This week on NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS
How would you describe race relations here in New Mexico? We have a diverse history here in our state that includes strong ties to both Mexico and Spain. And, we cannot forget the influece of our Native American communities on the overall cultrual melting pot that is the Land of Enchantment. In fact, many people would say that our diversty makes us a much more integrated state. But does that mean there are no racial tensions here?
On the week's NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, we begin a candid conversation on racial issues in New Mexico, including how those issue play into the upcoming presidential election. Barack Obama encouraged us all to open up new dialogues in race, during his landmark "A More Perfect Union Speech". We hope to help facilitate that conversation through this episode, which features opinions and insight from "everyday" New Mexicans. We would love to hear what you think about the issue. Tune in Friday night at 7pm, then drop us a line on our website.
Hope to see you then!
posted by Kevin McDonald at
2:29 PM
4 Comments:
Always one of your better productions. Please share with Margaret and David the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89620768
Margaret is very intelligent and insightful but her message is always minimized by her constant interjection of "Um". It would drive me crazy to be in one of her classes at UNM.
David's problem is "you know" and "kind of". In his visit with Gene in the last segment of tonight's show, he used "you know" fifteen times and "kind of" three times. Again, a very distracting speach pattern.
Both should work on this and their messages will be much more effective and understandable.
I would like to express my gratitude for your show; I have and continue to learn so much. I think Margaret Montoya has one of the most brillant minds I've heard in a long time, and to think she is one of our "own," sparks joy and pride in me as a New Mexican. I would recommend that Grant let Montoya finish her points, which are sometimes cut off from completion. When this happens, I feel short-changed. Or another possible approach would be to give Margaret her own show. She deserves it. Margaret Mantoya's comments are so thoughtful and insightful, and by comparison, others seem not to have thought things out very well.
Most aggregious, I find Scott Darnell (the Republican communications director) to be a puppet of the Republicans spewing out the "party line" with no real depth of thought. But Darnell's comments make for good fodder to demonstrate, by comparitive thoughtful analysis of others like Montoya, the superficiality (if not damage done) by such reckless tossing out of thinly-veiled Republican spin.
In all, the program with all its elements is highly interesting and thought-provoking and I not only try to never miss a show, but I also sometimes view it multiple times (also shown on channel 96 in Saturday evening and again Sunday morning on Channel 5). Montoya's comments are that absorbing.
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Being from Western New York, I really haven't had much contact with Mexican Americans. Now, I'm FAR from being racist but DAMN! You like REALITY? You want "individual stories"? Here's just a sample of my encounters since coming to ABQ.
The LATEST! My truck was STOLEN with ALL my building trade tools in locked tool box. The only witness HEARD Spanish speaking males. It was dragged out of my private parking lot WITH A TOW TRUCK? I think NM has a huge problem with AUTO PARTS corruption with Mexico.
Now I'm a low income White guy with silver hair living in a low rent neighborhood. I like to support community stores but I can't tell you how MANY times I've been panhandled, harassed, THREATENED... called "white boy b^t~/" by ALL the macho head Latino LOSERS!
I'm a volunteer for "Grassroots Obama for New Mexico". I wear the Obama campaign pin and on the bus to the meeting I have to listen to all the vile, vulgar, RACIST comments about Obama from the Latinos and Native Americans.
Even WORSE on the way home later at night waiting for the bus a few weeks ago I had to fight my way out of SITUATION with Latinos. I mean HOW is one suppose to take BS like:
"What are YOU doing in this hood you White m'#*~/er"
AND I'M WONDERING IF Spanish speaking TV programing isn't tailor made for DUMBING DOWN THE Latino PEOPLE?
COME ON! Latinos are some of the MOST ignorant, apathetic people I've EVER encountered (and I've been all over this great nation) Try coming down from the Ivory Towers of Santa Fe and walk around mainly Latino neighborhoods in S.E. ABQ and see what I'm talking about.
I was involved with a protest movement in So. Cal. demanding accountability from police and corrections officers for ABUSE OF POWER and brutality. That was back in 1999-2001.
But now we have a whole NEW disturbing trend to EXPLORE. Mentally UNSTABLE, violent Latino Iraqi War Vets filling the Law Enforcement Ranks.
When I bought up this expose on my internet site USING MY 1st AMENDMENT RIGHTS... MY LIFE WAS THREATENED by just such a Latino Iraqi War Vet whom was in the Los Angeles County Sheriff training program... Over 15 vicious comments
that began with "When I find you I'll..."
THIS COMING from a soldier that TOOK A SWORN OATH TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.
and one more thing... instead of protesting here in America maybe, JUST MAYBE Mexicans should have stayed in their OWN county to DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY from all those CORRUPT Mexican government officials.
Now I know there's intelligent Latinos out there doing good works but I guess those people only hang out with people in their own income level and societal STATUS!
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