1984_12 The Daily Collegian December 1984

              La Voz de Aztlan
Decmeber 13,1984
Panel Addresses Latin America
A group of professors from Stan¬
ford University and CSUF closed
the Latin American Week of Novem¬
ber 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, polit¬
ical 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 pro¬
fessor, 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
ofthe 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 count-
According to Ybarra, President
Reagan's foreign policy of sending
military aid to those countries only
aggravates the situation.
Stressing on the fact that Chicanos
and Latinos in the United States
have a common historical back¬
ground, Ybarra said, "That's you
and I they are killing. Those faces on
the evening news are our faces. Their
tragedy is our tragedy."
"This means that we are caught in
a conflict that we can no longer
ignore," she said.
Dr. Manuel Figueroa, CSUF La
Raza professor, added to the same
plea. He said that because we hear or
read about the political arrests, the
violence, the ignoring of human
rights through television and the
paper, we shouldn't think "violence
is far away, but never in our world."
Figueroa, whose topic entailed
violence and human rights, was asked
by a student to'say something posi¬
tive about the Latin American
people.
"We are strong. We have managed
to survive years of repression," he
said.
This survival has been possible
Letters to La Voz
Editor:
The members of MEChA wish to
applaud the local chapter of the
Valley Hispanic Chamber of Com¬
merce 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 respon¬
sible people set an example for our
community which has, in recent
times, become a prime target of the
machinations of a right-wing admin¬
istration and of parasites such as the
Adolf Coors Co.
More than ever at this time we
need to steadfastly support the boy¬
cott despite its "unfashionable"
image among the sellouts-arid oppor¬
tunists within our community who
are quick to give in to the co-optive
program of a rich and powerful cor¬
poration. We feel that the agreement
announced in L.A. last month (in
which Coors pledged to spend S350
million dollars to support "Hispanic-
owned businesses and distributor¬
ships) 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
It was partly in response to this
that MEChA, 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 com¬
munity and to expose those self-
serving vendidos who want only dis¬
regard the boycott to the detriment
of their raza.
Again, with this in mind, we feel
that the Chamber has taken a prin¬
cipled stand on an otherwise con¬
troversial 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
through literature by Latin American
authors, explained Dr. Fernando
Alegria, a Stanford University prcr
fesior.
Although Alegria noted that liter¬
ary censorship and self-imposed or
forced exile were two characteristics
of Latin American authors, he said
that the poets had found a way
around that by creating thc Nuevo
Canto and the Collective Theatre.
Alegria said that although there
exists a high illiteracy rate and
government censorship, the songs
and plays are creating an awareness
in the people's minds to change thc
repressive social condition of their
own countries.
"It's affecting public opinion in a
massive way," he said.
Dr. Freeman Wright, CSUF pro¬
fessor of political science, the second
speaker of the panel, pointed out
several criteria of modern politi-
zation that are necessary for any
country to seek economic and polit¬
ical independence.
One of Wright's criterion was for
international self-determinatibn. He
said the countries had to take specific
steps to seek autonomy in inter¬
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-deter-
Although the mayor theme ofthe
panel was the human element, Dr.
Francisco Tomic, of Stanford Uni¬
versity, 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 "thc illusion" that they
can forget the rest of the world.
"It's our common responsibility
to do something about it," he said.
La Voz
letters to the editor are welcome.
We reserve the right to edit male-
rials. Alt letters must be signed and
typed and remain property of La
Vo: de A ztlan. Deadline for submis¬
sion is one week before printing.
For more information, call 294-2486
Special to La Voz
Jennifer Colby will present an
Exhibition of paintings entitled
"Mujeres: La misma sangre, esper-
anza 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 Inter-
faith 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. "1 want to stress the connec¬
tion these women have. One blood
that runs from the source of their
indigenous,  one spirit, hope of
strength and future and one struggle
against the powers of imperialism
that flow from the U .S. policy under
Reagan." Her painting style is con¬
temporary, using bold simplified
colors and elements of collage. It is
political, yet, subtle art. But the
message comes through about Lat-
ina women who face the double
oppression of race and sex. Jennifer
emphasizes the cultural elements and
each piece will be titled with a para¬
graph about the women in'Spanish
and English.
Juahita: "She is the new woman
of Nicaragua, participating in every
level of the revolution. Everything
has changed, before Ciudad San-
dino 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 llth 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, farmworkers in
Colorado, she also fought for the
freedom of the Salvadoran people,
Raza will not kill Raza."
La Voz is accepting applications 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.
M.E.Ch.A.
Dance
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Date: Friday, Dec. 14,1984
Place: 3742 E. Batch St.
(Mario's place)
La Voz de Aztlan
December 13,19S4
Chicano Expression
Getting up early in the nforning
Mama is making the lonche for papa and us.
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.
The other children are already up and eating breakfast,
While mama is making tortillas and tacos de chorizo.
The familia is off, a la poda nos vamos.
Nomas unos cuantos surquitos,
The faster we go the sooner we get out.
Look Papa, the viego is already waiting for us.
Kiko.T see you brought all your familia-ar.
These rows are yours and watch those kids,
I dont want them cutting the wrong vines.
The viejo gets in his Chevy S-10,
Hell be back at noon.
Cant make any money if we're all in the same row.
Papa says, "Pelon and Chapa in this row,
Margaret and Amy in this row,
Me and your mama will work in this other row.
Nomas unos cuantos 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 those kids."
"You people just dont understand.
"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
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 EDUCATED
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
FOR WE ARE CONSTANTLY PUT DOWN
AND TREATED AS THOUGH WE WERE DIRT FROM THE GROUND
A SET OF RULE8
A chicano paints on a vacant wall,
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.
A chicano kills;
it is murder.
An anglo kills;
it is protection.
A set of rules for each color,
each with a sharp distinction.
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.
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.
A set of rules
even when we a
a set of rules
even when all men are created..."equal."
By Larry D. Luruford
who am 17
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 1 know who 1 am?
Time to run, trying to hide
But do I know Who I Am?
Why do 1 feel like I dont belong? t
Where do 1 fit in?
Can 1 really feel like part of the crowd?
Where is my place in this world?
Time to search, time to find
What 1 need to know.
Be myself, open up, see all life has to offer.
Put it all together to make good sense.
Find the road to happiness; it's out there
Where people can be what they want to be.
Be someone and make a deference,
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.
I'm coming out, I'm feeling good,
YES, I AM PROUD! j
To say that in this world of ours,
I was born BROWN!
I am happy, I belong
1 am alive, and 1 am ready.
I have found all I've lost.
I am ME, and that is all I have to be.
By Armando Rivera