FORUMS & LETTERS

Opinion

The opinions expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not reflect those of Atención San Miguel or the publisher, the Biblioteca Pública.


Did you know?
By Beldon Butterfield February 15, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

If you want to rent the Sala Quetzal or the Santa Ana Theater at the Biblioteca, you might find that the “Center for Global Justice” got there before you (42 times in the first 3 months of 2008). They have a long agenda of anti-US rhetoric to carry out. Here are just some of the themes: “Why the U.S. is in Iraq,” “War Made Easy,” “American Ruling Class,” “The War at Home,” “The Fourth World War,” “Secret History of the American Empire,” “Dangerous Nation,” “Prescription for Disaster,” “The Corporation,” “Life at the end of the Empire,” “The Shock Doctrine,” “Imperial Grand Strategy” and on and on. Did you know, “The Center For Global Justice” is in fact, “The Center For Trashing The United States?” Did you know this is exclusively a San Miguel organization?

Since I found myself in the vicinity, I decided to stop in and hear what the panel of experts had to say on the subject of IMPEACHMENT? Why they put the (?) behind the title was confusing, since from the opening remarks Bush/Cheney were guilty. No “presumed innocence” with this crowd. The Iraqi War was deemed illegal because: “Legal wars had to be approved by the Security Council of the U.N.,” (since when?) so said their guru Mr. Cliff DuRand, thus opening the door to a, “War crimes court fashioned after the Nuremberg Trials for all those involved in Iraq.” 

When it was stated that impeachment could go way beyond the president and VP, it was generally agreed that “Bush’s cabinet,” the “conservative Supreme Court justices,” and those “crooks” in Congress, should also face the same fate until someone realized there would be no one left to actually carry out the process or defend the country. Josef Stalin would probably say: “You see, they are just like us, except we call it a purge. They call it global justice.”

The first introductory remarks from DuRand stated that soon we would have a new president, “If we were lucky. Bush might decide to stay in the White House and create a ‘monarchy’ and introduce ‘martial law,’” he told us, adding these sins to the already existing, “imperial empire.” I found out that “habeas corpus” no longer exists, the internet will become a monopoly opening the door to censorship, and that the neo-cons were responsible for Al Qaeda, “Chart the rise of both and you’ll see what I mean,” said DuRand. Throughout all the proceedings words such as “this country, and what is happening here with phone tapping, torture, violation of human and civil rights, the constitution,” and other references. I thought the meeting was taking place in Mexico. (They don’t get what country they’re in). Not that anyone could stand up and state they were victims of any of these crimes. It’s just what they read, saw in movies and on television. He then denounced the “politics of fear.” I thought that amusing considerin
g his views on the present and future of the US.

You might want to join the group’s lecture, “Incidents of Travel in Zapatista Country” on February 25. That should be comforting to Mexicans who simply want Americans to leave them alone and stay out of their affairs.

I looked up the intellectual leader of this group on the internet, Mr. Cliff DuRand, and read some of his anti-Mexico/US writings on NAFTA, the exploitation of the Mexican worker, Democratic Cuba, and so on. It won’t surprise you that DuRand is a visiting professor at the University of Havana. What is happening in San Miguel?

The Biblioteca Pública, education, culture and community
By Ali Zerriffi

The Biblioteca Pública board, like the San Miguel community, comprises various nationalities and backgrounds. The board members are all dedicated to the organization and we do not appreciate being called out repeatedly by passers-by on a single activity that they do not agree with while ignoring the dozens of others that take place at the library.

There are obviously personal opinions and political positions at work here and they have nothing to do with the operation of a public library in this country and more to do with American politics.

I am not American, neither are some of the board members and nor are the hundreds of Mexican youth who benefit from library services. 

The Biblioteca is a Mexican asociación civil with by-laws and a duly elected board, all in accordance with a federal comodato that has been in place for years. 

The in-house enterprises are the source of the revenue that allows it to offer the services and financial support it gives to Mexican youth. This board, given the dearth of community financial support, has encouraged the use of its spaces and given more attention to the programming of its cultural and artistic activities. Theater revenues have increased over the last few years and so have the revenues of the café. The fact that the space is available to all, outside the time slots reserved for cultural and artistic events, has encouraged many organizations (public and private) to use Sala Quetzal and Teatro Santa Ana. 

During the year an average of 36 events occur every week in these two spaces. Only three are Center for Global Justice events, and then only from January through March. The organization sponsors only four to eight percent of total events, depending on the month or whether events held in other Biblioteca spaces are considered.

No one group is monopolizing the spaces. Activities on a given day might be adult choir, children’s choir, computer groups, environmentalist organizations, religious groups, plays, movies and concerts. Interest is generated through advertising and announcements in Atención and no organization gets preferential treatment, not even Teatro Santa Ana, which has a budget allocation for its own advertising. 

The library is a community-based cultural center, open to all and without political, philosophical or religious affiliation. Its role in the field of education and training in San Miguel is expanding with a formal agreement with the UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and the municipality, and negotiations with the Emporia State University and University of Texas Pan American.

Members are invited to run for the board, join committees, help as volunteers and just attend board meetings (the next is February 26) to follow what is going on and provide constructive criticism when needed. At the same time, board members, employees and volunteers do not want to see the library become the battleground between political or religious factions. 

Our intention is to continue our open policy and we had already decided to form a committee due to the increased demand for space and to ensure that we offer equitable use for the various activities and the groups involved in them. The committee will work with the person in charge of the area to set priorities and procedures to allocate space according to the already established policies of first-come, first-served and the need to cater to the various tastes and preferences of our public.

While some criticize from the sidelines, other residents unselfishly participate in philanthropic organizations by offering their time, their talent, their money, or all of the above to a cause that they believe in. 

Early on I was warned about internal politics, but little did I know about the outside politics and the energy spent on nonproductive efforts to explain what is so obvious to those who really care about the library and participate in making it what it is and what it will be. 

Letters


Editor,

While riding my motorcycle on January 31, I was hit by a city bus. The motorcycle was hauled off to the shop and the police on the scene insisted that I go to the community hospital. After being checked out for several cuts, scratches, bumps, sprains and bruises, I was given two prescriptions and left the main building looking for the pharmacy. Once outside, I was met by the officer had driven me to the hospital, three other policemen, the women who was introduced as the owner of the bus company and four other men with her. Soon after, the driver of the bus showed up and insisted that he had not hit the motorcycle. The owner then accused me of driving too fast (even though I was traveling very slow) and that I should be more careful. No one asked how I was feeling, but they quickly insisted on paying only half of the damages that the shop had quoted for the repairs. So…..still a little dizzy from the accident and a little out numbered, I was facing six people, the bus company and four policemen, all apparentl
y eager to settle. I signed the agreement and was compensated. Ride on!!

Robert Crowell

Editor,

In response to a recent letter concerning the enormous waste of ground water in San Miguel by Ken Ferguson, I would like to say that I agree with the majority of issues Mr. Ferguson stated in his letter...however, with all due respect, I would like to correct one of his erroneous statements which include golf courses as users of ground water. I see this over and over again... the uninformed who continue to complain about golf courses using ground water. This is simply not true. Please, do not include them in that group of water guzzlers such as alfalfa growers. Club de Golf Malanquin currently uses recycled water from SAPASMA’s water recycling plant near the lake below town.

This order to use only recycled water rather than ground water was mandated a number of years ago and put into place at great cost to the members of Club Malanquin over a year ago, along with a new and more efficient watering system. Furthermore, the new golf course “Las Ventanas” (which was unnamed, but referred to in Mr. Ferguson’s letter) is also mandated to use recycled water from the same plant. Any other golf courses which may be built near San Miguel in the coming years will all be under the same mandate to use recycled water.

A couple of other interesting notes concerning water use: 

This recycled water used to water golf courses is not fit for human consumption.

The amount of water required to grow enough alfalfa to produce 60 lbs of beef will water an average golf course for one week.

Picture this...3/4 of an acre of land (32,670 sq. ft. or 13,222 m2) covered with one foot of water will produce almost enough alfalfa to produce one pound of beef! And that doesn’t include the 8 to 20 gallons of water per day that each “beef” consumes each and every day of its life! Google it!

And some people are wondering where all of San Miguel’s water is going...the simple answer? Most of it is being used to grow alfalfa.

The remedy? Stop growing alfalfa and San Miguel will no longer have a serious water problem.

Mark Du Bois

Editor,

Saturday’s chili-cook off held at Hotel Real de Minas was a resounding success, in part due to the fantastic Real de Minas facility. The hotel staff and management were wonderful beyond words. I have attended or been involved in several charitable fund raising events and all of the venues were appreciated but, never have I seen such cooperation from a hotel. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Hotel Real de Minas and encourage anyone who is recommending a hotel to friends remember Hotel Real de Minas.

Dr. Bill Amis

Editor,

I think it is important to share the following information with your readers.

Two weeks ago, I was coming home in a taxicab at 9:30pm on a weekday night. I live in a rather safe, quiet area of the city between Balcones and Atascadero. I decided to get off at my corner and walk the 100 meters to my house. Not smart. Almost as soon as the taxi had departed, I felt a hand on my back pocket where my wallet was, and when I swung around, I was sprayed with mace three times by a young man who was taller than me. I was not beaten, but the culprit grabbed my wallet and ran.

The police did little when they arrived, so I went to see Director of Public Safety, Daniel Trujillo within 48 hours. When I had finished my story, and he looked at the police report, he expressed disappointment with his officers (they had only taken my name/address without offering any personal or medical assistance.) He apologized to me and promised that he would look further into the matter.

His office called me two days later, and I went to the Office of Public Safety in the new Presidencia, where I was asked to identify a potential culprit in a lineup. I did my best, and was told afterwards that I had identified a young man who had been caught with mace, had used it on other victims in town, and had been seen on various occasions in my neighborhood. Captain Trujillo was there with me the entire time, and I wish to thank him publicly for his able assistance.

At this moment, I do not know if this young man is still incarcerated. I can only repeat what Captain Trujillo told me: “I need the help of the foreign as well as the Mexican communities. If anyone is not satisfied with the police response, let me know. My door is always open. I promise to look into it.”

If you are not satisfied with police reaction, report the incident immediately to Captain Trujillo. His e/mail address is: seguridadallende@hotmail.com  and telephone number is: 415-120-4524.

San Miguel is a wonderful city, but with growth comes more crime. Be cautious, be sensitive and be open to sharing your experiences so others may benefit from them.

Name Withheld Upon Request