Featured resource
The National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan is this Sunday and the New York Post's Tempo section recently published a short guide with suggestions of the best places to view the parade for anyone going. The parade is one of those boricua and New York traditions that people should consider going to at least once in their lives.
Go to this link for the article "Puerto Rican Day Parade Essentials."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06052008/tempo/puerto_rican_day_parade_essentials_113940.htm
Friday, June 06, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
YES WE CAN!!!
Commentary
"America, it is our time to turn the page on the policies of the past...this is the moment when the tides of the oceans begin to swell and our planet begins to heal." - Barack Obama
My head is reeling with so many conversations shared with so many people from family to friends to colleagues to associates and mere acquaintances and complete strangers; people with whom I would otherwise never have shared a meaningful conversation.
I call them Barack moments. Moments that caused me to bond with people out of pure joy and PRIDE. Moments of anger in being mocked by people who could not believe, refused to believe that a Black man could be nominated, that a Black man can be President of this country in their lifetime. Moments of shame when confronted with the internalized racism of certain Puerto Ricans and Latin@s of different cultural backgrounds who revealed a particularly annoying mentality and a level of ignorance that prevented them from hearing his message or mine.
In the very beginning I told myself that this was progress yes, but that it would be politics as usual. But as the race progressed, the man captured me. He captured my imagination. His stance, his tenacity made me proud and inspired me to hope. To believe in change, yes, we need to turn the page...not just slogans but things I've said my own damn self. The man captured me and I will support him 100%. I am not an idealist.
One friend said to me, "we've got to support him even if he winds up breaking our hearts."
Yes, man. We've got to support him even if he breaks all our hearts like politicians often do because that is often what they are forced to do. Politics is a dirty job.
But being a leader who dares to stir things up, to CHANGE the status quo, that is truly honorable. In the past that has caused many a Black leader to lose his life. My hope is that this country can turn the page on that too. You have got to respect this man. You have got to support this man. This is a historical moment. IT IS DONE. HE DID IT. YES WE CAN!! WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS!!! Feel the magic of it. Feel the electricity in the atmosphere. Don't pay attention to how the media wants you to view this moment. Just feel this moment and know that we are all witnesses to history in the making. And that this bonds us, that Barack Obama bonds us ALL together, whether you like it or not.
-- Mariposa
Mariposa is an award winning poet from the Bronx. Visit www. myspace. com/poetatremenda to read more about her and her work. Mariposa originally published this article in her MySpace blog.
"America, it is our time to turn the page on the policies of the past...this is the moment when the tides of the oceans begin to swell and our planet begins to heal." - Barack Obama
My head is reeling with so many conversations shared with so many people from family to friends to colleagues to associates and mere acquaintances and complete strangers; people with whom I would otherwise never have shared a meaningful conversation.
I call them Barack moments. Moments that caused me to bond with people out of pure joy and PRIDE. Moments of anger in being mocked by people who could not believe, refused to believe that a Black man could be nominated, that a Black man can be President of this country in their lifetime. Moments of shame when confronted with the internalized racism of certain Puerto Ricans and Latin@s of different cultural backgrounds who revealed a particularly annoying mentality and a level of ignorance that prevented them from hearing his message or mine.
In the very beginning I told myself that this was progress yes, but that it would be politics as usual. But as the race progressed, the man captured me. He captured my imagination. His stance, his tenacity made me proud and inspired me to hope. To believe in change, yes, we need to turn the page...not just slogans but things I've said my own damn self. The man captured me and I will support him 100%. I am not an idealist.
One friend said to me, "we've got to support him even if he winds up breaking our hearts."
Yes, man. We've got to support him even if he breaks all our hearts like politicians often do because that is often what they are forced to do. Politics is a dirty job.
But being a leader who dares to stir things up, to CHANGE the status quo, that is truly honorable. In the past that has caused many a Black leader to lose his life. My hope is that this country can turn the page on that too. You have got to respect this man. You have got to support this man. This is a historical moment. IT IS DONE. HE DID IT. YES WE CAN!! WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS!!! Feel the magic of it. Feel the electricity in the atmosphere. Don't pay attention to how the media wants you to view this moment. Just feel this moment and know that we are all witnesses to history in the making. And that this bonds us, that Barack Obama bonds us ALL together, whether you like it or not.
-- Mariposa
Mariposa is an award winning poet from the Bronx. Visit www. myspace. com/poetatremenda to read more about her and her work. Mariposa originally published this article in her MySpace blog.
Obama without Hillary is Change
Opinion
Sen. Barack Obama is the best candidate for president. He should not name Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate. Obama is running on a ticket of change and having Clinton as his VP takes away from that message. Obama for Prez! -- Clarisel Gonzalez
Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/
Politics
Featured story
Obama clinches Democratic nomination, Clinton open to VP
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, becoming the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House. Vanquished rival Hillary Rodham Clinton swiftly signaled an interest in joining the ticket as his running mate.
For more,
http://www.kare11.com/news/national/national_article.aspx?storyid=513119
Featured story
Obama clinches Democratic nomination, Clinton open to VP
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, becoming the first black candidate to lead a major party into a campaign for the White House. Vanquished rival Hillary Rodham Clinton swiftly signaled an interest in joining the ticket as his running mate.
For more,
http://www.kare11.com/news/national/national_article.aspx?storyid=513119
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Puerto Rican day in Hartford, Connecticut
On Sunday, June 1, boricuas in Connecticut partied in a parade and in a caravan of cars in the streets of Hartford as well as at the Coqui festival at Bushnell Park. Puerto Rico Sun was there.
For more photos of my day in Hartford, go to www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel.
For more photos of my day in Hartford, go to www.flickr.com/photos/clarisel.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Spotlight: Entrepreneur Nestor Rentas
Nestor Rentas proudly carries Puerto Rican flags at his Taino Mayor boricua store at 855 East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx. This store is reminiscent of Puerto Rico accessory shops on the island. While customers shop at Taino Mayor, they could enjoy the sounds of songs like "En Mi Viejo San Juan" and "Soñando con Puerto Rico" playing. Rentas is keeping culture alive in the Bx, and this week is a busy one at Taino Mayor because of Sunday's National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. Rentas says people come from all over looking for Puerto Rico items. His shop sells everything Puerto Rico, including flag earrings, hats, souvenirs from the island, music by boricua and Latino artists and musical instruments.
Rentas is a local Bronx celebrity. He has a popular TV show on Bronxnet, a local community media outlet, named "Mi Pueblo es Tu Pueblo." He says his show is one of the oldest on Bronxnet. -- Clarisel Gonzalez
In the Mailbox
Hi.
Love the site. I was wondering if you knew the name of salsa band that was on TV during the primary campaign. Not sure if it was with Clinton or Obama but the lead singer wore white hat and had sun glasses. At least that narrow’s it down to about 100 singer in the capital alone?
I would love to know their name. I love salsa music, as well as Ricky.
Best wishes
George from London
Hi.
Love the site. I was wondering if you knew the name of salsa band that was on TV during the primary campaign. Not sure if it was with Clinton or Obama but the lead singer wore white hat and had sun glasses. At least that narrow’s it down to about 100 singer in the capital alone?
I would love to know their name. I love salsa music, as well as Ricky.
Best wishes
George from London
Sunday, June 01, 2008
In the Mailbox
Dear Editor: A lot of talk has been going on about the Puerto Rico primary (June 1), and how it shouldn't be taken seriously because islanders can't vote in the general election, but I couldn't help but notice that it has more delegates to the Democratic convention than Montana or South Dakota. But then, the country is called the "United States of America," not the "United States and Territories of America!"
I say it's time Puerto Rico became a state. The islanders are American citizens, they're run by the American government, so it should be a state. Also, they use American money and stamps - unlike, say Bermuda, which uses its own postal currency and its own dollar, not the British pound sterling.
Besides, we've had a 50-star flag too long. :-)
Steve from New Jersey
Dear Editor: A lot of talk has been going on about the Puerto Rico primary (June 1), and how it shouldn't be taken seriously because islanders can't vote in the general election, but I couldn't help but notice that it has more delegates to the Democratic convention than Montana or South Dakota. But then, the country is called the "United States of America," not the "United States and Territories of America!"
I say it's time Puerto Rico became a state. The islanders are American citizens, they're run by the American government, so it should be a state. Also, they use American money and stamps - unlike, say Bermuda, which uses its own postal currency and its own dollar, not the British pound sterling.
Besides, we've had a 50-star flag too long. :-)
Steve from New Jersey
IMG_8238
All eyes are on Puerto Rico today for the heavily contested Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory or what some call "colony," Puerto Ricans on the island can vote in the primary but not in the actual race for U.S. president in November.
Major Garrett, a correspondent for Fox News, files a broadcast report from San Juan, P.R. on the eve of the primary.
Update: Hillary Clinton wins Democratic primary in Puerto Rico. See related stories:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/primary_rdp;_ylt=AvD9VwnTXlZjAihGYW78qC5h24cA
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/01/AR2008060102238.html?hpid=topnews
Major Garrett, a correspondent for Fox News, files a broadcast report from San Juan, P.R. on the eve of the primary.
Update: Hillary Clinton wins Democratic primary in Puerto Rico. See related stories:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/primary_rdp;_ylt=AvD9VwnTXlZjAihGYW78qC5h24cA
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/01/AR2008060102238.html?hpid=topnews
Politics
Featured story
Five things to watch in Puerto Rico
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is counting on a big win in today’s Democratic presidential primary (in Puerto Rico), one day after a party ruling left her presidential campaign on the ropes.
A landslide victory would bolster Clinton’s argument to superdelegates that she has received more votes than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and is better equipped to win important Latino votes in a general election matchup with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
For more on the five things, go to
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10733.html
Featured story
Five things to watch in Puerto Rico
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is counting on a big win in today’s Democratic presidential primary (in Puerto Rico), one day after a party ruling left her presidential campaign on the ropes.
A landslide victory would bolster Clinton’s argument to superdelegates that she has received more votes than Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and is better equipped to win important Latino votes in a general election matchup with presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
For more on the five things, go to
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10733.html
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