Sunday, January 16, 2011

Daisy Vest Patch Placement

It was not and could have been


Thinking about today's social reality in Latin America always leaves a question floating in the air about what might have been but was not, had not been given to place the conquest of America by the English Crown or other European nations that joined after the English New World adventure. It may be released at the imagination to run wild as a colt through the grasslands of the assumptions and make an imaginary utopia always supported the wishes rather than the possible realities that times have brought to all those people then, that today are in part but also in part be stopped in the process of mestizaje that took place between indigenous and foreign, between natives and outsiders.

Surely the final migration process that came with the encounter of two worlds would have happened shortly after 1492 have not materialized at that time, indeed, might even say that this significant date is merely the culmination of a few meetings already had been over previous centuries but from then officially start with globalization. It has been proven through archeology, as well as genetically, the encounters between the two worlds came long before Columbus reached the Americas, including the Nahua mythology, Olmec, Toltec, Mayan and Aztec deities are European or at least clearly features of the old continent, such as Quetzalcoatl. Therefore, these foreign influences and began to give from the moment the first European to set foot on the new continent.

However, whenever we start from that not so long ago October 12 to jump on the bandwagon of the assumptions and the possibilities of what would have happened not so traumatically altered the future, because we must understand that the meeting marked a before and after in the history of America and therefore in the future of their peoples. To try to imagine how society would be today without this European influence, it might be interesting check or compare the differences or similarities in the society of that time, especially in the context of the Nahua people, and by extension in Mexico and Central America in English.

The lifestyle was varied among the peoples of the highlands of Mexico and elsewhere in Central America, but if we look in more developed cultures, such as the Olmec, Toltec and Aztec were many similarities between native and European courts . Both the side and the other liked to have clowns, dwarves and fun pages for kings and courtiers, as was also similar restrictive and oppressive sense of priests and religious. However, there was a clear difference from the American monarchs who shared the dual role of priest, while the European monarchies, although they had much influence religions, kings were not priests. Similarly, there were also differences between each other, in the native one was more restrictive with their own than with strangers while the alien is punished equally.

In other mundane issues, such as ethyl and sexual excesses, for the Americans were a clear sin, however, for excess ethyl Europeans were not so. That same difference when the priests gave Europeans pointed to someone guilty of damnation, chasing him everywhere, unlike pre-Hispanic, indicated only as impious to his people and the failure was considered worse as high hierarchy. Compliance with the rules themselves social, moral and religious, were more an honor to race a clear obligation, so to cohabitants of other tribes, especially those who had different customs even more licentious called attention to them.

A Native American monarchs, unlike the Europeans, would have never thought to ask a religious exemption to earn heaven or paying bribes or favoritism so what was practiced by native kings what Europeans only preached. The picaresque, deception, envy, resentment, greed, ambition or any other human weaknesses also were between the American societies, however, to the chiefs Aboriginal values \u200b\u200bas their word, honor, sincerity and obedience to one's conscience was rife, while for the Europeans were just sophistry with which better deceive his opponents. For its part, the two peoples agreed on many attitudes, such as superstition, divination, witchcraft, promiscuity or taste for parties and laziness, yet there basic differences, the Aztecs worshiped the old and the English less so. Also among the Aztecs gave ethyl permissiveness and sexual issues, both old and old women, while for Europeans it was an aberration.

Women for the Aztecs, occupied an important role in society, in contrast to Europeans, for it seemed that neither exist. Although the Aztecs were also sexist, there was no shame between them or failed to women participation in their legends. Aztec women fought, loved and gave birth to both the Aboriginal and with foreigners, while English, when children gave birth brown with curly hair were given by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Usually religions are cruel, first and second, because if the English complained about the native human sacrifices did the same for torture.

can say that the understanding between the great lords was difficult, impossible, quite the opposite of what happened to the people, that the differences between both cultures were overcome with time and giving a quick syncretism, which highlighted the existence of more meeting points than disagreement. Something very different from what happened to the indigenous peoples of North America and Anglo-Saxon conquerors, far from extracts created Creole and Latin America, Native Americans fled to take refuge in their land. In short, in a way, this cultural syncretism, while he has led the merger of two towns, has preserved the customs of both sides of the Atlantic.




Friday, January 7, 2011

Shark Anatomy Diagram

Gods cruel or genetic violence


be by my fascination and attraction to indigenous peoples and their cultures, especially Mesoamerican among my favorite movies and favorite is "Apocalypto" director Mel Gibson. Do not I can assure you the number of times I've seen his photograph and atmosphere is fantastic. Is recorded in Nahuatl, a language I do not understand, but far from being incomprehensible, on the contrary, the more real and adds to its content.

I know that many Mexicans did not like too much cruelty and violence-related content or pre-Columbian Native American history, the proof was in the protests that began during her days by many groups of Mexican society, when he showed the film tape some years ago, but the truth is that, being in agreement or disagreement with the manner in which raised the story the director, no one know how much was cruel in reality, all we know is that part of that reality existed.

The gods are cruel, at least he understood throughout history many of its ministers or priests who represented them. As a punishment or sacrifice, for better and for worse violence has left the hand of religion in many historical passages. In Mesoamerican mythology, and many of their cultures, there have been human sacrifices as a way to appease their gods, as an extreme form of getting your grace. Nothing is more valuable than life itself to present as an offering or as a species redeemable for achieving supreme generosity.

Quetzalcoatl is the name given to the Nahuatl-speaking peoples the supreme being, "Feathered Serpent." The supreme god of Western-looking, fair-skinned, bearded redhead, actually represents a duality, black and white, good and bad, peaceful and violent. This duality has another name, Tezcatlipoca, "black mirror that smokes" . Quetzalcoatl has represented the supreme being for many of the Mesoamerican cultures, for each other brother and another man, Pora the Olmecs, Toltecs, the Maya as Kukulcan, and finally to the Aztecs. The story goes that Quetzalcoatl was revered by his people, for its purity and honesty, and Tezcatlipoca appeared one day disguised as old and offered him the drink of immortality, but in reality was a maddening drink that made him lose his purity. When he awoke the next morning and found that its purity had been lost in the intoxication that caused the concoction, he went predicting that one day return.

Tezcatlipoca took his place and the people chose him as a deity of choice, which unlike its duality demanded human sacrifices, so that violence and sacrificial offerings happened to most tolerant and peaceful. The gods became more violent and its demands of society as well, which was spreading in Central America while the Nahua were conquering and subjecting other peoples. That reality is that Mel Gibson reflected in his film, which ends with the arrival of English conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes, who was mistaken for Quetzalcoatl, Moctezuma himself.

Somehow Moctezuma mistook not, was the god represented by another man similar in appearance to Quetzalcoatl, fair-skinned, bearded, red-haired, but with the difference that in the background with whom he shared affinity was with Tezcatlipoca. A god who also demanded sacrifices allowing human cannibalism, with the symbolism of blood and body of Christ. Genome affinity and violent of the gods was shared, because if they were cruel about their sacrifices also were the ones with the punishment which the Holy Inquisition required to please God.

The passage of time has left with few worshipers Tezcatlipoca, but not with their offerings, in a different way back in the form of rituals related violent death. The religious syncretism among Mexicans has diversified in beliefs to the demands of Tezcatlipoca than that of Quetzalcoatl. Faith has been mixed with violence and death to the point drugs interact with deities, and more style than the monotheistic polytheistic pre-Hispanic Catholics.

Clearly deities style "black mirror that smokes", feel comfortable in the context of drug trafficking and violence in Mexico today, where it seems that history is reborn , or the return of Tezcatlipoca, because like then, the culture of violence is spreading to the south to Central America or Central America, where countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua to a lesser extent, are suffering harassment drug, which is attached to extortion and cruelty. Cultural expansion that worships death and whose common thread is more significant or offering violence.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Sample Solisitation Letter

Smiles that cheer the soul (for Christmas) Robes


- I do not like Christmas! Makes me so sad obligation to be happy.
"I understand your mood. That happened to me as I felt the same feeling the day I found out that wrestling was fictitious.

These phrases are part of the conversation between "Rafaelillo" and "Manolo the Mellao" this afternoon in the pub "The Mosquito", when I went to grab a snack and say hello to my friend John. Is December 24 and on this date everything is imbued with Christmas cards, invitations from friends, gifts, family reunions, hurry and stress that nothing be forgotten for Christmas Eve dinner. All that does not correspond to the Christmas celebration is free of ownership on this day.

Rafaelillo is nearing retirement, is a silversmith, as we say in my town who are dedicated to the craft of jewelry, and has no family, at least no close relative with whom he relates. Manolo is almost a decade younger and, unlike Rafaelillo, your family is larger. The nickname "Mellao" comes from young, when I practiced boxing. He played two matches when he started and both shook a great time, every one of them lost a tooth and that was the trigger that encouraged him to hang up his gloves forever.

I, personally, I do not like Christmas. In a way I provoke rejection, and like to Rafaelillo make me feel sad, not because they lack family to share it, thankfully, although not very extensive, yes I have family with whom to share the good and bad that happens to me. We see almost daily and do not need a special day to meet everyone.

long ago that Christmas disappoints me, I do not believe in that false message of peace, love and brotherhood among human beings has become part of utopia that I accept as impossible. The holiday spirit never goes beyond the sensitivity that causes that drive you want to become humanitarian revolution ever happens to be a mere attempt. A spirit that does not last longer than it takes to collect all the bright ornaments, wreaths and lighting balls, to keep and dusted the following year.

Christmas has become more cruel example of unbridled consumerism, these parties are nothing without their advertising icons each year dressed in red with beards and long hair white, with or without reindeer, with or without sled. Distant are the days where the parties were limited to the dinner on 24 and 25 next, not like today, that every year there are motifs that herald more days in advance, and November is when they start dressing the windows of confetti and Christmas symbols, marked on the glass with artificial snow sprays.

The truth is that, could not help and at times one is infected by the false and forced happiness, but have nothing to do with those feelings that swept over me in childhood. Were other times and other circumstances, was another pure vision the world, as that any child can have today. In the context of my childhood Christmas ads did not fit, there were no means to disseminate them, except the radio, or money to acquire them, and, of course, had nothing to do with the Magi and their gifts. The Christmas of my childhood was poor in gifts and toys and rich in imagination and collective spirit. Village streets smelled of home-made sweets in each house, fritters, butter, sandwich cookies, fried donuts, donuts of wine ... A anise and cinnamon, sweet anise brandy and lapilli bracero from burning under the round table of every home to heat the cold of winter.

groups young and old musical instruments were assembled improvised carol pace and visited each household, asking for the bonus, which consisted of nothing but a glass of anisette for the elderly or Christmas candy for children. Rattles, zambombas, tambourines, mortars, dishes ... Rudimentary orchestras angelic voices be heard as an echo in every corner of town. I do not remember Christmas Eve dinner more special than usual, remember the atmosphere created around that date and the stories my grandmother told us on Christmas morning, when everyone ran to wake up, my cousins \u200b\u200band I to mess with her bed.

But in reality, it makes me sad that Christmas has nothing to do with the disenchantment of a childhood far away and lost, rather by what means this celebration in many households, and many people do not even have a home to host them tonight so significant, or are alone, without family to share it, as happens to Rafaelillo and many other people in the world, sick, elderly, immigrants and other groups who suffer or are unhappy for some or other causes.

I guess, like me, all the adults we will find these celebrations as an exercise required to renew that spirit of generosity and altruism, not a date you feel excited, but sad for the many who are not eligible for this right to be happy even for a single night.

At the heart of the festival is childhood, children, those who actually absorb the purity of this conclusion, at least it is they who are left over mark, meaning it will mark them for life, even after of disenchanted and accept Christmas as another of the impossible utopias. For this reason is that I want to wish happy holidays to children, especially those who suffer from illness and that despite his health conditions every day give us their smiles to cheer the soul, smiles are worth more than Christmas itself .

Congratulations to all children in the Hospital Infantil La Mascota, Managua, and the association BATNA (Parents of Children with Leukemia and Cancer in Nicaragua). Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

English Bulldog Is Sick

Dick (Requiem for a mother courage)


Barely a few minutes from 20:00 local time, when an ambulance took the dying body of a woman who was bleeding on the pavement outside the government palace in the city Chihuahua in the Mexican state of the same name. The state prosecutor later confirmed that the woman died several minutes later at Park Clinic, close to where he was aided by paramedics.

Until yesterday, few people outside of Mexico knew about this woman, the cause for which they fought and why he lost his life. Marisela Ortiz Escobedo was a courageous mother, an activist who spent the last two years of his life to Mexican courts to exercise their duties on the murderer of his daughter, Rafael Barraza Sergio Bocanegra. The killer had been released, acquitted of all charges, after judges Catalina Ochoa Contreras, Vazquez and Rafael Zúñiga Netzahualcóyotl Jury Baudib his release for lack of evidence at the trial held. A few days later, on appeal, blaming these same judges corrected to 50 years in prison, but it was too late, the murderer had sufficient time to escape.

Frayre Ruby Marisol Escobedo was only 14 when she fell in love with Sergio Rafael, since then, until they killed him had not done anything other than submit to a life of fear and extreme violence, the that time away from family and friends. On 28 August 2008 at only 16 years, killed, burned and shot a cemetery illegal dump and pigs. Was violent with her until the last moment, the butchers and fled confident, living quietly Ciudad Juarez, at least until after a while, until the integrity and tireless struggle of the mother managed to stop him justice.

The murderer accepted his guilt, led police to the place where the body of Ruby, pleaded guilty at the hearing and apologized to the family, also tried to negotiate a sentence of twenty years trying to dodge prosecution the maximum penalty it can impose the Mexican justice system, 60 years. However, Sergio Rafael was acquitted of all charges because the judges felt that the self-incrimination was not sufficient to put him behind bars. Needless to say, this event rocked Ciudad Juárez, and opened the wound femicide unresolved. During 2010, each day a woman has been killed in the state of Chihuahua.

From that moment, Marisela fought with superhuman strength because justice was fulfilled by the murder of his daughter. Began a protest march, with her family from Ciudad Juárez to the country's capital until Gov. Jose Reyes Baeza asked him to continue the journey by car, to which he responded. Conducted an investigation on his own and managed to trace the whereabouts of the fugitive murderer, putting Sergio Rafael in Fresnillo, in Zacatecas State, but received no sufficient support and again escaped. After several protests were held trying to draw attention to the murder of Ruby Marisol justice and will not go into oblivion.

His latest staging is wearing a few days ago against the Government Palace, where he was killed by a shot in the head. Surveillance cameras collect those few minutes in which a man walking around the corner, while a white car is at the height of the street where Marisela and a companion, along with the banner displayed. The murderers waited just when it closed its doors Palace Government to meet the threats that had been Marisela by the Barraza family. For the features, it is believed that the subject could be reached by walking Rafael Sergio himself, faces Marisela and her companion, the young man goes into a struggle with the murderer and Mrs. Escobedo while fleeing towards the Palace of Government, but the gunman ran out after her and several yards last shot in the head.

A cruel story that leaves an aftertaste of impotence, injustice, suppressed anger, but far to terminate the account, the events before the funeral shows that all is not said. Last night, while you watched the body of the activist, her family returned to receive threats, if not enough what they have suffered. They set fire to a timber owned by a family of Marisela and kidnapped the owner and an employee of the business as well as serious burns two other employees.

could go throwing blame the violent machismo have Mexico, could continue to use the word femicide and all eyes turning to a society made by men for men, where women suffer and are victims of injustice given by males. I could go with a lot more for women, if not because in this case, much of that responsibility lies with a woman, the very judge that contributed to his decision not only to be cleared of murder, also had the opportunity to once again commit another crime, in this case against an exemplary woman. Now that what happened can not be helped, the president of the Supreme Court, Javier Ramírez Benítez, has announced the suspension of three judges who acquitted the murderer Sergio Rafael, after the bill sent by the governor César Duarte. They explained that the three judges will be suspended, but will not be made available, or they take root, will be completely free and only leave their roles as officers. No doubt Mexico needs a new revolution, judicial, police and many levels of society.