Helping Communities Grow

Issue NO. 2, volume 2 (Episode 2 "Attack of the Youth")
By Seaweed, Stumpy, Mini-Sol, Oreo, Litle China Girl & Maria

[ Volume 2 - Issue No. 1 | Issue No. 2 | Issue No. 3 | Issue No. 4 | Issue No. 5 |
Issue No. 6 | Issue No. 7 | Issue No. 8 | Issue No. 9 | Issue No. 10 | Issue No. 11 ]

This Episode Features:

About the Staff
Cebolla Cartoon
CTA update
Interview with a Vietnam Vet
Movie Reviews
Super Facts and Random Thoughts
The Draft! (will you go?)
Opinions & Final Notes

Newsletter Quote of the Month:
“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. ”

- Albert Einstein -

A Chicano Vietnam Vet ‘s Opinion on the War on Iraq

By Oreo

Raoul Contreras is a national expert on Chicano Studies. He is currently a professor and department head of Latino Studies at Indiana University. Dr. Contreras is a board member of LVEJO.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q:Were you drafted to Vietnam War or did you enroll voluntary?

A: I was drafted in June, 1966. But I wanted to go. I was 19 years old. I was unsure about myself and I wanted to prove to myself that I was a "man." And most importantly I believed in the things our government was saying about the war in Vietnam: That we had to defend the people in Vietnam from the communists; that if we did not fight the communists in Vietnam, we would someday have to fight them here.  It was a lie.  Thousands of Chicanos, Mexicanos, and Mexican Americans, young men, boys like me,  were killed for these lies. My father was a veteran, a war-hero, in World War II and I wanted to be like him.  So, it was easy for me to be fooled by he lies the President was making to send us off to war.

Q:How many years did you serve?

A: I was in the service for just a little less than two years. I spent a little less than a year and a half in Vietnam. I was a good soldier, a very good soldier. I was in the infantry and also a crewman on a helicopter. By the time I was there 7-8 months, I knew that war was wrong, I didn't know why. I was just 20-21 years old.

Q:Where do you stand on HR 163 which proposes to reinstate the draft?

A: I am against any draft. I think all people in the U.S., especially young people should oppose any draft. The draft is just something to be able to force people, especially poor people and racial minority people, to fight unnecessary wars like in Iraq today.

Q:How would you compare the Vietnam War to the current War in Iraq?

A:  They are very different and they are very similar. They are same in that both are wrong and based on lies by our government. The people of Vietnam had no ill-will toward us, the people of the United States. They were fighting their war of independence. The President to the United States sent us, through lies and deception, to fight on the wrong side, to try and stop the independence struggle of  the people of Vietnam. Iraq is the same in that the President of the United States is again making war, killing thousands of people, on lies and deception. Iraq was never a danger to us, like Vietnam was never a danger to us. The President is making war, killing thousands of people who do not deserve to die, in order to control the oil and Government in Iraq.

Q:What is your advice to young Latinos in Chicago about the draft?

A: Oppose it and Stop it, and if it becomes law, refuse to obey it.

Q:How many years have you been in the L.V.E.J.O board?

A: I have been on the board since 1997.

Movie Reviews

Check this out yo! Have you heard of Fahrenheit 9/11? Have you seen it yet? If not you should! This is one of the most powerful films I have seen. Seriously, this movie made $21.8 million in one weekend which is more money than Bowling for Columbine ever made on screen. It also made more money than "White Chicks", which was shown on over 2,700 screens, this movie was only on 868. I know that some people will say that it was based too much on opinion, but it’s not. This film just tells you what is really going on! Even if it is what other people say about it, then why fight it so much? Are people in the U.S. so blind, ignorant and unwilling to see the real world that they do not realize that this country has a bad habit of invading other countries for no real reason?

Decide for yourself: rent the movie, but please be open to it. Ω Seaweed Ω

More Movie Reviews* Christmas getin’ krunk: To get to polls just follow the stairs This movie features the G-Unit crew and Redman. The story starts out with Redman without his devious partner Method man muttering that he doesn’t need Meth (as the plot develops it is explained that Meth wanted to try to be on his own without red). After several failed attempts to try to be independent of Meth, Red decides to try to get even with Meth for ditching him. Red plans to take his revenge by doing what no hip-hop star has ever done before. He plans to appear with G-Unit, making it appear he is all about west coast hip-hop and no longer has interest in the east coast hip-hop. After convincing 50 Cent to join him (50 agrees to make the east coast angry) they make a music video together. Only after the video is done does Red realize that Meth was just trying to secretly make a kick-ass Christmas party ever for Red. Realizing his mistake, Red tries to get his hands on the video he made, to get rid of it, but in order to do that he must go through various release parties (getin’ krunk on da way), security guards, and finally 50 himself. I give this movie 2 shots of krunk juice. Ω Seaweed Ω *this review is for entertainment purposes only and is not an actual film.

By Ω Seaweed Ω

• Why is it that Bush is the only one in his family with an accent?
• Kerry served in Vietnam and was injured three times. Whereas Bush didn’t serve in any war, in fact he was declared absent without leave (A.W.O.L.) on his duty in Alabama , yet he is asking soldiers to “fight” (die) for our country.
• Don’t you find it odd that G. W. Bush was rejected from the University of Texas School of Law but later went on to attend Harvard and Yale (daddy’s influence cough, cough, sneeze.)
• If the Clear Skies initiative created by President Bush were to pass, our air would be in much more terrible shape than if we keep the Clean Air act created in the 70’s
• Did u know because of the Patriot Act the U.S. A. government has every right to read your e-mail? If fact they do! If you were to use too many flagged words they read what you write.
• No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times without breaking no matter how thin it is.
• What purpose does eyelashes or facial hair serve ?
• Author Dr. Seuss wrote the book "Green Eggs and Ham" because the editor made him a bet that he could not write a book, which contained less than fifty words (not total just 50 different words).
• Monopoly is banned in Cuba because it is a capitalist game.
• The man who invented the game scrabble went by the name of Mr. Butts (I know I’m laughing).

By Mini-sol

Do you want to go to War? Of course not! Most people wouldn’t be eager to go to war; unless you are very patriotic and think it is necessary to serve your country with honor and die for your country as well. Recently the issue about a draft resurfacing has been brought up by Charles Rangel, a congressman in the U.S House of Representatives. He presented a bill which is known as the HR 163. This Bill talks about bringing a draft so that both men and women enroll into our armed forces. Rangel claims that by having a draft we will have a more strong and efficient military. He believes that it is our job as citizens to serve our country in return of the privileges we have gained.

If you are currently a high school student and you are looking forward to go to college right after you get your high school diploma you might be facing some troubles in the next couple of years. If the draft is reinstated and you have just graduated from high school, you will then be sent into the military once you are drafted, especially if you are between the ages of 18-26. You would probably start college after you serve for at least a year in the military.

Now remember that this bill hasn’t been passed yet, but it could be possible since we are in the middle of a war. In my opinion, I think that this proposal is wrong because if you don’t feel you are part of making this country’s decisions (even though you are a U.S. citizen) then you shouldn’t be forced to serve in the armed forces. Many people oppose war and if you oppose war then you shouldn’t be forced to go and fight because you think that war is not the only solution to problems. Would you want to go to war and risk your life for this country?

On Thursday, December 16th, 2004 The CTA Board Approved:

1. To Start Weekend Service on the 54th/Cermak Blue Line to and from O'Hare Airport beginning Sunday, January 2nd, 2005. The trains will run every 15 minutes on Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sunday.

2. To Delay ANY Fare raises, bus or train service cuts or CTA job layoffs for 6 months

3. This means these things below will not happen for the next 6 months:

• -Permanently Eliminate 1,200 CTA Jobs
• -Slash all bus & train service by more then 20%
• -Take 300 buses off the street during rush hour each day
• -Stop ALL Overnight rail service
• -Double the fares for the Disabled who take Paratransit
• -Increase College Student U-Passes by 17%
• -Decrease frequency of bus and rail service all over the city at all hours

Greetings fellow transit riders!

How goes it? What’s that u say? The CTA sucks? It’s not getting u where u want to go? It’s also not getting u there on time? The fare is becoming expensive? Well no duh! But why isn’t CTA giving you what you need? Well lets think, hmm… who should we blame?

The drivers? No, we can’t blame all of them. Some drivers are very friendly and good at their job. Besides it’s not their fault that some routes have been cut or may to be eliminated. How about security guards? Are they just a waste of money? Absolutely NOT! We need them to monitor the safety of all riders, don’t you like to feel safe? Could it be that the vandals are tagging the property, costing CTA too much money? Nah! Have u ever heard the recordings on the bus say that vandals cost CTA thousands of dollars each year. CTA’s budget is in the hundred millions, they should have more than enough to deal with that problem, right?

Now you’re wondering “For real, where does all that money go?”. Well if it isn’t the little guys, we’ve got to look lower. “Why lower?” you ask, well it might be due to the fact that CTA just spent $100,000 for a new marble floor for their new office. That’s right shiny, brand spanking, new marble floor for their new office. Why do they need an expensive office complete with marble floors? Are you going to use them? I know I’m not gonna. What is up with CTA? Seriously! Where are they’re priorities?

All they want is more money! They don’t give a flying hoot about the people they serve. Which leads me to my next point. If they don’t serve the people and only serve money, why do they keep wasting it? CTA has never been monitored. I’m serious, they have never been audited, ever! Oh yes, they claim to have been audited by this private company called LINK, I’ve never heard of it, have you?, but fail to release any kind of report to any one.

I for one am angry at the fact that they raised our fares and will continue to raise fares for their personal agenda. But why is it that CTA is still allowed to run themselves the way they do? Hmm… could it be the fact that CTA president Frank Kruesi is a good buddy of Mayor Daley. Not only that but he was also given his job by the same mayor. Also, the Mayor had just come from a trip to Japan when he introduced this grand idea of creating a train that goes direct from downtown to O’Hare airport (just like in Japan)? How much is that gonna cost us? Is Daley trying to say that he is ashamed of us? I end this this just one question if you don’t voice your choice then what will they decide for you?

Want to let CTA know what’s on your mind or maybe you’d like to give them a piece of it?
Go ahead drop ‘em a line, we dare u!

Contact Frank Kruesi (CTA president) at fkruesi@transitchicago.com	Carole Brown (chair Woman) at cbrown@transitchicago.com

Name: Marisol Becerra, 15 Alias: Mini-Sol Wanted for future government infiltration.
	Name: Maria Dominguez, 16 Alias: Unknown WARNING! Known to be very cute and nice then striking her victims with her evil
Name: Allen Govea, 15 Alias: Oreo WARNING! Considered crunchy and extremely lactic.
	Name: Hector “Leo” Tellez,18 Alias: Sea-Weed Wanted for attempted hair fraud.
Name: Robert “Beto” Flores, 17 Alias: Stumpy Wanted for impersonating a tree
	Name: Alex Alverez, 18 Alias: Little China Girl Do Not approach ! Considered dangerous and highly skilled in the art of kick ur arse.

What do you say?

What is your opinion on reinstating the draft?

Kristine Barrias, Curie HS, Age 15	“I’m not for it because it would affect my family greatly. My siblings are all between the age group for the draft (18, 21, and 24). I’m mostly against it because my sister is a mother to her 1yr old son. I know how close she is to him. If there is a possibility that she would have to go she would be heartbroken and would not be able to handle it. Also, I would hate to see my brothers get drafted. I love them to death and I don’t know how I’d handle things at once if they were gone. I think these things should be done voluntarily. .”
Maria, Farragut HS, Age 16	“It’s not fair. Our youth is too young to go to war. They have to think about the consequences, Defending the country should be a choice; it should not be forced. I would not want to be drafted. “
Tiffany Floyd, Curie HS, Age 15	“I believe that the draft should not be reinstated because people should be able to live their life and not worrying about dying in a war that does not seem to be helping anyone.”
Alex, Truman Middle College 18	“I don't agree with it. Because I feel that the government wants you to feel guilty about not being patriotic because you are against war. I feel that the government just wants to use us. They criticize us as Latinos but they sure want us to join the military. They don’t tell us the whole truth. They glamorize military life by promising travel and money for college.

Final Notes:

Marisol A.K.A. Mini-sol

Hello, how is everyone doing? This is my second time writing for ’El Cilantro”. Besides working with the community I like spending time with my family and listening to music. I like all sorts of music. All music is beautiful. I love playing the violin,. I want to be part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the future or I would also like to be part of a Broadway show. I could be a good lawyer too! I’m a bookworm, I like to read. If you guys have any questions or comments email me: Becerra_2001@hotmail.com

Allen Govea A.K.A. OREO I’m 2 perfect. J/K (or am I)?

Hi, I’m the new member of the newspaper El Cilantro (lol). My nickname is Oreo (lol). El Cilantro decided to call me Oreo cuz…. I don’t know? Well, I like to read (sometimes) and watch movies. If u have any questions or comments let me know. Oh yeah, Mini-sol fell off the bus Ha-Ha E-mail me at allengovea@sbcglobal.net or at a_govea07@hotmail.com

Sea-Weed A.K.A. Leo:

END!

[ Volume 2 - Issue No. 1 | Issue No. 2 | Issue No. 3 | Issue No. 4 | Issue No. 5 |
Issue No. 6 | Issue No. 7 | Issue No. 8 | Issue No. 9 | Issue No. 10 | Issue No. 11 ]

Keep the Douglas L/54th Cermak Train Open to O'Hare Field 24/7

Other important topics
(Download as Adobe pdf):

Clean Air/Lulac Study
Healthy Schools In Latino Communities flyer
"Tips on Base Building" from LVEJO Board Member Carlos Fernandez

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