF P(lTLUK .
TH(
Pero lo han rechazado!
Oh!! !Si mis hijos volvieran a mi!
PURPnS( nr THIS MCETINr. IS TO DAOV[ TO nuRSELV[S THAT WE CIIN COM[ TO,
(;fTHf p ~~o AC.PH ON S(JII[ COMIIJN r,OAL FOR OURSELVES ANO OUR COl't'UNIT•.
~i solo pudiera ser como la gallina
HOPErUUY , THIS UN RE TH( FIRST STEP TO A LONG RAllt;E WAL OF UNITINC.
IJS fOR • CllfMlN CAUSE WHICH IS, TH[ BETTERMENT OF (ll/R PEOPLE.
S()t(lS ttJCHOS y s~s UNO.
H. E.Ch . A
Que junta sus polluelos debajo de sus alas,
Loca de felicidad yo viviria
Y tratando de borrar resentimientos plagados por odios mezquinos,
Los tornaria en pensamientos que semejan lo divino!
C"llfOflNA SI Alf l.NVfflSITY FRESNO
!Todo esto en gratitud yo haria,
Si mis hiios volvieran a mi!!!
.