Topless Self Expression, Noise, & Using the Right Platform

April 21, 2012 by Raul Colon

As a fan of trying and adapting to new & emerging technologies I try to understand what they are used for and how.

Not only do I try to create a process around how I approach using them but I also make sure I look at the patterns and other factors make me use them effectively. When I share my stories or searching for feedback on creating awareness about a few of the causes I am a supporter of I try to use this platforms to convince you.

Boobs as Weapons of Protest or Self Expression

Part of my morning routine after I spend valuable time with my daughter Is reading @michaeldcc’s blog (one of my favorite blogs). I have many things in common with Michael although we don’t always agree, he understands that as long as we have common interests we can respect each others beliefs and still keep a healthy & very positive relationship.

Michael post on the University of Puerto Rico Student arrested because she decided to protest by being topless with the purpose of defending women’s rights regarding how a man can be publicly topless and woman can’t.

Michael shared Jay Fonseca’s video (I applaud Jay for giving Charlene another platform to share her story) he also points to the fact that the Charlene Gonzalez got arrested for violating a law of showing too much and that there are many laws locally that are not enforced so why choose to enforce this on.

Sadly Jay Fonseca decided to use a bad example by pointing the finger at a certain religious group via one of his tweets.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/jayfonsecapr/status/193299105609551873″]

Other Ways Laws are Broken

I think Jay could have done a better job at using other examples where laws are not broken. I would like him to realize that by pointing at a group will not get the issue fixed or at least get this person the support she needs to allow her to express herself and improve women’s rights. I am not a fan of religious groups but I hate the fact when someone who has the power to communicate via traditional channels uses that same power in a way that can create more division than unity especially when it had nothing to do with Charlene getting arrested.

Some pet owners break the law

Laws here are broken on animal rights we see how many dogs are abandoned how pet-owners like my neighbor up front are borderline between abuse and taking ok care of the dog by keeping him on a leash all day.

Politicians and even neighbors make too much noise

We have politicians blasting music and messages with the purpose of brainwashing those who vote into voting for them. We have neighbors during the holidays (and throughout the year) blasting music and nobody gets arrested. I believe that Jay should apologize to that particular group from the sense that not all of them make inappropriate noise and he was not fair in just signaling them.

The Right Platform

I watched an interview and heard how Charlene was explaining the censorship from photos she has posted on Facebook that to her had an artistic value. She also recognizes that it is a private platform. I am big supporter also of breastfeeding and Facebook’s policies even prohibit those picture. Sadly Facebook or any other third party platform has to deal with laws against nudity etc which is the main reason why they won’t allow you to post pictures of that nature. This might be critical when you are trying to get your effort of the ground if this is your main approach at the protest.

A blog is the best platform in opinion to communicate and create awareness of any effort online.

Why give the success of your effort away to a platform that the masses use and will not allow you to use a new way of approaching an issue (even if that means nudity).

I believe in sharing how you feel about a certain subject with those around you. If people are not paying attention then you need to find a disruptive way of sharing your story (as long as you are willing to accept the consequences).

I think that Charlene has a great opportunity to run her effort and protest for women and human rights. I still think using social outposts like Facebook, twitter, and Google + is a great way to approach it as long as you point to your site or blog. By using your blog as your Home Base it brings those with common interests closer and with a direct channel to you and your community.

Although Charlene uses her breasts as a weapon of changing minds maybe leveraging a blog will get her even further. If she needs help in setting up a blog or enhancing one she already has she can contact me and I would gladly help in any way I can.

Supporting those who Fight for Human Rights

We need more people like Charlene without fear of expressing themselves. But agreeing with many of the points of my friend Michael I do believe she needs immerse herself into what she is fighting for and find other channels so she accomplish her objectives.

What are your thoughts on using online tools to express yourself and fight for your beliefs and the rights of others?

What approach do you take when you think there is an injustice? What tips do you have for Charlene?

Is this a Lame PR Stunt By Geraldo Rivera?

March 23, 2012 by Raul Colon

Was Geraldo Rivera’s tweet a stunt to get him more followers?

I have seen Geraldo pull some really strange stunts. I always find him to use his ethnicity as a get out of jail card. In the same way I can’t say I can relate to most of the things he does to benefit himself economically.

A Call to Black & Latino Parents? WTF?

I am not sure if I have to thank Geraldo for giving me tip of telling my nephews and young family members not to wear a hoodie because it might get them killed. Thankfully on the Island of Enchantment we have no need for Hoodies but for my family members in Connecticut they are used to stay warm not assault others.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/GeraldoRivera/status/182982712934674432″]

I guess Geraldo’s point of view is very similar to Amaury Nolasco’s comment on Puerto Rican being Drug Dealers. Is Geraldo saying that every black and latino that wears a hoodie is ready to go to some harm to someone else. I wore hoodies when I grew up in Connecticut and it was to keep my head and ears warm not because I was going to mug someone.

Once again Geraldo confirms that the reason why Trayvon Martin was killed was because he was wearing a hoodie.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/GeraldoRivera/status/182963128533909504″]

It is my Fault for Putting Geraldo Up to High Standards

Geraldo comes from the old school mentality of any “PR is Good PR” and my guess is that given how very little of him we see know days he is desperate to do something that will bring the spotlight upon him.

We know how in 2003 he gave the location of U.S. Troops by being a an embedded war correspondent. I always questioned the motives of why he did that. The only times Geraldo does a great job at mentioning his ethnicity of being Puerto Rican is when he is using our nationality as if we where “La Cosa Nostra”. Example when he interviewed Charles Manson and told him that he had a Few Puerto Rican friends that defend him. My biggest concern with Geraldo is how he uses ties to Puerto Rico when it benefits him.

I tried finding where Geraldo stated that he would use his Puerto Rican friends to defend him but I was not able to find it.

In conclusion I think Geraldo is so out of touch and an F-list celebrity that he is trying to grab more followers or using the old school tactic that any PR is good PR?

Update

Before I published this post Geraldo Tweeted a few more times trying to defend his point of view.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/GeraldoRivera/status/183230943547494401″]

After reading the previous tweet my main concern is how Geraldo is creating awareness of the risks of “Minority Kids” Wearing hoodies but I don’t see how someone with his connection is addressing the issue of how the attacker almost got away with the irresponsible action he commited.

Maybe Geraldo won a few cool points with me becase he was transparent enough to share his sons feelings via the following tweet.

[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/#!/GeraldoRivera/status/183223296865746944″]

I don’t agree with Geraldo and I still question his motives of writing something so controversial when I know he is a very intelligent man or maybe I am overestimating him.

What do you think was Geraldo’s Objective with these tweets?

If you want to see what Geraldo said feel free to visit the Latino Rebels site

The Video of What @GeraldoRivera Said About Hoodies on FOX News

Statehood Does Not Exempt Puerto Rico of Police Brutality #OccupyWallStreet

October 12, 2011 by Raul Colon

For the last few weeks I have been observing how the #OccupyWallStreet movement has been unfolding. One of the most disturbing things that I can see out of the Occupy Wall Street issue is that the lower classes are the ones fighting with each other. You can see cops and authorities that are in the lower classes fighting with the protestors.

I have not seen how the Occupy Wall Street movement has affected the upper classes directly ( I am more than sure that they are still playing golf, enjoying there Indian Summer in the Hamptons, or just relaxing at there yachts). Maybe they might have to work from there mansions or Wall Street got disrupted. I really don’t see how those Wall Street executives who are mostly responsible for the Economy tanking having their lives disrupted.

When I started my blog many of my first posts where directed towards the Police Brutality that was being committed against the Students who where being beaten and different to wall street protestors access for food was being controlled. They took away there basis rights just because these students decided that Fortuño’s changes of policy where too much to handle.

Previous Posts related to the UPR Struggle

From my perspective Fortuño used his power to implement many policies using the people that elected him as Guinea Pigs so he could be on good terms with the Republican Party. A few months ago I published a video which was shared by my friend and fellow blogger @toxic_lunch in which Al Jazeera reports dug in deep to confirm that what Fortuño was doing was to clearly benefit the U.S. Republican party and use the individuals that elected him as Guinea pigs.

Governor Fortuño’s policy has also been one aligned with the local newspapers, which they have control off of silencing the real issues. We even got a touch months ago when Fortuños colleague Pierluisi decided he would try to silence a few bloggers.

Occupy Wall Street Brings Me Memories of Last Year

Last year I saw Police personnel hit and beat the crap out of students who where trying to protect there rights. At that time very few people cared about the conditions and hot these students where being treated not even the local press. They covered it from a light angle and some local bloggers and even outside journalist had to step in a cover the atrocities the Puerto Rican Police Department committed against these students.

Our Governos Requested Help from NYPD

I remember how the Police Commissioner at one time bragged on how his force was going to be trained by the NYPD when it came to Riot control and now we can clearly see he was not lying. I guess we can now clearly blame those tactics on the NYPD.

Our governor also requested help from the NYPD to help the Puerto Rican Police Department in handling protestors. Now we know why we did not see any improvement.

Gobernador de PR busca ayuda del NYPD

I have seen my good set of videos where protestors have been hit and abused and just like it happened here. Similar to Puerto Rico I don’t see the U.S. Government addressing the Human Rights Issues.

In my perspective I thought that since Puerto Rico for the U.S. was only a place where at one point they could test the latest navy weapons (Vieques), Expand their economy (Wal-Mart), Get Cheap Resources, Recruit more service members than any other territory, and clearly not being a priority that is why President Obama and Hillary Clinton did not mention anything about the Abuse of Human Rights that was happening on the Island. I use to be a big President Obama fan but seeing how he has demonstrated to be like any other politician made me lose my admiration.

We found this video thanks to the Facebook Like Page “Soberanía y libertad ahora para Puerto Rico”

The U.S. Government Appears to Condone Police Brutality When it Benefits Them

I remember some of the ignorant people that would actually say that the police brutality that happens daily on the Island would stop if only we where a state. We can see that is not clearly the case. If they allow police brutality in New York City I am sure they would be more than open to allow it to continue in Puerto Rico (being on the lowest priority list for Washington, DC). We can clearly see the hypocrisy that when in the Middle East there are protestors being abused the U.S. is one of the first to jump in and criticize what is happening in other places. But when it is in there own territory they retreat and continue there days as if nothing is happening.

What will it take for Washington to step in and at least protect those protestors?

I would be more than sure that if they where major campaign contributors those cops would have been fired and the police brutality would have stop.

On the Island I shared multiple experiences on the Police Brutality because are students where fighting for there rights. Now I ask you to not forget that in Puerto Rico we also have Police Brutality and our Government is doing nothing to correct it.

What would you do to make Washington create a Zero Tolerance Policy on Police Brutality?

Do you think those politicians will go against their political and economical interests and put the people which they are suppose to protect in front of those interests?

Barack Obama’s Visit: As American as Arroz Con Gandules

June 15, 2011 by Raul Colon

Like every Puerto Rican I was curious of Obama’s visit an when I had a break after Obama had left the Island I decided to watch his speech. I was shocked at how superficial I found Obama’s speech to be. I guess most politicians have generic and superficial speeches but I am used to Obama being a great speaker and having something to say that touches many.

I do understand Obama wanted to reach out and mention a term that people could relate too but comparing as American as Apple pie to as American as Arroz Con Gandules Really did not click (although as a vegetarian I have to say I did prefer that option towards arroz with the carcass of a chicken or as meat eater call it Arroz con Pollo). But in many ways the purpose of the visit was to click with those who paid to see him so I hope that they got a better speech.

I did see a few interesting tweets which inspired this post. I also wanted to in a poke a bit of fun towards the Obama short Visit on why I think there where things very Puerto Rican and others that where not.

Things that where very Puerto Rican

A Politician Getting a Free Meal

Our own ~~Alfredo~~ (thanks to @gisela_m for pointing out the correction. Although for me most local politicians are the same so I mix up their names) Alejandro Garcia Padilla had Obama pay for his meal. Politicians locally get huge perks and spend taxpayer money at will at extravagant restaurants. At least in this occasion they went to an overpriced bakery not an overpriced restaurant. If only they would actually repay the people with work that would not be much of an issue.

No Reason For a Politician To Mingle with the Common Individual

It is extremely difficult to get in touch with any politician here and they will not talk to you unless you are extremely important (even a mayor of a small town). Even worst if you say anything that challenges their behaviors on a social network they will seek to silence you. Just like we had Pedro Pierluisi’s staff blocked our friend @julito77 from their Facebook page. I think that if it took that long for a U.S. President to return to the island he could of at least addressed everyone if he really cared.

If you can also ask Mr. Pierluisi why they block people like @julito77 on facebook even when they are respectful.

Meeting the Minimum Requirements

I guess since most people here voted for Hillary in the primaries (which is the only part of the election the residents of the colony are able to participate in). Obama fulfilled the promise to those who supported him. He did come back but was he here for everyone. In Puerto Rico it is very common for people to meet the requirements at a minimum (something that being a Colony for over centuries has been instilled in many of our minds). Did Obama just Meet the Minimum Requirements.

Speaking About Politics at Lunch

It is normal to always talk about politics when you are eating lunch. Although many people find it offensive others end up doing exactly that. I guess what a better option for two politicians than to talk about politics at a bakery instead of the real problems of our island.

Just getting part of it

Our many centuries under colonial rule have taught many Puerto Ricans to conform to whatever is available. We can’t vote for president but we can serve in the U.S. Military. There are so many things that are limited due to our status as a Colony. Because of this we are use to getting what we can, like for example : a pit stop every 50 years by the President of the U.S. who many veterans have fought for and service members lost their life.

A whole entourage when to pick him up at the airport!

As the Puerto Rican Movie La Guagua Aerea depicts; Puerto Ricans love to take the family, extended family members and others to greet people once they arrive at the airport (Or as you can see in the short video to take people to the airport). This normally happens with individuals who don’t visit the Island often as the case of a U.S. President. You see even fellow NuYorican Marc Anthony was here to receive him. What sparks my curiosity with Marc receiving him was that Marc does not live here. I think Marc was trying to grab a Ride back on Air Force One.

Things that Where Not Very Puerto Rican

Doctor’s Visit

Here in Puerto Rico when someone visits and leaves quickly we say they made a doctor’s visit. It is not acceptable and people force you to stay longer. If you leave you might have offended those you visited. My advice to Obama if you are coming in for a few hours too find something more useful to do and save U.S. taxpayer money.

Don’t Be That Family or Friend That comes by to eat and collect money

I read an awesome tweet by my friend @nelsonbermejo on how he has an uncle who does just like Obama visits to grab a meal and collect money and then he exits. I think we all have a relative who is interested in visiting us when they need something. I think Obama obviously came through with his promise with the only interest of collecting money not visiting the Island.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/NelsonBermejo/status/80776601406685184″]

Nobody Applauded when Air Force One Landed

Somebody should have made the arrangements to have everyone applaud when they touched down. As every Puerto Rican knows, when a plane lands there is a requirement to applaud if you arrived safely. Someone commented on facebook that maybe someone did and the secret service tacked him.

Overall seeing the political stunt for Obama made me lose part of the respect and fascination I had for our biggest landlord.
Just as my friend Lamberto celebrating that Obama was visiting the island is the same as celebrating when the Landlord comes to collect the rent.

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/bertiPR/status/80723367317090304″]

What where your thoughts on Obama’s visit? Do you see any benefits coming out of it?
Or even better can you see what else was very Puerto Rican or not that happened yesterday?

photo credit by Emily Barney

Only 1 Race the Human Race #keynote @edwardjolmos #hispz11

April 22, 2011 by Raul Colon

Today is Good Friday and given the teachings I received from my religion teachers, it is a day to relax and reflect. No work is to be done in cultures like Puerto Rico where Catholicism still has some type of influence mixed with other religious beliefs. Although I was brought up around Catholic mentors which have helped me throughout my life, in many ways I try to be more spiritual than religious.

Reading @ricky_martin’s book Me helped me understand the difference in between being spiritual and religious. As humans we love to divide ourselves. In 1999 I read another book who made me change my views in many ways. I bought The The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living (Amazon Affiliate link) which was written by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler. The book starts explaining how as humans we divide ourselves in many ways. For example we are from different backgrounds such as:

Religions
Work for different companies
Business owners or employees
Favorite Sports Team ( we might have a different one for every sport)
- Basketball
- Futbol
- Football
- Baseball
- Hockey
- Rugby
- Golf Player
Political beliefs
Countries
Cities
Neighborhoods
Families
Drive Different Cars
Types of Music

I think you all get the point that these lists can be endless but there is one thing we all have in common like for example:

Being Human

While at Hispanicize I had the opportunity to Listen to @edwardjamesolmos at his Keynote and his message was very profound. He started making an emphasis on the importance of speaking various languages and uniting ourselves by embracing as many languages as we could. His speech quickly brought to my mind the lessons I learned many years ago by reading The Art of Happiness.

http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/56388774036385792

http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/56388912746205184

Edward is a great activist fighting for rights of Latinos using the influence he has earned to protect human rights. The quote that had the most weight was when he stated “There is only one Race & it is the Human Race”

http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/56391231319707648

As humans it is our nature to divide ourselves. It becomes powerful and apparent with tools such as the internet. We can see how people are divisive from location and geographical barriers. Edward was very vocal on how as Latino’s we call ourselves a race and we are not. I see how many supposedly try to unite groups by dividing and I really think they are missing out. People who are out to destruct because they have a fear in collaborating or being in disagreement with someone. The most common situation are people doing unethical things that can be borderline illegal just to catch an audience. Some firm believers that any PR is good PR.

http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/56391263729106944

I was so amazed by Edward’s keynote especially when someone from his generation embraces technology as a tool for all humans to stay ahead of the game. It is great when you have someone taking care of his own without excluding other groups and has the mind set to make sure he is using the right tools and technology to do a better job at it.

http://twitter.com/#!/rj_c/status/56395000837181440

I had the opportunity to talk to Edward for a quick minute and thanked him for his speech and for concentrating so much of a great message in less than an hour.

So today no matter what your religious belief is, work on building something even if your religion does not allow to physically work; build ideas on how you can unite those around.

Make sure you focus on building things with those that have common interests it will make it easier for you to complete any task at hand.

So like Mr. Edward James Olmos said don’t forget that “There is only one Race & it is the Human Race” ~@edwardjolmos

Make the best of this day and enjoy the time you have here on this earth with the people you have around you by making a difference.

Unite Unite Unite

Photo Credit by @papiblogger and Hispanicize.

Interview by our Friend @terezagarza from ChecaLAmovie.com