Author: mopress

Or Why We Refuse to Pet this Puppy

So many pixels in cyberspace have been dedicated to so-called school funding reform in Texas, yet once again the image is nothing but sham.

A May 12 press release from Houston Democrat Garnet Coleman explains that when all the nutshells have been re-shuffled from the Spring 2006 special session of the Texas legislature, the overall commitment to public education will actually decline by $400,000 compared to what was previously budgeted. (See the posting at Angela Valenzuela’s Texas Ed Equity Blog.)

A May 14 analysis by Jason Embry and Laylan Copelin of the Austin American Statesman finds that the structure of funding enacted by the special session will result in reduced revenues for all state services, with likely cuts in programs to follow.

Overall, the results look like a strategic victory for property wealthy West Orange Cove plaintiffs who have managed to leverage their lawsuit into a partial reversal of so-called “Robin Hood” policies that “share the wealth” between property-rich and property-poor neighborhoods.

In addition, panhandle Republican Chris Islett is left complaining that the so-called reform measures will lock Texas education into crippling standardizations. (Again, we look to Angela Valenzuela’s Texas Ed Equity Blog for the sad documentation.)

In sum, the long-standing impasse of Texas education reform has for the time being been clearly resolved on the side of regression, with less equity, less freedom, and more privilege for the wealthy. –gm

Dear Friends:

We must never cease the struggle for freedom.
In the enclosed writings, Ramsey Muniz shares his
knowledge and insight regarding the issue of immigration. Please distribute. — Irma L. Muniz

We Are Not Strangers to This Land

Even though I find myself confined in the
dungeons of America, I marvel at the spirituality
of liberation and justice that my Mexicano sisters
and brothers are seeking after so many generations
and years. As I witness the millions of nuestra
gente proudly marching with that glow in their faces,
demonstrating the love in their hearts, I clearly
recall the last words of our last Mexicano Emperor
– Huey Tlahtoani Kuauhtemoktzin – Cuauhtemoc:

“Now we mandate our children also not to forget
to transmit to their children how it will be, how
we will reunite, how we will rise again, how we
will reach out, and how we will fulfill the great
destiny of our race.”

America was taken by surprise as our sisters
and brothers marched in its streets. They were
surprised not only by the numbers, but by the
truthful statements echoed by our people.

Without question or doubt, the issue is one
of our people staying here in the United States.
However, we are also encountering a bigger,
spiritual issue at this time in history. We are
finally coming together as a race, as a people,
raza, gente in all Aztlan, in the United States,
and in our Holy Land of Mexico. For the longest
time in history the oppressor has made us think
that we are different. Some would argue that due
to the place of birth, whether in the
United States or the Holy Land of Mexico, we
are different. It is extremely sad that throughout
the long existence of our people we have looked
upon ourselves as different races. The oppressor’s
objective will forever be to divide the races
and ultimately conquer.

We must not be impatient with those who will
claim they are not Mexicanos, and that they never
will be. At the same time we must be patient with
our sisters and brothers from our Holy Land who
don’t understand why our people became Hispanic,
Latinos, Chicanos, and Mexican Americans. The
important thing is that the time has come for us
to come together as one once again. “Todos
somos uno” should be the theme of today, tomorrow,
and our future. If we can come together as one
race in the prisons of America, then there is no
question that we can accomplish the same in the
so-called free world of today.

We must never forget our Mexicano blood. The
Spanish invaders thought they subjugated our
flesh with whips and swords, the French with
guns and priests, but there is another separate
world beneath our feet, above our heads, and
dwelling in our Meixcano souls. From the beginning
our creation as a race / people / gente, we have
been one with the land of Aztlan. Even today in
the 21st century the spirits of our ancient gods
are everywhere. They are in every stone, every
bird in the trees, the grass, the maize on the
stalk, the water in the lakes, and the fish in
the streams.

Yes, the invaders conquered only
what the eye could see, not ever understanding
that from the time of our creation it was
prophesized that we would overcome all invaders
in our land, and we would rise once again. The
oppressor has never conquered our spirituality
and the power of our ancient cultura, which were
the foundations of our existence and recreation.
We are not strangers to this land in which they
refer to us as illegal aliens and/or immigrants.
We must never forget to continue teaching our
youth of today and tomorrow the truth of our
Mexicano history. We must share with the youth
that it is written in our ancient manuscripts
that one day we would return to the sacred place
of our creation/existence as a race — Aztlan,
“land that has risen.”

We as Mexicanos of the 21st century must
take a strong political stand against the
creation of a so-called “Berlin wall” separating
the borders. It is not about the war against
terrorists at this point. It is about keeping
our people out of the land which truthfully
cries out. America must remember that we did
not cross an ocean to arrive in what was first
called Aztlan by our ancestors. It is written
in our ancient prophecies that the land (Aztlan)
would call for us to return.

I never miss the national news, seeking
what it has to comment about the immigration
issue. Regardless of what the Republicans
and/or Democrats state about this most
profound issue, deep in my heart and mind I
know that at the end we shall overcome whatever
they decide to do with our people. We shall
overcome the rounding up of our people as if
we were animals. We shall overcome the
structure of a wall at the border. We shall
overcome the imprisonment of our sisters and
brothers because of immigration policies. We
shall overcome at the end because we are not
strangers of this land, which was ours at one
time. The land calls upon our hearts to return
and to rise once again. Truth which pertains
to the land is on our side and history has it
that truth shall win!!!

The entire world is in some sort of conflict.
Even in war, and if one studies the issues closely,
land becomes the reason for oppression, freedom,
imprisonment, justice, and humanity. It is our
duty and honor to support the efforts by our
sisters and brothers in seeking the spiritual,
cultural, and political right to reside in the
United States of America.

Even though I’m in this mode of darkness,
I sleep as if I were newly born, knowing that
the truth of our existence and creation has
enlightened the entire world. The world knows
that el Mexicano / Mexicana has risen with the
power of truth in his heart and mind.

What a time to be alive! Do we as
Mexicanos of our Sixth Sun dare to scale the
heights of heaven of Aztlan and our most sacred
Holy Land of Mexico? Que viva la raza!

America:

“We want only to show you something
We have seen and tell you something
We have heard. That here and there
In the world and now and then in ourselves
Is a new spiritual/cultural Mexicano creation.”

In exile,

Ramsey Muniz – Tezcatlipoca

*************************

www.freeramsey.com

Dear Friends:

This letter from Ramsey Muniz describes the
violation of his constitutional rights for
the past eleven years. We continue to make
this information known, and have received
encouraging support from congressmen.
Please distribute. — Irma L. Muniz

4/7/06

Violation of my Constitutional Rights Under the Eighth Amendment – Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Before reading this constitutional opinion,
it is important that you first examine the attached
medical narrative (exhibit A), sent by
Dr. Pete E. Garcia, in charge of the Orthopedic
Surgery and Sports Medicine Clinic, to the Warden
at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth,
on February 1, 1995. If necessary, one will be able to find in
my federal sentencing transcript where
unmistakably I be confined in a Federal
Correctional Institution (FCI), and not in a
hard core federal penitentiary. The Bureau of
Prisons and the United States Marshall’s Office
disregarded the legal intentions of the federal
judge, and instead confined me in the Leavenworth
Federal Penitentiary.

From the commencement of my incarceration,
I was suffering from my physical disability and
medical conditions. I constantly complained to
the institutional medical authorities about my
physical condition to the conclusion that I could
not levitate from my bunk bed for days, suffering
extreme spasms, arthritic pain, inflammatory
rheumatism, distress, agony, and affliction.
This cruel and unusual punishment continued for
a period of over eleven (11) years.

On or about 1996, due to the weakness and
physical disabilities of my knees, I incurred a
most drastic fall and injured my left hip. After
various days confined to my bunk bed, several
inmates provided assistance in carrying me to the
institutional medical facility. The result was the
same as before. X-rays were not taken, a full
medical examination was not provided, and the only
remedy was aspirin and a cane, which I use to this
very day. The continuous denial of proper medical
attention and care for the last ten (10) years
pertaining to my hip was a violation of my
constitutional right – cruel and unusual punishment.

On August 22, 2005, I became extremely ill to
the point that I was carried on a stretcher to the
institutional medical facility in Leavenworth.
After four hours of examinations, they finally
decided that I be submitted to St. John’s Hospital
in Kansas City, Kansas. What was to be a simple
overnight operation resulted in a near death
medical situation. From St. John’s Hospital I
was transferred to Pawnee Hospital, and In turn
I was transferred to Providence Hospital for
surgery once again. Only five days after the
operation, I was chained, shackled, and transferred
to this present medical facility for federal
prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.

I continue to complain about my existing
physical condition – knees, left hip, and back
condition due to a large herniated disc. I persist
with the assistance of my family and attorney that
x-rays be initiated of my left hip and knees. After
performing an x-ray of my hip, they found that it
had to be replaced and should have been medically
attended to years ago.

Since my severe illness of August 22, 2005,
I have been on a liquid diet because of my dentures.
Only two weeks ago I began to eat properly, but
I continue to be extremely physically weak and not
in a medical position to undergo an immediate hip
surgery.

An attorney, my family, and others have
respectfully requested that my hip operation be
delayed for a reasonable time so that I may recover
my physical, emotional, and mental strength.

It is of record that the Springfield medical
staff authorities have not yet shared with me the
medical evaluation report submitted by Dr. Pete Garcia, Orthopedic Surgeon of Corpus Christi, Texas, nor have they taken x-rays of both my knees. To continue denying full medical evaluation and proper professional care at this medical facility is a continuous violation of my eighth amendment — cruel and unusual punishment.

As a graduate of Baylor School of Law and a
practicing attorney for many years (prior to my
unjust confinement), it is my legal opinion and
position that I be remain confined to this United
States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in
Springfield, Missouri, until I am medically
examined and treated for both my knees. To do
otherwise or attempt to confine me once again
in a United States penitentiary instead of a
low level institution (FCI) would be a blatant
violation of my constitutional rights pertaining
to cruel and unusual punishment.

How much more must I suffer after more than
ten years of extreme and severe punishment. I am
63 years old and in pursuit of justice in the
United States of America’s constitution.

In exile,

Ramsey R. Muniz

*****************************

www.freeramsey.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Five Democratic members of Congress were arrested at the Sudanese Embassy and led away in plastic handcuffs Friday to protest the atrocities in the Darfur region.

The lawmakers — Reps. Tom Lantos of California, Jim McGovern and John Olver of Massachusetts, Jim Moran, of Virginia, and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas — were among 11 protesters arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly. The charges are misdemeanors.

The international community has accused the military dictatorship in Sudan of an ongoing genocide of its non-Arab citizens. Several hundred thousand refugees are in the Darfur region after having been driven off their land.