Magdaleno

THE WHO DAT NATION IS STILL CELEBRATING

It was uplifting for New Orleans and for many of us. Since Katrina the city has embraced the team and they their city. So for many it was more than a football game… in the past months Drew Brees Saints Quarter back for the Saints and other Saints players have given personal tours to visitors of both the devastated areas and areas where life is coming back.

At the end of the first quarter many saints fans were wringing their hands but suddenly in the second quarter the Saints went to ball control…REMEMBER THAT OBAMA HAS JUST FINISHED HIS FIRST QUARTER … THREE MORE TO GO….

Taking calculated risks like going for a touch down on the goal line and failing, then going for two point conversion and then producing the on-side kick at the start of the second half.. and then that most amazing interception and defensive stand all seemed to part of an aggressive strategy to do all that it takes to win.

I gots to tell you …this was a most enjoyable game.. .

Two good teams playing their hearts out.

My older sister Tencha called the morning of the Super Bowl to tell me that she was not watching the game due to reports of head injuries to players.. I laughed.. told her not to worry that I was no longer playing…LOL.. head and other injuries are serious issues and Over  the years the players union and others have pushed to protect players.Sometimes it is not fast enough and the Owners are the last to come on board.

There was a player on each team that was of Haitian heritage and now the money derived from the sale of the Champions T-Shirts will go to Haiti.

NOW FOR MY VIEW OF THE NEWS

a.    White face with a Japanese name
b.    Tea baggers convention
c.    Who taught Steve Earle to play guitar
d.    Illuminated ball
e.    Salute a film of the fists of the 68 olympics
f.    Cartel boss tried in Denver
g.    Alex Sanchez calls.

Japanese Names, White Faces

February 9th, 2010 by Curzon

Marmot has a post titled “Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Mr. Fujita…” that looks at the case of Scott Fujita, a 6′5″ 250 pound white football player with a Japanese name who plays for the New Orleans Saints. He’s not ethnically Japanese, or even Asian, but was adopted by a family with a Japanese-American father born in the World War II detainment camps. He reportedly feels Japanese in his heart and is a fan of mochi ice cream and Pocky. He also stood up against Guantanamo and the war given what had happened to his family and he also supported a national LGBTQ march.

THE TEA BAG CONVENTION..Nashville.

The Tea baggers rolled out Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and former short term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. It seems their crowd was lively and most supportive of their ranting and raving.

There were many racists moments from Tancreado as he blamed again immigrants for everything but Sarah Palin took the cake..
Wow.. and then there was Sarah’s speech … not an ounce of progress…

Many a sixth grader in this country can handle the facts and issues better than this woman who is so far out of her element that she may need a good GPS to get her feet back in reality.

And then she is busted on Fox News with her notes written on her hand when the day before she had bad mouthed President Obama for using a teleprompter. Watching her on Fox News looking down at her left hand where she had written her notes is so sad… Children do that in grade school to cheat on an exam…but there she was the princess of hate looking at her hand.
While we can laugh at the dumbing down of politics, I must warn you these kind of individuals are most dangerous.. and can incite others to do strange things. If you can stomach 4th grade English and bad jokes then you must go on the web and listen to this woman’s speech.

At this event they had around 600 tea baggers there as opposed to what some originally expected as thousands that they had bragged about earlier.…

Tea Baggers are giving Tea a bad name. And by the way the so called original citizens who dumped the tea in the Boston Harbor dressed as Mohawk Indians and demanded a stop to TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.. and these folks today are disguised as regular citizens (while controlled by major utra rich corporations) and are demanding REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION.

WHO TAUGHT STEVE EARLE HOW TO PLAY GUITAR????

Years ago when introducing Steve to an Audience at an event in Huntsville Texas where death row is located, I told a large gathering in a hall that evening that I had taught Steve how to play guitar.  While this is not true many in the audience that night were convinced.

And today thanks to Beth Ansheles and Mike and Lisa Radelet I received a photo which had me, Sister Helen and Steve .. and Steve signed the photo TO MAGDALENO WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY GUITAR..LOL AND LMAO..

So there you have it folks.. proof that taught Steve Earle how to play guitar.

THE 2010 ILLUMINATED BALL IN OLYMPIA.

I went to the most incredible show in Olympia this past Saturday with Lisa Seifert, and Jennifer Brooks to see another friend Karen Crown who sang and danced . This is a wonderful event with dancing, singing, and wonderful plant puppets was enhanced  with lights. The audience was dressed on wonderful clothing and most were decorated with lights. I was able to leave my problems of the moment and go into a fantasy land of my own.

There was a wonderful musical group that helped to create the wonderful mood. Later in the night there was a great blues band that made you want to dance and smile.

This event was a fund raiser for activities to take place on Earth day when there will be another wonderful event called the parade of the species. I look forward to this parade on March 24th.

Salute a film about the politics of change at the 1968 Olympics

The Social Justice Fund along with The Northwest Federation of Community Organizations brings you the award winning documentary SALUTE in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and Black History Month.

1968 was one of the most difficult years for those who worked in behalf of social justice in America. This was the year when the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.  And Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. It was a time of turmoil in our land which gave birth to many new activists and movements.

Today as we seek to Deliver on Change and stand up for the rights and dreams of common people, it is documentaries such as SALUTE that directly speak to the racism that exists and the building of coalitions and community that today is most needed.

SALUTE is about the iconic moment of political solidarity displayed by three Olympic athletes in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. The film explores the events surrounding these historic Olympic Games and describes how Australian sprinter Peter Norman and his fellow medal-winners, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, took a daring stand against oppression. All will remember Smith and Carlos raising their fists with black gloves when receiving their medals…

We hope you will join us to learn the story behind one of the most significant and touching images of the 20th century. Former SJF Board Member and Human Rights Activist Sharon Gary Smith (sister in law to Tommie Smith) will be speaking after the film

Please join us Thursday, February 18th at 6:00pm. This is a free community event! Donations will be accepted at the door and refreshments will be served.

Please join me on this special night.

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Southside Commons

3518 S, Edmunds Street

Seattle, WA 98118

If you would like to preview this film for a showing in your community please contact leno.

Cartel Boss tried in Colorado

Miguel Angel Caro Quinteros, fromer Sonoran Cartel leader was recently tried and convicted in Denver. Okay now here is a man whose Cartel did more violence and organized close to our Southern Border and he was tried successfully,,not to worry folks .. major so called terrorist can be tried in the USA and all are safe.

ALEX SANCHEZ CALLS

Today I got a call from Alex Sanchez who was recently released from jail thanks to the help of many. He had tried to connect with me the night he got out but we never connected and he got busy with his family and his many supporters.

It was great hearing his voice and able to give him some love … and advice… his cell mate Wilmer is an immigrant who is fighting for his and others rights.. Alex has asked him to write me and we are now communicating and share our mutual hope for a better world.

Alex has suggested to him that he use his knowledge to teach while he is incarcerated. I will be putting up some of Wilmer’s thoughts on my AHORAS and I will soon see Alex when I am next in LA.

BE STRONG MY FRIENDS

Leno
Chicano Ambassador of the WHO DAT NATION

This past week my travels took me to Los Angeles and then on to Tijuana. On Saturday I performed a special wedding for artist Tito Sturcke’s sister’s wedding, visited my niece Carmel and her family and found out her son Davis is a runner … I qualified for the state track meet my senior year in high school in the mile and Davis runs the 400. When I was running the mile I was much slimmer and had a better diet.

Spent a great time staying at the home of my family Rafe and Laura in Santa Monica … had great conversations and spent quality time with Steve their cat. They took me to a vegan restaurant and my pasta and corn bread were super.

On Sunday I convinced Beverley Beverley, who is an old friend and handles my 
Ahora emails, to run with me to Tijuana… we got there and she put me on a forced march through Tijuana as I did some mini shopping. The streets were pretty bare due to the economy and the violence around the drug war. But there were some large groups of Japanese Tourists.

Some years ago outlet malls were placed in what was a barren grass area next to border on the USA side.  Now that area was packed … Lots of shoppers and many from Mexico.  There were lots of police at the entrance to the border, and in Tijuana, and when you left. Getting through the immigration desk was easy. They barely looked at my passport and did not ask what I had in the bag. All bags had to go through a big x-ray machine that passed bags rather quickly and it is doubtful that any person managing this machine could have seen a contraband item.

The most interesting part of being in Mexico was a different sense of freedom and lack of fear. And just so you know the Mexican government and the drug lords have oppressed the border citizens. But at the same time they were not shy about talking, shouting, laughing and singing in loud voices on the streets and shops. In the USA immigrants are more subdued and don’t want to bring attention to themselves for fear of police and ultimately immigration.

A special treat that Sunday night was a late snack and drink with Alireza Azizi a great activist with Amnesty International. He handed me a copy of the video of an event we helped to organize a human rights even at the Pasadena Auditorium in 1992 with about 2,500 Iranians from the Los Angeles Area. This is the largest event produced with people of color for Amnesty International. This production was seen across America, Europe and was broadcast to clandestine outlets in Iran… eventually I will have copies for all to see.  Ali is one of the best human beings in my circle.

I was surprised as I entered my Virgin American plane to hear someone shouting my name … LENO LENO ( in recent months I have flown close to 8 Virgin America flights and my virginity has not yet returned)  I was shocked there on the plane was Lillian Hewko a smart Latina, law student at the University of Washington. She has the most wonderful voice and smile.  It was great to see her. Later that day I saw her again at a program and reception at the Law School. She happily informed me that she had been a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay where I served as Country Director. And it is good that we have another connection to explore.

There are five Latinos at the Law School and soon we will all meet together to share stories and learn from each other. Meeting people is the best part of this journey through life.  I had several opportunities to go to law school but never did it … but throughout my life I have met so many good lawyers who do incredible work to help others pursue their dreams.

A. ALEX SANCHEZ IS OUT
B. LOUISA CRAIG BENSON
C. VALENTINES DAY February 14th..what to do
D. And this brings us to the Abolition of the death penalty.
E. GOING TO PORTLAND

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ALEX SANCHEZ IS OUT

Thursday night Alex Sanchez Director of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles walked out of the Federal Detention Center last night into the arms of his wife Delia and their children.

Alex soon began his rounds of phone calls to start calling supporters to thank them.

In the last weeks WEAREALEX was supported by individuals who upfronted the money to process the property bonds. Now we can all help to raise the money to repay these funds. Please go to wearealex.org for more information about how you can help.

We also want to continue our support for Alex since this trial will be a long process. And while we know that the truth will come out, we will need to work hard to ensure it comes to the surface.

We still need your help…

LOUISA CRAIG BENSON

A longtime human rights activist passes away.

Louisa a Burmese woman from the Karen Ethnic group over the years became a key voice and organizer for human rights for Burma and for our world.

She was my introduction to Burma and Aung San Suu kyi.
I also had the pleasure of performing the wedding of one of her daughters.

Louisa was known around the world and respected for all that she did for so many.

A memorial service and reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, February 27th at 10am at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, California, located at 500 East Colorado Blvd.

If you plan to attend the memorial service, please send a message to Bradford Craig at bcraig77@gmail.com indicating how many will attend.

VALENTINES DAY February 14th..what to do

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine’s Day ― and its patron saint ― is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men ― his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Today there are people who are being killed in many parts of our world and we need to defend their right to their beliefs… and in fact no government should kill any of its citizens.

And this brings us to the Abolition of the death penalty.

So when you give a valentine, flowers, candy, gifts or express your love you should remember that your statement on this day can have more meaning if you understand from where it came.  Just like MLK day celebrations don’t always get it right and forget that MLK was killed and that his life was more difficult struggle because some of us stood on the sidelines and did not push hard enough to protect the human rights of others. And just so you know MLK and his family are abolitionist.
In the Days ahead remember that as you celebrate this wonderful day of St. Valentine that there is much more to this part of the history…

GOING TO PORTLAND

I am going south about 180 miles to the Portland area for some wonderful meetings in behalf of my agency the Social Justice Fund and will get to see some wonderful friends… and perhaps make new friends.. as some of you know I have my INTROVERT SIDE so making new friends at times is hard for me…

My best
leno