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CommentsRe: Reactions to Arizona’s Immigration Law From Around N.M.
The example cited is, to say the least, pretty lame. “If the police pull someone over for a traffic violation, and the occupants can’t explain exactly where they are gong, or what they are doing, then the police might suspect they are engaged in human trafficking, and they will then ask about immigration status.” By this logic, teenagers (and young adults) who cruise, can’t explain “exactly” where they are going, so immediately they will be suspected of human trafficking? Really? The real problem with this is that it has long been recognized that it is the Federal Government’s jurisdiction to determine and enforce immigration laws, not a state’s right. Because some officials in a particular state government may be unhappy with what the Federal Government does (or does not do) in areas reserved for the Federal Government, it is a violation for them to pass any laws usurping Federal authority. Attempting to give the police at the state level the responsibility to guess with reasonable cause one’s immigration status is a far cry from the police questioning lawful or unlawful behavior. The law is a thin veil to target ethnic groups, particularly Hispanics, and this is racial profiling, regardless of how it is “packaged”. Conservatives are fond of yelling “Foul”, when government (at any and all levels) interferes with individual rights. However, these same individuals have no opposition to interference that does not affect them personally. Their view is that individual’s rights are unalienable don’t apply, such as with this law, or the right of two gays to marry. What about their rights?
Wow, I hope there is more to come, what a captivating and moving story. Thanks Alex...
Of course you are a goddess Maren - and a brilliant and important journalist. I was only referring to Daxton's demeaning of your article by inferring you and your readers were "condescending twerps", in contrast to his boundless life experience. Daxton's arrogance is hilarious. I love how he tries to establish street cred by telling us about his experiences as a young Stanford revolutionary hanging with his Black Panther professor and how he has rubbed elbows with mobsters and swindlers - hahaha. Funny thing is, knowing Maren as I do, she is the one person that would not be scared crapless after writing a tell-all book involving the mob. Maren is the real deal, not Daxton. Daxton should move to Chile and establish himself as President, the way U.S. citizen William Walker did in Nicaragua, that way he could finally become the "real deal" he is so desperately seeking to be.
Coming from you the well wishes mean a lot. Cheers.
Daxton, I am just a little confused as to why someone of your stature feels compelled to prove themselves to what you consider a bunch of "twerps" on Weekly Alibi's website. With all your investigative reporting and writing and research and money moving and investing don't you have more important things to do than attack a small time liberal journalist like Maren?
Mr. Martinez (nortenonm), I am completely stunned by your distortion of the essence of Santiago Romero Jr's. letter. I am not sure whether you are intentionally obfuscating the facts to be funny or if you are so completely deluded by your belief in this Hispano myth that you refuse to see the truth. When you wrote your first letter, which was published in Weekly Alibi, I thought perhaps you were an academic, not because of what the letter said, because your facts were wrong, but for the reason that the letter was so well written. When you wrote your second letter, in which you used ad hominem attacks to emphasize your point, it became clear that you were in no way an academic, but just an armchair historian, like you accused me of being. The truth is that your point was completely invalidated by Mr. Romero Jr’s. letter, as well as by the other letter in this week’s Alibi written by Mr. Armando Martinez. That most Hispanics in New Mexico probably have traces of Spanish blood was never in doubt,although this does not make you a Spaniard or European, it’s your persistent argument that we are more closely aligned to Spain by blood and culture than any other Hispanics, that is a complete fallacy. That is what you meant in the following statement isn’t it? You said, “Even the U.S. government, many Anglo historians and authors, and the Hispano people ourselves referred to us as “Spanish-Americans” until the Chicano movement of the ’70s made us all generic "Hispanics.” I lived in South America many years and I can assure you that most of the people who claim Spanish blood down south would have a lot to say to you. What is even more hilarious to me is that many South Americans study and speak Castilian, the official language of Spain. Not just that, they have bullfights and actually eat Spanish cuisine, something I have yet to see in Northern New Mexico. Do you not eat beans, chile and tortillas up north, because as you know these are Mexican foods, not Spanish. I pointed out in a previous letter that the cultural similarities between Northern New Mexico and Spain are practically non-existent, aside from the few archaic words you mentioned. Once again there has been a span of several hundred years since the arrival of the Spanish to America. Our ancestors lived and bred in what is now Mexico, before making the trek north. This is not what ties us to Mexico, nor is it the amount of time New Mexico spent under Spanish or Mexican rule; it is simply the fact that over 400 years, since the Spaniards first arrived, we have adapted cultural traits that are more closely aligned with Mexico than with Spain. The people of New Mexico are certainly a unique and wonderful hybrid, but Spain has no role in our lives. What saddens me is that people like you use this elitist myth to make yourself appear better than the poor Mexican immigrants which America has come to associate with the stereotypical Mexican. The fundamental nature of this behavior is pure racism. Mr. Romero Jr. made it clear that there are no pure Spaniards, since Spain is a country deeply divided in culture, beliefs, and genetic makeup. Could you at least explain to us what Spanish sub-culture you are pretending to be? Are you Galician, Catalan? Or maybe your obstinate nature is closely aligned with the Basque people. Mr. Martinez, you are not a Spaniard or in any way European, instead my friend you are much closer to being a Mexican than you are a Spaniard. You know sometimes, “I wish I may, I wish I might be tall blonde haired knight”, but that will never be the case. You know it might do you good to leave behind that myth of oppression your forefathers have instilled in you, and draw strength from understanding the truth of what you are made up of, as demonstrated by the cartoon character Popeye in his oft used phrase “I am what I am”. - Joseph Baca_
What a wonderful job of reporting by Ilene. Having spent many years in Peru, I can tell you first hand that she has managed to realistically portray Peruvian life from many diffrent angles, in her reporting that has been both heartbreaking and heartwarming. But above all, I have to say, that in all my time in Peru I never volunteered at Villa El Salvador nor did I drink bulls blood, and I certainly would not today. Congrats Ilene, and I have to say, that you have bigger balls than I could ever wish for.
What an excellent read. I had the chance to say hello to the mayor a few months back and he had a great vibe, but after reading this interview, he comes across as truly likeable. His music knowledge is awesome, naming Dan Dowling and Straberry Zots is way cool. The only dissapointment is his not mentioning Carl's former band Ant Farmers : ) Great insight into the guy, thanks so much Marisa.
Mr. Martinez, why are you trying to make me out to be a mentiroso, or a twister of words, when I was just going by what you both stated and implied in this statement: "The Hispanos of New Mexico today come from the old Spanish families who first settled here starting in 1598. We do not want to be Europeans, we are Europeans". Once again, we are not Europeans or Spaniards, and have little if anything in common with their culture, lifestyle, or languages. We have much more in common with Mexican culture as far as music, food and customs. What I really find humorous, is your statement "our ancestors, arrived here under the leadership of Don Juan de Oñate. This was the beginning of the Hispano society of New Mexico", since Don Juan de Onate was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, making him a Mexican, just like Gustavo Arellano - and Onate was married to an Indian. Onate was one of the first in a long line of intermixing of races and cultures that has diluted any traces of Spain's presence in New Mexico. As for not being able to rewrite history, be serious A Michael Martinez. Throghout time and throughout the world, history has always been written by the victors or those in power to promote various agendas or myths, and just like statistics, it can tell us whatever we want the message to be - listen to Fox News vs. MSNBC. I do agree with you that we have become a wonderful hybrid, that we should be proud of, and that is why I always say that we need to quit hanging on to this nonsensical myth regarding our Spanish roots and work on promoting the wonderful culture we are today. I find it tragic that many of New Mexico's Hispanic people want so bad to dissasociate themselves from Mexico's wonderful culture, because of the racist images American society has projected on to the poor yet hard working Mexican immigrants. Spain is not our homeland or some magical Shangri La to be associated with as a means of cleansing ourselves of any connection to poverty stricken immigrants or the less fortunate of Mexico. Screw Spain, I am a New Mexican, who loves Mexico and its people - period. Joseph Baca
Love this new beer column - a great addition to Weekly Alibi ("I'd Tap That" = hilarious!!!) | 
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