Bob Rivard, Editor of the San Antonio Express-News, threatens the Esperanza Center because of my blog

On Friday, October 6, Bob Rivard, the Executive Editor of the San Antonio
Express-News, the only major newspaper in San Antonio, sent an email to
Graciela Sanchez, the director of the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, one
of the most vanguard arts and cultural centers in the country, based in
San Antonio.  In this letter, he threatens to deny media coverage to the Center
because of my blog.  And while the email has a subject heading titled
"A Private Communication," the CC line includes all the editors
of the newspaper, see below:

CC: "Thacker, Brett"
"Bertling,  Terry"
"Richter,Bob"
"Thomason, Craig"
"Garcia, Guillermo"
"Davidson, Bruce"

I am not a staffmember of the Esperanza Center, but a consultant. I've
responded to Graciela Sanchez, explaining that with this letter, Rivard 
violates all standards of ethical journalism and shows a tyrannical 
disrespect for free speech.

Here is the letter from Rivard in its entirety:

Hi Graciela,

We don't believe reporters here are stating that they are prohibited
from writing about controversial issues. We invite you to provide
further details to support that assertion. If anyone here is saying
such things, we would quickly disabuse them of such a wrong-headed claim.
We publish controversial stories all the time.
On a larger subject, it is hard for us to reconcile the professional
tone of your communication here with the character assassination
offered by Esperanza staff member BRG on her blog. Her only possible sources
for her misstatements of fact and her fantasies are the Esperanza members
who attended the editorial board meeting with you. Do you or any of
the others really believe I was leering at someone's breasts during the
meeting? BRG seems obsessed with her sexual fabulsims involving me.
At least one prominent Latina journalist has confronted her about her
false rumor-mongering in the past. I also am at a loss to understand how
BRG can assert that I undercut Guillermo Garcia in the meeting. Guillermo
and I have been friends and colleagues dating back to our shared days
at the Brownsville Herald nearly 30 years ago. I asked him to account
for his anti-Semitism statement from Rabbi Block and he did so quite
convincingly after consulting his notes, which fully support his
story,which the newspaper stands by.
We have always welcomed you and your colleagues
to the Express-News,and we would like to maintain
a professionalrelationship with you and the
Esperanza.It's unclear to me whether that is
possible.
(emphasis mine)

Bob

Huipiles at the Museo Alameda: There is nothing to celebrate

So some young latinas asked me yesterday about the "Huipiles" at the Museo Alameda. They were confused about the Exhibit. The photo below is by a commercial artist, Liz Garza Williams, one of the artists in the Huipiles Exhibit, and this is her photo of the featured artist, Kathy Sosa, wife of Republican party advertising-mogul Lionel Sosa, who is also in the show. You know what this visual says to young latinas, who comprise the majority population in this region? This photo, indicative of the quality and imagery in this Huipiles exhibit, says "See how I own your past? Do you see how beautiful I am wearing what you don't even know about? You can't even afford your own history, because only a rich woman like me is good enough and beautiful enough to wear it." Now the Museo Alameda has asked latina scholars to contribute to "panels," to discuss "huipiles." There is a documentary that accompanies the show where some huipil-dres...

Today is Tuesday, May 3rd, and so much has happened. A brain tumor. More yoga and walking. A little less combat. Weight dropping. Spirit rising. Back in the city, where I belong. Looking for good photos to give you, organizing my crazy files. And a new President! So much to say, more than beating up on him -- that will only take us so far. Time to hit the streets, challenge the fears that he represents. Don't be afraid, no tengan miedo. If I survived a massive brain tumor -- big as a grapefruit -- we can survive and transcend this. More tomorrow. One day a week from now on.

Can I get a VIA Bus after my cerveza?

Okay, so today I met with Juan Lopez, who, like me, rides the VIA bus. If you live in the city, the bus is pretty good if you're going north/south. It's the crosstown buses and the 551 Looper that drives me crazy. I wish they were more colorful, like in Mexico, and that the drivers were allowed to play their music! This Calvinist heritage! But I love the bus. Babies, tattoos, the elderly, ride the bus. Humanity. For reals. Today, Juan said something really profound. "If the city is so concerned about DWIs (Los borrachos, he means), then why doesn't VIA offer 24-hour service during Fiesta?" Are you listening, VIA? I know you offer special service for the basketball games, the Rodeo, And God knows what else... Or is the City wanting the fines from the DWIs or maybe just wants to put more borrachos in jail? http://www.viasmartmove.com

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