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Hi and welcome!
As the weather turns warmer, I’m starting to dread the arrival of summer. As I’ve said before, Texas summers wouldn’t be that bad if they didn’t last two months longer than everybody else’s summers.
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by Louie Neira •
The recent firing of radio personality Don Imus has led me to question of “free” freedom of speech actually is (or isn’t).
His comments about the Rutgers girl’s team was clearly out of line and in bad taste, but did it really warrant his firing? The way I see it; yes and no.
His remarks were clearly insulting and offensive. If he were an employee of mine, I would’ve terminated him not for his lack of judgment, but because it wasn’t cleared through the proper channels.
As the editor of La Voz, I’m responsible for its content and what makes others look bad, also makes me look bad. If someone’s going to make me look like an idiot, I’d like to at least first know about it beforehand.
Not to make light of the situation, but this is taking political correctness a bit too far at the cost of our civil liberties.
Also, it’s clearly a set of double standards when Imus’ remarks are seen as offensive, yet the music that most college students listen to is what I call “gutter” rap and is what I consider the foulest, disrespectful, indecent and racist music I’ve ever heard.
The trash that comes out of their mouths is nothing but filth, and this coming from a former Marine who’s heard pretty much all of it.
What I don’t get is how these people (and I’m not singling out Blacks, because Hispanics and Anglos also listen to this “music”), is how they find it perfectly acceptable to not only listen to this obscenity, but also spend money for it by buying CDs and going to their concerts.
Yet, here they are, claiming Don Imus offended their delicate sensibilities. There’s something not right about all this. They hear obscenities like this coming out of their speakers and iPods on a daily basis – now they’re offended?
While the music industry can claim freedom of speech for the filth they put out, another person is at risk for stepping across the “PC” line and making a remark that has caused a national uproar.
While I don’t agree with what Imus said, it’s his right to look like an idiot. Far be it from me to not allow people to speak their mind, as incorrect and ignorant as they may be. That’s their American right.
I have to wonder, though. How did it all come to this? It seems that these days, ignorance and stupidity are almost considered a virtue by many.
Intellect is ridiculed, ethics are marginal and common courtesy is a thing of the past. Who’s to blame?
I think if we really want to do a comparison, we should see Imus – despite his age – as the symbolic child who misbehaves and his parents – the network – who disciplined their “child” by letting him know his behavior wasn’t acceptable. Too bad all companies don’t work the same way.
Now, if we can only get someone to do that with all these foul-mouthed, arrogant, idiot kids out there.
Don’t get me wrong, kids will always be kids, but when are parents going to be parents again?
by Dondi Persyn •
In the last letter to the editor, Ms. McClure challenged the rights of a four year old to sit in a classroom, because her person was distracting and not standard to what all other adults do within the community. Last I checked, our Constitutional rights, as well as our children’s rights (children ARE people too!) did not include being subject to Socialist-Communist indoctrination. A governmental agency does not get to dictate what my customs and legal choices are. Our children are being taught that people belong to the government and they decide what are rights are when if fact our government is created and controlled by the people.
The society of future idiots that we are idly raising are being force fed propaganda much like Ms McClure’s: you have to be like everybody else, you don’t have rights, conform, conform, conform! Brainwash! When I taught art, I had one rule in my class and it was THINK! (Think of three solutions before you come to me with your problem.) As a result, a teacher asked me to “refrain from making the children think for themselves“, as it was “disruptive”. Free thinkers, dreamers and creators who dance to their own beat are what make the world function. Quite frankly, a large number of UCISD students fail to comprehend thinking outside of the box and lack basic problem solving skills. No art, no music, some art, some music, no well balanced curriculum that stirs the right brain- and certainly no freedom of expression!
This child does not deserve to be treated as if her person is a problem. Pink hair is not a discipline problem. This UCISD has real discipline problems on their hands because parents in Uvalde either don’t teach their children how to behave legally and ethically and/or they teach them they are above the law. Either way, it’s a social problem. So why on earth would any parent want their young children to conform to the standards of the adults in the community of Uvalde as Ms. McClure pointed out? Obviously she was raised in a different society where honor and respect were a given. This is not the case in current day Uvalde- Racial tensions run high, back-stabbing politics are the norm, hurricane refugees turned away by churches, and look at what you’ve done to your town! Uvalde used to be beautiful – now it’s filthy, and lacks culture. Few true, honorable, role models within the community still exist for your children to even remotely mirror.
I find hypocrisy run riot with an administration that removes a pink -haired 4yr old from a classroom, but yet turns a blind eye to such thug-like behavior as: beating up a student & video taping it, student “honor” leaders flaunting MIP tickets, underage drinking and drug usage, with photographic proof passed around at school. Isn’t it distracting to sit in a classroom where children tell their teacher to #$@! off without batting an eye, where acts of violence and lewd language is pervasive, lice run rampant and cheerleaders & athletes roll their baby strollers along for the ride. This is the UCISD I know-(because these particular hoodlums “have rights”!) I propose that if a pink haired child is the worst of its problems- they are lucky, however we all know that is not the case. In response to the ostracization issue: If children are cruel to a child that looks different than them – then they are not being raised to be decent human beings -period. And lastly, Isn’t the so called dress code created to avoid distractions in class? (Correct me if I’m wrong, but public school isn’t in the ethics business, are they?) Show me a 4-yr-old that isn’t naturally distracted anyway, 4 year olds are distracted by a mole on your face! The simple tactic called “redirection” works wonders. By the way, my history teacher had lavender hair, and remarkably her students were able to learn quite well! I’m proudly signing my name because my children no longer attend your wretched schools, (ah! yes- one of those subversive home schoolers!) and I do not have to worry about the Uvalde-mafia-like repercussions directed towards my family because of signing one’s name to a penned letter. (Another one of those admirable things you have going for you, Uvalde – make sure the children are just like you! Don’t speak up. Don’t be different. Don’t challenge the backward way we do things here. There will be consequences.)
With Regard,
Dondi Persyn
P.S. Last I visited Dalton Elementary I heard a principal abusively yelling at a wee one, saw filthy feces covered toilets in the restrooms, saw 4 year olds wandering the halls by themselves, and children in a cafeteria where 1 in every 10th child had lime-green, mucus flowing nostrils – so those of you whom may be concerned about another child‘s hair color just might investigate what real dangers or health risks may be actually and seriously “distracting” the children at Dalton.
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Hi and welcome back!
I hope you’re doing well, despite this undecided weather. I don’t really care for the rain, but I just wish it would make up its mind to do so, instead of hanging about all day and making everyone miserable. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s been a quiet weekend, and an even quieter birthday – almost as if nothing happened. Saturday came and went with the most exciting thing that happened was that I took a short trip to Wal-Mart. Not much of a birthday, I know, but at least it was a pleasant day.
As a gift to myself, I got myself a nice 30g iPod, black. Really nice.
I do feel that I have many friends that truly care, and I’m grateful for that, but I still wonder why things must be as they are. I guess we all wonder that sometimes.
I feel that I’ve accomplished a great deal this past week. I’ve finally got the website like I want it, the paper came out fine, depsite what I consider not a very newsworthy week – we’re not going to see a lot at the newsracks, but that’s okay. At least I got through and done with it relatively early.
I’m still working on my podcast – it has a long way to go. I’ll be getting my mixer in next week so I’ll be able to finally be able to do something properly.
I’m glad I have something to keep me busy. For the longest time, I didn’t really feel I had a purpose or directio. I knew I was accomplishing a great deal for those around me through the paper, but I wanted to do something for me.
My new camera, my website, and my podcasting have given me something new to live for. My music’s finally come back to me as well so I’ve really started to feel alive for the longest time.
My spiritual ventures have also produced a great deal of personal improvement in my attitude. However, I feel further and further away from the people around me because most don’t understand what I’m going through.
I’ve said it before – it’s like they’re sleepwalking – or worse, dead. They’re alive, but not really. They can’t see. They can feel. They can’t think. They go through the motions everyday and have no idea or direction.
Still, it’s a good life, depsite everything. It could be better, but it could also be much worse. And for that, I’m thankful.
Equality of a different kind
April 12, 2007 in Commentaries | Leave a comment
by Juan O. Sanchez •
I recently had an interesting conversation with a local businessman.
The gentleman was displeased with, in his words, “the direction” in which I was going with regards to recent articles. I will not get into details concerning the articles in question because I will not make excuses for material published in La Voz.
The gist of the argument was, essentially, that I should delve into the activities of White elected or appointed officials rather than being critical of Hispanic officials.
I found the gentleman’s argument quite interesting because typically when I write, and am critical of White elected or appointed officials, inevitably what comes back to me is that I am being racist by picking on what I see is the lack of responsibility or accountability by White leaders of the community.
When I point out the unfairness, injustice, inequality or profiling being perpetrated upon Hispanics, the assumption is that I am racist – simply by pointing out what I view as unjust.
If I am writing about what I see is the lack of responsibility or accountability on the part of Hispanic officials, so the gentleman’s argument went, then I am making Hispanics look bad and Whites are “laughing at us.” Either way, I wind up being the bad guy.
The fact of the matter is that I do not force anyone into what they do or what they say. What I do is simply point out the questionable activity on the part of individuals whose responsibility is to the people they either work for or represent.
However, let me point out that Hispanics numerically constitute the majority, and that as time has passed, more Hispanics have gained ascendency in the political, economic, business, and educational spheres.
As Hispanics obtain positions of authority, they must demonstrate that they are responsible enough to provide the proper leadership. It does no good if Hispanics believe that by virtue of the positions they hold it absolves them of any wrongdoing.
The fact of the matter is that as leaders in their respective fields, they should represent themselves in such a manner that they are a wealth of pride to the community, instead of a source of negative news.
As a journalist, it makes no difference whom or what I write about; I will raise the questions that should be asked with regards to improprieties.
Interestingly, by the time I whatever it is I am writing about is published, many people already know what is taking place. Why react as though it is something new and appalling?
Anyone who has anything to do with either politics or public monies always knows of some questionable activities that are taking place. Yet when it appears in La Voz it seems as if everyone was unaware of the situation.
People tend to play at being ignorant- at least publicly – but in so doing they condone the very activity that appalls them.
There isn’t an organization in which some questionable activity does not take place. It is the fault of those who know what is taking place and allow it to continue. However, instead of providing information that would expose the questionable activity, people bite their tongue and acquiesce to continued corruption, theft, and unjust actions.
Even though it seems as though I’ve rambled over a variety of topics, in reality there are only two issues of importance. First is that regardless of race or ethnicity, public officials are open to scrutiny. Although some may think I do, I will not differentiate between White, Hispanic, Black – or whatever ethnicity - when the official’s lack of responsibility or accountability is evident.
The second issue is included in the previous sentence; the issue of responsibility and or accountability. Elected and appointed public officials are accountable to the public they serve. The higher the position they hold, the greater the accountability – the position does not absolve them of responsibility.
Neither does the position absolve them of abuse nor exploitation of the office, nor does it absolve them of misappropriate of funds under their control.
Lastly, when advertisers cancel their ads due to the controversial articles published in La Voz it is an attempt at economic blackmail. As such, it is their attempt at controlling what is published. Somehow, that does not sound like freedom of the press, or freedom of speech for that matter. And, if I gave in to their pressure, I would not be upholding my responsibility.