Latinos must reconsider Obama

With the primary elections well under way, many Democrats are wondering who will win the Democratic Party nomination: Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. While John McCain seems to be front runner on the Republican side, Obama and Clinton are still pushing to win decisive delegates votes. The question is who would have a better chance to defeat the Republicans in the 2008 election? According to some, the ethnicity and gender makeup of individuals will determine who will vote for Obama and who will vote for Clinton. Obama obviously overwelmingly wins the black vote and Clinton has usually won the majority of the female vote, but who should Latinos vote for? Surprisingly, most Latinos support Senator Clinton over Senator Obama. This decision ranges from various factors such as experience and ability to relate to the Latino community.
However, I think Latino voters should reconsider. Hillary doesn't have that much more experience in the Senate. In fact, the only thing that she really has in terms of experience over Obama is the fact the she was the first lady. There is no way that should be considered something that should put her over the top of Obama. First off, it would be impossible for Obama to ever be the first lady. Second, it doesn't really mean anything because it is nothing more than a symbolic position anyhow. I don't understand how Latinos feel like they relate more to Clinton rather than obama. While Hillary was working as a corporate lawyer defending companies like WAL MART (which treats immigrants as expendable labor rather than people) Obama was working as a community organizer for poverty stricken inner city areas in Chicago. There are many other reasons in the article below that list why Latinos should consider supporting Obama. Check it out for yourself.

Latinos must reconsider Obama
February 15, 2008 - 7:25am
By GUS CHAVEZ
Hispanic Link

Much is being said in the media, town-hall meetings and rallies about Latinos choosing between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama as the next president of our country. Some pundits, Latinos included, predict the longtime "rift" between Latinos and blacks will come into play.

I disagree with those who buy into this so-called racial division. We should challenge that old view every time we hear or read about it.

Some also say the "older" working-class generation of Latino Democrats will go along with Clinton because of the Clintons' connection with our community. The reference has some truth to it, but it is a hollow truth that leaves much to be desired.

In contrast, these same pundits say Obama is relatively young and new to the political realities of our country and even less knowledgeable about the needs of Latinos. They point to his lack of experience on global matters as something that could set us back internationally.

Well, maybe yes, maybe no. Then again, how much of a setback can it be, measured against our downward spiral under George W. Bush. There is no place to go but up in our standing -- up in world affairs, up in our economy, up in citizen participation and certainly up in hope for a better future, away from the class, racial and religious divisiveness of the last seven years.

Insofar as Latinos are concerned, Obama may not know how to speak Spanish, but he is not alone. Many, many Latinos don't, either.

He is not an immigrant from Latin America. Here again, he is not alone. We Latinos are increasingly second-, third- or fourth-generation.

Obama is the biracial son of a white woman and African man. Bottom line, he is a U.S. citizen who knows the sentiments of our community.

He has worked organizing with Latinos in Chicago. He has experienced the pressures faced by the working class and has consistently fought the challenges posed by racism and exclusion.

When I see Obama and hear him speak of his vision for our country, it reminds me of where I walked 43 years ago, on a picket line with the United Farm Workers in front of a Safeway store in San Diego.

I was 21 years old, in the Navy and excited to be involved fighting for the rights of farmworkers under the leadership of Cesar Chavez. While the store no longer exists at that site, I am still reminded of the first of many "political" activities I would engage in.

After serving in the Navy for four years, I joined the social-justice fight for inclusion of Chicanos and Latinos in education, health, economic development and our political representation at all levels of government. I was involved in the founding of many local, state and national civil-rights organizations representing the interests and rights of Latinos and low-income students.

I share this background with you so that you will understand where I am coming from with my public endorsement of a political candidate.

My experience is not unique when compared with other Chicano/Latino social-justice activists who rose up in the late '60s and those who continued with the fight since then. I attribute my passion and involvement to Chavez, Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert, Latino Vietnam vets and many of the unsung men and women warriors throughout our communities who participated right along with us in our struggle for justice.

We were inspired by great leaders who looked like us, spoke like us and lived amongst us.

Those were challenging times. Our friends were beaten up and locked up because we demanded our civil rights. My younger brother and I were tear-gassed when we took part in the first Chicano Moratorium March in Los Angeles, where journalist Ruben Salazar was killed by police.

Our participation in countless demonstrations across the nation, helping open the doors to institutions of higher education, allowed our community the opportunity to gain a higher education and join the professional and political ranks in this country. We made some gains. We still have a long way to go.

Unlike the family members I grew up with in Texas, my own family now is multicultural and multiracial. I see great and wonderful opportunities for it. The election of a compassionate leader like Obama will spread the path for us, our country and the world. Take a look at your own history and story, take a look at his, and then join me as we cast our vote for Barack Obama.

(Gus Chavez, now retired, served as director of the Office of Educational Opportunity Programs and Ethnic Affairs at San Diego State University. Readers may reach him at guschavez2000(at)yahoo.com.)

Mexico vs. United States in a friendly

For my first blog I decided to reflect upon the outcome of the soccer match between the United States and Mexico that took place last Tuesday. I know that this topic doesn't have anything to do with actual policies that affect relationships between Mexicans and Americans, but it does dislpay a great sense of nationalism between the two sides. Soccer or "football," is without a doubt the most popular sport in Mexico and in many other countries south of the United States as well. However, soccer is nowhere that popular in the United States, but when these two rivals meet tensions always flair and Americans do tend to pay more attention to this particular match up. I found myslef wondering why is this? Maybe it is as simple as the fact the Mexico is our biggest rival just because we share the same border, but maybe it could be beyond that? It is interesting to watch the crowds when these two teams play. I noticed when the United States plays in Mexico, the crowd is nothing but a sea red and green. However, this last game was played in the United States and the crowd was still overwelmingly red and green supoorters cheering on the Mexican team. The match took place in Houston and there is obviously a large Mexican popluation there, so that would make sense that there would be a large Mexican crowd. Every time the cameras panned over the crowd I found myself wondering if the Mexican supporters were actually Americans because of naturalization, Mexicans who came here legally, or illegal immigrants. My roomate who was watching the game with me made a comment saying "if they want to be in America so bad, then maybe they should be cheer for the red, white and blue." For a moment I kind of agreed with his statement, then I thought that if I were living in another country I would always support my home nation when they came play. I think it is a good thing that people can be extremely nationalistic in terms of athletics, but also embrace the lifestyle and freedoms that United States provides. What do you guys think about this rivalry? Here is the article and review of the game below if you are interested in reading it. The game resulted in a 2-2 draw.


Altidore scores first international goal as U.S. ties
Associated Press

HOUSTON -- U.S. coach Bob Bradley spotted a glaring weakness as the Americans tied Mexico 2-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday night.


Jozy Altidore made his first start for the U.S. team and scored a go-ahead goal late in the first half. Oguchi Onyewu also had goal for the Americans, who twice blew leads but extended their home unbeaten streak against Mexico to 10 (8-0-2).

Bradley was worried by how much faster the Mexican team appeared.

"Against their pressure, our ability to play faster, connect faster, that's certainly something, an area we want to improve," Bradley said. "I see a lot of things we must improve. Tonight, the main thing for me is the ability to play faster."

Onyewu scored his third international goal in the 30th minute, but Magallon's first goal for Mexico tied it five minutes later. Altidore, playing just his third match with the national team, scored in the 40th only to have Magallon retie it in the 47th.

The match, played four months before the teams start qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, drew 70,103 boisterous fans, most of them clad in green and rooting for El Tri.

Mexico controlled the ball most of the match and outshot the Americans 13-3. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard made six saves.

The fast-paced game was marked by physical play with the United States called for 19 fouls and Mexico whistled for 13.

"The teams played this 'friendly' with the intensity of a qualifier," Mexico coach Hugo Sanchez said in a bit of an exaggeration.

Onyewu made a throw-in that led to the first goal. Landon Donovan controlled the long pass over his shoulder, spun and popped the ball back toward the 6-foot-4 Onyewu, who outleaped defender Israel Castro and headed the ball past goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa on an angled shot from about 8 yards that went in off a post.

Mexico tied the game on a restart from just outside the penalty area. Pavel Pardo hooked a pass toward the far post and Magallon booted it home as defender Drew Moor grabbed his jersey from behind. The 26-year-old Magallon scored his first goal in 20 career international matches.

"I'm happy for him because, besides being a defender, he also likes to score," Sanchez said of Magallon.

The Americans retook the lead when Altidore, a rising 18-year-old star for Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, headed a long pass from Moor past a frozen Ochoa.

Clint Dempsey appeared to score another U.S. goal late in the half, but it was negated by an offside call.

Carlos Vela missed a left-footed shot wide of the net in the opening minute of the second half. The Mexicans kept the attack at the American end and tied the game on a corner kick that ended with Magallon beating Moor again.

Moor, who turned 26 last month, was playing in just his fourth international match.

"His positioning is not great, but it was more just the reaction," Bradley said. "You never want to give up those in set pieces. That ability to put yourself in the right spot and react faster is what happens at this level."

This time, Fernando Arce sent the pass across the goal area and Carlos Salcido deflected it to Magallon. Mexico hadn't scored two goals against the Americans since a 2-1 win in a World Cup qualifier at Mexico City on March 27, 2005 -- El Tri's last win in the series.

Mexico generated several more scoring chances, but never got another clear shot on the U.S. goal.

The U.S. and Mexico were meeting for the 54th time. Mexico leads the series 29-14-11, but the Americans have won nine of the last 13 meetings overall, including a 2-1 win in last year's CONCACAF Gold Cup final.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press