Over the last month or so, I’ve been following the development of a series of protests that is taking place throughout the U.S. known as SlutWalks, that began after a Toronto police officer made a comment how women could prevent being sexually assaulted if they, “Avoid dressing like sluts.”

Since the movement’s inception, the SlutWalk campaign has gone viral. Facebook groups have emerged to promote SlutWalks in Europe, Asia, Australia and most major US cities. In Texas, the first of several was held in Dallas in April, future SlutWalks are planned for in Austin and Houston.

Comments like those made by the misguided police officer are all too common. They tend to reflect the beliefs that have been ingrained in nearly all of us as part of a culture that jumps to blame the victim, to blaming anyone and anything but the actual rapist. And such a culture is not just demeaning; it’s dangerous, because it focuses on the outfits and behavior of victims rather than the criminal behavior of perpetrators.

Latinas in particular have always been on the underside of both victim blaming and hypersexualization. Adding to the mix, a crime as horrific as gang rape is rarely seen by individuals, through the lens of culture, race, and class, this suddenly morphs into an indictment against all Latinos.

The idea behind the Slutwalks is simple: rape is rape, no matter what the victim wears, says or does.

Yet, some lose sight of the intent of the marches and feel the marches “celebrate” promiscuity and other forms of sexual expression. Critics of the marches are troubled over the use of the word “slut,” as well as how some participants dress in the marches–some wear leather, fishnets and low-cut tops, where some people prefer marching in jeans and T-shirts. Both feminists and anti-feminists have expressed reservations about the words’ use. The only difference, anti-feminists would often show their true colors with nasty victim-blaming remarks.

Interestingly, blogger Aura Blogando takes it a step further and claims that the demonstrations are organized by “white bourgeois” women who are “utilizing universalist language” to “[reify] existing power structures,” therefore undermining the concerns of “women of color.” She advises her readers not to participate because to do so is nothing more than “tokenization.”

At times like these it is important to point out destructive behavior within our own community than simply to ignore it. Honest criticism has nothing to do with gender privileges afforded to me; but to take advantage of a teachable moment. Blogando’s accusations are not only overgeneralized, but do more harm than good..

To quote Fredrick Douglas: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both.” To ask the Latina/o community not to get involved is dangerous and a clear demonstration of the exact measure of injustice some are willing to tolerate.

Though abuse exists in all kinds of families, for Hispanic Texans, it has become an epidemic. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 77% of all Hispanic Texans indicate that either themselves, a family member and/or a friend have experienced some form of domestic violence. Indicating that approximately; 5.2 million Hispanic Texans are personally affected by domestic violence. Two out of every 5 Hispanic Texan females (39%) experience severe abuse and 1 out of every 5 Hispanic Texas females (18%) report being forced to have sex against their will. This is just the tip of iceberg of an issue that is too complex to be addressed in just one blog post. Yet, the common factor that transcends socioeconomical lines, Hispanic Texans, like the general population, have both a limited definition of domestic violence and have a willingness to blame victims for the abuse they suffer.

As a pro-feminist Latino, I am proud to stand in solidarity with the overarching intentions of many of those who have organized varying SlutWalks. This is why Somos Tejanos is proud to support and participate in SlutWalk Austin on June 11.

While it is true some Latino communities have a strong distrust of law enforcement, we must keep in mind that this is just a segment of the larger Latino/a community. Her critique is unfair and unrealistic, and places the burden on the organizers to have a full understanding of every issue affecting every community when it comes to sexual assault.

Violence prevention requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes, such as, poverty, lack of parental supervision, eroding public education systems, and community disintegration. In order for this shift to occur, a multi-racial and multi-issue coalition must emerge.

Debates must always be forced back to the issues. We must all engage in a political education and realize that using our individual and collective voice is critical to the democratic process. If we remain silent, then the people for whom we claim to advocate will continue to suffer. This is something that I personally cannot accept.

I applaud SlutWalk Houston for including a male in the organizing process. Often missing from these discussions are the male voices to speak out against violence. Especially missing are Latinos and the need to call for re-defining the cultural term machismo. It is a gap in the discourse that needs to be filled; otherwise, it only diverts attention to women’s behavior rather than men’s responses to it. As a Latino, I am disgusted with the misogynistic ideas that are embedded in our culture, which must immediately stop.

Social learning theory states that social behavior is learned by observing other people’s actions and the consequences of those actions. Youth are likely to model the behavior that receives the outcomes they desire. Attitudes, behavior, and environment can impact and be impacted by each other. Moreover, attribution theory suggests that individuals try to understand what happens to them and others by identifying or assigning causes to events. It emphasizes coaching and reinforcing pro-social behaviors.

The incident in Cleveland, Texas is a perfect example how racial and cultural stereotypes are reinforced. The victim is Latina, and all the arrested males are African American. As news about the gang rape emerged, battle lines formed. Quanell X and the New Black Panther Party on one side and Mujeres Unidas on the other. Criticizing the media’s role, Michelle Garci­a profoundly put it:

On the eve of a Houston activist’s town hall meeting in Cleveland, a Houston Chronicle columnist noted: “In a place like Cleveland, where the black side of town is still known as the Quarters, it’s not beyond reason to question whether race is playing a role.”

But the ‘role’ is not defined. Was it a factor in the crime, the arrests or the quality of justice that will follow? Once again, lines are drawn and choices made. An 11-year-old girl or the town? Race or gender? Missing from coverage of this story is the realization that the nature of the media reaction forces people to take sides. We outsiders and journalists are not mere observers but participants.

More profoundly were her personal insights:

I realized years later that, after the Gaitan case, my relationships with men became tinged with aggression and wariness. It was the confused reaction of an angry girl who had learned unspoken rules about sexuality and blame. I watched a woman be sacrificed by my community, and I felt betrayed. As Cleveland draws its lines around race, power and reputation, I wonder if girls there—white, black, Latina and Asian—feel like I once did, scrutinized by outsiders looking in, but abandoned at home.

I know there will be some who may question the place popular culture has in this dialogue. However, popular culture does have an impact on our perceptions. One has to wonder how much seeps into the social spheres of different communities. Take for example the pejorative terms used when a Latino/a does not engage in behaviors perceived to be characteristic of Latinos — “acting white” or “different from them.”

We can no longer sit on the sidelines on the topic of domestic violence. Action speaks louder than words; to do nothing tangible than make these statements a reality, is nothing more than a farce. More importantly, as Tejanos, how can we advocate for equality if we turn a blind eye to the oppression occurring within our own community? If we don’t change our own consciousness, we cannot change our own actions or demand change from others. We should feel ashamed when we see fathers, brothers and uncles treat women with contempt, and when it comes to rape, it only lessens us as men.

The time is now to say BASTA!

(This article first appeared on Somos Tejanos)

Posted in News/Noticias, Raza, activism, misogyny, patriarchy | | functional Comments Off

I thought it would be good to update you where I am on in the redesign process. I can’t deny, it does feel like an endless and futile task and would rather finish one of my many unfinished posts. One stumbling block is the thought, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” however, I also realize my blog, at five years to the month, no longer reflected my personal brand or myself. Another reason I need to redesign my blog, I am hoping to do some new media consulting this year. To do this, I need to show potential clients that I was proficient in the very latest developments and trends in the industry.

Abandoning old baggage
In the context of web site design, it is very important to stay up with the latest development before making drastic changes. For now, I have made a few minor changes; some you will notice and some you won’t. One noticeable change, I removed the global translator from my sidebar. Don’t worry, I am not taking it out completely; I am searching for another one to replace it.

Other changes, will hardly be noticed. Nowadays there really is no predicting where visitors will be viewing your site. When I designed this blog, Internet Explorer was the dominate web browser, however, Firefox was quickly gaining in popularity. Now there are a variety of web browsers to choose from to access the web. According to my data from a recent web analytics data report, the most popular browsers being used to access this site are: Firefox (37.40%), Internet Explorer (31.24%), Chrome (19.15%), and Safari (10.53%). The data is also showing some visitors are their mobile devices to access this site. As I continue to redesign my blog, it is imperative I make sure the markup for this blog is clean and with little to no errors so whatever browser being used, will be done with ease.

To say that the web is a different place now is an understatement. There is so much to think about and so many important decisions to make.

Posted in Blogging, Misc | | functional 3 Comments »

Just wanted to give y’all a heads-up that I’ll be launching a fresh new look in a couple weeks. It’s been a few years since I launched the one you’re looking at now. So it’s time for an update.

I’ve been flirting with this idea for a couple of years, but it really is time time to move on and update the site with the latest design practices and standards. There are also glitches that I don’t like, but I’ve never gotten around to fixing.

So, as you visit my site over the next several days and weeks, bear with me. I hope that some of you will find this an interesting experience as we see what changes I make, what decisions drive those changes, and how you, my audience, affect my decisions with your feedback.

Posted in Blogging, Misc | | functional 2 Comments »

The targeted mass shooting that has seriously wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and left six others dead is just one example of mass shootings that are happening all too often in all parts of this nation. Our weak gun laws make weapons too readily available to dangerous people.

Who can we thank for this? The GOP and the National Rifle Association. That’s right.

The Assault Weapons Ban signed into law by President Clinton in 1994 banned 19 types of semi-automatic military-style guns and ammunition clips with more than 10 rounds. The bill expired back in 2004. If the ban were still in effect, it’s less likely that Jared Lee Loughner could have obtained a gun with a high-capacity magazine. Stores could legally only sell used high-capacity magazines at that time, and new magazines could not be manufactured.

But this issue goes beyond weapons ban. Here in the US, guns and violence is as American as apple pie. For your entertainment, from Bowling for Columbine, “A Brief History of the United States of America.”

I Loves My Gun

Posted in Democrats, History/Historia | | functional 1 Comment »

Unless you have your head in the sand and are unaware what took place yesterday, January 8, 2011, Representative Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and at least 17 others were shot when a gunman opened fire outside a Safeway supermarket parking lot where Ms. Giffords was holding a “meet and greet.”

Rep. Giffords was shot through the head at close range and is still in critical condition. Dr. Peter Rhee, medical director of the hospital’s trauma and critical care unit, said Saturday that she had been shot once in the head, “through and through,” with the bullet going through her brain.

Six of the victims died, among them John M. Roll, the chief judge for the United States District Court for Arizona, and a 9-year-old girl, Christina Taylor-Green. Christina, recently elected to her school’s student council, was born on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to Christina and Judge Roll, those killed included Gabe Zimmerman, a former social worker who served as Giffords’ director of community outreach. Also killed were 76-year-old Dorthy Murray, 76-year-old Dorwin Stoddard, and 79-year-old Phyllis Scheck.

The shooter is identified as 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner was arrested at the scene after being detained by bystanders. He is being quested by the FBI, who have said he was the only shooter. The weapon used was reported to be a 9mm Glock model 19 pistol with a 30 round magazine. Loughner purchased his semi-automatic pistol legally in Tucson.

President Barack Obama called the shooting an “unspeakable tragedy,” adding that “such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.” Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, another Democrat from the Tucson area, was “sickened by the horrific attack” and called the shooting a tragedy for “Arizona, our nation, and our democracy.” Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said, “My thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords and her family, the Congresswoman’s staff and their families, as well as the other victims of this senseless and cruel violence.”

Various senior Republican politicians have expressed their concern for the physical well-being of Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims, and that concern is no doubt sincere. Sarah Palin expressed her “sincere condolences” to Giffords’ family and to the other victims, John McCain is “horrified” by the attack, and House Speaker John Boehner said that “Our prayers are with congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured and their families.”

Cult of Personality
These is no denying throughout history there are many examples of deranged loners and violent people attacking politicians, what has changed recently is that politicians are actually encouraging a climate of suspicion and division. It is hard to argue that political debate in this country has not only become dangerous, but a cesspit of venomous innuendo and lies.

The tragedy in Arizona is not uniquely the fault of the Republican Party or the Tea Party or right wing American politics in general. While they share the blame as a whole. It’s impossible to know what motivated Loughner, but it is not hard figure out what inspired him. The question of right wing rhetoric and its effects cannot be ignored as if it doesn’t exist, because it does, and they all know it.

What happened in Arizona is evidence that Republican politics have gone overboard in their rhetoric, as Sarah Palin and the leaders of Tea Party movement swung into damage-control. But this does not absolve them for taking part in creating the hyper-vicious climate that have provoked unbalanced nut-cases to attack others, under the guise of striking back and taking back the country.

A cult of personality arises when a country’s leader uses mass media to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. While the cult of personality generally applies to leaders in in a totalitarian nation, it stands to reason that it is also asserted in everyday situations to advocate conformity to philosophies and lifestyles, by way of herd mentality.

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik expressed his concern of the current political climate. Dupnik said that “when the rhetoric about hatred … about mistrust of government” gets heated, it inflames “the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Giffords, a moderate Democrat, expressed similar concern before the shooting. Last March, shortly after the House passed health care legislation, Giffords’ congressional office in Tucson was vandalized. Afterward, she warned of the dangers of the animosity against her by conservatives. She was referring to the use of cross-hairs to highlight the vulnerability of her site on Sarah Palin’s controversial Facebook “Hit List” in the November midterm elections.

She said: “We’re on Sarah Palin’s ‘targeted’ list, but the thing is that the way she has it depicted, we’re in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they’ve got to realise that there are consequences to that action.”

had been threatened in the recent past as had John Rolls and his family, who eventually ended up being protected by the U.S. Marshall’s Service for a month in 2009. Dupnik also noted a political event at which an audience member dropped a weapon. During another incident, windows in her office were broken shortly after her vote for health care reform in March, and authorities are currently investigating a suspicious package found Saturday at Giffords’ Tucson office.

Apart from her cross-hairs campaign, she also made news with the remark, “Don’t retreat, Instead RELOAD.”

Palin hasn’t directly commented on whether she thinks there were consequences to her actions, however, this hasn’t stopped from scrubbing the images from her website and her Facebook page targeting Gabriel Giffords and others with the cross-hairs of a gun sight.

No one can argue that Sarah Palin has grown in popularity, to the point she is seen as a pseudo-Biblical figure sent from Above. The truth is, Palin is adored by many because many of them see themselves also taking down the so-called elitists. They stand by her side with an almost unbelievable vigor because, in essence, they are dealing a passive-aggressive blow to those who have frequently criticized their lifestyles over the years.

Palin’s rise is not social phenomena but a manifestation of our credo of rugged individualism. It is this credo that clouds person’s into believing public action as an expression of individual psyche. Jared Lee Loughner may have acted alone and is certainly disturb, but the “political themes of his instability” can be found among the far Right.

There are many other documented incidents carried out by people with mental issues like Jared Loughner, which they are directly involved either with Republican politicians or their supporters at their rallies or in the media. This is not an anti-Republican screed, these are facts and they are representative of the current Republican Party and its links to the Tea Party and right wing voters in general. The Republican Party has done absolutely nothing to put a stop to this kind of intimidation based upon the threat of violence because it needs the votes.

Twenty years before this happened, the funk metal band “Living Colour” prophesied this happening with their hit “Cult of Personality.”

This has been coming for a long time. With all the hate-speech, race-bating, homophobic, immigrant-bashing, and blatant lies that goes unchallenged over the airwaves everyday, it’s a miracle this doesn’t occur everyday

Posted in Democrats, Immigration, Media, Politics of Humanity, Racism | | functional 3 Comments »