LatISM

OK, here's another Latino group that's making waves..LatISM-Latinos in Social Media. Seems like big things are happening with this group. Last week they had a very successful Latino Twitter Party, so successful, they have another planned for this week. Since then the Facebook group has grown to over 1,300 members and still growing. This is a fine example of Latino power in social networking and sharing. The following is a brief description from the groups Facebook page:

This group is for all the Latinos who blog, tweet, connect, tag, bookmark, work & enjoy Social Media!

The purpose of this group is to not only support each other, discuss common issues and have our opinion heard but more importantly learn how to make a living from leveraging Social Media.

Whether you have been blogging for years or just getting started with Social Media this group is for you!

We are the central resource for Latino(a)s in Social Media and the major brands who seek your expertise.

Introduce yourself & provide the link(s) that you would like us to visit and help you promote.

Don't get left behind and embrace Latinos in Social Media. For full info, follow the organizers on Twitter:

1. George 'Urban Jibaro' Torres- @Urbanjibaro
2. Nancy Perez- @NancyPerez
3. Juan Tornoe- @juantornoe
4. Louis Pagan- @LouisPagan
5. AnaRC- @AnaRC
   

Finally, you can follow the group on Twitter- @LatISM and enjoy the next party, tommorrow, along with an opportunity to win great prizes. For full info.

Que lo disfruten!

A 111 Year Old Relationship

On November 9, 1897, three decrees establishing an autonomous regime in Puerto Rico were brought forth. In order to establish a government the islands autonomists had to be united and would obviously take some time. The task of establishing this government was not without it's obstacles but eventually a shaky unity would be achieved and a new government would be scheduled to take office in May of 1898.

Understand, that while this was going on, the U.S. was closely monitoring the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain, which eventually led to the Spanish-American War. As early as May of 1898, U.S. Navy ships had bombarded San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On July 25, 1898 in Guanica, Puerto Rico an invasion began. Now, whether some welcomed the invaders with open arms or in defiance does not change the fact that it was an invasion. The date can be marked as the beginning of a 111 year relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico. A relationship in which many Americans still don't know anything or very little about Puerto Rico. Evident in the reports, back in May, of Sonia Sotomayor's parents being called 'immigrants'. A relationship which leaves 4 million U.S. citizens without a vote for President, an unemployment rate at nearly 15% and a health care system that is so lacking in quality care that the death rates are much higher than in the states. A relationship which has left an island nation dependent.

Still undecided, is the direction the citizens of Puerto Rico really want to take. This indecisiveness could be related to its dependency on the U.S. It can also be viewed in the same manner as that of the autonomists back in 1898. Differences, dissention and bickering within and among the political parties. Bringing about a solution to the status issue would require all parties to agree on common ground. Obviously, through resolutions and plebiscites the status still remains the same. Can there ever really be a common ground among the differing political parties? Can there ever really be a solution to the age old status issue?

"Finally, whatever course islanders choose, for change to be self-sustaining it must be rooted - again following Albizu Campos - in an utter rejection of the self depreciating mentality shaped by 400 years of Spanish, and 100 years (now 111 years) of U.S. colonialism. Statehood, for example, will solve nothing if it is based on a crude calculation of even greater economic dependence on the mainland." -Fernandez, Ronald. The Disenchanted Island: Puerto Rico and the U.S. in the Twentieth Century. CT Praeger, 1996.

Being Latino on Facebook

Lately there has been a lot of buzzing in the Latino FaceBook Community. One of the reasons for this is Being Latino, which has surpassed 13,000 fans as of today. Kudos to Lance Rios for launching what has become a phenomenal Latino fan page on FaceBook. A place where Latinos can get together and be Latino, share experiences, share culture and bridge the gap that divides us. Being Latino is about bringing Latinos as a whole together. There is no better time than now for such unity , as the Latino population, first, second, third and higher generations, continues to grow. Being Latino, Mi Gente!, is about us ....

• Article: Being Latino on Facebook
• Follow on Twitter

A quick post reflecting on what has been a very good week:

• Last Saturday, I was featured on Blog Brag at BronzeWord AuthorsLatino.com
• I completed the last four days of military annual tour (15 days required), putting me just one weekend drill away from retirement.
• Received word that I am a go to feature a Latino author for AuthorsLatino.com - Latino Virtual Book Tour (look for that, coming soon). Last month the tour featured Estevan Vega, author of The Sacred Sin.
• Had special guest blogger, George "Urban Jibaro" Torres of Sofrito For Your Soul, bless this blog with his poetry. In his own Twit (Twitter) words, "True Boricua is a poem based on a convo with an ignorant old friend when I came home from college."
• The week was topped off with a family trip to see Boogie Rican Blvd.-the musical, where I had the opportunity to meet with fellow blogger Cumba. A short review of Boogie Rican Blvd., which should be on your quick list of must see shows!! Only one week left.
• I can't forget, enter #VivaViernes on Google and the top three are #vivaviernes creator himself @julito77, @louisPagan and @efrainortizjr. Show some Latino love and follow us all on Twitter.

If you're on Facebook, become a fan of BeingLatino or follow BeingLatino on Twitter.

Luis Munoz Rivera

One of the most famous men in the political history of Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Rivera, devoted his life to the struggle for the political autonomy of Puerto Rico. In addition to his political activities, he had literary talents and published two collections of verses - Retamas in 1891 and Tropicales in 1902. He was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico on July 17, 1859.....

Read more about Luis Munoz Rivera @:

• Hispanics In Congress
• Wikipedia
  

Casa Luis Muñoz Rivera, Barranquitas

Photo from Instituto de Cultura Puertorriquena

True Boricua

WHAT`S UP WITH YOU?
DONT GET MAD AT ME AND SAY THAT I`M NOT DOWN,
QUE YO NO SOY BORICUA.
DON`T TELL ME THAT I DON`T REPRESENT
WHEN YOU DON`T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING.
YOU SAY I DON`T KEEP IT REAL BECAUSE MY
PANTS DON`T HANG LOW AND I CHOOSE NOT TO
DRINK 40`S AND SMOKE BLUNTS
WITH YOU ON THE SAME CORNER I SAW YOU ON...
THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU...
WHEN YOU`RE CHILLING WITH YOUR PEOPLE,
YOU TELL THEM I`M NOT DOWN AND
FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE YOU`RE RIGHT,
BECAUSE WHILE YOU CHOOSE TO DWELL
WITH YOUR ILL FATED FRIENDS DROWNING IN
IGNORANCE,
I AM REPRESENTING.
I AM REPRESENTING
BORINQUEN,
THAT`S RIGHT MY MOTHERLAND. OH YOU THOUGHT
BORICUA MEANT PUERTORICAN HOMEBOY?
HOLD UP, LET ME BREAK DOWN WHAT A
BORICUA REALLY IS.

A TRUE BORICUA IS ONE
WHO LEARNS ABOUT HIS CULTURE,
PAST AND PRESENT, EMBRACING IT BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HE HAS LOST SO MUCH ALREADY.
HE KEEPS IT REAL BY EDUCATING HIMSELF.
HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE AFRIKAN SHADOW OF HIS TAINO
SOUL AND RECOGNIZES THE OPPRESSION, DEVASTATION
AND NEAR ELIMINATION OF HIS ROOTS.
HE CAN NEVER FORGET THAT, BUT HE WON`T LET
THAT GET IN THE WAY OF HIS PROGRESS BY BLAMING
THE SLAVE MASTERS 500 YEARS LATER...
HE KNOWS IT`S TIME TO MOVE ON.

A TRUE BORICUA KNOWS
HIS RESPONSIBILITY AS A FATHER AND MENTOR TO HIS
CHILDREN BY SHARING LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
AND GIVING THEM MENTAL STRENGTH.
A TRUE BORICUA SEES
THE ILLS AND FAULTS OF HIS OWN PEOPLE AND
UNDERSTANDS THAT ONLY THROUGH UNITY,
EDUCATION AND CARIBEN~O FAMILY
VALUES IS HE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TEACH
HIS CHILDREN NOT TO REPRESENT IGNORANCE
AND BE TOLERANT OF THE MENTAL PLOYS THAT
HAVE KEPT OUR TRIBE
DOWN FOR SO LONG.

A TRUE BORICUA KEEPS IT REAL
BY RECOGNIZING THE STRENGTH, LOYALTY AND
DETERMINATION OF HIS FEMALE COUNTERPART.
HE RESPECTS THE FACT THAT SHE IS,
HAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE OUR BACKBONE.
SHE HAS KEPT US TOGETHER AND
TAKEN US SO FAR FOR SO LONG...
BUT DON`T BE SURPRISED SHE IS A NATURAL
BORN LEADER. FOR YOUR INFORMATION,
TAINO WOMEN WERE CACIQUES TOO.

SO YOU SEE MI HERMANO,
BEING BORICUA IS NOT ABOUT BEING DOWN, IT`S ABOUT
ELEVATING YOURSELF TO WHAT OUR PEOPLE WERE
BEFORE WE WERE ATTACKED, BEFORE WE WERE RAPED
AND BEFORE WE WERE ROBBED OF OUR NATIVE
TOUNGUE, CULTURE
AND PEACE OF MIND.

YO, LOOK AT THE TIME,
I HAVE TO GET UP EARLY FOR WORK.
PEACE, OH YEAH KEEP IT REAL!!!

As I am,
George Torres
The Urban Jibaro
www.SofritoForYourSoul.com

All Rights Reserved 1996-2009
Sofrito For Your Soul Media

On Blog Brag

You can only imagine my surprise when Jo Ann Hernandez contacted me with a request to be a part of her Blog Brag. Blog Brag is a Bronzeword Latino Authors project which highlights a Latino blogger every Saturday. Initially, I was skeptical but after some thought I began to think "how impressive".

Jo Ann Hernandez is the author of White Bread Competition and The Throwaway Piece, both of which have won several awards. Her about me page at Bronzeword Latino Authors speaks volumes in itself. That is exactly what impressed and motivated me to continue on. I look forward to working with her in the near future.

Now, with her show of support, there is no turning back, forward is the only direction to go, looking back only to reflect and learn from the past. You can share my Latino joy by stopping in on Blog Brag. Mil gracias to Jo Ann and to you, the reader, que los disfruten.

Gilberto Concepción de Gracia

Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, born in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico on July 9, 1909, was a lawyer, journalist and politician. Gilberto earned a Master's degree in Law and Public Administration from the University of Puerto Rico and later a Doctorate in Law from George Washington University.
Early in his career he set up firm in San Juan where he became known as a constitutionalist. In 1936 he set off for New York and Washington D.C. to represent Pedro Albizu Campos and other Puerto Rican Nationalists. He remained in New York and became involved in politics and in the cause for Puerto Rican independence. The Independence of Puerto Rico became his goal.
In 1946, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independista Puertorriqueño, PIP) was created and Gilberto became its first president. He eventually went on to become speaker for his party in the Puerto Rico Senate. In 1964 he represented his party as candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico. Gilberto also opposed the political status, Associated Free State (Estado Libre Asociado, ELA) or Commonwealth claiming it was only a way to hide and continue the colonial relationship with the U.S.
Gilberto continued in his efforts by taking Puerto Rico's case to the United Nations, protesting sterilization practices in the U.S. of Puerto Ricans and representing Puerto Rico and the PIP in various conferences and commissions in Indonesia, Cuba and Venezuela. He died on March 15, 1968.



Instituto Gilberto Concepción de Gracia.

Borinqueneers

They Served valiantly during WWI. They served valiantly during WWII. They served valiantly during the Korean War. Who are they? The Borinqueneers.

On July 1, 1899, The Porto Rico Regiment of Infantry, United States Army, was formed. The regiment was made up of 1,969 Puerto Ricans. They were sent to the Panama Canal Zone during WWI. It wasn't until after WWI, when the Regiment had returned home to Puerto Rico and by the reoganization Act of June 4, 1920, that they were renamed the 65th Infantry Regiment. In 1919, after a request from Major General Luis R Esteves(1) and legislative approval, the Puerto Rican National Guard was formed.

During WWII, the 65th was called upon again. Initially heading to the Panama Canal Zone then off to Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The 65th participated in many battles during the war. In all, a total of 23 were killed in action.

In 1950, the 65th was once again called upon and so they set off to Korea. It was during this time that the 65th Infantry soldiers began to call themselves the Borinqueneers. In Korea, the Borinqueneers were faced with many hardships and suffered many casualties; throughout this they remained determined even supporting a mission that allowed encircled Marines to return to their ships safely. They participated in many battles and operations each time fighting valiantly.

Unfortunately, mass court martials would come to many Borinqueneers. Due to language barriers, humiliation and exhaustion, many Borinqueneers refused to fight. They were even ordered to stop calling themselves the Borinqueneers. All this after the hispanic commander of the unit was relieved and replaced with a non-hispanic commander. The largest court martial of the Korean War, ninety six court martials and ninety one found guilty and sentenced to hard labor. All those involved were quickly granted clemency and pardons but never formally exonerated.

In all, the Borinqueneers are credited with participating in nine campaigns. Numerous medals were awarded to the men for their valor during these campaigns. 61,000 Puerto Ricans served during the Korean War, 756 lost their lives. More than half of those who lost their lives were from the 65th Infantry Regiment, " Borinqueneers".

In 1956, the Borinqueneers were transferred to the Puerto Rican National Guard.

1. Major General Luis R. Esteves, First Latino to graduate West Point and founder of Puerto Rico National Guard.

Resources:

• The 65th Infantry Regiment, The Pride of Puerto Rico: El Boricua.com
• 65th Infantry Regiment: valerosos.com, official site
• 65th Infantry Regiment: wikipedia.com
• Borinqueneers Trailer: borinqueneers.com via Cumba Media