La Voz - April 2022

April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3 San Antonio, Tejas

Portrait of Carmen Tafolla
by Regina Moya

Women & Activism in the Westside at www.museodelwestside.org/women-activism

La Voz de Dudley
Esperanza Dendy Brooks

April 2022 December 4, 1932 – March 9, 2022
Vol. 35 Issue 3
The beloved Dudley gravitated to him and the
Editor: Gloria A. Ramírez Brooks unexpectedly passed tasks he organized for them.
Design: Elizandro Carrington away at 89 years of age. Tomás He instinctively knew what they
Cover Art: Regina Moya, commissioned by Ybarra Frausto, his partner of would enjoy. Another activity was
the Texas Institute of Letters honoring Carmen 53 years, has been surrounded by the Mexican balero that he inter-
Tafolla as the first Latina to serve as president of family and friends mourning his peted as a ball and cup game with a
this organization as she ended her 2 year tenure loss. He, oftentimes, was seen at string attached to a round bead that
Esperanza events with Tomás—espe- could be whipped upward so as to
Contributors cially as buena gente during the Paseo land in the cup made from the tops of
del Westside. My fondest memory of plastic bottles. Each child got to take
Tarcisio Beal, Maria De la Cruz, Greg Harmon, Dudley will always be of him setting one home. The May Voz will have a
Alvin O. Korte, Kayla Miranda, Gloria A. up woodworking tasks for children more fitting tribute for Dudley’s pass-
Ramírez, Rogelio Sáenz who would come to his area to ham- ing, the same month we celebrate Pas-
mer nails into wood slabs or screw eo del Westside. A celebration of life
La Voz Mail Collective nuts onto chunky screws he set up
on the slabs. His work with kids for Dudley is is being planned in
...is sheltering at home due to COVID-19 but during Paseo endeared him to May at the Esperanza. Check
will return when it is safe. Extra funds are being me because they revealed Esperanza’s facebook
his caring and gentle na- and website, www.
raised to pay for the folding of La Voz. ture. The smallest of esperanzacenter.org
for the exact date and
Esperanza Director children, boys time. May he rest
and girls, in peace and
Graciela I. Sánchez alike, power.

Esperanza Staff LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• Save the Date!

Elizandro Carrington, Kayla Miranda, Paseo por El Westside
Paul Plouf, René Saenz, Imane Saliba, Susana
May 7, 2022 • 9am to 3pm
Segura, Amelia Valdez, Rosa Vega
Rinconcito de Esperanza
Conjunto de Nepantleras 816 S. Colorado St.
—Esperanza Board of Directors—
www.esperanzacenter.org
Richard Aguilar, Norma Cantú, Brent Floyd,
Rachel Jennings, Amy Kastely, Jan Olsen, ATTENTION VOZ READERS: If you have a mailing address correction please send it to lavoz@
Ana Lucía Ramírez, Gloria A. Ramírez, esperanzacenter.org. If you want to be removed from the La Voz mailing list, for whatever reason, please let us
Rudy Rosales, Lilliana Saldaña, Nadine Saliba, know. La Voz is provided as a courtesy to people on the mailing list of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center.
The subscription rate is $35 per year ($100 for institutions). The cost of producing and mailing La Voz has
Graciela I. Sánchez, Lillian Stevens substantially increased and we need your help to keep it afloat. To help, send in your subscriptions, sign up as a
monthly donor, or send in a donation to the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Thank you. -GAR
• We advocate for a wide variety of social,
economic & environmental justice issues. VOZ VISION STATEMENT: La Voz de Esperanza speaks for many individual, progressive voices who are
gente-based, multi-visioned and milagro-bound. We are diverse survivors of materialism, racism, misogyny,
• Opinions expressed in La Voz are not homophobia, classism, violence, earth-damage, speciesism and cultural and political oppression. We are
necessarily those of the Esperanza Center. recapturing the powers of alliance, activism and healthy conflict in order to achieve interdependent economic/
spiritual healing and fuerza. La Voz is a resource for peace, justice, and human rights, providing a forum for
La Voz de Esperanza criticism, information, education, humor and other creative works. La Voz provokes bold actions in response
is a publication of to local and global problems, with the knowledge that the many risks we take for the earth, our body, and the
dignity of all people will result in profound change for the seven generations to come.
Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
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210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org

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The absurdity of Dan Patrick
self-appointed Texas thought police

By Rogelio Sáenz,  to eliminate tenure for new faculty at Texas public colleges and LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•
originally published in the Express-News universities, and get rid of tenured faculty who teach CRT, is
inappropriate and is why tenure exists in the first place.
Dan Patrick, the former conservative radio talk-show host-turned-
Texas lieutenant governor, has morphed into the state’s thought Think about the consequences of getting rid of tenure at
police. Seventy-two years ago, Wisconsin Republican U.S. Sen. public universities in Texas. The best and brightest faculty will
Joseph McCarthy did the same by targeting political scorn on avoid coming to Texas. Patrick, Abbott and Attorney General Ken
those he labeled “subversive communists.” Paxton already have established the state as hostile territory for
people with progressive politics. And top universities around the
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is in a country will raid the state’s top professors. A long line of scholars
huff in Texas will be applying for jobs outside of Texas, where they
would be treated with professional dignity and respect and their
He vehemently brays that he has tenure would be honored.
had enough
Patrick, the self-appointed thought police, has devised a
High schools teaching critical race ludicrous plan. The Texas economy that is the pride of the state’s
theory made him extremely gruff business community depends heavily on intellectual talent in our
colleges and universities.
Now college professors who poison
minds will make him truly tough Where to begin on Patrick’s inanity? My tía Marta, a very
wise woman who lives in the state of Coahuila in Mexico, has
One of the most often-cited quotations of Karl Marx is a a succinct phrase to describe absurdity: “¡Que babosada,!” or
riff on the philosopher G.W.F. Hegel. In the mid-19th century, “what a bunch of drool!”
Marx wrote that history repeats itself “the first time tragedy, the
second time farce.” Despite its absurdity, Patrick’s attack on tenure cannot be
easily dismissed. In the current political climate, inanity and farce
Flash forward to the Great Farce in 2022 as Patrick aims his play big among many Republicans, especially in Texas. Republi-
political contempt on professors who teach critical race theory, cans have used scare tactics to establish draconian voter suppres-
or CRT, and have the audacity to make Texas look bad for its sion and abortion laws, and to advance cultural wars against CRT,
subjugating, exploiting and killing of people of color and, in transgender children and women. They went after public schools
the process, making the white students of today uncomfortable. first and now increasingly zoom in on higher education. Faculty
Never mind that Patrick has no sense of what CRT is and that for and our allies need to push back strongly and call out the absur-
centuries Texas educators have made students of color extremely dity of Patrick’s plan.
uncomfortable with glorified tales of white supremacy that erase
their histories and contributions. BIO: Rogelio Sáenz is a professor in the Department of Demog-
raphy at the University of Texas at San Antonio
Patrick seeks to promote the atrophy of minds throughout the
educational system. This emphasis on uncritical, unreflective and 3
ahistorical thinking is what keeps the likes of Patrick in power.
Not surprisingly, Texas has been ranked nationally at the bottom
in political participation and civic engagement.

As demographic forces catch up to Texas Republicans — with
Latinos projected to outnumber whites this year — the Repub-
licans’ political machinations have escalated to demonize high
school teachers and professors accused of teaching CRT. It does
not matter that Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott are ignorant about
CRT; they use it to get conservative white voters to keep Republi-
cans in power.

Now for tenure, which Patrick seeks to kill in the upcom-
ing Texas legislative season. As many observers, including the
Express-News Editorial Board, have stressed, Patrick’s threat

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is no thought police; he seeks to promote uncritical,
unreflective, and ahistorical minds throughout the educational system.
Jay Janner /Associated Press

Documents Show Brackenridge Bond Project
Tied to Possible Lethal ‘Take’ of Birds

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• By Greg Harmon Commission in January in support of the tree removal, San
Antonio Parks’Assistant Manager Bill Pennell trumpeted
San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh how eliminating the trees would aid in the removal of the
bumped any action on a planned removal birds. After gaining Planning’s approval, bird harassment was ex-
of more than 105 trees. But bird harassment plicitly written into the tree project language submitted to Historic
efforts at Brackenridge Park are continuing. and Design Review Commission ahead of their February 2 meeting.
Just-released City emails confirm both proj- D2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez credited com-
ects advanced together. munity resistance for the delay of the tree removal but had no
information to share about why the bird harassment is continuing.
“This project was not about eliminating birds.
— San Antonio Assistant City Manager David McCary, Some project opponents interviewed by Decelera-
tion recently said they thought Parks workers were
Community Town Hall keeping the birds off the trees so those trees could be
removed without harming any birds. But the continued
This week, a controversial proposal to remove more harassment suggests it is about ambitions to permanently
than 105 trees from Brackenridge Park to make way for a repair- remove the birds.
and-redevelopment project tied to the City’s 2017 Bond Project was Now, just-released documents show not only how bird harass-
pushed back into 2023. The controversial project, as Texas Public ment was part of the early planning of the bond work at Bracken-
Radio’s David Martin Davies assessed during a panel discussion of ridge, but, more nefariously, how Parks prepared to be able to waive
the issue last week, threatened to sour public opinion of the City’s federal laws prohibiting the killing of protected migratory birds and
current $1.2 Billion bond proposal approaching on the May ballot. their eggs, if deemed necessary.
Habitat modification to discourage nesting, and planning around
Trees were not being discussed when the community agreed to possible “lethal take,” was part of the Brackenridge bond conversa-
prioritizing the park’s historic structures in 2017, so when the City tion among City staff at least since last summer.
came to eliminate them this year as a precursor to bond-funded In spite of this public record, City staff and partners like Texas
construction, people cried foul. Parks and Wildlife Department have continued to assert that there
is no link between the tree- and bird-removal efforts. When Texas
But even though San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh put that Parks & Wildlife Department biologist Jessica Alderson testified
tree-removal on hold after two months of gathering resistance, a during a town hall meeting organized by Councilmember McKee-
small-but-growing collection of residents that coalesced to protect Rodriguez earlier this month, for instance, she charged assertions to
those trees isn’t disbanding. the contrary amounted to “disinformation.”
But a June 11, 2021, email from Jennifer L. DiCocco, environ-
“I think it’s a half victory,” said local resident Matilde Torres, who mental project manager with San Antonio’s Public Works Depart-
is frequently found at the park monitoring City activities. “We’re still
trying to protect these birds.” ment, released recently to wildlife
photographer and environmental
Chainsaws are at rest but a City- advocate Alesia Garlock in response to
sponsored assault on migratory birds a public information request, shows on-
hasn’t slowed. Quite the opposite. As going planning between Public Works
more spring migrants begin arriving to and Parks and Rec to “discuss possible
make their nests and breed, conflicts contract scenarios for using the USDA
have grown. All week, for instance, Wildlife Support Services (WSS) on the
Parks employees have attempted to 2017 Bond Brackenridge Park project.”
shoo away birds lighting upon the tow-
ering oaks at Brackenridge by clapping What would USDA Wildlife Ser-
wooden blocks while federal contrac- vices be contracted for?
tors set off pyrotechnics. On the other
side of the fence this week, volunteers “Partnering with the local USDA of-
filming in the Zoo documented what fice would make the permitting process
they claim is an intentional removal of under the MBTA [Migratory Bird Treaty
nests—a sign, they say, indicating the Act] more efficient since USDA staff
possible killing of migratory egrets. already hold wildlife take permits, and

Deceleration has noted the linkages The razing of the rookery at Bird Island at
between bird harassment and tree- Elmendorf Lake Park in 2019 provided the
model that is being followed at Brackenridge,
4 removal ambitions repeatedly. While San Antonio Parks and Recreation officials say.
addressing San Antonio’s Planning Image: Greg Harmon

should the need arise to modify Parks staff have said

them, this can happen quickly.” in recent public meetings

“Take” permits are, in regu- that lethal actions have not

latory parlance, licenses to kill. been taken at Brackenridge.

Bill Pennell is one of the However, nests and eggs

email recipients. He responds in have been disturbed. In 2020,

a separate email that the contract Garlock documented nests

with USDA would run the City with eggs that were destroyed

of San Antonio around $50,000. over the playground. It was

Another separate collec- unclear who was responsible,

tion of documents released to she said, though the culprits

Deceleration this week through would have required access

a separate open-records request and equipment capable of

shows that lethal bird-control reaching 20 feet into the air,

measures, first included as a which limits the suspect list.

“fallback plan” when City work- Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodríguez at a recent press conference. The allowance of lethal

ers assisted in the destruction measures in the work order is

of Bird Island in Elmendorf Lake Park in 2019, were included in a top of mind for many opposing tree removal and bird harassment for

City work order granted to USDA. That order covers the entire San another reason.

Antonio Parks system in spite of initial misgivings by Parks Director Advocates who have been camped out daily at Brackenridge

Homer Garcia III about references to lethal take. Park today said that they have evidence suggesting that the nests of

In an email released to Deceleration on Wednesday, Garcia is about ten nesting pairs of great egrets have been removed from trees

seen asking in the summer of 2019: “Are we ok w/ this?” inside the San Antonio Zoo. Parks and Zoo staff have been engaging

At issue were recommendations for special permits to destroy in nightly harassment efforts apparently to keep birds, now return-

nests and eggs “if necessary” and killing birds. ing to the region from points south as part of their yearly migration,

One USDA recommendation reads: “If egrets are continuing to from roosting.A video of Zoo staff clapping at the birds can be seen

attempt to roost and not affected by tools, lethal removal of a few at: bit.ly/staff-clapping.

select birds for reinforcement of loud noises as effective tools.” Nests that appear to be in the towering trees of the flamingo ex-

At the conclusion of a Brackenridge site tour arranged by D1 hibit are no longer visible and the birds are no longer present. “You

Councilmember Mario Bravo earlier this month, Pennell described can’t see any movement in the trees,” Garlock said. “They killed the

the bird plan as one to permanently remove an established rookery birds is what they did.”

from Brackenridge Park—an initiative modeled on the Elmendorf A spokesperson for the Zoo did not respond directly to questions

displacement. about nest removals or alleged killing. Instead, Cyle Perez wrote

In the summer of 2019, Anne Parrish, then-president of Bexar Deceleration only: “Our animal care specialists are working with the

Audubon Society, warned of the potential of bird displacement to guidance of and under the direction of state and federal wildlife ex-

harm non-targeted species, though her own recommendations (to perts from the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas Parks LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•

avoid lethal measures at Elmendorf) concluded with a recommenda- & Wildlife, and United States Fish & Wildlife Service to effectively

tion to “radically alter” the habitat of Bird Island. encourage some of the wild birds to move to a new, less conflicting

“We recognize that the agencies involved have a ‘takings’ permit location while maintaining a reasonable population of birds here on

which would allow them to kill the birds, and we appreciate very the zoo grounds.”

much that both agencies have said they are not planning such ac- Responding to follow up question about the specific allegations,

tion,” Parrish wrote at the time. “Attempting to move the rookery Pérez wrote: “Nests haAvNeObeTeEn:rLemeeoevsetda pwáigthintahengueisdpaan-ce of and

and closing or strictly controlling insects at the Waste Management under the directionñolf:sbtiatt.elya/ansdalfteod-epraajlawroisldlife experts … . No birds
landfill is by far a better solution than eradication.” have been harmed or kNilOleTdE.”: Read the original article

Faced with the language of lethal measures in the development of the They did not rewsipthonlidnktos qduoecsutmioennstainbgouatssthaueletsggosn. But images of

USDAwork order, an obviously concerned Garcia wrote at the time: eggshells taken insbiidrdesthaendZotroeessugatg:ebsitt.tlhye/aasnssuwlt-eor.n-birds

“I am not suggesting the plan not be transparent and if plan [is] Parks and Rec[mPUedTiaToHffIicSeNr COoTnEnieINSwBaOnnXa,cIkTnoISwledged the
to result [in] lethal removal if necessary then there’s not really an- several emailed quNeOstiTonPsAsuRbTmOittFedTbEyXDTeceleration but has not

other way to reflect this,” he wrote. “If there is not a commitment to provided any comment.

lethal removal then is the plan to capture and physically relocate and BIO: Greg Harmon, freelance journalist and photographer, is
if so then should that be listed in the plan as an alternative?” founder and co-editor of Deceleration News—an online
journal responding to our shared ecological,
In the end, the inclusion of lethal measures won out. political, and cultural crises. See: deceleration.news
This USDA work order, as Deceleration wrote previously, allows
for the use of: “1. Pyrotechnic[s], propane cannon[s], 2. firearms,

mylar balloons, 3. methyl anthranilate, 4. drones, lasers, effigies, ANOTE: Lee esta página en español: bit.ly/asalto-pajaros
scare-man, 5. nest/egg removal, 6. trucks, dogs.”

Under the order, USDA employees agree to “prevent injury NOTE: Read the original article with links documenting assaults

to animal life,” except, of course, for the targeted species: cattle, on birds and trees at: bit.ly/assult-on-birds

snowy, and great egrets and cormorants. 5

The Use of Child Protective Services as a Weapon

By Kayla Miranda

One of the scariest things any parent can face is a knock on the ly, we do live in a world where children are abused. Sometimes,

door by “ Child Protective Services”. Not only is it a personal removing a child is a must. But for parents who are not abusing

attack, it’s a threat to the person(s) you love most. The officisl on their children, a CPS visit is a nightmare. In conversations with

the other side of the door Westside residents, I was

has the power to take able to gather accounts of

your child and there’s some of these instances.

nothing you can do to One mother changed her

stop it. Sure, a judge has religious beliefs as an adult.

to rule on it days later, Once she had a child, her

but the trauma and pain family routinely called CPS

has already occurred. The on her for child endan-

thought of this makes germent. Each time an

me want to pack up my investigation was opened

family and move to the then closed in a few days.

middle of nowhere in a The charges, unfounded. So

military style compound why did this mother have

that no one can touch. to repeat the process every

That may be dramatic time? Another mother had

but the sentiment is real. a hostile relationship with

I will do anything for my the father of her children.

children. I will fight any Every time she started to

foe, go any distance, tear date someone new, the

apart the world itself—if Parents protest unfair practices by Child Protective Services (CPS) that seem to disproportionately father would allege abuse
I had to. That’s how most target families of color and low-income households. and file a complaint to keep
parents feel about their her from moving on. Others

children. The instinct to protect is impossible to ignore.  reported arguments with friends or exes resulting in a revenge

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• When someone hears that a parent is being investigated by call to CPS to file false reports. One parent reported that her son’s

CPS, you may hear mixed responses. Some feel terrible for the school called CPS on her because her son had a diagnosed mental

parent because they know the system. Many assume a parent’s illness which he was being treated for but the school wanted him

guilt saying,” If they were a good parent, CPS wouldn’t have withdrawn. When she refused to withdraw him, they alleged

been called” or “If there is nothing to hide then there is nothing to abuse. The case was closed in a few days, but at what point did

worry about.” The reality is that you have no idea what the case- the system meant to protect become a weapon to attack parents? 

worker assigned will perceive or how they feel about anything. The Hechinger Report did a story on the use of CPS by

As a mother, I have had instances where perfect strangers schools to strong-arm parents. “School employees in most states

have commented on my parenting. Toddler meltdowns in stores have a legal obligation to report any suspicion of abuse and

don’t just attract stares and looks of disapproval, some take it neglect, and they can play a critical role in helping keep children

upon themselves to call you a bad parent for not controlling your out of harm’s way. But in nearly three dozen interviews con-

“wild child”. As your child grows, the number of individuals ducted by The Hechinger Report and HuffPost, parents, lawyers,

that feel the need to tell you how to raise your child also grows. advocates and child welfare officials said that schools occasional-

Teachers, doctors, family and friends, coaches, troupe leaders— ly wield this authority inappropriately. Fed up with what they see

the list is never-ending. The comments that I find most interesting as obstinate parents who don’t agree to special education services

come from people that don’t have children. “If that was my child, for their child, or disruptive kids who make learning difficult,

they wouldn’t act that way.” And how many children do you schools sometimes use the threat of a child-protection investiga-

have? “None, but I wouldn’t tolerate that!” Well, come see me tion to strong-arm parents into complying with the school’s wish-

when you do have children. We’ll talk then. es or transferring their children to a new school. That approach is

Everyone’s an expert, and many believe their own style of not only improper, it can be devastating for families, even when

parenting is best, while yours is lacking. Point is, everyone sees the allegations are ultimately determined to be unfounded.”

things in their own way. So how do you know that the person Filing a report with CPS is anonymous. This is supposed to

sitting in your living room isn’t going to decide that your way of protect victims, but instead has allowed people to hide while

6 life is not the right way of life?  making false allegations that could result in a child being taken

Child Protective Services is a necessary agency. Unfortunate- from their home. Did you know that CPS can go to your child’s

The Last Butterfly/La Última Mariposa

Book Review by Gloria A. Ramírez, editor of La Voz de Esperanza

The beautifully written and illustrated bilingual book, that Monarchs and all animals and plants face with the LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•
The Last Butterfly/La Última Mariposa by co-authors, eradication of natural habitats. Questioning what caused
Carmen Tafolla and Regina Moya, introduces children of this eradication is certainly something children can talk
all ages to the magic that signals all living beings to live about. The child protagonist of the story, Manuel, speaks
in concert with one another on planet earth. Following the to everyone’s potential to save the earth from destruction.
life of Merliga, a chubby and slow caterpillar, who ulti- In the story, Manuel finds a solution to help guide Mer-
mately emerges from her cocoon transformed into a beau- liga and her sisters to their home. Even though, The Last
tiful Monarch butterfly, the reader will share her journey Butterfly/La Última Mariposa, is a story and a fantasy, the
of migration to a place where she will join hundreds of reality of our planet’s possible demise is communicated
thousands of her kind, but is met, instead, with the unex- clearly to children who read or hear this story in English
pected devastation of a forest no longer recognizable as and/or Spanish. The illustrations by Regina Moya com-
her beloved home. Merliga represents the endangerment municate the beauty, the devastation and the reawaken-
ing of hope from beginning to end. The stewardship of
our earth’s ambiente depends on its youngest inhabitants
developing a love of their natural surroundings and of all
sentient beings. The very survival of the planet depends,
too, on our imagining new ways of preserving and saving
our beautiful blue planet. This book opens up many pos-
sibilities for pláticas and discussions with young children
about caring for our planet and includes activites that
children can participate in to learn more about Monarch
butterflies. It is also a great springboard for the
study of other animals and plants and what we
as humans can do to protect and preserve
the earth, its inhabitants and natural habi-
tats. Available from Juventud Press: bit.
ly/last-butterfly

school and converse with them, without your knowledge or con- whelming majority of these instances involved single mothers on
sent? All the cases I’ve cited were unfounded and closed imme- a fixed income, mostly women of color. Is this just another way
diately. Thankfully, the individuals that were investigating were of creating obstacles and fear within our community? How many
reasonable. What happens when the caseworker isn’t reasonable? of you have similar stories?

Five years ago in a suburb of Houston, a mother of three sat YouthToday.org cited a report released in 2020 by Move-
on the porch of her home watching her kids ride bikes from her ment for Family Power, using numbers from 2017 (the most
driveway round the cul-de-sac that her home was in. She was current available data) that noted, “Over 500,000 parents were
shocked when sheriffs arrived and placed her in handcuffs while determined by the foster system to have mistreated their children.
her children were taken into CPS custody. She spent the night Almost all were low-income and disproportionately Black, Indig-
in jail and her children in a temporary foster home for over a enous, Latino or, in some instances LGBTQ parents.”
week—all because her neighbor said her children, ages 8-13,
were unsupervised. Her neighbor’s window allowed her to see the Awareness is the first step in combating this type of abuse in
driveway, but not the porch. There had been a dispute between the system. If you do find yourself living this horror story, please,
the homeowners about a fence. Is it a problem for children to play keep a level head. Know your rights. Keep records. If your
outside without constant supervision? I remember being outside children are removed from your home, contact Texas RioGrande
all day every day when I was their age. My mother did not watch Legal Aid at 210-212-3700. Never give up hope.
me every single second. Should a person go to jail and be sepa-
rated from their children for this? BIO: Kayla Miranda, a housing justice advocate organizing 7
in the Westside of San Antonio, resides at the Alazan/Apache
How much of this abuse is targeted towards low income Courts.
people of color? In searching news stories, I found that an over-

SACRAMENTALISM
versus DISCIPLESHIP

By Tarcisio Beal

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• The recent controversy over the Catholic formula used to baptize Catholics (Pierre Toussaint, founder of Catholic Charities; Henriette
children and others, once again, exposes how “sacred” power and DeLille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family; Father Augustus
control have throughout the centuries twisted the ultimate mean- Tolton; Julia Greeley, Denver’s “Angel of Charity;” Mother Mary
ing of Christian discipleship. According to a report from the New Lange, founder and Superior of the Oblate Sisters of Divine Provi-
York Times/San Antonio Express-News (February 20, 2022), Father dence; and Thea Bourman, of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual
Andrés Arango, pastor of St. Gregory Catholic Church, in Phoenix, Adoration), we should briefly look into the historical process of can-
Arizona, has baptized thousands of children with the wrong formula onization and its present shortcomings. If the traditional rules about
and, therefore, invalidly—because, instead of saying, “I” baptize declaring someone a saintly follower of Jesus are again enacted,
you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” he said ¨We quite a number of names might be eliminated and others not even
baptize you...” The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the considered. That’s because of the requirement of at least one certified
Faith confirmed that Arango’s baptisms, which he also performed in miracle as defined by Church authorities. The present canonization
Brazil and in the Diocese of San Diego, California, did not make the process to declare someone a saint was established by the Council
recipients Christians. Thomas J. Olmstead, Archbishop of Phoenix, of Trent in mid-16th century after the certification of at least one
added that “baptism is a requirement for salvation.” miracle. However, since the early Church and throughout the Middle
Ages, as the community of the faithful venerated someone as a saint,
The same controversy is now involving the Church of St. Anasta- the Church authorities would concur and place him/her on the list of
sia, in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Fathers Matthew Hood and Mark the holy ones. There was no lenghty process to verify whether he/she
Springer have both acknowledged using “We baptize you” instead of had performed miraculous deeds. It must also be noted that the list
“I baptize you.” “The Church”—said one parishioner—“is hung up of saints grew exponentially after the invention of the printing press
on a single word.” Never mind that, in the case of baptism, “we” actu- and that the largest portion of them were intellectuals, hermits, and
ally has meant, throughout the centuries, “the Christian community.” members of the clergy or the religious Orders.

Another controversy stirred by some archconservative cardinals Today, it is the people of God who initiate the process that ends
and bishops relates to Pope Francis’ prohibition of the Tridentine in a decision of the Roman Curia. In fact, from the late 1960s to the
Latin mass. A feature of the Council of Trent, the Latin mass allows 1990s, the terror of Latin American military dictators and their allies,
the celebrant to monopolize the liturgy, even if allowing some songs mostly land barons, multiplied into the thousands the number of
in the people’s native language and having lay distributors of the Christian martyrs now venerated by the people. The majority were
Eucharist place the bread in the faithful’s hand. Worst of all, the persecuted and killed because they helped and defended the poor
prayers of the Holy Friday continued to blame the Jewish people and the persecuted. Between 1978 and 1990, 750,000 Salvadorans
as the killers of Jesus. After Vatican II, however, the mass began to were slaughtered by government and para-military squads, includ-
be celebrated in the vernacular and the participation of the faithful ing (1) Four American missionaries (the Maryknoll Sisters Ita Ford
greatly increased. But Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, whose and Maura Clark; the Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel; and the lay
hierarchalism and insistence upon Tridentine liturgical regulations missioner Jean Donovan, all pictured below) who, on their way to
were well known, restored the Latin mass. Now that Pope Francis the airport were raped, killed and buried inside small trenches along
has restricted its use, some archconservative Catholics, including the highway, on December 2, 1980; (2) six Jesuit professors of the
some cardinals and bishops, are quite unhappy and very critical University of San Salvador (Antonio López Quintana, Ignacio Ella-
of the Pope. Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, an Englishman from the
Archdiocesis of Birming- curìa, Juan Ramón Pardo,
ham and President of the Joaquín López y López,
International Commis- Ignacio Martín-Baró, and
sion on English in the Segundo Montes Mozo)
Liturgy, harshly criticized plus their housemaids
Pope Francis’ decision to Elbal Julia Ramos and her
proscribe the Tridentine daughther Celina Maricet
mass, obviously because Ramos, all killed on No-
he wishes to have an Eng- vember 16, 1989.
lish version that literally
repeats the Latin mass. He While many Salva-
also blasted any mass celebration that includes the participation of dorans started to venerate
the people with their own native language, specifically the natives of these martyrs, Jean Kirkpatrick, U.S. Delegate at the United Nations
the Andes. For Wadsworth, such practices are equivalent to the wor- and a supporter of President Reagan´s military funding of the Sal-
ship of Pachamama, the fertility goddess of the Incas. vadoran government, uttered the following comment: “Those nuns
weren´t just nuns, you know, they were political activists.” This
8 Now, given the current proposal for the beatification of six Black kind of excuse or justification typifies the archconservative stance of

many wealthy Catholics and several prel- prohibited him from celebrating mass. In LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•
ates. It brings to mind what San Salvador’s 1916, he was excommunicated, reinstated,
martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero, assas- then expelled from the priesthood on March
sinated on March 24, 1980 and now declared 3, 1926. He died in 1934. Keep in mind that
a saint by Pope Francis, said during his visit to since Vatican I (1870), the major push of Rome
the University of Louvain, Belgium: “The po- was aimed at re-europeanization or re-romaniza-
litical dimension of the faith is nothing else than tion of the Church. That meant that popular devo-
the response of the Church to the exigencies of the tions and shrines outside of Europe were viewed
socio-political world in which the Church lives. We with suspicion. Rome was especially irritated with
rediscovered that these demands are fundamental Juazeiro and the Brazilian “beatas.” Vatican II and
to the faith, and the Church cannot ignore them.” Liberation Theology have been viewing popular de-
votions much more positively and now Pope Francis
Another major area of terror that produced many is specifically looking into the story of Padre Cícero
martyrs was Honduras’ Olancho Province. The whom he called “a model example of a changing
Honduran army, under Gal. Alberto Melgar, sacked Church.”
the churches and convents arresting 32 priests and Now, there is also at least one American who, we believe,
nuns. Honduras had the strongest labor union of small farm- should be among the list of new official saints of the Church,
ers (Unión Nacional de Campesinos, with 140,000 members) namely, Dorothy Day (pictured below)—a courageous and wholly
and this grealy irritated the land barons, especially José Manuel Catholic woman who championed the Catholic Workers Move-
Zelaya, who was behind the arrest and killing of the Colombian ment and who, in the 1960s, faced the opposition of the hierarchs,
priests Ivan Betancur and Wisconsin-born Franciscan Father Jerome especially of the Cardinal-Archbishop of Los Angeles and his clergy.
Cypher. The big landowners greatly resented the defense of basic hu- She viewed Christian spiritualilty as inseparable from social justice:
man rights and land rights of the campesinos by these priests. In June “We are working for a new heaven and a new earth where justice
1975, they were held first in jail, then taken to Zelaya’s Los Horones dwelleth. We are trying to say it with action ‘Thy will be done on
Ranch and barbarously tortured, dumped into a 150 meter deep hole earth as it is in heaven!.’ We are working for a Christian social order”
along with two young campesinos and dynamited into ashes. Zelaya (cf., Cornell, T, Ellsberg, R, & Forrest, T., A penny a copy. Readings
was never punished for his horrendous crimes. from the Catholic Worker. New York: Orbis, 1995, p. 31).
Pope Francis is now leading the Church to be truly apostolic by
The canonization of Oscar Romero (pictured above) has in- re-emphasizing synodality and the true meaning of the sacraments. At
creased the probabilities that all the martyrs mentioned thus far will least until the 4th century, the only sacrament (from the Latin “sacra-
also be considered to be officially declared saints by the Church. We mentum:” an oath of allegiance to a specific lifestyle) was a com-
must also add the names of Father Hector Gallego who was also a mitment to follow the example of Jesus. The imposition of specific
strong defender of the poor farmers and was murdered in Veraguas, clergy-controlled liturgical ceremonies were first enshrined in the
Panama; of the Argentinian Enrique Angelleli, Bishop of La Rioja, Canon Law by the Council Lateran IV (1215). Nevertheless, many
at the bottom of the Andes, a fearless defender of the natives, killed local churches kept on celebrating the Eucharist as the gathering of
by the police, who pushed him into a deadly car accident, then the community to share its faith and human resources. The Gallican/
claimed it was caused by the bishop himself. The killing of Angel- French Church, for instance, continued to celebrate the Eucharist as
leli occurred at a time when the Argentine armed forces were openly an agape, a feast of life, of shared nourishment and of love. In São
persecuting Jews and exalting Hitler and the Nazis—to the point of Paulo, Brazil, during the last decades of the 20th century, the subur-
inviting the people to come to the Buenos Aires Basilica to celebrate ban pastor Padre Zézinho, a well-known defender of the poor, had his
a mass in honor of “our friend and brother, Adolph Hitler.” Further- congregation sing the following hymn at Communion time:
more, there is quite a number of Latin American clergymen whose
lifestyle and Jesuan example should lead Rome to declare them Amar como Jesus amou To love as Jesus loved,
saints, specifically the Brazilians Padre Cícero Romão Batista, Dom
Hélder Câmara, Archbishop of Olinda-Recife, and Paulo Evaristo Sonhar como Jesus sonhou, To dream as Jesus dreamt,
Arns, Cardinal-Archbishop of São Paulo, who was my mentor dur-
ing my theological studies. Since the latter two were prominent in Pensar como Jesus pensou, To think as Jesus thought,
the creation of the new Church envisaged by Vatican II and are well-
known, we would like to briefly tell the story of Padim (Godfather) Viver como Jesus viveu, To live as Jesus lived,
Cícero, as the people of the State of Ceará called him.
Sentir como Jesus sentia, To feel as Jesus felt,
Pastor of the town of Juazeiro, Ceará, Padre Cícero was celebrat-
ing mass in 1889 and had placed the Sorrir como Jesus sorria: To smile as Jesus smiled:
sacred host in the mouth of Maria de
Araújo when something miraculous E ao chegar of fim do dia And by the end of the day
happened: the woman started bleed-
ing profusely through her mouth. Eu sei que eu dormiria muito mais feliz! I know I would sleep so much happier!
The people called it “a miracle”
and connected it with the celebrant. Ultimately, the only sacrament necessary for salvation is the
Rome’s Holy Office became alarmed “love of neighbor.” Without it, all seven sacraments lose their
with the multiplication of “beatas” meaning and effectiveness.
like Maria de Araújo, blamed the
surge of popular devotions on Padre BIO: Tarcisio Beal is professor Emeritus of History at the University
Cícero, placed them under strict
clerical control 1895 and, in 1896, of the Incarnate Word. 9

por Alvin O. Korte

Pre-adolescence is a time of being involved with same gender A game we played was called “puyazo” and involved trying
peers such as in boy or girl scouts, playing neighborhood base- to split another kid’s top by landing on it hard. My compa says he
ball, little league or more common today in one of the soccer saw several split in games in the neighborhood. My recollection
leagues or spending time shooting hoops. Our preadolescence is that these tops were made of some rather hard wood. I do re-
was different in that we would trek over to “La Guitarra” and “El member being enthralled by tops that would zoom because a hole
Violin” for swimming, catching pigeons, telling ghost stories, would be drilled on the side to create a buzz saw sound effect.
building race “cars.” We also played with trompos, tops which
we would buy at Katz Five & Dime on Bridge St., Las Vegas, Kids would naturally make comparisons about their tops.
New Mexico, if we had money, else we would trade for them. Some were small tops others rather large. All were wooden. It
Some kids had a big brother make them in high school shop. is interesting that not one wooden top was found
for the writing of this piece. The plastic top
Trompos have always fascinated me. First it is a child’s toy displayed in the picture (at right) came from a
shaped like an inverted cone, with a point at its apex and made to specialty store in Santa Fe. It has excellent spin-
spin by various means usually by quickly unwinding a string. The ning characteristics although it took this writer
top is then thrown on a usually flat surface where it spins and some time to get my top throwing skills into
spins until it runs out of momentum. The 1937 Enciclopedia
Ilustrada goes into the physics and mathematics that has to do play. In throwing the top the point
with the spinning of tops. has to face up rather than down.

Tin tops were another type of top. They
would be bought at the store. These tops would

have a flat spiral rod going down the middle that
would be pumped several times to get the
top spinning. Holes on the side created
a neat sound effect.

There are many types of tops. The top is known to manyLA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• Cazuleja
cultures the world over. One source says that clay tops were dis-
covered in ancient Ur, a site in Iraq dating back to 4500 b.c. This Reyes Martínez described the following game called cazuleja for
source also says that the characteristics of a top can be found in the New Mexico Writer’s Project in the 1930s:
nature. An interesting example is the acorn. It has all the char-
acteristics of a top. For that matter an apple with a stick driven For cazuleja several rings, called cazulejas, about six feet in
through it can also server as a top. Anything that can be made to diameter each, were drawn on the ground, about thirty feet apart,
spin along its axis is a top. Does this mean a bullet qualifies? The in circular or rectangular arrangement. To start the game a mark
lowly top, however, usually has a nail or a point on its narrowest (usually a spit-mark or a small hole) was made in the center of
point on which it spins. one of the rings. Each player then spun his top at the mark in
an effort to hit it, or as near as possible to it. The player hitting
Games with Tops farthest from the mark had to lay his top in the center of the ring.
This top was called “El Muerto” (the dead one). Then the other
There are a number of games that are fostered by the character- players would spin their tops against the dead one in the ring in
istics of the top. One such game is to see how long a top spins. an effort to drive it from one ring to another, as in the game of
The one whose top spins the longest is the winner. Other games Arriada, one that in Cazuleja there were no opposing sides, the
involve putting a top within a small circle. Another possibility dead top was driven in one direction, only, and the players were
is picking up the top while it is spinning with one’s hand while also allowed to pick up from the ground, in their hand, their
spinning tops and hurl them against the dead one as many times
10 another variant is using the string to pick up the spinning top and as possible, while spinning, driving it in the direction of the next
place it next to a target. ring. While the dead top lay inside of a cazuleja, it was fair to
drive it out only by spinning their tops at, toeing the ring, and
not hurling a spinning top at it, picked up with the hand, this was
allowed only between the rings. Any player failing to strike the
dead top with his own spinning top, had to lay it in place of the
dead one. This game had such entrancing fascination that it was
played almost daily; the younger folks engaging in this pastime

on Saturdays and Sundays, when they had no school. (Works G, H, and S are on the dreidel. These really stood for the Judeo-
Progress Administration Files, # 353, New Mexico State Record German words for nimm, “take,” gib, “give” halb, “half” and stell
Center and Archives). “put”; but they were popularly interpreted as the initial letters of
the Hebrew motto, Nes Gadol Hayan Sham, (Nes –N miracle,
Games of Chance Gadol –G great, Hayan-H happened, Sham – S there), thus “A
great miracle took place there.” We are told that in Israel instead
The next game is called “pon-pon” by the four actions it entails. of the fourth letter, we are told the fourth letter “shin” is substi-
Another name has not yet surfaced. Before the game is played tuted with “peh” meaning “a great miracle happened here.” The
each player has something like candy, coins, piñon. My uncle told Festival of Lights has a lot more meanings including that of over-
me beans were used in the labor camps in Rocky Ford, Colorado coming oppression, celebrating identity, freedom and expression.
in the 1920s. This is a game in which a homemade top is spun
manually and depending on which letter or word it falls on—one How the trompito of the Pon, Todo, Nada and Saca came to
of four actions can occur. If P comes up then the player has to have the same characteristics of the dreidel is not so mysterious.
ante up. P stands for “pon”/”put” into the pot. T for “todo” means The chart at bottom compares the “pon-pn” and dreidel.
the player can take all there is in the pot. N stands for “nada”,
you win nothing. S means “saca” you can take out half of the pot. The red and yellow plastic top has great spin character-
Some spinners had a “D” which I understand stood for “deja”. N istics. If you are totally inept at throwing it you can use a plastic
was for nothing. An example of “pon-pon” with the words written belt (not shown) that can be used to set certain tops spinning.
out is pictured on page 10.
The top pictured next to the article’s title comes from
I asked my uncle to make me one of these tops and he made Mazatlan, Mexico. It has a mecate, a shoe-string
one that looked remarkably like the one used on Jewish obser-
vances at Hanukkah. The top (spinner) with letters in the picture that as it is pulled drops the spinning top to the
at the bottom of this page came from the Senior Center in Taos floor. The colors are dazzling as it spins.One
and was brought to me by a student. I have seen one other from has to admire the simple, effective mecha-
the Villanueva area. In showing these off to the the students, a nism for its operation. The blue plastic top at
Jewish student brought in the yellow one with Hebrew charac- left lights a set of lights as it spins. The gyroscope
ters which I had never seen. It is called a dreidel and has a lot of
significance beyond it being a game of chance. (below) is a top with an axle supported on
two points on which a wheel revolves.
One can also use a string or use the
belt to set it in motion. This device
has an indentation on the top brace
on which one can put another spin-
ning gyroscope on top or also on
its sides. Anyone interested in putting

several spinning gyros on top of each
other? ¡Andale no te rajes!

The Festival of Lights BIO: Alvin O. Korte is a social worker in Las Vegas, New LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•
Mexico. He is also the author of Nosotros: A Study of Everyday
In Theodore H. Gaster’s book Festivals of the Jewish Year (1952, Meanings in Hispano New Mexico. El Trompo was previously
p. 247) a top called a dreidel is played by Jewish children and published in La Plática del Norte, vol. 5, issue 1.
adults during Hanukkah. Acquiring somebody else’s geld (a form
of chocolate covered coins) or other types of candy or goodies is Save the Date!
the object of the game. The game is played during the Festival of
Lights or Hanukkah as it was called by the historian, Josephus. Paseo por el Westside
The festival of lights is to celebrate the victory of the Maccabees May 7, 2022
over the Syrian Greeks. Only one lamp was found to light the
temple. The light lasted for 8 days hence the lighting of 8 candles @ Rinconcito de Esperanza
during the feast of light, Hanukkah. The Hebrew characters for N,
816 S. Colorado St. • www.museodelwestside.org

How the trompito of the Pon, Todo, Nada and Saca came to have the same characteristics of the dreidel

‫ נ‬Nun Nothing happens—next player spins the dreidel N for nada, nothing is taken out 11
‫ ג‬Gimel Player takes all tokens in the pot T for todo, winner takes the whole pot
‫ ה‬Hey Player takes half the pot S for saca, winner takes half the pot
‫ ש‬Shin Player must put one token in P for pon, player must ante-up one token

Adolfo Bermea Segura
June 17, 1941 - February 22, 2022

Adolfo Bermea Segura transi- abruptly. After retiring Adolfo

tioned peacefully with his family took charge of fixing breakfast

by his side on 2.22.22. The twos and cooking. Having com-

that defined the day of his pass- passion for people in need,

ing may have been a sign of his Adolfo, responded to a call

luminous being and the power of his for help when over 20 years

presence on earth. The number two is ago the Sisters of Jesús, María

known as a supremely feminine force, y José from Sacred Heart

one that represents both grace and power. Church needed help distribut-

It represents partnership—and leads to ing bread to low income folks.

harmony and teamwork, not control and Adolfo knew where to find

authority. Indeed, Adolfo’s presence was always gente that needed help. He began

understated but powerful as he assisted his wife of 51 to serve those in need with his

years, Guadalupe, with her many DIY projects. Married family’s help. Prepping fruits and

en la Iglesia San José in Piedras Negras they always worked vegetables and providing needed

together as a team and raised three children—Fito, Susana and items donated by the community Adolfo continued

José Luis in the southside of San Antonio. Adolfo always put his ministering to those who were in need. When Susana began to

family first and was a source of peace and balance for them. His live on the Westside ten years ago, the family focused their work

favorite time of year was lent which this year began on March there especially during the pandemic when there was a surge
2nd—Ash Wednesday—a day he insisted his family observe.
of unsheltered folk. With Adolfo now gone, the family will

Susana, his continue distributing bread and needed items. The outpouring of

daughter, who community support for Adolfo’s mission began almost immedi-
is part of the ately following his passing with Susana posting on Feisbuk how
Esperanza
people can contribute to the effort. [To donate contact Susana
staff, recalled Méndez Segura on FaceBook.] In preparing Adolfo’s despedida
on FB the
with the ultimate destination being his burial at San José Burial
time she for- Park, Guadalupe turned to her skills as a florist that she had used
LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• got to get her many a time before to adorn weddings, quinceañeras, funerals
ashes. Getting and other celebrations. This time Adolfo would not be around to
home late
expertly pack the van and gently place the flowers in so as to not
after work at harm them. He would not be there to set up and take down the
2am, her Dad
Adolfo & Guadalupe Segura were married for 51 years. met her at arrangements. And, he would not be the one who would handle
the casket spray—a job only he could do. The family would be
the door and asked, “Where are your ashes?” “Awwww man,” going it alone, from now to forever—but his presence and guid-
ance remains. He will now live in their hearts.
responded Susana. No problem! Her Dad simply rubbed his
The Esperanza staff, board and Buena Gente extend our
greasy forehead on hers and recited, “You are dust, and to dust heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Adolfo Bermea Segura,
loving husband of Guadalupe Segura who has always been a
you will return.” Even though Adolfo missed lent this year, his
part of Día de los Muertos, Peace Market/Mer-
favorite recipe for capirotada will always be part of the family’s cado de Paz and Paseo por El Westside—al-
ways with the help and presence of Adolfo. An
celebration at lent. In post after post on feisbook, Susa- amazing dad, husband, grandpa, yerno,
cuñado, compadre, uncle, brother and son,
na shared stories about her father and his gentle nature. Adolfo—with roots in the culturas of the
Yaqui, the Mexican, and the German—
In waking her up, for instance, he would first turn was right with God and the Universe
and left the world ready for the next.
on her light. After a bit of time, he would return May he rest in peace and power!
¡Que descanse en paz y poder!
to whisper in her ear “wake up sleeping

beauty, wake up!” If he got no reaction

from her, he would return and tug on her

ear or grab her big toe and wiggle her

foot, a little. The last resort was rubbing

between her eyebrows. He said people
12 could get sick or get “susto” if awakened,

Pandemic Musings

By Maria De la Cruz gardening, it is time to put non-revenue-generating properties to
work for the benefit of our locals.
Recently, some ideas have been brewing in my brain. I have
no outlet for them, though. Part of me wants to write a letter to Repurpose other vacant buildings into housing [*4]. With so
the mayor. It just seems like a community response requires a many people out of work and with the increased need for food
response that is not “business as usual.” However, I don’t know production, perhaps new jobs as urban farmers can be generated.
how the city works, so I don’t know if my ideas are imple- Farmers need to be near the source of growth (as farming is not
mentable, especially as I am not an economist. just a 9–5 job), so it would make sense to offer free or discounted
housing to urban farmers working for the benefit of our local
Here are some of my brain-children: citizens. If needed, such housing could also be opened to ben-
efit other essential workers, who often are also “working poor,”
Our food bank has seen a surge in service, and they are not people who work hard but struggle to earn a living wage, and
always able to stay in stock, or it is getting expensive to do so. who likewise are the workforce the rest of society depends on.
Many households are currently depending on its service. Mean-
while, many community gardens are directing harvests to the Offer food-production employment [*5] to any citizen who
wants or needs it. There are many people in need, not just the

Peas and squash grown in my inner city front yard; San Antonio, Summer 2014. LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•

food bank and directly to community members undergoing hard- standard homeless person living on the streets. Food production
ship. This reveals one edge in which the city can grow — food jobs should be made available to anyone who would like to work.
production.
Update to compost-toilets [*6] and install rain-catchment [*7]
Develop a large city garden [*1]. This is one way of keeping systems for water [*8]. One big critique of raising food is that it
citizens nourished. Not only does it raise food for the population, consumes a lot of water. This can be addressed by 1) decreasing
it also offers labor to those in need. the use of potable water for flushing down refuse, and 2) increas-
ing the amount of water for irrigation. The toilet issue can be
Develop an edible forest [*2]. San Antonio is in need of much addressed in two ways: a) either flush with non-potable water, or
shade, especially in the summer months. It would be wonderful to b) don’t flush by switching to dry-compost toilets (already legal
not only receive shade from trees, but also a snack while cooling in Austin [*9]). The rain catchment system can be addressed in
off. Furthermore, increased vegetation “drinks up” storm water non-complicated ways by deviating rain from roof-tops into cis-
that could otherwise lead to floods. terns, which can then feed drip-irrigation systems for vegetation.
In these ways, rainwater can be used during rainy periods, and
Repurpose some vacant buildings into indoor gardens [*3]. potable water can be used during drought.
Downtown has many old buildings that have been in disuse for
many years. These old buildings are conveniently located near Dual currency/Alternative currency [*10], or Time-dollar
hotels and restaurants. Chic restaurants are turning to locally-
sourced goods, both because it is trendy and because it supports 13banking [*11] system. A few communities in other countries
the local economy. With the growth of hydroponics and indoor
have dual currency/alternative currency. In such systems, food,

and other basic necessities are paid with local/alternative cur- they are doing that. However, this does not guarantee proj-

rency, which keeps prices low for locals only. This champions the ect success, when goals are lofty and expertise is missing.

local population, as they struggle to compete with more affluent In general, online education is challenging for children and

external partners. External partners would have to pay with stan- adults because online relationships are abstract; such plat-

dard national currency. If a dual currency system cannot be put forms require being a self-starter, and having self-direction,

in place, or if alternative currency becomes politicized, a Time self-discipline, and abundant motivation to learn — since

Dollar system can be used instead. A Time Dollar system assigns social engagement is missing. While some learners have

1 time dollar for each hour of volunteer service ($1=1 volunteer these characteristics, the majority do not. Even for adults,

hour). Alternatively, a service may be assigned a specific amount blended learning is always considered best. It’s great that

of time dollars if T$1 per volunteer hour is deemed too little. It we want to dissolve the digital divide practically overnight,

could, for example, be T$15/hour or more.) Those time dollars but realistically, this is something that we should have been

could then be used to pay for locally produced food, housing, working on over the past 10 years [*15].

clothing, services, water, electric, etc. Foreign items, or items • ** The idea of educational pods [*16] has been interest-
not considered basic needs, would need to be paid with national ing. If a couple of families can gather to learn together, and
dollars, like computers, the parents can
phone service, internet, tag-team teach,
imported entertain- maybe while using
ment. (Potentially, an a “blanket online/
exchange rate could be broadcast cur-
generated so that those riculum,” then that
who only earn one type could meet the
of currency would have blended learning
access to the other, but needs of all learn-
only locals should have ers.
access to both. Some-
• ** Note
one might have to make
— 8/4/2020:
the decision about the
Work towards
parameters that con-
Restorative Justice
stitute a local citizen,
[*17]. More
for example, based on
recently, the Black
length of residency.)
Lives Matter and
The Digital Divide It’s great that we want to dissolve the digital divide practically overnight, but realistically, this is something that Defund the Police

is real. As people debate we should have been working on over the past 10 years. protests [*18],

whether students should 0followed by the deployment of federal police have been

be returning to school with questions of safety, alternatives taking center stage. Violence in general has been rising in

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3• that address the digital divide should be considered. Before the society. It is time for something different; at the same time,

internet, individuals could take classes via educational television the structures that uphold violence cannot be demolished

shows. Math, science, art, and language classes have been devel- overnight. Yes, racial issues need to be addressed because

oped for television via broadcast, VHS, and DVD. Also, other it seems society simply sweeps these issues under the rug;

countries have schooled rural populations via radio broadcasts. this would involve internal work to take a look at the parts

In this day and age, it may seem anachronistic to return to pre- of ourselves that we don’t want to see (psychologists call it

digital outlets, but the digital divide makes it necessary to meet shadow work), and external work, to have dialogs that build

families where they are. Most, if not all, families have access to structures that respect human life. Moreover, internal and

TV [*12] and radio [*13]. Tutors can also be available by phone. external work need to take place both in small circles, such

If pre-digital devices seem ludicrous to a digitally dependent as individual/family, and wider circles, such as community/

population, podcasts and video casts can be saved to devices, society.

phones, USB’s, CD’s, DVD’s, etc. With such “blanket education”

platforms, the teacher’s role can be changed from lead to sup- I realize that some might consider these ideas really far

port, so students can continue receiving individualized learn- fetched. In fact, they are solutions already in existence in other

ing. Moreover, the “job” of parents can be changed to “in-home parts of the world. I think that times such as these require a little

teacher,” which the government should consider paying, so that thinking outside the box, and make it necessary to tap novel solu-

parents don’t have to be unemployed. Meanwhile, educators and tions that are already helping others in other parts of the world. At

school staff that don’t themselves have family can take the lead the very least, these ideas might be something to fall back on, in

as remote “educational support” so parents don’t feel lost. case other methods don’t work.

• ** Note — 7/28/2020: A news [*14] segment recently ex- Medium link: bit.ly/pan-musings [*19]

pressed surprise that many teachers were not experienced in BIO: Maria A. De la Cruz, born and raised in San Antonio, is
online education. Perhaps people don’t realize online educa- an alumna of UTSA, Seton Hill University, and Peae Corps. She

14 tion is considered its own expertise, as a stand-alone degree. leaves parts of herself in the geographical memory of lands and
I realize schools are turning to exclusive online education people where she travels and does projects to help others.
by handing out ipads to low-income families. It’s good that

Notas Y Más Start your 2022
tax deductible gifts
April 2022
Give to the Esperanza in spirit of solidarity
Community meetings and cultural art events are again taking so we can continue to speak out, organize
place virtually due to continuing concerns about COVID. Check and fight for our communities for another
websites, FB or call 210-228-0201 for meetings and events 30 Years. Your support is needed NOW more
currently scheduled. www.esperanzacenter.org
than ever! Thank you for your gifts!
Gemini Ink, SA’s Antonio: A UNESCO Creative City Send donations to Esperanza

Writing Arts Center of Gastronomy OR Public Art of San Esperanza Peace
And Justice Center
announces its spring writing classes Antonio. Submissions deadline is
922 San Pedro Avenue
including Edward Vidaurre, Texas Monday, April 18, 2022 at 4 p.m. San Antonio, TX 78212

Poet Laureate from McAlllen, Tx CST. See: www.filmsanantonio. To sign up as a monthly donor,
Call 210.228.0201 or
who offers a Poetry Reboot on April com/News-Events/Film-Contests
email: [email protected]
9 @ 10am - 1 pm to dismantle the Now Available! The
obstacles that stop your creative Alamo, A Cradle of Visit www.esperanzacenter.org/donate
for online giving options.
process. Visit geminiink.org or call Lies, Slavery and
210-734-WORD (9673) for more!. White Supremacy by ¡Mil Gracias!
Mario Marcel Salas of

San Antonio. Visit

www.sentiapublishing.

com/alamo

The 2022 #FilmSA Contest Haymarket Books,
sponsored by the San Antonio Film Books for changing the
Commission seeks to inspire youth world offers books,
to explore filmmaking and gain online teach-ins and
an appreciation for the city of San
Antonio. Films will address: San live-stream programming on
progressive topics now in the news.

Check haymarketbooks.org

Trinity University to Host Mars Needs More Women LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•
6th Annual Arturo Madrid Lecture Series
Project: MASA-V

This year’s symposium will feature On exhibit through June 10, 2022
presentations by distinguished schol- Monday-Thursday, 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m. 
ars on the work of Chicana novelist Centro Cultural Aztlán
Helena María Viramontes. Presenters 1800 Fredericksburg Rd, Ste 103, San Antonio TX
include: Cordelia Barrera. Ph.D. (Texas www.centroaztlan.org/210.432.1896
Tech University), Mary Pat Brady, Ph.D. Curated by Cathryn Merla-Watson Phd & Iliana Pompa
(Cornell University), Jody Marin, Ph.D. With works dealing with Chican@futurism by: Catherine
(Texas A&M Kingsville) and Gabriella Cisneros, Celeste De Luna, Yareth Fernandez, Brandy
Gutiérrez y Muhs, Ph.D. (Seattle Uni- González, Suzy Gonzalez, Nansi Guevara, Mari Hernandez,
versity). To register, go to madridlec- Terry Ybañez, Lizette Ortiz, Pocha Peña, Sam Rawls, Natali
Guest speaker: Chicana ture2022.eventbrite.com. For more Rocafuerte, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Ana Lilia Salinas, Cindy
novelist Helena María information, email [email protected]. Valeras, Liliana Wilson, Guillermina Zabala
Viramontes A catalog and artists’ video interview premier is
scheduled for May 4, 2022, 6-9PM.
Trinity University William Knox Holt Center
15
106 Oakmont Court
Thursday, April 7, 1-6pm

Madrid Lecture by Viramontes @ 5 pm
Book signing to follow.

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • April 2022 Vol. 35 Issue 3•

WESTSIDE SAN ANTONIO: Noche Azul
TAKING IT PUBLIC
Noche Azul de Esperanza
Public History and Community Continues Spring 2022

Friday, April 8, 2022 • 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. FaceBook.com/esperanzacenter
@ St. Mary’s University www.esperanzacenter.org
Saturday, April 9, 2022
9:30 am - 7:30 pm Esperanza Peace & Justice Center Non-Profit Org.
922 San Pedro San Antonio TX 78212 US Postage
@ Esperanza Peace & Justice Center 210.228.0201 • www.esperanzacenter.org PAID

This conference is a collaboration between St. Mary’s San Antonio, TX
University’s Public History Graduate Program and the Permit #332
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. St. Mary’s prepares
students to research and disseminate history about Haven’t opened La Voz in a while? Prefer to read it online? Wrong address?
the Westside while Esperanza’s grass-roots activism is TO CANCEL A SUBSCRIPTION EMAIL [email protected] CALL: 210.228.0201
committed to community-based historical research and
preservation. Our goal is for students, grass-roots com-
munity members, and scholars to learn from each other
and encourage continuing collaboration in the interest of
public history and historic preservation.
To view the full schedule of sessions with venues, visit:
bit.ly/WSA-2022.

The conference is funded by St. Mary’s University’s O’Connor Chair
for the History of Hispanic Texas and the Southwest, an endowment
gift of the Thomas M. O’Connor Family of Victoria, Texas.

Questions? Contact Rose Mary Gallegos at 210-436-3586.

Dolores Solis Maria del Refugio Ernst Margarita Huantes

Gloria G. Rodriguez Andrea Villarreal Teresa Villarreal

New profiles for the "Women & Activism in the Westside" exhibit
Visit the Museo del Westside website at www.museodelwestside.org