Mark your calendars now for the “Best of the Burro” Festival
By Sheryl MacDonald January 18, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

“The Best of the Burro” Festival Sat, Mar 15 Village of Jalpa 395 pesos, children under 12 free www.forgottenchild.org

Are you asking yourself “What will be the Social Event of the Season”?

Many agree it will be “The Best of the Burro” Festival being held on March 15. The people who attended last year had a wonderful time and are looking forward to attending again. Those new to San Miguel will not want to miss it. 

This unique event takes place in the village of Jalpa, a half-hour drive from San Miguel. Transportation to and from Jalpa is included as part of the ticket price.

You will see a “Best of the Burro” competition put on by the school kids of the village, followed by a fantastic comida in the ruins of a vicarage from the 1700s. The comida, prepared by the women of Jalpa, will be one of the best Mexican feasts you will ever experience.

The imagination of each child determines how they dress their burros. We have seen everything from tutus, trousers, hats, hose, skirts and more. The whole occasion presents a great prospect for a photo shoot that is undoubtedly the opportunity of a lifetime. Where else will you ever see this type of joyful and creative spectacle?

Happily, each child receives a prize. There are no losers. First prize goes to “The Best of the Burro.” Prizes are given in various categories, such as the burro with the longest ears, best teeth, best legs, etc.

The festival is sponsored by Forgotten Child International, with proceeds remaining in Jalpa to assist with community projects, including their Leading with English Program for school children. (Volunteers are always needed for the Leading with English Program; write to info@forgottenchild.org .)

“The Best of the Burro” Festival is a highlight of the winter season in San Miguel so mark it on your calendar now. A silent auction adds even more fun to your day. We are happy to accept your items for auction. Although, we have received a number of items from generous artists, merchants and restaurants, you can never have too many.

Tickets are 395 pesos, children under 12 are free. Only 200 tickets are available. They will be sold in the Jardín two weeks prior to the event. Watch for our handsome burro in the Jardín promoting this fun festival.

Please visit, www.forgottenchild.org  for more details.

The many faces of violence
By Professor Marta Torres Falcon
(Translated by Shelley Bull)

San Miguel Walk
Thurs, Jan 24
Sign up at La Conexión, Aldama 3
044 (415) 114-8648, For info
www.casa.org.mx 

The article was shared at the International Workshop “Indigenous Women and Domestic Violence: From Private Silences to Public Agendas” organized by the National Commission of Human Rights 2007.

The mistreatment of women in the household encompasses a wide range of behaviors that are aimed at forcing the victim to do what the abuser wants. The motive for the violence is not necessarily to cause harm, but to exercise power and control over another person. Psychological manipulation and pressure are among the fundamental “weapons” of domestic violence, tending to weaken the victim’s will and increase her obedience.

The various manifestations of violence can be broadly described as physical, psychological, sexual and economic. These forms of violence can appear in various combinations.

As defined by the United Nations, violence against women is “any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to cause harm or physical, sexual, or psychological suffering, including threats of such acts, coercion, or the arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in private or public life.”

Family violence is a pervasive issue in Mexico and throughout the world, and can be characterized quite broadly. In fact, the characterization is expanding more and more as the phenomena is recognized and studied in greater depth. For many years, it was believed that domestic violence was primarily physical in nature, while any harm that could not be seen on the body was largely ignored. Emotional abuse is now recognized as not only an effect of the physical abuse, but as a set of specific tactics that is harmful in itself. Sexual violence, as well as the violent nature of control and economic subjugation, are also aspects of the viscious and deadly cycle of domestic violence.

Physical violence can be classified as mild, moderate, severe and extreme. This type of abuse often begins with incidents that leave no trace on the body, and gradually increase in intensity until reaching, in many cases, death. Each isolated incident should be dealt with seriously, but what defines a relationship as violent is its progressive and cyclical nature. Examples of psychological abuse include verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, blackmail, the use of male privilege, infidelity and extreme jealousy. Economic violence is expressed in the control of material resources by the abuser. Sexual violence consists of obligating a woman to have sexual relations when she does not want to, or to force her to participate in practices that may be humiliating, painful or dangerous. Sexual violence is often difficult to identify because of gender stereotypes and the antiquated legal norms of some countries which define sexual relations within a marriage as the right of the husband and the obligation of the wife.

Intimate partner violence has a definite direction; the violence is most often perpetrated by the man and directed at the woman. Although there exist situations in which men have been psychologically or even physically abused, they are exceptions and should be treated as such.

As the violence escalates, so does the probability of the confluence of the differing types of abuse. Often physical violence combines with sexual violence; more emotional control coincides with the violent handling of economic resources. Isolation is almost always a mechanism of control, which tends to destabilize and weaken women, preventing them from finding supports to leave the violent relationship.

The cyclical dynamic is what defines a domestic violence relationship. In the first phase, tensions accumulate on an ongoing basis, leading to an incidence of violence. The “honeymoon” phase often follows, a time of apparent repentance, forgiveness and tranquility. The cycle then repeats itself. After some time, problems re-emerge and accumulate. The story is unending and the cycle is hard to break, precisely because there is an alternation of kindness and abuse. It is when a woman decides to leave an abusive relationship that her safety is at greatest risk. Abusers often act out when they feel that they are losing control.

Domestic violence shelters, counseling and support groups are invaluable resources to women throughout the cycle of violence. CASA, a local non-profit organization, offers these services as well as daycare, accompaniment in the legal process of denouncing an abuser and medical services. The midwives at CASA’s maternity clinic are trained to recognize the signs of domestic violence, as pregnancy is another high-risk epoch in which a woman is likely to suffer severe domestic violence. The Fifth Annual San Miguel Walk to End Domestic Violence takes place Thursday January 24. This is our last call to invite you to join the Walk, to help raise consciousness about domestic violence and to raise funds for CASA’s Violence Prevention Program.

Professor Marta Torres Falcon is an Investigative Professor in the Interdisciplinary Program in Women’s Studies at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City.

Mujeres en Cambio 13th birthday

Mujeres en Cambio Luncheon
Thu, Jan 24, 2pm 
Hacienda de las Flores
Hospicio 16
120 pesos

Mujeres en Cambio celebrates its 13th birthday and you are invited to join the festivities. 
The main dish, Involtini de Melanzane, will be prepared by Donato Ciaraulo from Vivoli Italian restaurant. There will also be salads, side dishes, and a celebratory birthday cake. The group provides educational scholarships to 152 young women from the ranchos around San Miguel. The magnificent ¡Viva San Miguel! wall hanging donated by The San Miguel Quilters will be on display. Tickets to win the wall hanging will be on sale for 50 pesos each and are also available from Casa de Papel. Entry to the birthday lunch is by ticket only, available at Casa de Papel, Mesones 57A. Further information: Roger Hind, 154-6552.

It’s a date, if you have the calendar!

One of the many educational, fun programs at the Biblioteca Pública is the children’s art classes held Monday to Friday from 4 to 6pm. Teachers Lupita Ramos and Radames Olvera have taught painting to an enthusiastic group of primary school children for more than five years. Over the years, works by the young artists have been sold at the library’s La Tienda and often can be seen on the walls of the institution. Despite the beautiful images produced by the talented children, it wasn’t until local resident Jody Feagan saw their work, that a more professional presentation was considered. The Kids Art Calendar 2008 is the result. 

The calendar, a glossy bilingual publication, lists all US and Mexican holidays. Some of the themes represented are the Three Kings in January, Mexican Flag Day in February, and El Día de los Muertos in November. The calendars cost US$16 (160 peso) and a portion of your purchase helps provide art instruction and supplies for children who participate in the art program, which is free and available to all children in San Miguel. The calendars are available from the Biblioteca’s La Tienda. For more information go to www.kidsartcalendarsma.com. 

New rules for voters in Democratic primary
By Bruce Rossley

Remember when Election Day meant going to your neighborhood library, school or fire station to cast your vote? Remember when Election Day meant seeing old friends and catching up on the news? Now that you live in Mexico, you probably thought that those days were over.

But this year, for the first time in history, Americans living abroad throughout the world can cast their vote in person in the Democratic Presidential Primary.

For many years, the Democratic Party has recognized Democrats Abroad as the “51st state” and a delegation from Democrats Abroad has participated in the Democratic National Conventions with full voting rights. (This is not the case with the Republican Party!) But, how those votes were cast was decided by the leadership of Democrats Abroad. This year marks a real change. YOU now will have the chance to participate in choosing the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President.

On February 5, the same date that most states will hold their primaries, Democrats Abroad will sponsor a Global Primary. In San Miguel de Allende, all American and dual Mexican/American citizens will be able to vote at the Biblioteca between the hours of 9am and 5pm. The only requirement is that you go online before the primary at democratsabroad.org and register as a member. There are no dues and you never have to attend a meeting (unless you choose to). This simple and painless process is equivalent to registering to vote in a Democratic Primary in the United States. The votes for President by Americans living abroad will be apportioned based on the popular vote cast in the Global Primary. The votes of the Democrats Abroad Delegation at the Democratic National Convention in August will reflect the results.

If you do not have a computer or an email address, volunteers from the San Miguel Chapter of Democrats Abroad will have laptop computers at the Biblioteca to register you on Election Day.
Because February 5, is a Mexican holiday, the entrance to the polling place will be the Biblioteca side entrance on Calle Relox.

If you will be unable to go to the Biblioteca to vote in person on February 5, you can still vote in the Global Democratic Primary online. If you receive a ballot via email, it must be returned and received by the international organization of Democrats Abroad by January 31, 2008. To vote in this manner, go online and register as a Democrat living abroad at democratsabroad.org and request an electronic ballot. The ballot will be sent to you via email. After completing the ballot, you may return it via email or print the ballot and return it via fax or “snail mail.” It is important to remember that if you do not vote in person at the Biblioteca on February 5, the ballot you receive electronically must be received by the international Democrats Abroad by January 31, 2008.

San Miguel residents who wish to vote via absentee ballot in their home states on other issues may vote both in their home state and in the Global Democratic Primary in San Miguel. However, you may vote your preference for President and Vice President only once. If you choose to vote via absentee ballot from your home state and in the San Miguel primary, leave blank the presidential preference portion of your absentee ballot.

Please note that the opportunity to vote abroad applies only to this global Democratic Presidential Primary and not to any other future primary or general election in the United States.

Come and join us for this historic occasion of Americans abroad voting at their neighborhood polling place. On Primary Election night, February 5, at 7pm, an Election Night Party will be held a Restaurante Los Milagros at Relox 16 for those who voted earlier that day. Please come early as the capacity is only 150. Their will be a 100 pesos cover charge to support the efforts of San Miguel Democrats Abroad in the final election. A widescreen television will be available to watch election results from the States with your neighbors.

If you have any questions, please call Gretchen Sullivan at 154-6253, Bruce Rossley at 152-5696 or Georgeann Johnson at 152-6902.

Bruce Rossley is vice chair of San Miguel Democrats Abroad and a member of the National Executive Committee of Mexico Democrats Abroad. He has been a resident of San Miguel for six years.

The Jovenes Adelante difference: A university education
By Jerry Davis

Alex is smart, ambitious, personable and focused. These are wonderful qualities when one has the means to fully develop them, but coming from a single-parent family, there was not enough money to consider higher education.

When Alex was awarded a scholarship from Jovenes Adelante (Youth Forward), her future was assured and she is now only one year from graduation from the University of Irapuato.

Jovenes Adelante grants scholarships to students who have a 9.0 GPA or more and who come from families with limited means. Many scholarship holders live on isolated ranchos, are from single-parent families, or are the children of illiterate parents. They are often the first in their family to study beyond junior high school.

Presently Alex, an education major, is doing her student teaching, handling a class of 53 students. With no breaks, no teacher’s aide and her lunch hour combined with supervision duties, practice teaching requires talent and stamina. Enthusiasm for her work and outstanding success, especially with one of her learning-disabled students, has sparked a new ambition—to earn her master’s degree in special education. Until Alex helped that little girl, she had never spoken in school. Alex hopes to start her graduate program next December.

Besides handling 53 little kids, she is beginning on her thesis, which she must complete before a degree is granted. Her topic is developing projects and activities which will aid children in learning math. At the moment her ideas are being implemented in her classroom. The children will be tested for results in August, after which she will prepare her thesis to be given orally in December. Also interested in languages, she is enrolled at the University of Guanajuato where she is in her second year studying English, attending classes on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jovenes Adelante makes the difference. Usually her mother pays the rent for her room in Irapuato, 1,200 pesos. Last month mother could not scrape up the rent, but the scholarship stipend check covered it. The bus from San Miguel costs 300 pesos a week and she spends about 350 pesos a week on food. Other expenses are books, internet fees and charges for copying documents.

Most of Alex’s time is spent studying, which is reflected in her 9.5 GPA. Alex enjoys walking on the plaza and window shopping, but reading is her favorite pastime. An omnivorous reader, at the moment she is focused on mathematics, looking for hints that will help her with her thesis project.

Naturally Alex is grateful for the financial aid that Jovenes Adelante has given her, but just as meaningful is the support that various members have offered—Susi Taylor, her mentor, and Jovenes Adelante founders Virginia Wheelwright and Helen Morris.

Alex is a real success story because her ambitions are being realized. Poised, sophisticated, well prepared, she is almost ready to join the skilled corps of educated young people who will propel Mexico’s future progress. Please join us and share the satisfaction we gain when we see how much difference only US$1,000 per year makes in the life of a talented “joven.”

Jerry Davis has lived in San Miguel for three years and has been a member of Jovenes Adelante almost from the moment of his arrival. Bilingual and an ex-teacher, he enjoys working with students.