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March 2 2009 Page 4 Features, Weather, Sports, Exchange

Mexico�s First Black President
Ted Vincent - Berkeley Daily Planet
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Barak Obama admires Abraham Lincoln. Vicente Guerrero, Mexico�s first black president, was his nation�s Lincoln. In 1829 he issued Mexico�s slavery abolition decree (which led a few years later to Texas slave holders taking Texas out of Mexico).

Obama and Lincoln are known for building coalitions. Guerrero built one when he was commander-in-chief of the Mexican army during the last three years of Mexico�s exhaustive 1810-1821 war for independence from Spain. Key actions by Guerrero to end the war were his spread of letters to Mexican officers who had been hired to fight for Spain. He convinced many that opportunity awaited if they switched sides. His subsequent team of rivals brought victory and made Guerrero Mexico�s Washington as well as Lincoln�he also created the basic design for the flag.

After the war Guerrero had to be personable to win over influential Mexicans who looked with disdain upon him for having Afro-Indio roots and for being a mule driver by trade�the occupation of his father and uncles. In those years muleteers were very plentiful in Mexico, thanks in part to Spain�s reluctance to pay to create roads for carts and carriages. A history of the drivers describes them being considered unpleasant rowdies by the well-to-do, but welcomed in rural villages for bringing the news of the day, latest songs and the latest jokes about authority figures. Mule trains often convoyed contraband. From this profession came many a fighter for Mexico in the war with Spain.

Guerrero was a descendant of the roughly 250,000 enslaved Africans brought to Mexico during colonial times. Part indigenous, he was raised in an Indio barrio in the mountain town of Tixtla in the state that carries his name. During the 1810 war his knowledge of native languages helped the future president rise in rank. In villages he organized the community for the war effort, often using a speech in which he praised the Indio political system of elected councils and chiefs, while asking for allegiance to the fight for �the bigger democracy� at the state level.

During his presidency, Guerrero�s penchant for telling jokes and sprinkling his speech with native words annoyed members of the refined social elite. But for a time he had to be tolerated. Guerrero came out of the war with an immense following, notable for the Indios he had recruited into the fight. In 1828 he and a brilliant but consumptive cocaine addict, Ignacio Esteva, created the first �People�s Party� in Mexico and its followers put Guerrero in the presidency in April 1829.

President Guerrero was known for eloquence, as displayed in his first speech to congress, �If we succeed in spreading the guarantees of the individual, if equality before the law destroys the efforts of power and gold, if the highest title between us is that of citizen, if the rewards we bestow are exclusively for talent and virtue, we have a republic, and she will be conserved by the universal suffrage of a people solid, free and happy.�

Guerrero wanted his presidency to reflect the broad coalition built during the 1810 war. He allowed political centrists and conservatives to dominate his cabinet, and he accepted as Vice President Anastacio Bustamante who had spent most of the independence war in the uniform of Spain. Left-wing supporters of Guerrero criticized the president�s cabinet and other choices, and in the manner that Barak Obama has questioning friends who are more racially oriented than he, so too did Guerrero have his. One was Isidorio Montesdeoca, an Afro-Filipino campesino who became a general under Guerrero during the independence war. He called Guerrero�s references to racial equality achieved by asking everyone be judged by his or her �merits and virtues,� wishful thinking in a country where many powerful people didn�t believe blacks or Indios had merits and virtues. Moreover, argued Guerrero�s critics from the left, congress had made it near impossible to organize against racial injustice through their passage of Law No. 310 that, though ostensibly in the spirit of equality, prohibited mention of anyone�s race in any public document or in the records of the parish church. One consequence of this law has been that knowledge of the racial attitude of the elite toward Guerrero�s African roots are relegated to private letters and anonymous pamphlets against �the black,� and many a modern history identifies him merely as of �peasant�or �laboring-class� background.

The political coalition Guerrero built fractured six months into his office, not from abandonment by the left, but by the right. His abolition of slavery, his promotion of a wider suffrage and his imposition of a stiff progressive tax code cost him most of his few upper-class supporters�including two cabinet members. In 1830 the conservatives rebelled, and led by Vice President Bustamante, they drove Guerrero from the capital. Most of the president�s progressive legislation was rescinded, but not the abolition of slavery, which had wide public support.

In a subsequent civil war Guerrero was captured and assassinated by Bustamante hirelings, who included an Italian sea captain who kidnapped the president in Acapulco harbor and delivered him to a Cuban mercenary in Huatulco, who passed him to the son of a Spaniard who had been a general for Spain in the independence war. At a mock trial in Oaxaca the first judge resigned during the opening day, claiming illness. Bustamante ordered execution but feared an uprising if it happened in the city of Oaxaca. Guerrero was taken to a small town, where the mayor had fled and the priest who was scheduled to conduct the last rights was also missing. In last words to the firing squad, Guerrero said that whatever he had done, it was in the interest of Mexico.

The execution infuriated many, including moderates, and Bustamante had to make peace with Guerrero�s lieutenants, who controlled the Pacific region from Puerto Vallarta down past Acapulco to the black town of Cuijinicuilapa. An unusual political accord granted the Guerreroistas autonomy on condition they never attack the capital. Over the years the close aide of Guerrero, the Afro-Acapulcan Juan Alvarez wrote and spread many diatribes against the elite, some of which are still in print today. In 1855 Alvarez broke the peace pact, marched on Mexico City, overthrew dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and became Mexico�s second black president. He included in his cabinet Benito Juarez, the pure-Zapotecan lawyer, who in his youth had campaigned for the election of Guerrero, and who later served twelve years as president and champion of liberal causes.

Guerrero�s one offspring, Dolores, trained her children in the politics of her father, with whom she had been close. Her sons, Vicente and Carlos, became state governors under Juarez, son Jose a general and daughter Javiera, though prohibited from holding office, was significant enough behind the scenes to warrant a large statue. Generations of politicians and intellectuals poured from the family, including today�s prominent journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio. His writings include a 1987 anthology of his articles condemning the U.S. funding of the Contras against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.

Today, the National Museum of History in Chapultepec Park honors only one family with its genealogical tree depicted on a wall, the family begun by Vicente Guerrero and his wife Guadalupe Hernandez.

Two other presidents of Mexico had known African heritage: Juan Almonte fought in the independence war and at the Alamo on the Mexican side. He turned conservative and his brief term as president is considered a bad one for the nation. Lazaro Cardenas was a key figure in the 1910 revolution. As president nationalized oil and issued sweeping land reform. A popular biography notes in the opening paragraph that his grandfather was �a mulato.�

The original of Guerrero�s address to congress reads, �If we succeed in protecting the rights of the individual, if equality under the law destroys the forces of power and money, if the primary title we use amongst ourselves is that of �citizen,� if rewards are given exclusively for talent and virtue, then we have a republic, and it will be preserved through the universal suffrage of a solidly free and content people.�

Ted Vincent is author of The Legacy of Vicente Guerrero: Mexico�s First Black Indian President, published by University Press of Florida in 2001

Photo Tip of the Week: Photographing Humpback Whales
Larry Bennett - PVNN

Photo Tips of the Week are written by Larry Bennett, a professional photographer living in Puerto Vallarta. To view more of his work, visit LarryBennettPhotography.com.

Photographing the mighty Humpback Whales are probably one of my biggest sources of frustration as a photographer but if you have a little patience and wait a few minutes, those mighty creatures will blow and raise those mighty humps in the air and show you some of the most beautiful flukes you will ever see. You will suddenly feel like you deserve a nature photographer of the year award. Let me explain this comment.

I put "photographing the whales" as one of the hardest things to do. With over 15,000 whale images under my belt I still continue to get frustrated and wonder just what I�m doing wrong sometimes. At times it�s a juggling act, between white balance, lighting (Kelvin Temperature), speed, focus, people�s elbows, and other boats getting in the way. You�re standing in a boat trying to steady your camera while going 20 miles per hour in three foot waves. When all of sudden an object as big as a 45 foot school bus, weighing 45 tons with side pectoral fins over 16 feet in length appears 90 feet off your port side, blows water (or as I refer to as whale snot) all over you and your equipment. Pandemonium breaks out with breaths of joy, fear, and awe; the boat is rocking and pitching and your adrenalin just spiked! It just doesn�t get any better. Whales are fun, not only to see but to photograph. Let�s take a look at some things I do to capture the ultimate whale images.

Choosing a Boat and Guide

All boats that advertise and take passengers out into the Bay of Bandera�s need to have the special orange flag which proves the boat and crew are registered with the authorities and have permission to take passengers into the whale zones. The boat, captain, and crew must observe the rules set forth and respect the whales and their rituals. I can say that most of the boats do a pretty good job with this. It has always been the best for me to find a smaller boat which has the capacity to hold 8-12 passengers as they have the speed and maneuverability to put you on the whales rather quickly. Tell your guide that you are a photographer and they will more than likely give you a special spot on the side or at the front of the boat.

Let�s Look at our Equipment

For those of you that are not into serious photography or just don�t want to pay the big dollars for a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex), you will still be able to get some good images with your point and shoot.. I will tell you how a little later in this article. However, if you are shooting a compact point and shoot, one good piece of advice is that not all memory or flash cards are the same! If you�re all proud of yourself for saving big bucks on a discount flash or memory card there is a 100 percent chance you�ll be shooting just that, an image that you will not be happy with. When it comes to shooting action or moving objects such as the whales, having a flash or memory card which has a fast processing speed is very important.

DSLR people, let�s look at lenses. We will talk a little later about settings but for now let�s pick out our lenses. All of my cameras are Canons. Now this doesn�t mean my stuff is better than yours, it just means I like and shoot Canon and have always had great luck and success with Canon. My favorite lens for running around the bay is my 70-200 F2.8 SS/IM. I shoot 85 percent of my whale images with this lens. In prior years I have used my 100-400 SS/IS, but the focusing on this lens is very slow when shooting whales. I also shoot an 18-105 F3.5 SS/IM. Using these two lenses, I feel that I have all of my bases covered while shooting the whales. That�s why I always shoot with two cameras.

I carry an extra battery for each camera, as well as two extra high speed professional flash or memory cards. I also keep a dry lens rag in my vest or pocket, a bath towel in my back pack, and a few plastic trash bags to wrap my camera and camera bags, just in case you get into rough sea�s or foul weather.

Photo Tips of the week are written by Larry Bennett, a professional photographer living in Puerto Vallarta. These tips are to be just tips, refer to your cameras owner's manual for specifics on your camera. Readers are welcome to enjoy Larry's website at LarryBennettPhotography.com.

SPORTS

Shorthanded Cruz Azul Side Ready For Pumas

The CONCACAF Champions League returns and one of the anticipated match-ups is that of Cruz Azul against Pumas..More Info Click Here

Sven gets vote of confidence from Mexican FA

Mexican Football Federation president Justino Compean has insisted Sven-Goran Eriksson's position as coach of El Tri is not at risk.�..Read Article Here

Sven gets vote of confidence from Mexican FA

Mexican Football Federation president Justino Compean has insisted Sven-Goran Eriksson's position as coach of El Tri is not at risk.�..Read Article Here

De La Rosa to pass on Team Mexico

Jorge De La Rosa chose team over country today, squashing any chance he will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico. �To Read Article Click Here

Pachuca remains on top of the Mexican league

Paul Aguilar scored in the final five minutes as Pachuca beat the Pumas 3-2 to retain the lead of the Mexican football league standings for the second straight week. �To Read Article Click Here

Sunday golf Winners

two teams tied with two under

Mens golf winners

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Sexy and Stylish Swimwear for REAL Women
Laura Gelezunas - PVNN

Open Mon-Fri from 11 am-6 pm, and Sat-Sun 11 am-3 pm, Curvas Peligrosas is located at Juarez #178 in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Tel: (322) 223-5978

Curvy Gals, the only quality, plus-size swimsuit shop in Puerto Vallarta is Curvas Peligrosas. You can find Miraclesuit, Jantzen, Christina, Carol Wior and other quality labels in (US) sizes 12 to 40. And this season, due to popular demand, they are offering the same quality quality swim wear labels in sizes 8 and 10!

The owners, Robina Oliver and her husband, Carlos Vazquez, moved to Puerto Vallarta from San Francisco just to open the shop in 2007. While on an earlier vacation to the area, they decided that locals and visitors needed a place to purchase great swimwear in a "normal" size.

At Curvas Peligrosas you will find tank suits, tankinis with shorts, skirts and/or briefs, swim dresses, bikinis, two and three-piece ensembles, plus a smattering of clothes and pareos. You can stroll down the beach in style. All of this at a great price, too.

Robina is truly overwhelmed by the response of her clients. She proclaims that clients say, "They are relieved to be able to shop for a stylish swimsuit in a relaxed atmosphere and actually find something to fit them, and make them feel like a diva."

So when the sun is shining, the ocean is beckoning, and you are looking forward to relaxing on the beach and then you find yourself with nothing to wear, check out Curvas Peligrosas. You will be able to shop for the perfect size that is sexy, stylish and fun.

Located at Juarez #178, between Libertad and Augustin Rodriguez in downtown Puerto Vallarta one block from the "flea market" or Municipal Mercado, Curvas Peligrosas is open Monday through Friday from 11 am-6 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-3 pm. For more information call (322) 223-5978 or send an email to Robina at CurvasPeligrosasPV(at)hotmail.com.

WEATHER

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Last Week

US Vietnam Vets - Get Agent Orange Exam NOW!
David Lord - PVNN

Colon cancer and diabetes are just two of the eleven diseases that may be in the Dioxin exposed body health system.

All Vietnam veterans are urged to get an agent orange exam, NOW! Colon cancer and diabetes are just two of the eleven diseases that may be in the Dioxin exposed body health system. We start dying long before our time and it does not have to be.

I am urging veterans to ask for their free V.A. Exam for Agent Orange contamination.

Why risk not knowing whether you may have any one of 11 diseases and ailments linked to Agent Orange? The earlier a disease is detected, the better chances are of dealing with it before getting things like CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia.)

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 20 million gallons of herbicides were used in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to remove unwanted plant life and leaves which otherwise provided cover for enemy forces during the Vietnam War.

Shortly following their military service in Vietnam, some veterans reported a variety of health problems and concerns which some of them attributed to exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. We fought for forty years, in fact we are still fighting for recognition of several other life threats due to exposures.

These exposures were repeated every time we drank the water from natural springs, rivers, ponds, even sleeping on the ground we were absorbing the dioxins by contact. We breathed in the Agent while passing through dense jungles just as sprayed, glistening foliage turned to reddish brown, oozing with thick chemical fumes, stinging eyes and burning throats.

We Marines turned down our sleeves on dirty, ripped jungle fatigues in the hundred and twenty degree heat to no avail, while our skin was perspiring, then in came the Agent Orange. We never knew what dioxin was then, our return home to months or years in hospitals, our wounds from bullets, blast, or fire, we never imagined a continued battle for life, especially 40 to 50 years later just when we expected to retire.

The Viet Nam War will go down in history, not for the war against the enemy that was won and then lost by unpopularity, but the war that chemically exposed tens of thousands of our own troops by our own U.S. Corporation; Dow Chemical.

Long past the battle on the field of valor, we the veterans of Viet Nam are still fighting and dying by the thousands due to exposure, not a medal will be pinned, not a word mentioned, as we are laid to rest from exposures to herbicide.

VA offers compensation and benefits for Vietnam veterans suffering from the following 11 diseases: Chloracne; Hodgkin's disease; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; multiple myeloma; porphyria cutanea tarda; respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx and trachea); soft-tissue sarcoma; acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy; prostate cancer; diabetes mellitus (Type 2 diabetes); and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The Agent Orange Exam is a way for a veteran to get a good history and physical. It is a general check-up that is focused on looking to see if the veteran has any of the presumptive Agent Orange conditions.

Recently ALS and Diabetes were added as presumptive Agent Orange conditions. If a veteran previously had an Agent Orange Exam before these conditions were added and they carry either of the diagnoses, they do not have to have another Agent Orange Exam now. They need to take the documentation from their doctor showing they have on the presumptive Agent Orange diagnoses, along with documentation that they were in Vietnam, to David Lord, national service officer for the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico so that they can begin the Compensation and Pension claim process.

My motivation is to have every Vietnam veteran receive an exam or get their rightful compensation, especially those now living south of the border. Many affected veterans then asked the next logical question: "Could my offspring be affected?" That's a simple question, and the simple answer is "YES!"
David Lord has been a National Veterans Service Officer doing veteran's benefits in Mexico for over a decade. David is a combat veteran, wounded by gunshot in Viet Nam 1968 and is a retired Marine. The Veterans Administration has played a critical role in his life, by his having both medical and compensation benefits. He uses his personal experience in the claims process along with having legal and credentialed Accreditation by the Department of Veterans Affairs. His use of Congressional approved Veterans Organizations, to steer veterans and dependants through the maze of regulations and entitlements due them from military service is outstanding. For more information, email him at david.lord(at)yahoo.com.

Click HERE for more Veteran Affairs with David Lord ��

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