Texas Civil Rights Review

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  • Ramsey Muniz on Spiritual Foundations of Aztlan

    Dear Friends:

    I am currently visiting my loving husband, Ramsey.
    One might expect that after his suffering and trauma,
    he would appear old and worn. Instead, his face is youthful and radiant, unlike before. There is no question in my mind that he has been touched by the spirit of God.    –Irma Muniz

    3/2/06

    Our Spiritual Foundation

    by Ramsey Muniz
    Leavenworth Prison

    “Now I gaze into the mirror of life and see the face
    before my birth. I yearn to be one with all once again.
    I see my face in everything, and now know who I am!”
    –Tezcatlipoca

    “A group of Mexika (Azteca wise men), confronting,
    chained and shackled in 1524, the twelve Franciscan friars first sent by Spain, defended their religion in the name of their ancestors and long history:

    You said
    that our gods are not true gods.
    New words are these
    that you speak;
    Because of them we are disturbed,
    because of them we are troubled.
    For our ancestors
    before us, who live upon the earth,
    were unaccustomed to speak thus.
    From them we have inherited
    our pattern of life
    which in truth did they hold;
    In reverence they held,
    the honored, our gods.
    They taught us
    all their rules of worship,
    all their ways of honoring the gods.
    Thus before them do we surrender ourselves;
    In their names we submit ourselves;
    Our oaths we keep.
    Incense we burn
    and sacrifices we offer.
    It was the doctrine of the elders
    that there is life because of the gods;
    With their sacrifice they gave us life.
    In what manner? When? Where?
    When there was still darkness.

    It was their doctrine
    that they (the gods) provide our subsistence,
    all that we eat and drink,
    that which maintains life: corn, beans,
    amaranth, sage.
    To them do we pray

    for water, for rains
    which nourish things on earth.

    They themselves are rich.
    Happy are they,
    things do they possess;
    So forever and ever,
    things sprout and grow green in their domain.
    There “where somehow there is life,” in the place of Tlalocan.
    There, hunger is never known,
    no sickness is there,
    poverty there is not
    courage and the ability to rule
    they gave to the people.”

    –Miguel Leon-Portilla. Aztec Thought and Culture. 1963.

    Hermanos y hermanas, our ancient Mexicano priests were the greatest teachers of our spiritual and cultural life, which we today in the 21st century are living. In other ancient Mexicano writings, we find that they prophesized what would come about for our race/people in Aztlan and in the Holy Land of Mexico. Further, as we continue to study our manuscripts
    and carved writings, we find how we would rise and once more become the world’s most powerful spiritual and cultural race today.

    Our ancient Mexicano stonemasons were the greatest architects. They left us a spiritual foundation and we,within our spheres, are slowly and constantly rebuilding the temple (heart and mind) by once again returning to who we were from the beginning of our creation as a most spiritual/cultural race – Mexicanos! We are once again building the temple of love, compassion, equality, faith, forgiveness, and harmony.

    We are the living house of the temple. We are creating awareness/consciousness (Mexicayotl). That is so powerful that we are now a life force. Even from the dungeons of America we are presenting a clarity our stonemasons possessed una vez en un tiempo en Aztlan. “I” know that they knew that un dia, una manana, their future sisters and brothers would
    do homework, create awareness, learn their spiritual
    cultural craft, and use it to rebuild the temple, and
    “spiritually” rebuild ourselves.”

    We are without question the most exquisite living art. Our art form is Nahuatl. We do not only sound beautiful, we ARE beautiful! From the time of our creation as a race, as Mexicanos, the beauty and intensity of our love for one another is equal to
    that divine love our ancient stone masons shared with our people in the dawn of our civilization and now we are creating awareness/consciousness (Mexicayotl) and we will learn the connection between our ancient stonemasons of Aztlan and the free and accepted Mexicans of the present day, so as to understand perfectly the process by which our inner core
    believers became changed from an operative art to a speculative science. We shall attentively read and thoroughly digest these ancient Mexicano records of brotherhood.

    Our ancient Mexican codices are essential to our present day studies and we will acquire them, for we know they refer historically to the regeneration and rebuilding of our temple, and symbolically to the regeneration of life.

    “Nosotros somos la fuerza de vida nueva de los masones de una vez en un tiempo de Aztlan. We will learn how they built our spiritual/cultural temple and we today will learn how to perfect ourselves spiritually, step by step, degree by degree. We must not reject the signs. Every keystone they placed in the center of every arch and in the doorways shall spiritually secure firmness and stability in our present daily lives. Every cornerstone were laid with impressive ceremonies in our honor, and since the cornerstone lies at the corner of the foundation of an edifice, we are living permanence, and durability of the cornerstone of Aztlan. We are well formed,
    true, and trustworthy.

    Mexi is the master builder of souls and in Torquemada’s Monarquia Indiana, we learn that Mexi gave us his name, proclaiming us to be worthy of the spiritual building of eternal life, fitted as living stones, for that house not made with hands, eternal in Tamoanchan.

    It is late into the night and I must submit these
    writings. Since my near death illness, I recently
    experienced the power of our “spiritual/cultural” information that must now be shared constantly with nuestra gente. I will also be sharing our position on education as it pertains to us in all Aztlan.

    We will discuss our position on the issue of immigration. For the record, Aztlan is our land and it always will be. It is prophesized that one day it would be returned. Y que! We will also share why we are against the war in Iraq. We must save our young Mexicanos from dying in a war that will never be won, and save the souls of our youth from incarceration in the dungeons of America. What a time to be alive! Do we dare to scale the heights of heaven in Aztlan!!!

    In exile,
    Tezcatlipoca

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

    http://www.freeramsey.com

  • Two Notes from Ramsey Muniz

    Editor’s Note: The Texas Civil Rights Review is pleased to pass
    along occasional dispatches from Ramsey Muniz, former candidate for
    Texas Governor, now imprisoned at Ft. Leavenworth. As a graduate of
    Baylor Law and organizer of La Raza Unida, Muniz deserves to be taken
    seriously as a commentator on Texas Civil Rights.–gm

    In the enclosed letter Ramsey Muniz writes of
    imprisonment and immigration. Please distribute
    to advocates and friends.    –Irma L. Muniz

    From Ramsey Muniz (13 Jan 2005)

    It is the ultimate goal of the oppressor in
    these confinements to destroy all communications
    and relationships with friends, loved ones, and
    families. Because of the forced conservative attitudes
    in the so-called free world, the majority in America
    refuse to recognize the existence of humanity in its
    prisons of hell. Eventually, with time and hatred,
    man becomes the beast in this mode of darkness. Reasons
    to live or exist become none, and the right to die is
    one for the oppressor. It is a jungle where at one
    time humanity existed, but now we all live in the
    belly of the beast. Yet regardless of the hell and
    its cruelty, we refuse to surrender the love in our
    Mexika souls and for those reasons we reach out to
    the world with strength, courage, honor, pride, and
    respect for our people and ourselves. We, la raza
    who are confined in the depths of this cruel master,
    live like refugees in the wars of countries throughout
    the world. We have no rights, justice, families, or
    contacts and the attempted resurrection of the love
    in our hearts."–Tezcatlipoca

    Hermano Mexicano:

    We have a lot of work ahead of us for the year 2005.
    Without a doubt it is your Mexika responsibility to step
    forward and provide the necessary political leadership
    in your part of Aztlan. Truthfully, we waited for the
    last ten years for someone in your part of Aztlan or
    Texas to step forward and announce to the world that
    El Partido Raza Unida has returned to claim its political
    resistance and power in the entire southwest of America.
    We must step forward and let the United States and our
    Holy Land of Mexico know that we, El Partido, are in total
    support of our sisters and brothers who journey from
    Mexico to be with us in Aztlan.

    You must immediately take a position against the
    proposed legislation of only English language spoken
    and written in the state of Arizona. Those who are racist
    and oppress are well aware of the numbers. We are in
    the state of Arizona, making it difficult for our
    brothers to participate in government entities. It
    is as if they were to say, "No Mexicans allowed unless you write and speak English."

    Eventually, it will be our duty and responsibility to
    master not only the Spanish language, but English
    as well. There is fear in the hearts and minds of
    the oppressor, as we continue to grow in numbers,
    and guess what. It is only the beginning of what
    is to come like a tidal wave of humanity.

    Our position is one of inviting and providing
    humane protection to our sisters and brothers who
    come to not only make a better life, but most
    importantly to become part of a historical
    liberation that is within our reach. We advocate total
    amnesty to our sisters and brothers who find
    themselves in America.

    We must never content or satisfied with what
    we have done so far. Politically the time has come
    to step forward because culturally and spiritually
    we are ready to assist and provide the foundation
    for our political power.

    The United States supreme court recently ruled
    that the sentencing guidelines were unconstitutional
    because they forced judges to increase prison time
    based on certain factors such as the amounts,
    without submitting such questions to a jury. I will
    be sharing with you and others my immediate legal
    position in this new law related event.

    Remember, and do not ever forget that we must first
    be strong politically in Aztlan in order for me to be free.
    That’s history and nothing can change that.
    Stay strong, my brother, for one day we will all
    be free.

    In exile,
    Tezcatlipoca
    http://www.freeramsey.com

  • Editor's Choice: Ron Franscell on Peckerwood Hill

    “More condemned men – 180 – are buried here than 29 other states have executed in their entire history. Most share the ignominy of a nameless tombstone marked only with their inmate number, a death date and a simple “X” … executed.”

    Excerpt from Ron Franscell’s story about Death Row Cemetery “Peckerwood Hill” at The Bayou, a Beaumont Enterprise blog.

  • ICE Denies Hazahza Mistreatment to Media, not to Court

    Email from Josh Bardavid, Esq.

    We are confused by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) spokesperson’s denial that the Hazahzas have been strip-searched and mistreated while in detention. These allegations were made in court filings as sworn statements. ICE and the Emerald Corporation were afforded every opportunity to deny, refute, and/or respond to these allegations in Court under oath. They chose not to do so. If ICE believes that what the Hazahzas allege to be untrue, then we welcome them to respond under oath.

  • Hutto Walk II: Showdown Between American Democracy and Fascism

    Email from Jay Johnson-Castro.

    Greetings amigos…

    Is it legal to imprison innocent children? Is it moral? Is it humane? What kind of human can answer “yes” to any of those questions? On the contrary…it is absolutely inhumane and immoral…and therefore thoroughly illegal. Criminal.

    The architect of fascism, Benito Mussolini himself said, “Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power.”

    The next walk is being planned. It is the Hutto Walk II. It will be a showdown. It will be American Democracy vs. American Fascism.

    Nonetheless…we need your input, your support and networking. The walk will once again be from the Capitol of Texas …in Austin …to the Hutto prison camp of innocent children in Taylor , Texas . It is tentatively scheduled for April 13-15th. If this plan catches on…we would hold the Hutto Vigil VII on April 15th.
    This would occur four months after our first walk and first vigil that we did December 14-16 (2006). Could you please let me know if you or your organization would be willing to support and or assist in this? If there is anything that you can do to share this notice, please do. If your network or organization can help in any way…please let us know how you can help. If your media can let your audience know…please do. If you can do some research…please let us know. If you can lend some legal assistance please do. Print matter, web help. We’re open to your input.

    Here’s the reasoning behind this second walk and seventh vigil…

    All that the Whitehouse, Chertoff and ICE have done since the first walk and the first vigil is justify, defend, lie, willfully misinform and cover up…along with bringing in some plastic plants, remove the razor wire, expand the education and give the kids teddy-bears that they previously denied the children. The media still cannot interview the children or their mothers. So much for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

    To this day…the only ones freed have been by means of big money and legal maneuvering. That is not what we the people want. We want the children and their parents freed! NOW! Not months or years from now. We don’t want a bunch of drawn out political game playing. Every day that a child is locked up…is a day of suffering. A day of callous cruel and inhumane criminality being committed with impunity.

    From the very beginning…we have been demanding freedom for the children, reuniting of families and the cessation of concentration camps. Does anyone believe that the White House’s henchmen, Chertoff & ICE, will yield to the voice of we the people and our wishes? I for sure do. If this is a democracy…they have to! It’s true that they don’t yield to the people or Congress over the Iraq war. We believe that if they don’t comply with the will of “we the people”…that the we the “government of the people, by the people and for the people” will cease to abnegate our role…and rise to the cause of the preservation of American principles and we will not continue to allow fascism to get further entrenched in our land of liberty.

    This isn’t Iraq . This is not about funding and supporting our troops there at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives and $2 Billion a week. […] Standing up to free the children is however about courage vs. cowardice on the part of each and every one of us. This is about stopping the corrupt flow of money from the elitist shadow government…along with their politically purchased puppets…who commit these atrocities on the pretext of national security. This is about the preservation of the American ideals and our nation’s moral conscience. Talk about saving face with the world community. Imagine how the world is beginning to feel about America …an America that permits the imprisoning of innocent children and helpless refugees!!!

    We must exercise all of our rights and freedoms that are constitutionally guaranteed…or continue to loose them. This is no time for seeing if we can somehow tear away from the normal routine of our lives and try to squeeze in a moment of protest and dissention. This is all about the future of our country…for our children and grand-children.

    We cannot be silent about the imprisonment of innocent children just because they are not ours, or that they are of another country or race. We must also protect and defend their mothers as well…some of whom have been victims of sexual violations…in the ICE prison camps of CCA, Emerald, GEO, KBR and MTC.

    For those with dedication to a faith…one of the principles of all forms of sincere worship is the caring for innocent children and helpless women (I Pet. 1:27;Isa. 58:7;An-Nisa 4:75 ) Such worshipers would compassionately provide food, clothing and shelter…even in their own homes…to suffering children and women. That surely would not allow for cells in a “for-profit” prison camp.

    We the people cannot be silent and allow concentration camps like Raymondville, Laredo and Del Rio to continue to be built to hold an additional 30,000 immigrants. If someone wishes to use the framing adjective illegal to brainwash the public to look down on desperate people…may they learn the truth through transparency. What is truly “illegal” is the imprisoning of innocent people for-profit, without cause and without defense.

    To be effective, successful…and yes, victorious…we Americans need to come out of the shadows of fear of the fascism that is spreading all around us like malignant cancer. We need to come out of our hiding places and the safe havens of cyberspace…and be counted…openly and publicly. We need to muster up the courage that it takes to preserve the freedoms that our country guarantees…not only for us…but for all fellow humans that share the same inalienable rights that we do. If we don’t protect the innocent while we have the opportunity…we will become the next victims…with no one left to protect us. And then…what kind of country will our children and grandchildren live in?

    On this Hutto Walk II and Hutto Vigil VII…we will give those in positions of authority one last opportunity to do the right thing…and a final warning if they don’t. Free the innocent children now. Turn them over to the loving and caring people of America and the organizations that have a heart and a conscience.

    The voice of grass roots American will not only be heard…but will prevail. Those who are committing these atrocities are committing criminal acts. From prison guards, county commissioners, private prison owners and operators, federal agents all the way to the administration…as we speak…we hold them responsible. We the people are the majority. The dark side is the minority. If they do not comply, if they do not “cease and desist” to commit these illegal acts, if they do not sever themselves from this criminal activity…we the people, the majority of this 21st century American democracy, will seek indictments against anyone and everyone of those who continue to be complicit with these crimes. We would rather have the accomplices of concentration camps prosecuted…than allow them to continue to abuse these innocent children. We would rather have the participants and accomplices of these atrocities on the inside of their prison camps…where they now hold these children, their mothers or anyone humbly seeking refuge in the land of the free.

    This is not a game. We all have things and priorities lined up in our lives. We all have our pet causes. But…this is about the freeing of innocent people…and the preservation of our country as the land of the free. We have to be the freedom fighters at home…and the domestic battle is on.

    When sworn in, the President pledged to “support and defend
    the
    Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. He has not only failed to protect us from the domestic enemy…he and the corporate elitists who pull his strings are the principal domestic threats against our Constitution and the freedoms that it guarantees.

    Since the Congress has yet to successfully stand up against the demise of the Constitution, the Geneva Convention, the Bill of Rights, the Rights of the Child…who is left to defend, protect and preserve the fundamental human liberties? We the people! And we better do something more than blog with log in names! We must defend the Constitution and the rights and equality of every fellow human. We have to do so openly and with as much courage as we would expect from a combat soldier on the battle front.

    Why will we be victorious? Because we will fight with our hearts and our minds. The dark side fights with weapons of fear and cruelty. The same dark side, with all of its secrecy and police state, cannot deal with conviction, passion, morality, dedication and loyalty…along with intelligent reasoning, truth and transparency. How do we know? Because without one act of violence…we got the media into razor wire protected Hutto…to check it our for us. Likewise…we will now open wide the doors of Hutto without one act of violence…and the children and their mothers will walk out. The police state will be ineffective…if we stand together.

    Does anyone remember watching the Berlin wall get torn down? Who tore it down? The Russians government? Hell no!!! It was the people! People from both sides of the wall. They were joined by people from all over the world who flew in to share in the elimination of such a demented device. The whole world rejoiced at the demise of cruel human rulership. When Hutto’s doors are opened and the children and their mothers are set free…the world will once again have cause for international rejoicing. They will rejoice with us! And…they will rejoice because the spirit of America ’s freedoms will once again be the banner and the envy of the world.

    So…we will continue to walk against the prison camp that holds these children from some 30 countries. Share with us in our protest against such atrocities. Share with us in what very well might go down in American history as one of the acts that preserved the American that the world loved so much.

    Just two weeks to prepare. Your thoughts are very welcome?

    Jay

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Connecting.the.dots…making.a.difference…

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr.
    Del Rio , Texas , USA
    Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila , Mexico