Devious From The Start? We May Never Know

May 18, 2012 Leave a comment

The cast of Devious Maids (l-r) Judy Reyes, Roselyn Sanchez, Dania Ramirez and Ana Ortiz

This past Wednesday the official announcement was made by ABC rejecting Marc Cherry’s new series Devious Maids. Cherry created the recently completed Desperate Housewives and was pushing a series based on a popular Mexican telenovela that was also being executive produced by Eva Longoria. The story of this series centers on the lives of four Latina women working as maids in Beverly Hills, California.

The show which was set to star Judy Reyes (Scrubs and Gun Hill Road), Roselyn Sanchez (Chasing Papi) Dania Ramirez (American Reunion), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) and Susan Lucci (All My Children) was apparently not a favorite amongst critics. It wasn’t especially pleasing to those in the Latino community who felt it portrayed some very negative stereotypes about Latinas. Longoria in turn lashed out in an article in the Huffington Post voicing her displeasure about the lack of support from within the Latino community.

Look let me make this all perfectly clear for those who read this article. For the record we are not all maids, butlers, drivers, drug lords, pimps and bodega owners. None of these occupations, whether they are legal or illegal, are privy to our community and they do exist in other racial and ethnic groups. Some of us are doctors, lawyers, astronauts, writers and are successful in the entertainment business. But again neither of these occupations is privy to our community as well because they do apply to other ethnic and racial groups.

Let’s be perfectly honest here we’ve all poked fun at our various stereotypes whether we are doing it as comedians or amongst ourselves with friends. I myself have been found guilty in making the smart remark about being from the Bronx; stripping cars for their parts and selling them for triple the value in the Hunts Point section of the borough. The reality is that I have never participated in the act but I know that I will get some jokes about it from friends in spite of being forthright.

The reality is that we’ve come a long way in regard to dispelling cultural stereotypes about Latinos that were depicted in the media in past decades. This may come to a shock to many who know me but I am not offended by Cherry and Longoria’s effort to get this show on the air. Would I have liked to have seen the four leads be business women making their way up the ladder of the corporate world? Absolutely I would have.

But I feel even with that some within our community would have still found some fault with how the women would have been depicted. And therein lays the problem. The fact that there appears to be a large segment within our community that has been too hypercritical, very unsupportive and projecting a ton of hate towards others making the effort in putting out Latin based or themed content. Too many within our community are occupying their time pushing numerous sociopolitical agendas to work against others.

The end result a show didn’t get picked up. Okay maybe that is just part of it because many of us do not know the full set of reasons why ABC declined to pick up the show. However, what you now get is Latino talent in front of the camera and possibly behind it out of work for the time being. Not to mention others of different races or ethnic make ups out of work as well. We’ll never know what direction Devious Maids would have gone because it was pretty much squashed from the onset. At least shows like Work It and ¡Rob! were given a look before eventually failing. The failures of those shows can be discussed another time.

I must make it known that I’m all for diversity when it comes to working in the media whether it be in film, television radio, print or the internet. But at what cost you may ask? I must be honest and say that when I state that I support diversity in these businesses I mean that different people are welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. We need the best people to be put in place not just have it to be all one flavor. Would I like to see more Latino talent in these businesses? The answer to that is an obvious yes. But I do not want to push out other groups who want to work in media just to see it happen.

To finish this up I’ll leave you with a nice pop culture reference. Did a predominately Latino roster for the 2006 New York Mets win a World Series? I didn’t think so. Maybe now some will get my point.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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It’s A Garden Of Dreams As The Rangers Quest For Lord Stanley’s Cup Continues

May 14, 2012 Leave a comment

The Rangers look to make a run for the Lord Stanley Cup(Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Is it déjà vu all over again as Yogi Berra would say? Well it could very well be so in the NHL if the New York Rangers are to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals this year. After a fifteen year absence the Broadway Blue Shirts are back in the Eastern Conference Finals. But this time the opponent is a familiar foe; one that was dispatched after an epic conference final series en route to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

Hockey fans in the city that never sleeps remember what transpired some eighteen years ago. Now the current incarnation of the New York Rangers are looking to do the very same thing although the times and the circumstances are somewhat of a stark contrast. The cell phones were a lot bigger and they were not equipped with apps and internet capabilities. It was a full two months after Kurt Cobain passed. Today Adam “MCA” Yauch, one of his contemporaries, is gone from our world. Back then the spectacle that was O.J. Simpson was unfolding before the eyes of the television viewing world. Let us also not forget that the Knicks, who also call Madison Square Garden home, were making a run of their very own.

To say that these current Rangers are a different group is an understatement to say the very least. For the most part the core of the team is young with players such as Dan Girardi and Michael Del Zotto. But it does have a steady veteran presence with the likes of Brad Richards, Marc Staahl and Marián Gáborík. They are lead by a more than capable captain in Ryan Callahan and have goaltending royalty in Vezina Trophy candidate Henrik Lundqvist. To compare this group to the legends that were on the 1994 team is absolutely a foolish thing to do.

The Rangers of 1994 were an extremely special group that had the unenviable task of slaying a fifty-four year old monster. They had all-stars in eventual Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brian Leetch, Adam Graves and Mike Richter. This ensemble was led by the sport’s greatest leader in Mark Messier. It was during the conference finals that year when Messier, who already had by that time a stellar career, added to his legend. Who could forget game six when he not only pulled his own Joe Namath routine but got a hat trick for the proverbial icing on the cake? But that was not all because there were two overtime games won by Stéphane Matteau. The latter of which was the final game of the series when he intercepted a Slava Fetisov pass and wrapped the puck around the net past then rookie goalie Martin Brodeur. Howie Rose shouting Matteau over and over again is still vivid in the minds of Ranger fans to this day.

Can the 2012 cast playing on 34th Street and 7th Avenue win it all?

The answer to that question remains one that is unknown. They have the current New Jersey Devils roster to contend with. When it comes to this rivalry all bets, statistics and omens are off and are tossed out the window like Penny’s underwear.

The one constant throughout the last eighteen years of this bitter turf war is the future hall of famer Brodeur. Of all the players to suit up and hit the ice tonight he can come close to laying the claim of seeing it all. The question surrounding Martin Brodeur now is not about how great of a goalie he is but as to how much he has left in the tank. These Rangers have a youthful sprit about them and if they are in attack mode early and often they could give him fits. With that said it’s safe to say that this series is going to come down to goal tending. On the other side you have Lundqvist looking to add to his legacy, he’s in the prime of his career and would love nothing more than to not only stonewall the Devils but outplay their legendary goalie.

The series will be an intriguing one to watch to say the very least. Knowing how much contempt these teams have for one another it will be a safe bet to say some classic moments will occur and may make for another epic series. Seven games should suffice in the case of this Rangers-Devils match up. For all of New York’s sake let’s hope this one goes in favor of the men who play on the biggest stage in the world.

Oh, by the way I make no apologies for the Big Bang Theory reference woven into this article.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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They’ll Still Be Three MC’s and One DJ

May 7, 2012 Leave a comment

This poster was a constant in my door room in college.

This is has been a rather difficult year so far when it comes to the death in the music world. First Whitney Houston, then Dick Clark and now one that really hurts is the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch after his courageous battle with cancer. All of those mentioned had an impact on our lives and left their marks. In fact the Beastie Boys did make an appearance on American Bandstand. This shows you how not only Clark was a pioneer and very open to new acts on the ever evolving musical landscape but that the Beastie’s were a sign of things to come.

The Beastie Boys were originally seen as a passing fad when they officially hit the airwaves. But as we all found out over the years they were anything but a flash in the pan. They were constant staple in our lives and especially mine. Evidence of this could be seen in my door room wall right by the window as the photo on the top left-hand corner was always hanging there. They were the pioneers in the room. Their image and likeness resided alongside those of Led Zeppelin (who they sampled), Soundgarden and Nirvana just to name a few.

For me they stood for many things. They represented timeless progression in music, humanitarian spirit and trend setting. The Beastie Boys went from a four piece hard core punk band which included Kate Schellenbach, of Luscious Jackson fame, on drums to the hip hop icons that we now know them. They went from a frat boy attitude and matured before our very eyes while championing such causes as the plight of the Tibetan people. While many were pushing Nike and Timberland as part of hip hop fashion they stayed true to their roots and continued to rock Stan Smith Adidas and Puma Clyde’s. They even founded their own record label Grand Royal, where everything was guaranteed fresh. All of these things made me want to be the extra Beastie Boy.

MCA was obviously behind all of this as a founding member of the group. Of the three he was definitely my favorite. He was the backbone of the crew and more often than not he always was the one finishing a track with flare, gusto and some lines that may be simple to some but will forever go down in hip hop lore. If you don’t believe me I have two samples for you below this paragraph.

“So Whatcha Want”

Well I’m as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce
You’ve got the rhyme and reason but no cause
Well if you’re hot to trot you think you’re slicker than grease
I’ve got news for you crews you’ll be sucking like a leech

“Intergalactic”

If you try to knock me you’ll get mocked
I’ll stir fry you in my wok
Your knees’ll start shaking and your fingers pop
Like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock

Sadly now he’s gone but his legacy and that of his band will most certainly live on. No one could ever replace MCA and it’s very safe to say that Mike D and Ad Rock will never allow that to happen. And as for me, the kid who once wanted to be an extra Beastie Boy like so many others, I would not want to see anyone in his place. Besides those are some large shell toed sneakers to fill and there isn’t a person alive who is capable of doing so. The man known and MCA, Nathaniel Hörnblowér and Nathan Wind as Cochese will be sorely missed by me and legions of fans.

The Beastie Boys will be remembered for many great things. But for me they will always and forever be remembered as three MC’s and one DJ.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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Hey! Wait! I’ve Got A New Hologram!

April 26, 2012 Leave a comment

Cobain as a hologram?

On Sunday April 15th the crowd at the Coachella Music Festival and eventually the world was treated to a stirring 2-D hologram medley performance by the late Tupac Shakur. The hologram itself as of this date has accumulated over 3.5 million views on YouTube alone. The overwhelming popularity of this hologram has even led members of the R&B group TLC to consider creating one for the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes who passed away ten years ago according to a Huffington Post article published on the anniversary of her death.

With all the buzz concerning the advent of the 2-D hologram format being used on musical artists who have passed away I have been brewing some ideas of my own as to who may ideal candidates for such a thing. There are hundreds of possibilities but one came to mind immediately. Yes, those who know me best have picked my brain easily as to who it is. That’s right a hologram of the late Kurt Cobain.

I bring this up because recently the surviving members of Nirvana, Krist Novoselic and David Grohl, have been working on material in the legendary Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California where they recorded the game changing album Nevermind. What would it be like to see Kurt at Coachella? Would diehard fans be accepting of such a thing? Would we still feel a little cheated because it’s not him in the flesh? Would his widow Courtney Love, who controls his image and likeness, allow for this to come to fruition?

I have to admit as much as the idea rolled through my well functioning cerebral cortex may sound appealing I will go on record as saying that I am on the fence with this one. That’s because I like millions of fans would have loved to see the man perform live and to have met him. So there may be no real closure and not to mention it the very thought could freak out and frustrate his band mates and daughter Frances Bean. After all who could forget the big legal flap that is still ongoing over his use in the Rockband video game series?

But this does not mean other artists estates will not be contacted in regard to being presented in a 2-D hologram. Hip-hop fans would like to see others immortalized in this fashion. I’m giving you all fare warning to be aware that two large possibilities do exist. You all know very well who they are. I know for a fact that people may like to see holograms of the late Notorious B.I.G. and Big Punisher. How about one of the late Big L? What about putting all of those greats along with Tupac to have the Four Deadly MC track performed that has been floating around for over a decade?

What about rock fans?

Unfortunately there are more than a gaggle of deceased rockers that could get the hologram treatment. Could anyone fathom virtual versions of original AC/DC front man Bon Scott or Boston’s Brad Delp? Imagine John and George rejoining Paul and Ringo?

Salsa fans I did not leave us out in the cold in this read. The thought of a Celia Cruz hologram did cross my mind. But I have one that’s even better. How about one of El Cantante himself Hector LaVoe? I bet his could give a lot of current salsa singers a run for their money.

Reggae diehards I did not forget about us all when it comes to this matter. Would we all like to see Bob Marley or Gregory Isaacs in this 2-D platform?

Again the possibilities are close to endless when it comes to this subject. But I would like to know the thoughts of each of you when it comes to it so feel free to comment on it right here. And please be kind in doing so.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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NALIP 2012: Writing Cesar Chavez Panel

April 19, 2012 2 Comments

From L to R: Oscar Garza, Keir Pearson, Marc Grossman & Pablo Cruz (Source: Daniel Rivera)

Last month it was announced that after many years of pursuit that a Cesar Chavez biopic would finally come to light. The film which is currently in the pre-production stages will be produced by Pablo Cruz (Sin Nombre and Miss Bala), Diego Luna (Frida and Milk) and John Malkovich. Luna is set to direct the film and hired Michael Peña (Crash, Walkout and The Lincoln Lawyer) to play the legendary activist and labor leader. Rounding out the cast will be America Ferrera (Real Women Have Curves and Ugly Betty) as Helen Chavez and Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds and Eagle Eye) as Dolores Huerta the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association. The screenplay was penned by Keir Pearson who wrote the script for Hotel Rwanda.

Upon the announcement of this film and who would be involved in this project many questions have been surrounding it. After all it is a film about one of the most courageous labor leaders in the history of the United States. Chavez was much like his hero Mahatma Ghandi. He took to a life of poverty, fasted in protest of unjust labor conditions and in addition to this never attended a cinema in his sixty six years of living.

Any questions about the film, its production and source material were all answered at the Writing Cesar Chavez Panel at the NALIP 2012 Conference, which I proudly attended. The panel was moderated by KPCC’s Oscar Garza and it featured Cruz, Pearson and Marc Grossman from the Cesar Chavez Foundation. All were very gracious when it came to talking about this historic project.

In reference to source material Garza mentioned a biography that was done in 1975 that will not be the only point of reference that was used when creating the script. When asked if the late Chavez was ever interested in telling his life story via book or film Grossman told the audience, “I think it’s safe to say this project would have never been entertained when Cesar was alive. As a matter of fact in 1978 Robert Redford’s partner at his film production company came to La Paz at the farm worker’s headquarters where Cesar lived and worked. And we had lunch Cesar, myself, the producer and Jacques Levy who recently published an excellent biography/autobiography on Cesar that came out in 1975. And the producer pitched Cesar on doing the film. Cesar listened very politely and at the end of the lunch Cesar said thanks but no thanks. It took thirty years to get from that point to the place where the Chavez Foundation, the Chavez family and the farm workers movement were entertaining the possibility of exploring a major motion picture.”

According to Grossman the Chavez family and the foundation that bears the name of the late labor leader directly sought Keir Pearson for this project. “We did a lot of research, checking around and looking at different people. (We were) trying to come up with a person who would best be capable presenting the spirit of the man and that’s how we got in touch with Keir. (Then) the Chavez family licensed Keir to do the screenplay.” This would be a key source of information because Pearson would eventually answer a question that was never asked during this panel but was brought up in circles prior to it. That is how comfortable did he feel in writing a script based on a Latino activist being that Pearson himself is not of Latino heritage?

Pearson simply opened up to the panel audience by stating, “I was raised by hippies. My parents were at San Francisco State during the sixties. It was all about Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez. Even today my seventy five year old mother goes down the aisle and she will not by iceberg lettuce.” This revealing statement was not only informative but drew some laughter from the audience. Pearson continued, “You know those were the folk heroes that I grew up with. We didn’t discuss sports. It was people like Cesar, MLK, and Ghandi. I heard all about The Weathermen and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. So this is what I grew up with.”

Pearson’s opening remarks not only answered the question but quelled any possible concern as to whether or not he is person best suited for this project. Simply put he is the person best suited to write this project and anyone who has seen Hotel Rwanda would certainly agree with this notion. I have long been of the volition that it does not take a person from within specific cultural background to write about a public figure or event in their own history. It just takes the best writer regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

Pearson did elaborate that the scriptwriting process took two years to complete because the Chavez family wanted to know how people in his previous works were portrayed and to gauge his work ethic. “The thing that really appealed to me about Cesar Chavez (is that) he is a great Latino leader that’s without a doubt. He’s also a great American leader that’s without a doubt. But I think there’s a universal appeal there which is he’s just a great champion of humanity and I that’s what I was really fascinated by. What really kind of hit home for me was there was a whole spiritual element to that. It fundamentally came from his upbringing as a Catholic. His whole sense of sacrifice and his compassion and this you have to do for others was really born out of that faith. This was about something deeper. It was that moral principle and that thing that I felt really guided him, his compassion for others and sacrificing for others. That is something that I think everyone can get behind. I feel like that voice is missing today”, Pearson told the audience.

When I directly asked Pearson why this voice is missing and he feels the message is lost today he responded by saying, “I don’t know why it’s lost. How many people do you see taking to the street to boycott something because they believe it’s on principle? My personal opinion is big business has this country and the rest of the world by the short and curlies and labor is just taking a beating. It’s almost a dirty word. To me it’s a little disturbing. The fact that a movie will come out about Cesar Chavez and show what people can do when they band together under common principle to make a difference is huge. I would love to see this movie blow the doors wide open.”

It is nice to hear such a refreshing set of statements given the social and political climate that we face today as a nation. Grant it we do not have the climate we did have in 1992 or for that matter in the time of Pearson’s parents. But we are living times where people are leaning more towards being self-absorbed while wallowing in general states of apathy and complacency. I share in Pearson’s sentiment that this film can be a wakeup call for those who need to band together for the common good of the whole as opposed to the individual.

On a final note in speaking with Pablo Cruz I like the rest of those in attendance did learn two things. The first is that the A-list actors that I mentioned earlier in this piece have been discussing amongst themselves plans to donate portions of their salaries to the Chavez Foundation. The second is that the release date is tentatively scheduled for the end of this year as to not have a possible conflict with this year’s Presidential Election. Maybe these two things will help prevent the principles that Chavez stood for from becoming lost. I will say that it is a nice gesture for these fine actors to come together and donate to the Chavez Foundation. That says a lot for the spirit of man and uniting for the common good of the whole.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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Album Review: Smile and Nod

April 10, 2012 Leave a comment

I’ve been listening to hip hop for many years and have heard countless records over the course of my time. I’ll always remember where I was when I heard such seminal classics released by A Tribe Called Quest, Souls of Mischief and De La Soul just to name a few. I mention these legends because I’ve always felt they made records that made me feel good after listening to them from front to back. This weekend I had the very same pleasure when I received my advance copy of Kingston, NY rapper Tom “Upgrade” Taub’s debut release Smile and Nod.

When I received it I couldn’t help but remember the albums and artists that I listened to when I was coming of age exactly eighteen years ago. That very weekend was when the music world lost Kurt Cobain. At that time not only was I heavily into Nirvana but also to the hip hop icons I previously referenced. Again I cannot help but reiterate how wonderful it was to listen to that music during that period of time. In listening to Smile and Nod I had the same feeling this weekend. I could not deny the notion that I was listening to a feel good record.

Smile and Nod includes guest appearances by Mac Lethal, Skyzoo, Justina Soto and Rev of Ev stalwarts Gregg Self and Wes Cashtro all lending strong support on the record with their performances. The flawless production work was headed by Escrappa and Max Conklin who mixed and mastered the record. A veritable who’s who of producers left their diverse and unique imprints on Smile and Nod which perfectly compliment Upgrade’s outstanding lyrical acumen. Lending skilled hands on this record are Boonie Mayfield, Vans Beats, Scarecrow Beats,!llmind (Illmind), Kid Flash, Flawless Tracks, Evelution Beats, Sinima and Vherbal.

The tracks on Smile and Nod range from melodic to up tempo and they display Upgrade’s range of flow perfectly. This is all demonstrated on such songs as “My Perspective”, “Met My Match”, “Growing Up” and my personal favorite “Farewell” featuring Queens, NY native Nilsa. Of the latter soulful track Upgrade explained, “When I first played the beat in the studio I got a lot of weird looks. But once they heard where I was going with it. It all made sense. This track is about saying farewell to the flaws in your life and just trying to have a positive outlook on everything. Nilsa killed the chorus as well and made the vision clear.”

Upgrade also tackles relationships and coming of age with the tracks “Met My Match” and “Growing Up”. The first track Upgrade reveals, “Is based on a true story about an attractive female I was feeling. I wasn’t looking to meet my match for a relationship and really never go out of my way to find someone but I just let it happen. In this case I met my match in the way that I was feeling her more than I got back. She’s still cool people by the way Also during the recording of this project this was kind of the song that set off the whole process of Smile and Nod so I wanted it to come next after the intro.” As for “Growing Up” he went on to describe it as, “A feel good growing of age track. Just me being me and open to the stupid shit we use to do as kids. Back in the day when the girl with her locker next to you was the girl you were dating and you never even talked to her before. So much shit that seemed like such a big deal back then that you just look back and laugh at now. “

When I asked to describe the project as a whole Upgrade said, “The whole project is an introduction to what I hope to bring to the table. I want to create the most honest and real music that I am capable of. Whatever the topic, I want to make sure that it is ME 100%. I’m not trying to be anything but myself and as long as that is portrayed in the music, I did my job. Even if it’s a Power Ranger watching, video game playing, awkward, bipolar, Pokemon master, alcoholic, Bob Saget wannabe, hip hop fan.”

However, this album may not be an introduction but more of an invitation. It’s an invitation to the world of a rapper who is trying to cross musical and social boundaries with his talent. Upgrade’s brand of music can definitely appeal to different crowds whether it is the Mac Miller/Asher Roth types or the people who rock a little harder in the Slaughterhouse set. It appeals to back packers, skate boarders, the kids who feel a little left out of the crowd and the cool kids who may still never have the time. This record is the kind that will get your attention via its well structured beats dressed with clever lyrics that are colored with, humor, sadness, joy and pain.

Smile and Nod is set to be released today and I highly recommend music listeners of all walks of life to pick up a copy. You can do so on iTunes, Amazon and all digital stores on the internet. A free download link will be posted on upgradehiphop.com and hard copies will be available for sale next week. You can follow Tom “Upgrade” Taub on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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Rivera To Rivera. You’re Wrong!

March 26, 2012 Leave a comment

You’re not supposed to criticize fellow members of the media some in the business may say. This is often said if that person is a legendary individual and happens to be from your own ethnic group. Don’t get me wrong I know this does occur but it’s advised by some that it’s not the proper thing to do. I find that line of thinking to be a bunch of garden variety nonsense. No one is immune to criticism and that includes the man drafting this article.

By now you are all wondering what I am getting at. Well here’s a clue take a look up at the picture in the top left-hand corner. Yes ladies and gentlemen you all now know where I’m going with this one. We have now all had a full three days to digest the ugly comments made by Geraldo Rivera in reference to the late Trayvon Martin. Martin is the seventeen year old who was shot to death in Sanford, Florida by an overzealous and self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer named George Zimmerman for being suspicious looking and wearing a hoodie. Prior to his untimely death Martin had left his father’s home in a gated community to go to a nearby 7-Eleven during a break in a NBA game so he could purchase a pack of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

Trayvon’s death has lead to a large amount of public outcry most of if it on the strength of the fact that Zimmerman has yet to be arrested and charged with killing him due to Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. But also in the wake of his death his family has received an immense amount public support people of all walks of life. This includes athletes and some noted celebrities. Members of the Miami Heat stood in unison for a photo shoot donning their black hoodies. Others who have taken photo’s in hoodies include New York Knick forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony as well as one by rapper/actor Common. Will Smith has voiced his sentiments on the situation via his Twitter account. Smith tweeted, “WE live in America where a girl that threw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested on site. But the man who KILLED Trayvon Martin is still free.”

However, in the midst of all the support someone had to pour salt on a fresh wound. Leave to someone at FOX News Channel to do just that. But what is most disturbing, other than FOX News Channel being the last media outlet to report on the issue, is that the most controversial and damaging commentary came from Geraldo Rivera.

Rivera went on air this past Friday morning and stated, “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was.” These were not the only vile words the Emmy Award winning television journalist and attorney uttered during his appearance on FOX and Friends. I did take the courtesy of embedding the now viral video of his commentary. Rivera later went on to reveal that his son Gabriel disagrees with his stance on the issue. Geraldo stated, “My own son just wrote to say he’s ashamed of my position regarding hoodies.” Gabriel also wrote to his father that he “broke [his] heart” and that he had “gone viral for all the wrong reasons.” This looks like more than just your typical son standing up to father moment.

But with all this said this Rivera is puzzled by the elder Rivera’s words. After all is this the same Geraldo Rivera who was the attorney for the Young Lords? The very same Geraldo Rivera who saved Felipe Luciano from being arrested after being chased by the police throughout a Bronx housing project shouting “stop that is my client” to the officers in pursuit. Is this the Geraldo who opened doors for other Latino’s who wanted to get in to media? This is the man who uncovered Willowbrook, right?

Unfortunately this is the same man. I understand that as we go on in life that our views on things change but I cannot help but feel that what he bellowed is contradictory to what he stands for as a one of the sole liberal voices on a conservative network. That line of thinking is the same as believing that what a woman wears gives a green light to men who want to commit rape. We all know that this is not the case just as a wearing a hoodie does not give the right for one person to kill another in cold blood. As much as I detest how young men wear their jeans below their rear ends it still does not give anyone the right to shoot at them.

I wear hoodies and have no shame in doing so. I do not believe that I am a menace to society nor do I lack intelligence for wearing them. I am quiet approachable while I have mine on, I do not lack in sophistication and I look far from suspicious. In fact I manage to attract attention no matter what I wear whether it is the aforementioned garment or a white dress shirt with a red tie and a cardigan.

My hope in all of this is that Geraldo issues an apology to Trayvon’s family for his comments. However, I doubt that is going to happen since he has said he will not back off of his statements. Geraldo’s career has had many well documented snafus from Al Capone’s Vault to getting hit with a chair by a neo-Nazi. This one in my view takes the cake. It saddens me because I’ve actually met the man while visiting the set of his show on FOX News Channel. He is actually a nice and humorous individual. With all the scandal and sensationalism that has surrounded his career I did have a measure of respect for him. Now I’ve lost a ton of it.

I would love nothing more than to speak with him face to face on this issue. If given the opportunity I will wear a hoodie on set one that is of cardinal and has gold trim. It would be nice to demonstrate how an intelligent human being is inside a hoodie. I would definitely a few choice things to say.

This Rivera would love to tell him that he is wrong.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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Bright Lights, Big City & Tebowing!

March 22, 2012 Leave a comment

It’s official! Just one day after the Denver Broncos inked future hall of famer Peyton Manning to a $95 million deal
John Elway made good on his word and traded Tim Tebow. Although the move comes as no surprise it’s where Tebow has landed that has stumped all. After much speculation, and debate Tebow was given a choice. Tebow was given the options of being dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars or The New York Jets. In a shocker the unconventional quarterback chose the bright lights and the biggest stage in sports.

This is coming off of the heels of the legendary Elway’s latest terse comments in which he was quoted as saying, “He’s a nice kid. The type of guy I would want my daughter to marry. But I want a quarterback.” These comments may not be in the class of a man enshrined in Canton, Ohio but this is not the only barrage of criticism Tebow has had to face since being selected with the 25th pick overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has had to face complaints about everything from his unorthodox mechanics to the sincerity of his faith.

I will be the first to admit I criticized and joked about Tebow because his style of play is not supposed to lend to sustainable success at the professional level. But much to my dismay and the rest of the football watching world it has been successful thus far. Say what you want about the man. Talk about his prolonged genuflecting pregame ritual or mock his below fifty percent completion percentage. The bottom line is he’s a winner, a playmaker and a football player with decent instincts for the game than cannot be taught.

Obtaining Tebow is not by any means a clownish move. Come on people this isn’t the drafting of Kyle Brady.

His role with the team, although it has not been clearly defined, is more than likely to be in new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano’s wildcat packages. However, one cannot ignore that he could become a distraction for current starting quarterback Mark Sanchez should he struggle. As some desperate and ignorant Jet fans, unlike the one crafting this article, will have the typical kneejerk reaction should something of that nature occur.

Unfortunately for Tebow he’s going to have to face more critics and loathing no matter what role he plays since he now decided to go to the most hated franchise in the NFL. So far after patrolling the social media outlets I have found some choice commentary on the entire situation. But only two have grabbed my attention and I will put my spin on them.

The first one I found on Facebook and it reads “looks like Jesus (Tebow) will be coached by the devil (Rex Ryan). Didn’t think I could dislike the Jets anymore but they managed to do it!” This user was eventually called a hater but chose to respond by stating “I’ve never liked Tebow. I’d rather be a hater than a sellout.” The second comes from Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy via his Twitter account. Dungy a devout Christian quipped by questioning, “We’ll see if Tim Tebow can help Rex Ryan with his language? I know he welcomes the challenge!”

Here’s a newsflash football fans have long hated the Jets long before Rex Ryan came on the scene. People have looked for any reason to dislike them no matter how loud or quiet the franchise operates. They have hated them whether Wayne Cherbet converted third downs or Mark Gastineau sack danced. This hatred has probably been going on long since Joe Willie signed his then mega deal, donned his white shoes and called his shot. The Jet jokes are nothing new too. If asked if this all offends me my answer is a clear and resounding no. It simply amuses me.

I find it funny that someone would rather be associated with being hateful. It’s humorous to me that people vest so much hate and big bully attitude over just one team in particular. The same people that hate Tebow and the Jets may very well be the type that may listen to Justin Bieber and want to convert others into Beliebers. This isn’t a knock on the kid here. I will be the first to tell you that I do not listen to his music but I do not foolishly waste time hating him.

Bieber will no doubt continue to sell millions of records and win awards. People will love him or hate him. That’s just sometimes how life goes and no one from any walk of life is immune to this. But in the case of the Jets the hate seems to outweigh the love. Look the fact is that the same applies to Gang Green. Should they break the forty-four year old curse and win multiple titles people will still make jokes and hate them.

What I do find appalling is dubbing Tebow as a sellout. As if he sold his soul to the devil for another opportunity. I also find Dungy’s commentary to be rather annoying and a bit judgmental in tone. I find it all to be very unchristian-like if you ask me. So to my understanding Rex Ryan, a Catholic, is less of a man because he swears and curses up a storm. Then this must mean that my guidance counselor from my freshman year of high school a priest no less, yes I went to a Catholic school, who often used the same language as Ryan is not only less of a man but not worthy of the cloth in the eyes of Dungy. I say clearly this is not the case and Dungy should be ashamed for continuing to throw stones because he like the rest of us is not without sin.

As for Tebow selling his soul then that must mean the late Gary Carter did the same when he teamed up with some wild boys in Queens to win it all in the mid 1980’s. If you believe that notion then you’re not only a fool but also way out of line. Carter never forced his faith on his teammates even though he did bring it up publicly throughout his life. He was accepting of his teammates no matter what their flaws were. Although Tebow may not agree with his new set of teammates on everything I’m sure he’ll to the right thing and be accepting of them just like Carter.

To be very blunt the whole thing has been blown way out of proportion. But I must admit the story will be intriguing as the player nobody wants and joined the team no one likes. Sounds like something out of the anti-bully movement. Better yet it looks like Tebow may have made the more understanding, open minded and Christian decision that most would scoff at.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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They Weren’t Invisible The Whole Time

March 14, 2012 2 Comments

For the past two weeks people in this country have been inundated by the Kony 2012 campaign. If you haven’t heard of it by now then you must have been living under a rock and have no access to this ongoing social media event. If this is the case I will have to fill you in.

Kony 2012 is an infomercial styled documentary aimed at making Ugandan guerrilla group leader Joseph Kony “famous” in order to have him captured and brought to trial for the atrocities he has committed over the course of twenty-five years. The film which was created by the charity Invisible Children, Inc. and directed by Jason Russell has gone viral with over 70 million views on YouTube and over 16 million on Vimeo. It has also garnered the attention of celebrities such as Rihanna and Bill Gates.

But who exactly is Joseph Kony?

Joseph Kony is believed to be either 50 or 51 years old depending on who you ask. According to published reports it is said that he has somewhere in the neighborhood of 88 wives and 42 children. But what he is best known for founding the Lord’s Resistance Army a religious militant group that had been hell bent on turning Uganda into a theocracy. The group has also been known to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Sudan.

Over the course of the past twenty-five years it is said that Kony and the LRA are responsible for abducting children and forcing them to either become sex slaves or soldiers. It has been reported that approximately 66,000 children have become soldiers for the LRA. An estimated 2 million people have been displaced since the LRA was formed. However, it does not stop their as militants under Kony’s watch have been raping women and murdering anyone believed to be in their way.

Eventually the LRA would be declared a terrorist group after the September 11th attacks and Kony would be added to the list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists”. In 2005 he would be indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. However, he has managed to escape capture and according to recent reports by the Ugandan officials he may be dead.

Why has there been so much emphasis on capturing Kony recently?

No specific answer can determined for this question as all the information about this brutal individual has not been completely confirmed as factual. This mainly pertains as to whether he is amongst the living. His crimes against humanity have been well documented that much most of us have come know in the past decade. Kony is no different from Adoph Hitler or Paul Pot. To say he is a sociopath is just putting things in a mild perspective.

All the recent emphasis on his capture is something that I find quite puzzling. I state this because this monster had been at his evil conquest for parts of three decades and has not been heard from in some seven years when his killing spree was at its zenith. He should have had the same amount of attention paid to him now back in late 2001 when this country declared war on all terrorists. Since that war was declared the United States spent countless dollars on capturing Saddam Hussein but found no weapons of mass destruction. The same funds were used to hunt down and kill Osama bin Laden. But yet very little was spent on trying to capture Kony. The last report in regard to his capture centered on sending 100 fully armed combat troops to advise soldiers in their efforts. This does not give off the impression of urgency here when it comes to the matter.

Now we have the matter of Invisible Children, Inc. creating this well crafted film, I say this from an editing perspective, to garner some buzz for an individual who may possibly be dead and to collect some bucks to fund his capture. Many things have been said about this “charity” in regard to their sincerity towards the issue, their finances, their ability to have celebrities jump on board and getting through to people via social media outlets. They have also been accused of being funded by an antigay creationist Christian Right group. Even the name of the charity comes off with a condescending tone possibly suggesting that the children of the affected region are invisible to the world. Last time I checked they weren’t invisible the whole time as this situation has had prior media attention drawn to it.

To be honest I must say that it is a good and noble thing to support a cause or charity whether you’re a celebrity or not. However, in this case it maybe a possible leaping before one looks kind of situation. It’s nice to have people care about a situation that is halfway around the world and may not affect them personally. But with all due respect and fairness again I must state no one knows of Kony’s whereabouts or if he is amongst those who breathe air. Liking a status on Facebook or tweeting about this may very well keep the attention on the subject but in all honesty it might not lead to his capture if he is in fact found to be lurking around the African nations he has terrorized. And according to some reports some celebrities who initially supported the campaign have backed off because the information on this subject has been found to be inconclusive.

If one is looking to support a cause or charity then one should fully research it before jumping in. I myself have donated tons of clothing to a local homeless charity in my neighborhood. But before I started doing so I did my due diligence. I made certain it was a place of good standing and would be giving my donated wears to those in need. I’m certain that most celebrities do the same before lending their names to causes or charities.

My hope for this Kony 2012 Campaign is that all the information gets sorted out in a timely fashion. The last thing this nation needs to be involved in is an actually moment in history that is straight out of the scripts of Wag The Dog or Canadian Bacon.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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Hot Blooded! Tempering Latino Stereotypes

March 2, 2012 Leave a comment

Earlier this week I read a fine article in The News Taco titled Why Latinas Aren’t Allowed to Get Angry by Sara Inés Calderón. In it she makes some very valid points on how unfairly Latinas are stereotyped thus making it virtually impossible for them to express anger in society. Calderón is a fine writer she doesn’t need me to tell her that judging on the number of views her article had received.

But with all due respect why not focus on the anger stereotype with Latinos as a whole? I pose this question not as a means of sabotaging her work but I feel us as Latinos clear across the board are unfairly judged on the anger issue by society. For now I’ll focus on the men’s side of the issue because obviously it would be dead wrong of me to take on the women’s side of it. Plus Calderón did an amazing job in regard to Latinas in her piece. I’ll tackle that plus other stereotypes in this one. So brace yourselves as we go in to some uncharted waters here.

Looking back throughout the course of history Latinos have had to deal with a myriad of stereotypes. Some are unfair, others based out of some truth and many have been used as tools to provide humor. They run the gamut from culinary to lack of gainful employment. We’ve heard the one about knife wielding Puerto Ricans who will steal the hubcaps off of vehicles and sell them at auto shop in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx for triple the value. How about the one from the late 1980s involving Dominican men who whore no socks with dress shoes paired with the pastel dress shirts and slacks all in a vain effort to capture that Philip Michael Thomas look? Or the one about Cubans who will argue that they are right about something even though they may be dead wrong?

I can go on and on for days about the countless stereotypes which have been applied to the different groups of Latinos living in the United States. Let’s be 100% honest we’ve collective heard them all and have used them in one way, shape or form. However, they do not apply to us all nor should we be judged by them.

The one concerning anger has been applied to all Latinos throughout a much longer course of history in this country. For decades Latino men have been grossly misjudged when it comes to issue of expressing anger. Society has taken a dim view of Latino males when our pots have boiled over.

We are seen as ill tempered, thuggish, brutish, criminals or insane individuals who need to be hauled off to the nearest mental hospital. Anger issues or expressing the emotion is not just privy to our group. None of us are born angry we just become so given the circumstances we are in, because of things we see or bad experiences. Expressing the emotion in a healthy way is part of the human experience. Latino men should not be demonized the minute we become upset. Just because Carlos Zambrano is volatile in the dugout does not mean we are all in that mold.

As I conclude I would like to shed light on another ignorant stereotype. This one is in regard to musical tastes and preferences. Often we’ve told that we are “too white” or “too Americanized” because we like different genres of music other than those from our traditional roots. This ignorant notion is pure nonsense.

Just because you listen to a diverse set of music other than what your own culture offers the world does not make you any less a part of your own race or ethnicity. I feel just as comfortable listening to Journey as I do to Alejandro Sanz. The same still applies when I listen to Common or Andres Segovia. It only enhances who I am as opposed to diminishing. Hopefully others feel the same way too.

If you have any questions, comments, or story suggestions, please feel free to reply in the comments section below. Or you can e-mail me at DanielRivera2424@gmail.com. Also, follow me on Twitter @DanielRivera24 and I will do the very same.

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