No Columbus Day in the 51st State

So my Norteño amigos assume that ALL Gringos know little or nothing about Hispanics or Latinos (which are not “iguales”) and view all of the above amalgamations as Mexicans.  That is so un-informed and ignorant of the diversity of Latin America.  While this perception fits the objectives of the “open border” movement and the AZTLAN territory, it is juvenile and reaffirms my opinion that Norteños are Gringo!

Ok, Barbie and I have been ALL OVER the Western Hemisphere, especially Mexico, Central and South America.   We are planning expatriation to Latin America.  Trust me, having been raised in La Mesa, a suburb of San Diego; having lived in Ensenada for two years in the 80′s; having partied with Chilenos, Argentinos, Ticos, Nicas and “Habitantes del sur”; and having studied the socio-economic and military history of Latin America I have developed informed opinions and skepticisms regarding the La Raza- Norteño-Gringo movement.  I am NOT going to write another dissertation but want to focus on two observations today, keeping it focused of Columbus day.

First, we need to acknowledge that Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the Americas (having been preceded by the Norse expedition led by Leif Ericson).  So, it is my premise that IF THERE WAS A LEIF ERICSON DAY, Lief would be demoted by La Raza as Christopher Columbus is being diss’d.  Having said that, go ahead and try to label me a racist.  The point is that anything NON-indigenous, is not in vogue.  So, already we might be seeing a fundamental problem here that Norteños don’t understand.

Hispanic (Spanish: hispano, hispánico) is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula Portugal and Spain.

The Iberian Peninsula is an element of the European Continent, same as Lief Ericson’s Norse people.  So rejecting Columbus’s significance to the New World, is an attempt to severe European roots.  If one considers themselves Hispanic, they are actually “persona non grata” in the indigenous people movement.

To all my Hispanic and Native American friends, I’m only 2nd generation American (soon to be a Porteno) but it was a bunch of Early Americans (white boys) that implemented the policy of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 and stood up for the Western Hemisphere against ALL of Europe.  Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco, commonly known as Simón Bolívar so admired the revolutionary spirit of the founding fathers of (USA) America that he became “El Libertador” of South America and sent his kid to attend the University of Virginia.  (It would be a kick to find out if he paid in-state or out-of-state tuition, huh?).  So the plight of the disintegrating Euro-American bonds is NOT a racial issue and La Raza is a fraud!

Similarly, if you ever travel through Latin America you will find diversity.  The Ticos of Costa Rica are lighter skinned than I am; and, there we have found large communities of Filipinos, Germans, Italians, Spaniards,  etc… throughout Latin America.  The concept of a “brown race” is hilarious and probably invented by “image-savy Norteños”.

So heres my point, Columbus Day is significant to OUR HEMISPHERE.  How could anyone deny that?  When Columbus returned to Europe, he first announced the New World in Vigo, Spain and ALL of our civilized advancements are related to THAT event.  It prompted ALL of Europe to stake out the New World.

I lament the death of the Monroe Doctrine.  In my opinion, President Ronald Reagan wrongly supported the English in their aggressions in the Falklands/Malvinas war against Argentina.  In that regard, I stand with BOTH our USA white boys in 1823 and Simon Bolivar in 1830 in drawing a line in the sand.  To isolate this concept as a purely “Hispanic/La Raza/Indigenous people” issue and ignore OUR mutual history, in that regard, is IGNORANT and “RACIST”.

So until my Hispanic/La raza/Norteño friends back off of the revisionist history that they spew, I’m going to celebrate Columbus Day.  I’m going to celebrate Columbus Day the next time I ski at a German or Swiss Chalet in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina.  See Norteños, even my european-Black Forrest-roots are a foundation of Latin American culture.

Happy Columbus Day!

Plan b January 2013

I left that posting with thoughts of investigating Argentina first.  Barbie and I first traveled to Buenos Aires in January of 2009 and fell in love with it.  The beautiful city and people caused us to return in the summer of 2009 and this is the trip that we met with ARCA, the people to know if you are considering a residency visa.

We prefer [RH] Rochester Hotels in Buenos Aires

To get a flavor for the task at hand, we are revisiting old friends that we met while we were vacationing in Buenos Aires.  We’re reaching out to fully exploit the “magic of the Internet” and cyber-tour the lay of the land.  This should be easy, we had NO difficulty with the language and the people were warm and friendly.  This is truly a romantic and sexy city.

Since our return from Argentina, I have used The Buenos Aires Herald (English version) as a supplemental news source.  I’m going to rely more on the Herald as a primary source for my news and start immersing myself into being more “Porteno.”   Get my head back into the experience of Tango Porteno.  Recall Ave. Florida, Ave. Brown, and Lavalle 941 which takes me to La Estancia.  So, Buenos Aires does it for us.  We would be very happy and comfortable staying there for longer periods of time.

Here’s what we’re going to do.  We are going to contact our friend over at Arca; look at the plan that is described for me at:

Argentina Residency & Citizenship Advisors

and, rough out a time-line that we can also cost out.  We’ll also be able to look at the post-residency benefits and costs and compare them with the other countries that we are considering and make a better decision.

Argentina will be a tough overall candidate to beat!

Buenos Aires Coat of Arms

The loss of faith in the “Ethos” of our legal profession; and the unacceptable hypocrisies of legal outcomes based on “celebrity and status”, has eroded our trust in the American Judicial System.  Politics and politicians can be corrected and replaced.  The lack of a credible legal system cannot.  The scars are irreversible.  Foundations are rocked and good citizens are branded and sentenced to a life sentence resulting in social ostracism.

I am using this post to sort my own thoughts on the dilemma my family faces after the 2012 elections.  When I look back at my roots, it wasn’t that long ago when when my grandfather immigrated to the the USA [* see note below].  There must have been similar issues that he struggled with as he considered leaving the old country.  As things turned out, he made GREAT decisions in that regard and his lineage has done quite well.  I need to bring the same “Logos” to bear on the same dilemma.

Chris

Barbie and i have done some extensive traveling and will continue our quest to see and experience the world.  We do have several candidate countries for our expatriation.  You only have to tour the site to know that Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina top our list of prospective candidates.  Each has their own unique appeal and all qualify for “Plan B” consideration.

To christen our study, we will start with AARP’s article, “Best Places to Retire Abroad“.  We immediately see Barbie’s first choice, Argentina – Dance the tango and sip Malbec in Buenos Aires, the “Paris of South America.“

(mfs) <—- Plan b, part 2 coming.

[* Note to self:  One thing is sure, my Grandfather inspires me even now.]

Doc C at Rosicrucian Park

When I hear of ALL the money that has been squandered offshore,  I cringe whenever I hear reports of cost-cutting efforts to gut domestic programs.   I can’t understand it when the Obama administration says victims of natural disasters, here in the US, may not receive the same emergency aid that Libyan rebels, Haitians, Japanese and other foreign groups enjoy.  In another posting, I question why our ASSESSED UN contributions are 22% of the total UN operating budget.  There are 192 member nations of the UN. Why are we not assessed 1/192, or 1/2% dues?  Why is China only assessed 3%?  Their economy is rock and rolling and we are not even treading water.  This flow of American greenbacks out of the country is on top of voluntary programs such as the Peace Corps.

Now how long have our troops been deployed around the world and for what purpose?  The cost of conducting two wars and an undeclared war in Libya has been unbearable.  What are we trying to achieve? Does ANY outcome in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria have ANY significance to our national security?  Please explain that to me.   Do we actually think that our ground troops in Europe, South Korea, Japan and elsewhere are deterrents to war?  Maybe in Alexander the Great’s time. The world has changed and so should our strategic defenses.  Think of the costs to maintain a status quo that is based on a post, World War 2 model.

This administration wants to open our borders, give amnesty to foreigners who have broken our laws and guarantee minimum wages and benefits to illegal aliens.  What is the cost to our citizens?  I wrote that Obama needs to put American’s first and provide pardons to our own citizens for misdemeanors before we start forgiving foreigners who have broken our laws.  If we open our borders, our sovereignty will perish.  I believe that.

I could go on and on, but it is clear that our good will is taken for granted.  I believe that:

1)  bring the troops home and re-establish our borders;

2)  stop this drive to a New World Order and re-affirm benefits to American citizenship;

3)  reduce our contributions to the UN and all foreign aid before we cut domestic programs; and,

4)  make our Legal System a leveled justice system with consistent outcomes for all Americans.

We can’t wait until 2012 to fix our government.  If this Congress continues to flap their jaws and play kick-the-can with issues that desperately need resolution now, do not count on my vote.  Obama is destroying our nation.  His socialist administration needs to be held accountable.  If there is no difference between a Democrat and a Republican, then what makes us think that the 2012 elections will have consequences, except for a new mantra:

Wait till the 2016 elections!

Sorry, i have a life to live and we have a plan b.

Back to Basics

I believe that my teams were some of the best in Silicon Valley.  I built those teams searching for  qualified candidates based on comprehensive and strong job descriptions.  Only after I understood the actual job that I needed to fill, could I define the skill sets and experience that I would need to search for qualified candidates.

Obama has turned into a textbook example of our failure to fill the job of President.  Even in the Republican field, we seem to be stuck on a process to force fit job seekers into this WH w/o an eye on the description.  So instead of trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole, what is the primary responsibility of the POTUS?

I don’t care what party or ethnic category the potential list of qualified candidates come from. In my opinion, we need a prez who:

1.  Will restore our secure borders and make America safe for Americans;
2.  Understands the oath of office and will not fail to perform to that commitment;
3,  Has experience at Governance and executive maturity;

and,

4.  Understands the budget process and can make tradeoff decisions to keep the ship of state afloat, operating within our means.

If i can find a candidate who measures up to these four criteria, I will vote for that candidate, regardless of their Party or Racial affiliation.

Obozo has failed my criteria. Obama talks like Che’ but walks like Bush!  Please do not try to convince me otherwise.

Last nights BB13 caused me to look back at the Congress’s performance, especially the Health Care and debt-limit processes.   Without the economic incentive and rewards of a government study grant, we concluded that Washington, like Hollywood, needs better reality scripts to “entertain” the American sheeple..

The new reports of decapitations and scalpings are only the recent loses that this former resort city has suffered.

For those butchered by the narco-terrorists:
In nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus sanctum.. Amen

Hopefully our Philippine-Mexican friends in Acapulco are safe and President Calderon will let the locals ARM themselves for their own protection.  This slaughter that is going in Mexico would cease if THREE events occur:

1)  Pot was legalized in the US to take the money out of the drug undergorund;
2)  Mexico would adopt US 2nd Amendment rights for Mexicans; and,
3)  Calderon & Obozo would allow US agents to augment Mexican law enforcement capabilities (armed).

Sandrailer, NORML

Otherwise,

1) the bloodshed will continue and expand until Mexico collapses; and,
2) it will spill over into the US..

La Raza, YOUR FIGHT IS NOT WITH ESTADOS UNIDOS!  YOUR PEOPLE ARE BEING BUTCHERED BY OTHER LATINOS, YOU HYPOCRITES!!!

When the snap, crackle and pop hits at night, the sky comes alive with a spectacular light show.  I am almost positive that Ghost Riders in the Sky was written during one of  these celestial performances.

Another surprise is that all of those dry river beds come alive with raging runoff water.  It seems that this has been going on for longer than Hispanics or Gringos have been here, but every season some yahoos seem to have missed the memo warning of the force these washes have.  Usually, the local news stations broadcast the entertainment provided by local teens who take the opportunity to test out their 4X4′s only to find out it takes a couple feet of water to carry them off to the Sea of Cortez; or, tourists and new, out-of-state students miscalculate the depths and require emergency assistance.

Yesterday was no exception.  The Catalina foothills of Tucson sits at the base of the Southern Rockies and the runoff from a monsoon is significant.   This driver came within a foot or two of impersonating a drug cartel’s semi-submersible…  This storm hit on the same day that the dorms opened for the fall 2011 semester at the University of Arizona.  With about 50,000 some students returning to the Old Pueblo, wanna bet if theres an out-of-state license plate on that car? (my money says it’s from Gov. Moonbeam’s neck of the woods)

Barbara and I enjoy a large, free-form landscaped front yard with 7 mesquite trees, ocotillo, a Koi pond and bunch of cacti.  If “open-range” could be landscaped into a garden district, this is the park-like yard that we enjoy.  Our yard is not only enjoyed by two-legged passersby, we also enjoy daily visits by wildlife from the entire food chain, from the cutest furry little nuckleheads to the high-end predators.

In addition to having adopted a feral yard cat, Barbie has created an “open air” aviary installing and maintaining 4 bird-feeders.  Tucson boasts over 500 species of birds and it seems like we have attracted and observed most of them.  We have our “regulars” who stop in an entertain us daily.  In addition to the regulars of sparrows woodpeckers, finches, pigeons and morning doves, we have also provided a buffet opportunity for predators such as the Peregrine Falcons.  Our buffet of an aviary has become a daily hangout for one particularly beautiful Falcon.

Our life is simple.  In the morning we head out to our local parks and walk, warming up for our daily workouts.  Yesterday, Saturday, on our way out our Falcon was sitting in the bough of one of our trees hunched over with what Barbie swore was a tear in his eye.. turned out his wing was nearly ripped off and as we passed him, he looked in our eyes (no more than 3 feet away from us) and Barbie could tell he was hurting..

It turned out that his right wing was nearly severed from his body.  He was unable to fly and in this desert, that means a certain death awaited him.  The Falcon looked directly in our eyes and I have to tell you, if you’ve ever come face to face with a raptor, not at the zoo, you FEEL your soul.  This magnificent bird was hurt and in a sense, knew that other animals were cared for here; and here was where he could get help.

Ok great, what do you do to save a bird with a broken wing?  I have provided a coup de gras for smaller birds in similar situations, but this was not your typical little sparrow.  After only two calls, I was directed to the Tucson Wildlife Center which operates an emergency rescue team.  These great folks did not hesitate to help and the wildlife rescue team responded in less than 15 minutes..

Relieved that the majestic bird was in better hands than we could have provided, we sent a thank you email to the Center and we’ve volunteered to foster parent this falcon once the medicine Docs do their magic..

Today we received an email from Lisa Bates, the founder, and were informed that he was xray’d, sedated, bandaged and treated with antibiotics.  He had suffered a broken metacarpal and further surgery is being considered.  She thanked us for calling them, telling us that the poor guy would have starved since he couldn’t fly.  In the back of my mind, I was relieved knowing that the guy was kicked back, feeling no pain and glad to know that the more certain fate of meeting our ferocious yard cat was averted.  The good news is that he will survive. He may never fly again, but at least he’ll be fostered by the family his instincts first trusted and who can shower him with a lot of love.

Out here in the desert, life is precious and all of God’s wildlife – two-footed, four-footed, and slither-ers alike need a helping hand and love once in awhile.

We didn’t get an Eagle, but our Falcon is also a great symbol and now the newest member our family.

Happy Independence Day Weekend!

Mission San Xavier del Bac

The Mission is located only 9 miles south of Tucson and about 2 centuries in our rear view mirror.  It was founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692 and construction was completed in 1797. The oldest intact European structure in Arizona, the church’s interior is filled with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings. It is a place where visitors can truly step back in time and enter an authentic 18th Century space.

The current church dates from the late 1700′s, when Southern Arizona was part of New Spain. In 1783, Franciscan missionary Fr. Juan Bautista Velderrain was able to begin construction on the present structure using money borrowed from a Sonoran rancher. He hired an architect, Ignacio Gaona, and a large workforce of O’odham to create the present church.

Following Mexican independence in 1821, San Xavier became part of Mexico. The last resident Franciscan of the 19th Century departed in 1837. With the Gadsden Purchase of 1854, the Mission joined the United States. In 1859 San Xavier became part of the Diocese of Santa Fe. In 1866 Tucson became an incipient diocese and regular services were held at the Mission once again. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet opened a school at the Mission in 1872. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity now teach at the school and reside in the convent.

We enjoyed driving onto the reservation and stepping back in time.  The services were conducted in a beautiful blend of English and Spanish along with the hymns which were sung with the accompaniment of classical guitars.  We plan on attending more services at the mission and becoming closer with this warm and diverse parish.   We enjoyed holding hands and spending a beautiful morning bonding with the tribe.

With all the chaos and racial hatred consuming the world today, reconnecting with our Spiritual base was just what the doctor ordered.  It actually felt good and we decided that we need more of this stuff.

peace be with you all!