Cronicas de las Raza – fund drive special, and Frida Kahlo webcast

Posted onSeptember 30, 2008
This week’s La Raza Chronicles is a special fund drive program with our guest producer. We encourage you to listen and donate generously in support of all the programing we bring you all year long at KPFA with news of the Americas, community affairs, musica and poesia.

The SF MOMA Frida Kahlo exhibit just closed. So if you missed it or want to learn more about Frida, check out and enjoy our earlier program broadcast over the summer:

========

La Raza Chronicles presents a special program focusing on the iconic, legendary and revolutionary Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, through conversation, poetry, music and sound mix.

Vanessa Bohm quotes Frida on News Sin Fronteras, Mr. Chuch brings her through the Streets of Aztlan, and Nina Serrano discuses the Frida Kahlo current exhibit at the SF MOMA with curator, John Zarobell; Rafael Jesus Gonzalez recounts his first encounter with a Frida Kahlo painting, and Adrian Arias reads his new Poem “Frida at the Mirror.”

You will hear one of her favorite songs “La Llorona” in a post-modern version by Omar Sosa and Greg Landau.

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

PLAY NOW:

Audio stream -KPFA:
La Raza Chronicles – July 22, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

Mp3 / iTunes Podcast:
La Raza Chronicles – Tuesday, July 22, 2008 – Mp3

More info:
http://kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=27468

Cronicas de la Raza – KPFA FM – 23 September 2008

Posted onSeptember 24, 2008

La Raza Chronicles in its Spanglish magazine format covers Latino cultural and political issues and in the US and Latin America, including music and poetry.
Tonight’s program includes “News Sin Fronteras” with Vanessa Bohm covering the headlines across the Americas. Amelia Gonzalez interviews stand-up comic Bill Santiago about his new book, “Pardon My Spanglish.” Nina Serrano interviews poet Juan Felipe Herrera and invites him to read from his new work, published by City Lights Press. We offer both books to listeners as a premium for subscribing to the station during this marathon drive-either on the web or by phone. Mr. Chuch will be on board at the controls.

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

PLAY NOW:
La Raza Chronicles – September 23, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

Mp3 / iTunes podcast:
La Raza Chronicles – Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Original broadcast: Tuesday 09 Sept 2008 – 7pm PST:
KPFA 94.1 FMSan Francisco Bay/Northern California
KPFB 89.3 FMBerkeley
KFCF 88.1 FMFresno

Live on the web at: http://www.kpfa.org/


Hear previous broadcasts of La Raza Chronicles :
http://www.larazachronicles.org

More info:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?show=16

La Raza Chronicles team statement on the recent incident at KPFA

Posted onSeptember 24, 2008

On September 16, the La Raza Chronicles production team unanimously issued the following statement read by Nina Serrano concerning the recent incident at KPFA involving the beating and arrest of longtime KPFA volunteer Nadra Foster.

Hear the statement as broadcast:

PLAY NOW (statement at 13:10 into program)
La Raza Chronicles – September 16, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

You have heard on these airwaves the upsetting news of dissension among the paid and unpaid staff over the station management and Pacifica’s calling the police to remove a volunteer from the building and her ensuing injuries from the police and the felony charges against her. We, at La Raza Chronicles, object to the calling of the police. We believe that police intervention would only be warranted if bodily harm to people and/or broadcast equipment are involved. This does not seem to have been the case.

We must and surely will find nonviolent ways to work things out and to discuss the issues beyond a “them and us” mentality. Police enforcement can be brutal. But the debates about this unfortunate and ill-advised event are happening just before we begin the fundraising drive this Thursday- while there is with a more ominous situation in the wings.

The Pacifica network is in dire fiscal straits. On top of this, Hurricane Ike has now closed down the Texas station for a while. This means that we will be asking you to participate in the fund drive as generously as you can to help pay the on-going bills. Because, if there is no KPFA, we cannot democratically resolve our internal disagreements. Imagine any local or world crisis without KPFA to turn to for information

Nina Serrano – host/producer
Julieta Kusnir – associate producer
Ventura Longoria – engineer/producer, Streets of Aztlan
Vanessa Bohm – producer, News Sin Fronteras
Clayton Leander – engineer / webmaster
Emiliano Echeverria – music segment producer

Tonight: Cronicas de la Raza – KPFA FM – 23 Sept 2008

Posted onSeptember 23, 2008

La Raza Chronicles in its Spanglish magazine format covers Latino cultural and political issues and in the US and Latin America, including music and poetry. Tonight’s program includes “News Sin Fronteras” with Vanessa Bohm covering the headlines across the Americas. Amelia Gonzalez interviews stand-up comic Bill Santiago about his new book, “Pardon My Spanglish.” Nina Serrano interviews poet Juan Felipe Herrera and invites him to read from his new work, published by City Lights Press. We offer both books to listeners as a premium for subscribing to the station during this marathon drive-either on the web or by phone. Mr. Chuch will be on board at the controls.

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

Live on the air – Tuesday 7 pm PST:
KPFA 94.1 FMSan Francisco Bay/Northern California
KPFB 89.3 FMBerkeley
KFCF 88.1 FMFresno

Live on the web at: http://www.kpfa.org/

Hear previous broadcasts of La Raza Chronicles :
http://larazachronicles.org

More info:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?show=16

La Raza Chronicles team statement on the recent incident at KPFA

Posted onSeptember 19, 2008

On September 16, the La Raza Chronicles production team unanimously issued the following statement read by Nina Serrano concerning the recent incident at KPFA involving the beating and arrest of longtime KPFA volunteer Nadra Foster.

Hear the statement as broadcast:

PLAY NOW (statement at 13:10 into program)
La Raza Chronicles – September 16, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

You have heard on these airwaves the upsetting news of dissension among the paid and unpaid staff over the station management and Pacifica’s calling the police to remove a volunteer from the building and her ensuing injuries from the police and the felony charges against her. We, at La Raza Chronicles, object to the calling of the police. We believe that police intervention would only be warranted if bodily harm to people and/or broadcast equipment are involved. This does not seem to have been the case.

We must and surely will find nonviolent ways to work things out and to discuss the issues beyond a “them and us” mentality. Police enforcement can be brutal. But the debates about this unfortunate and ill-advised event are happening just before we begin the fundraising drive this Thursday- while there is with a more ominous situation in the wings.

The Pacifica network is in dire fiscal straits. On top of this, Hurricane Ike has now closed down the Texas station for a while. This means that we will be asking you to participate in the fund drive as generously as you can to help pay the on-going bills. Because, if there is no KPFA, we cannot democratically resolve our internal disagreements. Imagine any local or world crisis without KPFA to turn to for information

Nina Serrano – host/producer
Julieta Kusnir – associate producer
Ventura Longoria – engineer/producer, Streets of Aztlan
Vanessa Bohm – producer, News Sin Fronteras
Clayton Leander – engineer / webmaster
Emiliano Echeverria – music segment producer

Rafael Jesús González: A mis hermanos Republicanos….

Posted onSeptember 18, 2008

A mis herman@s Republicanos

y a todos nosotros que necesitemos oírlo

A la vez que la campaña presidencial estadounidense caldea, los Republicanos mienten más y más y uno oye los lemas usuales, pomposos, exhaustos, vagos, sin sentido lanzados de un lado a otro, muchos de nosotros reaccionando como los perros en el laboratorio del Dr. Pavlov o como las ratas en los laboratorios de la Universidad de California Berkeley algunas cuadras de donde des dirijo la palabra. Pero ¿qué significan?

Las palabras son sacras solamente en cuanto tengan significado contextual y expresen una verdad. Si me las vas a lanzar, debo insistir que lleven definición el la cual podremos estar de acuerdo. Empecemos con algunas:

“Patriotismo” para mí significa poner el bienestar del país más alto que el mío, o ver el bienestar del país inseparable del mío. ¿Qué significa para ti?

Pero ¿qué es “El País”?

¿Es “El País” la tierra, los ríos, los lagos, las montañas, los valles, los árboles, las plantas y animales que constituyen su terreno?

Si es así, ¿qué proponemos para proteger y cuidarlos?

¿Es “El País” la gente que habita la tierra?

Si así es ¿qué proponemos para asegurar la salud de la gente? ¿Qué propones para asegurar que la gente tengo suficiente de comer? ¿Qué proponemos para asegurar que la gente tenga techo sobre la cabeza? ¿Qué proponemos para asegurar que la gente aprenda y tenga la sabiduría por la cual hacer las decisiones que las haga felices? ¿Qué proponemos para asegurar que la gente tenga trabajo por el cual ganar el dinero para comprar lo que necesiten? ¿Qué proponemos para mejorar las vidas de la gente?

¿Es “El País” la Constitución que codifica sus ideales y pone sus leyes?

¿Qué proponemos hacer para proteger esa constitución y asegurar que las leyes “Del País” acuerden con ella? ¿Cómo proponemos asegurar que esas leyes sean justas? ¿Cómo proponemos asegurar que esas leyes se aplique igual?

¿Es “El País” el gobierno? ¿Es “El País” aunque el gobierno no proteja o cuide ni la tierra, ni las aguas, ni las planta o animales que sus bordes define? Es el gobierno aunque el gobierno no proteja o cuide del bienestar de la gente que habita la tierra? ¿Es el gobierno cuando este no respeta la Constitución o sus leyes? ¿Es el gobierno cuando este no sirve ni a tierra, ni a la gente, o sus ideales mas sólo sirve a algunas de esa gente asegurando que solamente ellas tengan lo que necesiten, y más?

Un gobierno que no cuida de la tierra ni de la gente ni de la Constitución no es “nuestro” gobierno y por lo cual no es “nuestro” país. Entonces ¿quiénes somos nosotros y ¿qué llamamos “nuestro”? Entonces debe ser el gobierno de esos poco que sirve — y los pocos no hacen un “País.”

Oigo “Democracia” y las palabras de un gran Republicano me suenan en el oído: “. . . un gobierno de la gente, por la gente, para la gente . . .”

¿Cómo proponemos hacer un gobierno de la gente? ¿Cómo proponemos hacer un gobierno por la gente? ¿Cómo proponemos hacer un gobierno para la gente?

Cuando oigo la palabra “Democracia” declamada por los políticos y demagogos que hacen nada para asegurar un gobierno de, por y para la gente (no solamente alguna gente) y en vez hacen tirsos de la Constitución y la Lista de Derechos, deshacen de habeas corpus, torturan prisioneros, nos espían a nosotros el pueblo, les a la mujeres decisión sobre sus propios cuerpos, matan a la gente de otras tierras en nuestro nombre, sacrifican a nuestra juventud en guerra ilegal e insensata, y se niegan en cuidar de los que vuelven, heridos en cuerpo y mente, me hierve la sangre pues estoy harto de pavonadas.

Para mí “El País” significa la tierra que lo define, la gente que lo habita, sus instituciones que manifiestan sus ideales y sus leyes, y su gobierno que lo protege y nutre en todos sus aspectos, un gobierno de, por y para el pueblo, todo el pueblo no solamente los privilegiados.

Oigo el término “La Bandera” arrojado seguido por aquí y allá y veo estrellas y bandas roja, blancas y azules promiscuamente giradas alocadamente y me da vértigo. Pero ¿qué es “La Bandera”? ¿Es un pedazo de trapo confeccionado o impreso en ciertos colores y diseño? ¿Qué significa?

Como seña podría significar algo: si sobre un edificio podría significar “este es un centro del gobierno o edificio público” o “este es un lugar donde se venden automóviles”; si sobre un barco podría significar “este es un barco del gobierno estadounidense o un barco de los Estados Unidos.”

Como símbolo es tan vago y complejo en sus connotaciones que sólo es tan significativa como las cosas que se supone representa: País, Gobierno, Democracia, Tierra, Ideales. Y todos estos son tan confusos en las mentes de los que la menean y de nosotros que “La Bandera” sólo significa cualquier cosa en la que hemos sido indoctrinados y acondicionados a creer. Cuando demagogos y embusteros menean “La Bandera”, es degradada.

No me confundas con banderas; “La Bandera” sólo me puede tener significado una vez que me hayas definido “País” y me hayas comprobado que te importe y promueves los ideales que representa. Detesto a hipócritas.

Muchas veces con “La Bandera”, oigo el término “Moralidad” declamado. ¿Qué es la Moralidad? Lo que significa para mí es tratar a la otra persona con respeto y compasión; significa que el bienestar de mi hermano o hermana me importante tanto como el mío. Mi sentido de “Moralidad” ha sido formado por un gran Maestro se supone dijo: “da de comer al hambriento, dale de beber al sediento, viste al desnudo, aloja al desamparado, cura al enfermo, visita al prisionero,” “No juzgues para que no seas juzgado,” “tú que eres libre de pecado lanza la primera piedra,” “tú eres el guardián de tu herman@,” “voltea la otra mejía,” “benditos son los que hacen la paz,” “la ley fue hecha para el humano y no el humano para la ley.” Y cuando un joven adinerado le preguntó como ganar el paraíso, le dijo, “Da lo que tengas a los pobres. Es más difícil para un rico entrar al paraíso que para un camello pasar por el ojo de una aguja.” También dijo, “tal como hagas con tu hermano y hermana tal lo haces conmigo,” “una nueva ley traigo, ama a dios sobre todo y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo,” que es decir que mi bienestar es inseparable del tuyo.

¿Qué propones hacer para darle comer al hambriento, darle agua al sediento, vestir al desnudo, alojar al desamparado, curar al enfermo, cuidar del prisionero, enseñar al ignorante, hacer la paz? Hasta que me puedas contestar mis preguntas no podré tener nada mas que desdén por tu “Moralidad.” No me confundas con cruces; detesto a los hipócritas que se esconden tras estas tanto como a los que se esconden tras las banderas.

Lo mismo vale por los “Valores Familiares.” ¿Qué son estos? ¿Serán distintos a la “Moralidad”? Sé lo son los “Valores Familiares”; mi padre y mi madre, mi abuelo y mi abuela me los enseñaron. Los “Valores Familiares” predican que cuidemos uno al otro. Predican que cuando un miembro de la familia es nin@, o está enfermo, o anciano, los que puedan trabajar los cuiden, les den de comer, los vistan, los amparen, los curen, los eduquen, los nutran. Los Valores Familiares predican que lo que hay debe ser compartido equitativamente entre todos los miembros de la familia. Los “Valores Familiares” son que respetemos y amemos uno al otro.

¿De que “Valores Familiares” hablas? ¿Qué propones para darle trabajo a un padre para que sostenga a la familia? ¿Qué propones para ayudarle a una madre para cuidar a los niñ@s? ¿Qué propones para alojar a una familia? ¿Qué propones para sanar a un padre enfermo, una madre enferma, un hij@ enferm@, un abuel@ enferm@, tío o tía? Por la vida mía no puedo distinguir entre los “Valores Familiares” y la “Moralidad.” Hasta que me puedas contestar estas preguntas no puede tener tus “Valores Familiares” por nada mas que embustería.

Y ¿la “Libertad”? La libertad no es nada mas que la habilidad de elegir entre alternativas, entre más alternativas no sean disponibles, entre más conscientes seamos de alternativas, más libertad tenemos. Para ejercer la libertad primero tenemos que vivir; para vivir tenemos que tener para comer, y agua, y salud, y ropa y amparo de los elementos. Para ser libre tenemos que aprender que es lo verdadero y lo que no es, que es sano y que es dañino, que nos hace feliz y que no; tenemos que aprender valores sanos. Para ejercer la libertad tenemos que hacernos conscientes de alternativas, oportunidades, y se instruidos para poder tomar ventaja de ellas; es lo que es la educación. La libertad requiere que toda persona pueda elegir y ser parte del gobierno que rige sobre “El País.” La libertad requiere una cultura, una sociedad, un gobierno que asegure que todo mundo en “El País” cumpla estas condiciones para la libertad y luego haga leyes para proteger a la gente de la coerción, del temor, de los rapaces (patrones, prestadores de dinero, mercaderes, fabricantes, el gobierno mismo de poca ética.)

¿Qué proponemos hacer para asegurar “La Libertad”?

Y si esto es aplicable al “País”, entonces “La Moralidad” decreta que son aplicables al mundo entero. Si verdaderamente creemos en la “Globalización”, que el mundo es único e interdependiente, entonces debemos tratar al mundo entero justamente, protegiendo la Tierra; su gente, pues la humanidad es una familia; los más altos ideales de justicia y compasión y paz. Pues solamente entonces podrá la libertad y la justicia y la paz tener significado alguno y tales términos como “Mercado Libre” son solamente más embustería cuando a lo que se refiere es rapaz e inmoral, dependiendo de coerción y del abuso del medio ambiente y de la pobreza.

He dirigido mis preguntas a ustedes que son Republicanos, pero igualmente son dirigidas a Demócratas, y las dirijo a todos nosotros. Hasta que se me hayan contestado estas preguntas, no estoy bajo ninguna obligación de escuchar con respeto ningún llamamiento vago y bombástico al “Patriotismo,” al “País,” a la “Democracia,” a “La Bandera,” a la “Moralidad,” a los “Valores Familiares,” a la “Libertad.” Cuando “El Sueño Americano [estadounidense]” se ha vuelto en pesadilla, demasiada de la cosa verdadera está en riesgo para tolerar pavonadas. Nuestras vidas, la misma salud de la Tierra depende de nosotros y de la dirección que decidamos tomar en un mundo hecho demasiado chico para que las fronteras signifiquen algo y una Tierra herida que pronto se negará a sostenernos. Ahora, sigamos.

© Rafael Jesús González 2008

Rafael Jesús González

P. O. Box 5638

Berkeley, Ca. 94705

rjgonzalez@mindspring.com

Rafael Jesús González: To My Republican Brothers & Sisters….

Posted onSeptember 18, 2008

To My Republican Brothers & Sisters,

and to All of Us who need to hear it said

As the U. S. Presidential campaign heats up, Republicans lie more and more, and the usual high-flown, tired, vague, meaningless catchwords are bandied about, many of us responding to them like the dogs in Dr. Pavlov’s laboratory, or the rats in the laboratories at U. C. Berkeley a matter of blocks from where I speak. But what do they mean?

Words are sacred only in as much as they have a contextual meaning and state a truth. If you are going to fling them at me, I must insist that they have a definition we can agree upon. Let us begin with a few:

“Patriotism” means to me putting the welfare of the country above my own, or seeing the welfare of the country as inseparable from my own. What does it mean to you?

But what is “The Country”?

Is “The Country” the land, the rivers, the lakes, the mountains, the valleys, the trees, the plants and animals that constitute its terrain?

If so, what do we propose to protect and nurture them?

Is “The Country” the people who inhabit the land?

If so what do we propose to ensure the health of the people? What do we propose to ensure that the people have enough to eat? What do we propose to ensure that the people have a shelter over their heads? What do we propose to ensure that the people learn and have the knowledge through which they can make decisions that will make them happy? What do we propose to ensure that the people may have work by which to earn the money to purchase what they need? What do we propose to better the lives of the people?

Is “The Country” the Constitution that codifies its ideals and sets it laws?

What do we propose to do to protect that constitution and ensure that the laws of “The Country” are in accord with it? How do we propose to ensure that those laws are just? How do we propose to ensure that those laws are equally applied?

Is “The Country” the government? Is it the government even if the government does not protect or nurture nor the land, nor the waters, nor the plants or animals that its borders define? Is it the government even if the government does not protect or nurture and ensure the well-being of the people that inhabit the land? Is it the government when it does not honor the Constitution or its laws? Is it the government when it serves not the land, nor the people, nor their ideals but only serves some of those people ensuring that only they have what they need, and more?

A government that does not take care of the land or of the people or of the Constitution is not “our” government and therefore it is not “our” country. For then, who is us, and what do we call “ours?” It must then be the government of those few it serves — and the few do not a “Country” make.

I hear “Democracy” and the words of a great Republican sound in my ears: “. . . a government of the people, by the people, for the people . . .”

How do we propose to make a government of the people? How do we propose to make a government by the people? How do we propose to make a government for the people?

When I hear the word “Democracy” mouthed by politicians and demagogues who do nothing to ensure a government of, by, and for the people (not just some of the people) and instead shred the Constitution and Bill of Rights, do away with habeas corpus, torture prisoners, spy on us the people, deny women decision over their own bodies, kill the folk in other lands in the name of us the people, sacrifice our youth in illegal and senseless war, and refuse to care for those who do return, wounded in body and mind, my blood boils for I am sick of nonsense.

For me, then, “The Country” means the land that defines it, the people that inhabit it, its institutions that manifest its ideal and its laws, and its government that protects and nurtures it in all its aspects, a government of, by, and for the people, all of the people not just the privileged.

I hear the term “The Flag” flung about often and see red, white, and blue stars and stripes promiscuously waved giddily about and become dizzy. But what is “The Flag?” Is it a piece of cloth sewn or printed in certain colors and patterns? What does it mean?

As a sign it may mean something: if flown over a building or ground, it may mean “this is a center of government or public building”, or “this is a car dealers’ lot;” if it is flown from a ship, it may mean “this is a ship of the U.S. government or this is a ship from the U.S.”

As a symbol, it is so vague and complex in its connotations that it is only as meaningful as the things it is supposed to stand for: Country, Government, Democracy, the Land, Ideals. And all these are so confused in the minds of the flag wavers and of us that “The Flag” can only mean whatever we have been indoctrinated and conditioned to believe. When demagogues and liars wag “The Flag”, it is demeaned.

Don’t confuse me with flags; “The Flag” can only have meaning for me once you have defined “Country” for me and proved to me that you care for and promote the ideals for which it stands. I detest hypocrites.

Often with “The Flag”, I hear the term “Morality” mouthed. What is “Morality?” What it means to me is treating the other with respect and with compassion; it means holding the other’s, my brother’s or my sister’s, well-being as important as I hold my own. My sense of “Morality” has been formed by what a great Teacher was supposed to have said: “feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned,” “Judge not lest you be judged,” “you who are sinless cast the first stone,” “you are your brother’s [and your sister’s] keeper,” “turn the other cheek,” “blessed are the peacemakers,” “the law was made for [people] and not [people] made for the law.” And when a wealthy young man asked him how to achieve paradise, he told him, “Give what you have to the poor. It is more difficult for a rich man to enter paradise than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.” He also said “as you do to your brother and sister so you do to me,” “a new law I bring you, love god above all else, and your neighbor as yourself,” that is to say that my welfare is inseparable from yours.

What do you propose to do about feeding the hungry, providing water for the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, healing the sick, caring for the imprisoned, teaching the ignorant, bringing about peace? Until you can answer these questions, I can hold nothing but contempt for your “Morality.” Don’t confuse me with crosses; I detest hypocrites who hide behind these as much as I detest those who hide behind flags.

The same holds true for “Family Values.” What are these? Are they any different from “Morality”? I know what “Family Values” are; my father and mother, my grandfather and grandmother taught me these. “Family Values” predicate that we take care of one another. They predicate that when a member of the family is a child, or is ill, or is old, those who can work take care of them, feed, clothe, shelter, heal, educate, nurture them. Family Values predicate that what there is must be shared equitably among all members of the family. Family values are that we respect and love one another.

What “Family Values” are you talking about? What do you propose to give work to a father so that he may support the family? What do you propose to assist a mother in caring for the children? What do you propose to shelter a family? What do you propose to cure an ill father, an ill mother, an ill son or daughter, an ill grandfather or grandmother, aunt or uncle? What do you propose to educate the children of a family? For the life of me, I cannot distinguish “Family Values” from “Morality.” Until you can answer these questions, I cannot take your “Family Values” as anything but more nonsense.

And “Freedom?” Freedom is nothing more than but the ability to choose among alternatives, the more alternatives there are available to us, the more alternatives we are aware of, the more freedom we have. To exercise freedom, we first have to be alive; to live, we must have food, and water, and health, and clothing and shelter from the elements. To be free we must learn what is true and what is not, what is healthy and what is harmful, what makes us happy and what does not; we must learn sound values. To exercise freedom we must be made aware of alternatives, opportunities, and trained to take advantage of them; that is what education is. Freedom requires that every person be able to elect and be part of the government which rules over “The Country”. Freedom requires a culture, a society, a government that will assure that everyone in the “Country” meets these conditions for “Freedom” and then make laws to protect the people from coercion, from fear, from predators (unethical employers, unethical money-lenders, unethical merchants and manufacturers, unethical politicians, unethical government itself.)

What do we propose to ensure “Freedom”?

And if these apply to “The Country”, then “Morality” decrees that they apply to the entire world. If we truly believe in “Globalization”, that the world is one interdependent whole, then we must treat the entire world justly, protecting the Earth; its people, for humanity is as a family; the highest ideals of justice, and compassion, and peace. Only then, can freedom, and justice, and peace have any meaning and such terms as “Free Market” are only more nonsense when what they refer to is predatory and immoral, depending as it does upon coercion, abuse of the environment, and poverty.

I have addressed my questions to you who are Republicans, but they are equally addressed to Democrats, and to us all. Until these questions are answered me, I am under no obligation to listen with respect to any vague and bombastic appeals to “Patriotism,” to “Country,” to “Democracy,” to “Flag,” to “Morality,” to “Family Values,” to “Freedom.” When “The American Dream” has become a nightmare, too much of the real thing is at stake to put up with nonsense. Our lives, the very health of the Earth depends upon us and what direction we decide to take in a world grown too small to make borders meaningful and a wounded Earth that will soon refuse to sustain us. Now let’s get with it.

© Rafael Jesús González 2008

(continuar en español)

Rafael Jesús González

P. O. Box 5638

Berkeley, Ca. 94705

rjgonzalez@mindspring.com

Cronicas de la Raza – KPFA FM – 16 September 2008

Posted onSeptember 17, 2008

Tonight’s program includes: Vanessa Bohm‘s News sin Fronteras; Ventura “Mr. Chuch” Longoria’s ” Streets of Aztlan filled with la musica de Mexico; Nina Serrano‘s review of Bill Santiago‘s book “Pardon my Spanglish” and a ticket-give-away to Bill’s comedy show, on Friday Sept 20th. On the heath beat, Julieta Kusnir gives a report on how language barriers affect health care. Poet/scholar Rafael Jesus Gonzalez presents his bilingual commentary “To My Republican Brothers and Sisters.” We add fresh salsa- enjoy!

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

PLAY NOW:
La Raza Chronicles – September 16, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

Mp3 / iTunes podcast:
La Raza Chronicles – Tuesday, September 16, 2008

La Raza Chronicles new website address:
http://www.LaRazaChronicles.org

Original broadcast: Tuesday 16 Sept 2008 – 7pm PST:
KPFA 94.1 FMSan Francisco Bay/Northern California
KPFB 89.3 FMBerkeley
KFCF 88.1 FMFresno

Live on the web at: http://www.kpfa.org/


Hear previous broadcasts of La Raza Chronicles :
http://larazachronicles.blogspot.com

More info:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?show=16


Tonight: Cronicas de la Raza – KPFA FM – 16 September 2008

Posted onSeptember 17, 2008

Tonights program includes: Vanessa Bohm‘s News sin Fronteras; Ventura “Mr. Chuch” Longoria’s ” Streets of Aztlan filled with la musica de Mexico; Nina Serrano‘s review of Bill Santiago‘s book “Pardon my Spanglish” and a ticket-give-away to Bill’s comedy show, on Friday Sept 20th. Julieta Kusnir gives a report on Latin@ access to health care featuring community experts. Poet/scholar Rafael Jesus Gonzalez presents his bilingual commentary “To My Republican Brothers and Sisters.” We add fresh salsa- enjoy!

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

Live on the air – Tuesday 7 pm PST:
KPFA 94.1 FMSan Francisco Bay/Northern California
KPFB 89.3 FMBerkeley
KFCF 88.1 FMFresno

Live on the web at: http://www.kpfa.org/

Hear previous broadcasts of La Raza Chronicles :
http://larazachronicles.blogspot.com

More info:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?show=16

Cronicas de la Raza – KPFA FM – 09 September 2008

Posted onSeptember 10, 2008

La Raza Chronicles fills the airwaves with its Spanglish enchantments with public affairs, musica y poesia. Nina Serrano interviews the dynamic poetry of Las Manas, Milta Ortiz & Maya Chinchilla about their original poems and spoken performance art pieces – are you ready to be shocked with what is innovative and fresh in latina feminista thinking? We will also hear from C`tone about the latest La Raza Chronicles website and the story of his involvement in community media. Mr. Chuch brings us the buzz from the Streets of Aztlan. Emiliano Echeverria shares his expertise and fabulous collection of Musica de Cuba. Our informatico Daniel del Solar brings us News Sin Fronteras.

Hosted by Nina Serrano.

PLAY NOW:
La Raza Chronicles – September 9, 2008 – stream @ KPFA FM

Mp3 / iTunes podcast:
La Raza Chronicles – Tuesday, September 9, 2008

More about La Manas:
http://www.myspace.com/LasManas

…and announcing La Raza Chronicles new website address:
http://www.LaRazaChronicles.org

Original broadcast: Tuesday 09 Sept 2008 – 7pm PST:
KPFA 94.1 FMSan Francisco Bay/Northern California
KPFB 89.3 FMBerkeley
KFCF 88.1 FMFresno

Live on the web at: http://www.kpfa.org/


Hear previous broadcasts of La Raza Chronicles :
http://larazachronicles.blogspot.com

More info:
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?show=16