ERNESTO "CHE" GUEVARA: FROM GUERILLA TO MADISON AVENUE

Latino Journal
by Adrian Perez, Publisher

Sacramento, California - I walked into my son’s room and saw a large poster of Ernesto “Che” Guevara on the wall, so I asked him if he knew who “Che” Guevara was and why he had a poster of the late revolutionary. He answered that Che helped liberate Cuba from the mafia and that one of his high school friends gave him the poster. The poster brought back memories of being in college in the early 70’s and being involved with a student group called “Movimento Estudientil Chicano de Aztlan" (MEChA). At that time, we turned to inspirational figures like Che, Cesar Chavez, and Corky Gonzalez for inspiration. Times have changed since those days, so why was my son interested in Che? I also noticed a significant growth in Che’s popularity among all youth from all races.

So, why is Che so important to today’s youth and why is his image so popular?

As a brief background, Alberto Korda, a photographer, captured the famous image in 1960 as an angry Che spoke to the thousands who had gathered to eulogize and condemn the dozens killed by the bombing of a Belgian cargo ship filled with munitions. Little did Korda know that his photo would take a life of its own in the later half of the 20th century and become a fashion statement in 2008. More ironically, who would believe that the Marxist’s image which was quickly adopted by revolutionaries from throughout the world, including Islamic radicals, would one day be a capitalist’s greatest business opportunity? This image can now be found on t-shirts, mugs, hats, posters, and even on human skin as tattoos. Rap Artist Jay-Z wore a t-shirt sporting the late Marxist’s image and Homer Simpson displayed a tattoo. And, Madison Avenue hasn’t shied away from this image having used it for Converse, Smirnoff Vodka, and Taco Bell commercials.

Now comes two films from Steven Soderbergh, “The Argentine” and “Guerilla” both starring the great Latino film actor Benicio Del Toro. Will these films continue to promote the image of the revolutionary on new posters, t-shirts, and other promotional gizmos?

Today we find Che screen savers, mouse pads, and online stores. But, unlike modern times, no one is suing for copyright infringements. Forty years after his death, Ernesto “Che” Guevara has revolutionized Madison Avenue.

HATE CRIMES AGAINST LATINOS UP

SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

May 28, 2008

Some of those who rail against illegal immigration can dish it out, but they can't take it. Since most illegal immigrants come from Mexico or other parts of Latin America, critics sometimes say the sort of crude things that give the debate its anti-Latino flavor. But let someone call them on it and do they ever get defensive.

Speaking to supporters in Palm Beach last week, Barack Obama blasted a couple of media personalities by name.

“A certain segment has basically been feeding a kind of xenophobia. There's a reason why hate crimes against Hispanic people doubled last year,” Obama said. “If you have people like Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh ginning things up, it's not surprising that would happen.” CLICK HERE for the full article.

LATINO VOTING TRENDS

Mercury News

Article Launched: 05/29/2008 01:32:48 AM PDT

LATINO VOTING TRENDS

Latinos have cast a declining number of GOP votes in recent years, and their turnout in Democratic primaries has been growing.

Latino votes

trending Democratic

1996: Bob Dole (R) receives 21 percent of Latino votes.

2000: George W. Bush (R) wins 35 percent of Latino votes.

2004: Bush wins 40 percent of Latino votes.

2006: In congressional races, Republicans take 30 percent of Latino votes.

2008: In primaries held by both parties, 78 percent of Latino voters participate in Democratic contests.

Latino turnout

in Democratic primaries

California: 16 percent in 2004, 29 percent in 2008

Florida: 9 percent in 2004, 12 percent in 2008

Texas: 24 percent in 2004, 34 percent in 2008

MAYORS SHOULD ADDRESS LATINO EDUCATION

Sacramento Mayoral Candidate Kevin Johnson has taken the lead in supporting education for Latino children in the City. It's important for all city mayors to get involved to ensure Latinos get and education. It's perhaps the most important economic development step they can take for their respective cities.

LATINO JOURNAL ENDORSES KEVIN JOHNSON FOR MAYOR

The Latino Journal was established in Sacramento, California where a Mayoral election is taking place. Incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo is being challenged by political novice and former NBA star Kevin Johnson.

(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 28, 2008 ) Sacramento, California - The Latino Journal, the only publication dedicated to providing information about public policy and government from a Latino perspective, is announcing its endorsement of Sacramento Mayoral Candidate Kevin Johnson. “Although the publication has a statewide and national reach, we still call Sacramento, California our home,” says Adrian Perez, Publisher. “The Mayor’s race is very important to us. These are difficult times and Sacramento needs a leader who can help the city weather through this economic depression. “

Incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo was successor to the late Mayor Joe Serna, Jr., an important Latino leader who was teacher to many Latinos now active in the political realm. Mayor Fargo's management style is to lead by consensus, a style that has blocked and delayed critical decisions. During Mayor Fargo’s 7-year tenure, crime has increased nearly 50 percent, the city lost control of the Kings Arena (a significant source of revenue), and the city is facing a $58 million budget deficit.

“Mayor Fargo has demonstrated little leadership in tackling flood control and addressing those issues causing our schools to fail our children, which are important issues to us,” adds Perez.

Mayor Fargo’s most prominent competitor is Mr. Kevin Johnson, a native of Sacramento who attended the University of California, Berkeley, played for the National Basketball Association, and retired to become an educator and developer in his old neighborhood of Oak Park.

“Mr. Johnson’s business acumen, genuine concern for our children’s education, and his demonstrated ability to convert a crime ridden and dilapidated neighborhood into a vibrant and energetic place to live are demonstrated skills necessary to be the Mayor of any city,” says Perez. “He has learned how to politic to get critical support, funding, and create collaborations to develop St. Hope Academy, redevelop Oak Park, and ensure high school kids in his school pursue a higher education.”

Although plagued by personal issues that have surfaced during this election, Perez says Mr. Johnson has maintained himself as a competitor and true believer in promoting the best interests of this city. “We need to believe in our justice system and trust it would have taken necessary actions if either of the allegations were true,” says Perez.

“We at the Latino Journal fully support and endorse Mr. Kevin Johnson for Mayor of the City of Sacramento, California,” concludes Perez.

McCain Balances Latino Voters, GOP Base

By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
wslater@dallasnews.com

DENVER – With Barack Obama his likely opponent in the fall, John McCain sees an opportunity to make inroads among Hispanic voters by touting himself as a different kind of Republican.

But in doing so, Mr. McCain runs a considerable risk: further alienating the GOP base, which already mistrusts him on immigration issues.

"It's a tightrope," said Celia Muñoz of the National Council of La Raza, a nonpartisan Hispanic advocacy group. "How does he convince Latinos that you're on their side while convincing the rabidly anti-immigration faction of his own party?"...To Read the rest of the article, click HERE.

OBAMA LOOKS FOR HISPANICS IN THE WEST

By Christopher Wills
ASSOCIATED PRESS

4:35 a.m. May 27, 2008

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – It's the first event on the first day of a campaign swing through three Western states, and Barack Obama is covering all his bases.

He's got patriotism, a Memorial Day event for veterans. He's got cowboys, the location is the Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. He's got Hispanic voters, Gov. Bill Richardson introduced him. He's even got a nod to the environment: The Organ Mountains loom behind him as birds sing and the warm New Mexico wind blows.

Obama is signaling, even before the Democratic primary formally wraps up, that he intends to fight this fall for Western states that narrowly went Republican four years ago.

New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado aren't definitely Democratic blue or Republican red. Instead, they're known as “purple states” by political junkies.

Together, they account for only 19 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. But those votes could be vital in a close race, particularly if Obama's weakness among white...Read the rest of the article by clicking here.

IMMIGRANTS DRAWN INTO THE AMERICAN DREAM

UNION-TRIBUNE

May 21, 2008

Many Americans look down their noses at recent immigrants even while looking back nostalgically at their own immigrant forebears. Some thread that needle by maintaining that recent immigrants, most of whom come from Asia and Latin America, don't measure up to previous waves that came mostly from European countries.

For instance, the current crop of immigrants supposedly refuses to assimilate. How infuriating – and, in most cases, according to a new study on assimilation from the libertarian Manhattan Institute, how untrue.

Billed as the first annual Index of Immigrant Assimilation, the study was authored by Duke University professor Jacob Vigdor. The index measured three types of assimilation: TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE, CLICK HERE.

McCain calls for guest worker visas

By Peter Hecht

UNION CITY - Republican presidential candidate John McCain joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in calling today for comprehensive immigration reform, including guest worker visas to bring employees to California's Silicon Valley and the state's vast agricultural fields.

The two men brought up the issue at McCain's prompting during a global competitiveness roundtable featuring California technology executives and entrepreneurs.

Asked by Silicon Valley panelists on what he would do to grant more visa for skilled technology workers, McCain broadly advocated the comprehensive immigration reform plan he had backed with Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy in Congress. Click here to read the rest of the article.

LATINOS KEY TO ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE

Latino turnout could hold key to White House

Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Democrats' best strategy to win the presidency this year could lie in an energetic campaign to turn out Latino voters in key swing states, according to Democratic political strategists who cite Latinos' surging voter participation and intensifying preference for Democrats. To read the rest of this article, go to www.sfgate.com.

WILL LATINOS PUT MCCAIN IN OFFICE

Political experts are saying that with 35 percent of the Latino vote, Senator John McCain could become the next President of the United States. But why would Latinos vote for McCain? Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. of the San Diego Union-Tribune shares his view on his column of May 14, 2008. To read the entire article, and Mr. Navarrette's other columns, go to www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/navarrette

Feel free to share your opinion with us.

MAYOR BLAMES IMMIGRANTS/POOR FOR CRIME

Sacramento City Mayor, Heather Fargo, is running for her third term as mayor, but has run up against a very prominent opponent in former NBA star turn educator Kevin Johnson. In a recent interview with the Sacramento Bee, Mayor Fargo first didn't know about the significant increase of crime in her own city. Then she blamed the growth of the city's crime on immigrants and poor people. Specifically, here's what she told the Bee:

"We do have a lot of immigrants," she said. "We have one in five kids living in poverty here. We do have people who are unemployed, people who are underemployed, a lot of families that are in distress. A lot of gangs have moved up from Los Angeles. Things got too hot for them there so they've moved up here. Those are probably the main things, I would think."

The Mayor's comment was very insensitive. Should all politicians begin to blame their community's economic and crime ills on immigrants and the poor?