Milagro Beanfield War - my review

Que Viva Snuffy Ledoux!

I read this book 35 years ago for the first time when I was fifteen years old. It remains one of my all time favorites. A friend recently pointed out that I was like Amarante Cordova. I always considered myself to be more of a Jose Mondragon. After re-reading Milagro Beanfield War, this timeless piece of literature ranks among the best stories I have ever read and, why I consider it such a great demonstration of artistry and craftsmanship.

Milagro Beanfield War is an enchanting story, told by a man who has a deep and abiding respect for the people he wrote about. His descriptions of the colorful characters and the beautiful landscapes reveal a man who is faithful to describing northern New Mexico Latino culture with clarity and sensitivity to all their quirky nuances.

Nichols reminds me why I love the northern part of the state so much. The rugged terrain is as breath-taking beautiful as its hard-scrabble inhabitants. I am convinced their vibrant culture and world view has been shaped by the land in which they live. Their ingenuity and tenacity are not as caricatured as you might be given to conclude according to Nichols' descriptions. Their bravado, sense of pride, chutzpah are not an exaggeration at all. Moreover, extraordinary things do happen up there and what is even more unusual is that is is not seen as anything out of the ordinary at all. Nichols does such a fantastic job of describing the terrain that he reminds me why I love Northern New Mexico - Taos in particular - so much.

Plainly put, this story is entertaining, comical and it sheds light on yet another group of Americans whose peculiarities spice up an already delicious story.

I felt a connection to all of the characters. However, if pressed to choose one, I believe my favorite would be the immortal Amarante Cordova who buys bullets for his antique .45 with food stamps.

Aside from Pacheco's huge, white pet pig that continually escapes and wreaks havoc in Milagro, the cast of characters include;

Joe Mondragon, the sawed-off banty rooster. The protagonist who unwittingly starts the war when he decides to irrigate his little bean field - of course the symbolism should not be wasted here as beans cause gas and Joe's little field caused a big stink.

Bernabe Montoya, the tired though politically astute sheriff whose comic-tragic life is measured by making mountains out of mole hills and mole hills out of mountains,

Seferino Pacheco, the illiterate old man who can nonchalantly critique Steinbeck, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Juan Ramon Jimenez, Platero, Asturias, Garcia Lorca and Pablo Neruda but spends the lions' share of his time haplessly chasing down his wayward, errant pet pig,

Onofre Martinez, the one armed enigma who lost his arm to a fleet of butterflies and whose claim to shame is marked by having a son become a state police officer,

Charlie Bloom, the Harvard Lawyer cum honorary Chicano and publisher of a little news paper called 'The Voice of the People,'

A host of bad guys led by the evil, Ladd Devine III, an equally pugnacious, little white man whose size belies his ambitions, and

the women of Milagro who range from a pebble-tossing granny to loyal, devoted and equally nutty, delightfully powerful women.

These characters represent the tapestry of Milagros' comedic bravado and cloaked angst with its temperaments and dispositions.

I have read that some people do not like Nichols' depiction of the dominant culture and actually take exception to what has been described as the 'white man's burden.' Such detractors are really missing the point because the story is about a nostalgic look at a culture and way of life that is quickly waning. As a case in point, Onofre Martinez articulates the point quite eloquently (p 150)when someone makes an off handed comment about gringos;

"'Wait a minute!' Onofre Martinez stammered excitedly, emotionally placing his hand on Ray Gusdorf's shoulder, 'This is my neighbor, and he is a gringo, not even a little bit coyote [half-breed:]. But he's been in the valley as long as I remember, and I consider him to be of my people. And that white man over there told us these things about the dam and the conservancy and showed us the maps, I consider him of my people too, even though he is a lawyer, even though he speaks funny Anglo Spanish you can hardly understand. But I believe he at least tries to speak the truth,and a lawyer who does that should get a big gold medal to hang around his neck. I don't consider Nick Rael to be of my people because he works against my interests... So, I don't believe this is a brown against white question. This is a only one kind of people against another kind of people with different ideas. There are brown people and white people on both sides...People are people...The brown people and white people on our side are better people because they are on the correct side, that's all..."

While many of the antiheroes in this story happen to be Anglo and the protagonists are mostly Latinos, the story would not change if the protagonists happened to be a group of backwater whites who were facing similar circumstances. Consequently, I don't really understand why someone, anyone would get ruffled about a white author writing about bad white guys. Apparently, Lonesome Dove doesn't evoke the same sort of bristled criticisms and, for that reason, I find the attacks on John Nichols unwarranted.

John Nichols has created a masterpiece, attentively woven with its muted colors of incredulity, tempered fatalism and brilliant splashes of hope.

I sincerely hope his magnum opus is not discounted because he has the temerity to celebrate the true essence of what is unique about being an American; diversity.

Finally, If you like magical realism, this book is perfect for you.

ps: There's nothing wrong with being like Amarante Cordova - although I still consider myself more like Joe Mondragon. And, hey Tony! You are crazier that Pacheco's pig!

A Prayer for Owen Meany - by John Irving - my review

I've always had a tentative relationship with my religion. Like many, I take comfort in established, ritualized practices. On the other hand, I have a tough time with some of what I consider to be loopy mandates outlined by the Catholic Catechism.

One aspect about A Prayer for Owen Meany definitely touched on Faith; how I reconcile the difference between knowing that G_d exists; and believing that his word is what has been faithfully communicated through the Bible.

Couple that with my mistrust for 'the government' and my love for the Constitution and I have the perfect setting for an exploration of what happens when the two mix.

Owen Meany is a Christ-like figure - the reluctant messiah who, for whatever reason - is tapped to make the supreme sacrifice; he is to die. It causes me to ponder how Jesus must have felt as he knew what was going to happen and how he dealt with that impending eventuality of his demise for a 'greater good.'

And what of altruism? How can one reconcile voluntary termination of one's very life when to do so involves an act so selfless that it means termination of life as we know it to exist in this dimension. It begs the question, is altruism really voluntary at all and moreover, does it make any sense?


What about those left behind? John Wheelright's retrospective recounts the life of his enigmatic friend and the events that precipitated his death. He is preoccupied with whether the senseless act of violence that killed Owen could have been avoided - whether the collision course was one of divine providence or merely the product of a self-directed destiny. In the process, Johnny's story reveals the struggle between faith and reality; for Johnny it was one of knowing the end result and looking back; for Owen, it was one of knowing the end result and moving toward it. While both took a lifetime to complete, I am not sure who suffered more in the end.

If this is a parallel story of Jesus of Nazareth and there are/were other people with whom he shared his earthly existence then, their spin on the chain of events that led to his death and how they perceived it opens a whole new story. I can easily surmise that their personal interpretations might vary and the depth of their grief drives them to revisit the 'greatest story ever told' for the rest of their lives.

There are also many symbolic parallels throughout the story as well. For instance, Owen Meany's initials might be related to the letter Omega - as in the Christ's declaration of being the 'alpha and the omega.' His relationship to 'John' - might this be a reference to the beloved apostle alluded to in the New Testament? How about the Mary Magdalene, perhaps an alliterative parallel to Hester - 'the Molester'; maybe an allusion to the Scarlet Letter's Hester Prynne and the attendant consequences for having dared to love a man she could never have. How about her ability to evoke emotion and enjoy adulation of her fans. Yet despite her rock-star appeal, she was powerless to save the man she loved from with his date with destiny?


So many questions arise like;

1] Is it easier to bitch about my government when I really have problems with my G_d? Civil disobedience beats the shit out of apostasy right? My government can jail me however, according to Pascal's gambit regarding the existence of G_d; violating the treatises of my faith can doom me for eternity.


2] Is this why fundamentalists work so hard at setting a status quo in their ever-changing world?

3] What do you do when your messiah - whom you never realized to be your messiah - is now your messiah and he is gone? You no longer can see him in the flesh. Is this the point of embarkation for the trip we call 'faith'?

4] How about the irony involved in being killed by someone else whose practiced religion calls for your destruction - even if you are the messiah?

I think about mistrust of my government which also played a role in Owen's death, the zealots and the existence of evil.

Like John Wheelright, I am a religious outsider. The struggle with my faith, striving to make sense of the religion of my birth. I take in my countryman's sacrosanct professions of faith and come away unconvinced.

Among my fellow Christian believers, there is a sea of difference where one set of perspectives takes precedence over another. Those who currently hold sway doggedly embrace the notion of a vengeful G_d that endorses 'an eye for an eye.' By convention, these practitioners of faith invoke the notion of self reliance as their excuse for turning a blind eye to the plight of a poor. Since G_d only helps those who help themselves, poverty must be an indication that such individuals are sinners - abandoned by the creator and therefore - of no consequence. The G_d of Abraham - whose eye is on the sparrow - is unmoved at the growling stomach of starving child.

Only in America do we protect an impoverished unborn human's right to be born into a mean world where they are guaranteed denial of equal access to education, food and a decent quality of life. We abandon them to the mean streets of what so proudly we hail as the greatest country on earth only to hunt them down years later. They are perfect fodder for the alter of object lessons because we prosecute them and even execute them in far greater numbers than members of the middle and upper class. We conveniently deny along the way that offenses committed by the poor had anything to do with the crimes perpetrated by religious approbation of avarice, wholesale exclusion and pin-pointed bigotry. It does make me wonder just what a messiah might make of it all and that is another reason why Owen Meany's character moves me.

I freely admit my bias; I am a John Irving fan and this is the book that did it for me.

I know Irving thoroughly studied the work of Charles Dickens so his story-telling utilizes techniques invoking craftsmanship reminiscent of that prolific storyteller. Irving's writing skill is second to none. He delivers a thought provoking, haunting narrative that leaves me continually revisiting this story.

A Prayer for Owen Meany is a meaning-of-life book of the highest order. It doesn't give us answers. It gives us questions to ponder - something infinitely more valuable. It informs. It frustrates. It entertains. It evokes a broad range of emotions. It has the potential for commuting what seems at first blush a life so common into a glimpse of the divine. It is the story of one man's epiphany and his ongoing struggle to reconcile faith with reality. It is a book of revelation - all at once apocalyptic and painfully redemptive.

Any book that can communicate on so many different levels is a book that will stand the test of time. This is why I consider this story among the top three books penned by any living writer I have read to date.

This is only part of why I love Owen Meany and why, - like the opening line,

"I am doomed to remember a small boy with a wrecked voice..."


This is undoubtedly, my all time favorite book.

Happy Birthday Kristin. This book review is dedicated to you.

Dear Mr. President - Jamisun

Dear Mr. President
Jamisun

Mr Smith Goes to Washington - Jimmy Stewart

The movie, Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939) is about Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart), a noble but naive man who is appointed to finish out the remaining term of a recently vacated U.S. Senate seat. His encounters with all manner of corruption only serves to strengthen his resolve in the face of stagnant, status-quo Washington bureaucrats who serve their personal agendas at the expense of their constituencies who put them into office. Rather than give in, Smith stages a one-man filibuster that lasts, 'twenty-three hours and sixteen minutes.' He finally collapses but not before he confronts Senator Payne, with his challenge to remember The Golden Rule.

In the end, Mr. Smith refuses to lose hope. He refuses to part with his ideals and principles in the face of frustration.

Yes, this movie is sappy and yes, Washington doesn't work that way but there is a certain romance in watching heroic battles as the one put forth by Senator Smith in the defense of social justice and simple Human decency.

Sixty-nine years have passed since Frank Capra directed this movie. It remains poignant because Washington still has its share of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Nowadays, it appears that almost daily, the majority party faces yet another sex scandal or charge for peddling influence to the highest bidder as did Congressman Robert Ney of (R) Ohio or California's Congressman (R) Randall 'Duke' Cunningham were.


Something has to change when a respected Senator [Larry Craig (R) Idaho] is caught in a bathroom sex sting or when another [Congressman Mark Foley (R) Florida] is forced to resign after being caught soliciting sex from under-age Congressional Page boys - all this as they fought to implement legislation against sex-offenders and spoke so vehemently about the demise of family values in America as foundations for their platforms to get elected into office. It turns out the Republican Party is rife with perverts, philanderers and people on the take. There are quite a few more, like Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich who go on the attack as if their ability to use the distributed responsibility argument could stand up to the very measure they invoke as God-fearing Christians. The point is, they are corrupt - period.

No-bid contracts are the order of the day for Republican associates and cronies who break the law are ignored by the White House. Worse yet, even when they are caught red-handed breaking the law, they are rewarded for such transgressions by presidential pardon.

Maybe now is the Democratic Party's opportunity to heed the call of the people by submitting to the only special interest that matters in America, the little man, the poor, the weak and the back-bone of this country, the working class.

If we cannot take care of our own family, how can we begin to even consider being a beacon for the rest of the world?

Another Republican Pervert is Busted

According to a Washington Post article that appeared this Saturday, 16 February 2008, Maryland Delegate Robert McKee resigned his position Friday, two weeks after authorities seized evidence including a couple of computers and child pornography in the form of videotapes and 'printed materials' from his home in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Beware of wolves in shepherd's clothing....

Ironically, McKee was instrumental in formulating and passing laws aimed at protecting children from sexual predators.

McKee also resigned as Executive Director for Washington County's Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter where he worked for 29 years. Wow. According to blogger, "Down with Tyranny," 'He's been very active in the Little League and, predictably, was a chaplain for the First Christian Church...'

Et tu Brutus?

Well, McKee joins long list of distinguished Republicans who have been involved in sex scandals. The party of Family Values which includes some heavy hitters like the US Senator Larry Craig whose penchant for random sexual liaisons with men in airport bathrooms was revealed in a police sting, or the lecherous sexual predator and pedophile Florida Congressman Mark Foley and his pursuit of Congressional Page boys just to mention a couple. The list of sex scandals linked to these lawmakers and their deviances grows every day leaving their once solid constituency baffled, confused and disgusted with each new revelation.

Personal character isn't what you do when everyone is watching, it is what you do when no one is watching.

The extent to which legislators like McKee, Rep Foley, Senator Craig and the host of other Republicans ring their morality bell as they target homosexuals branding them as perverts and sexual predators is ironic, even comical in light of their own scandalous tendencies.

An emerging reality is taking shape as these kinds of nasty revelations are brought to light; being highly active in implementing anti-gay legislation seems to be reciprocally related with unresolved, closeted behaviors when it comes to self-proclaimed, morally upright Republican legislators. It begs the question; who better to write such laws than the child molesters and closet homosexuals themselves?

As karma would have it, they just keep getting caught with the proverbial planks in their eyes. It all has an Alice in Wonderland quality to it; things just seem to be getting 'curiouser and curiouser.'

To be of service or to be serviced, that is the question...

With his sexual appetite for children revealed, McKee's resignation letter expressed how the exposure was, 'deeply embarrassing to me' and further characterized his behavior as, a poor reflection on his, 'service to the community.'

Amen brother!

There is poetic justice to it all; Mark McKee will get to witness first-hand how effective the predatory laws he helped to write are.

The investigators haven't yet revealed whether his preference is under age boys or girls.

This Land is Your Land

This Land is your Land
Words & music by Woody Guthrie
Performed by Los Lobos, Bob Weir & Jerry Garcia

Chorus:
This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

I've roamed and rambled and I've followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts
And all around me a voice was sounding
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

The sun comes shining as I was strolling
The wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling
The fog was lifting a voice come chanting
This land was made for you and me

Chorus

As I was walkin'  -  I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side  .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

Chorus

In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steeple
Near the relief office - I see my people
And some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'
If this land's still made for you and me.

Chorus (2x)

Happy President's Day - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Delivered 19 November 1863 on the battlefield-Cemetery near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth."

¡Si se puede! - Yes We Can - Obama for President

There's something happening in America...

While he lost New Hampshire to Senator Hillary Clinton, I am convinced History will prove Barack Obama's Concession speech to be the pivotal event in his run for the White House.

I must say however, I do admire Senator Clinton and I would not hesitate to give her my vote come November should she come out on top in the Democratic primary. I very much appreciate both what she and President Clinton have contributed to America. This country owes them a great debt of gratitude.

That being said, I believe Obama is that kind of Human Being, who is equally capable and unafraid to face the onslaught presented by fear-baiting, overly-pious hypocrites of the opposing party. He has no historical baggage to contend with. Moreover, his fresh outlook stands in direct contrast to their game plan fraught with paranoia, negativity and control. Their demagoguery ran this country's global standing into the ground. The snake-oil peddling fakes and liars will go down in History as the ones who perpetrated the biggest lie on America ever ; they wrapped themselves in the flag and trampled all over the Constitution. Their deceit of the good people who elected them into office will not soon be forgotten and rightly so because in-violable religious beliefs and family values should never have been co-opted by a few neo-conservative charlatans who - in the past seven years have fattened their wallets at the expense of America's constituency.

The end result has been a dark sense of demoralization in America as the cost of living continues to skyrocket, the American Dream slips further and further out of reach and we witness our Nation's respected reputation in the world called into question. We need a leader who can set the course for reestablishing what has been squandered by the current leadership.

I have played and replayed this video and am touched by its powerfully moving yet simple messages; hope and an abiding faith that change is possible. It serves as a reminder of all that is good in this country. It sparks my memory of Martin Luther King's, "I Have a Dream" address, given at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It echoes the spirit of connection made by President John F. Kennedy in his oratory, "Ich bin ein Berliner." Obama's song-like address reminds me of the folksy tunes of Woody Guthrie. It resurrects idyllic words of a past president who was silenced long ago by the assassin's bullet, Abraham Lincoln.

Obama hearkens a resolve reminiscent of a time in America's past - when idealism and reassurance were dominant themes for confronting the trials and tribulations of the time. In a world where American politics have supplanted social consciousness with fear-mongering, hatred and fanatical fundamentalism, Senator Obama's voice offers us a chance to look to the past and live in present with our eyes squarely fixed on the future. I suppose this is why he reminds me of Bobby Kennedy who spoke words of hope and future focus that fateful night in L.A. during his bid for the Democratic party's nomination in 1968 - the night when he was assassinated.

I trust my fellow Americans are beginning to recognize that a great Human Being is in our midst. Barack Obama stands out among all the others - Democrat, Independent or Republican alike. He is the one to lead America in these troubled times. Obama offers up the same sense of reassurance which President FDR famously delivered at his first inauguration in the "Nothing to Fear" speech.

Indeed, many of our past leaders have failed to 'make it to the mountain top' - but that shouldn't stop others from trying because it is with such resolve that greatness is achieved and changes for the common good are accomplished. We cannot change this beloved country's course in History without being fully cognizant of the deep personal sacrifices we are called upon to make. The tasks ahead are challenging and by no means easy but we owe it to our children to at least try. Yes, we must and yes, we can.

Barack Obama is a winner.

I believe in Obama because he believes in us.

Transcript of Obama's 8 January 2008 New Hampshire Primary victory speech:

.... Awe thank you, New Hampshire.

I love you back!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, thank you so much.

I am still fired up and ready to go.

Well, first of all, I want to congratulate Senator Clinton on a hard-fought victory here in New Hampshire. She did an outstanding job. Give her a big round of applause.

You know, a few weeks ago, no one imagined that we'd have accomplished what we did here tonight in New Hampshire. No one could have imagined it.

For most of this campaign, we were far behind. We always knew our climb would be steep. But in record numbers, you came out, and you spoke up for change.

And with your voices and your votes, you made it clear that at this moment, in this election, there is something happening in America.

There is something happening when men and women in Des Moines and Davenport, in Lebanon and Concord, come out in the snows of January to wait in lines that stretch block after block because they believe in what this country can be.

There is something happening. There's something happening when Americans who are young in age and in spirit, who've never participated in politics before, turn out in numbers we have never seen because they know in their hearts that this time must be different.

There's something happening when people vote not just for party that they belong to, but the hopes that they hold in common.

And whether we are rich or poor, black or white, Latino or Asian, whether we hail from Iowa or New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina, we are ready to take this country in a fundamentally new direction.

That's what's happening in America right now; change is what's happening in America.

You, all of you who are here tonight - all who put so much heart and soul and work into this campaign - you can be the new majority who can lead this nation out of a long political darkness. Democrats, Independents and Republicans who are tired of the division and the distraction that has clouded Washington - who know that we can disagree without being disagreeable, who understand - who understand that if we mobilize our voices, to challenge the money and influences that stood in our way and challenge ourselves to reach for something better. There is no problem we cannot solve. There is no destiny that we cannot fulfill.

Our new American majority can end the outrage of unaffordable, unavailable health care in our time. We can bring doctors and patients, workers and businesses, Democrats and Republicans together, and we can tell the drug and insurance industry that, while they get a seat at the table, they don't get to buy every chair, not this time, not now.

Our new majority can end the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas and put a middle-class tax cut in the pockets of working Americans who deserve it.

We can stop sending our children to schools with corridors of shame and start putting them on a pathway to success.

We can stop talking about how great teachers are and start rewarding them for their greatness by giving them more pay and more support. We can do this with our new majority.

We can harness the ingenuity of farmers and scientists, citizens and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil and save our planet from a point of no return.

And when I am president of the United States, we will end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home.

We will end this war in Iraq. We will bring our troops home. We will finish the job We will finish the job against al-Qaida in Afghanistan. We will care for our veterans. We will restore our moral standing in the world.

And we will never use 9/11 as a way to scare up votes, because it is not a tactic to win an election. It is a challenge that should unite America and the world against the common threats of the 21st century - terrorism and nuclear weapons, climate change and poverty, genocide and disease.

All of the candidates in this race share these goals. All of the candidates in this race have good ideas. And all are patriots who serve this country honorably. But the reason our campaign always has been different - the reason we began this improbable journey almost a year ago, is because it's not just what I will do as president.

It is also about what you - the people who love this country, the citizens of the United States of America can do to change it. That's what this election is all about. That's why tonight belongs to you. It belongs to the organizers, the volunteers and the staff who believed in this journey and rallied so many others to join the cause.

We know the battle ahead will be long. But always remember that, no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics - they will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks and months to come.

...Yes we can...

We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people; Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation - Yes, we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights - Yes, we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness - Yes, we can.

It was the call of workers who organized, women who reached for the ballot, a president who chose the moon as our new frontier, and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the promised land - Yes, we can, to justice and equality.

Yes, we can, to opportunity and prosperity. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can repair this world - Yes, we can.

And so, tomorrow we take the campaign south and west and we learn that the struggle of the textile workers in Spartansberg is not so different from the plight of the dishwasher in Las Vegas, and the hopes of a little girl who goes to public school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of a boy who learns on the streets of L.A.

We will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggest - that we are one people. We are one Nation and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast - from sea to shining sea;

Yes We Can!

Thank you, New Hampshire.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The speech has taken on a life of its own. Check out the following Youtube music video montage recently created by Will.I.Am, lead singer of the Black-Eyed Peas. How fitting it is that his words sound like Abraham, Martin and John.

Change

¡Si Podemos!

Dear Mr. President - Pink

Dear Mr. President
Pink

Dear Mr. President,
Come take a walk with me.
Let's pretend we're just two people and
You're not better than me.
I'd like to ask you some questions if we can speak honestly.

What do you feel when you see all the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night before you go to sleep?
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
Are you proud?

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye
And tell me why?

Dear Mr. President,
Were you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
Are you a lonely boy?
How can you say
No child is left behind?
We're not dumb and we're not blind.
They're all sitting in your cells
While you pave the road to hell.

What kind of father would take his own daughter's rights away?
And what kind of father might hate his own daughter if she were gay?
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.

How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Can you even look me in the eye?

Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Minimum wage with a baby on the way
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Building a bed out of a cardboard box
Let me tell you 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
You don't know nothing 'bout hard work
Hard work
Hard work
Oh

How do you sleep at night?
How do you walk with your head held high?
Dear Mr. President,
You'd never take a walk with me.
Would you?

Great Police Relations - Baltimore PD - Officer Salvatore Rivieri - The Making of a Lawsuit

Men are respectable only as they respect - Ralph Waldo Emerson

...We wear the badge with pride. We are privileged because our society has placed in our hands, a sacred trust. Every day when we pin our badge on our chests and we go out on to the streets of our great city, we are given the opportunity to do good against evil... - LAPD Police Chief William Bratton at memorial services held for fallen SWAT Officer Randall Simmons

Partial transcript of the videotaped incident between Baltimore Police Officer Salvatore Rivieri and 14 year old skater, Kyle Bush:
Rivieri: "... Are you from the county or something?...First of all, you disrespected me, this badge and my department! You understand me? When I'm talking to you, you shut your mouth and you listen! Obviously your parents don't put a foot in your butt quite enough 'cause you don't know the meaning of respect! First of all, you better learn how to speak, I'm not 'man.' I'm not 'dude.' I am Officer Rivieri! The sooner you learn that, the longer you are going to live in this world..."

Very nice Sal - I mean Officer Rivieri.

In New Mexico, the law on 'Battery' is: The non-consensual & intentional touching or application of force to the body of another person when done in a rude, angry or insolent manner.

I doubt that it would be much different in Baltimore - it might not be a bad idea for you to look it up in your state. Here is a valuable -albeit general - link for you to reference - (click here).

Anyone else whose actions were caught on tape like this would likely be subject to arrest for charges of assault and aggravated battery. While it is highly recommended that people be compliant with a police officer, there is no law that I know of that requires someone to be respectful.

Officer Rivieri appeared to have used a kubiton (the "stick" attached to his key ring) to physically control the juvenile. It does not appear that a lawful order for the juvenile to surrender the skateboard was ever given so, escalating to usage of physical force indicates the officer jumped up the use of force scale without properly giving the juvenile a chance to comply. As such, the kid appears to have been attacked by the officer. Also, using an object to batter someone makes the crime more serious because the object is considered a weapon. It is said to be 'aggravated battery'.

I had a hunch this wasn't his first incident of abuse. Someone else caught his abusiveness on tape. Click here to see that incident.

It will be interesting to see how Rivieri's attorney will frame a defense in the face of this video recording in order to justify:

1) Officer Rivieri's lack of officer safety; by turning his back to the 14 year old Rivieri musn't have perceived the juvenile as much of a threat. One can only wonder what could have happened if that allegedly 'disrespectful' kid had a weapon?

Fact: Veteran police officers with more than 7 years of police experience are statistically more likely to be killed in the line of duty because of their lax officer safety. Rivieri is a 17 year veteran police officer.
Police use of force:
Understanding the Use of Force Continuum, or, the Reactive Control Model (RCM) outlining acceptable use of force to control an offender is useful to review at this point:

Basically the Force Use of Force Continuum model of police control aims to outline how force is 'ratcheted-up' the scale according to how much a potential offender becomes non-compliant with an officer's commands. Baltimore PD has either this protocol or something quite similar as part of their Standard operating procedures outlining how to deal with an offender's resistance to lawful orders.

Officer presence is identified as the first level of force, then come verbal commands, then comes physical control/submission by application of force, followed by use of coercive tools (like batons and chemical devices) and finally use of deadly force - again the dictated level of force to be used is directly related to the level resistance posed by an offender. Ideally, police are trained to use only as much force as is necessary in order to gain compliance, maintain control and ensure safety. Such a protocol is aimed at; avoiding complaints against officer for use of excessive force; establishing an ethical response to resistance; reducing legal exposure by minimizing potential abuses.

2) Once Rivieri determined the juvenile was not complying with his lawful orders - and that becomes highly suspect as the interaction progresses - the officer scuffled with the alleged offender. Owing to that, Rivieri was essentially committed to physically restrain the kid ; he failed to use handcuffs to restrain the 'offender'.

Rivieri never did tell the kid to put the skate-board down or to step away from it either. A skateboard could be considered to be a potential weapon. Review of the video also reveals how Rivieri exposed his weapon to the kid in the ensuing struggle as he moved in to wrest the skateboard away. Shortly thereafter, he alsoturned his back to the other skateboarders at the scene. It is fortunate for the officer that the other kids didn't have bad intentions - or a gun or both.

While Rivieri did tell the kid to sit down twice, his command presence and shoving the kid apparently weren't enough to gain control . Rivieri had already wrestled with the juvenile and even appears to have used a kubiton on him. Bearing this in mind, the juvenile should have been considered to be resisting and non-compliant which clearly should have warranted his being handcuffed - detained for his safety. (Note: a detention doesn't necessarily imply arrest, Officers are trained to articulate in their incident reports that, "the offender was placed in handcuffs for his safety and the officer's safety. Such a statement has been court-tested and is considered to be an acceptable action for police officers by the Court).

If Rivieri's terse commands and agitated verbal tone are any indication, it is clear that Rivieri felt the kid was not complying. However, in the RCM model, Rivieri's actions vacillated from verbal commands to application of physical force and then back to verbal commands. It is not supposed to go that way. Typically, police are trained to establish and maintain control. Failure to do so risks further escalation and leaves open the potential for serious injury to either or both parties not to mention exposing the city of Baltimore to civil liability claims.

3) Rivieri failed to call for 'back-up' as he was - at least technically - outnumbered. Either his ego precluded him from doing this or he really felt he was in control as he berated the kid while the skateboarders stood by and didn't offer any resistance. It would have been a good idea to have another officer present (as a second corroborating witness for the court should testimony be called for in the future due to any allegations arising from the incident) in order to establish control and provide presence in case the situation happened to escalate.

4) Once Rivieri got the juvenile's information, he failed to radio in Bush's information to the PD Dispatch (he also did not get the kid's date of birth - a piece of information crucial for searching information in the database - in order to check for criminal history (granted juvenile information is highly protected even for law enforcement). Once he got the kids name and address, he did nothing with that information. That doesn't make any sense. He didn't call for a marked patrol unit to transport his 'prisoner' since that little Gem car he was in couldn't hold one - let alone three arrestees. It was clear that Rivieri did not intend to take anyone into custody but rather wanted to shake them up even if he had to assault and batter one of them - ostensibly to make an example of him.

5) Rivieri's obvious efforts to communicate (loudly) to passers-by that the 14-year old was being disrespectful - clearly an effort to rationalize why he was shouting at the kid. It appeared as though he was 'performing' for the public - a means of communicating that he was 'attempting' to verbally control the 'offender' thereby justifying why he was being so harsh on the kid. In police reports, police are trained to verbally articulate their reasons for using force in such a way as to convey to the public that their actions are rational and 'justifiable'.

Unfortunately, Rivieri's unprofessional and abusive conduct were recorded both prior to, and after the passers-by came and went. His somewhat softened tone and word choice when he asked, "What's wrong with you son?" seemed different once the approaching passers-by were out of ear-shot. Fortunately for the kid, the video was rolling as it recorded the abusive officer's changing behavioral and verbal tone as well.

Rivieri also used the word "son" when ironically - just a few moments earlier - he yelled at the kid "I'm not your father!" Could this be some kind of head trip he was playing on the kid? The word "son" implies some sort of familial affiliation - like a concerned parent might say. Considering the kid said he doesn't have a father, could this be even more insulting? It just seemed like an out-of-place if not inappropriate thing to say when taken into account with the general context of the interaction. Plainly put, at best Officer Rivieri sounded insincere and worst, he sounded mocking.

6) Riveiri contended that illegal skateboarding is an affront to his badge, his uniform and his police department.

Woah! Never mind that it is simply a violation of the law.

In short, Officer Rivieri personalized the issue - a very unprofessional approach for someone who is - in principal - charged with reporting, in an unbiased manner, to the court what the elements of the crime were. Ordinarily, police are expected to be the objective 'eyes and ears' of the court during testimony - that is what gives them credibility in the eyes of a judge.

Unfortunately, this probative video seems more indicative of just how badly the officer felt he could behave when he thought no one was watching and it would boil down to his word versus theirs. Any bets he didn't use that tone with the kid's mom?

7) The 'kid' who responded that he doesn't have a father suffered more insults and subsequent judgmental characterization about his mother (it's pretty evident Rivieri does not actually know her personally since) Rivieri described Bush's parents as poor disciplinarians evidently because he assumes they don't actually batter their child into submission enough.

Curiously, by Rivieri's logic, hitting a kid is considered a crime in many states. If parents did what Officer Rivieri was videotaped doing, they could be subject to charges for child abuse and battery on a household member. It begs the question, what does that say about the police officer sworn to uphold the law who bemoans lack of physical abuse in the home as an acceptable form of discipline?

8) Rivieri clearly committed Assault on at least three occasions: first when, in stead of carrying out on his threat to take the kid into custody - he instead followed through with threatening to 'smack you upside the head' for not shutting his mouth. On a second occasion when Rivieri walked toward Bush yelling, 'Don't call me 'dude!' (this action is called 'closing distance' between himself and the alleged offender - a recognized act of aggression).

Yet another incident occurred when Rivieri hypothetically implied that the kid might suffer a worse fate - something as extreme as - being killed in the event of some future contactbetween the juvenile and Law Enforcement. Rivieri seemed to imply that Bush could die at the hands of either Rivieri himself or perhaps another possibly less 'cool-headed' police officer if the 14-year old happens to 'insult' them because he doesn't know how to respect the authority conferred to someone wearing a badge or uniform?

Of course, this veiled threat by Rivieri easily fits the elements of the crime called, "Assault" - Actions or words which could cause the victim to be in fear of receiving an imminent battery (see definition above), or fears suffering great bodily injury - including threats of death.
9) Rivieri seemed a bit too thin-skinned when the kid called him 'dude' or 'man.' Perhaps a psychological Fitness for Duty Evaluation is in order for this officer. Rivieri's recorded behavior and actions were characterized by his own police department as 'disappointing'.

Clearly this officer has issues with respect. Moreover, the entitlement of respect as connected to his status as a police officer. Educator and renowned speaker, Ruby Payne PhD, discussed the dynamics surrounding a very similar kind of interaction her book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty. She dissected the incident paying particular attention to how both parties reacted according to the perspectives and attitudes from each individual's respective social class. According to Dr. Payne's model, Officer Rivieri was operating from a middle class frame of reference while the juvenile operated from a lower class, 'juvenile' frame of reference. It is clear from the video that each person had a set of pre-scripted, 'unwritten rules' which they were working from. Dr. Payne's criteria predicts an ominous result, conflict will ensue and the clash's outcome guarantees the police officer is going to win because he holds the power.

Interestingly, Courts could be considered to be structured along a 'middle class' value system (where, if the kid ends up being arrested, he will be charged and tried according to middle-class standards. This yields insight to why the officer behaved as he did; in essence, he knows the system well (better than the kid) and knows how to move in it comfortably - perhaps even being capable of manipulating it to his advantage. That said, the court system slants in favor or can even be said to be biased in the officer's direction. The video recorded interaction changes that as it tends to reveal the officer's capricious behavior thereby seriously undermining his credibility - perhaps permanently - in the eyes of the Court.

It seems kind of ironic as most police departments use the words, 'To protect and serve' as a motto for their community service in keeping the peace and yet the Officer has clearly lost control because the recording reveals him to be an aggressor rather than a protector.

It is pretty simple, this kind of Battery and assault on a kid by an officer of the law who has a sore spot for the adolescent's presumed 'lack of respect' for authority because the kid responds when Rivieri wanted Kyle Bush to shut up and listen.

That being said, the extreme punishment doesn't fit the crime. While Rivieri's frustration is understandable, a police officer simply cannot beat kids up and then take their toys away when s/he feels personally affronted.

At least Officer Rivieri was correct in observing that he is not the kid's father. Unfortunately, he failed to register the idea that in that situation, he represented the citizens of Baltimore and as such, he shouldn't have violated the community's trust in him when he behaved like a petulant bully with a badge.
Rivieri is suspended - with pay - pending an internal affairs investigation which is not a bad thing because there is a police union for the city of Baltimore to contend with. They will see to it that Rivieri's due process has been protected. Officer Rivieri does have his Constitutionally guaranteed rights after all - you know the same kind of rights that are guaranteed to the kid - the same ones Rivieri violated in this unfortunate incident.

If Rivieri was trying to teach the kid a lesson, he failed miserably. Might does not make right. To be certain, police officers are Human thus, the nature of their duties tends to encroach on people's civil rights as well - however, flagrant violations as observed on this video are definitely not protected according to the Tort Claims Act. Abusive Officers can be personally sued for such unacceptable behavior.

This is a tragedy all around because, the kid who allegedly lacked respect for authority before lacks little incentive to change his thinking pursuant to the way he was treated. Officer Riveri did seem clear on the concept of his badge, and his department, I wonder if he realized how much his actions could seriously damage what he staked so much personal pride in?
While it is undeniable that police authority must be respected it must also be acknowledged that police should have a clear and convincing presence as protectors of society, there is an overwhelming disparity of power in this situation: Adult vs child, Police vs adolescent; Large adult vs scrawny kid; Gun vs skateboard; it certainly leaves the Baltimore PD with a whole lot of explaining to do.
Mayor Sheila Dixon
City Hall, Room 250
100 N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone: (410) 396-3835
Fax: (410) 576-9425
Baltimore PD: 410-396-2411
Maryland States Attorneys Office: 1-410-396-4001
citizens review board: 410-396-3141

Here is a link which discusses the incident a little more in depth (click here).

“Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you.” - Frank Barron

The 'Sonrisa' - the smile; a blessed man with a blessed liife

I am wrapping up a tiling job on a new home located in the East Mountain area for a builder named Steve. He is a blessed man with a blessed life.

Steve's most recent East Mountain home is nestled in the foothills among hundred-year old pines and wild cedars.

The vistas are breath-taking and this man puts together a fantastic home. His attention to detail and work ethic are second to none.

In the three weeks since I first started the job, I have seen several sub-contractors come and go as they have completed their tasks. We have chatted and I am amazed at how they all comment on Steve's attitude; he is always smiling.

One of the workers told me that among the stucco crew, he is known as the 'sonrisa' - the smile.

I laughed when I heard that description but upon reflection, I found that name really does describe him.

What I found more compelling was that, workers, who typically tend to be overlooked or, worse yet, even dismissed will often complain - bitterly - of their overlords by making derisive remarks about them behind their backs. It stems from a lack of empowerment and the realization that they could never speak ill to someone who holds the power of their incomes and livelihood over their heads. Consequently, to hear the workers speak of Steve in this manner was something I found genuinely surprising.

Initially, I took in their nick-name for Steve as just run-of-the-mill, job site chatter. However, I soon realized that the descriptions of the six-foot tall, lanky man who wears hiking boots and shorts and flashes that goofy looking, toothy grin aptly fit. Moreover, it was a profound compliment because the crew was acknowledging the respect he offered them with his smile and accompanying gestures.

Shortly after lunch time - every day - Steve shows up with beverages and beer which he dumps into a beat up cooler. It is evident to me that this has become a ritual for him. Everyone in the various crews seem to barely acknowledge his kind gesture but, at day's end, it is common to see everyone sitting around instead of just gathering up their equipment and making a mad dash for home.

Additionally, I have noticed it uncommon for people to leave their trash strewn about the construction site. I'm convinced this has to do with the sense of reciprocity the workers feel for Steve; he respects them and they respect him.

Steve is not a pushy man. he never has anything bad to say about anyone. When he wants something done, he asks. His suggestions are just that - suggestions. When we were talking yesterday as I finished out the kitchen, he reflected on other tilers and some of the various techniques he had seen them use. I told him that since I was self-taught, I knew nothing about their techniques. I mentioned that tiling is full of short-cuts that make life easier. I am always looking for a better way so I really appreciated the 'shop talk'.

Steve then said something which I found as touching as it was profound. He spoke to me of an old tiler who responded to Steve's ponderous remark that he could do something a particular way. The old man said, "there are probably a hundred ways to do something but, today we are going to do it my way." Steve laughed and acknowledged that remark by saying, "Since then, I realized there are as many ways to get a job done and It is not for me to tell a man how to do his job."

Such a statement speaks volumes to me about who this man is and what his character is about. He is never to busy to say hello or offer smile. He is a thinking, caring man who is not too proud to be a servant despite his clear role as the property owner and builder. Countless are the times when he has gone out of his way to fetch supplies or do work around the job site like clean-up or fueling the generator up without any hint or complaint that such work is below his status.

On construction sites, we are all aware of the pecking order so, Steve's actions are noticed by everyone. I respect the man because he has not let his reputation as a premier builder in the East Mountain area affect his outlook on life and moreover, the way he treats the lowly construction worker.

I love my job because I get the honor of working among people who rarely receive either the acknowledgment or appreciation from people who stand to make big money off the sweat of the working man's brow. Steve not only pays well but, he treats his sub-contractors and their employees well.

I look forward his goofy grin and approachable demeanor. I admire him and respect him because, in a world where the unempowered can utter muted complaints, I have instead witnessed, over and over again - through words and actions - just how much the workers respect and admire him as well.

Thank Heaven for the sonrisas of the world.

Happy Birthday America - Who'll Stop the Reign?

Who'll Stop the Rain?
Creedence Clearwater Revival

Long as I remember the rain been comin' down.
Clouds of mystry pourin' confusion on the ground.


Good men through the ages, tryin' to find the sun;
And I wonder, still I wonder, who'll stop the rain.


I went down Virginia, seekin' shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable, I watched the tower grow.


Five year plans and new deals, wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain.


Heard the singers playin', how we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together, tryin to keep warm.


Still the rain kept pourin', fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain.

VOTE OR DIE