2012 January | VivirLatino

Archive for January, 2012

Eye on the Florida Primary : Mirror on the Wall, Who is the Most Anti-Immigrant of All?

27 Jan 2012

I’m feeling a little dazed from the seemingly endless stream of GOP debates and the incumbent President’s non-statement statement on immigration policy during the SOTU. With the Florida primary just days away, both political parties are targeting the Latino vote that the state allegedly represents. Both parties are playing a spin game, ready to crown an opponent as the most anti-immigrant on one hand, while claiming that the Latino electorate in Florida doesn’t really care about immigration.

In last night’s GOP debate, on again off again front runner Newt Gingrich took a page from the Democratic National Committee, targeting Mitt Romney as the most anti-immigrant. Certainly this attack is related to Romney’s statements earlier this week touting “self-deportation” as a good solution to current problems. Romney, offended by Gingrich’s characterization, demanded an apology. As I pointed out in a piece I wrote for El Diario La Prensa last month, we are heading into dangerous territory when we try to find the “worst” among bad choices. Gingrich’s allegedly kinder, softer approach to immigration amounts to what the current Obama policy is on paper, allowing “non-threatening” immigrants with family ties and a long history in the U.S. to stay in a permanent limbo status.

A new/old Latino target is being pushed by one organization. Today, Presente.org launched a campaign targeting potential GOP Vice Presidential pick, Senator Marco Rubio. The campaign wittingly named “No Somos Rubios” (We are not Rubios/We are not Blondes), hones in on Republicans using a brown face with a brown name to earn Latino votes. This right wing strategy is being called into question not just based on Rubio’s anti-immigrant positions but also because Rubio represent such a specific facet of the Latino electorate. Rubio appeals to Cuban-American anti-Castro demographic. Rubio probably will not appeal to other Latinos, especially in the South West, who according to polls, played a critical role in Obama’s getting elected in 2008.

Live Blog/Tweet of Obama’s SOTU Address Tonight 8:45 EST

12:43 pm By Maegan La Mala · Casa Blanca Camino 2012|Obama|Politics · Comments Off

24 Jan 2012

I actually like liveblogging/livetweeting and I want to do more of it this year and not just because it is an election year. So grab your favorite beverage and join me right here starting at 8:45 tonight as I give live commentary on President Obama’s SOTU address.

This address is particularly important because it essentially also serves as a campaign speech. It’s no secret that I am less than pleased with the Obama administration. It will be interesting to hear the ever eloquent President and see what topics he touches on. Clearly he is expected to place the economy front and center and I expect him to also discuss education. Will he mention immigration? Probably but let’s see how he frames the record deportations while trying to attract the mythical “Latino Vote”.

What would you like to hear Obama talk about tonight? Do you think he will?

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=3b0e4db703" >VivirLatino’s Liveblog/tweet of the SOTU</a>

Martes Media Minute : Roe v. Wade Anniversary, Medicaid Mama y Midwife Victory, Cervical Cancer Awareness month, & Mala’s Mami Closeup,

9:23 am By Maegan La Mala · Family|GLBT|Health|Women · Comments Off

24 Jan 2012

Happy Lunar New Year for those celebrating today. I have a few longer posts in the works but didn’t want to start a new week without somethings for our readers to reflect on.

Latin@ Reproductive Health, Access, y Justice

This weekend marked the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. But (re)defining access for Latin@s goes beyond a court decision. It involves internalized oppression, stereotypes, and access to not just birth control and terminations, but also to births the way we want them.

The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health recently released polling looking at the attitudes of Latin@s towards abortion. This polling, which also comes at a time when the GOP is courting the Latino votes on the basis of alleged shared values, reveals that the majority of registered Latino voters believe in keeping abortion legal and accessible.

Following last week’s liveblog of a conversation on cervical cancer and Latin@s, Bianca Laureano shares her ideas for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2012 on what really needs to happen to end the disease.

We are celebrating along with Mamas of Color Rising in Texas the decision of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to make a rules change that adds Licensed Midwives as health care providers under Texas Medicaid. All mam@s deserve the birth experience they want regardless of income.

And finally, yesterday I sat down with some of the mamis of Latina Mami for a wonderful conversation about the mami’hood. You can watch/listen to the interview here (please note the link autoplays the interview)

VL Pelicula Giveaway!

12:00 am By BiancaLaureano · Arts|Movies · 4 Comments

23 Jan 2012

Our friends at Paramount Home Entertainment and H+M Communications have been generous to offer VL readers an opportunity to win a copy of Paranormal Activity 3 DVD/Blu-Ray which is on sale Tuesday January 24, 2012. We have more than one copy to give away!

I’ll admit that when Paranormal Activity 1 was released I went to a midnight screening by myself! When I saw Part 2 I had to be convinced by at least one other person because I was not trying to watch anything like that by myself again! I believe too much in los espirtus and was irritated some characters were taunting them in the first part. But Paranormal Activity 3 centers the two sisters who are the main characters of Part 1 and Part 2 as they were growing up. Check out the trailer below:

The DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack includes both the theatrical version of the film and an unrated version with footage not seen in theaters, as well as Lost Tapes that reveal more footage not seen in the film. Plus, they will include a digital copy and be enabled with UltraViolet TM, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies which helps with adding films to your digital collection by streaming and/or downloading them to a variety of devices. Audio and subtitles in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

To Enter:

Winners will be selected randomly and contacted via email. Reply to this post with an VALID email address where we can reach you by Tuesday January 24, 2012 at 10 AM eastern standard time.

Today at 1 pm EST : Conversation on Latinas and Cervical Cancer

10:25 am By Maegan La Mala · Health|Women · 1 Comment

19 Jan 2012

Today at 1 pm EST, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is hosting a virtual cafecito/conversation on Latinas and cervical cancer. Since January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and the incidence of cervical cancer for Latina women in the United States is highest amongst all racial/ethnic groups, almost twice as high as non-Latina white women, Dr. Mildred R. Chernofsk will be the guest speaker focusing on Latinas’ limited access to adequate cervical cancer screenings, barriers to access, and prevention.

I will be live blogging/tweeting the conversation and taking/sharing your questions and comments. Just join us here!

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=5dddf367fc" >Conversation on Latinas and Cervical Cancer: Cuídate. Ármate. Edúcate</a>

Today in Latin@ History : Birthday of Martha P. Cotera

2:13 pm By Maegan La Mala · Activism|Women · Comments Off

17 Jan 2012

Today is the birthday of Chicana activist Martha P. Cotera. I have to admit that I didn’t know anything about the Chicana feminist, educator, and librarian before I noticed that her birthday was listed in my planner. So I decided to do some research and I’m glad I did. Cotera, born in Chihuahua, Mexico and educated primarily in the U.S. was a founding member of the Raza Unida Party in Texas. Her work, including two books, Diosa y Hembra and Chicana Feminist (which I look forward to reading), has centered on the history and role of women inside Chicano culture, including activism. While the core of this work was written in the 1970’s, it is very relevant today as we look at the space given to women within many activist movements.

I personally struggle with the word feminist, especially given how it has been used by so many, including white women, as a way to further push intersecting issues that Latin@s face under the rug. So I am especially fascinated by how that word is adopted by others. Check out this clip from Chicana por Mi Raza, where Cotera talks specifically about that word and how it was received.

Martha P. Cotera – teaser from Chicana por mi Raza on Vimeo.

Have you heard about Marta Cotera? What are your thoughts on what she says about feminism and women in activist spaces?

Mistaking Immigration Proposals for Policy in an Election Year

2:27 pm By Maegan La Mala · Immigration|Politics · 2 Comments

10 Jan 2012

All weekend my inbox was flooded with press releases and emails from immigration organizations across the country praising the latest immigration policy proposal announcement from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Last Friday, USCIS filed a notice of intent to change current policy that requires undocumented spouses and sons and daughters of U.S. citizens facing 3 and 10 year bars to file waivers outside the U.S. and then allowing them to return to their families by showing that their U.S. citizen family member would face extreme hardship as a result of the separation.

Before you break out the leftover new year’s confetti, I would like to remind people that this is a proposal. I have read the Notice of Intent and the language is very provisional. An intention is not that same as an actual action and within the actual document it states, “USCIS is considering regulatory changes…” (emphasis mine). There will be a several-month period for the public to provide comments on the proposed change before it goes into effect. A consideration is a thought, not an actual change in practice. In my opinion, a consideration is the campaign promise of an incumbent president trying to gain the Latino vote.

Casa Blanca Camino 2012: DREAMing of Hypocrisy in Iowa

3 Jan 2012

Many eyes are focused towards the Iowa Caucuses are today, highlighting the Republican U.S. Presidential Nominees and the state of presidential campaigning. High on show. Low on substance.

For many paying attention to the way immigration policy is playing out in this election, recent focus has been on Mitt Romney, a GOP front runner in Iowa and nationally, and recent statements he made. He said that if he were president and the DREAM Act were to pass in Congress, he would veto it.

Enter the Democrat/Progressive words of shock and finger pointing. This is additional proof of how much the Republicans hate immigrants, especially non-criminal college students or potential soldiers for whatever invented global conflict comes next. This is additional proof as to why everyone who loves immigrants, especially Latinos who are the perpetual faces of immigration policy, need to support the Democratic Party and vote for Barack Obama. This is what the Democrats use the Iowa Caucuses for, to knock down potential GOP nominees. Mitt Romney has been especially targeted by the Democratic National Committee who have a website and numerous videos focusing on Romney’s flip-flopping in a number of policy areas.

But hold on and wait a minute. Is it just me or does it seem like the Democrats (as a party, not individually) only really started talking about the DREAM Act after it failed a procedural vote last year? If I remember correctly, there were only a handful of Democrats who were really pushing the DREAM Act, especially as a standalone measure. If I remember correctly, for a long time, the party line was Comprehensive Immigration Reform until New York Democrat Charles Schumer beat that biometric horse into the ground, allowing the DREAM Act to be presented as the “oh well” option. And if I remember correctly weren’t there some Democrats who voted against the DREAM Act in that procedural vote last year?

VivirLatino 2012 : Resolutions, To Dos and To Cover

9:00 am By Maegan La Mala · Media|Politics|VivirLatino · 3 Comments

2 Jan 2012

Trying to get back into a regular posting groove here is one of my personal resolutions for 2012. I’m starting with a relatively manageable goal of three posts per week.

I would like to get back into regular book blogging – writing reviews and what I’m reading.

I may drop music blogging and film blogging unless something particularly moves me.

With the new year comes more attention on the upcoming presidential elections and the campaigning to get there. So I would like to have one post a week on that.

For what my third weekly post will be, well that I am still up in the air about. Maybe I should leave it open for my personal editorial/rants/reporting things of interests.

One of the things that has been in the plan for a while, even before we were down to one captain, is a reader poll to get an idea of what you, the readers, would like to see more and less of (and you cannot say you want less of me – sorry haters).

So consider this an informal polling of sorts : What would you like to see more of/less of here at VivirLatino?

Karen: Have you see the census figures for 2010? Latinos are not all that diverse. Most" Latinos" are Mexic [...]

Maegan La Mala: Hi Karen, I agree but only in part. I think that people do get up in cults of personality but th [...]

Maegan La Mala: I haven't heard anything about a rally being held Jose Luis. i know Presente.org is organizing a pet [...]

Karen: Also, Al Sharpton, now a host on MSNBC, brought attention to the Trayvon Martin case because he knew [...]

jose luis: when the rally is going to be held in SAn Diego..if there is on??? [...]

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