1986_11 The Daily Collegian November 1986

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Wednesday, Nov. 26,1986
La Voz de Aztlan
page
A silent protest for U.S. policy
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By Bill Lerch
La Voz Writer
A familiar scene every Wednesday is the
line of people silently protesting U.S.
policy in Central America , particularly
funding of Nicaraguan Contras.
"By protesting we are excercising free¬
dom of expression and our duties as
citizens. We don't want to be casualties of
the war." Jose Lopez said as he equated
U.S. policy in the Central American
country to the Vietnam War.
This protest, sponsered by MEChA,
communicates to students that a problem
in CentraiAmerica exists, and it involves
everyone.
Dr. Dale Bush, an economics professor
on campus also commented on the situa¬
tion. "I'm here for the same reason I
protested the Vietnam War"
He said that the situations today in
Central America are reminders of a
mistake gone past. Students made a dif¬
ference in his day, and he said they can
make a difference today.
"This is how the protests to stop the war
in Vietnam started. First, only a few
protected: then hundreds protested."Bush
said.
The protesters' main goal is to inform
students that the U.S. government re¬
presents not only a threat to the Central
American people but also to the sanctuary
of a sovereign nation.
Signs that read "Stop killing the
Nicaraguan People" and "Wake up'
America. No More Vietnams," imply that
the horrors of Vietnam lurk in our current
times.
"Basically we want the war to stop in
Central America," said Mario Hucrta.
"Our goal is to restore peace in Central
American countries." The determination
to stqp death in the land connecting North
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Charles Fair Jr. ia tired aa he joina th« protest against the United Slates' policies in Central America.
7
America and South America exists in the
silent protest.
The United States' involvement in
Central America increases the chances of
young college-aged men lighting in
Central America. The circumstances of
the Vietnam War was to haujt the spread
of communism just as is the case in
Nicaragua.
"Just because communism is for self
determination- doesn't make communism
bad." said Dr. Robert Allison, an econo-
Lawremee Tovmr/La Voi
Dale Chioman(left) debates with Campus Latin American Support Committee
Member Pat Young(rfght) over the history of the United States' involvement in the
Central American region. The two debated at a recent proteat Meld every
Wedneaday in the Free Speech Area and aponaered by MEChA and the Campus
Latin American Support Committee.
mics professor. "The Sandinista revolu¬
tion in Central America is very popular
with the people down there." Allison lived
in Central America for almost a year. He
said that the Nicaraguan people are no
longer hungry and that they are happy
with the current government. "But Ronald
Reagan wants victory for the contras to
stop the popular Nicaraguan government."
"Ronald Reagan is the most uniformed
individual ever to hold the office of the
U.S presidency." commented Pat Young,
a member ofthe Campus Latin American
Support Committee. According to
Young, the United States is fighting against
what the Nicaraguan people want.
"Two out of three people are for the
Sandinistas. They (thc Nicaraguans)Tiavc
free education, medical care, and elec¬
tions." In fact. Young who has been to
Nicaragua several times said that political
parties from the "far right to the extreme
left" participated in the last election.
According to Lopez, an organizer ofthe
protest, the Sovict**Union is not directly
involved in Central America. "Reagan
wants to rally the people at home to
support the war cause." He said the
president uses the Red Waveof Commun¬
ism to do so.
Lopez went on to say that Reagan is
"Red Baiting" by saying the Soviet Union
is directly involved in instigating,the
revolution in Nicaragua.
"The Soviets Union is not direcctly
involved with the revolution in Central
America." Lopez said.
According to many in the protest the
United States is terrorizing the Nicaraguan
people by funding the Contras.
"We think it's morally wrong." said
Lopez. "The Reagan administration is
funding genocide."
"It's a moral outrage," Bush said. "Any
American simply has to be outraged at
our governement."
But what atrocities are happening in the
eyes of the protestors?
"Reagan wants to attack civilian pop¬
ulations to destabilize the country for the
people to surrender." Lopez said.
"Over 10.000 Nicaraguan civilians tor¬
tured and raped by U.S. supported
contias." said one sign by the Latin
American Support Committee.
So. the protesters sec what they think,
but what do the onlookers think? Some of
the protesters speculated that.
"Why think about a war when you can
go into the pit and talk to the frat boys?"
said Jeff Clark. Another protester, Steffcn
Lovell said, "Students aren't sure what's
going on." He said people often walk by
and are puzzled. m
Chris Dugan. a student from England,
hopes "People will think around the issue.
We want to spread knowledge."
The protesters believe people are not
educated about Central America. They
say they want people to be aware to make
a change before thc United States enters
into another Vietnam-like nightmare.
Chicano heritage: influenced by two cultures
By Robert Castorena V
Contributing Writer "      ,
It appears that a new level of Chicano
consciousness is manifesting itself in
the 1980s as more Chicanos identify    ■
themselves as Chicanos.
The Chicano does not merely identify
himself because something inherently
within says, "you are a Chicano." No,
there are outside elements that con¬
stantly remind the Chicano of his
heritage. The.Chicano experience is
influenced by the cultures of two
countries, the United States and Mexi¬
co, and is a synthesis ofthe two cultures.
Although the Chicano consciousness
has many characteristics similar to othSt^v
Latinos throughout the Americas,
particularly the Mexicano, thc Chicano
consciousness has its own distinct and
unique characteristics.
To understano Chicano heritage ore
Analysis
must I
ust look back into history. Ihe birth
of Chicano consciousness occurred
when what is currently known as
Southwestern United States became a
part of the United States territories.
Before the United States-Mexican War
the territory was a part of Mexico, and
before Mexico gained its independence
from Spain it was a part ofNew Spain.
When the change from Mexico's to
the Llnited States'governmcnt occurred
many conflicts arose between the go¬
verned and governors. Major differen¬
ces existed. For example, thc people's
culture and thinking processes were
influenced by thc Catholic religion and
thc Spanish language (the root of both
is found in Latin), but the thinking
processes of the people who governed
the region was molded by the protectant
religion and the English language (the
root of both is found in Anglo-Saxon).
The term Chicano is a variation of
"the word Mexicano. In Spanish thc
letter X can be pronounced either like
thc letter J or Ch. So theterm Chicano
is Mexicano (Mechioano) less the Me-
which is appropriate since the Chicano
experience began, and its own heritage
started once the Southwest became a
part ofthe United States.
ySs the differences between the go¬
verned and governors became apparent,
inequalities against the Chicano oc¬
curred in the socio-econo-political
processes. Therefore, society, as reflec¬
ted by the government, began to oppress
the Chicano. The negative attitudes of
society toward the Chicano because of
differences caused thc Chicano com¬
munity to withdraw itself from Society.
In the 1940s and 50's, intellectuals
from the Chicano community began to
recognize thc uniqueness of the*Chicano
heritage. As they educated the Chicano
community, particularly university stu¬
dents, the community asked for equality
which direct by challenged the oppressive
conditions that existed.
When the request was denied the
Chicano community took action which
was considered unorthodox. Today
there is a tendency to view thc Chicano
solely by what occurred in the 1960s
and early 1970s. This tendency occurs
because it was in the 1960s and early
1970s thc entire Chicano community
challenged the oppressive conditions.
The challenge was looked upon un¬
favorably.
From then until 1980 there was a
See HERITAGE, page 6
- X"
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