holidays | VivirLatino

Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category

Feliz 2011!

12:38 am By Maegan La Mala · holidays|VivirLatino · Comments Off

1 Jan 2011

I was going to write a long ass post looking back at 2010 and to be honest with you, I got up to March. The truth is that last year Macha, Bianca, Jennifer and I really did so much, covered so much, shared so many ideas that it felt a little overwhelming to try and encapsulate all of that in one post. It felt unfair to try and list “top” moments.

I am extremely grateful for the amazing team in 2010 that made VivirLatino possible. Thank you Bianca, Jennifer y Macha. Sin ustedes this would not be here.

I am grateful for the organizations who have lent their support, in spite of (and because of) the big mouths/opinions here. As I have often said, we all have a role to play and the more we communicate and understand, the stronger world we can build.

I am grateful for the other beautiful bloggers, media makers, artists, writers, and journalists who share the passion for information and knowledge and understand the power of sharing and teaching. May we all push each other to continue to represent, report, and create.

I am grateful for those people who allowed us a glimpse of their lives. I am especially thinking of all the DREAMers I had the opportunity to meet this year. La lucha continua and I am hopeful looking at the landscape of fierce energy.

I am extremely grateful for the support of readers who have helped us with your ideas, your love, and your donations. So best wishes to you and your families and may this space serve some purpose for you.

There will be many changes here at VivirLatino in this new year. We aren’t going anywhere but in order to sustain this space, things will be shaken up a little. The challenge is great but good!

May this new year bring justice and love to all of our communities, ‘hoods, homes, y familias.

Felices Fiestas a Lo Digital

9:12 am By Maegan La Mala · holidays · Comments Off

24 Dec 2010

Mala is kind of into that whole navidad thing, complete with cooking, singing, gifting, and drinking (got coquito chilling in the fridge). That said I don’t know how often the updates will be flowing over the next few days. It really is dependent on my kids’ holiday spirit.

That said, regardless of if/how you are celebrating over the next few days, wishing each and every one of you joy, justice and peace.

P.S. : The video below, yes is problematic in a few ways (can you spot the signs of colonialism and apologies in advance to the observant Catholics) but as a recovering Catholic and as a #techputa, I found it amusing nonetheless.

Toy & Food Drive for Arizona

7:00 am By Maegan La Mala · arizona|holidays|Immigration · 1 Comment

14 Dec 2010

The fine peeps from the The Sound Strike (founded by Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine), PUENTE, NDLON and Presente.org are in the middle of a toy and food drive for familias in Phoenix impacted by anti-immigrant laws like SB1070 and by unjust deportations and family separations.

There are 3 easy ways you can help out:

1) Donate online by clicking here: http://bit.ly/donateaz
2) Get out your cell-phone & text “ARIZONA” to 50555 to donate $5 to help purchase toys, or
3) Donate a toy at one of our drop off locations. Get a list by clicking here: http://bit.ly/donateaz

Your contribution will be delivered to children and families on December 18th in Phoenix, Arizona, where the largest concentration of deportations has taken place. PUENTE, a grassroots organization in Phoenix, will be hosting a traditional Posada Celebration on this day, which is also International Migrants Day!

Alternative to Black Friday Encourages Families to Share Information

1:20 pm By Maegan La Mala · holidays · 4 Comments

26 Nov 2010

I have never participated the ritual of Black Friday, standing on line in the middle of the night after Thanksgiving so I could snag a bargain at 4 am (now midnight in the mall close to Casa Mala). Before it was about anti-consumerism, it was about the fact that my mom, a single mother and a retail worker, had to be the one opening the store pre-dawn, and ringing people up. She did that today.

Do you have alternatives to Black Friday? There is Buy Nothing Day and now Storycorp wants to initiate another alternative.

Storycorps is encouraging switching Black Friday with National Day of Listening. This can mean sitting down with a family member or other loved one to find out about family and personal histories. You can even document it and make it part of legacy.

Wishing All Peace with Justice Today (and Some Lechon Flavored Pavo)

2:22 pm By Maegan La Mala · holidays · Comments Off

25 Nov 2010

For some today is a day of rest, a time to gather together and pause to recognize the blessings. For others, today is a day to remember, mourn, and recognize that the path to justice is a long one.
For some it’s just about eating and football.
Some have to work to serve others today.
Regardless of how you are spending today, VivirLatino wants to send all positive wishes and gratitude for reading and sharing your ideas.

Spies Like Us : Latin American Spies on the Fourth of July?

3:05 pm By Maegan La Mala · Colombia|Controversia|holidays|Media|Russia · 5 Comments

4 Jul 2010

It seems more than strange on the 4th of July to write about accused spy Vicky Peláez, a reporter/writer for the NYC based Spanish language daily El Diario/la Prensa. ,

In case you have not been following the story,Peláez, a U.S. citizen Peruana, was arrested and is being accused of being a spy for Russia along with her husband, Juan Lazaro.

It us unclear what proof exists that Peláez, her husband, and others are spies and to what end they would be spying for Russia. Peláez and her husband’s home in Yonkers has been bugged by the Feds and upon their arrest, documents and computers were taken from the home.

My Memorial Day Will Not Be the Same As Yours

31 May 2010

For some, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. I know I have been taking advantage of the warm weather and feeling how the summer heat burns away through winter depression and doubt. Others, take the day, a holiday set aside to remember those who have lost their lives in the name of the United States. I have flipped through the television watching flags placed on the graves of fallen soldiers.

I count myself as among the somewhat lucky, that with a few family members in the military, I have not lost anyone. So maybe that’s why my memorial day will not be the same as yours. My mind will not wrap itself in red white and blue when so many soldiers who die do so because they were promised a piece of ownership over the U.S. flag via coveted citizenship or residence for their familias.

I will light candles for los muertos hoy, pero I do that everyday. Maybe of equal importance is lighting candles for those who are still alive and struggling with the choices that appear before them. Today, Free Speech Radio News is highlighting a report that they did on military recruitment in Brooklyn. Hearing young people of color speak about how their options are presented to them is nothing new for me. I, like the youth featured in the report, see military recruiters in the busy subway stations. I walk by, holding my three year old daughter’s hand, feeling a little more than helpless as a mouth “don’t do it” to the young people being sweet talked. I make loud comments as I walk to catch my train to work about how youth are being manipulated.
Read more…

la Macha at Feminist Review

11:54 am By la Macha · Entertainment|Family|holidays · Comments Off

7 Jan 2010

I have a new post up at Feminist Review! In it, I review the video, Christmas Classics: The Yule Log Edition (featuring Johnny Cash). A clip from the post:

I never thought that Johnny Cash could ever become kitsch. After all, he is the Man in Black, the patron saint of the disenfranchised and hurting and the bad ass country boy jamming an angry middle finger at the camera. I grew up listening to Cash singing to cheering prisoners and sullen guards, and then later turning a classic industrial rock song on its head. How on earth could this icon of morality—this Original EMO master—possibly be turned into sweet fluff?

Click over and read the whole thing!

New Years Resolutions

8:21 pm By la Macha · holidays · 1 Comment

31 Dec 2009

It seems a new year is about to begin. And with that comes all sorts of serious reflection and earnest declarations. So I guess it’s time to add my own.

I vow to take myself much more seriously throughout 2010. To do more reflection with my shirt off. And to clap more for all the Mexican boys who grow up into such men.

Happy New Year! Have a great night and don’t forget the condoms and money for the cab!

Besos from the VL team!

Happy New Year!

12:05 pm By Maegan La Mala · holidays · Comments Off

31 Dec 2009

I’m working on a year end round up post, which is more time consuming than I thought (especially with two kids running around). In the meantime, on behalf of the entire VivirLatino sisterhood, here’s wishing all of our readers a happy and healthy new year filled with hope y justicia.

See you all in 2010!

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