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What’s in a Name? New Mexico Hotel Owner Fires Workers Over Latino Names.

9:35 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Culture| New Mexico| history| language · 4 Comments

14 Oct 2009

According to my great-aunt Lucy (que en paz descanse), my last name, the name my daughters carry as well, means that I can be traced in Spanish language history books to Spanish language conquistadores. The last name my older daughter sometimes uses (legally she can’t because of her “bastard” status), reveals that she is Mapuche. Pero what if I had to be Maegan Ortz, as some people have pronounced my last name, or if my daughters’ Latina first and last names cost them their way of living? In Taos, New Mexico, which held a few languages before English, I’m sure, a hotel owner fired some of his employees because of their names.

What I find interesting about Whitten (shall we shorten his name to “White”), is how much this is about his comfort and his history. For example, he talks about him not being from the area and him not being of “Spanish” background and how he wanted English only spoken in his presence. So it becomes about everyone adapting to him and respecting what I perceive as his “fear” of being spoken about and about making sure that employees know their place, below and subservient to him. Whitten likens his employees to spoiled, ungrateful children and he the benevolent boss.

Via / Santa Fe New Mexican, Mi Blog es tu Blog

The Latino Who Wanted to be President Kills the Death Penalty in New Mexico

9:14 am By Maegan la Mamita Mala · Justice| New Mexico| crime · Comments Off

19 Mar 2009

aleqm5jnfwckgk1nj_nsrbfvxued6tufiq New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson may not be president or be in the Obama cabinet, pero he’s not letting that get him down and made a really positive move for all people in the United States. Yesterday he signed a law that abolishes the death penalty in New Mexico.

Regardless of my personal opinion about the death penalty, I do not have confidence in the criminal justice system as it currently operates to be the final arbiter when it comes to who lives and who dies for their crime”…

“Faced with the reality that our system for imposing the death penalty can never be perfect, my conscience compels me to replace the death penalty with a solution that keeps society safe.”

Studies have shown that the death penalty does not deter crimes and ends up costing tax-payers more.

The New Mexico ban goes into effect on July 1st and is not retroactive, meaning that it will only apply to crimes committed after that date. This part is problematic to me. Why not commute the death sentences to life imprisonment? I am not an legal expert pero perhaps there is a legal reason for not making the law retroactive? Currently there are two men on New Mexico’s death row.

New Mexico becomes the 15th state to nix the death penalty.

Via / The Latin Americanist

Transcript of McCain “Latino” Radio Spot Running in Nevada and New Mexico

12:21 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Nevada| New Mexico| US Presidential Race 2008 · Comments Off

5 Jun 2008

It takes some cojones for John McCain to run a radio ad in New Mexico, with a Latino governor and once presidential rival, claiming that he’s “unidos” with the Latino err Hispanic population. But he went there anyway. Here’s the transcript of the latest Latino targeted ad to come from the Republican presidential hopeful.

ANNCR: When we are buying groceries, we don’t have a political party. When we are filling up the gas tank, we are not Republicans, Democrats or Independents. We are Hispanics, and we all are hurting together in this uncertain economic time. We need someone that has a good economic plan, and that is John McCain. His plan is a realistic plan, not a political one, and it will help jump-start the local and national economies.

He proposed to Congress a federal gas-tax holiday for the summer months. He wants middle-class families to pay less taxes so we can have more money in our pocket and less in Washington. And he wants to help families hurt by the housing crisis under his HOME Plan.

He is optimistic and knows that we all, “unidos,” together, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, can find a better way to fill up our tanks, our shopping carts, and our dreams.

That’s why in (Nevada/New Mexico), “Estamos Unidos con John McCain.”

JOHN MCCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.

ANNCR: Paid for by John McCain 2008.

Via / The Washington Independent

Ex-Richardson Staff Lends Support to Obama

4:28 pm By Maegan La Mala · New Mexico| Politics| States| US Presidential Race 2008| arizona · 2 Comments

23 Jan 2008

Now that the great Latino hope in the race — New Mexico governor Bill Richardson — is gone, members of his presidential steering committee, some prominent Arizona Latinos, are getting behind Barack Obama. The Arizona Republic reports that it’s Obama’s work on issues that touch the Latino community — such as racial profiling — and his personal experience with immigration that makes him a strong bet for these Latino leaders:

John Laredo, former Arizona House Minority Leader, said that the work Obama, who is an Illinois senator, has done against racial profiling and other issues have benefited Latinos.

“His history as a civil-rights attorney, in particular his focus on voting rights, his support of the Dream Act – those things are what matters to the Latino community here,” he said. “We need someone that’s not going to take our vote for granted.”

State Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, said Obama’s experience addressing the needs of people of color is documented. “Look at what he’s done for minorities and Latinos in Illinois,” he told Latino voters.

“When you look at education, health care, housing and particularly immigration, Obama has been at the forefront.”

Former State Sen. Alfredo Gutierrez said because Obama’s father was from Kenya, Obama can relate to many Latinos’ desire for immigration reform.

Could this be an indicator of Latino heavyweight endorsements to come? The more important question is whether Latino voters — in the Southwest and beyond — will join him.

Via / Arizona Republic

Virgin Mary Makes Another Appearance

4:11 pm By Maegan La Mala · Bizarro| New Mexico| Religion · Comments Off

3 Jan 2008

2007 was a good year for Virgin Mary apparitions. In February we got a really good one — I’d say the best of the year — when Nuestra Señora appeared on a baking pan in Houston. Then in March, she was at the border crying bloody tears. Her third (and we thought final) appearance happened on a lemon slice, again in Texas.

Now reports are in that she made another appearance on a wall in New Mexico on Christmas Eve:”

He noticed an image there. He said, ‘That looks like an image of the Virgin Mary,’” Quintana said.

She said the image appeared during a home construction mishap. Quintana said her husband was putting a special texture on the wall. The spray bottle he was using broke twice, which meant the texture couldn’t be wiped off fast enough. This is how it dried.

The family graced by Mary’s presence says they have no plans for changing the wall. I wonder what the price of admission will be.

Via / Boing Boing and WMTW.com

Bill Richardson Ready to Be Presidente

9:18 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · New Mexico| Politics · 1 Comment

8 Dec 2006

Earlier this year we wrote about the speculation surrounding Mexican-American New Mexico Governor and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson running for President on the Democratic ticket in 2008. Well speculate no more. Although the only Latino governor in the United States has yet to formally file papers to form a presidential exploratory committee, yesterday Bill Richardson told FOX News that he is running.

“I’ve dealt with the issues that are very important today — national security, immigration and energy,” Richardson said in an interview with FOX News’ Carl Cameron.

Could a Latino be our next President?

10:49 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · New Mexico| Politics · 7 Comments

9 Nov 2006

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was overwhelmingly re-elected this week with a whopping 68% of votes cast in his favor. Richardson (~~born in Mexico City~~ born in Pasadena, raised in Mexico City, son of an American father and a Mexican mother), is the only Latino governor in the United States and las malas lenguas say he’s going to try to run for President in 2008. With the recent shift in public support toward the Democrats, could Richardson pull off on a national level what he pulled off in his own state?

Hefty majorities of men and women, Anglos and Hispanics, all age and income groups backed Richardson, according to the exit poll.

The governor also won the political middle ground. Majorities of moderates and independents favored Richardson. Those groups are considered key swing voters in New Mexico elections. About a third of conservatives defected from Dendahl and backed Richardson, according to the survey of voters as they left polling places across the state.

In spite of a relatively liberal philosophy on immigration (he’s reviled by anti-immigrant organizations) and other hot button issues, Richardson seems to have pulled from all walks of life and political affiliations to get this win, which is the kind of appeal that could make him a great candidate for the White House.

Would the Democratic party get behind a Latino candidate for President? And is this country ready for a Latino president? Tell us what you think.

Via / El Paso Times

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