Story Archives

by Joseph Bolden, staff writer,

I am deadly serious on:
'Traditional Death In America' mainly about Black Americans
but other people's in the United States who're also seen the raw,
mean underside of America. Our people have done everything proving
we are a loyal, dedicated, and sacrificed as Americans can be, Lord
knows our blood and bodies are all over this land, we’ve bled
and died in every war, on foreign soil yet we are always told "It
ain't enough, Never Enough."

Traditional Death:
America is a Kill Zone Pt. 1)

Think about it, let it
sink in... America is in the title but it could be Japan/China/Philippine,
Great Britain/Scotland/Ireland/India, or Jewish/Catholic/Protestant/German
to Russian/Slav /Polish/ Armenian/Syria/Palestinian/Arab/Africa/South
Africa.

They all have a common
thread at one time each has had near genocidal destruction rained
down on them either because of their race, religion, country, and
perceived inferiority. Everyone of them have physical and psychological
scars handed down from generation to generation all have persevered
in spite of terror, death, tricks, and threats set apon them plus
all if people dig beyond the surface have fantastic, glorious his/herstories
of literature, music, poetry, dance, architecture, past of noble
deeds, daring, great lives of survival, lived, lost, and struggled
to surpass the darkness; all in their unique humanity becoming a
shining people on the world's stage.

If I have forgotten nations
(besides African Nations) forgive me, though ignorance is no excuse
there are simply too many great nations and people's for me to remember
but they too are included in humakinds tapestry. African's may know
more of their own genealogy, his/herstory than we hybrid African
Americans (yes, hybrid A-American's ) we're so diluted by
American slavery I cannot say I'm pure anything. We like other mixed
races are unique, we are the new people of the new world and we
breed true, sterility is not our propblem living and staying alive
is.

But as African's do we
too multiply that has been American's waking nightmare seeing these
multicolor faces all over America! Except concentrating on killing
us they sometimes forgot about Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese, and
the rest of the rainbow crowd. Because we do so intimately know
America so well she/he the Bitch or Bastard does its best ignoring
our cries, warnings to others coming to shore "America can one hell
of an opportunity or simply Hell."

America's Tradition besides
using black women as breeding stock, black men to stud, sex/love/lust
was mixed, feelings of slaves didn't matter-it was all about creating
a commodity to raise, sell or one day do both. We in untold billions
died, committed suicide killing our children rather have them live-in-hell
chained forever in this New World called America.

We read of White masters
cohabiting with slave woman black sometimes white but mainly black.
white women were deemed to dainty, pure, genteel, to be handled
so roughly and because of the patriarchal power black women are
blamed for being lascivious, I wonder how many white woman revenged
themselves by taking black males as secret lover's never revealing
him and as for children, they could be sold with no one the wiser.

Scientific Racism: [Pseudo
or false-fake Science justifying racist policies, laws and/or beliefs.]

In 1851 Dr. Samuel A.
Cartwright, a respected physician created a mental illness peculiar
to Black people. "The effort of the slave to gain his freedom
by running away from the plantation, he said was a symptom of
a serious mental disease called "DRAPETOMAIA." Dr. Cartwright
maintained that this hideous condition could be cured by
recapturing the 'patient', rubbing him down with oil and
beating him into submission.

Scientific racist scholarship
has emerged to justify police against Blacks. These studies, such
as Bell Curve, argue that behavior, such as intelligence and criminality,
are genetically determined.

Blacks, they insist,
are genetically coded to commit violent crimes and are beyond the
bounds of society and civil rights. Sounds like Scientific Racism
again. African American men are 45% of those on death row, although
they are but 6% of the population.[excerpt from Antonio Monteiro,
07/28/00,We Charge Genocide!!]

by Staff Writer

Misunderstood

Misunderstood cuz I was born and raised with a dangerous mentality of a dangerous hood.

With my mom cryin herself tah sleep everynite, wishing her lil babyboy would sleep in his bed tight.

I�m shouting out pain so loud which nobody can hear, me getting killed is my moms worst fear.

Trying to express my pain but it just never comes out, but I feel that every single letter in this poem is screaming out loud.

The stress took 7 of my friends but no tears come out kuz like steel I don�t want to bend.

Hurts to see my homeboys name in the obituary, look at all the pain and struggle that surrounds my territory.

But whos to blame for all this pain, all I can do is just keep it mom cuz it�s part of the game.

But for the government in labeled a gangbanger, even tho that mite be true but I�m smart wit a heart like a pit so watch out muthafuckas cuz that means danger.

Raised in a home were my pops is an alchoholic, I can hear him in the middle of the night choking on his own vomit.

From my pops bein my biggest hero that I wanted to be, to him hitting my mom is all I would see.

As a lil youngstah bein with the bigboys on the streets and on the block, doin what I had to do never tripn of the clock.

Would never be home to avoid the fights, were the fuck have you heard of a 10 yr old coming home at 3 o� clock at nite.

My mom had to raise 3 kids on her own, now I take care of my sisters and my mom cuz now I�m grown.

Even tho I�m the youngest I�m still the man of the house cuz my pops ain�t down, I feel like I don�t got no dad even tho he still around.

If my pen was my needle and my words were heroin, I would inject into the world and fuck up the government.

Life is a burnin candle, once its out theres no coming just dirt and gravel.

Get harassed by police a lot of choices I�ve made, but fuck it bruh I�m not the one to blame.

Fuck a blue sky I rather let it rain cuz maybe it would help wash my pain away.

by Staff Writer

Communities from up and down the West Coast will converge in San Francisco to demonstrate our immense energy and BE THE CHANGE this administration needs to do what is right. Shoulder to shoulder we will take the necessary steps to win affordable housing and civil rights for everyone! For two days we will organize, dance, evoke the vision and spirit of MLK, Jr. and grow the movement for social justice.

January 20, 2010 marks the one-year anniversary of the Obama Administration. He came to power through a powerful grassroots campaign movement. That movement – driven by hope and change – has foundered on business as usual in DC.

We do know that change can come quick, just look at the +700 billion of taxpayer's dollars that went to bail out Wall Street. What did those most in need get? $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing funds! The change barometer reads: little to no change.

Organize or Die!

What are the consequences of these priorities? 39.8 million people living below the poverty line (17 million people in “deep poverty”), a 26-year high unemployment rate, 46.3 million uninsured people, and 49 million people who face food insecurity. Homelessness is up 12 percent in cities across the country.

In response to this growing crisis, many local governments and business improvement districts have created programs that force growing numbers of poor people out of gentrifying or neglected neighborhoods and into jails.

From anti-homeless loitering, sitting, and sleeping laws to immigration checks at health programs and public schools to arrest histories in public housing and employment, we must stop this pattern of oppression and demand our human rights. It's quite simple: organize or die!

by Leroy Moore/Illin n Chillin

A leading Muslim jurist of Spain in the twelfth
century, Ibn Hazam, advocated that disability should
not be an impediment to becoming a leader. And indeed
the history of Islam is full of people living with
their disabilities who have served their communities.
For example:

Akbar The Great was a king of but he
had dyslexia and could not read or write.

Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum, a blind man was put in
charge of the city of Madinah by Prophet Muhammad more then ten times. Every time the Muhammad left town he relied on Abdullah ibn Umm Maktum to run the city.

In the last ten years, Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, was a
spiritual leader, teacher and founder of Hamas. His
ideas and leadership sprung from his involvement with
the Muslim Brotherhood religious organization.
He was the second most important Palestinian leader after PalestinianAuthority (PA) President Yasser Arafat. Sheikh Ahmed Yasin was killed on March 20th 2004 by The Israelis Airforce.

Although many Muslim scholars have written that the
Quran offers very little on disabilities, the Quran
outlines example of inclusion, and because of that
Islam is welcoming, opening and accessible to people
with disabilities. The insight on the role of people
with disabilities within the Muslim faith, the Quran
and Hdith Prophet Muhammads Tradition, recorded
statements, includes at least one example of the
practice of inclusion of an individual with a
disability in Muslim daily duties. The story of
Julabib tells how a physically disabled man who was
one of the Prophets companions fought in battle. The
Prophet saw Julabib as his equal. The Prophet granted
Julabib the right to marry.

In addition to the teachings of Quran, some
contemporary Muslim scholars have given their
interpurtation that the Muslim faith is inclusionive
of people with disabilities. . Sheikh Isse Mosse
wrote in his article, Disability: An Islamic
Insight, (Islamic Council of Victoria website, 2002)
that Islam sees disability as morally neutral. It
is seen neither as a blessing nor a curse. Clearly
disability is therefore accepted as being an
inevitable part the human condition. It, disability,
is simply a fact of life which has to be addressed
appropriately by the society of the day.

The above examples of how disability is viewed in the
Muslim faith and history can bring together the life,
struggles and activism of Sheikh Ahmed Yasin in an
Islamic disability paradigm if the above practice,
theories and faith are really carried out in today's
society. Many disabled Muslims today would argue that
the day to day reality doesn't match their teachings
of inclusion.

However if we only follow the practice and teaching of
inclusion in the Muslim faith and way of living, it
gives a disability platform for the reader to look and
study the life and work of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin of
Palestine in a disability scholarly view. The hows
and whys of the growing power and leadership of Yasin
have been tossed around in the media since his
assassination on March 20th 2004. On many written
accounts by reporters about Yasins evolution of his
revolutionary activism and his thinking of the
Palestine people have linked his rise in status to his
personal experiences of his youth. For example, the
stripping of the land in the Israeli war of
independence of 1948 thus living in a refugee camp,
his football injury that left him a quadriplegic at
age 12 and the injustice of the justice system that
imprisoned him twice in his early fifties. All of
these experiences have formed what Yasin was.

In 1984 and 85 Gill Sedan, a journalist, also talked
about Yasins disability as one of his key components
that placed him as one of the most powerful figures in
Palestine in her March 22nd, 2004, article on
Cleveland Jewish News.com detailing her interview with
Yasin. She wrote, Yasin was a classic example of an
Islamic leader who derives his political power due to
his disability- like the Sheik Omar Abdul Radman, the
blind Sheik from Egypt now in prison in the US.
Although Sedan didnt go on to explain how Yasin used
his disability as a tool to power, we can come to the
conclusion that his disability like his poverty drew
him closer to his people and gained their trust.

Many reports concluded that the 2000 break down of the
peace talks and outbreak of new Israeli-Palestinian
fighting, Hamas and other groups were linked to an
upsurge of suicide bombings. These reports go on to
say in 2003 in response to suicide bombing, Israel
intensified targeted killings of militants and
declared top Hamas leaders marked for death. In
one recent article from www.Reuters.com wrote that the
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie accused the
United States of giving Israel the green light to
assassinate Hamas leaders. The focus solely on suicide
bombings and violence of Hamas from the Israeli
government and armed forces has put a target on all
Muslims from ordinary civilians like the killing of a
deaf, mentally disabled man, Sameer Sady Sababn, in
GAZA to the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yasin.
Their disability didnt play a role in their killings
just the fear of Muslims and Hamas has triggered
Israelis military, to shoot without questioning
leaving even the disabled in the crossfire.

Also we, as advocates, scholars of revolutionary
movements and disabled activists have to remember that
Yasin was a true advocate that didnt filch on his
stands of a free Palestine, and independence from
foreign influence through economics. As a true
revolutionary he knew his days were numbered so he
worked to put his plan in place on what to do after
his assassination. This reminds me of the late
hip-hop artist & poet, Tupac Shakur, because he also
knew his days were numbered and he was up front about
it in his messages in his music. Yasin also worked
tirelessly on the poverty that has stricken his land
and also gravely increased his poor health. Yasin was
quoted many times in saying that freedom is earned,
not granted on a silver platter and that which is
taken by force can be only recovered by force!

Whatever the controversy that hangs over Sheikh Ahmed
Yasin of being involved with the execution of suicide
bombings, his work and how he did it as a disabled
Muslim at that time must be studied by disability
scholars, revolutionaries and activists all around the
world. How did he, as a disabled young man in the
early fifties, get into college, became a well know
and highly respected preacher and then formed a
militant group, Hamas? It also tells us a lot about
Muslims Brotherhood and their acceptance to have a
disabled participate who is in a leadership role.
Hamas at the time of its creation was the strongest
political rival to mainstream Fatah movement of
Palestinian leader Yesser Arafat. Many only know the
arm struggle and suicide bombings that has been linked
to the Hamas by the US and Israeli government. Very
few have given recognition to how the Hamas provided
an effective social welfare system of schools, clinics
and hospitals that provided free services to
Palestinian families that Shaul Mishal and Avraham
Sela points out in their book, The Palestinian Hamas,
Vision, Violence, and Coexistence.

The fear of suicide bombings has lumped almost all
Muslims in one category for Israeli army and law
enforcement even disabled ordinary Muslim civilians.
The case of Sameer Sady is a good example of the fear
of Israeli army on Muslims and the assumption of being
a suicide bomber. On March 17th, 2004, three days
before Yasins assassination, Israeli army shot Sameer
Sady Sababh in GAZA City. According to Islam Online
News Service, Sameer, a deaf and mentally disabled
man, was walking home from work on March 17th when
Israeli troops ordered Sameer to raise his hands. He
just stood there stunned, silent and scared but it
didnt keep the soldiers from shooting him and then
caring his body into a Palestinians house where they
proceeded to set the house on fire. An eyewitness
told IslamOnline, I told one of the soldiers who
speaks Arabic, Sameer was Deaf. They ordered me to
shut up, then shot him in the legs, belly, chest and
head. Then the soldiers dragged Sameers body into a
Palestinians house and set the house on fire.

In both cases Sheikh Ahmed Yasin and Sameer Sady
Sababah were Muslims accepted in the Muslim faith and
the Hamas movement but were only seen as dangerous and
connected to the violence in Palestine. Although at
the time of their death both were walking home unarmed
according to witnesses, Israeli military say both were
involved or planning to execute suicide bombings. I
wonder what would the Shariah (Islamic Law) say about
the killing of Sameer and the assassination of Yasin
and other disabled Muslims? As I read the Quran, I
look outside and Im scared of this world!

by Bruce Allison and Thornton Kimes/PNN

The Governor’s 4 crazy ideas (restricting in-home care workers to the state and/or local minimum wage; family members banned from being in-home care workers for relatives; banning convicted felons from being in-home care workers; physical incapacity is okay, being a hoarder/clutterer isn’t enough for in-home care) have been zapped with a restraining order. Peter E. Sheehan, of The Social Justice Law Project requested the restraining order on behalf of Mark Beckwith and others.

The case will be heard in the Superior Court in Oakland, CA, January 29th, 2010, by Judge of the Superior Court Frank Roesch, at 9a.m., unless a possible move to a friendlier court (Lake County is, in this elder poverty scholar’s opinion, high on the list of anti in-home care worker “friendly” spots for a venue move) happens. Otherwise, get there early to get a good seat!

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on a resolution to ban finger printing of elders and their in-home care providers, and unannounced visits by “fraud cops”, on December 19th, 2009 at the Public Services Committee meeting. Call the Clerk of the Board of Supes for information on the time of the meeting. Some elders (including cancer patients) have lost their fingerprints due to medication side effects. Age also wears out some folks’ fingerprints.

The most common discovery of in-home care clients’ “fraud” by investigators is in the range of 75 cents to $2 per month due to age-related deterioration of math skills and memory problems. This elder poverty scholar is not aware of any in-home care client with an gazillion dollar off-shore bank account generating giant sucking sounds from the taxpayers of California.

Stayed tuned to the Bad Bruce Channel for more updates.

A note from Thornton Kimes. Governor Schwarzenegger appeared at a Bay Area food bank the week of December 7th- 11th, 2009, to ask everyone to do their part for poor people. I’m amazed my television didn’t turn blue, the words I was saying. The unbelieveable chutzpah and high-order irony factor certainly should have.

Maria Shriver, “the Wifeinator”, who has been challenged by many asking her to confront her husband about his budget cuts hurting the poor (and in-home health care clients) more than anyone else in California, recently hosted another of her annual conferences celebrating women. Women have been threatened and/or hurt more than anyone, yet the Wifeinator said no. I’m hoping people remember this in 2010 when Maria wants folks to be happy campers about yet another of her annual conferences.

by TJ Johnston

Having lived in this burg for a few years, I do so with a minimal sense of obligation - go to work, pay the bills, don't transmit any STDs. In addition to this bare minimum, I also fulfill other requirements: converting to a State ID and registering to vote.

The unintended benefit of either of the latter two acts is an invitation to participate in that hallmark of English common law, jury duty. Something comes over me when I get the summons, a feeling which fails me when I buy Girl Scout cookies or do volunteer work: the feeling that I can make a difference.

Not even my roommates's derisive laughter as she shows me the official document can curb my newfound enthusiasm for discharging my civic duty. Why should I care she "no habla ingles'-es her way out? She'll only have to display an even lesser command of the language to be disqualified next time (I have half a mind to drop a dime to the Jury Commissioner---"the books she reads may be in a New Agey, self-help dialect, but English is still her first language!").

The summons arrives one month prior to the date I have to report. I am assigned a badge with a bar code, a group number and a voicemail line I can call to ascertain when my group when my group should avail itself. I am now in the running for the Irish Sweepstakes of American jurisprudence.

"You have reached the Jury Duty Hotline. If you know the group number you've been assigned, please enter it now. If you have a rotary phone, find yourself a cave to ensconce yourself with your phone, Atari, vacuum-tube TV, and other outmoded items of your backward existence and kindly remove yourself from the twenty-first century at your earliest convenience."

Quickly, my fingers dance on the touch-tone buttons.

"If this is your group number, please dial again tomorrow after 6:00pm."

Rats! This is the outgoing message I am subjected to three days straight. Another two days of this means no oppotunity to decide on the next Scopes, Rosenberg, or Jenny Jones trial.

Day four. Same dial-pad drill. "I this is your group number, please report tomorrow to Room 7 in the Civil Courthouse at 400 MacAllister Street. If you were not listening, please hold for a stern reprobation for your attention deficit..."

Yes! I make it through the qualifying round.

The following afternoon, I arrive in what passes as "business casual" with summons in hand. I attest, under penalty of perjury, that i am born or naturalized in the US, fluent in English, not a California Peace Officer, absent any felon or parolee status, or otherwise physically, physically, emotionally or spiritually incapacitated in a way which would preclude my being one of a dozen masters of another person's destiny.

Now, the wait. One minute turns to two. Two turns to six. When six becomes nine, the clerk announces, "The following people please report to Room 509 for jury selection..." Having a patronymic beginning with a middle letter of the alphabet has historically proved itself to be, at best, a mixed blessing. Fortunately, no Gs, Hs or Is delay her from calling my name.

The cattle call continues. The judge of this case introduces himself and establishes the rules of the game.

"Our bailiff, Rusty, will hand you a questionnaire," states the jurist. "Some questions are general, others specific to the case. Remember there are no right or wrong answers."

Obviously, he never took the Scientologists' Personality Test. But if I can beat L. Ron Hubbard's instrument of mental fortitude, then i can will my way through this inventory.

"Do you know any lawyers or parties to this liability suit?" (No.)

"Do you have any feelings about lawyers?" (No.)

"Do you feel jury awards are generally too large, too little or just right?" (Often too little.)

"Is there anything in the media about this case that would, in any way, bias you?" (None that they don't slant already.)

"Can you give a corporation a fair trial?"

The last question gives me pause. Ninety-nine times out of 100, corporations are responsible for public health catastrophes, like Union Carbide's toxic gas leak in Bhopal, Phillip Morris' willful snaring of people into tobacco addiction, and McDonalds' overheating of caffeinated beverages.

There are nine plaintiffs in this case and deep pockets to be dug into. When will I again have the opportunity to ally myself with The People and stick it to The Man (and to the tune of millions of dollars)? Probably never. If I mark the X accordingly, I may be bumped off the case.

Twenty minutes later, my quandary continues.

"Can you give a corporation a fair trial?" (Nnnn---yes!)

As I hand the Sheriff's Department rent-a-cop my questionnaire, I am instructed to report back one week from Monday---after the judge's vacation.

Jury Selection day. The door to the courtroom has a chart indicating assigned seating for each of the fifty prospective jurors. I have no idea why I am Number 17 (and I figure I'm better off not knowing).

The same judge, tan and well-rested, points us to an easel, and impels us to disclose certain details about ourselves.

"My name is TJ Johnston. I live in the Haight and have been living here since 1994. I'm on unemployment and I like to tree surf. I've never served on a jury before, but I'm a big fan of the judicial process!"

"Oookay," I hear the judge mutter. He hands the meeting over to the attorneys whose function is to determine our fitness and eligibility to sit in a jury box.

The Plaintiff's Attorney, who filed suit against the corporation, begins the proceedings. I am immediately impressed. She looks like Lara Flynn Boyle, only better nourished. The Defendant is a middle-aged white guy. Based on these factors alone, I know where my sympathies lie.

Lara Flynn (plus fifteen pounds) starts with other juror wannabes (as well as unwannabes): blue-collar tradespeople and other workers of the world, and also people whose family members were afflicted. She begs of one person to expond his feelings about jury awards. The gut rejoins,"I thought the woman who spilled McDonalds' coffee got way too much. Coffee is meant to be hot and nobody with any sense would put it on their lap." She asks if he could put those feelings aside for this case. "I don't know. I still think they give too much money."

Thank you for playing.

Plaintiff's Attorney then directs questions at me. "Is there anything you've heard today that would bias you?" I blurt out, "I don't think so." Immediately, I know it's the correct answer.

Next question: "There are nine plaintiffs in this case. I f you wondered 'where are all the other complainants,' would you consider that?"

Defense demands a ruling. "Your Honor, I think the question is vague and misleading." His Honor replies, "I'll allow it." Lara Flynn riterates her question. I tell her I like to think I could limit myself to just the parties and specifics of this case. She smiles and nods approvingly. Good answer, I think, and I think I'm connecting with the lawyer babe.

Defense asks Juror Eighteen, seated next to me, about his sick relatives. Eighteen feels that his employer's afflicted his dead uncle. By lunchtime, Number Eighteen is excused. The new Number Eighteen is also quizzed by the Defense, this time about Number Eighteen's previous litigation experiences. "I sued somebody once and got jerked over. another time, I was sued and got jerked over again." Would he be able o except those experiences if he sat on this jury? "Hell, no. i might get jerked over a third time." With that, the second Number Eighteen is cast away.

I notice it is already 3:00pm when the judge orders another break. I feel jazzed to have made it this far. Soon enough, I'll learn my fate vis-a-vis eleven of my peers, a Lara Flynn Boyle who doesn't skip meals, and, by extension, the victims of corporate malefactors.

After recess, the herd considerably thins out. Thirty people remain and the afternoon commute for courtroom personnel is only minutes away. They need their twelve angry men (and two disgruntled alternates) now. It is time, the Plaintiff's Attorney announces, for the Preemptory Challenge (cue kettle drums here)!

In this lightning round of the legal realm, the attorneys from each side take turns in excusing Jurors One through Twelve without needing an excuse. After the number is called, the next jurors from numbers Thirteen to Thirty takes the ousted juror's seat and number. Each attorney is allowed eight turns to arbitrarily send a juror back to his or her dreary life. At the end of the Challenge will remain the Twelve and Two.

This is my last chance to gain the favor of Helen Gamble's stand-in. Positive energy, positive energy.

The advocates start throwing out numbers. Seats immediately empty and are filled. After round four, Number Sixteen usurps a vacancy. When Defense excuses Number Five, I take delight in my sudden promotion. I jump an even dozen notches, with a bullet, into chair number five. I am all that and a bag of chips!

Successively, Lara Flynn announces, "The court would like to thank and excuse...Number Five."

I am the Weakest Link. Goodbye!

Cue the violins to accompany my exit and forlorn journey to the assembly room, where I bid a profound and heartfelt farewell to the clerk, as she revokes my barcode and processes me out. "Next!" This is more than what the David E. Kelley reject upstairs offered me.I never even received a lovely parting gift.

I feel a hundred different emotions as I leave the building. Disappointment. Loss. Need to urinate. Disappointment. Loss... well, I feel different emotions at least. To have my attempts to right a heinous wrong thwarted, in such a random fashion, is a sever blow.

I tell my friends that I went "for the experience." That is true enough, but I yearned to be chosen.

I run into acquaintances who cavalierly ask if I beat jury duty.

"No," I solemnly reply, "it beat me."

(This article originally published by One 'Zine SF, Jan. 2002.)

by Gloria Esteva/PNN Voces de Inmigrantes en Resistencia

Nota de la Redaccion: Rosalin, quien es mencionada en esta carta de Gloria es una de las estudiantes de la pobreza y aparece en el documental: La redencion de Amir Soltani

Editors Note: The Rosalin mentioned in this letter by Gloria is one of the poverty scholars featured in the documentary: Redemption by Amir Soltani

for English Scroll Down

Estimada Rosalin,

Como te dije, hoy me tomo el tiempo para escribirte esta carta, la cual va llena de Amor a un ser tan especial y sobre todo lleno de fortaleza como tu.

Fue un honor para mi conocer tus luchas y sobre todo tu maravillosa interes para continuar aqui viva, sin salud, sin dinero, sin casa. Pero ahora estas conmigo y todos los que tenemos amor en nuestro ser. Quiero que sepas que la vida ha sido dificil para mi tambien, pero escucharte me hizo reconocer que somos muy valiosas y tenemos la obligacion amorosa de denunciar que este sistema y sus companias nos estan sacando tanta riqueza de nuestras vidas. Tambien decirle a este pueblo norteamericano que aun estan a tiempo de reconocer la hipocresia, de los que por un lado hablan de lo que le falta a la ley y por otro se les ingenian para robarle al mas necesitado- que aun enfermo trabaja-el producto de su trabajo.

Digo pueblo, porque no es lo mismo pueblo que gobernantes o empresas; creo que el pueblo aun conserva bondad y que al enterarse de lo que esta pasando con los mas pobres apoyan a los mas necesitados y sobre todo que conozca a los seres tan especiales y de tanta calidad humana como tu, que hacen de los documentales preciosas obras que proyectan la verdadera esencia de la humanidad. Tu existencia nos fortalece gracias por tu bello ejemplo, por tu fuerza y conviccion y sobre todo por tu dignidad acerca del trabajo. Eres un ser que a pesar de los grandes retos de la sobre vivencia tiene la brillantes del diamante y la solides del mismo. Yo se que no hay un domicilio donde dirigirte esta carta por eso la voy ha enviar alguien que te va a buscar y ademas por medio de mi periodico porque deseo que todos sepan que en este planeta tierra existen seres que aun que estan en la calle tienen mucha de esa dignidad humana que muchos hemos perdido por estar comodos o por ambiciosos. Es dificil no cometer ilegalidades cuando se tiene lo necesario.

Yo soy emigrante llegue hace ocho anos y soy reportera de prensa pobre, aqui en San Francisco. Me gusta participar aqui porque siempre estamos cerca de la comunidad mas pobre y tenemos la oportunidad de reconocer nuestra fuerza entre tantos quienes siguen usando su energia para construir, con su ejemplo, desde donde pareciera que no se puede.

Esta es mi primera carta y espero que pueda saber de ti y por medio de la persona que te la entregue me contestes o por lo menos saber que sigues presente. Yo tratare de escribir otras mas. Que Dios te de siempre mucho amor y este amor siga acompanandote por donde tu camines ya que tu huella va dejando una luz que solo alcanzan a verla los que aun son justos

Con Amor y respeto su amiga
Gloria Esteva.

Ingles Sigue

Dear Rosalin,

As I mentioned to you today, I am taking the time to write you this letter, a letter filled with love for a woman as special and as strong as you are.

It was an honor to hear about your struggles and most of all your incredible desire to continue being here and alive without health, money, or a home. But now, you are with me and all of us who have love in our beings. I want you to know that life has been difficult for me as well but hearing you made me recognize that we are strong and that we have the loving obligation to condemn this system who with its big companies and corporations have taken the richness out of our lives. We have to show the American people that there is still time to recognize the hypocrisy of those, who on one side talk about the weakness of the law and on the other side manipulate the law to take advantage of the most needy, who even sick work hard, taking from them the little they earn for their hard work.

I say the people because the people unlike governments and corporations maintain their humanity and sympathy and once they realize what is happening to these humble peoples, they will support them and get to know such good and special people as you. People who make with these documentaries beautiful creations that show the true essence of humanity, your existence makes us strong.

Thanks to your beautiful example, to your strength and your conviction, and above all your dignity concerning your work. You are a person that despite great challenges has the brilliance and strength of a diamond. I know that there is not an address where I can mail this letter, that is why I am going to send it to someone who will find you. I am also sending it by means of my newspaper because I want everyone to know that on this planet exists people like you that even while living on the street they have the human dignity that many of us have lost because of self-security, comfort, or ambition. It is easy to not break the law when one has what one needs.

I am an immigrant; I arrived 8 years ago and am now a reporter for POOR Magazine here in San Francisco. I like to work here because we are close to the poorest communities and have the opportunity to recognize myself and others among so many that continue to use their energy to contribute with their example in a place where it does not seem possible.

This is my first letter and I hope to hear more from you and you can get in touch with me or at least let me know that you are still here through the person that brings you this letter. I will try to write you another letter as well. May God always provide you with lots of love and that this love stays with you wherever you go since your footprint continues to leave a light that only the just can see.

With love and respect,
Your friend,
Gloria Esteva

by Staff Writer

A 'Survivor Knockoff: "Homeless Survivor" where the competitors are homeless people in from the streets. [I already don't like the premise].

Living near an alternative rock station KCXX (103.9 - FM). This "Dick and Justice show can possibly do better than be a temporary ratings booster.

The competition: racing shopping carts, opening cans of food the fastest and picking up cans while riding a tricycle. I read that San Bernadino City Officials are humorless on this subject which suits me fine.

It’s a ratings rational. It is pathetic that people already on the margins of society are further reduced to another reality based tv show.

And the prizes: A "temporary" home, some cash and a haircut.

The competitors said they love the idea and don't feel they're being exploited.

I don't know exposure of an individuals plight can help him or her struggling to get their lives back in order; but just a temp home, a bit of money and a haircut?

There should be more like a permanent home, work/training in radio/ tv or video production.

And 1 to 250,000 in their name and accountants showing her/him the best ways to live off the money without touching the princible(hope that's correct?) 1 to 250,000 or more.

They may not be millionaires but with permanent housing, interest money montly, by-montly or annually plus possible annuity and ed or re educa- tion.

If this concept is better looked into and expanded the D&J show would have more than a one-time gimic or someone will do it better then the homeless, sheltered, and working poor too can reap benefits otherwise denied us in this "slowed down-return to '1980's economy.

What do San Bernadinians or others think?
As for me, I still would like to have a partime job as a Housesitter in some swank digs in the Oakland Hills, or Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

Send me a bus or airling ticket or Housesitters tell me how I can break in… to the House Sitting business folks, not homes.

Questions? Opinions? You Know The Drill Folks.
Send checks or MOs in c/o Joe at Poor Magazine

255 9th Street
94103 USA
e-mail www.poormagazine.org

For Joe Only
1230 Market Street
P.O. Box 645
San Franciso, Ca 94102

by Michael Vizcarra/PNN Media intern

They say you're only as old as you feel. If that's the case, the performers
of the Senior Action Network's (SAN) 9th Annual Gray Cabaret at the Victoria
Theatre are definitely in the prime of their youth. The Senior Action
Network is a grassroots advocacy organization passionately devoted to issues
which affect the Senior communities. SAN's mission is to organize and
empower Seniors to influence public policy*. The Gray Cabaret showcases the
wealth of talent of San Francisco's senior citizens. It features music,
dance, poetry, and singing, highlighting the diverse multicultural,
multiethnic make-up of San Francisco.

Stepping into the Victoria Theatre (near 16th and Mission), the first thing I
notice is the sense of pride exuding from the predominantly senior citizen
audience who are here to support their friends, family, and their community.
Even though the audience members are mainly senior citizens, there are people
here who encompass a broad range of age from mothers, fathers, daughters,
sons, granddaughters, and grandsons, all here showing their pride and
support. Also present in the audience is Chris Daly, S.F. Board of
Supervisors, whom the audience showed much appreciation for.

The hosts for the afternoon's event are Angela Alioto (daughter of former
Mayor Joseph Alioto) and Geraldine Earp (SAN's former President) who dedicate
this event to Richard Reed, an advocate for homeless senior citizens, who
passed away recently. After a moment of silence, I take a seat and prepare
to enjoy a couple hours of entertainment. The first act is Henry Irvin doing
his version of "Night and Day" followed by Dorothy Lefkovits doing her
rendition of "Teach Me Tonight." Both songs are reminiscent of the
1930s/1940s style of singing, when crooners and their lyrics really meant
something.

A few of the performances really caught the eyes of the audience and myself.
One of them was the San Francisco Center Chinese Folkloric Dance Troop doing
Tai Chi to a musical score. Their beautiful costumes, complete with red fans
as props, brightened the dark theatre and captivated us with their fluid,
youthful movements. I can see the pride beaming from the Troupe's faces as
they performed their routine. Another artist that caught my eye was Erma
Hennessy. She wrote and read a poem entitled, "When You Are Finally Old".
This was a fantastic tongue-in-cheek poem about the daily ailments and little
idiosyncrasies of everyday life of a senior citizen, " my teeth will sleep
in a cup of water, that's where they will stay all night‚ I know in the
morning, at least they'll be all white." She had us rolling in the aisles
with laughter. It's very funny poem indeed, but also giving a sense of truth
to what senior citizens go through. The last performance of Act One was by
Jean Ammerman, who sang "Can't Say No". Her comical rendition of this song
also had us cheering and laughing. Her performance was excellent, complete
with the irony of being a senior citizen but playing the part of a little
girl.

Act II featured even more diverse performances. The International Folk
Dancers, "Stelita", performed twice. The first being a traditional Mexican
folk dance, and the second a Tango. Mario Herrera, a Filipino-American, sang
twice as well, the first a Filipino folk song, "Cometan" and the second a
Latin American folk song, "Usted". I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr.
Herrera's wife who was quick to show her pride and support of her husband by
saying that he is an actor as well as a singer. She also showed generosity
and kindness by offering me part of her sandwich and some fruit, which I had
to accept out of respect, myself being a Filipino-American as well. Another
performance that needs to be recognized was that of Mai Lan. She is the
pianist who accompanied many of the performers in their songs. Despite the
fact of having to be led to and from the piano, Ms. Lan showed how vibrant
and youthful she really is by demonstrating the dexterity needed to play the
instrument. Once seated in front of the piano, she was as nimble on the keys
as any person of any age.

The Gray Cabaret was a spectacular event. I was surprised myself at how much
I enjoyed it. The diversity, the wealth of talent, and the sense of pride by
the performers showed me that being a senior citizen is about being youthful
and celebrating your strengths, achievements, and passions. If you are only
as old as you feel, then these performers will forever be young.

by Staff Writer

Unity government is a watercolour government
It is a government that’s home to
Ministers and ministries without power
Like coded storylines of untested identity
Within the within is the same, only smaller here
It is its absolute refusal to doubt itself
That hustles us along to our hazardous fringes
Little by little, the big black lies
Strangling the music of our hopes

It is the oppressor’s music ruminating in
The vestiges of our now clogged minds
Stories of false hope bound together
In stoic controversies and contradictions
By two actors seeking out unearned recognition
Leading us astray is this liberal hypocrisy
Just a dialectical change

Hope in Zimbabwe is knit with lives lost
And plaited into a pattern of suffering
Hope afraid of unbraiding the past
Waits for others to undo the knots
The unmaking of our old pains
Whose intricate designs and clever joints
We have mistakenly re-knotted again
Hope acts the fool here, don’t see
Or we don’t want to believe what we are seeing

In Harare north, they still swim in harmless pools
Designing for our dreams
We swim in hunger drenched streets of Chitungwiza
Here they only listen for our voices of dissent
For if they hear us they would kill us with their guns
So we now talk silently like the empty skies
Our very bones hears the sounds of our silent weeping

Each night the empty plates from which we eat
Will be the fields from which you will harvest
New harvests without the words “silent diplomacy.”
And at night we crash into nightmares, thinking
That this deck of misfortune that we have re-created
Would keep shoving us to keep fighting
For the horizons are still ours
But we wish the sun would soften a thousand times over

Unity government is just what it is
Or pieces of what it should be
It is the way you live within it
That makes it unworkable for you
As if it’s a map you can read only once
But feel like you have read it many times
Because you cannot forget it
Whether you want to, or not

It is stinking masks of skeletons full of odour
It is a street-named “government of national unity.”
On a broken down stage called “Zimbabwe.”
It is like bits of old jokes without the laughter
But snarls like jumbled half-bars of remembered music

It is just an illusion, a dilution process
So let’s not shift our minds in reverse
Let’s not fall prey to this new resurrection
A master’s rendition, a repetition of 1987
Just another history waiting to be re-written
Through another trough of empty spaces of time.