1995_09 The Daily Collegian September 1995

              Page 2
LA OPINION
September 15,1995
Readers urged to celebrate 'la inde^endencia^
Stall Editorial
More than 185 years ago, Father
Miguel HikJalgo y Costilla carrying an
image of Our Lady of Guadalup set off to
proclaim Mexico's Cry for Independence,
today known as el Grito de Dolores.
El grito set off the beginning of Mexico's
independence movement against its
Spanish rulers in 1810.    ^—**
Now, the holiday is celebrated
throughout Mexico as well as in the
Estados. Not only does the event mean ,
independence, it symbolizes strength
and perseverance among C h icanos and
Mexicanos. Today, we ask the Chicano
community at Fresno State to take the
time out and celebrate what their ances¬
tors valiantly fought and died for.
The following is list of activities honor¬
ing el 16 de Septiembre:
Today (Friday): Between 11 a.m. to
2:30 p.m., Fresno State will feature
mariachis, food and a speaker as part of
their celebration.
Sponsored by Colmena and
Hermanismo, the afternoon event will
begin with an escolta, or an escort, where
students will cany the American and
Mexican flag to the Free Speech Area.
Tonight several groups will perform in
front of Fresno City Hall at 6 p.m. The
groups are Mariachi Santa Cecilia of
vlsalia; El Sol Folktorico dance group of
Fresno; and Xochiquetzal of Bakers¬
field.
Los Danzantes de Aztlan are among several groups performing this weekend.
On Saturday, the chef of Hacienda de
Los Morales in Mexico City will prepare a
buffet at the Downtown Club between 11
p.m. to 3 p.m. A Fiestas Patrias parade
will also take place Saturday at 10 a.m.
through downtown Fresno.
On Saturday night, Sonia Amelio, one
of Mexico's foremost castanet dancers,
will perform at Fresno State at 7 p.m. in
the Satellite Student Union.
On Sunday, Fresno and Bakersfield
will compete in a soccer match at 1 p.m.
at Fresno Pacific College.
Mexican Institute of Central California
will sponsor Mexican rodeo and festival
also on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Laton.
Tickets are $10 and $12 for adults and
$1 for kids under 12.
Los Danzantes de Aztlan will also
perform Sunday 8 p.m. at Partier Com¬
munity Center, located on Parlier St
field. On Saturdaynight, Sonia Amelio, one       Mexican institute of central California    munity center, located on ranter &x
15-year-oId's death brings remembrance among Mends, stranger
By Otivia Reyes a car wash. There, as I drove to Carl's     shootings. This time I didn't This time, it    have known that rrryrjarents-tax-paying
r m   \/~_   -«.M '- I.      I ,..„»~K~,J ■      . UJ_ *_—   __-_! i_u l_—~ mMmmmm^    ..^.~~M  „„,„„♦„       ...„„, «ma»«%#4
By Olivia
La Vox staff writer
Sometimes, as Chicanos who've
grown up in rough, forgotten barrios, we
know life isn't always nice. Yet, family
and cultural pride keep ourdreams strong
and goals inspired. Most importantly, we
strive for our younger ones, whether
they be brothers and sisters or sons and
daughters. But life has shown us over
and oyer again that we can't always
provide them with happy endings, though
we wish we could. I recently learned of
thisonarecenthomevisrttoBakersfield.
Usually greeted with smiles and hugs,
this visit brought more of a tragedy than
anything.
During my visit, on a recent hot after¬
noon, I drove my 14-year-old brother,
Angel, to a Carfs Jr. parking lot — an
image that lives vividly in my mind. My
little brother needed a ride to help out for
a car wash. There, as I drove to Carfs
Jr., I watched several of his teen-aged
friends with tiny rags in their hands wash
cars as others held signs saying, Tor
Ernie" and "Donation Only." Instantly, I
realized my little Angel was no longer
little. He grew up in just one weekend.
Angel and his friends weren't having
a car wash for a trip to Magic Mountain
nor an upcoming school activity. In¬
stead, they sweated under the hot sun
happy to see cars pull in so they could
raise enough money for their 15-year-
old friend, Ernie, who was shot in the
head on a late Sept 1 night Angel had
stood only a few feet away from him.
When I learned of what happened I was
stunned.
As a journalism student who has had
the opportunity to work during the sum¬
mer at dairy newspapers, I know what to
expect and what to do from accidents or
laWKiB
Olivia Reyes
Editor In Chief
Staff Writers:
David John Chavez, Christina Gomez, Stephanie Gomez,
^  , Miguel Hernandez, Gabriela Munoz.Debra Sanchez
*** Photographer:
Tommy Monreal
La Voz de Aztlin is the bimonthly newspaper written for Chicano and Latino students at
California State University, Fresno. Story ideas and Letters to the Editor axe encouraged and
welcomed. Please submit letters, story suggestions or contributing articles to The Dairy
Collegian newspaper office, located in the Keats Campus Building, ATTN: Olivia Reyes/
La Vox, Fresno California 93740-004 2.
Opinions published are not necessarily tho»«ofthe ASI, The Daily Collegian or the La Voz
Staff. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion ofLa Vol's editorial board. The
editor reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. La Voi de Aztlin is published
by the Associated Students Inc., Fresno State's student government.
shootings. This time I didn't. This time, it
hit home.
My brother and his friends had got
together at a friend's house that Friday
night Two of them, Ernie and another,
had walked to a nearby store. On the way
back, they were confronted by a group of
guys in their late teens or older 20s who
began shouting racial slurs. No fight
emerged, however the group returned
later in search of the youths. As they
searched, they discovered the two teens
among a group of friends including An¬
gel. A confrontation surfaced, and within
minutes, Ernie was shot suffering from a
gunshot wound to his head. The sus¬
pects fled the scene. Angel and the oth¬
ers stood by his friend - some crying,
others in shock - as they waited for an
ambulance. Ernie died at the hospital's
arrival.
Ashortstorywrthoutaby-lineorastaff
writer's name ran the next day calling the
snooting gang-affiliated while quoting an
anonymous source who said: This is
what goes on every night in the neighbor¬
hood. This is a gang neighborhood. But
this time, that guy wasn't so lucky."
Lucky? Guy? Gang neighborhood?
How could you call a young teen a guy
who wasn't so lucky, and then classify a
well-known Chicano neighborhod as a
gang barrio?
After reading the article, pain and frus¬
tration ran through my brother's and his
friends' heads. Not only was the story
false but it represented the only article
they had to remember Ernie by.
My parents were upset. They were
angry about the statements made in the
report. They also spoke of how they felt
mistreated at the scene when they went
in search of my brother after learning of
the fatal snooting. Instead of receiving
help from officers at the scene, they were
welcomed with ignorance and bright lights
flashing in their faces as if they were
suspects themselves. I was disgusted to
have known that my parents • tax-payi ng
citizens, worried parents - were treated
with a no thread of respect
I was also embarrassed that the re¬
porter who wrote the story failed to inter¬
view actual witnesses but quickly re¬
sorted to quoting an unaccountable per¬
son just to make deadline. As journalists,
one of the most important rules is to avoid
anonymity. Anonymity lacks validity and
carries no merit 4
I felt as if I was stuck in the middle of
a jagged road for how could I tell my
brother it was okay for a story to run as
such when I knew it wasn't What*8 more,
the police didn't even bother to interview
my brother. Instead he was pushed from
his friend and sprayed with mace.
I'll never get the chance to meet Ernie.
To him. I will only be a stranger. But my
parents described him as a nice, young
boy who had been Irving with afriendand
his family for several months. His mother
was Irving in Washington. Ernie also had
occassional^ stayed over at my parent's
house.
Such a shame, they said. So young.
He would never be able to complete his
dreams. He was probably too young to
even understand his goals or aspira¬
tions. Though I can only sympathize,
what hurts the most is that I Ve never lost
a friend in such an painful way as my
baby brother did. I know I can't always fix
things for him as older sisters or brothers
wish they could. I only hope he comes to
accept and cope with this loss for he is
not alone. There are many Angels out
there who witnessed what no adults have.
And there are many innocent Ernies who
faH victims to heartless circumstances.
It's only hopeful that at least we, as
aspiring Chicano professionals, can make
a change for the better.
Maybe we can somehow cany, if not
help, them when such events occur.
Maybe we can improve a few paths.
There's no question about it. We must