1985_05 The Daily Collegian May 1985

              Semana de la Raza
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QUE QUIERE DECIR CHICANO?
To me "Chieano"means different things depending on who is^
using the word. Soy Mexicana pero nomas los demas Mexicanos
mepueden llamar Chicana — No megusta cuando los que no son
Mexicanos lo dicen, porque se me hace que usan la palabra en
una manera derogatoria.
Chicana quiere decir orgullo y honor. No es decir que nos
creemos mejor que otra jente pero es saber que si somos mejor en
todos respetos.
We are set apart, unique, special because of our heritage —
Going back to before the conquest — Our ancestors were
warriors or hard workers. Whatever they did, they learned to do
well. This was passed on to us and we can walk proud because of
Things, events seem to touch us more deeply, or perhaps it's
just that we're not afraid to show what we feel. "El abrazo" is a
way of showing our feelings for each other without embarras¬
sment or fear. Asi se concoce la raza, y por las canciones que
cantamos, los senlimientos que expresamos.
Our culture teaches more respect for the elder and humility
without subservience. We have more extended families because
we know thai it takes support from many to survive.
Perhaps some of us carry a lot of anger within us because of the
slights and cuts we 'vefelt directed toward us from non-Mexicans,
but knowing thai we're better helps us to endure. Others can not
diminish us.
I don t know much about the Chicano lifestyle because Mama
brought us away from it when we came to California. Even
though we lived in an international neighborhood we were never
around just Mexican families after that, except when we went to
visit in Arizona. Then I married and traveled overseas to many
different countries so we were just "americans." Now I'm alone
and except for my friends on campus I have no one around me
that's Mexican. I don't go out at all so I don't know anything
different.
I have seen how others read lo chicanos and I've heard the
word used as if it were an epithet; but then we see or hear things
colored by our own experiences so maybe what I think I see and
hear isn't true at all. I just know I'm glad I'm Mexican. There's
not another race in the world I would rather be. but if I did have
to be anything else. ! would like to be Jewish.
I think God made me for a special purpose and for that
specialness I had to be something strong; so he made me
I Por que Celebramos
el
5 de mayo
en los
Estados Unidos?
"Chic
Chelo
Los libros de historia de Mexico nos dicen: "El memorable 5 de mayo
de 1862 a taco el Conde Lorencez con arreglo al arte de la guerra, al
eje'rcito mexicano compuesto de cuatro mil hombres a las oVdenes del
valiente General Ignatio Zaragoza, que defendia los cerros de Loreto y
Guadalupe, rompiendo el fuego de ca'non a las doce del dia. Cuatro
columnas de mil hombres cada una lanzo el jefe frances-y todas fueron
rcchazadas tres veces, teniendo que abandonar el campo a las cuarto de la
tarde, con una perdida de 513 entre muertos y heridos, impidiendo un
fuerte aguacero que se continuara la persecution, que era tambien dificil,
porque derrotados los invarsores como estaban, tenian todavm m£s
fuerza numerica que Zaragoza. El ejercito francfs, decfa este caudillo, se
ha batido con mucha bizara; su general en jefe se ha portado con torpeza
en el ataque, las armas naciona — les se han cubierto de gloria... puedo
afirmar con orgullo que ni un solo momento volvi6 la espalda al enemigo
el ejercito mexicano durante la larga lucha que sostuvo."
Este discurso histo'rico justifica y explica parcialmente la celebracion
del 5 de mayo en la Republica Mexicana, pero no en los Estados Unidos.
El hecho de que la poblacion de origen mexicano sea un conglomerado
compartidor de las tradiciones cfvico culturales mexicanas, tampoco
aclara la pregunta implicada en el tftulo, ya que no festejamos,
exceptuando "El Grito de Dolores," otras fiestas patrias importantes
como el 20 de noviembre: Celebracion de la Revolution Mexicana de
1910; el 5 de febrero: Constituciones de 1857 y 1917, etc. Entonces, por
que celebramos el 5 de mayo en los territorios de AztlSfn? Quien inicio
esta fiesta? Al parecer, indirectamente, Don Porfirio Diaz. Como todos
sabemos, este controvertido dictador participo'tambien en la "Batalla de
Puebla" del "memorable 5 de mayo." Por lo tanto, cuando don Porfirio
estuvo en el poder ordeno que el 5 de mayo se celebrara con igual
esplendorqueel 16deseptiembre: Independenciade Mexico,puestoque"
6*1 habia sido uno de los protagonistas en la "Batalla de Puebla."
Porteriormente, al iniciarse el movimiento de la Revolution Mex^- ;
icana, muchos de los porfiristas exiliados en los Estados Unidos
siguieron festejando el 5 de mayo en la zona frontcriza de la Union
Americana, creando asf esta tradition que perdura hastas nuestros dias,
pero sin Diaz.
Dr. Cosme Zaragoza
Marcha de Justicia
La Union de Trabajadores campesinos (UFW) invitan al publico en
eneral a una marcha, en contra de Deukmejian y los rancheros de
producen una de mesa.
Se llevara acabo: Viernes, Cuatro de Mayo
En la esquina Academy y Calle parlier
en Earlier
* 10:00 a.m.
Vengan YApoyemos
Semana de la Raza
':.
A Better Understanding Of Our Culture
By Ernesto Martinez
During Mexico's colonial period, Spain jealously guarded its colony
from cultural influences from other European nations. Especially those
powers which the Spaniards considered a threat to its colony, primarily
England and France.
As a consequence, the mestizo culture that developed in Mexico and
the Southwest (USA),was a blending of the Indian and Spanish culture
with the latter asserting a predominant influence.
ft wasn . until Mexico gained its independence from Spain (1821) that
Mexico opened its doors to other countries of the world.
Mexico, however, still maintained strong cultural ties with its mother
country, Spain, and remained" Spanish' 'culturallyuntil ihe beginning of
the twentieth century.
It was during the second half of the nineteenth century that the music
and dances from Eastern Europe started to gain popularity throughout
Mexico, particularly, in the North.
The waltz and its related forms (polka, shottise, redovas) received
considerable resistance from the conservative Catholic Church which
still maintained strong ties with Spain.
This resistance centered supposedly on moral rather than cultural
grounds. Despite the opposition from the Catholic Church, the music
and dance from Eastern Europe started to take roots in Mexico
especially among the aristocratic class.
The establishment of the Maximilian Empire in 1864 reinforced the
predilection for this type of music and dance.
Maximilian and his wife, Carlota, came from Europe'sfinest aristocra¬
tic society and entertained their Mexican guest in the finest European
tradition. The courtly dances that were performed during this period in
time, besides the waltz and its related forms, were the French Quadrilles,
or most commonly known in Spanish as cuadrillas.
The cuadrillas were a French variation of the Bftglish country dance.
They were reminiscent of the square dances thadwe see today except that
they were danced in a much more stately fashion.
Penetration of French soldiers to the northern part of Mexico,
brought this "latest" style of dance to this region where it quickly
underwent certain changes and quickly acquired a unique norteno
temperament.
Even though this style of dance is no longer popular, the word
"cuadrilla "is still in popular use today but in a different sense. The term is
used to refer to a group of people who work in the fields.
Another cultural, tradition left by the French are the musical groups
which accompany the dancers of Jalisco called mariachi.
During this short lived reign of Maximilian, there existed in Jalisco,
Mexico, musical groups which played at various official ceremonies and
social events. These un-named ensembles were especially popular with
the French and with the Mexican aristocracy at wedding receptions.
The French attempted to Hispanize the French word mariage
(marriage) by appending a "chi "lo the word and as a consequence, these
groups that played at the weddings were christened mariachi.
These <ire but a few examples of the cultural legacy left by the French
during their short stay in Mexico.
The cultural influence that took place during this period of time is still
felt by many Mexicans and Chicanos alike but have been obscured by.
time and space.
Mexican/ Chicano culture is rich in history and tradition and know¬
ledge of it can only lead to a better understanding of our heritage and real
pride in ourselves.
■".■a*-.*-**.^.^.^.^^,^,^^.^^^^
Chicana Heads Elections Committee
Pat Reyes
Staff Writer
For twenty-year-old Margaret
Reyes, newly elected CSUF Elections
Committee Chairperson, she has one
special goal in mind as chairperson:
"I have a special interest in seeing
ethnic students get involved and run
for positions," Reyes said.
Overall though, "I do want to see
all students vote and participate in
the elections process."
Reyes assumed her position in
February of this semester and will
retain the position until the end of
the school year.
Her role as chairperson includes:
making sure campus elections run
smoothly; making sure none of the
by-laws are broken; and getting
students to participate in the voting
process.
CSUF is faced with some serious
campus issues, she said, like racism
and sexism. She agrees that high
tuition fees and financial aid cut¬
backs are making it difficult for
students to attend college.
She questioned the small size of
the La Raza Studies Department
and the low enrollment for Latinos
at CSUF.
By Students becoming involved in
the electoral process on campus, she
said students then have power to
vote into office those candidates
who are concerned with these campus
Change is something Reyes'hopes
to be a part of. She said her
involvement with several CSUF
campus clubs, as well as her family
upbringing has taught her to be
informed of controversial issues at a
Tewaquachi, a Native American
Indian club. She is secretary of Las
AdeUtasand isa member of MEChA.
She explained that she plays an
active role on campus because, "I
like to be involved and I'd like to see
other women involved."
Her parents were instrumental in
.exposing her to the political strife of
the farmworkers while she was
growing up. She said her parents
were important role models for her.
HerfathecthelateJoseA. Reyes,
was a Fresno representative and
oiganizerforthe United Farmworkers
Union.   -
He was considered by Fresnans to
be influential in community affairs
as well as playing an active role with
the UFW in the San Joaquin Valley
and in several eastern states.
Reyes reflected back in her past
when she participated with her family
in the grape boycotts by saying "It
was the natural thing to do,"
As a result, Reyes said she has
learned from her past to be non¬
violent, respectful, kind and
independent.
She said that her personal
experiences, in the farmworker
movement, has inspired her to
pursue a career in law and work as a
lawyer for the UFW and also teach
law.
She said her father had always
encouraged his family to pursue a
career and spend at least one year
working with the UFW.
For the meantime, Reyes said she
is pursuing a bachelors of arts
degree in liberal studies and is ■
minoring in La Raza Studies. She is
a junior and works as a peer advisor
for the Educational Opportunities
Program.