Last Words for the End of the Decade

BEFORE I begin my post, I would like to send out some birthday shout-outs for the month of January (and if I have overlooked you, please accept my "oops"):
1. Jana Moore (4th), my dear friend/sister in Tomball, Tx
2. Marivel, Dora's great-niece from Big Spring, Tx
3. Michelle, Dora's niece (Marivel's mom) from Big Spring, Tx
Have a wonderful, fun-filled birthday! And if you didn't get exactly what you wished for at Xmas, here's your second chance!

KUDOS goes out to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina! Rex Wockner, a news reporter for gay media (12 years running) in, yes, count'em, 38 countries, updated his blog with a posting of the first gay marriage in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. A bill to legalize same-sex marriage throughout the nation is pending in Argentina's Congress and there seems to be enough votes to pass it, which is phenomenal considering the country is predominately Catholic! Other Latin American countries with similar laws include Uruguay, Mexico City (hey!), the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, and the Mexican state of Coahuila, yes folks, on the Texas border near Del Rio. (Eso! Eso!) And in case you weren't aware, other countries who have progressed (unlike the USA) include: Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. If these countries can think outside of the box, why does this country refuse to do so?

AND NOW A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR FANCY, SHMANCY AIRPORT SECURITY. Northwest Flight 253 averted a tragedy on Xmas Day. But, as this event makes painfully clear, the airport security systems put in place after 9/11 have serious flaws...still. And so do the bureaucracies that run them...still. When will we ever learn. The giant seems to constantly want to sleep. How in the hell was Mr. Abdulmutallab permitted to board an airliner with explosives in his underwear?! The worst of this story is that two critical pieces of info appear to have been connected: National Security Agency intercepts of al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen talking about using a Nigerian man for an attack, and a warning from the Nigerian's man father...HIS FATHER!...about his son's radicalization in Yemen. And yet, the U.S. sat on the info. YOU SHOULD WANT TO KNOW WHY! This case has the smell of pre-9/11 events, when the N.S.A., the CIA, and the FBI all had gathered bits of intel about the future hijackers. Did the U.S. act on this intel? Here's a hint: the Twin Towers are gone, as well as 3000+ people on board the hijacked flights. And now, let's fast forward to Xmas Day 2009. Let's be clear on one thing: the system did NOT work. It is disturbing to me that Janet Napolitano, Obama's secretary for homeland security, seemed to suggest, even briefly, that it had. MISS JANET, ARE YOU FUCKIN' KIDDING ME? If we can't catch a Nigerian with an EXPLOSIVE POWDER in his underwear and a syringe full of ACID, whose own FATHER had alerted the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, a traveler whose ticket was paid for IN CASH and who DIDN'T CHECK IN BAGS, whose visa renewal had been DENIED by the British, and whose name was on a COUNTERTERRORISM WATCH LIST, who can we catch? On Tuesday, Obama acknowledged what he called a "systemic failure" in the nation's security apparatus and saying he would "insist on accountability at every level." I hope he was including himself because EVERYBODY bears responsibilty: the Bush regime for not connecting the dots before 9/11 and continuously failing to improve homeland security after that; the Congress under both parties for not being insistent on the changes; and the Obama administration (yes, Obama, yes, he gets no free pass from me), which has shown little interest until now in reforming what is clearly an inadequate security system. JFK was new to the Oval Office when he accepted responsibility for the Bay of Pigs fiasco, even though there was more to the story.

MIKE LEACH MADE THE NEW YORK TIMES. It's too bad his termination as Tech's head football coach was the news-making topic. According to the NYT, "Leach said his dismissal stemmed from bitterness on the board of regents that lingered from his contentious contract negotiations last year." The story went on to quote Leach as saying, "Texas Tech's decision to deal in lies and fabricate a story which led to my firing includes, but is not limited by, the animosity remaining from last year's contract negotiations...I will not tolerate such retaliatory action; additionally, we will pursue all available legal remedies." While there are several former and current players and coaches who defend Leach, there are other Tech players who support Adam James. Tramain Swindall told the AP that he supports Adam and "what he's doing because it's the right thing to do." But it is the fan base the university and the James family must contend with. When Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, read the termination letter from Tech, a chorus of boos was set off and the crowd became emotionally charged. Many of the fans wore black and red tshirts that read "I love Pirates," a reference to Leach's obsession with pirates. I was instant messaging with a friend who lives in Lubbock and she indicated to me that she heard students suggesting Adam hire security detail when he returns to his classes in the spring. She also said that many fans are painting messages on the windows of their vehicles with the words: "Fire Myers!" Interesting....


SINCE we are nearing the end of a decade--the 2000s--I thought it would be fitting to honor those we lost throughout the decade. If their deaths came in the first decade of the 21st century, their lives helped define the 20th.
We lost inanimate objects, but they were significant just the same: the Twin Towers.
We lost actors who ruled the silver screen with grand performances: Katharine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, Jason Robards, Glenn Ford, and Marlon Brando.
We lost those faces who we saw on a regular TV basis: Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, Peter Jennings, Tim Russert, Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Julia Child, Bea Arthur, John Ritter, Steve Irwin, Merv Griffin, and Fred Rogers, who always went by Mister.
We lost remnants fo the Kennedy years: Pierre Salinger, Arthur Schlesinger, Patricia Kennedy Lawford, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Edward "Teddy" Moore Kennedy.
We lost remnants of the Civil Rights Movement: Rosa Parks, Lester Maddox, and Coretta Scott King.
We lost a gracious world leader in Benazir Bhutto, who was leading a rally for her Pakistan People's Party in the parliamentary campaign she hoped would restore her to power early in 2008 when she was killed.
We lost literary giants: John Updike and Michael Crichton.
We lost entertainers: James Brown, Johnny Cash, Bo Diddley, Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Luciano Pavarotti, George Harrison, and Celia Cruz.
We lost masters of film direction: Robert Altman, Stanley Kramer, Sydney Pollack, and John Hughes.
We lost our comic relief: Bob Hope, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac, and George Carlin.
We lost an athlete: Johnny Unitas, taking with him his '60s buzz cut and his precision instrument of an arm.
We lost the man who gave us the Peanuts characters: Charles M. Schulz.
We lost the cartoon men: William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.
We lost fashionistas: Yves Saint Laurent, Bill Blass, and Liz Claiborne.
We lost an enigma: Anna Nicole Smith.
We lost shining stars: Heath Ledger, Natasha Richardson, Aaliyah, Left Eye of TLC, and more recently Brittany Murphy...deaths that shocked us for their abruptness, prematurity, and theft of promise.
And Finally, we lost a legend in TV: Farrah Fawcett. Though it was expected, Farrah's passing was still a devastating blow to those of us, her admirers, who felt she had been dealt a double blow by dying on a day when heads were turned in another direction; therefore, this direction shall remain nameless and without tribute.
The preceding list of those we lost may be people we never knew, but their deaths can feel personal. Their deaths, in many respects and in a fleeting way, compels us to take measure of what has slipped from our own lives. To be sure, they remind us of our own impermanence. That said, let us begin the new year--the new decade--with optimism. Step into the new decade with a new zeal for righting the wrongs in our lives and never passively accepting fate. Instead, exhaust every last ounce of will and hope in the face of any challenge or adversity. After all, approaching challenges and adversity with a positive attitude at lease gives you a chance for success. And remember, a successful life is not measured by how many people have loved you, but by how many people have been loved by you.

Another Kennedy Making the Headlines

I was looking at my Xmas Wish List last night and I came across one of the items I listed: Ted Kennedy's autobiography True Compass: A Memoir. I really hope I get this book, as I have always been an admirer of the Kennedy clan. This morning, as I was reading through The New York Times, I came across the headline "The Catholics vs. the Kennedys." Immediately, I began to read the article. Long story short, the article focuses on a bishop in Providence, Rhode Island banning Representative Patrick Kennedy (Teddy's son) from receiving communion after Kennedy criticized the bishop for opposing health care reform unless it rolled back existing abortion rights.
Right away, I am reminded of how Patrick's late uncle, JFK, was forced to defend his Catholic faith before a roomful of skeptical Protestant ministers in Texas before his election in '60. I googled the speech he gave and this is what JFK said: "I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish, where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches of any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general population or the public actions of its officials." It is no small irony, then that Rep. Kennedy, now the only member of Congress from America's most prominent Catholic family, had his faith questioned by the Bishop Tobin for his pro-choice position on abortion, an issue that has recently become a hot topic during a time when legislators are trying to pass a health care bill.
Let's take a brief visit to the past, something the bishop obviously has not done. It was Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, who first defined the separation of church and state (in his words...the "wall of separation" between "the garden of the church" and "the wilderness" of the state). Granted, Williams' concern was for the protection of the church from encroachment by the state. But this separation also protects the state from religious extremism.
Rep. Kennedy is not the only politician who has been criticized for his pro-choice stance. Senator John Kerry was ambushed by a number of U.S. cardinals and bishops over abortion. As a result, Kerry became the third Catholic to win the Democratic nomination but the first to lose the Catholic vote.
I suppose the bishop is within his right to ban Kennedy from receiving communion. And I suppose the Church is within their rights to enter the political arena and preach that no health care is better than health care that pays for abortions. However, I also believe that if the Eucharist is everything that the Church says it is, then no one has the right in withholding it from anybody. You say in your prayer before communion that you are not worthy to receive the body of Christ. How then are you ever worthy to decide who else should receive? Judging by his actions, the bishop thinks that Catholic politicians should take their direction from the Vatican, not the voters. More and more, there seems to be more political sermons delivered from the pulpit. Need I remind the Church that this politicking from the pulpit threatens the Church's nonprofit status? The Church has plenty of assets to tax.
Dora is always referring to this "Catholic guilt." And others have simply labeled it as a sort of shame the Church has long used as a cudgel of control against its own people. I'm glad to see Rep. Kennedy not allowing them to use it against him. He knows the value of this separation of church and state. This separation is rooted even in scripture. Jesus was challenged on whether paying taxes conflicted at all with his stance on doing right in the eyes of God. He said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. (book of Luke)
And most importantly, with respect to the Eucharist: it is never a cleric's place to assert that a man (or anyone else) is barred from a relationship with God.
I'm not a theologian or a Catholic scholar, but I know enough to know that the Bible says nothing about "abortion" but plenty about hypocrisy, pride, greed, and arrogance and the Church has been wrong on occasion throughtout history.

Today's Special: Stone Soup

As indicated by the title of this posting, today's special is Stone Soup, which means that I will be commenting on more than one topic. But first thing's first. Dora and I attended our niece's (Alex) choir concert last night and, as usual, it was awesome. And Alex looked very pretty in her attire.
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TRIBUTE TO A GENUINE LEGEND: JOHN LENNON, 1940-1980. THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS UNTIMELY DEATH WAS DECEMBER 8th. THIS WORLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE JOHN. "IMAGINE" HOW MUCH BETTER THE WORLD WOULD BE!!!!! RIP
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Well, Obama has decided to send more troops to Afghanistan. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I don't like this decision. Frankly, I'm disappointed in Obama for beating the war drums like this. After all, at a cost of more than $100 billion a year, the U.S. cannot afford a war that does not make us safer. Though Obama blasts the notion that the war in Afghanistan does not compare to the Vietnam War, I think there are good arguments that it does. For instance, LBJ also hesitated about committing troops to Vietnam. He still did it, placing him in the middle of the quicksand. Then, as now, the war caused innocent civilian deaths--deaths the top brass prefers to call "collateral damage." Obama claims that our troops will be training Afghan soldiers. Hmmm, LBJ promised that "Asian boys" would do the fighting. To LBJ's credit, they did. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of young American soldiers died along with millions of Vietnamese. If you are unsure about the war in Afghanistan, then I encourage you to not support it. There is an interesting website I highly recommend for your perusal: www.rethinkafghanistan.com
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Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we are waiting for the bowl games (and Xmas,too). Incidentally, only Texas Tech and Oklahoma are favored among the eight teams that were selected. GO TECH!!!!! The Horns of Austin are the underdogs against Alabama in the BCS Championship Game. In fact, 73% of SportsNation indicated that Texas would lose. I agree. After watching the performance (or lack of one) by Colt McCoy & Co. against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, UT does not deserve to be in contention for the national title. Furthermore, McCoy should kiss his chances of winning the Heisman good-bye, au revoir, and adios. His performance (or lack of one) was absolutely NOT Heisman-caliber. I'm not a BAMA fan, but I predict BAMA wins by three touchdowns and a field goal. Good luck Horns. You will need it. What is the silver lining to this BCS fiasco? The Florida Gators will not be playing in the championship game!
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I was reading The New York Times and found two articles which disturbed me. The subject of the first article was the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, which was ordered to release more than 12,000 pages of documents relating to lawsuits alleging decades of sexual abuse of children by its priests. Allow me to reiterate the word "ordered." According to the report, "it was not the power of repentance or compassion that compelled the" diocese to release the docs, but "it was a court order...The diocese had spent seven years fighting a lawsuit brought by The New York Times and three other newspapers to unseal the records in 23 lawsuits involving accusations against seven priests." Of course, this information does not revise our knowledge about the scandal that has plagued the church since 2002, when the scandal erupted in Boston. But the testimony provided in these documents is still chilling. And the problem does not exist only in the States. It is also found in Ireland. According to The Times, the church and the police in Ireland covered up decades of child sex abuse by priests in Dublin. The cover-ups continued to the mid-1990s and beyond! The report was prepared by a group appointed by the Irish government and called the Commission of Investigation Into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin, and indicated that the church was concerned only with "the maintenance of secrecy, the avoidance of scandal, the protection of the reputation of the church, and the preservation of its assets." And the accounts of abuse are as chilling as the accounts in the U.S. One priest admitted to abusing more than 100children! It is NOT my intention to only pick on the Catholic Church. Scandal, corruption, greed, and hypocrisy can be found everywhere. These articles simply crossed my daily reading of The New York Times. I also find it coincidental that these articles came before my eyes at a time when I have just learned (last month) that a close friend of mine admitted being sexually abused by a priest. In the past, when I read about the abuse, it made me sick to my stomach. But now that the abuse hits closer to home, my feelings have evolved to consummate anger.

Birthday Shout-Outs!!!!

Last month, I forgot to include November birthday shout-outs (so sorry). Here they are:

(3rd) Josie Hernandez
(8th) Cindy Welch
(14th) Dr. Ana Martinez-Catsam
(25th) Eva Guzman

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

And now, the December birthday shout-outs:

(7th) Micaela Ryan Veliz
(13th) Betty Gamboa
(14th) Aurora Dominguez
(27th) Felicia Guzman
(31st) Mark Veliz

Chee-tah, Chee-tah, Pumkin-eatah!!

I am so sick and tired and tired and sick of hearing about Tiger's "transgressions." Who the hell cares?! What happens between Tiger, aka Chee-tah, and his ol lady is exactly that--between Tiger and the wife. Yeah, he made a mistake (and by the looks of it, more than one), but the biggest mistake made was NOT admitting his mistake before others pieced together the embarrassing facts. I guess the golf diva mistakenly thought the rules did not apply to him.
One thing is for sure: athletes are not role models ladies and gents. They are simply models--for everything from sports drinks to running shoes to sportswear to credit cards to razor blades to Buicks to Wheaties. While I do believe that everyone is entitled to privacy, let's be real here. Tiger has been marketing himself since he turned 21 (when he turned pro), essentially becoming a billionaire with endorsement deals Nike, American Express, Titleist, General Motors, and General Mills. While I do believe that everyone, including the rich and famous, is entitled to some level of privacy, I also believe that once he served up the fairy tale wedding to the Swedish beauty and had a family, his value was in family and its values. From then on, he sold his image of decency, filial devotion, and paternal responsibility--not mysterious car crashes. And what of the icing on the cake? I cannot believe he actually left that dreaded voicemail message! I'm not a fan of golf or Tiger Woods, but I had always thought--THOUGHT--that the guy was at least intelligent. I guess now all we have left to look up to is Derek Jeter. Hmf...yeah right! How is your crabs condition Mr. Jeter?

FOOTBALL FIESTA...SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE

I am not much of a soccer fan by any stretch, but I am looking forward to next year's Fifa World Cup, which will be kicking off June 11th in South Africa. The World Cup trophy arrived in SA on Tuesday. I am looking forward to the tournament because of what the tournament means to the country. It will transform lives of its people. To be sure, it will not eradicate townships, put an end to HIV/Aids, or stop the violent crime. But the tournament means a great deal to the people. It's more symbolic than anything else--a symbol of hope. Having been a student of South African History in grad school, I learned about the terror apartheid reigned upon its black South Africans at the hands of Afrikaners. South African President Zuma said in an interview (Mail & Guardian Online): "All of us who were in that struggle [against apartheid] said: 'One day we are going to be a democratic South Africa, one day we are going to be a member of Fifa, one day we are going to host this World Cup'." Apartheid collapsed only 15 years ago. South Africa, a country of 49-million souls and 11 official languages, can already claim to have had one unifying moment through sport, with the 1995 Rugby World Cup win on home turf, which was deployed by Mandela to narrow the gulf between white Afrikaner culture and that of the newly emancipated black majority. And, opening on December 11th, will be the Clint Eastwood film--INVICTUS--starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, and I can't wait! The rugby victory had its own symbolism--the unification of a country that had been violently divided because of apartheid. The 2010 Fifa World Cup is the next stage on from racial rapprochement. I just hope that South Africa, with 450,000 foreigners coming in for 64 matches, will be able to contain the excitement that comes from these matches. The sport is taken very seriously on this side of the hemisphere!

"She's not retreating, she's reloading."--Palin's father

Wow, this is my second consecutive post! I'm on the roll as it seems. Actually, I was not planning to post anything today, but after watching the Sarah Palin interview on "Oprah," I simply couldn't help myself.

What did I think of Palin after the interview? Ugh...er...ugh...hmm. Seriously, her statement "You don't need a title to make a difference" (though true) was misleading. She wouldn't admit it, but she is clearly hoping to run for president in 2012.

Let's see...what about her other comments?

She maintained that there are "so many inconsistencies" in Levi's story. HA! There are no inconsistencies in Levi's stories. There are only differences between his account and Palin's.

Palin claimed that she was totally confident about performing well as a vice-president because she has such a great support system. She claimed that her husband Todd would have helped with the children and household matters. Hmm, how would Todd be able to help if he is physically absent for months at a time?

The one thing that has been constant in all her interviews, including the interview done today by Oprah, is her adamant refusal to answer the question(s) or provide credible reasons for her actions. For instance, she provided no credible reason why she suddenly quit as governor. She claimed that she didn't feel she could speak her mind about national issues without lawsuits and ethics violations being filed against her. In fact, she accused the Obama camp of sending individuals to start the FOIA requests and the ethics violation charges. Hmm, it has been my experience that when someone worries about such things, there is usually a good reason for it.

And then, there is Katie Couric. Palin complained about the way Couric interviewed her, pushing her too much on issues. Hold the phone Palin! Seriously?! You had just been nominated to be the Vice President of the United States and all you expected was "coffee talk" with a network journalist so you two could compare working mom notes? Seriously?! Are you freakin' kidding me?! You claim women can do anything (and they can) but then bitch that Couric pushed you too much on actual issues--issues you should be able to deal with if you are to be the VP. I'm not a Katie Couric fan, but I found Palin's remarks about her petty and irrelevant. Couric was not running for office....Palin was!

I was glad Oprah asked Palin about the problems that arose from Team McCain. Team McCain dictated what Palin could say, wear, do, and eat, and she was often reprimanded for "going rogue." But Palin took the blame for any problems that arose from her "handling." She said, "At the end of the day, I'm the candidate, and if ever I got sucked into that...it's my fault." Personally, I think the woman is lying through her teeth. I do not believe for one minute that she did not get royally pissed off when Team McCain controlled her every move. They not only insisted on controlling her every move, they threw her under the bus when McCain lost the election. But it's her party and she can deal with it.

Did she impress me? No, not in the very least!

Was there more to her story than what she was willing to reveal? Most definitely yes!

Will she run for the presidency in 2012? Perhaps (it wouldn't surprise me if she did, and this time on her own terms). After all, her father did say, "She's not retreating, she's reloading." Sounds kinda scary! On that note, I leave this timely piece of advice: To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

A Few Thoughts on Sports, Religion, & Politics

It has been a while since my last posting and I have finally decided to stop being lazy and publish a new post. After Friday night, I thought this weekend would end up being completely shitty. The Lee Rebels lost their football game. In fact, they forgot to show up altogether. But then, I thought, I have the Red Raider football game to look forward to for Saturday night. NOT! The Red Raiders disappointed me, as they lost to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Damn! Could the black cloud be more adamant about following me?!

So then, I decided to make some key predictions for NFL Sunday. I predicted that the New Orleans Saints would remain undefeated. Guess what? I was right! They beat the St. Louis Rams, although the Rams gave them a run for their money. I was happy to see Danny Amendola, former Red Raider, play in the game. For the record, Jerry "Asshole" Jones dissed him. What an asshole! Although I would be glad to see the Saints go to the Super Bowl, the Saints will have to play some quality teams in the playoffs. Smack talk and a few runs by Reggie Bush (don't get me wrong; I love Reggie) won't get this team a win in January.

I also predicted the Indianapolis Colts would remain undefeated. Guess what? I was right! They beat the New England Patriots at the very end of the game. And oh what a helluva game it was!!!! Manning & Company erased a 34-21 deficit with less than five minutes left in the game. The Colts walked out of their home stadium with the 35-34 victory that kept them undefeated, put them three games ahead of the archrivals in the fight for home-field advantage in the playoffs, and tied New England's 18-game winning streak from 2003-2004. There's nothing more exciting than watching two great teams on the battlefield. It was as even as it gets--both glamour-boy quarterbacks had their A-game going and both offenses and defenses performed well. It took one very questionable late coaching decision to allow Indianapolis to pull away at the end. When Belichick decided to go for it with 2:08 left in the game and 4th and 2 from his own 28, he was delirious and overly anxious. Brady indicated in the postgame conference that Belichick was only demonstrating his confidence in his offense. Really Tom? Would you have made that decision? Of course you're gonna approve your coach's dumb decision...in public. But what does Belichick's decision tell his defense? It tells his defense that he did not trust them enough to play great defense and win the game. After all, the Pats were in the lead. They had the lead for most of the game. They dominated all night. If Belichick would have made the more sensible and logical decision (PUNT THE BALL), all that was required to win was to play great defense. Belichick will remember this night. And once again, the Colts-Pats game was everything it was cracked up to be. Go Colts! But I still love Wes Welker!

The last prediction I made was that the Cowboys from Dallas would defeat the Green Bay Packers. And guess what? I was wrong, wrong, wrong. And I was glad, Glad, GLAD! I thought for sure that they would beat the Packers. C'mon, the Packers haven't been playing all-that-great. But how soon I forgot what I always say: "Anything can happen on any given Sunday." Hell, even the Washington Redskins came away with a W, defeating the Denver Broncos. And today, Green Bay's defense finally played up to its potential, proving me totally wrong. But hey, it was against "Deer-in-the-headlights" Romo. I don't mind. 17-7! Romo played true to form. I guess he'll be getting that haircut now!!! To be sure, it wasn't a glamorous win for the "Cheeseheads," but it might have saved their season after back-to-back demoralizing losses. The Packer offense definitely needs improvement. Congratulations to Dom Capers (defensive coordinator) and the entire defense for saving the Packers' asses.

Enough of sports...

KUDOS to Sir Ian McKellan for his thoughts on gay rights and organized religion. Recently, The Advocate conducted an interview with McKellan, as he was promoting his new film. The actor, who came out more than 20 years ago, says he is disillusioned with organized religion. He said, "I increasingly see organized religion as actually my enemy. They treat me as their enemy. Not all Christians, of course. Not all Jews, not all Muslims. But the leaders...Why should I take the judgment of a declared celibate about my sexual needs? He's basing his judgment on laws that would fit life in the Bronze Age. So if I'm lost to God, organized religion is to blame." Amen Brother!!! Organized religion is the enemy of truth. It is the rust of unused minds. It is the opiate of the masses. I personally believe that the root of the problem is that people form beliefs simply because it is what they are told to believe. Religion is divisive as well. It's no coincidence that religion has often been found at the root of many wars. It is high time for this country to begin taxing religion. We could definitely pay down the national deficit and quit cutting funding for other programs such as education.

Shame, shame, shame on the state of Maine for repealing legislation that extended marriage rights to same-sex couples in a bill passed by the legislature and signed by Governor John Baldacci last spring. The repeal measure passed by a vote of 53% to 47%. Jeers to Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which contributed the majority of the funding for the repeal campaign. She claims that those who object to same-sex marriage do not hate gay people or want to hurt them, further stating that they do not believe gay marriage is a civil right but a civil wrong." How is it a civil wrong? What is the basis for her statement? If it's a religious conviction....er...lady, have you ever heard of the phrase "separation of church and state"? Once upon a time, interracial relationships were against the law...until it was repealed. Denying same-sex couples the right to marriage is discrimination and a violation of their civil rights...pure and simple! SAY IT AGAIN SAM! Gay rights ARE civil rights!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in Odessa

Last night, Dora and I traveled to Odessa for the John Ben Shepperd Lecture Series, hosted by the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute and UTPB. The featured guests were Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. If you have ever seen the motion picture "All The President's Men" starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, then you know the historical significance of Woodward and Bernstein, the Washington Post reporters responsible for the Post winning the '73 Pulitzer Prize for their work on the Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's presidency. In a nutshell, these two men brought Richard Nixon down!!!!

The theme for the night was "From Nixon to Bush: What President Obama Can Learn from Presidents Past." The discussion was an intimate setting. To give the audience a sense of what happened, Woodward asked Bernstein questions and vice versa. Both Woodward and Bernstein were articulate, knowledgeable, and humorous. The following are some of the interesting points of the evening (yes, I took notes):

1. (Woodward) "Having dinner with [Al] Gore is like having dinner with a jackhammer...it's taxing."

2. (Woodward/Bernstein) "Unjustified secrecy is a problem for every president since Nixon."

3. (Woodward) How did they pursue the story of the century (Watergate)? Methodically...they went to everyone...clerks, assistants, ect. and they did not get sidetracked. They did not get caught up in the "noise." The "noise" was what Nixon was calling them in public and in the press..."fabrications" and reporters with "political agendas." They worked day and night. The most powerful man in the country consistently threatened them.

4. (Woodward) The Bush administration demonstrated a "contemptuousness for the truth." The number one mistake Bush made was having secret meetings with Cheney. At these secret meetings, decisions were discussed and made, without considering other options. In contrast, the Obama administration considers other options and debates the information.

5. (Bernstein) "Vietnam and the Watergate scandal are inseparable." Both had the element of secrecy...tapping reporters because the secrecy of the presidency was penetrated. "The Bush administration learned nothing from the Nixon presidency."

6. (Bernstein) The Watergate scandal is often misunderstood. It was not just about the breaking and entering. It had an agenda: to sabotage the leading Democratic presidential candidates....to retain power through unconstitutional methods.

7. (Woodward) Nixon had an obssession with Ted Kennedy, who was one of the leading candidates for the presidency. For instance, when Kennedy requested Secret Service detail because he was receiving numerous death threats, Nixon did not want to grant his request, but later changed his mind. Why? Nixon figured the Secret Service could work for HIM by serving as HIS spies. He wanted to sabotage Kennedy. The latest tapes reveal Nixon's hatred toward Kennedy.

8. (Bernstein) "Nixon and [George W.] Bush were horribly suited for the job."

9. (Woodward) Nixon and [George W.] Bush are different. Hate drove Nixon. Bush, on the other hand, had criticisms and justifiably so, but he didn't hate. He actually believed he was doing the right and moral thing. The drawback to this belief was that Bush believed his morality was infallible.

10. (Bernstein) "The point is, though different, Nixon and Bush both had character flaws that made them unsuitable for the job. And both believed that their morality was infallible."

11. (Woodward) The Whitewater scandal during the Clinton presidency was about nothing. There was nothing there to report. But the Clintons didn't know how to deal with a newly enfranchised press.

12. (Woodward/Bernstein) The Obama administration, so far, has steered clear from "unjustified secrecy," something that has plagued other administrations where they chose to make the press and its conduct the issue and not the conduct of the president.

They did include a brief discussion about Hillary Rodham Clinton, which I think bears witness to the fact that Hillary is a person who is capable of being a great leader. After all, the evening was about several different presidencies and here we were, throwing Hillary into the mix of powerful men. Bernstein's most recent book is the national bestseller A Woman In Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham. Woodward asked Bernstein what he thought of Hillary and he said, "She is a remarkable, able, vunerable human...passionate."

At the end of the evening, Dora was able to get her event program autographed by both Woodward and Bernstein. I took my personal copy of their book The Final Days, written in 1976 about the last days of the Nixon presidency, and had them autograph it. It was a great evening.

Today is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month!

The White House became ''La Casa Blanca'' on Tuesday, October 13th, celebrating Hispanic musical heritage with a South Lawn concert with performances by Gloria Estefan, the Bachata music group, Jose Feliciano, and more. The event was hosted by Jimmy Smits, Eva Longoria Parker, and George Lopez. Thalia asked President Obama to dance and the Prez could be seen shaking his boo-tay! Marc Anthony, Pete Escovedo, his daughter Sheila E., and Tito ''El Bambino'' also performed. Sheila E. was musical director and leader of the house band.
Other notables at the concert included Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the high court. She posed for photos with everyone who sought them. Also present were Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and members of Congress. Renowned Latin American chef Maricel Presilla was guest chef for the evening.
Earlier Tuesday, Longoria Parker, a star of ''Desperate Housewives,'' and music producer Emilio Estefan met with other members of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to discuss plans for a possible Latino museum in Washington. Heeeeyyyy! I am very excited about that and I sincerely hope it comes to fruition! Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., said Salazar asked the commission to report back in a year on whether a museum or some other project dedicated to Latino history, art and culture is feasible. Becerra had sponsored a bill for a museum but said he'll wait for the commission's recommendation before taking further action.

And I'd like to remind EVERYONE to watch "Latino In America," a special report by CNN's Soledad O'Brien, which premieres OCTOBER 21 AND 22 at 8:00 p.m. She will uncover what it's like to be, as the name suggests, latino in America.

Granted, being latino in America is a struggle. To be sure, things have gotten a lot better since the first half of the 20th century. In terms of overcoming everyday struggles, being Latino is one thing, but being a gay/lesbian latino/latina is quite another. While Latinos have broken ground in just about everything in America, gay Latinos remain largely invisible, especially in the public arena. There exists a deep-seated homophobia within the Latino community, which has forced many LGBT Latinos to go underground...live "in the closet." Here again, though, changes are underway. Attitudes are shifting.

For example, El Diario La Prensa, one of the oldest and largest Spanish-language newspapers in the U.S., recently endorsed the rights of same-sex couples to marry. And within the past three years, lawmakers in countries as diverse as Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico have passed laws granting rights and protections to gays and lesbians.
But we still face special challenges. Like other gay people of color, Latino gays face a double bind: discrimination from mainstream culture and from their own community. This double bind presents an obstacle to Latinos who consider coming out. Their challenge: risking rejection from their family when they need their family as a refuge from racism. The family is the unit that provides the support and the one place that people can feel free and protected. It becomes doubly difficult for people to come out. Those who take that risk may pay a price.
For example, Emanuel Xavier, a gay poet and spoken word artist, says he almost destroyed himself because he couldn't find acceptance within the Latino community. The New York-based poet says he grew up knowing that his sexual identity infuriated other Latinos. He once saw kids pelt a gay Latino hairdresser with stones. He routinely heard Roman Catholic priests condemn homosexuals. His own mother called him names when she discovered he was gay, says Xavier, editor of "Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry." Xavier says he was so filled with self-loathing that he once sold drugs and engaged in risky sexual behavior. "I became all those things society expected me to become," he says. "I thought that was the only thing I could be." Xavier says he decided to ditch his reckless lifestyle and become a poet. He reconciled with his mother and took on a new mission. He wanted to show others that one could be Latino, gay and proud. "Fortunately, I walked away unscathed," he says of his earlier days. "I thought that God had given me a second chance, and I felt like I had to do something with that."

Unfortunately, others aren't as lucky as Xavier.

Bottom Line: Tolerance is no longer enough. What is required is ACCEPTANCE!!

Be Mindful Prez Obama...The Eyes of the LGBT Community Are Upon YOU!

President Obama spoke at an HRC (Human Rights Campaign) dinner on Saturday, renewing his vow to allow gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the military, but disappointed quite a number of critics who say he is not fighting aggressively enough for gay rights. What was their beef? He failed to offer a timetable for ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It's been observed that he is simply "buying more time" until he needs our votes again.
If you've been watching the news, you know that Obama's relationship with the LGBT community has, at best, been a conflicted one. For one thing, he doesn't support same-sex marriage. And while I admit his stance bothers me, nothing pissed me off more than when he invited Rev. Rick Warren, who opposes same-sex unions, to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. It still makes the hairs on my arms stand on end just to think about it! Many gay rights supporters have accused Obama of dragging his feet. Why? Well...he's put forth a package of domestic partnership benefits for federal workers, but faced criticism that the effort did not include health benefits. He has said he would push to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages in other states, but it remains on the books.
But we can't ignore the divide within the LGBT community--the generational gap. The older generation of activists are the giants who have been through the trenches of the gay rights movement since Stonewall, who had to walk through blood, sweat, and tears and the spit of those who hated them. They bear the scars of that tumultuous journey, and for their sacrifice, I salute them. But then, there's the younger generation who is, among other things, impatient. Part of this, of course, is that young people are impatient. Also, they have no clue what it's like to be persecuted for being "different." So what do we do about this dilemma?
Social change movements always need groups....both voices...to get the work done. While we need the older generation to provide the experience, we also need the younger generation for it's energy and vigor. The younger generaton does not exude timidity and they don't embrace the claims about Obama "having a lot on his plate" or "wanting to focus all his political energy on health care." When you really think about it, it's not as if the president can't find the time to squeeze LGBT issues onto his to-do list. It's not like the political right will, all of a sudden, become enraged and critical of him. They already are enraged and critical. Therefore, these bullshit excuses are exactly that--bullshit!
While I am totally grateful for the great strides the older generation has made in terms of gay rights, now is the time for a different playbook. After all, the civil rights movement did not move forward because MLK played it "safe" and worked within the realities of prejudice. It worked because he challenged them. The women's suffrage movement did not move forward because women like Alice Paul played it "safe" and worked within the parameters of "reasonable compromise." It worked because they challenged them. Both MLK and Alice Paul were labeled as "radical." I say, "Thank goodness."
I am reminded of the trip Dora and I took to Little Rock, Arkansas in March 2009. I was studying the civil rights movement in grad school and wanted to travel to Little Rock to visit the Clinton Presidential Library, as well as the historical Little Rock Central High School, where desegregation made the news during the 1950s. We toured the Visitors' Center, which is located across the high school. For the most part, the Center was informative and compelling. The exhibits told the story of the Little Rock Nine and the violent protests of those who did not want desegregation. Towards the end of the tour, the Center included other social movements--the women's movement, the Chicano movement, and the Americans With Disabilities movement. They completely left out the gay rights movement and I was appalled, not to mention saddened and heartbroken. On the way home, I thought about it and literally had to keep myself from crying. When is this country going to get their head out of the sand and get with the program? Gay rights ARE civil rights! And if you believe that gay rights such as same-sex marriage goes against your religious beliefs, then that is your perogative. But this country was founded upon the idea of a seperation of church and state. Religion has no place in government and its legislative processes, and with good reason.
So what's the bottom line? Gay rights must be framed as an ethical, moral issue if it is to succeed politically. No more wheeling and dealing. It's an issue of liberty, equality, and fairness. Aren't these things American values we brag about to other non-democratic countries? It's about time this country live up to these ideals. And though I support Obama on most issues, I think it would behoove him to take the LGBT community more seriously. After all, we have a political voice, too.

BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUTS: Happy birthday to my friend from Pampa, Texas...Tonya Barton. Happy birthday to my good friend, mentor, and former professor...Dr. Glenda Lindsey-Hicks of Midland College. Only great things are wished for you on this day and everyday!!!!!

Columbus Day? Bah Hum Bug!

Oh brother...tomorrow is what this country designates as Columbus Day. Really...should we? Must we? I demand a recount! The holiday does nothing more than advance a national ideology of celebrating invasion, conquest, and colonialism. It's the celebration of the colonization of the Americas. I can envision it now. Columbus is getting off the ship. He's walking. He's "exploring." He sees a native. He, then, proceeds to inform them, "This is not your country anymore. This is our country now...like it or not. It's our way or the highway." So, then, the celebration of Columbus, who was an AFRICAN SLAVE TRADER prior to coming to the Americas, began the colonization of the Americas, which essentially led to the rape and plunder of the land and the genocide of Native Americans.

First of all, the idea that he "discovered" America is absurd, yet this is what I was taught in grade school. How does one "discover" a land already populated by millions of people?! Columbus never set foot in North America, nor was he aware of its existence! He landed in the Caribbean, and his explorations were limited to Caribbean islands.

"But it's just a holiday...what's the big deal?" you ask. Hmm, ask any Native American or African American about it. The holiday celebrates the founding of what was to become a brutally expansionist, slave-trading, genocidal society by someone who himself was directly involved in such atrocities.

Could it be that Columbus was merely carrying out policies and practices considered socially acceptable for his time? Hmm...Spain was not a slave-trading country until Columbus. Desperate to prove the value of his voyage, Columbus hauled away Native Americans to be sold as slaves. Columbus initiated the practice of chopping off the hands of adults who failed to provide a certain amoount of gold each month. And, he was also responsible for setting up slave operations where he literally worked entire tribes of people to death.

So what do I think of Columbus and his day? I think it's a insult to Native Americans, African Americans, and any non-European Americans and a sickening tribute to a character totally undeserving of such heroic celebration. And the celebration sends the wrong message to schoolchildren about what is heroic. Columbus was not a hero; he was a slave-trading "Indian" killer!

A Moment of Thanks....and the Peace Prize

It's time to send out some "kudos" to.......
1. The House--Hhheeeeyyyyyy! The House voted Thursday to make it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation. Matthew Shepard would be happy. RIP Matthew.
2. SAG (Screen Actors Guild)--The Screen Actors Guild has officially endorsed the National Equality March taking place Sunday, October 11, in Washington, D.C. SAG announced in a press release that members of the guild, SAG's National LGBT Actors Committee, and SAG staff will join with grassroots activists from across the country in the nation's capital to demonstrate support for passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Uniting American Families Act as well as repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. SAG members who have individually endorsed the march include Annette Bening, Neve Campbell, Gavin Creel, Wilson Cruz, Alan Cumming, Dana Delany, Joely Fisher, James Franco, Mariska Hargitay, Helen Hunt, Chad Lowe, Camryn Manheim, Ewan McGregor, Sir Ian McKellen, Julianne Moore, Kathy Najimy, Peter Paige, David Hyde Pierce, Anthony Rapp, Meg Ryan, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Tilly, and Marisa Tomei.
And finally...I saved the best for last.....
3. FAMILY--This past week, I was thoroughly reminded of how fortunate Dora and I are to have our family....Eva Dominguez, Rain Garcia, Josie and Jabier Hernandez, Amy Veliz, Betty Gamboa, as well as the rest of the family members AND our friends in Tomball, Texas, who are like family to us, Cindy Welch and Jana Moore, the women of the hour!!! May all of you get back what you have given a million, billion, jillion, trillion, zillion times over!!!!! And you will! get it back because you have truly invested in your karma. And the karma gods are watching! Once again....THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!!!!!

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Another year, another Nobel Peace Prize winner...congratulations to President Obama. But there has been so much fuss about Obama being awarded the prestigious prize by the committee. Some have stated, "It's too soon." Others have said, "He hasn't accomplished enough." And I can't believe what the right is saying...or should I? Rush Limbaugh called it a "greater embarrassment" than losing the Olympics bid for Chicago. Glenn Beck called it a "participation trophy." (Disclaimer: I don't ever take anything these two clowns say seriously, as I think they are complete idiots!)

What do I think? Well, I think there are two obvious points: (1) this is premature and (2) this is deserved. I don't think Americans are fully aware of how negative this country's reputation had sunk under the Bush-Cheney regime. The world's view of America since Obama's inauguration has made a complete turnaround. Granted, this has yet to bear real fruit, but do we not see the possibilities? Come on people! He's addressed quite a bit of issues--climate change, women's equality (remember the passage of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Act in January?), nuclear proliferation, torture, gays in the military, health care reform, the economy, and foreign relations. Does he have a lot to do still? Abso-fucking-lutely! But come on, the previous administration left the country in tatters.

More than anything, Obama has restored America's prominence in international diplomacy. He has reached out to the Muslim world. Remember the speech addressed to the Muslim world in Cairo, where he stated, "America is not at war with Islam"? (June 4, 2009)

Let's be honest. The right wing has never really liked the prize. Their vision of a peaceful world is essentially a Roman one: the eagle victorious atop crushed 'enemies,' a fearful prospect to allies and rivals alike. Oderint dum metuant = let them hate so long as they fear. Sound too much like the previous administration's arrogant attitude? But this is not really peace, is it? So if anything, Obama deserves the recognition for repudiating the imperial course laid by W and his idiot cronies.

I have also read the argument that the committee would never have given the prize to Ronald Reagan, giving it instead to Gorbachev. Excuse me!!! Hello!!!! Gorbachev did more than Ronnie Reagan!!! "Out-of-touch" Reagan vetoed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1985, an act that would have significantly helped South Africa! And let's not forget how his administration brokered illegal arms deals for hostages with...guess who...IRAN!!!! (Iran-Contra Affair)

I like what my former professor, Dr. Derek Catsam, wrote in his blog about the prize and why Obama should accept it, regardless of what others have said about not accepting it. He wrote: "Take the prize as a gesture of the peace we want and use it as whatever leverage you can to succeed in bringing about peace or at least a world that resorts to diplomacy first rather than last." Indeed!

We have much to celebrate!!

Today marks El Diez y Seis de Septiembre...Mexican independence from Spain!! Viva Mexico!!!

Also, Hispanic Heritage Month began September 15th and will run through October 15th. I encourage everyone to research our hispanic heritage and know their history. There is much to learn and appreciate. It's the time of year designated to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the U.S. and to celebrate hispanic culture. The following is a list of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have represented our community well. Take a look. You may be surprised!

1. Oscar de la Renta (Dominican Republic), fashion designer; Dominican mother/Puerto Rican father.

2. Maria Conchita Alonso (Cuba/Venezuela), actress; born María Concepción Alonso Bustillo; Cuban-born Venezuelan.

3. Carolina Herrera (Venezuela), fashion designer; born María Carolina Josefina Pacanins y Niño.

4. Jessica Alba (Mexico), actress; mother is of Danish and French Canadian descent and father is of Mexican American descent.

5. Tatyana Ali (Panama), actress; mother is of Afro-Panamanian descent and father is of Indo-Trinidadian descent; better known for her role as "Ashley Banks" in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

6. Michelle Rodriguez (Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico), actress; born in Bexar County, TX to a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father.

7. Sammy Davis, Jr. (Puerto Rico), actor, singer, tap dancer, and musician.

8. Benicio del Toro (Puerto Rico), actor; born Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez.

9. Catherine Bach (Mexico), actress; Mexican mother; better known as "Daisy Duke" of The Dukes of Hazard.

10. Antonio Banderas (Spain), actor, singer, and director; born José Antonio Domínguez Banderas.

11. Maurice Benard (Nicaragua), actor; born Mauricio Jose Morales; better known as "Michael 'Sonny' Corinthos Jr." on General Hospital.

12. Benjamin Bratt (Peru), actor; mother is from Peru and father was an American of German and English descent.

13. Lynda Carter (Mexico), actress and singer; Linda Jean Córdova Carter; father is an American of Irish descent and mother is a Mexican migrant; better known as "Wonder Woman."

14. Penelope Cruz (Spain), actress; born Penélope Cruz Sánchez.

15. Mark Consuelos (Spain/Mexico), actor; born Mark Andrew Consuelos to parents of Mexican and Italian ancestry.

16. Cameron Diaz (Cuba), actress; born Cameron Michelle Diaz; father is Cuban American and mother is of English, German, and Cherokee ancestry [explains her high cheek bones].

17. Hector Elizondo (Puerto Rico), actor

18. Emilio Estevez (Spain), actor, director, poet, and writer; father is Ramon Estevez (Martin Sheen).

19. Rita Hayworth (Spain), actress and dancer; born Margarita Carmen Cansino; attained fame as the 1940s greatest sex symbol.

20. Erik Estrada (Puerto Rico), actor; born Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada.

21. America Ferrera (Honduras), actress; born Georgina America Ferrera to parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras during the 1970s.

22. Edward Furlong (Mexico), actor; of Mexican descent on his mother's side and also has Russian and possibly Native American ancestry.

23. Daisy Fuentes (Cuba), actress and model; Cuban father and Spanish mother.

24. Andy Garcia (Cuba), actor; born Andres Arturo Garcia.

25. Salma Hayek (Mexico), actress, producer, director, and activist; born Salma Valgarma Hayek; father is a Mexican of Lebanese descent and mother is a Mexican of Spanish descent; charitable work includes increasing awareness of violence against women and discrimination against immigrants; first Mexican national to get nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress; second of three Latin American actresses to achieve a Best Actress Oscar nomination; ranked 4th in the Latino Power 50, a list of the most powerful members of the Hollywood Latino community.

26. Joanna Kerns (Mexico), actress; born Joanne Crussie DeVarona; best known for her role as "Maggie Seaver" in Growing Pains.

27. John Leguizamo (Colombia/Puerto Rico), actor, comedian, voice actor, and producer; born John Alberto Leguizamo to a Puerto Rican father and Colombian mother; also describes himself as being of Amerindian and Mestizo heritage.

28. Eva Longoria Parker (Mexico), actress; born Eva Jacqueline Longoria in Corpus Christi, Texas to Mexican American parents; later married Tony Parker; participates in lots of charity work and is also an executive producer of Shine Global Inc.'s upcoming documentary "The Harvest," which is focused on the 500,000 child migrant farm workers in the U.S. and is currently helping them fundraise for the film.

29. George Lopez (Mexico), actor and comedian

30. Jennifer Lopez (Puerto Rico), actress, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, fashion designer, TV/film producer, and activist; in 2007 received the Artists for Amnesty International award "in recognition of her work as producer and star of Bordertown, a film exposing the ongoing numbers of hundreds of women in the border city of Juarez, Mexico." She also received special recognition and thanks from Norma Andrade, cofounder of Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa A. C. ("May Our Daughters Return Home, Civil Association"), an organization consisting of mothers and families of the murdered women of Juarez.

31. Mario Lopez (Mexico), actor; official supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

32. Diego Luna (Mexico), actor

33. Cheech Marin (Mexico), actor and comedian; born Richard Anthony "Cheech" Marin.

34. Alfred Molina (Spain), actor; born Alfredo Molina; father a Spaniard from Madrid and mother was an Italian

35. Ricardo Montalban (Mexico), actor; born Ricardo Gonzalo Pablo Francisco Dorito Donquavius Pedro Montalban y Merino.

36. Esai Morales (Puerto Rico), actor; born Esai Manuel Morales; describes himself as an "actovist" primarily and as one of the founders of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, taking inspiration from his mother, who was an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; also interested in environmental issues and was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).

37. Rita Moreno (Puerto Rico), actress, singer, and dancer; born Rosita Dolores Alverio; awards include Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Tony awards; Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush in 2004; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; in 2007 was inducted into the California Hall of Fame located at the California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts by Governor Schwarzeneggar and First Lady Maria Shriver.

38. Edward James Olmos (Mexico), actor and activist; Olmos has often been involved in social activism, especially those affecting the Latino community. During the 1992 Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, when many people left the city, Olmos went out with a broom and worked to get communities cleaned up and rebuilt.

39. Rosie Perez (Puerto Rico), actress, dancer, choreographer, director, and activist; born Rosa Maria "Rosie" Perez; an activist for Puerto Rican rights--her film Yo Soy Boricua! Pa' Que Tú Lo Sepas! (I'm Puerto Rican, Just So You Know!) documents her activism.

40. Joaquin Phoenix (Puerto Rico), actor; born Joaquin Rafael Bottom, formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix; a social activist, lending his support to a number of charities and humanitarian organizations, notably Amnesty International, The Art of Elysium, HEART, and the Peace Alliance, an organization which campaigns for a U.S. Dept. of Peace; member of P.E.T.A. and the organization In Defense of Animals and has actively campaigned on their behalf; narrated the film Earthlings, a video about the investigation of animal abuse in factory farms, pet mills, in industry and research; in 2004 was awarded the "Humanitarian Award" for his work and contribution.

41. Anthony Quinn (Mexico), actor, painter, and writer; born Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca; mother was of Aztec ancestry and his father of half Irish ancestry; father rode with Pancho Villa

42. Freddy Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), actor

43. Robert Rodriguez (Mexico), director; born Robert Anthony Rodriguez in San Antonio, TX.

44. Charlie Sheen (Spain), actor; born Carlos Irwin Estevez; on March 20, 2006, stated that he questions the U.S. government's account of the 9/11 attacks; during an interview stated that the collapse of the Twin Towers looked like a controlled demolition; urged critics to challenge him on the facts; has since become a prominent advocate of the 9/11 Truth movement; on Sept 8, 2009, appealed to President Obama to set up a new investigation into the attacks; characterized the 9/11 commission as a whitewash and alleged that the Bush administration may have been responsible for the attacks.

45. Martin Sheen (Spain), actor and activist; born Ramon Gerardo Antonio Estevez; mother is an immigrant from Ireland and father from Spain, near border of Portugal; supported the '65 farm worker movement with Cesar Chavez in Delano, CA; active in politics.

46. Jimmy Smits (Puerto Rico), actor; father a Surinamese immigrant of Dutch descent and mother was a Puerto Rican; helped found the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts to advance the presence of Latinos in the media, telecommunications and entertainment industries. Jimmy is also an advocate for diagnostic colorectal screening and has appeared in a public service commercial.

47. Madeleine Stowe (Costa Rica), actress; born Madeline Mora Stowe; mother immigrated from Costa Rica.

48. Bob Vila (Cuba), home improvement TV show host

49. Raquel Welch (Bolivia), actress; born Jo Raquel Tejada; mother was an Irish-American and father immigrated from Bolivia.

50. Julia Alvarez (Dominican Republic), writer and poet; some of literary works include The Other Side (El Otro Lado) and The Woman I Kept To Myself.

51. Rudolfo Anaya (Mexico), novelist and poet; best known for his '72 novel Bless Me, Ultima; considered one of the founders of the canon of contemporary Chicano literature.

52. Sandra Cisneros (Mexico), novelist, poet, and short story writer; best known for her acclaimed first novel The House on Mango Street.

53. Christina Aguilera (Ecuador), singer; born Christina Maria Aguiler; charities include PETA, Defenders of Wildlife, Missing Kids, Natl Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, Women's Cancer Research Fund, Natl Coalition Against Domestic Violence; a staunch supporter of the lesbian/gay/bi/transgender community; spokesperson for the World Hunger Relief.

54. Tatyana Ali (Panama), singer and actress; born Tatyana Marisol Ali.

55. Marc Anthony (Puerto Rico), singer and actor; born Marco Antonio Muniz.

56. Ruben Blades (Panama), singer and actor; born Ruben Blades Bellido de Luna.

57. Irene Cara (Cuba), singer

58. Mariah Carey (Venezuela), singer; charities include Make-A-Wish Foundation, among many others.

59. Emilio Estefan (Cuba), music producer

60. Gloria Estefan (Cuba), singer

61. Dave Navarro (Mexico), lead guitarist of "Jane's Addiction"

62. Linda Ronstadt (Mexico), singer; born Maria Linda Ronstadt.

63. Carlos Santana (Mexico), musician

64. Robert Trujillo (Mexico), bassist for "Metallica"

65. Ritchie Valens (Mexico), singer

66. Ralph Alvarez (Cuba), president and CEO of McDonald's Corporation

67. Richard Velasquez (Puerto Rico), first Puerto Rican automotive designer for Porsche

68. Cesar Chavez (Mexico), farm worker, labor leader, civil rights activist, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association later the United Farm Workers or UFW

69. Dolores Huerta (Mexico), labor leader, civil rights advocate, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association later to be named United Farm Workers or UFW

70. Henry Cisneros (Mexico), former mayor of San Antonio and Secretary of HUD under Clinton

71. Bob Menendez (Mexico), U.S. Senator (D-New Jersey); only the 6th Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Senate.

72. Bill Richardson (Mexico), D-Governor of New Mexico

73. Sonia Sotomayor (Puerto Rico), newly-appointed Justice for the U.S. Supreme Court--first Hispanic to do so.

74. Nancy Lopez (Mexico), golfer

75. Chi Chi Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), golfer

76. Mark Sanchez (Mexico), NFL quarterback for the NY Jets

77. Jim Plunkett (Mexico), former NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders

78. Tom Flores (Mexico), former NFL head coach of the Oakland Raiders

79. Tony Gonzalez (Mexico), NFL football player--Atlanta Falcons

80. Manu Ginobili (Argentina), NBA basketball player--San Antonio Spurs

81. Rebecca Lobo (Cuba), WNBA basketball player

82. Alex Rodriguez (Dominican Republic), baseball player

83. Rick Sanchez (Cuba), newscaster for CNN

84. Geraldo Rivera (Puerto Rico), journalist

85. Soledad O'Brien (Cuba), newscaster for CNN

86. Salvador B. Castro, American educator and activist; known for his role in the 1968 East L.A. high school walkouts (a series of protests against unequal conditions in L.A. Unified School District schools

87. Hector P. Garcia, physician, surgeon, WWII vet, civil rights advocate, and founder of the American GI Forum, which provided Mexican-American vets a social and politcal network. The story of Felix Longoria propelled the American GI Forum to the forefront of the civil rights movement. In 1945, a Japanese sniper killed the Mexican American private Longoria in the Phillippines. His body was returned to Texas in 1949, where his widow's request of the use of the funeral chapel in Three Rivers was denied, the funeral director claiming that "the whites won't like it." García and the G.I. Forum intervened, petitioning then-senator Lyndon Johnson for redress of the outrage. Johnson secured the hero's burial in Arlingtion National Cemetary, where he became the first Mexican American to be awarded the honor. The issue garnered national attention. Following the incident, the G.I. Forum expanded into New Mexico and Colorado.

The preceding list is just the tip of the iceberg!!! Hope you were inspired!!!!

Racism?! In America?! Surely you jest!

Racism has been mentioned in the news lately by all the political pundits. Much has been speculated by Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's address. People are also gathering in front of the Capitol protesting Obama's plan for health care reform, claiming their protests are over big government. It boggles my mind that these people either don't remember or choose not to remember the big government under the Bush administration (hello? the Patriot Act?). We have people comparing Obama to Hitler, others claiming that Obama is not a U.S. citizen, still others claiming that our democracy is in danger of becoming a socialist country. I really don't think people know the meaning of socialism. Never mind that there are programs we use today that are socialist-based....medicare, the roads and highways we drive on, etc. Excuses, excuses. No one is talking or wants to talk about the pink elephant in the room. Sssshhhh ladies and gentlemen, the president...is....black. There, I said it. The fact is that racial tensions are still an issue in America. Want proof? Consider when Obama was called a liar by Joe Wilson. If "W" had been called a liar by a Democrat (especially a African-American Democrat), the GOP would have cried "bloody-murder" and started some form of radical punishment. Bottom line: Racism remains alive and well. The following is a true story. Dora, her sister Josie, Josie's husband Jabier, and I were victims of racism...yes folks...even here in conservative Midland. I will borrow Dora's words to tell the story.

The incident occurred on Saturday (09-05-09) between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The woman was pushing a shopping cart, which had space for her two kids. She was accompanied by her husband. My sister Josie, my brother-in-law Jabier, Sara, and I arrived at Sam's to pick up a birthday cake for our 75-year-old Mom, whose surprise birthday party we were hosting later that evening. The 4 of us had lunch first before we went to the bakery dept to get the cake. As is more often usual than not, no employees were to be found, so we waited around. There were two ladies ahead of us, both Hispanic like us, which will later be an important part of this story. Because we were second in line, we were standing a little bit outside the area, but not too far into the main aisle where other customers could not easily pass by. Apparently the woman thought she owned the entire store (probably cited eminent domain as her reasoning) and she blatantly ran her shopping cart, with two kids in tow, into my sister's side. She and her husband must have known what they did and probably thought they had just cause because they later claimed we were in the way. I happened to look up ahead to where the couple was heading (veggie dept) and the woman gave me a really wicked look and asked if I had a problem. My sister had just mentioned to us what they had done, so I replied to the couple that they ran into my sister with their shopping cart. They denied it and started saying some stupid things. They were yelling at us. I told them they should be ashamed as they had their children with them and they were obviously setting a negative example. They kept yelling and acting very foolishly so I attempted to calm the situation by saying, "God bless you." It was ridiculous, upsetting, and embarrassing for us. The woman and her husband (who are Anglo in case I forgot to mention it before) looked really ticked off and acted as if their actions were not a big deal. They walked further away towards the meat dept so I thought all was done until I saw my sister move ahead from where we were still standing near the bakery dept and she said (and I quote)..."Ma'am, that was totally uncalled for...you did not have to say that"...I asked Josie what was said or done. My sister indicated that the woman had called us a bunch of "damned Mexicans." Josie, for those who know her, is very friendly, peaceful, lovable, law-abiding, and as close to a true Christian one could hope to be. She is not one to look for trouble, she is the one who tries to bring solutions to a table and one who tries to keep others from fighting or such. For her to have to defend her family and herself in such a manner is really sad - it is sad for that one ignorant woman and her own family who heard those words come out of her mouth. It was quite evident that this woman and her husband knew that they had done something really awful as they hurried away to some other part of the store. Josie did not follow them because it is not her character. I did not follow them either as I normally would because of the children they had with them and because I was not going to allow anyone to ruin that day that we had planned for so many weeks to celebrate our beloved Mother's 75th birthday. We had too much to celebrate and too much to be grateful for and this one foolish woman and her husband were not going to rob us of that, so we let it go. Now remember the two Hispanic ladies ahead of us in the bakery line? They also heard all of this commotion and were shocked by the actions of the couple and that the woman had allowed such trash to leave her mouth.
Never in my 43 years of life had I ever been victim to a racial slur. Being a cleft-palate, I had endured much taunting about that, but never because of the color of my skin. Not to my face (or as close to my face as the cowardly woman said it under her breath). It offended me and it upset me. Those kind of feelings were new to me and it took every ounce of bravery to denounce the woman's actions and indeed turn the other cheek.
I felt bad for my sister because I knew she felt all of these things if not more as she was the one to hear those foolish words of belligerence. She is too smart and too classy to succumb to the kind of actions that are the apparent nature and character of that woman.
If that woman ever reads this blog posting or the posting I will surely place on a Midland, Texas forum, she should know that she did not break us. She did not shame us. She did not scare us. She did not make us cry. She made us stronger. We went home and had a fantastic party.

The Surprise

The surprise 75th birthday party for Dora's mom was a huge success! Dora's mom was thoroughly surprised, although she will not totally admit it. Everyone had a great time. Also on the same night, the Texas Tech Red Raiders won their first game of the season against the Fighting Sioux from the University of North Dakota, 38-13. The next victims will be the Owls from Rice University. GO TECH!

Food 4 Thought: Should there be a clergy-laity distinction?

Periodically, I will include a special post--Food 4 Thought--to encourage readers to think "outside the box" about different topics...controversial or otherwise. Before I begin, I think I should include the following disclaimer: These special posts are NOT intended or designed to offend anyone or anything.

Most Reverend, Right Reverend, Father, Most Holy Father, Rabbi, His Eminence, His Excellency, His Holiness, His All-Holiness--these are some of the titles that distinguish the clergy of various religions from the laity. The separation of the clergy from the laity is common to many religions, but is the arrangement bibically-based, or is it a human tradition? And, if it's not biblically-based, should the arrangement be used at all?

I'm not a religious person, but I will include quotes from encyclopedias and the book most religions use as their guide to a good life (the Bible) to argue that there should not be a distinction between the clergy and the laity.

"In the New Testament and during the early apostolic times there is no mention of clergy or laity," writes Professor of Theology Cletus Wessels. The Encyclopedia of Christianity states: "There gradually arose a differentiation into clergy as the officeholders and the laity as the rest...'Ordinary' church members now came to be seen as an unqualified mass." That differentiation became prominent during the third century C.E.--more than two hundred years after Christ! If, then, the clergy-laity distinction is not based on the model set by Christ's apostles and other early Christians, does it make it wrong? Does it make it invalid? Does the Bible have anything to say on the matter?

In 2 Corinthians 3:5, 6, the Bible states that all Christians serve as God's ministers and that none is above or beneath the other. Spiritually, older men did, of course, serve as overseers, which included being shepherds and teachers. However, these men were not paid clerics. For the most part, they were ordinary working men with secular jobs. Moreover, they qualified to serve as overseers and teachers, not by attending religious seminaries, but by being diligent students of the Bible and by cultivating the spiritual qualities required by, what they considered, their Creator, or God.

The separation of a clergy class implies that a person must have a special calling to be a minister of God. Yet, the Bible says that all true Christians should serve God and praise his name (Romans 10:9, 10).

The clergy-laity distinction exalts the clergy class, an evidence being adulatory religious titles. Yet, Christ said: "He that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great." (Luke 9:48) In harmony with that spirit of humility, he told his followers not to adopt religious titles. (Matthew 23:8-12) The picture I have in mind is when a member of the laity kisses the hand of a high-ranking member of the clergy. Unlike the clergy, Christ conducted himself as "a lesser one."

A paid clergy class can impose a heavy financial burden on the laity, especially when the former have lavish lifestyles.

Because a clergyman may depend on others for financial support, he might be tempted to dilute the Bible's message in order to please parishioners by "tickling their ears." (2 Timothy 4:3)

When the laity are Biblically uninformed, they can easily be misled by clerics, even exploited by them. Indeed, history contains many examples of such abuses. Examples include the sale of indulgences, the Spanish Inquisition, and even the burning of Bibles by clerics who wanted to keep the Bible out of the hands of the laity.

About two weeks ago, a Catholic friend of mine admitted that she does not agree with every teaching of the Church, but she admires the traditions. As I stated at the beginning of this post, I am not a religious person. However, it is my understanding that the goal of every Christian is to follow the example of Christ as recorded in the Bible. Christ was a humble person and when he preached, he did so on the road, on the side of mountains, from door-to-door, and from city-to-city. He didn't preach in fancy cathedrals and buildings. He admonished his followers to "keep their eyes simple." And when he preached, he did not arrange for a basket to be passed around for donations. And as for tradition, 1 Corinthians 4:6 states: "Do not go beyond the things that are written." Better yet, ask yourself the question that has been made famous: What would Jesus do? Based upon the book all Christians use--the Bible--Jesus would not support a clergy-laity distinction.

Ready, Set, Go! Time for Red Raider Football!!!!

For those of you who are Texas Tech alumni or just devoted fans, Red Raider football is about to begin. Did anyone see the new Texas Monthly magazine? Coach Mike Leach made the cover....ooorah!!!
The NFL pre-season is in progress. I'm not looking forward to the new season though. I have retired my Dallas Cowboy cap and will be focusing on other teams. Why? Two words--Jerry Jones. He is the franchise's dark side. He has disappointed me for the third and last time. I was livid when the Cowboys parted ways with Jimmy Johnson. I was livid when he let Emmit Smith go. And recently, I was livid when I heard he let Terrell Owens go. Three strikes and you're out, right? So I have turned my back on Jerry Jones and Company. If anyone should be cut from the team, it should be Tony Romo. That guy can't lead a team if his life depended on it. I don't care if they win the next Super Bowl, they will not have my support as long as a Jones owns the team.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I don't mean Queen Elizabeth II. Yesterday, Sunday, August 16th, Madonna turned the big 51! If only I could look as good at 40! Hey Madge, keep doing what you do!!! We Iconers love you!!!!

Corwin...RIP

I received very sad news today via email. And if you're an animal lover (like me), you will sympathize. My friends' cat passed Saturday morning, August 15th. Corwin was twenty years old, and for a cat, that is a mighty long time. He will missed. The following is an excerpt of the email I received:

"Whatever we've called him, Corey, Win-win, Bin-bin, Winny, Pumpkin-head, he
had such a unique, delightful and robust personality...always so hearty and
tolerant, but mellow and extremely sweet whenever his softer side was called
for. We're sure he was one of the smartest animals who ever graced our
presence. Corwin was unquestionably clever, he outwitted us on many an
occasion, and he decided to maintain control all the way to the end.
Though his health and strength had been on the decline, he could jump up onto
the counter in the blink of an eye. He could also pick up speed enough to
count as running--toward his food bowl whenever we brought him something
tasty. When he finally decided it was time, he waited for a leisurely
Saturday morning, knowing that Cindy, Willa, and I were all at home. We
all had the chance to say goodbye, to kiss him, and to take turns holding him
while he made his turn from this life into the next. We love him just as
we always have and are glad to have called him a member of our family."

Money, Money, Money!!

Since my family and friends know I have been looking for work, I was asked the other day what could I do with a degree in History (in my case - an MA in History). After listing the possible professions, I noticed a blog posting on the American Historical Association website ("What Is a History Major Worth?" by Robert Townsend).

The answer, as it turns out, may be a bit more than you think. Money.com recently reported that the history majors from the
class of 2006 earned an average of $33,071 (a 4.2 increase over the year
before). That was more than 5 percent above the average for students who majored in the fields of English, sociology, and psychology.

Keep in mind, the preceding stat was from 2006. Things have definitely changed for everyone. The economy has literally made everyone eat more than their share of Humble Pie. People have been reminded of the more important things in life. Therefore, I really appreciated the comment offered by Historyguy:

Of course every student starting studying history as his main subject is
not thinking about money and really historians kind of don’t expect to earn that much to become millionaires, at least where I come from. It is all about passion and knowledge. History is such a beautiful subject to study. With every book or some hidden source in some archive you get to know more and more and more and it never let’s you down in terms of surprise!

Missing in Action!!!!

A million and one apologies for not being active for the past few weeks. I guess I'm suffering from Sloth's Disease or something. I feel as though I am slowly vegetating...if that is possible. In all fairness, I have been pounding the Information Superhighway for a J-O-B. For those who know me, you know I am looking for more than job. I'm looking for a career. And more than anything else, I would love to teach History at the collegiate level. Life would be so sweet! But with today's economy and tough job market, I will take a job. I'll be back with more remarks.

P.S. Is there life after college?

Hell On Wheels!!!!

Today was hell on wheels! If Lady Luck was on her period, we sure found her. If there was a black cloud in the sky, it sure as hell was following us. We followed Murphy's Law to the letter. Should we have left the house at all today? Perhaps we should have seriously considered staying indoors. First of all, the mortgage company sent us two checks to begin our roofing project. We were one of the many households who experienced hail damage during April. Getting pack to the checks....because of the way they were written, our bank did not want to touch them. We decided to take them to another bank...the bank whose name is on the check to begin with. They did not want to touch them either unless we opened an account with them. Just when we were about to cross the T's and dot the I's, the bank representative noticed an expired driver's license. So we make our way to the DPS office to renew it. We are notified that the DL number has two outstanding tickets. WHAT?! They give us a toll free to call. Nothing! After a while, we left the DPS office frustrated. After some research, the only thing we could find out was that the mysterious outstanding tickets dated back to 1993! It doesn't make sense. This misunderstanding has to be the result of human error. In any case, wish us luck...the good kind anyway.
This day totally illustrates why I decided to call my blog "Tortillas Quemadas." Today, we were served plenty of these tortillas...more than what I would mind. But we remained calm. In the end, I had something to write about. According to William Faulkner, "...the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself...can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat."

Welcome

An invite to my new blog...
Tortillas Quemadas
Enjoy and set up to follow it if you would like.

Introducing.....the latest blogger....bienvenidos!

Family and friends have always suggested to me that I should set up my own blog. I always used the excuse, "I just don't have the time." And I didn't. As a grad student, school consumed most of my time...reading, writing, research....reading, writing, research...reading, writing, research...reading, writing, research...get the picture? However, after graduating in May, I can no longer use the excuse. Alas....my own blog. I'm calling it "Tortillas Quemadas" because life serves us tortillas quemadas ("burned tortillas"). Life isn't easy and it's never claimed to love us or owe us anything. It is up to each and every one of us to make the most of these tortillas. Are we going to make chicken shit or chicken salad? We have the choice. After all, isn't life ultimately about the choices we make? I sincerely hope you enjoy the fat. You may not agree with everything, but hey, that is okay. Periodically, I will include helpful hints, exciting facts, hot juicy gossip, news events, opinions, and thoughts for you to ponder in hopes that you will drop a post. In fact, I encourage it. Meanwhile, enjoy and take what you wish.
I have been pounding the Internet looking for work. Unfortunately, I have experienced nothing but rejection and that isn't good for the morale. My 15-year-old niece reminds me of the reason by saying, "Stupid economy." Seriously, this is a bad time for college grads. After graduation, they are often told, "The world is your oyster." Hmm...the only thing we have at this time is nothing but tuna (if we're lucky). I feel like I'm dressed to the nines with nowhere to go on a Saturday night. Yes, yes the Obama administration is "working on it"...I know, I know. But if things don't turn around by the end of his term, he may end up a one-term president. Then we have North Korea to contend with....scary. Then the Middle East is business as usual. There is so much happening all over the world....here, too...and the majority of the news is covering Jacko freakin' Wacko. Boy we have our priorities straight. The man cannot even go out in dignity. It's a freakin' circus. But then, weren't the last years of his life a spectacle...a freak show? People are naturally drawn to things like that. People are shedding tears and feeling sorry for him because he died a lonely man. Well, there's a reason for that and I will come right out and say it. He was lonely because he knew he could never live the life of a pedophile. Yes....that's right....I just labeled him a pedophile. There...I said it. All the cosmetic surgery could not erase the man he saw in the mirror...a pedophile. Most people claim, "oh...he didn't have a childhood...he was an old soul...he was the modern day Peter Pan." Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. Who the heck has a perfect childhood? I didn't. Most people I personally know didn't. Our lack of a normal childhood does not drive us to sleep with children (not of our own) because we feel the need "to love them."
Yes, the jury found him "not guilty." I defended him the first time in '93. But when it came up a second time, I begin to have my doubts. What did it for me was the Beshear exclusive interview with Michael where Michael admitted that he slept with young children who were not his own. He did fit the profile of a sexual predator of children. After all, Neverland Ranch makes more sense now. It had lots of things that would attract children: a merry-go-round, animals, games, ice cream. Yes, he was acquitted in the trial, but he reportedly paid millions to the first child, which is not usually done unless there is some basis to the claims. Fact of the matter is if Jackson had been a school janitor or teacher or the ice cream man, he would have done time in the big house. But he got away. Remember, "not guilty" does not mean "innocent." Remember the O. J. Simpson case? He got the best justice money could buy.
When he dangled the little one off the fourth floor balcony, I was floored. If anyone else other than a celebrity would have done that, they would have had his/her child removed at least temporarily by Child Protective Services.
Most people claim that Jackson's legacy will be his music and dancing. Mmm...Perhaps. However, there were some very serious allegations, and that's going to be part of his legacy...the most important part. This part taints everything else. I don't see him as a hero. I just can't.... There are three groups of living organisms my heart goes to: children, the elderly, and animals. Perhaps Michael should have looked closer at the Man in the Mirror...or did he?...explains the drug addiction. Hmm....