Author: mopress

Writer, Editor, Educator, Lifelong Student

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Another Ballot Box Story from Texas

I am the County Chairman of the Democratic Party of Van Zandt County [on the Eastern

border of Kaufman County]. On Election Day, I had to appoint myself as a poll watcher in one of our

minority precincts.

The GOP election judges there were essentially doing everything they

could to prevent African Americans from voting. Two judges and I nearly got in a fight, I called one a

racist, and it was very ugly.

Among other things, they accused an African-American woman

of fabricating a driver’s license. Her maiden name was on the license, but her married name in the

poll book. Address, middle name, all else, were the same. Refusing to call the County Clerk as

prescribed by law, they tried to force her to vote a provisional ballot. I argued with them for over 20

minutes, during which time the entire line was held up. The woman was finally allowed to vote an actual

ballot, but after tremendous problems.

They also refused to tell voters what constituted

ID if they didn’t have ID. In one instance, since poll watchers can’t talk to voters, I finally told

the election judge, “look, you have to tell her that x, x, x, x, x, x, x and x constitute a form of

ID.” The woman heard this and produced her only form of ID–an insurance card with her SSN, address,

etc.

[Vince Leibowitz, via email Jan. 1, 2005]

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Higher Education Uncategorized

Our Thesis vs Ayn Rand Institute

The Dec. 15 OpEdge of the Forth Worth Star Telegram, presents our first-week response to the

Texas A&M announcement alongside a very different opinion from the Ayn Rand Institute.

Like every other response to the Texas A&M opinion, the Ayn Rand Institute refuses to

deal with the fact that Texas higher education is under federal supervision for de-

segregation.

Therefore the Ayn Rand Institute can present the following argument:

(1) “integration” is a worthy goal (2) “diversity” is not (3) Texas A&M is correct to abandon

affirmative action as a means to diversity. But what if (4) “de-segregation” was the original intent

of affirmative action at A&M and (5) “de-segregation” has not yet been completed? Then are we not

back to step one above: “integration”? The only thing standing between the Ayn Rand Institute and

the proper conclusion is consideration of a crucial fact: Texas higher education is not yet integrated.

Therefore, integration is the worthy reason why affirmative action should be continued.

The Ayn Rand Institute, like all other eyes of Texas, is looking chiefly at the

framework of “diversity” when the framework of “de-segregation” is more relevant. But the eyes of

Texas have been deliberately led in the direction of “diversity” by the magicians who crafted the

vanishing of affirmative action at Texas A&M.

Curiously enough, the much-watched debate

between campus president Gates and campus conservatives in the weeks leading up to the president’s

announcement served to solifiy an impression that “diversity” was the relevant framework for civil

rights policy at Texas A&M.

Let history reflect that the state’s initial reaction to

the Gates announcement was completely swept into the corner of diversity. No discussion of the

state’s obligations to de-segregation has yet taken place.

See the OpEdge page here.

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Uncategorized

Brief Replies to Arguments Regarding ''The Great Debaters''

By Greg Moses

OpEdNews

“The Great Debaters” is an invitation to many things. For the Texas Civil Rights Review, it is first of all an invitation to the heroism of the Texas civil rights tradition. The specific tradition of Wiley College and its heroes has been close to my heart for about two decades, and it would be difficult to imagine working on the civil rights project without regarding Tolson and both Farmers as historical mentors.

Therefore, it was with an excited urgency that I went to see the film, approaching it like a beautifully wrapped holiday surprise. And people who have seen the film overwhelmingly agree that it is a beautiful film, lovingly crafted by each artist who took part.

And yet some of Denzel Washington’s artistic choices have been questioned, especially his decision to script a climactic debate at Harvard. One of our correspondents persists in this line of questioning. It is just too much license says our reader. As long as the film lives, no doubt this will persist as a talking point. What are we to think about the artistic choice to stage the debate at Harvard?

As the Harvard character says in the film, the debate should be viewed more in the spirit of the future than the past, a quite precise suggestion spoken from within the myth, suggesting to the audience how to appreciate the beauty of the setting we see on screen.

Indeed, the spirit of the film tosses everything forward into the “always now” where the questions of freedom, justice, and equality still live.

Our correspondent asks us to place Denzel Washington’s choices as director in parallel with the choices of Anne Frank’s father as editor. Is it not true that racists can exploit the vulnerabilities of these men’s decisions?

It is historically true that racists have exploited the decisions of Washington and Frank. We know this is the case for “The Great Debaters” already, after only a week on the market. And yet, on this basis I am more prone to learn something about the weakness of racism than about the culpability of Washington or Frank.

If it is history you want, please go get it where history resides in the monuments, archives, and testimonials of human memory. And there you should put your history together slowly, patiently, critically. Thanks to “The Great Debaters” I think we can look forward to a decade or two of historical reconstruction revived.

In “The Parallax View,” Slavoj Zizek notices that the documentary form has a way of allowing us to keep a safer distance from life than does fiction. Why has there been so little fiction of the Holocaust he asks? Because it would be too real. In fiction what’s most important is that we enter into the heart of the matter. Somehow, he argues, paradoxically, ironically, documentary evidence offers a cooler surface.

On the screen of “The Great Debaters,” the thermostat has been turned up. What’s important in fiction is staying true to the temperature of the truth. And any use of artistic license must be measured according to this standard. As someone who has lived consciously in the afterglow of Tolson’s Wiley College, I’m thrilled that Washington did not allow any chill to settle upon that screen.

But if we must risk looking backward in history as a test of the Harvard setting, then why not ask another question. Why wasn’t the climactic debate at Harvard in the first place? Well, why not? Why do I have to use the history of Harvard to measure my art? Why can’t I use my art to measure the history of Harvard?

I am deeply gratified to have a reader who is a historian and who is passionate about what history means. But what are the moral and spiritual consequences of the fact that the histories of Harvard and Wiley did not so strongly cross paths until the history of film brought them together in 2007?

I am also indebted to our columnist from the “Redneck Left.” He thinks I shouldn’t use the word redneck to mean “racist” because there are self-identified “rednecks” who have quite gotten over all that racist crap.

On this point, in fact, “The Great Debaters” stands squarely behind my critic. We have the figure of two East Texas “rednecks” who play “boy” with a genius who suffers the accidental misfortune of being Black in their racist world order. Yet come midnight a new world order is in the making as those “rednecks” become fellow “sharecroppers” with Black farmers — a solidarity that is assaulted by a force to be reckoned with.

Then it’s back to the street in daylight again where the “redneck sharecropper” appears to stand once again on the side of the truly oppressive powers. When Farmer Junior says “you owe my Daddy some money,” he dropped a whole trunk of baggage that I won’t unpack right now.

Where does the “redneck” stand? Is he is the one still playing “boy” with Black genius? Or is he the one risking solidarity with fellow Black sharecroppers? The language of “The Great Debaters” captures both the ambiguity and the hope of what “redneck” means to me.

And while we’re on the subject of “white power”, there is a glorious unstated message in Tolson’s final appearance on screen. Anyone who says “all white folks were portrayed as bad in the film” wasn’t paying very close attention to the redemptions of whiteness that were offered, North and South, as the film carried the audience into the final credits.

So, especially with thanks to my critics, I’m rooting more than ever for this underdog film to take at least one Academy Award, and that’s for Best Director.

Categories
Ramsey Muniz Uncategorized

Ramsey Muniz on Mexicana Spirit and Struggle

[Note: In celebration of the recent transfer of Ramsey Muniz to Texas, we add to our collection of prison letters two items from the Fall of 2006. To read more prison letters and history about Muniz, just click the jaguar icon for “Aztlan” –gm]

Although Ramsey is out of the 21 day lockdown, the situation in Florence, Colorado is volatile. Placement in a lockdown status happens regularly, as the penitentiary houses the hardest criminals. The most difficult part of this nightmare is knowing that Ramsey does not belong in the maximum security penitentiary where he was sent. He has custody level which merits placement in a less secure camp or Federal Correctional Institution. –Irma Muniz
*****************
Awakening of the Divine Consciousness of Our Ancient Mexicano Spiritual Past

Before I share what is in my “yollotl” (heart), I find it important for you to know that at the present time we are in lockdown status, which means that I’m confined to my 6×9 cell twenty four hours a day, with a five minute shower every other day. Normally it is not my style to share with my people and family the pain and suffering that I must endure in this life of injustices, oppression, and darkness. I use the time in solitary confinement as if I were attending the “University of Unfaithfuls,” and allocate my time from the morning until the late evening as if I were attending classes, thus preparing my ancient spiritual / cultural / political lessons for the day.

Before beginning the writings I would love to share
with you that today I recalled the times during my
childhood when my grandmother, Rosario Longoria Campos, who lived to be 104 years old, would forever take me with her when nuestra raza would request her presence to heal those who were ill. She had that power and instead of receiving any type of compensation the family would prepare a bag of various food items including fruit, which I would eat on the way home.

At an older age I asked her why she would always
take me with her. She replied that one day I would
feel in my heart the power and love of our ancient
spiritual divine consciousness. Well here I am, a
Mexicano of our Sixth Sun, confined in the dungeons
of the oppressor, with the power of our divine Mexicano consciousness in my heart! I only ask that you take the time and pray for my continuous strength, harmony, pride, respect, and love that have become a part of me now and forever.

Everywhere throughout the entire world, nations,
countries, races, tribes, religions, are all seeking
the answer to their presence and why existence in the
21st century. It is as if a new profound world
spiritual consciousness has arrived from the heavens,
and everyone is searching, seeking, and asking each
other, “Who are we? Where do we truly come from? Where does our existence as a race begin or end? What is our destiny? Are we to be oppressed for the rest of our lives? Why do they deny the truth that in our ancient existence we were referred to as the people of the sun, children of the light?

“Yo quisiera poseer la conviccion o la clarividencia
necesaria para definir el origen de Mexico, para
ponerle fecha precisa a mi pais, pero siempre me encuentro con numerosas dudas que se me vuelvan preguntas: Empezo Mexico cuando crecio en su suelo la primera planta de maiz? O aquella noche en que los dioses se reunieron en Teotihuacan y decidieron crear al mundo?

Cuentan las memorias vivas de Yucatan que el mundo
fue creado por los dioses, el uno llamado corazon de
los cielos y el otro corazon de la tierra.”

Los Cinco Soles de Mexico. Carlos Fuentes. 2000

As Mexicanos, Hispanics, Latinos, Chicanos, we
are in the midst of our greatest impact of Mexicayotl
(consciousness) throughout all Aztlan and in our most
precious everlasting Holy Land of Mexico. Mexicayotl
is the shining path of Mexi (God). And we’ve come to
know and accept with our hearts and lives that to serve nuestra linda raza is the highest honor.

Being Mexikan (Mexicano) is a great risk in the world of the present oppressor, but the most spiritual, glorious gift of all in one’s life, even in our ancient past, our most profound spiritual power was revealed in our writings which few of our people have knowledge of.

Our great ancestor, Ixtacmixcohuatl, (Mexi’s prophet, called the Mexican Noah by Torquemada, and the Mexican Genghis Khan by modern historians) had six sons by his first wife, Ilancue, and a seventh son by his last wife, Chimalma. The seventh son was the last prophet, Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl was crucified on
Totecuioichan by early contras. His crucifixion is
revealed in Sahagun’s Historia General, 4 Tomos, and
also in Manly P. Hall’s Secret Teachings of All Ages.
There is more about Mexi and his last prophet in
Manly P. Hall’s America’s Assignment with Destiny.

Ixtacmixcoatl’s sons, Xezhua, Tenoch, Xicalancatl,
Mixcoatl, Olmecatl, Otomitl, and Quetzalcoatl, were
all prophets of Mexi. Alfredo Chavero in his Azteca – Mexica Fundacion de Mexico – Tenochtitlan, called Tenoch “el Moises Mexicano” – the Mexican Moses. The majority of the ancient writings by Sahagun, Mendieta, Torquemada, Duran, Motolinia, Molina, and Tezozomoc were written between the 1540s and 1570s by the Spanish priests and were then secret church documents for their eyes only.

Since then, our Holy Land of Mexico has experienced
many revolutions and a lot of cultural / spiritual /
political writings kept away from la raza have been
liberated. When Torquemada compared Tecpatzin and
brother, Huitziton with Moses and Aaron, I marveled
at them. Our history did not begin with the Alamo
nor did it end at San Jacinto. My task will be to
research and prepare a Mexikan style Holy Quran or
bible for la raza to reveal the word of Mexi during
our ancient spiritual creation and beginning and all
the sacrifices made by his prophets and profetisas – yes, profetisas, Quilaztli, Xihuiquenitziin, Xochiquetzal, Ixtab, Chalchiuhnene, Coatlicue, Cihuacoatl, Xilonen.

My Mexicana sister in struggle, Erika (Xochiquetzal), will be surprised to know that when Quetzalcoatl was crucified on Totecuioichan, Xochiquetzal (goddess of love), was with him. This is what is meant by the words vemmana nino, ome vemmana. Mao Tse-tung said, “Women hold up half the sky!” Las mujeres detienen la mitad del cielo! Xochiyaoyotl is drama and we, los Mexicanos – Mexicanos of our Sixth Sun are playing in the theater of real life struggles and liberation. Xochiyaoyotl, the war of the flowers, is a war of hearts because the Xochitl flower symbolizes el corazon del Mexicano y de la Mexicana.

Raza, I’m with you. Give spiritual firmness to
believers. Join in prayer with my wife, Citlalmina,
and my family.

In exile,
Ramsey (Tezcatlipoca)

“Everybody — Hispanics, Latinos, Mexicanos, Chicanos
are responsible for the liberation of Aztlan and our
Holy Land of Mexico. You are intelligent people. You
can fight the present persecution through vemmana,
the shining path of Mexi. Mexicayotl (spiritual
consciousness) is light upon light. That gives you
great freedom. Rejoice in this freedom! Rejoice in
this understanding that you are responsible for the
liberation of Aztlan and nuestra raza.”

**********************************
http://www.freeramsey.com

**********************************

Ramsey Muniz on Sept. 16

Please share the significance of the historic
event of diez y seis de septiembre with
family, friends, and others whose heritage
and/or consciousness assert the beauty and
essence of the Mexican race in Mexico
and the United States. –Irma Muniz

9/16/06

El Grito del Diez y Seis de Septiembre

By Ramsey R. Muniz

Written during confinement in the dungeons of America

This will be a d

ay of celebration and remembrance
like never before in our lives here in Aztlan and in
our most precious Holy Land of Mexico.

“I was there when the Spanish invaders came,
infested with the parasites of injustice, and
destroyed our nation, our spirituality, our cultura,
and the existence of the most powerful history in
the world of mankind. We resisted and fought like the
mighty warriors we continue to be today, dying against
all odds, but leaving a message for the future generations and Mexicanos of tomorrow – those not even born.

“We have constantly historically continued since the invasion to resist for the last three centuries,
during our times in slavery, for our liberation, for
justice, and return of our land. We died in our
struggle, refusing the shackles and chains of servitude
and oppressive crimes preyed on the lives of our
people, our families, and our nation.”

Ramsey Muniz (solitary confinement)

There is in existence in this 21st century an
awakening of our ancient Mexicano spirituality seeking
its true essence of freedom in the United States of America and our Holy Land of Mexico. Experts in the
question of freedom in this country are even comparing the revelation to the Black Movement of the 60s and the 70s. Some of us participated in that movement in one manner or other, knowing that eventually our time as Mexicanos/Chicanos/Hispanics/Latinos would arrive.

We celebrate El Diez y Seis de Septiembre because we
too are in the midst of seeking our freedom, justice,
and eventually the return of our land, Aztlan.
Presently, we are the largest minority in the
Unites States, and we are growing in numbers. We
celebrate the 16th of September because we are returning to the beginning of our creation as a race, as a people, and as a nation.

“Through many millennia of suffering and rejection,
of oppression, so many centuries of unconquerable defeat, Mexico has risen, time and again, from its own ashes, until when? What will be the time limit of our next great hope? What shall be the intensity of our next great desire?”

This I Believe. An A to Z of Life. Carlos Fuentes. 2006.


It is written in the faces and hearts of our people
that the time has come to rise once more from the realm of this oppression, discrimination, imprisonment, and injustices against the majority of Mexicanos. El Grito is a day of celebration in admiring our past ancestors who had the heart, courage, pride, respect, dignity, spirituality, and love to rise and fight for what was and has been God given to us from the beginning of history and its creation. El Grito of today was meant from its essence to be the human spark in our hearts to continue with the battle of our liberation.

Even in this darkness of these dungeons of America my heart is full of contentment because my visions and dreams are fulfilled with our people rising once again throughout all Aztlan and in Mexico. The dreams
clearly bring all of us together once again as one. The
visions reveal that we are not strangers to this land in
which we struggle today. We were here first. We created our most powerful spiritual existence as a race here in all Aztlan before our historic journey in search of our promised land, Tenochtitlan/Mexico City. Our sisters and brothers from our Holy Land of Mexico have returned to Aztlan and more. America has witnessed millions of Mexicanos marching and protesting for the human right of returning to our homeland.

We never saluted the statue of liberty because we did not go to it. America came to us. We were not and will never spiritually be the illegal aliens of Aztlan. On the 16th of September of 2006, America will witness once again millions of Mexicano sisters and brothers marching, celebrating, crying, and knowing in their hearts that the time of El Grito has arrived once again. Our sisters and brothers from our Holy Land of Mexico will be the millions in Tenochtitlan/Mexico City seeking the right of political and social justice.

“It would be an abuse of the peoples’ rights, a
rupture of the constitutional order and a Coup D’ Etat,
which is offensive to millions of Mexicans,” he told
supporters in the Zocalo, Mexico City’s main square
on Sunday.

He has also called for a national convention for
September 16th, Mexico’s Independence Day, when he says he will ask supporters whether he should be declared the “alternative” president-elect of the country.

Manuel Lopez Obrador, Presidential candidate for Mexico. USA Today. September 2, 2006

We are not oceans or seas a part from each other.
We have gradually returned to the truth of our creation.

The truth of the reality that we are all the same, that
we are one, that we were connected from the time of our creation as Mexicanos. We, of the 21st century, celebrate this most glorious day because we have finally accepted the truth of our existence as one and that is the beginning of our independence in the 21st century. Our cultura is so spiritual that it has brought us back together once more as it did during the days of our most powerful civilization on this earth.

“We are all one with the land in Aztlan. The spirits
of our ancient gods are everywhere – in every stone,
every bird in the trees, the grass, the maize on the stalk, the water in the lake, and the fish in the streams. The Spanish conquered our people (los Mexicanos) physically.

“They conquered only what the eye could see. The
spirituality of the Creator and all the gods are still
here and there, and all around us. These are the ancient spirits that the Spanish (or anyone else) will never conquer – never!

Ramsey Muniz – Tezcatlipoca

Mexicanos, listen! “El Grito” is like the sign of the cross. It is in our hearts and minds not only on this historic date, but everyday until once again we liberate and return the power to our people. Our spiritual history to struggle for the rights of humanity will never be destroyed again, and for that reason we will never be defeated!

In exile,
Ramsey (Tezcatlipoca)

“We are hungry and thirsty for justice” can be heard
everywhere; but how many of those hungry dare to take the bread, and how many of those thirsty risk to drink the water that is on the way to liberation?”

Praxedis Guerrero. 1910.

**********************
http://www.freeramsey.com

Categories
Ramsey Muniz Uncategorized

Ramsey Muniz: I'm Back!

I’m Back!

From within the realm of this long mode of darkness,
Irma and I wish you and your families a most powerful
and spiritual Happy New Year. We thank you for your continued and everlasting support during these past 13 years in which we have suffered and sacrificed in order to be back in Texas and soon free once again…

Since my return, the spirituality of those who are now in heaven and close to our hearts have appeared with spirits of love, courage, and faith, that now I am convinced without a doubt that one day soon we shall be free. This coming year will be one of spiritual and cultural liberation throughout the entire world — remember my words of wisdom….

Happy New Year / Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Sinceramente,

Ramsey & Irma Muniz ************
Dear Friends:

In the enclosed letter Ramsey speaks of immense
suffering, sentiments of love for his wife, his
people, and for all humanity. The love that he expresses reflects the beautiful spirit that he is, and profound mission that he has embraced. Please distribute.

10/27/06
9:00 p.m.

Love / Amor

Mi amor, mi corazon,

“The soul, in which a prison God has been, will abandon the body but not its love. It will be ash, but it will still have feeling; it will be dust, but dust in love.”

How sad and unfair that we as lovers must forever
be limited with time imposed upon us. My heart cries
and reaches out to feel the passion, desire, and amor
that are so powerful and profound, they give life to
those who have no life or existence. From the first
time I saw you I knew that the love in your corazon
would overcome the depths of darkness, loneliness,
solitary confinement, grief, sorrow, hate, jealousy,
and weakness.

“My dreams of beauty and my beloved visions of
a humanity living in peace, love, and liberty will
not die with me. While there is on earth a painful
heart or an eye full of tears, my dreams and my
visions will live.”

I’m deeply in love with your love, which brings
forth its power of strength, courage, faith, and the
everlasting desire of becoming a free Mexicano once
again. Yes, at times it seems as if the world comes
to an end, as if no one really cares, as if it is
totally unfair that those who advocate justice or
freedom for our people refuse to admit that the chains
and shackles on my body have left scars of oppression
forever. Even in the darkness, coldness and loneliness
my heart reaches out and cries out for you. Have faith, hope, and know that one day soon we will be free.

“And if this Mexicano love brings death or prison, I am sure that your eyes as when I kiss them, will then close with pride –with double pride and mine. But toward my ears they will first come to undermine the tower
Of the sweet and harsh love that binds us.”

We must be brazen about our love and our liberation as lovers to the entire world. We are not spoken words, movies, or a stage play. We are the essence of what is truly love and the power of lovers.

How will I ever forget my near death illness,
unable to stand with my own power – weak, sick,
lost in the wilderness of pain and suffering, yet
the oppressor confined me in solitary confinement
in the Springfield medical facility, lying in the
darkness without medical care. And immediately, as
if the Creator had spoken to your heart, you came
within a short period of time, refusing to leave
until I was embraced in your arms and heart. The
following day I was removed from solitary confinement
and began receiving any necessary medical care and
treatment. There is no question that if you would
not have made your most powerful presence, I would
have died. I love you with my proud Mexicano life
— the life that you have given to me once again.

I’m totally convinced that if we all share the love
that we have in our hearts for others, if we stand
firm against the injustices against others, if we
believe in the spirituality that is our life for
others, one day we will be the leaders in this
world as it pertains to justice, liberation, harmony,
peace, and love in this world for all humanity.

La vida de Mexi (me-shee), God, no solamente
es la guerra santa sino la desiminacion de la
verdad. En verdad os digo, “si la guerra santa
no fuera sido dada como mandamiento y determinacion
de Dios, la verdad en el alba de nuestra civilizacion
posiblemente fuera sido arrancada de los raices de
nuestros corazones.”

Do not ever lost faith or hope in this struggle of freedom not only for ourselves but most importantly
for our people, nuestra raza linda, and all humanity
that hungers. Even Jesus Christ was chained, shackled, imprisoned, and His heaven was found in solitary with one’s brothers. He extended the values of life on earth to the realm of the eternal in stating,

“For I was hungry and you gave me food; thirsty and you gave me drink; a stranger and you welcomed me; naked and you clothed me; ill and you cared for me; in prison and you visited me.” “When did we give you all this?” his listeners asked Him. Jesus replied, “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least
brothers of mine, you did for me.”

As Mexicanos of the 21st century we are in for
vast spiritual, cultural, political, and leadership
changes like never before in our history. It is one
thing to speak and sound well for others, but it’s
another to sacrifice and give your life for the
liberation and justice for one’s own people. History
will be our judge at the end and the truth will come
forth in everyone’s life. Do not be saddened or
discouraged if certain so-called Chicano leaders
decided to become judge and jury in one’s life
(in chains, shackles and in the highest, most
dangerous prisons of America), and never submitted
a drop of water to wet my lips or a piece of bread
to ease my hunger. It only made me a stronger
spiritual Mexicano who finds forgiveness in his
heart for all humanity. It has only given me the
love in my heart that will one day free me and the
masses of my people. I love you, te amo, te quiero
con toda mi vida.

In exile,
Ramsey – Tezcatlipoca
******************

http://www.freeramsey.com