by José de la Isla
Hispanic Link News Service
Part one

MEXICO CITY — Dan Guerrero was sitting with the sold-out audience at Teatro Jiménez Rueda downtown for the Chicano musical Zoot Suit, performed by the National Theater Company of Mexico April 4. This is its second Spanish-language run in Mexico.

The original play, written by Luis Valdez, opened on New York’s Broadway in 1979 and was made into a movie in 1981. Edward James Olmos played the lead as El Pachuco. It is part of a repository of enduring Latino performing arts now drawing on the next generation of audiences to appreciate.

This is how culture is passed along. The story has lessons that history books leave better to the arts for understanding. In this case, the music, choreography and styling also make for an engrossing evening.

Zoot Suit is loosely based on the 1940s’ Sleepy Lagoon homicide in Southern California and the so-called “zoot suit riots” when white soldiers and sailors rampaged against Mexican-American youth in baggy pants and the zoot suit pachuco style. The situation was a media driven mania that occurred from misplaced World War II patriotism and self-righteousness.

It was the same kind of public mistake as the one over Beatles-length hair, afros, ducktails, and tie-dye that were taken to mean youth resistance and opposition. Right after the jazz age, zoot suit came to denote what beatnik did later, followed by hippy, Rock’n’Roll and other forms of non-conformist, ergo “delinquent,” expression.

In the ’40s, Chicano youth were pinpointed as the opposition. Their style even meant the Axis in our midst, the enemy-within, with irrational reactions by some establishment people that even took official form.

All this is documented fact. It is similar to how reactionaries have made irrational thinking part of today’s perception of a part of the Latino community, who are labeled “Illegal aliens,” but are just people struggling to get by. This happens when part of the public gets freaked out and the other part can’t bring them back in check. Retribution maniacs can drive public opinion.

Similarly, something like that happened when Lou Dobbs, Pat Buchanan and others drove the mood of fear following the 2001 terrorist attacks. They and others misled the public and pointed an accusing finger at Latino undocumented Latinos as the enemies to blame.

Now here’s the genius of the play: it captures the spirit of the times, defense of the youths and their style, while telling the story using the distorted news coverage as messenger, Big Band sounds, swing, boleros, corridos, and salsa. Many are the compositions of Lalo Guerrero, Dan’s father.

This is the West Side Story of our time. Audiences on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border might now understand this better than when it first appeared.

Dan, a Hollywood producer, director and former Broadway agent, was in town to present a documentary at Casa California, the University of California center in this city, and take in the show. I participated in the arrangements, and he was met by an enthusiastic audience that included some of the cast from the play.

Lalo Guerrero (1916-2005) was a musical phenomenon in his time. He is known as “the original Chicano.” Lalo wrote and performed music for two national audiences simultaneously. The Casa California documentary about him and his music includes Linda Ronstadt, Dolores Huerta, César Chávez, Cheech Marín, President Clinton, Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodríguez, Luis Valdez and many others.

Dan will soon begin a talk show originating from Los Angeles on Pacifica Radio that is planned to go into syndication. A new stage version of Zoot Suit for U.S. audiences is also reported in the offing, with English and Spanish language performances.

As the curtain came down last week, lead actor Everardo Arzate stepped to the front of the stage to introduce the son of the man who contributed so much of its play’s music.

Dan Guerrero, like the play, received thunderous applause.

(José de la Isla, a nationally syndicated columnist for Hispanic Link and Scripps Howard news services, has been recognized for two consecutive years for his commentaries by New America Media. Reach him at joseisla3@yahoo.com.)

Find this column in Spanish and more news and commentary at www.hispaniclink.org.

Compiled by El Reportero staff

Adrián Aréas

Adrián Areas (son of Santana original member Chepito Areas) brings his Latin Jazz Ensemble Experience to the heart of the Mission of SF. Jazz standards meets rumba, changuii, mozambique, abakua, samba y secrets of las Tumbadoras. Intricate rhythm changes & tasty melodies fill the air.

Band: Dan Zemelman/Keyboards, Robbie G/ Trumpet, Jimmy Toor/Tenor Saxophone, Kevin Silveira/Bass, Miguel Ange/Drums &Adrian Areas, who played Woodstock as a kid & toured with Don Henley on the Moperc Tumbadoras Casa Sánchez, 2778 24th St. SF. All ages, $7. ALL for the band. Dinner by Ayutla 415-282-2400 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Danza del Caribe directly from Cuba

On Monday, April 1st, all ten members of the Cuban modern dance company, Danza del Caribe, had their visas approved to travel to the United States and make their US debut at the CubaCaribe Festival of Dance and Music (April 12-28 in San Francisco and Oakland). Congratulations to CubaCaribe and Bill Martínez on a successful Cuban visa process!

CubaCaribe has been a resident Festival at Dance Mission for the past nine years. In 2011, Dance Brigade traveled to Cuba with Alayo Dance Company to collaborate with Danza del Caribe and present a weekend of performance at Teatro Mella in Havana. We are thrilled that Danza del Caribe will now be in our town!

Don’t miss the CubaCaribe Festival April 12-28. The first weekend of performance will be at Dance Mission Theater (April 12-14), followed by two more weeks of performance at YBCA and Laney College Theater.

For the full performance line-up, please visit www.cubacaribe.org. And keep your eyes peeled for workshops with Danza del Caribe members at Dance Mission April 16-26.

State of cinema address at 56th San Francisco International Film Festival

The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Steven Soderbergh, one of the world’s most celebrated figures in contemporary filmmaking, will deliver the tenth annual State of Cinema Address at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival. Soderbergh, a visionary in the field of motion picture production, recently announced his intention to retire from filmmaking, a provocative decision which will provide a compelling framework for this live address. The State of Cinema will headline the Festival’s Live & Onstage program of unique one-time-only events featuring elements of live music, multimedia presentations and audience participation. See below for full program details.

On (April 25 – May 9) at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 pm. Tickets $20 for SFFS members, $25 for the general public.
For more information visit sffs.org/Exhibition/SF-International-Film-Festival.

Cesar Chavez Day Parade

After the parade at Dolores Park, join Galería and many more in the 24th Street Corridor for a special street festival! At Galería’s Studio 24 venue, join Michele from The Sugar Skull Gallery in producing a commemorative César Chávez silkscreen, with images created by local youth. A suggested donation of $5 will snag individuals a print on paper, or on personal items (T-shirts, totes, or other like fabric).

Additional materials will be available for print, such as patches and notebooks. All proceeds will benefit future Galería de la Raza art programming with youth. Merchant sidewalk sales, a classic car show, and live performances will be taking place on 24th between Treat and Bryant Streets.

Saturday, April 20, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. $5 suggested donation.

Tribute to Mothers at an afternoon party on May 5th

This year’s FIFTH of MAY, on the occasion of honoring mothers in their month, we invite you to celebrate with us a TARDEADA LATINA (a Latin afternoon party).

Together with our dear brothers from North, Central and South America, we will celebrate with poetry, singing, dancing, food and drinks, with the guest appearance of Rolando Garcia, Central American songwriter with an international career, including Nicaragua dance group, “Children of the Corn” (Hijos del Maíz).

There will be a display of prestigious poetry books authors, amazing raffles: Grand Prize: a flat 32 ‘high definition TV, always within a framework of regional music, entertaining the audience with much joy.

We count on you to have fun in the company of your Mom, family and friends. Thanks for joining us. See you!

Sunday, May 5, 2-5 p.m. at the Brava Theater, 2781 24th Street, San Francisco. Doors open at 1:30 pm. Seating is limited, so buy your ticket now. Tickets at Julio’s Music, Gifts and More, 2884 Mission St., San Francisco, 415-871-7426 or call Katia N. Barillas at 415-871-7426.

Volume 24

• March 26-April 4, 2014, Volume 24, No. 3
• March 12- 26, 2014, Volume 24, No. 2
• March 5- 14, 2014, Volume 24, No. 1

Volume 23

• February 19- 28, 201, Volume 23, No. 34
• February 12- 21, 2014, Volume 23, No. 33
• February 5- 14, 2014, Volume 23, No. 32
• January 22 – 31, 2014, Volume 23, No. 31
• January 15 – 24, 2014, Volume 23, No. 30
• Dec 25, 2013 – Jan 3, 2014, Volume 23, No. 29
• December 18 – 27 , 2013, Volume 23, No. 28
• December 11 – 20, 2013, Volume 23, No. 27
• December 4 – 13, 2013, Volume 23, No. 26
• Nov. 27-Dec. 6, 2013, Volume 23, No. 25
• November 13 – 22, 2013, Volume 23, No. 24
• October 30-November 8, 2013, Volume 23, No. 23
• October 23 – November 1, 2013, Volume 23, No. 22
• October 16 – 25, 2013, Volume 23, No. 21
• October 9 – 18, 2013, Volume 23, No. 20
• October 2 – 11, 2013, Volume 23, No. 19
• September 18 – 27, 2013, Volume 23, No. 18
• September 11 – 20, 2013, Volume 23, No. 17
• September 4 – 13, 2013, Volume 23, No. 16
• August 21 – 30, 2013, Volume 23, No. 15
• August 14 – 23, 2013, Volume 23, No. 14
• August 7 – 16, 2013, Volume 23, No. 13
• July 24 – August 2, 2013, Volume 23, No. 12
• July 17 – 26, 2013, Volume 23, No. 11
• July 10 – 19, 2013, Volume 23, No. 10
• June 26 – July 5, 2013, Volume 23, No. 9
• June 19 – 28, 2013, Volume 23, No. 8
• June 12 – 21, 2013, Volume 23, No. 7
• May 29 – June 7, 20, Volume 23, No. 6
• May 22 – 31, 2013, Volume 23, No. 5
• May 8 – 17, 2013, Volume 23, No. 4
• May 1 – 10, 2013, Volume 23, No. 3
• April 17 – 26, 2013, Volume 23, No. 2
• April 3 – 12, 2013, Volume 23, No. 1

Volume 22

• March 27 – April 5, 2013, Volume 22, No. 44
• March 20 – 29, 2013, Volume 22, No. 43
• March 13 – 22, 2013, Volume 22, No. 42
• March 6 – 15, 2013, Volume 22, No. 41
• February 27 – March 8, 2013, Volume 22, No. 40
• February 13 – 22, 2013, Volume 22, No. 39
• February 6 – 15, 2013, Volume 22, No. 38
• January 16 – 25, 2013, Volume 22, No. 37
• January 9 – 18, 2013, Volume 22, No. 36
• December 26, 2012 – January 4, 2013, Volume 22, No. 35
• December 19 – 28, 2012, Volume 22, No. 34
• December 12 – 21, 2012, Volume 22, No. 33
• December 5 – 14, 2012, Volume 22, No. 32
• November 28 – December 7 , 2012, Volume 22, No. 31
• November 21 – 30, 2012, Volume 22, No. 30
• November 14 – 23, 2012, Volume 22, No. 29
• November 7 – 16, 2012, Volume 22, No. 28
• October 31 – November 9, 2012, Volume 22, No. 27
• October 24 – November 9, 2012, Volume 22, No. 26
• October 17 – 26, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 25
• October 10 – 19, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 24
• October 3 – 12, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 23
• September 26 – October 5, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 22
• September 19 – 28, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 21
• September 12 – 21, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 20
• September 5 – 14, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 19
• August 29 – September 5, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 18
• August 22 – 29, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 17
• August 8 – 17, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 16
• July 25 – August 3, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 15
• July 18 – 27, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 14
• July 11 – 20, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 13
• July 4 – 13, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 12
• June 27 – July 6, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 11
• June 20 – 29, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 10
• June 13 – 22, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 9
• June 6 – 15, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 8
• May 30 – June 8, 2012, Volume 22, No. 7
• May 23 – 31, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 6
• May 9 – 18, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 5
• April 25 – May 2, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 4
• April 11 – 20, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 3
• March 28 – April 6, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 2
• March 14 – 23, – 2012, Volume 22, No. 1

Volume 21

• March 7 – 16, – 2012, Volume 21, No. 41
• February 29 – March 9, – 2012, Volume 21, No. 40
• February 22 – March 2, – 2012, Volume 21, No. 39
• February 8 – 17, – 2012, Volume 21, No. 38
• January 25 – February 3, 2012, Volume 21, No. 37
• January 20 – 25, 2012, Volume 21, No. 36
• January 11 – 20, 2012, Volume 21, No. 35
• December 28 – January 13, 2011, Volume 21, No. 34
• December 21- 30, 2011, Volume 21, No. 33
• December 14 – 23, 2011, Volume 21, No. 32
• December 7- 16, 2011, Volume 21, No. 31
• November 30 – December 9, 2011, Volume 21, No. 30
• November 23 – December 2, 2011, Volume 21, No. 29
• November 16 – 25, 2011, Volume 21, No. 28
• November 9 – 18, 2011, Volume 21, No. 27
• November 2 – 11, 2011, Volume 21, No. 26
• October 26 – November 4, 2011, Volume 21, No. 25
• October 12 – 21, 2011, Volume 21, No. 24
• October 5 – 14, 2011, Volume 21, No. 23
• September 28 – October 7, 2011, Volume 21, No. 22
• September 21 – 30, 2011, Volume 21, No. 21
• September 14 – 23, 2011, Volume 21, No. 20
• September 7 – 16, 2011, Volume 21, No. 19
• August 31 – September 9, 2011, Volume 21, No. 18
• August 24 – September 2, 2011, Volume 21, No. 17
• August 17 – 26, 2011, Volume 21, No. 16
• August 14 – 21, 2011, Volume 21, No. 15
• August 6 – 13, 2011, Volume 21, No. 14
• July 27 – August 5, 2011, Volume 21, No. 13
• July 20 – 29-2011, Volume 21, No. 12
• July 13 – 22, 2011, Volume 21, No. 11
• July 6 – 15, 2011, Volume 21, No. 10
• June 22 – 30, 2011, Volume 21, No. 9
• June 15 – 24, 2011, Volume 21, No. 8
• June 1 – 10, 2011, Volume 21, No. 7
• May 25 – June 3, 2011, Volume 21, No. 6
• May 18 – 27, 2011, Volume 21, No. 5
• May 11 – 20 , 2011, Volume 21, No. 4
• May 4 – 13 , 2011, Volume 21, No. 3
• April 27 – May 6 , 2011, Volume 21, No. 2
• April 20 – 29 , 2011, Volume 21, No. 1

Volume 20

• March 30 – April 8 , 2011, Vol. 20, Edition No. 51
• April 6 – 15, 2011, Volume 20, No. 52
• March 23 – April 3 , 2011, Volume 20, No. 50
• March 16 – 23 , 2011, Volume 20, No. 49
• March 2 – 14, 2011, Volume 20, No. 48
• February 23 -March 8, 2011, Volume 20, No. 47
• February 16 – 28 , 2011, Volume 20, No. 46
• February 2 –16, 2011, Volume 20, No. 45
• January 19 – 28 , 2011, Volume 20, Edition No. 44
• January 12 –24, 2011 & Volume 20, Edition No. 43
• January 5 – 14 , 2011, Volume 20, No. 42
• December 29 – January 9 , 2011, Volume 20, No. 41
• December 15 – 28 , 2010, Volume 20, No. 40
• December 8 – 20 , 2010, Volume 20, No. 39
• December 1 – 10, 2010, Volume 20, No. 38
• November 17 – 26, 2010, Volume 20, No. 37
• November 10 – 19, 2010, Volume 20, No. 36
• October 27 – November 8, 2010 and Edition No. 35
• November 3 –12, 2010, Volume 20, No. 34
• October 20 – 29, 2010, Volume 20, No. 33
• October 13 – 22, 2010, Volume 20, No. 32
• October 6 – 18, 2010, Volume 20, No. 31
• September 29 -October 6, 2010, Volume 20, No. 30
• September 22 – 30, 2010, Volume 20, No. 29
• 15 – 24 Sept , 2010, Volume 20, No. 28
• 1 – 10 Sept , 2010, Volume 20, No. 27
• Aug 25 – 5 Sept , 2010, Volume 20, No. 26
• Aug 18-27 ,2010, Volume 20, No. 25
• Aug 11-23 ,2010, Volume 20, No. 24
• July 8 – Aug 13 ,2010, Volume 20, No. 23
• July 28 – 4 Aug, 2010, Volume 20, No. 22
• July 21 – 30, 2010, Volume 20, No. 21
• July 14 – July 23, 2010, Volume 20, No. 20
• July 7 – July 16, 2010, Volume 20, No. 19
• June 30 – July 9, 2010, Volume 20, No. 18
• June 23 – July 2, 2010, Volume 20, No. 17
• June 16 – 25, 2010, Volume 20, No. 16
• June 9 – 18, 2010, Volume 20, No. 15
• June 2 – 11, 2010, Volume 20, No. 14
• May 19 – 28, 2010 Volume 20, Volume 20, No. 13
• May 26 – June 4, 2010 and Edition No. 12
• May 12 – 21, 2010, Volume 20, No. 11
• May 5 – 14, 2010, Volume 20, No. 10
• April 28 – May 7, 2010, Volume 20, No. 9
• March 21 – 30, 2010, Volume 20, No. 8
• April 14 – 23, 2010, Volume 20, No. 7
• April 7 – 16, 2010, Volume 20, No. 6
• March 31 – April 9, 2010, Volume 20, No. 5
• March 24 – April 3, 2010, Volume 20, No. 4
• March 17 – 26, 2010, Volume 20, No. 3
• March 10 – 19, 2010, Volume 20, No. 2
• March 3 – 12, 2010, Volume 20, No. 1

Volume 19

• February 24 – March 5, 2010, Volume 19, No. 52
• February 17 – 26, 2010, Volume 19, No. 51
• February 10 – 19, 2010, Volume 19, No. 50
• February 3 – 12, 2010, Volume 19, No. 49
• January 27 – February 5, 2010, Volume 19, No. 48
• January 20 – 29, 2010, Volume 19, No. 47
• January 13 – 22, 2010, Volume 19, No. 46
• December 30, 2009 – January 15, 2010, Volume 19, No. 44 & 45
• December 23 – 31, 2009, Volume 19, No. 43
• December 16 – 25, 2009, Volume 19, No. 42
• December 9 – 18, 2009, Volume 19, No. 41
• December 2 – 11, 2009, Volume 19, No. 40
• November 25 – December 7, 2009, Volume 19, No. 39
• November 18–27, 2009, Volume 19, No. 38
• November 11 – 20, 20­09, Volume 19, No. 37
• November 4 – 16, 2009, Volume 19, No. 36
• October 28 – November 6, Volume 19, No. 35
• October 21 – November 3, 2009, Volume 19, No. 34
• October 14 – 23, 2009, Volume 19, No. 33
• October 7 – 16, 2009, Volume 19, No. 32
• September 30 – October 9, 2009, Volume 19, No. 31
• September 23 – October 2, 2009, Volume 19, No. 30
• September 16 – 25, 2009, Volume 19, No. 29
• September 9 – 18, 2009, Volume 19, No. 28
• September 2 – 11, 2009, Volume 19, No. 27
• August 26 – September 4, 2009, Volume 19, No. 26
• August 19 – 28, 2009, Volume 19, No. 25
• August 12 – 21, 2009, Volume 19, No. 24
• August 5 – 14, 2009, Volume 19, No. 23-
• July 29 – August 7, 2009, Volume 19, No. 22
• July 22 – 31, 2009, Volume 19, No. 21
• July 15 – 24, 2009, Volume 19, No. 20
• July 8 – 17, 2009, Volume 19, No. 19
• July 1 – 10, 2009, Volume 19, No. 18
• June 24 – July 3, 2009, Volume 19, No. 17
• June 17 – 26, 2009, Volume 19, No. 16
• June 10 – 24, 2009, Volume 19, No. 15
• June 3 – 15, 2009, Volume 19, No. 1
• May 27 – June 5, 2009, Volume 19, No. 13
• May 13 – 22, 2009, Volume 19, No. 11
• May 6 – 15, 2009, Volume 19, No. 10
• April 29 – May 8, 2009, Volume 19, No. 9
• April 22 – 30, 2009, Volume 19, No. 8
• April 8 – 17, 2009, Volume 19, No. 6
• April 1 – 10, 2009, Volume 19, No. 5
• March 25 – April 3, 2009, Volume 19, No. 4-
• March 18 – 27, 2009, Volume 19, No. 3—
• March 11 – March 20, 2009, Volume 19, No. 2–
• March 4 – 13, 2009, Volume 19, No. 1–

Volume 18

• February 25 – March 6, 2009, Volume 18, No. 52–
• February 18 – 27, 2009, Volume 18, No. 51
• February 11 – 20, 2009, Volume 18, No. 50
• January 4 – 13, 2009, Volume 18, No. 49
• January 28 – February 9, 2009, Volume 18, No. 48-
• January 21 – 30, 2009, Volume 18, No. 47
• January 14 – 23, 2009, Volume 18, No. 46
• January 7 – 16, 2009, Volume 18, No. 44-
• December 14, 2008 – Jan 4, 2009, Volume 18, No. 4-3
• December 17 – 26, 2008, Volume 18, No. 42
• December 10 – 22, 2008, Volume 18, No. 41
• December 3 – 12, 2008, Volume 18, No. 40
• November 26 – December 5, 2008, Volume 18, No. 39
• Novembre 19 – 28, 2008, Volume 18, No. 38-
• November 12 – 21, 2008, Volume 18, No. 37
• November 5 – 14, 2008, Volume 18, No. 36
• October 29 – November 7, 2008, Volume 18, No. 35-
• October 22 – 31, 2008, Volume 18, No. 34
• October 15 – 28, 2008, Volume 18, No. 33
• October 8 – 17, 2008, Volume 18, No. 32
• October 1 – 10, 2008, Volume 18, No. 31
• September 24 – October 3, 2008, Volume 18, No. 30
• September 17 – 26, 2008, Volume 18, No. 29
• September 10 – 19, 2008, Volume 18, No. 28
• September 3 – 12, 2008, Volume 18, No. 27
• August 27 – September 5, 2008, Volume 18, No. 26
• August 20 – 29, 2008, Volume 18, No. 25
• August 13 – 22, 2008, Volume 18, No. 24
• August 6 – 15, 2008, Volume 18, No. 23
• July 30 – August 8, 2008, Volume 18, No. 22
• July 23 – 31, 2008, Volume 18, No. 21
• July 16 – 25, 2008, Volume 18, No. 20
• July 9 – 18, 2008, Volume 18, No. 19
• July 2 – 11, 2008, Volume 18, No. 18
• June 25 – July 4, 2008, Volume 18, No. 17
• June 18 – 27, 2008, Volume 18, No. 16
• June 11 – 17, 2008, Volume 18, No. 15
• June 4 – 13, 2008, Volume 18, No. 14
• May 28 – June 6, 2008, Volume 18, No. 13
• May 21 – 30, 2008, Volume 18, No. 12
• May 14 – 23, 2008, Volume 18, No. 11
• May 6 – 16, 2008, Volume 18, No. 10
• April 30 – May 9, 2008, Volume 18, No. 9
• April 23 – May 2, 2008, Volume 18, No. 8
• April 16 – 25, 2008, Volume 18, No. 7
• April 9 – 18, 2008, Volume 18, No. 6
• April 2 – 11, 2008, Volume 18, No. 5
• March 26 – April 4, 2008, Volume 18, No. 4
• March 19 – 28, 2008, Volume 18, No. 3
• March 12 – 21, 2008, Volume 18, No. 2
• March 5 – 14, 2008, Volume 18, No. 1

Volume 17

• February 27 – March 7, 2008, Volume 17, No. 52
• February 20 – 28, 2008, Volume 17, No. 51
• February 13 – 22, 2008, Volume 17, No. 50
• -February 6 – 12, 2008, Volume 17, No. 49
• January 30 – February 8 , 2008, Volume 17, No. 48
• January 23 – 29 , 2008, Volume 17, No. 47
• January 16 – 25 , 2008, Volume 17, No. 46
• January 9 – 18 , 2008, Volume 17, No. 45
• January 2 – 13, 2008, Volume 17, No. 44
• December 26, 2007 – January 2, 2008, Volume 17, No. 43
• December 19 – 28, 2007, Volume 17, No. 42
• Decem-ber 12 – 21, 2007, Volume 17, No. 41
• December 5 – 14, 2007, Volume 17, No. 40
• November 28 – December 7, 2007, Volume 17, No. 39
• November 21 – 30, 2007, Volume 17, No. 38
• November 14 – 23, 2007, Volume 17, No. 37
• November 7 – 16, 2007, Volume 17, No. 36
• October 31 – November 9, 2007, Volume 17, No. 35
• October 24 – November 7, 2007, Volume 17, No. 34
• October 17 – 26, 2007, Volume 17, No. 33
• October 10 – 19, 2007, Volume 17, No. 32
• October 3 – 12, 2007, Volume 17, No. 31
• September 26 – October 5, 2007, Volume 17, No. 30
• September 19 – 28, 2007, Volume 17, No. 29
• September 12 – 21, 2007, V-olume 17, No. 28
• September 5 – 14, 2007, Volume 17, No. 27
• August 29 – September 7, 2007, Volume 17, No. 26
• August 22 – 31, 2007, Volume 17, No. 25
• August 15 – 24, 2007, Volume 17, No. 24
• August 8 – 17, 2007, Volume 17, No. 23
• August 1 – 10, 2007, Volume 17, No. 22
• July 25 – August 3, 2007, Volume 17, No. 21
• July 18 – 25, 2007, Volume 17, No. 20
• July 11 – 20, 2007, Volume 17, No. 19
• July 4 – 12, 2007, Volume 17, No. 18
• June 27 – July 6, 2007, Volume 17, No. 17
• June 21 – June 29, Volume 17, No. 16
• June 14 – 22, 2007, Volume 17, No. 15
• June 7- 15, 2007, Volume 17, No. 14
• May 30 – June 8, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 13
• May 23 – 31, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 12
• May 16 – 25, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 11
• May 9 – 18, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 10
• May 2 – 8, 2007, Volume 17,Edition No. 9
• April 25 – May 2, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 8
• April 18 – 27, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 7
• April 4 – 13, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 5
• March 14 – 23, 2007, Volume 17, Edition No. 2

Volume 16

• February 28 – March 9, 2007, Volume 16, Edition No. 53
• February 21 – 28, 2007, Volume 16, Edition No. 52
• January 17 – 26, 2007, Volume 16, Edition No. 47

Compiled by the El Reportero’s staff

Danza del Caribe

The Mexican Museum was initially located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District and was the realization of Peter Rodríguez’s vision to have an institution in the United States to exhibit the aesthetic expression of the Mexican people.

The Mexican Museum is located at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco and has a large collection of over 14,000 works of art which serve as a testament to the role of Mexicans, Latinos, Chicanos and Latin Americans in San Francisco and the United States.

We ask you today to show your support to make the new home for the Mexican Museum a reality. Come to the hearing on April 11, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall, Room 400. www.mexicanmuseum.org.

Danza del Caribe directly from Cuba

On Monday, April 1st, all ten members of the Cuban modern dance company, Danza del Caribe, had their visas approved to travel to the United States and make their US debut at the CubaCaribe Festival of Dance and Music (April 12-28 in San Francisco and Oakland). Congratulations to CubaCaribe and Bill Martínez on a successful Cuban visa process!

CubaCaribe has been a resident Festival at Dance Mission for the past nine years. In 2011, Dance Brigade traveled to Cuba with Alayo Dance Company to collaborate with Danza del Caribe and present a weekend of performance at Teatro Mella in Havana. We are thrilled that Danza del Caribe will now be in our town!

Don’t miss the CubaCaribe Festival April 12-28. The first weekend of performance will be at Dance Mission Theater (April 12-14), followed by two more weeks of performance at YBCA and Laney College Theater.

For the full performance line-up, please visit www.cubacaribe.org. And keep your eyes peeled for workshops with Danza del Caribe members at Dance Mission April 16-26.

Fundraiser for the cause of HIV/AIDS

Casa Sanchez dedicates Salsa Friday to commemorate friends and famiiy here and in Heaven with HIV/AIDS. The fantabulous DJ Chill spins salsa, old school, hip-hop and booty shakin’ grooves. All ages, sliding scale $10 to $25. 100% for the cause!! Dinner under $10. Spread the word.

State of cinema address at 56th San Francisco International Film Festival

The San Francisco Film Society announced today that Steven Soderbergh, one of the world’s most celebrated figures in contemporary filmmaking, will deliver the tenth annual State of Cinema Address at the 56th San Francisco International Film Festival. Soderbergh, a visionary in the field of motion picture production, recently announced his intention to retire from filmmaking, a provocative decision which will provide a compelling framework for this live address. The State of Cinema will headline the Festival’s Live & Onstage program of unique one-time-only events featuring elements of live music, multimedia presentations and audience participation. See below for full program details.

On (April 25 – May 9) at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 pm. Tickets $20 for SFFS members, $25 for the general public. Box office opens March 13 for SFFS members and March 15 for the general public, online at sffs.org.

For more information visit sffs.org/Exhibition/SF-International-Film-Festival.

by Jon Rappoport
www.nomorefakenews.com

Perhaps it’s presidents running down the whole laundry list of issues, but it seems to me the last dozen or so State of the Union speeches by presidents could put a galaxy of insomniacs to sleep.

Originally, the State of the Union was the president talking to Congress. Now we all know no one from the Senate or the House is going to move a new inch by anything the president says in his speech.

It’s just a dog and pony show. It’s also a chance for the president to talk to the television audience. That’s the real event. The president’s on TV.

It’s a stage play and it closes the night it opens. The script is always too long. It should have been cut by nine-tenths in rehearsals.

The droning of the laundry list is, of course, a reflection of the fact that big government has its paws and nose in every facet of our lives. I was waiting for Obama to talk about an adequate supply of toilet paper and paper towels in public-park restrooms, and the danger of pictures of guns brought to school.

And how about those unsightly vegetable gardens growing on front lawns? Would he bring in the FBI and the ATF and DHS to solve that problem?

Would he push for free sex-change operations for all college students? Radioactive body scanners in coffee shops? I think the system for assigning names to hurricanes and blizzards should be subjected to a task-force study.

When tonight Obama said the only way to make progress was for us all to work together, he didn’t just mean the Congress. He meant the American people, aka the television audience. But I’ve never understood that idea. What are we all working together to accomplish? What’s the program? Giving away more of our income to the federal government? Agreeing to more surveillance of our movements? Supporting the invasion of more countries? Refraining from photographing the police making arrests? Restricting our Facebook posts to happy faces and rainbows?

Are we all working together to surrender our guns in exchange for movie tickets and candy? Are we pretending to be overjoyed that the federal government wants to force everyone to get vaccinated and eat GMO food, and take SSRI antidepressants that demonstrably cause people to go crazy and kill others? Is that it?

Are we somehow working together to print endless amounts of money? Are we working together to push the percentage of Americans collecting free government money from 40 percent to 60 percent? Is that the glorious goal?

Are we working together to give money to alternative-energy companies so they can go broke and declare bankruptcy? Are we working together to protect and defend the World Trade Organization, so ravenous mega-corporations can export jobs to China and roam the global landscape, raping and pillaging resources and labor?

Are we working together to accept Obamacare, which will steadily eliminate natural-health alternatives and enroll more people in a medical system that kills 225,000 people (actually a lot more) every year like clockwork? Is that the goal?

Are we working together to pretend we have two very different major political parties in the country, instead of one party with two heads?

Are we working to assure that no bankster is ever sent to prison for scamming the American people out of trillions of dollars?

Are we working together to take guns away from people who would only use them to defend themselves and their families against criminals, while at the same we work to ignore gang violence stemming in part from the fact that Mexican drug cartels use these gangs as subcontractors, under the protection of the federal government?

Are we working together to imagine that our troops are really fighting wars to protect and defend the nation?

Are we working together to hide the fact that, although interest rates are artificially low, we’re spending more and more money every month to buy what we need to survive?

Are we working together to hamstring every small business in America with red tape and taxes?

Are we working together to ignore the absurd insanity called climate-change science, so the government can install carbon taxes and penalties and lop the top off of American industry?

Are we all working together to frame attractive free incentive packages for unlimited numbers of immigrants who come to America, while untold numbers of Americans are going hungry every night, and people can’t find jobs anywhere? Is that the objective? Destabilization of society, under the cynical guise of humane gift-giving?

Are we working to dream that when the president says he’s going to focus on jobs in his second term, this means he’s actually going to do more than squint at the sun?

Are we working to find more foreign enemies we can invade, as our military advance teams pave the way for imperial corporations and continue to launch some sort of ridiculous surround Russia” operation?

Are we all working together to drown the Third World in “free” medical drugs and vaccines that destroy immune systems, rather than cleaning up contaminated water supplies and installing simple sanitation systems (at a millionth of the cost of the drugs)?

Are we all working together just “to work together” and continue the fine tradition of destroying the nation from the inside?

That’s what I thought. Yes, that’s what I thought.

Hell of a speech, Mr. President. You and GW and Bill and Bush the Elder and Ronnie and Jimmy and Gerry and Nixon really know your laundry lists. You talk, and the government gets bigger. It’s magic.

There’s always more to do and the government has to make it happen. Otherwise, what are you there for?

I ask myself that question all the time. I’m still looking for an answer, other than, “We’re all in this together.”

Who is this WE you keep taking about? And what is this TOGETHER? You mean we who are watching on television and you who are talking on television? You mean you who are slicing the Constitution into little pieces while ridiculing it as a Neanderthal document? You mean you who are covert agents of Globalism? You mean you who have been vetted to make sure you’re on board with the op to take American down into a planetary management system that will bring a thousand years of peace to people made over into androids?

That’s what I thought.

You talk and the government gets bigger. You bankroll education and students are brainwashed into “uplifting social themes,” and become more dumb.

You talk and the statecorporate media strain themselves into hernias to praise your erudition or passion. You talk and thousands of lobbyists who have the inside track on your souls parse your words and plan their new strategies. You talk and the American people desperately try to imagine you’re making a grain of sense.

You talk and the winds blow and the snow falls and Somebody Actually Important, at a much higher level of the Mob, pats you on your shoulder and folds you up like a puppet and drops you in his pocket and walks upstairs to the Residence and puts you to sleep.

Asleep, you dream of a strange and alien thing: the freedom and power and independence of the individual.

For you, it’s a nightmare.

by Marvin J. Ramirez

Marvin J. Ramirez

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: At a time when most people are noticing the government increase of domination over the people, contrary to what should be: the people domination over the government, El Reportero is glad to publish the following article authored by Washingtonblog.com. I believe that it is my duty to inform the people of some aspects of our current government that are becoming detrimental to our liberties. Perhaps this article will wake some people up, perhaps not. Due to its length and our limited space, we will publish it in several parts. This is the first part of a series.

Americans • like Nazi Germans • don’t notice that all of our rights are slipping away • Part 1 The US is the world’s largest prison state

by washingtonsblog.com

In the classic history of Nazi Germany, They Thought They Were Free, Milton Mayer writes:

“What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could not understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it.

“This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter.

The German citizens were boiling frogs … the water heating up so gradually that they didn’t realize they had to jump out of the pot to safety.

Because the exact same thing is happening to Americans (fear of terror makes people stupid no matter what country they live in), let’s remember exactly what we’ve lost in recent years …

First Amendment

The 1st Amendment protects speech, religion, assembly and the press:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

However, the government is arresting those speaking out … and violently crushing peaceful assemblies which attempt to petition the government for redress.

A federal judge found that the law allowing indefinite detention of Americans without due process has a “chilling effect” on free speech.

There are also enacted laws allowing the secret service to arrest anyone protesting near the president or other designated folks.

The threat of being labeled a terrorist for exercising our First Amendment rights certainly violates the First Amendment. The government is using laws to crush dissent , and it’s gotten so bad that even U.S. Supreme Court justices are saying that we are descending into tyranny.

For example, the following actions may get an American citizen living on U.S. soil labeled as a “suspected terrorist” today:

• Being young (if you live near a battle zone, you are fair game ; and see this ).

• Using social media.

• Reporting or doing journalism.

• Speaking out against government policies.

• Protesting anything (such as participating in the “Occupy” movement ).

• Questioning war (even though war reduces our national security ; and see this ).

• Criticizing the government’s targeting of innocent civilians with drones (although killing innocent civilians with drones is one of the main things which increases terrorism. And see this ).

• Asking questions about pollution (even at a public Congressional hearing ?).

• Paying cash at an Internet cafe.

• Asking questions about Wall Street shenanigans.

• Holding gold.

• Creating alternative currencies.

• Stocking up on more than 7 days of food (even though all Mormons are taught to stockpile food, and most Hawaiians store up on extra food ).

• Having bumper stickers saying things like “Know Your Rights Or Lose Them”.

• Investigating factory farming.

• Infringing a copyright.

• Taking pictures or videos.

• Talking to police officers.

• Wearing a hoodie.

• Driving a van.

• Writing on a piece of paper.

• (Not having a Facebook account may soon be added).

And holding the following beliefs may also be considered grounds for suspected terrorism:

• Being frustrated with “mainstream ideologies”.

• Valuing online privacy.

• Supporting Ron Paul or being a libertarian.

• Liking the Founding Fathers.

• Being a Christian.

• Being anti-tax, anti-regulation or for the gold standard.

• Being “reverent of individual liberty”.

• Being “anti-nuclear”.

• “Believe in conspiracy theories”.

• “A belief that one’s personal and/or national “way of life” is under attack”.

• “Impose strict religious tenets or laws on society (fundamentalists)”.

• “Insert religion into the political sphere”.

• “Those who seek to to politicize religion”.

• “Supported political movements for autonomy”.

• Being “anti-abortion”.

• Being “anti-Catholic”.

• Being “anti-global”.

• “Suspicious of centralized federal authority”.

• “Fiercely nationalistic (as opposed to universal and international in orientation)”.

• “A belief in the need to be prepared for an attack either by participating in … survivalism”.

• Opposing genetically engineered food.

Opposing surveillance

Of course, Muslims are more or less subject to a separate system of justice in America, according to the UK’s The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/12/hsbc-prosecution-fine-money-laundering.

“The US is the world’s largest prison state, imprisoning more of its citizens than any nation on earth, both in absolute numbers and proportionally. It imprisons people for longer periods of time, more mercilessly, and for more trivial transgressions than any nation in the west. This sprawling penal state has been constructed over decades, by both political parties, and it punishes the poor and racial minorities at overwhelmingly disproportionate rates.

IT WILL CONTINUE ON NEXT WEEK EDITION