Daily Archives: August 10, 2009

And meanwhile…

  By la Macha | August 10, 2009 - 9:01 pm |
1 Comment

As Obama assured the world that the U.S. will continue to fund Mexico’s drug war, he reiterated that he would do nothing regarding immigration reform–at least not this year.

Why not?

The president said he expects draft legislation and sponsors by the end of the year, but no action until 2010 because of more pressing issues, including health-care reform, energy legislation and financial regulatory changes.

“That’s a pretty big stack of bills,” he said.

Immigration is among the most controversial items on Obama’s legislative agenda, with critics opposing what they call an amnesty for illegal workers and businesses concerned about reductions in their labor force. President George W. Bush twice attempted immigration reform during his second term, without success.

As a member of a community that is actively being imprisoned, hunted down, ripped from families, and otherwise terrorized, I find this reasoning so hard to swallow. How is immigration NOT connected to health care? Or financial regulation for fuck’s sake?

The only good thing about this delay is that immigration groups can hopefully use that time to mobilize grassroot support for truly transformative and (maybe even radical?) change.

We’ll see.

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The U.S. Supports Mexico’s War on Drugs

  By la Macha | August 10, 2009 - 8:25 pm |
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barack-obama2Ok, remember how Mexico caught a whole bunch of drug traffickers a few weeks back? And how they were paraded in front of national Mexican television, and how it was the U.S. that basically funded the capture with money and weapons?

Well, the U.S. government doesn’t have a problem with any of that, and it wants us all to know that.

President Obama said Monday the United States remains Mexico’s partner in the fight against drug cartels, despite some calls in the United States to delay counter-narcotics aid because of alleged human rights violations by Mexican soldiers.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and human rights in his offensive against the cartels, Obama said.

Some $100 million in anti-drug aid, known as the Merida Initiative, could be delayed because of concerns about human rights violations, it was reported last week.

“We have been very supportive of the Merida Initiative, and we remain supportive,” Obama said.

Obama also said the United States would work to reduce demand for drugs and stop the illegal flow of weapons south to Mexico.

The remarks came at a summit of North American leaders in Guadalajara, Mexico.

As I said earlier, I don’t really see this “war” ending until there is 1. either drug legalization efforts and/or 2. a national policy in the U.S. enacted whereby drug addiction is recognized as a disease needing treatment rather than a crime needing imprisonment.

So it’s incredibly disappointing to see that Obama, the liberal almost communist dictator, declaring the U.S.’s continued support of military options to Mexico–while also speaking out of both sides of his mouth on “ending U.S. demands for drugs.” If Mexico’s drug trafficking is a matter of national security, why isn’t treatment here in the U.S.? If Mexico can get millions and millions of dollars for military supplies, why can’t your local rehab clinic get some new chairs and a computer?

Oh, I forget, we have to use that money to imprison drug users.

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No Room at the Inn for Detained Immigrant Families

  By Maegan la Mamita Mala | August 10, 2009 - 7:53 am |
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Article_6326405Seems like there are problems with the closing of T. Don Hutto as an immigrant family detention center. Under the announced restructuring of oversight of immigrant detention centers, the controversial Hutto center will no longer be used for families with children and will only be used to house women immigrants. Families were to be transferred to another immigrant detention center, Berks Family Shelter Care Facility in Leesburg, Pennsylvania. Except no one checked with Berks, which apparently has no room for more immigrant families.

County Commissioner Kevin S. Barnhardt, who is chairman of the county prison board, said he was unaware of the move by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Kenneth A. Borkey Jr., executive director of the Bern Township facility, which houses families awaiting immigration hearings, said the center is at capacity.

(more…)

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La Cholita – Larger than life! VivirLatino Exclusive

  By Maegan la Mamita Mala | August 10, 2009 - 6:46 am |
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LaCholita_large4768
Image by Laura Byrnes
Makeup by Melissa Pizzamiglio

The following interview is a VivirLatino exclusive interview with the Latina Queen of Burlesque, la Cholita, by the Latina Queen of writing, Adele Nieves.

Adele Nieves: You’ve been described as the Latina Queen of Burlesque, and L.A.’s Premier Burlesque performer. How would you describe yourself?

la Cholita : I would definitely agree with both of those (laughs). I’m also extremely fiery and passionate. When I first started they used to say I was the “MVP” – most volatile performer – and “The Firecracker,” because my stage persona is very explosive. When I get up there it’s just larger than life. Every time I meet someone the first thing they say is “you’re so much shorter than I thought you’d be!” I have a very strong, over-the-top stage presence and it’s just kind of overwhelming, like “BAM!”

So I would definitely agree. And I would even say I’m the Queen of L.A., because why not?

A.N: What is it about burlesque that inspires your expression and performance? Also, how did you get started?

L.C: I always loved dressing up. I would put on my mom’s jewelry and lipstick, put on her bras and stuff them and try walking out of the house (laughs). I loved singing, dancing, and the theatre. I went to my first show, a burlesque convention, only about six years ago. It had women from all over the world, and legends like Dixie Evans, Tempest Storm, Isis Star, Satan’s Angel – these women were the O.G.s of burlesque, and they’re still up there and doing it better than a lot of the young ones. There was so much diversity, girls who in normal society wouldn’t be looked at twice or would be criticized for cellulite, and each one looked so cute, so charming, and so sexy, whether they were campy, glamorous, raunchy, or had big props. Every girl did her own thing, and for those few minutes each girl was on stage, you couldn’t take your eyes off her. Once I saw that, I was like “oh my goodness, this is what I need to do.”

Another reason I started was because I didn’t see anyone representing what I wanted to see. As a homegirl from Los Angeles, you’ve gotta represent, right? That’s a big part of me and my performance.

(more…)

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