Featured report
Denuncia 'desbalance democrático"
El gobernador de Puerto Rico, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, hizo historia al comparecer ante el Comité de Descolonización de la ONU, para denunciar la existencia de un "desbalance democrático" en la relación entre Puerto Rico y Estados Unidos.
Para escuchar el reporte completo, visita http://wapa.tv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9076&Itemid=57&videonews=1
(The (pro-commonwealth) governor of Puerto Rico Anibal Acevedo Vila made history Monday when he spoke before the United Nations' Decolonization Committee to denounce the "unbalanced democracy" in the existing relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.)
See related story from the Orlando Sentinel:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-prgov908jun09,0,3096523.story
Monday, June 09, 2008
Scenes from the PR Parade
For more photos, visit me at flickr at www.flickr.com/photos.clarisel. Also visit the Puerto Rico Sun group at flickr at www.flickr.com/groups/prsun.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Opinion
On the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Angelo Falcon, editor of Latino Policy, the e-newsletter of the National Institute for Latino Policy, wrote a column in his most recent newsletter about the parade and the media coverage.
He states:
"One of the largest parades in the city, with over 80,000 marchers and two million spectators, and generating great pride among the more than one million Puerto Ricans in the region, however, always gets bad press. Too many pre-Parade stories focused on such things as that there would be fewer police assigned to the Parade this year, but that they were deploying a special unit documenting all arrests made, like the more than 200 unjustified gang arrests that were made last year, or that shopkeepers plan to shudder up their stores along Fifth Avenue. But most disturbing were the reader comments to David Gonzalez's recent New York Times blog on the Parade (check out the comments at the end), prompting the New York Post's Sandra Guzman to comment, "And people complain about the Post?"
On the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
Angelo Falcon, editor of Latino Policy, the e-newsletter of the National Institute for Latino Policy, wrote a column in his most recent newsletter about the parade and the media coverage.
He states:
"One of the largest parades in the city, with over 80,000 marchers and two million spectators, and generating great pride among the more than one million Puerto Ricans in the region, however, always gets bad press. Too many pre-Parade stories focused on such things as that there would be fewer police assigned to the Parade this year, but that they were deploying a special unit documenting all arrests made, like the more than 200 unjustified gang arrests that were made last year, or that shopkeepers plan to shudder up their stores along Fifth Avenue. But most disturbing were the reader comments to David Gonzalez's recent New York Times blog on the Parade (check out the comments at the end), prompting the New York Post's Sandra Guzman to comment, "And people complain about the Post?"
Happy PR Day
This was shot in last year's Puerto Rican Day Parade. Puerto Rico Sun will be at today's parade, so expect new photos.
Happy National Puerto Rican Day Parade everyone!
!Que viva Puerto Rico!
Featured story
National Puerto Rican Day fest to be celebration of success
"Like countless Puerto Ricans before me, I traded the mountains and gentle coastlines of Puerto Rico for New York's skyscrapers and subways in the early 1970s.
"Ours is a migrating community - traveling from our city to return to an island that holds our hearts with an unwavering allegiance." -- labor leader Dennis Rivera, this year's parade grand marshal
To read his full report in the Daily News, go to
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_national_puerto_rican_day_fest_to_be_cel.html
Happy National Puerto Rican Day Parade everyone!
!Que viva Puerto Rico!
Featured story
National Puerto Rican Day fest to be celebration of success
"Like countless Puerto Ricans before me, I traded the mountains and gentle coastlines of Puerto Rico for New York's skyscrapers and subways in the early 1970s.
"Ours is a migrating community - traveling from our city to return to an island that holds our hearts with an unwavering allegiance." -- labor leader Dennis Rivera, this year's parade grand marshal
To read his full report in the Daily News, go to
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_national_puerto_rican_day_fest_to_be_cel.html
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Artist Spotlight: Classical Guitarist Jose Antonio Lopez
Boricua classical guitarist Jose Antonio Lopez performs Sunday night at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. His show follows the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in the city. Here he plays "Misionera." Click on the video to enjoy his music and for more information about the show.
Congratulations to Lopez for representing boricuas at Carnegie Hall. This is quite an accomplishment. -- Clarisel Gonzalez
Sol the Mascot
Sol is the mascot of this Puerto Rico Sun project. She is a strong, sweet, feisty, curious boricua cat. She was born in Puerto Rico. NYC is home now.
Friday, June 06, 2008
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
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
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)