Chatroom Up and Running

Hey!

All you social butterflies, we’re still working on making improvements for you on our website, but the Viva Laredo Chatroom is up and running! Invite your friends to come and check us out.  We look forward to chatting with you in the near future.

‘Miracle at St. Anna’ Delivers

The Holocaust is the extent of what most of us know about World War II. There was that guy who was obsessed with producing a pure Aryan (white with blue eyes) race in Germany and sent millions of Jews, unconventional religious individuals such as Jehovah’s witnesses, and the handicapped to the furnace. Although history should not deflect attention from the 6 million ill-fated victims who suffered the wrath of Hitler not only in Germany, but also in its neighboring nations, hardly ever is the spotlight on Hitler’s armies who worked diligently to quench their master’s thirst for blood, blood, and more blood.

These armies executed the Sant’ Anna di Stazzema Massacre in Italy which occurred on August 12, 1944.  An army of SS officers- infamous themselves for their wartime cruelty- massacred over 500 Italian refugees in the small town. The SS officers were retaliating against Italian insurgents, but amid frustrations of not being able to capture these, rounded up the villagers and murdered women, children, babies, and older men. It is said that they burned down the village along with the bodies of their victims, their youngest believed to have been 20 days old.

A trial was conducted in their absence in Italy on June 2005 for this crime against at least 10 SS officers, all of whom are over eighty years old now, and they were sentenced to life in prison- a sentence that they will perhaps never serve because Germany does not extradite its citizens. Presently, a court in Germany is attempting to bring the charges to the men in that country so that their crimes will not go unpunished.

Although loosely based on this true event, Miracle at St. Anna, a movie playing at our Cinema del Norte only, offers an insight into history that would otherwise remain buried along with thousands of secrets of World War II if not for this production. Details of this massacre were inconspicuously filed away in a cabinet in Rome until 1994. Thanks to that discovery and now to Spike Lee, the event will forever be documented on film.

As far as the film goes, suffice it to say that the plot and the characters are well-developed. A war film, it is over two hours and a half, too graphic for my taste, and focused on the Army’s African-American soldiers AKA the “Buffalo Soldiers” who fought for our nation in World War II. There is some nudity. A big endings nut, I was satisfied with the resolution of our story.  The screenplay is a little jumpy, but other than that….it was quite the educational experience.

Justice Served? Jury Rules in Favor of Gonzalez

A jury of his peers found that Jose Gonzalez had every right to shoot 13 year-old Francisco Anguiano in his property for breaking and entering.  The public is now concerned that the message delivered here is that it is OK to take the law into your own hands when someone enters your home, whether you feel your life is threatened or not.  Conversely, one can say that the message was delivered to would-be criminals, too.  If you break into a home and are killed, your murderer will be let loose.  Good riddance.  Either way you look at it, the jury was perhaps too lax in letting Gonzalez walk away free.  Every case must be treated accordingly, and the facts in this case were somewhat blurred.  It is unclear whether Gonzalez or the surviving friends of Anguiano are telling the truth, but we know who the jury believed.  Was this jury perhaps biased in favor of the adult who since that night found himself on the wrong side of the law too?

Future Law Enforcement Officers Not Making the Grade

I’ve somehow lost track of time, but it has not been that long since the man that we for years respected and admired as our police chief was caught in the web of deceit and corruption that we used to only read about in newspapers elsewhere. Consequently, public opinion about local law enforcement is not necessarily at its peak these days. The public was truly hurt by the decisions our formerly esteemed chief and a few members of his staff made. They were not exactly crucified by the media, but we sure did feast on the news for a while. These men were supported mainly by those who knew them personally, but deemed criminals by most of the public…So is it fair for the citizens of Laredo to complain about lies, deceit, and corruption if we do not learn by example?

Recent news have related that almost 10 constable and deputy candidates at the South Texas Border Regional Police Academy were caught cheating. Candidates are typically sponsored by already established law enforcement officers or agencies and their academy hosted at the LCC South Campus. They are required to maintain at least a B-average in their coursework in order to remain in the program, regardless of who is sponsoring them. Whether it was this pressure to maintain the grade or if they were simply looking for an easy way out, these law enforcement candidates are alleged to have been caught cheating on a test. Whatever reason they had for doing so, is cheating ever justified? In recent days, emotions are stirred about the cheating accusations against these students.

One just has to read the article published in the Laredo Morning Times on Thursday to view the differences of opinions the public has in this case. Far from impartial, the public is seemingly pretty split on this matter. While one commenter jokes that constables are not real law enforcement officers, others are vehemently defending the cadets. There are some supporters of these students who agree with LCC’s decision to reinstate the students, provided that the law enforcement candidates comply with various sanctions, though it is unclear what these sanctions are. It appears to be mostly people who know the cadets personally as friends, family, or business contacts.

Those not in favor of LCC’s decision to reinstate argue that a simple slap on the wrist will not suffice to restore integrity to the college campus. They are worried about the message our local college is imparting to future cadets and students: that cheating is not a serious offense enough to merit expulsion. These members of the public note that cheating is never OK. These cadets are vying for a spot on the law enforcement roster and enlist to protect and to serve, so the public needs to trust them. If we cannot trust our law enforcement officers, we are bound for an unruly and corrupt system of checks and balances in which the checks do not add up to the balances. Doesn’t make sense, does it?  Neither does reinstatement, some argue.

Cheating is rarely tolerated at any institution of learning, much less one of higher learning. All universities in the country currently have sanctions for cheating, notably the threat of expulsion. Should LCC be different because it is situated in Laredo? Or does the committee deciding upon this matter need to consider the more serious sanction for cheating: removal from the school? LCC is in a damn rough spot, because the spotlight is shining hot on them.

Self-defense or Murder?

Laredoans have recently been drawn into the buzz surrounding a very unique case of self-defense in our city.  Jose Luis Gonzalez, 63, is charged with murder after having shot 13-year old Francisco Anguiano in the back, but is currently pleading self-defense.  It sounds like the nightmarish episode of a twised drama, I know, but at least two families have had to endure this drama since the incident. 

If you are not familiar with the case, the 13-year old victim, along with a few of his friends, broke into Mr. Gonzalez’s home as part of a mischievious scheme to secure munchies. The Laredo Morning Times reported yesterday that Mr. Gonzalez found the juveniles and cornered them inside his home while taunting with the threat of use of deadly force. Only the surviving juveniles, Mr. Gonzalez, and the victim know for sure what happened that fateful night, and one of them can no longer testify on anyone’s behalf because he is silenced forever. 

The public is pretty split on what they feel should be the sentence for Mr. Gonzalez, since he is on trial for murder.  Some feel that he had absolutely no right to shoot the boy, since the act of breaking into his home did not merit losing a life over a few munchies.  They defend the victim by noting that he was just a boy who was unarmed and probably did not try to attack the owner of the property when he saw his life was threatened. 

The partial culprit in this case may be the legal terminology.  The term self-defense is loosely defined as “the act of defending oneself, one’s property, or the well-being of another from physical harm.” Because the boys were unarmed and claim that they did not attempt to attack Mr. Gonzalez, many will argue that this act was not committed in self-defense.

Others sympathize with the perpetrator, because they feel that Mr. Gonzalez had every right to protect his life and property by using the deadly weapon and go as far as claiming that instead of one dead teenager, there would be several.   

So was it self-defense or not? Did Mr. Gonzalez misinterpret his right to protect his interests, or is he simply now pleading ignorance because like those kids who made a bad choice that night he, too, was possessed by a criminal mind?  Who is to say that just because he was over 60 he had better judgment than a 13-year old boy?

Our paper reported today that prosecution has rested its case, and so the jury for this case will soon deliberate on the verdict and sentence, if any.  I trust that they will do what is just for both families.  I predict that they will arrive at a neutral verdict.  The best verdicts in cases like this are those in which no side is a victor, really.  Mr. Gonzalez will be found guilty of a lesser charge than murder and will be sentenced to a few years in prison for misinterpreting his right to self-defense. The court will call it voluntary manslaughter or something to that effect, but the victim’s family will not feel that Mr. Gonzalez got years enough to pay for having taken the life of their 13-year old who was merely a boy, after all.

http://www.lmtonline.com/articles/2008/09/25/front/news/doc48dbdde89c602364633070.txt

Upcoming Concerts in Surrounding Cities

MONTERREY,MEX
Events from October to December 2008
Source: www.superboletos.com.mx & www.arenamonterrey.com

MOTLEY CRUE
OCTOBER 7,2008 @ 9pm
Tickets: $30-$150

KANYE WEST
OCTOBER 18,2008 @ 9pm
Tickets: $30-$150

DRAKE BELL
October 19,2008 @ 7pm
Tickets: $25-$95

SIMPLE PLAN
OCTOBER 20,2008
Tickets: $25-$80

NINE INCH NAILS & STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
OCTOBER 21,2008 @ 8pm
Tickets: $25-$95

MAROON 5
NOVEMBER 2,2008 @ 9pm
Tickets: $20-$130

SARAH BRIGHTMAN
NOVEMBER 4,2008 @ 9pm
Tickets: $35-$250

OASIS
NOVEMBER 29,2008 @ 8:30

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
DECEMBER 4,2008 @ 9pm
Tickets: $30-$150

USA Side
SOURCE:Ticketmaster.com

HOUSTON,TX

MADONNA @ Minute Maid Park
2008 Sticky & Sweet Tour
Sunday 11/16/08 @ 7:30 PM
Tickets: $55-$350

SAN ANTONIO,TX

Luis Miguel @ AT&T Center
Oct 14, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets:$23-$85.50

Nine Inch Nails @ AT&T Center
Oct 23, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets:$28.15-$48.15

AC/DC @ AT&T Center
Dec 12, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets: $69.50-$89.50

Los Lonely Boys @ Majestic Theatre
Oct 29, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets: $35-$47

B.B. King @Majestic Theatre
Nov 20, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets:$45.25-$75.25

Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlán @San Antonio Municipal Auditorium
Dec 6, 2008 7:30 PM
Tickets:$20-$100

New Kids On the Block @ AT&T Center
Oct 17, 2008 8:00 PM
Tickets: $38.15-$73.65

The Cheetah Girls @ AT&T Center
Oct 21, 2008 7:00 PM
Tickets: $33-$43

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
Gary Allan @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
Oct 2, 2008 6:00 PM
Tickets: $22.50-37.50

CHEETAH GIRLS @ American Bank Center Arena
Oct 4, 2008 7:00 PM
Tickets: $22

Brad Paisley @ American Bank Center Arena
Oct 15, 2008 8:30 PM
Tickets:$26.50-81.50

Willie Nelson @ American Bank Center Arena
Oct 30, 2008 7:30 PM
Tickets: $24.50-54.50

Saliva @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
Nov 9, 2008 6:00 PM
Tickets: Not on Sale Yet

Mudvayne @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
Oct 30, 2008 6:00 PM
Tickets:$26.50

Los Lonely Boys @ Concrete Street Amphitheater
Nov 2, 2008 7:00 PM
Tickets: $24

B.B. King
Selena Auditorium At the American Bank Center
Nov 18, 2008 7:30 PM
Tickets:$44.50-$87.00

Did Borderplex Say Pizza Party?

Tree huggers, rejoice! The City of Laredo together with Borderplex has kicked off its annual phonebook recycling drive.

If you are as adamant as I am about your child turning into a responsible and competitive adult, you will surely want to urge your youngsters to participate in their school’s recycling efforts. All area schools, including the private sector, are presently being encouraged to participate in the annual drive.  Phonebooks, no matter how old or battered, can be donated to your child’s school between now and October 16, 2008. There is no downside. Aside from competing for the $600 prize which will be awarded to one LISD, one UISD, and one private school, a pizza party will be raffled at the three winning campuses’ awards ceremonies from among the list of the classrooms with the most phonebooks collected.

The pizza party is inconsequential compared to the benefits for your child’s upbringing. Children watch us far closer that we think, and if we cultivate an environment which embraces salvation of our natural resources, the world might just be more livable for them when we are gone than is projected by many experts today. And who said competition is not healthy? Competitiveness is a quality that is observed in the most successful people in the world.  Sure, the competition here is rather minute, but an often quoted wise man once said that “even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (Comment, if you know who!)

Imagine how successful your child will feel if he/she understands that the difference they are making is a drastic one. It is noted that recycling saves tons (literally) of landfill space, collectively decreases consumption of fuel it takes to transport garbage from one point to another, and of course, saves hundreds (if not more) of trees per year.  In Laredo alone, students have figured that they contributed to saving the lives of more than 300 trees in recent years. I don’t know about you, but it sounds to me like recycling is a pretty rewarding experience for our children, so get up and find them! If nothing else, they do love pizza parties!

Carlos Mencia at LEC

One of the most popular stand up comedians in the country Carlos Mencia is undoubtedly one of today’s most lauded entertainers and feared comics. Whether it is man-on-the-street interviews, studio comedy, commercial parodies, or nationwide sold-out tours, Mencia demonstrates an extraordinary ability to connect with a diverse audience. He will be at the Laredo Entertainment Center Thursday Oct. 2 at 7:30 tickets are at $38. The “At Close Range” Tour is produced by Live Nation Comedy and Icon Entertainment.

For More Info:
www.livenation.com
www.ticketmaster.com
LEC Box Office
Box Office Numbers: (956)791-9192 or (956) 523-7700

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