----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Gochez To: undisclosed-recipients: Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:25 AM Subject: [FCR_LA] Obama is NOT the answer or our best "option"...he's just another Democrat... Please spread this to your lists...the masses of oppressed people's in the US have to know that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats will bring us a better way of life. History has proven this. This "lesser of the two evils" notion is such a limited and even backwards way of thinking. Even if the Democrats were to be less evil (which history shows that they are not), that concept would still let you know that they are EVIL!! Can ANYone show me ANYthing that ANY Democratic President has EVER done for the oppressed African, Indigenous or any peoples of color??? The analysis on the Democratic Party is CRYSTAL CLEAR...TRANSPARENT...they are Capitalists & Imperialists...just as much as the Republicans....no ands, if's or buts. To support the Democrats is, whether we like it or not and whether we admit it or not, to support the oppression of the masses of the world. Don't let skin color fool you...neo-colonialism is a powerful tool that has long been used by White Power to keep its position at the top socially, politically and economically. If Malcolm X and Frantz Fanon understood this 40+ years ago, why are so many of us still confused over this question today? If you are sincere about seeing a TRUE change in this society, dedicate yourself to organizing in the streets! This is the hardest but most neccessary work that FEW dare to take on. Change will NOT come via the ballot box in this country! The 2000 elections demonstrated that the entire system is a scam so if some of us still believe in that system, that is a sad reality. Those who say that "Our vote is our voice" are lying to you. Hell. most of the Raza community can't even vote anyway so that alone should tell you that this is NOT a democracy. We can pay taxes, we can clean your homes, we can die for oil and White Power in Iraq/Afghanistan but we can't even vote! We can't be lazy and think that voting is the only way to make change...grassroots ORGANIZING is the only way! The Villaraigosa's and Obama's (neo-colonials) of this society are dangerous because they confuse and fool a lot of our people's...so I hope that many of us are not falling into this trap...don't believe the hype! Independent community organization is the only solution. All Power to the People! Que viva la organizacion popular! Ron Gochez Social Justice Educator/Community Organizer Mensaje se repitira en espanol... ----------------------------------- After the first day of the Democratic Party Convention the Raza Rights Coalition offers our opinion to the debate over the presidential campaign of Obama-Biden 2008 Recently there has been much talk about the "Obamamania" phenomenon, not only in African American communities, but also in many oppressed communities of color within the current political borders of the U.S. There are some voices that are saying that Obama is another type of candidate that brings hope and will bring fundamental changes, and that these will benefit the majority of people. They argue that our vote is our voice, and that Obama is the best that's out there, when compared to the other presidential candidate John McCain. The Raza Rights Coalition has maintained that neither one of the political parties, democrats or republicans of the gringo political system will improve our conditions as a people. We have maintained since our beginning in 1989, that only an organized struggle, committed to achieving a dignified existence-, which means ensuring that every one has access to the basic needs in order to live-, a recognition and respect for human rights, will bring about the necessary chage that our community aspires towards. The candidate in either McCain or Obama-Biden will not do this. The Raza Rights Coalition bases its understanding on the concrete reality on which Barack Obama and Joe Biden represent in terms of "real change." However before we enter into details of the Democratic Party candidate, we would like to say just a few things about the Republican candidate John McCain. It is important to say that John McCain is of the most nefarious characters in political power in Washignton D.C. He promotes military expansion, military occupation of nations (Irak and Afghanistan), he believes that the rich should not have to pay taxes, promotes the expansion of the Border Wall (wall of death) and increasing in the number of Border Patrol and ICE agents- that political police that terrorizes our communities, and finally he is aligned with the huge oil industry. Fidel Castro wrote a summary of John McCain in his reflections entitled : The Republican Candidate, written between February 11-16 of this year. The Raza Rights Coalition completely agrees with the observations made by CompaÃero Fidel Castro and for these reasons we energetically reject the candidacy of John McCain for President of the United States. The Raza Rights Coalition bases itself on concrete facts, and we consider important to present the following on the Obama-Biden candidacy and their agenda for "change." 1. Obama has pronounced himself in favor of continuing with the re-enforcement and increase in the militarization of the border. Time and time again he has declared that a reform on the issue of immigration should have as a condition a border that would guarantee national security. In his declarations Obama has maintained that his support for the construction of the wall of shame will be able to guarantee the security of the U.S. It is clear that Obama also has forgotten about the more than 5,000 deaths of men, women, and children along the U.S./Mexico border. 2. On the issue of exterior politics, Obama recently reiterated his continued support for the criminal blockade against the Cuban people, as he made a pilgrimage to Miami to speak, with a sombrero in hand he spoke to the National Cuban American Foundation. This terrorist organism that renders service to the CIA has attacked its own people since they ran out of Cuba after the heroic Revolution of 1959. Now Obama has the "guts" to appear in front of white & racist Cubans, and apologize for the abolition of racial inequality, and he dates to promise to work to implement regression to the feudal, dependent, and racist system of before. He also speaks of human rights when his actions defend a system that for decades has trampled over the fundamental rights of its own people. What a contradiction. It is clear that Obama forgot the continuous acts of terrorism of the U.S. government against the heroic Cuban peoples. On the same note, Obama also reiterated his support for Israel, a state that tramples and suffocates human rights of the native Palestine peoples and occupies territories not belonging to them-a photocopy of the U.S. in the Middle East. In fact, he has not proposed a fundamental change in the war and the occupation in Iraq, except for a few cosmetic changes. Now he proposes "more support for the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan without questioning at any point the doctrine of imperialism and Yankee Intervention in the Middle East. Once again Obama forgot to mention the more than 600,000 victims of the war and occupation in Iraq. 3. His economic program has not really contemplated something substantial in terms of fundamental changes that will really better the living conditions of the working class. He speaks of change and does not propose any real amelioration for workers, farmers, students, housewives, and other sectors of our community. The most deplorable thing is that his rhetoric of hope creates more confusion than a real solution. For decades, candidates of one party or another, of the rich & white-regardless of their individual color-have promised a solution or hope if we "behave" and if the privileged ones go out and vote they can sit and wait for the "changes." It is time to say, Enough! to the deceived ones and understand that the real changes are created from below-from the grassroots. This is why the Raza Rights Coalition at the beginning of the year at its annual retreat discussed the importance of this campaign: Neither Democrats, Nor Republicans - Only an Organized People's Power will Overcome! We cannot keep looking for a savior amongst the rich. We cannot negotiate our dignity. We cannot wait until the "good will" of the "good citizens" comes upon us and that a miracle will happen through the vote will save us from deportations and daily infringements. If we want real changes, if we want to be able to look into the eyes of our children and create a better tomorrow for everyone, we must be honest and understand that the time to struggle has come. The need to give our free time up and join an organized process is now. To be able to create the changes that are necessary, it will need to happen from below-from the bases. The solution is not amongst the politicians that seek a position and who will in the meantime forget about their promises. It will not be the rich in power who break the chains of oppression-the solution is in our own people and communities. In this campaign, we can all participate, and we should all participate, regardless of immigration status. We will not and should not confirm ourselves with a simple vote and wait for "changes." For almost 20 years, since its inception in 1989, the Raza Rights Coalition has fought to make a reality the demands of the Raza Rights Coalition. ÂNi DemÃcratas, Ni Republicanos: Solo el Poder del Pueblo Organizado VencerÃ! We offer to all those that believe in fundamental social change; and for those that can think beyond the two party dictatorship the alternate that we have begun to build. We offer you our latest issue of PUEBLO UNIDO (May-August 2008). http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/pueblounido/2008/PU_may_aug2008.pdf http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/Other/ASAMBLEA_Aug2008.pdf http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/Other/15_de_sept_2008.pdf Raza Rights Coalition -project of UniÃn del Barrio =============================================================================================== En el dÃa que inicia la convenciÃn del Partido DemÃcrata, La CoaliciÃn ofrece nuestra opiniÃn en torno a la candidatura de Obama-Biden 2008. Recientemente, se ha hablado mucho del fenÃmeno Obamamania que se esta viendo, no solo en comunidades afro americanas, sino en muchas comunidades oprimidas y de color dentro de las fronteras polÃticas actuales de los Estados Unidos. Hay algunas voces que dicen, que Obama es otro tipo de candidato que nos traerà esperanza y harà cambios fundamentales y que estos traerÃn beneficios para las masas de nuestro pueblo. Ellos alegan que nuestro voto es nuestra voz y que Obama es lo mejor que hay. Y comparan la candidatura de Obana en contraste al de John McCain, quien promueve las mismas polÃticas del genocida Bush. La CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza ha mantenido que ninguno de los dos partidos, demÃcratas o republicanos, del sistema polÃtico gringo mejorarÃn las condiciones fundamentales de nuestra comunidad. Hemos mantenido desde nuestro inicio en 1989, que solo una lucha organizada, comprometida con las necesidades mas elementales del ser humano por una existencia digna, y el reconocimiento y respecto a los derechos humanos creara el cambio a la cual nosotros aspiramos. La CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza se basa en hechos concretos y consideramos importante presentar lo siguiente sobre Obama y el candidato a la vise-presidencia Joe Biden y su verdadera agenda de "cambio". Pero antes de entrar en detalle sobre los candidatos demÃcrata, quisiÃramos decir algunas palabras del candidato Republicano John McCain. Es importante decir que John McCain es del corte mas nefasto de las cÃpulas del poder en Washington. Promueve el expansionismo militar, la ocupaciÃn militar de pueblos (Irak y AfganistÃn), cree que los ricos no deberÃan pagar impuestos, promueve la expansiÃn del muro de la muerte e incremento de personal de la migra para que siga aterrorizando a nuestro pueblo, està alineado a los intereses de las empresas petroleras. Fidel Castro resume a este personaje de manera clara en sus reflexiones titulada: El Candidato Republicano, publicadas del 11-16 de febrero del presente aÃo. La CoaliciÃn comparte plenamente la perspectiva del compaÃero Fidel y por estas razones denunciamos enÃrgicamente la presidencia del candidato republicano John McCain. Para la CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza existen tres razones fundamentales por el cual no coincidimos con la candidatura de Obama-Biden. 1. Obama se ha pronunciado a favor de continuar con el reforzamiento e incremento de la militarizaciÃn en la frontera. Una y otra vez ha declarado que una reforma en el tema migratorio deberà poner como condiciÃn a una frontera que pueda garantizar la seguridad nacional. En sus declaraciones Obama ha mantenido que su apoyo por la construcciÃn del muro fronterizo podrà garantizar la seguridad de Estados Unidos. Es claro que a Obama tambiÃn se le olvidÃron las mas de 5,000 muertes de hombres, mujeres y niÃos a los largo de la frontera entre MÃxico y Estados Unidos. 2. En el tema de polÃtica exterior, Obama recientemente reiterà su apoyo continuo al bloqueo criminal contra el pueblo de Cuba al hacer una peregrinaciÃn a Miami y hablar, sombrero en mano a la FundaciÃn Nacional Cubana Americana. Este organismo terrorista al servicio de la CIA ha atacado a su propio pueblo desde que salieron huyendo de Cuba tras el heroico triunfo de la revoluciÃn del Movimiento 26 de Julio en enero de 1959. Ahora, Obama tiene las agallas de aparecer frente a los cubanos blancos y racistas, y disculparse por la aboliciÃn de la desigualdad racial y se atreve a prometerles que trabajara para implementar la regresiÃn al sistema feudal, dependiente, y racista de antes. TambiÃn habla de derechos humanos cuando con sus acciones defiende a un sistema que por siglos ha atropellado los derechos fundamentales de su propio pueblo. Que incongruencia. Es claro que a Obama se le olvidaron los continuos actos de terrorismo del gobierno de Estados Unidos en contra del pueblo heroico cubano. En el mismo tema, Obama tambiÃn reiterà su apoyo a Israel, un estado que aplasta y sofoca los derechos humanos de los pueblos nativos palestinos y ocupa territorios que no son suyos-una copia fotostÃtica de Estados Unidos en el Oriente Medio. De hecho, no ha propuesto un cambio fundamental en la trayectoria de la guerra y la ocupaciÃn en Irak, salvo algunos cambios cosmÃticos. Ahora propone "mas apoyo a la lucha contra el terrorismo en Afghanistan" sin cuestionar en ningÃn momento la doctrina del imperialismo y la intervenciÃn yanqui en Oriente Medio. Una vez mÃs, Obama olvido mencionar a las mÃs de 600,000 victimas de la guerra y ocupaciÃn en Irak. 3. Su programa econÃmico no ha contemplado realmente algo sustancial en cuanto a cambios fundamentales que logren verdaderamente mejorar las condiciones de vida del pueblo trabajador. Habla de cambio y no propone alivio real para los obreros, campesinos, estudiantes, amas de casa y otros sectores de nuestro pueblo. Lo mÃs deplorable es que sus habladurÃas de esperanza crean mÃs confusiÃn que soluciÃn. Por dÃcadas candidatos de un partido u otro, de los ricos y blancos-irrespectivo de su color individual- han prometido una soluciÃn o esperanza si nos "portamos bien" y si los privilegiados van y depositan su voto en las urnas y se sientan a esperar los "cambios". Es hora de decir, ÂYa basta! a estos engaÃos y asumir nuestra responsabilidad en crear los cambios verdaderos desde las bases de nuestra sociedad; manzana, comunidad, ciudad, condado. Por esto, la CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza a inicios del aÃo en su retiro anual discutià la importancia de esta campaÃa: ÂNi DemÃcratas, Ni Republicanos-Solo el Poder del Pueblo Organizado VencerÃ! No podemos seguir buscando o esperando que un polÃtico de la clase dominante (los ricos) salga a "salvarnos". No podemos limosnear la dignidad. No podemos esperar que la buena voluntad de los "buenos ciudadanos" nos caiga encima y que un milagro a travÃs del voto nos salve de las deportaciones y los abusos diarios. Si queremos cambios verdaderos, si queremos poder ver a los ojos a nuestros hijos y crear un mejor maÃana para ellos, debemos ser honestos y llegar a la realizaciÃn que la hora de luchar ha llegado. La necesidad de entregar nuestro tiempo e integrarnos a un proceso organizativo es ahora. Para poder crear los cambios que son necesarios habrà que empezar desde abajo-desde las bases. La soluciÃn no esta en los polÃticos que solo buscan el puesto y quienes pronto olvidan las promesas. No serÃn los ricos en el poder quienes rompan las cadenas de opresiÃn-la soluciÃn esta en nuestro pueblo mismo. En esta campaÃa tod@s podemos y debemos participar independientemente del estatus migratorio de las personas, no debemos ni podemos conformarnos con el simple voto y esperar "los cambios" Por casi los 20 aÃos-desde su inicio en 1989, la CoaliciÃn Pro Derechos de la Raza ha luchado por hacer realidad las demandas de la CoaliciÃn. ÂNi DemÃcratas, Ni Republicanos; Solo el Poder del Pueblo Organizado VencerÃ! Ofrecemos a todos quienes creen en un cambio verdaderamente fundamental; y a quienes son capaces de pensar mÃs allà de la dictadura de los dos partidos ofrecemos nuestra alternativa que hemos empezado a construir. Les ofrecemos nuestro mas reciente ediciÃn de Pueblo Unido (Mayo-Agosto 2008)- boletÃn de la CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza. http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/pueblounido/2008/PU_may_aug2008.pdf http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/Other/ASAMBLEA_Aug2008.pdf http://www.coalicionproderechos.org/Other/15_de_sept_2008.pdf CoaliciÃn Pro-Derechos de la Raza -proyecto de UniÃn del Barrio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get the MapQuest Toolbar. Directions, Traffic, Gas Prices & More!
