El Sol Latino | October 2016 | 12.12

October 2016

Volume 12 No. 12

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez on Puerto Rico and Oscar López Rivera Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

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Editorial/Editorial

Oscar López Rivera thanks Nelson Román (López Rivera sent the following email to Alejandro Molina of Chicago, Illinois, who forwarded it to Nelson Román. September 18, 2016) Dear Councilman Roman: I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the support you have given me, and especially for making it possible for Holyoke City Council to approve a resolution calling for my excarceration.

I would like to take this opportunity to exhort you to continue your good work. The future of Puerto Rico and of the Puerto Rican diaspora is in the hands of young people like you. As a young leader you and other young leaders have the potential to mobilize the people in our communities, in cities like Holyoke or Chicago, in the states and in the whole diaspora. You and your generation can be the ones that can bring unity in the diaspora and in our homeland - a goal that we need to achieve badly. If Puerto Ricans unite we are over eight million strong. We can work together, share ideas, resources (especially the human one) and expertise. If the

diaspora is united it can become a powerful bloc, and can help Puerto Rico to become the nation it has the potential of being, transforming it from being a colony into a strong independent and sovereign nation. We can transcend and find solutions to such problems as poverty, education, health, housing, school drop-outs, machismo, racism, homophobia, sectarianism and corruption in the diaspora and in Puerto Rico.

It’s important to keep in mind that the problems we experience and suffer are man created. And any problem created by man has a solution. We must dare to struggle to find the solutions and we must dare to win.

Take good care, stay strong, and never lose hope or courage. We can decolonize ourselves and decolonize Puerto Rico. And we can struggle for a better and more just world.

Abrazos carinosos y patrioticos.

EN RESISTENCIA Y LUCHA, olr (“En resistencia y lucha” translates in English to “In resistance and fight.”)

Cita del Mes/Quote of the Month “The imposition of a Financial Control Board is the most demeaning, un-democratic, and colonial act in our entire history with the United States.”

Federal Judge Juan R. Torruella, September 10, 2016, in a speech to the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico (the Bar Association of Puerto Rico) about the current relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.

contents

2 Editorial / Editorial Oscar López Rivera thanks Nelson Román 3 Portada / Front Page U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez on Puerto Rico, PROMESA and Oscar López Rivera 4 Gutiérrez Tells Congress He Will Not Allow Them to Forget About Puerto Rico 5 In Spanish and English, Rep. Gutiérrez calls for release of Oscar López Rivera 6 Medicaid Funding Critical to Remedying Puerto Rico’s Budgetary and Economic Problems Información sobre Votación Temprana en Holyoke para las Próximas Elecciones 8 The National Puerto Rican Agenda (NPRA) Reaches New Heights 10 ¿Qué Pasa en...?

12 Tinta Caliente / Hot Ink Opinión / Opinion Puerto Rico and the Diaspora: A Moment of Opportunity?

13 National political parties’ positions on poverty 14 Libros / Books Cinco esquinas 15 Salud / Health Mes de la Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Seno

Foto del Mes/Photo of the Month Celebración de El Grito de Lares 2016 Dr. Charles Venator Santiago, Juan Falcón (Director del Hispanic-American Library Inc., y fundador de la celebración del Grito de Lares) y Manuel Frau Ramos (Puerto Rican Cultural Project).

Dr. Charles Venator Santiago de la Universidad de Connecticut-Storrs fue el orador invitado de la celebración anual del Grito de Lares el 23 de septiembre en la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke. El evento fue coauspiciado por la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, La Familia Hispana Inc., y el Springfield Puerto Rican Parade.

Founded in 2004 n Volume 12, No. 12 n October 2016 Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Managing Editor Diosdado López

Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572

Editorial Policy El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés.

Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish.

We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group.

El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2016

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U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez on Puerto Rico, PROMESA and Oscar López Rivera by MANUEL FRAU RAMOS On September 10, 2016 Federal Judge Juan R. Torruella delivered quite a thought-provoking speech to the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico (the Bar Association of Puerto Rico) about the current relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States.

Judge Juan R. Torruella is the longest-standing federal judge in Puerto Rican history. He has served on the federal bench for 42 years, from 1974 through 2016. He is still a high-ranking federal judge. For 32 years Torruella has served on the US First Circuit Court of Appeals. Seven of those years he was the Chief Justice of the First Circuit.

Here is a small sample of what Judge Torruella had to say, • “The imposition of a Financial Control Board is the most demeaning, un-democratic, and colonial act in our entire history with the United States.”

• “The principal purpose of PROMESA is to establish a collection agency for bondholders.”

• “From 1920 until today, the Jones Act has cost Puerto Ricans $75.8 billion…which is more than the current debt.”

• “Thanks to the Jones Act, Puerto Rico subsidizes 27.7% of the US Merchant Marine.”

• “President Obama, I respectfully request that you free Oscar López Rivera.”

As Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 4th congressional district) has been one of the most outspoken critics of the PROMESA bill (Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act) and the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico, known in Puerto Rico as the Control Board or la Junta de Control Fiscal or Junta de Control we were very interested in learning first hand his thoughts on Torruella’s remarks on these topics.

This is what Rep. Luis Gutiérrez had to say about Puerto Rico, PROMESA and Oscar López Rivera What Puerto Rico needs are jobs, jobs and jobs. Puerto Rico needs an economy that allows Puerto Ricans to thrive and raise their families in Puerto Rico. I don’t think PROMESA will create the jobs and economy Puerto Rico needs and was mainly implemented as a way to impose more austerity and less autonomy.

The U.S. already treats Puerto Rico like a colony, so adding another layer of colonial rule and reducing the local government’s power to govern is not a step in the right direction. Republicans in Washington want a mediator that is responsive to Wall Street and frankly most politicians in Washington don’t care what happens to Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans enough to expend political capital, really address the issues, and work with Puerto Rico to solve the systemic problems. It was a failure of leadership and compassion in Washington that led to PROMESA. Puerto Rico imports its power, imports its food and now more than ever, it has been exporting its people. It is a classic colonial relationship not unlike what King George III had with his American colonies.

Section 936 of the IRS tax code was changed by Congress during the Clinton years which – along with the Jones Act and other disadvantages in

U.S. law – made the Puerto Rican economy less attractive to serious investment to create jobs. Meanwhile, the bonds were made more attractive to U.S. investors so the debt level grew to an unsustainable level.

Unless Puerto Rico builds a tax base of businesses and employment and stabilizes the population loss, it is hard to see how things will get better.

This is a moment when Puerto Ricans need to come together – not just because PROMESA is an insult, but that is part of it. The U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez and Manuel Frau Ramos Island’s population is being devastated because smart, hard-working, industrious Puerto Ricans are finding jobs and a brighter future in the U.S., not at home. Zika is taking a huge toll and will continue to grow. The power grid is unstable.

The people on the Island need help and the rest of us in the Diaspora must be their voice, their champions, and keep fighting for respect.

I think one of the things that brings Puerto Ricans together is the campaign to have President Obama release Oscar Lopez Rivera, Puerto Rico’s last political prisoner in a U.S. jail, before the President leaves office in January.

Oscar is in his 70s, he has served 35 years, and enough is enough. He should be allowed to live out the remainder of his days in Puerto Rico in peace. I think in all of the uncertainty and pain that Puerto Rico is going through, Oscar’s cause really unifies us and that thousands will come together in DC in Lafayette Park across from the White House on October 9 to demand that Obama use his pardon to commute Oscar’s sentence.

Opposition to PROMESA is universal and absolute in Puerto Rico and among Puerto Ricans, no matter your age, class, education, political party or your position on Puerto Rico’s status. It is extremely telling that Judge Juan R. Torruella, the first Hispanic appointed to the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit by President Ronald Reagan, someone who we can safely assume is committed to the rule of law, not only opposes PROMESA as demeaning and undemocratic, but calls on Puerto Ricans to organize peaceful civil resistance against it.

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2016

Gutiérrez Tells Congress He Will Not Allow Them to Forget About Puerto Rico On September 7, 2016, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D) spoke during Morning Business on the Floor of the House about the new Control Board overseeing Puerto Rico. The full text of the speech (as prepared for delivery, with translation of the Spanish portion) is below.

Puerto Rican does not make me feel any more optimistic. If you look at recent history in Puerto Rico, just having a majority of Puerto Ricans should not give you much comfort.

Floor Remarks Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the beautiful, enchanted Island of Puerto Rico, the birthplace of my father and mother and my wife.

Wasn’t it Puerto Ricans who beat and pepper sprayed demonstrators at the University and at the Legislature? Who have gone after journalists, unions, and lawyers in politically-motivated attacks? Who have put the needs of investors, big Wall Street fat-cats, and political insiders ahead of the people, the environment, and the future of Puerto Rico?

Yes, the colony of the United States in the Caribbean Sea – where, in case you forget, everyone is born a citizen – is now even more of a colony of the United States now that Washington has appointed the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.

Or as most people call it, the Control Board or la Junta de Control.

Seven members, four put forward by Republicans and three put forward by Democrats, were announced last week and I was not pleasantly surprised.

I have made it clear in this Congress and elsewhere that I oppose the PROMESA legislation that created the Board that passed Congress before we left.

And now I look at the Board and I see a mix of people, some with ties to the former Tea Party Governor’s regime, some with close ties to Wall Street, and most with experience examining the legal and administrative aspects of bankruptcy, not in governing an Island with 3.5 million actual living, breathing human beings.

I was not surprised to see political insiders or those who are close to the bond holders. I assumed as much and I still assume until proven otherwise that most everyone on the Control Board or who lobbies, influences, or helps the Control Board is doing the bidding of the bondholders who profit from Puerto Rico’s debt and economic hard times.

The fact that four of the seven members are

The Control Board and its members – no matter who they are – start with a deep ocean of mistrust from the Puerto Rican people who question why a new layer of opaque, undemocratic, colonial oversight and control is being imposed.

That is why I challenged the appointees to the Board to go the extra mile to make their deliberations, meetings, and decisions as transparent as possible.

When they are governing the Puerto Rican people, will they do so in Spanish – the language of the Puerto Rican people?

Will they make available logs of who they meet with? Who tries to exert influence? What Wall Street executives are spinning them or treating them to expensive meals or giving them gifts?

When this Control Board is making decisions that close schools or hospitals, that threaten the environment, public institutions, and every aspect of society in Puerto Rico, will the Puerto Rican people even be given a minimum amount of information in their own language about who is influencing those decisions?

Desde Puerto Rico para el mundo— "la primera y única emisora de tv con licencia para la historia"

The Junta de Control must make the extra effort to tell Puerto Ricans what their decisions mean, why they are being made, and how decisions were determined.

As Members of Congress who have essentially grabbed the reins of selfdetermination from the Puerto Rican people and handed them to

Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D)

this Control Board – are we going to be afforded the level of transparency that we need to determine if what is happening is what we want to happen?

I understand, Mr. Speaker, that some of our colleagues do not like to be reminded of policy issues that were already voted on, especially complicated policy issues that do not seem to impact them directly.

They just want to vote on it and forget it.

But I am not going to let this Congress forget about Puerto Rico or the board we have appointed to rule over the Puerto Rican people.

We cannot just set it and forget it like one of those super-duper wonder machines they sell on the infomercials.

Puerto Rico is ours, its people are ours, its land is ours, its bays are ours, its toxic landfills and lush forests, its schools and hospitals and health care clinics – these are all ours in the sense that we have been given a sacred duty to govern over Puerto Rico responsibly.

An unelected Control Board, with no mechanisms for oversight, with no commitment to transparency, with no promise of bilingualism or inclusion, stocked with insiders and people with questionable links to the very problems the Board is supposed to resolve – this does not give me great confidence that this Congress will be alert when the people of Puerto Rico – our fellow citizens and more importantly, our fellow humans beings – are in need of our help.

Portada / Front Page

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El Sol Latino October 2016

In Spanish and English, Rep. Gutiérrez calls for release of Oscar López Rivera On September 14, 2016 on the floor of the House, Illinois Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D) calls for the release of Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera. The full text of the speech (as prepared for delivery, with translation of the Spanish portion) is below.

Oscar López Rivera is the last Puerto Rican political prisoner still held in federal custody – now for more than 35 years. He never killed anyone or was charged with killing anyone, but he is still in jail.

The man who shot President Reagan, John Hinckley, Jr. is no longer being held.

Other high profile offenders get clemency or have their sentences reduced.

All of us have seen in the past months that the Obama Administration commuted the sentences of hundreds of non-violent drug offenders and most of us have applauded the President for that action.

And Oscar López Rivera is in jail for 35 years! 35 years!

No matter what party or faction or class or race or walk of life you are from in Puerto Rico and in Puerto Rican communities all over the United States, you know about Oscar López Rivera and what he symbolizes for the Puerto Rican people.

He is our elder statesman, our Nelson Mandela, our pride and our sense of nationhood.

We all cheered for Monica Puig at the Olympics and heard our National Anthem played for the very first time.

Yet there is still a piece missing from our national identity, a piece missing from our soul because Oscar López may be forgotten and may die in jail.

It is with deep sadness that I say that it is looking more and more like there is no meaningful review of his case going on at the Justice Department, at the White House or anywhere else.

I met with President Obama on June 8 in his office and I took the opportunity to ask him about the case of Oscar López Rivera.

Lin-Manuel Miranda said that Oscar’s case was on the President’s desk when they met and everyone in Puerto Rico relaxed.

But the President told me “no, his case is not on my desk, you need to talk to McDonough, my Chief of Staff.”

Which I did and he said, “No, I don’t know anything about that case, but the Deputy Attorney General will meet with you and discuss the case.”

And I tried and tried and tried to get information from her about where the case stood and how the process of clemency works under President Obama.

Ten weeks later – ten weeks – I heard from the DOJ’s assistant to the assistant’s assistant in legislative affairs. continued on page 7

"No Bankers Left Behind " Part of the Puerto Rico at a Crossroad Series

Friday, October 21

2:30 pm • Herter Hall 301

Ana Irma Rivera Lassén. AfroPuerto Rican attorney who headed the Bar Association of Puerto Rico from 2012–2014. She was the first black woman, and third female, to head the organization. She is a practicing attorney and serves on the faculty of several universities in Puerto Rico; she currently serves on the advisory council to the Program for Equality and Gender Equity of the Puerto Rican Judicial Branch.

Ian J. Seda-Irizarry, Ph.D.

Assistant professor in the Department of Economics at John Jay College in New York. He is the co-author of the following two articles about the Puerto Rico economic crisis - The Origins of the Puerto Rican Debt Crisis, and Wealth Extraction, Government Servitude and Social Disintegration in Colonial Puerto Rico. He contributes popular pieces for outlets like New Politics, Claridad, El Nuevo Día, Diálogo, 80grados, Jacobin, AbrePaso, Revista Amauta, and teleSUR.

F R E E A N D O P E N T O T H E P U B L IC

THE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN AND LATINO STUDIES 522 THOMPSON HALL - 200 HICKS WAY - AMHERST, MA 01003-9277 (413) 545-4648 las@econs.umass.edu

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2016

Medicaid Funding Critical to Remedying Puerto Rico’s Budgetary and Economic Problems

by PUERTO RICO REPORT | Posted on September 22, 2016 | www.puertoricoreport.com Puerto Rico receives much less federal healthcare assistance as a territory than it would as a state. Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner and other members of the legislature have been expressing concern about this inequality for some time. Fixing the inequity has been part of a number of proposals as the federal government looks for ways to improve Puerto Rico’s economic position without creating hardship for the people living on the Island.

States, the CBPP says, federal funds would cover 83% of the costs.

But in Puerto Rico, the FMAP applies only up to a cap, a small dollar amount each year, much less than the actual health care costs for Medicaid recipients in Puerto Rico. Once that amount has been spent, federal funds end. At that point, the local government must cover all additional costs for Medicaid in Puerto Rico. There is no cap in the States.

Especially with the rise of Zika and the continuing exodus of doctors from the territory, helping with Puerto Rico’s healthcare problems is increasingly seen as an important humanitarian effort.

When the cap and the FMAP are both taken into account, the federal government ends up covering just 15 to 20% of the Medicaid costs for Puerto Rico. Compare this with 74.17% for Mississippi or 50% for Connecticut. No state receives less than 50%.

But repair of the Medicaid situation in Puerto Rico may also help get Puerto Rico’s economy back on track. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has recently issued a report concluding that the funding issues played a big part in causing the financial problems that Puerto Rico faces now. Fixing them will be essential going forward.

“These steep federal Medicaid funding shortfalls have contributed to Puerto Rico’s troubled fiscal situation,” says the CBPP, “and added substantial stress to the island’s struggling health care system.” Almost half of the residents of Puerto Rico are enrolled in Medicaid, and 900,000 of these people could lose their services by the end of 2017 if changes in the funding system are not made.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia pay part of the cost of Medicaid.

The part the federal government pays is known as the federal Medicaid matching rate or FMAP. The average FMAP for the States is 57%; the specific amount depends on the average income in each State. Since Puerto Rico has a lower per capita income than any state, it may be surprising that the federal government covers just 55% — only slightly more than the average. If the FMAP were calculated for Puerto Rico as it is for

With these health care costs coming out of Puerto Rico’s government budget rather than the federal government’s coffers, it is very hard for the territory to make ends meet. This is not the result of fiscal mismanagement by the Puerto Rican government; the federal government is passing on costs to Puerto Rico that it doesn’t pass on to the States. Without changing this reality, it will be difficult for Puerto Rico to get on track financially.

Información sobre Votación Temprana en Holyoke para las Próximas Elecciones La Oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad de Holyoke se complace en anunciar que todos los votantes registrados podrán votar antes del día de las elecciones por primera vez en la historia de Massachusetts. La votación temprana comenzará el 24 de octubre y continuará hasta el 4 de noviembre de 2016. Antes de la promulgación de esta nueva ley, la única manera que un votante registrado podía votar antes del día de las elecciones era a través de la votación en ausencia. Aunque el voto en ausencia seguirá estando disponible para los votantes registrados que cualifiquen, sólo los que estarán ausentes de su ciudad o pueblo en el día de las elecciones, o tienen una discapacidad que les impida acudir a las urnas, o tienen una creencia religiosa que no les permita ir a las urnas, están legalmente autorizados para votar en ausencia.

La votación temprana es algo que pueden hacer todos los votantes registrados. El primer paso es asegurarse de que esté registrado para votar. Para comprobar si usted está registrado para votar y para información sobre cómo registrarse para votar, puede visitar la página web: www.sec.state.ma.us/ele o llamar al Registrador de Votantes al 413-322-5540. Si necesita registrarse para votar, puede hacerlo en línea visitando: www.RegisterToVoteMA.com. Todo lo que necesita es una licencia o una identificación emitida por el Registro de Vehículos Motorizados (Registry of Motor Vehicles) para solicitar en línea. Para ser elegible para votar el 8 de noviembre en las elecciones generales, debe registrarse para votar o hacer cualquier cambio necesario en su registro de votante antes del 19 de octubre de 2016.

La votación temprana se puede hacer en persona o por correo. Los votantes registrados tienen la opción de solicitar una papeleta de votación anticipada por correo. Sólo hay que rellenar una solicitud y enviarla por correo al Holyoke Registrar of Voters Office en 536 Dwight Street. Puede encontrar la solicitud en la página web: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele o en el sitio web de la Secretaria de Holyoke en http://www.holyoke.org/ departments/city- secretario/#extra7-tab.

Para preguntas adicionales favor de llamar a Brenna Murphy McGee (Holyoke City Clerk) al 413-322-5520.

Calendario Para Votación Temprana en Holyoke 2016 Fecha

Localización

Localización

Localización

Lunes Octubre 24, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-4:30PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Martes Octubre 25, 2016

8:00AM-4:30AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-1:00PM Holyoke Senior Center 291 Pine Street

Miércoles Octubre 26, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM - 1:00PM Solidiers Home Holyoke 110 Cherry Street

9:00AM-4:30PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

Jueves Octubre 27, 2016

7:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-7:00PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Viernes Octubre 28, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-4:30PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Sábado Octubre 29, 2016

8:00AM-2:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

No Hay Votación Hoy

Domingo Octubre 30, 2016 Lunes Octubre 31, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-4:30PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Martes Noviembre 1, 2016

8:00AM-4:30AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-1:00PM Holyoke Senior Center 291 Pine Street

Miércoles Noviembre 2, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-4:30PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Jueves Noviembre 3, 2016

7:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-7:00PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Viernes Noviembre 4, 2016

8:00AM-9:00AM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

9:00AM-4:00PM City Hall Auditorium City Hall, 2nd Floor

4:00PM-4:30PM Voter’s Office City Hall, Room 9

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino October 2016

In Spanish and English, Rep. Gutiérrez calls for release of Oscar López Rivera

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continued from page 5

He said “no, I don’t know anything about Oscar’s case.” And he went on to say that Deputy Attorney General Yates will not meet with me or anyone else.

No podemos dejar que nuestro hermano muera encarcelado.

The reason is that they only make contact with outside parties when they initiate it – when they are reaching out for more information on a candidate to make a decision.

Debemos seguir unidos como Puertorriqueños – sin importar quienes somos, donde nacimos y donde vivimos ahora – y decirle al Presidente de los Estados Unidos y al gobierno aquí en Washington que 35 años es suficiente. Ya basta.

Basically, they said don’t call us, we’ll call you. But no one I know – no one – has received any kind of contact from the DOJ. Which makes it pretty clear to me that they are not seriously reviewing the case.

To recap, the President said it is not on my desk. The Chief of Staff said I don’t know anything about the case, talk to this person at DOJ and that person – more than two months later – told someone else to tell me we’ll call people about the case when and if we are seriously reviewing it.

And there has been nothing from the Obama Administration.

That is why I continue to call on Puerto Ricans and people of good conscience to come on October 9 to Washington as we join together to show our unity and resolve that Oscar López Rivera should be set free to return to Puerto Rico to live with his people.

Mr. Speaker, I do not mean to be rude, but my message to Puerto Ricans about Oscar López Rivera is so important that I must deliver it in Spanish and I will provide you with a thorough translation.

SPANISH: Me da tristeza decir que el optimismo y la confianza que el Presidente Obama liberará a Oscar López Rivera está en grave peligro.

Cada vez que me he comunicado con el personal del Presidente me han indicado que la evaluación del caso de Oscar no está progresando; por eso tenemos que hacer nuestras voces perfectamente claras y trabajar juntos para mandarle el mensaje más fuerte posible al Presidente.

Si tienen que caminar, tomar un autobús, gatear o nadar para llegar a Washington el 9 de octubre, háganlo.

Estaremos reunidos con celebridades, líderes, y Puertorriqueños de todo tipo el domingo, 9 de octubre al cruzar la calle de la Casa Blanca, en Lafayette Park.

Jeroton Clown

Music, Games, Balloons and Much More...

For More information call: Jerry & Brenda 413-557-8273 • 413-210-5458 jero4817@yahoo.com

No podemos dejar que nuestra patria sea ignorada.

Queremos que nuestro hermano, Oscar López Rivera, camine entre nosotros y que sus pies toquen la tierra cálida de Puerto Rico una vez más.

Demuestren que esto les importa, y que no se quedarán callados. Únete a nosotros el 9 de octubre.

ENGLISH: Thank you Mr. Speaker.

TRANSLATION OF THE SPANISH: I am sad to say that our optimism and confidence that President Obama would finally set Oscar López Rivera free is in jeopardy.

Every indication I am getting from the President and his staff is that the review of Oscar’s case is not progressing, so we need to make our voices perfectly clear and work together to send the strongest possible message to the President.

If you need to walk, take a bus, crawl, or swim to get to Washington on October 9, you should do so.

We will be gathering on Sunday, October 9, across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park with celebrities, leaders and Puerto Ricans of all kinds.

We cannot let our brother die in jail.

We cannot let our nation be ignored.

We must stand together as Puerto Ricans – no matter who we are, no matter where we were born, no matter where we live now – and tell the President of the United States and the government here in Washington that 35 years is enough. Enough.

We want our brother, Oscar López Rivera, to walk amongst us and to touch his feet on the warm land of Puerto Rico again.

Show that you care and that you will not be silent. Join us on October 9.

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El Sol Latino October 2016

Springfield Puerto Rican Parade 2016

El Sol Latino May 2014 9 1/8 x 5 3/8

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www.wtccfm.org WTCC is your source for music - from salsa to R&R oldies, gospel to jazz, R&B to bluegrass, Motown and more, as well as Ecos del Ritmo, Cantares Latino-Americanos, and Club House Dance Music plus local talk shows with local hosts discussing local issues.

El Sol Latino October 2016

Springfield Puerto Rican Parade 2016

Aaron es el representante del estado para toda la comunidad de Holyoke.

Su familia emigró a Holyoke de Ecuador desde los inicios de los 50s y su padre Carlos fue un organizador de la comunidad de muchos años.

Aaron tomó la rienda de protesta para la toda la ciudadanía de Holyoke y esta pidiendo a la gente su apoyo para su elección.

3 Tiene raíces profundas del Sur de Holyoke y sus alrededores.

3 Apoya a tener fondos para la vivienda, desarrollo económico y educativo.

3 Trajo fondos de vivienda para la seguridad publica, para la educación adulta y programas para la adolescencia.

3 Ha sido miembro de muchos años de Homework House; una organización de ayuda educativa y social para niñas y niños de todas edades.

3 Tomó la protesta para ayudar a la gente con discapacidades físicas y mentales.

3 Esta cometido a atribuir con fuerza de voluntad y mejorar las vidas de todos los ciudadanos de Holyoke.

Ven ha votar por Aaron Vega, el próximo 8 de Noviembre para seguir en su apoyo en Boston para bien todos.

aaronvega.org Paid for by the Committee to Elect Aaron Vega, Rosa Pantoja, Treasurer

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¿Qué Pasa en...?

Holyoke Contra-Tiempo Brings Urban Latin Dance Theater To Holyoke October 4, 2016 • Tuesday, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Contra-Tiempo will present a community workshop on rueda (Cuban salsa) in the United Congregational Church of Holyoke’s Assembly Hall, 300 Appleton Street, Holyoke.

El Sol Latino October 2016

Contra-Tiempo @ UMASS - Fine Arts Center October 6, 2016 • Thursday, at 7:30 pm | Fine Arts Center Concert Hall Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Oya, the Afro-Cuban god of wind and storms, Alvarez collaborated with members of the company and the community to create Agua Furiosa. Through call and response, an improvisational score, and personal narrative (both black and Latino), the full-length piece weaves together themes of racial conflict, economic inequity, gun violence, and the politics of water and drought. It provides a counternarrative to The Tempest and challenges audiences to confront the harsh realities of race — and imagine a more just and compassionate future. After the show, audiences are invited to stay for a discussion with the company.

Founded by choreographer Ana Maria Alvarez in 2005, Contra-Tiempo is a Los Angeles–based company of professional dancers and performers — many of them immigrants or first-generation North Americans — that blends salsa, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban and other contemporary dance forms in its performances on stages around the country and abroad. In 2014, ContraTiempo was selected to represent American dance in a tour Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador, as part of DanceMotion USA, a State Department program produced by the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).

The October 4 rueda workshop is designed to engage community members in ideas of community-building and self-expression and teach the principles of leading and following through a lens of compassionate partnering. Participants are asked to bring a donation of baby items to contribute to Rebekah’s Closet, which provides free clothes, toys, car seats, packages of diapers, and other necessities to young parents in need.

Parking for the workshop is available in the church lot behind the War Memorial on Maple Street, and on Appleton and Maple Streets.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Because space is limited, pre-registration is necessary. Call 413-545-0190 or e-mail programming@ umass.edu

Wistariahurst Museum: October Events Wistariahurst Gardens to host Pumpkin Glow October 8, 2016 • Saturday, from 4 pm – 7 pm Saturday the gardens at Wistariahurst will be filled with glowing pumpkins as a part of Next Stop Holyoke. In the week leading up to this special outdoor exhibition, local artists, students, volunteers, and other community members will hand-carve 150 pumpkins for display. The public is invited to the grounds of Wistariahurst for crafts, games, and snacks as the sun sets and the pumpkins are illuminated. Additional pumpkin viewing hours will be held on the grounds on Sunday October 9, from 6 pm – 8 pm.

Pumpkins will be carved by artists associated with the Holyoke Youth Task Force, the Care Center, Gándara House, the Holyoke Public Library, HCC’s Gateway to College program, Wistariahurst, and other local community organizations.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Tickets for Contra-Tiempo’s Agua Furiosa are $35, $30, $20; Five College student and youth (17-and-under) tickets, $10; and are available for a subscription discount. For tickets, call the box office at 545-2511 or toll-free at 800-999-UMAS, or purchase them online at fineartscenter.com. This event is sponsored by El Sol Latino, WRSI 93.9FM, and the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Mysteries of the Dead and Talking to Them October 18, 2016 • Tuesday, from 6 pm – 7 pm Massachusetts was a hotbed of the dead in the nineteenth century, a place where spirits and living persons conversed on a daily basis about things mundane and heavenly. Coalescing as a movement in 1848 around the idea that the living had stumbled upon a new “spiritual telegraph” that enabled them to commune with the departed, Spiritualism became the fastest growing religion in America in the late antebellum period. Travel back in time with Dr. Rob Cox as he explores what it meant for Spiritualists when they heard spirit voices, what it says about their country, and how the movement evolved from there.

Rob Cox led a checkered life before becoming head of Special Collections and University Archives at UMass Amherst in 2004, spending time in similar institutions such as the University of Michigan and the American Philosophical Society. A recovering paleontologist and molecular biologist, he received a PhD in history from Michigan and has since written a number of articles and five books on topics ranging from the American Spiritualist movement to Lewis and Clark, sleep, and New England culinary history.

Adult Admission - $7.00, Members - $5.00 and Library Pass - Free (MUST present at door).

For more information - Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot Street. Holyoke MA 01040, (413) 322 5660 - wistariahurst@gmail.com

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Holyoke Clase Graduanda del Programa Empresarios Comunitarios

El Sol Latino October 2016

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La organización Nuestras Raíces celebró la graduación de su segunda clase del programa Empresarios Comunitarios el pasado 14 de septiembre. El evento se llevó a cabo en las facilidades de Nuestras Raíces en Holyoke.

Este innovador programa va dirigido a residentes de Holyoke su conocimiento sobre el mundo financiero a adquirir destrezas básicas sobre literacia financiera.

En la primera etapa del programa los participantes aprendieron a establecer sus metas y planes personales. El resto de las clases se montaron sobre esta base.

El programa también busca beneficiar a aquellos que tengan planes de comprar su primera casa o que necesiten mejorar su finanzas personales.

Nuestras Raíces está localizado en 329 Main Street - Holyoke. Teléfono, 413) 535-1789

Foto MFR. Jessenia Soto, Elba Ramos, Hilda Roque (Directora Ejecutiva de Nuestras Raíces), María Concepción, Erika Pérez López y Félix Machuca (Director de Operaciones de Nuestras Raíces). Al frente, Samuel H. Arroyo y Samuel S. Arroyo Jr.

bankESB Sponsors Nuestras Raíces’ Community Gardens Matthew S. Sosik, President and CEO of bankESB announced the bank’s sponsorship of Holyoke’s Nuestras Raíces’ Community Garden project.

Founded in 1992, Nuestras Raíces started with one community garden. The organization had a goal of building cultural pride among Holyoke Latinos while addressing food security issues, creating healthy eating opportunities and revitalizing neighborhoods.

Félix Machuca (Director de Operaciones de Nuestras Raíces), Samuel S. Arroyo Jr., y Hilda Roque (Directora Ejecutiva de Nuestras Raíces)

deposits. The bank currently services almost 1,000 customers from Holyoke with $18 million in deposits and $28 million in loans. bankESB also has a long history of providing monetary contributions, sponsorships, and volunteers for important community events and projects like this one. Most notably, a recent $50,000 contribution was made to the Holyoke Public Library. “bankESB is proud to continue our support of local organizations as part of our mission as a community bank,” Sosik added.

Gardeners can grow whatever they want and many take their family’s favorite vegetables into consideration. Ajíes dulces, a specialty kind of sweet pepper, is grown in many of the community gardens as they are used in the traditional Puerto Rican dish of sofrito. The food grown in the gardens is typically used by the gardener’s family or extended family. bankESB is sponsoring the purchase and installation of new signs at 12 community gardens throughout the city. The signs were unveiled on September 22nd, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Jardín Communitario La Piedra, on the corner of Walnut and Sargeant Street.

Sosik said “We are excited to participate in this unique, community-focused program that brings residents of Holyoke together in a positive way.”

Mayor Alex Morse said, “bankESB is having an ever increasing presence in Holyoke, driving the financing behind some of the largest projects in the City.

We are looking forward to a mutual partnership for years to come, starting with their physical branch location.” The new branch is planned on a lot currently owned by the City of Holyoke at the corner of Sargeant Street and Route 202 (Beech Street) adjacent to CVS and the newly built Holyoke Senior Center.

For many years, Holyoke has been in bankESB’s top 10 communities for

Mayor Alex Morse addresses the public at Jardín Comunitario la Piedra during the unveiling of the new signs for the city community gardens.

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El Sol Latino October 2016

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In Holyoke…the legal saga of special education in the public schools.

Last year the Disability Law Center (DLC) released a report that alleged that special education students in the Therapeutic Intervention Program at Peck School were physically and verbally abused by school staff.

Now, a group of parents has filed a lawsuit against the Holyoke Public Schools, the Holyoke School Committee, the City of Holyoke, former superintendent Sergio Páez, former Peck principal Justin Cotton, former interim principal Nancy Athas, and former Director of Special Education Carol Hepworth.

En Holyoke…la saga legal de educación especial en las escuelas públicas.

El año pasado el Disability Law Center (DLC) sacó a la luz un informe que alegaba que los estudiantes de educación especial en el Therapeutic Intervention Program de la escuela Peck habían sido abusados física y verbalmente por parte del personal de la escuela.

Ahora, un grupo de padres ha demandado legalmente a las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke, al Comité Escolar de Holyoke, a la Ciudad de Holyoke, a Sergio Páez- pasado superintendente, a Justin Cotton – pasado principal de la Peck, a Nancy Athas –pasada principal interina, y a Carol Hepworth- pasada Directora de Educación Especial.

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Opinión / Opinion

NiLP Guest Commentary

Puerto Rico and the Diaspora: A Moment of Opportunity?

By Dr. Víctor Vázquez-Hernández (September 23, 2016) Today is the 148th anniversary of El Grito de Lares in Puerto Ricom, which some mark as the day that Puerto Ricans first defined themselves as a nation. It is, therefore, appropriate see this as a day when we need to reflect deeply on the future of Puerto Rico, Recently, Angelo Falcón penned several pieces regarding the fiscal crisis in Puerto Rico, the Congress’ response (PROMESA) and the Puerto Rican Diaspora. He raised many good points, and I want to add a few more to continue this conversation.

Puerto Ricans on the Island have always had a strained relationship with those who reside stateside. Having lived both on the island and on stateside, I can share that while we in the Diaspora are always ready to jump into the fray to support the latest crisis on the Island be it financial, political or the devastation of hurricanes, rarely has this kind of response been reciprocated. In the past, we have organized and mobilized a series of public protests across many US cities against the Navy in Vieques after the death of David Sanes, the gas pipeline, and many others.

However, the activism of Puerto Rican communities in the United States can, on certain issues, run counter to what the majority of Puerto Ricans on the Island want. An example of this the Financial Control Board that has been established because of the PROMESA Act. Most people surveyed by newspapers on the island are for the control board. We may disagree, but they want it.

Over the past few months, I have spoken with many family members and colleagues on the island about the crisis. Many of them, unlike me, are not independentistas or even progressives. They vote for the two traditional political parties (New Progressive or the Popular Democratic) although a few vote for the Independence Party. The most remarkable part of their analysis of the crisis on the island is their conclusion that it is the government of Puerto Rico that is in crisis, not the people themselves!

Their perception is that the fiscal control board is good because someone (mainly the Americans) have to put “verguenza” (shame) on the local politicians and their cronies. Nevertheless, there seems to be some naiveté here or simply not assuming any responsibility by the populace that elected the bums and crooks in the first place. Asking or accepting to have the “Americanos” clean house is like asking the fox to watch the henhouse!

Despite the numerous family ties and social relationships between individual Puerto Ricans on the island and in the Diaspora, there has always been a reticence to more firmly tie the political fortunes of each community. It is not, for instance, that my daughter, who lives on the Island, does not care about her dad or that my mother-in-law does not care about my wife. It is that collectively, the attention of Puerto Ricans on the island is focused on getting through the day and on more local civic/political issues and not in the Diaspora.

Despite this, what happens with the Diaspora is going to affect the island and vice-a-versa. Our eggs are already in the same basket; each side just needs to recognize this reality and listen to the other side. Our biggest challenge as Puerto Ricans is to create effective means to communicate, pueblo a pueblo, with all of our folks (and not just specific political and economic sectors such as the Left, independentistas, statehooders, or soberanistas) on the island and in the Diaspora.

I advise my colleagues in the Diaspora who are always courageously willing to fight for Puerto Rico to listen to the people of the island regarding this crisis. The people in Puerto Rico do not see what the full impact of the fiscal board can have. For those of us who lived through the experience of the Emergency Financial Control Board in NYC in the 1970s, we saw the devastation of the closing of hospitals, schools, day cares and others and the massive layoffs. We fought back and had a few victories like saving Hostos Community College. The impact of that board was terrible for our community.

Therefore, moving forward, all Puerto Ricans everywhere need to see that the Diaspora has always been down with Puerto Rico. We also need for the people of Puerto Rico to see that they need to also be down with us. We are not there yet, but as my abuela, Dona Isabel used to say, “Hablando, la gente se entiende!” (“Talking, people understand!”) ________________________________________________________________ Dr. Victor Vazquez-Hernandez is a historian, professor and author as well as the past President of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights [NCPRR] (2007-2011). His forthcoming book, Before the Wave: Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia, 1910-1945 will be published this winter by the Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CUNY). He can be reached at vvazquez@ mdc.edu.

The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy. org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.

Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino October 2016

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National political parties’ positions on poverty by WALTER MULLIN, Ph.D. and MIGUEL ARCE Degradation and distress is faced by large sectors of America with chronic and persistent challenges.

There is a continuing erosion of the job market. The transformation of the economy is affecting all groups.

Conflicting values and beliefs in national politics guide policy making about the poor. Beliefs sway thinking and explain why and how policies create trajectories for the poor of today. These values and beliefs are different in the major parties on distressed communities. The major parties agree that America is great.

They agree that numerous Americans have suffered from the burden of a poor economy.

Countless Americans have been left behind.

Walter Mullin and Miguel Arce

On July 18th, the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC) was convened in Cleveland, Ohio. On July 24th, the Democratic National Convention was held in in Philadelphia. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party also had conventions and have taken positions on the economy and poverty. Regrettably, third party candidates were not eligible to be part of the September 26th presidential debate. The debate was between Republican Trump and Democrat Clinton.

The Republican Party seeks to move the poor from welfare to economic independence. Work requirements are the heart of this strategy. They believe that for the sake of the low-income family, that public assistance should ensure that it promotes work. Republicans believe in the great American dream. Prosperity is the product of self-discipline, work, savings, and investment. In Trump 101: The Way to Success, Donald J. Trump states “It has not been easy for me.” Republicans seek to build communities of self-reliant neighbors. They seek to tighten work requirements for welfare, food stamps, and housing assistance. In The America We Deserve (2000) Trump states, “Let ‘saints’ help teen moms, restrict public assistance.”

The Democrats express concern about steep draconian budget cuts proposed by the Republican Party. The Democratic Party seeks to develop a national strategy to combat poverty. They state that incalculable Americans are being left behind. People are working longer hours. Wages have barely budged. The majority of the economic gains go to the top one percent. The 2016 Democratic Party Platform draft preamble indicates that the richest 20 people in the country own more wealth than the bottom 150 million.

Democrats hold that taxes are fundamental to the structure of social welfare in the United States. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in the Democratic Candidates Compassion Forum at Messiah College in Pennsylvania stated, “In the face of suffering, God calls on us to respond”.

Green Party candidate Dr. Stein and Libertarian Party Johnson did not get enough support in the polls to get invited to the September 26th presidential debate. According to the Green Party Platform, the Green Party believes in the universal basic guaranteed income. It supports reforms to end poverty and return opportunity to all. They seek innovative programs that work that provide for those who nurture the next generation. The Green Party seeks to end poverty through a guarantee economic bottom line including access to food, water, housing and utilities. Every American should be ensured a life of dignity and creating living wage jobs for every American who needs one.

The Libertarian Party seeks to help the poor via voluntary charitable efforts. Private groups and individuals will step up as government reduces its activity in this realm. They believe that the welfare system cannot be reformed and should be ended. “We should not pretend that reforming our welfare system will be easy or painless. In particular it will be difficult for those people who currently use welfare the way it was intended -- as a temporary support mechanism during hard times. However, these people remain on welfare for short periods of time. A compassionate society will find other ways to help people who need temporary assistance.”

The “nonpartisan” Commission on Presidential Debates, which has been organizing the debates was created by the Republican and Democratic parties to control televised debates. Ralph Nader believes that this mechanism is rigged to serve the two parties that created it. Prior to this time, the League of Women Voters orchestrated the presidential debates.

Ralph Nader challenges the voter to explore beyond party affiliation and not just vote in sync. He encourages voting your conscience. According to Doug Gwyn, a Quaker, “truth is not determined by majority vote.”

Michael Moore stated, “Democracy is not a spectator sport, it’s a participatory event. If we don’t participate in it, it ceases to be democratic.”

The ballot “voice” does matter. Though changes are needed now, changes do not come quickly or easily. Change is, commonly, incremental. Action, however, is not futile. This coming November, registered voters will have the democratic calling to elect the next president. The four parties have positions on those who are poor and implicitly alter the tax code.

Republicans argue that the tax code is broken and needs major reforms to boost economic growth. They are proposing significant tax reforms that reduce the amount of revenue the federal government would collect, leading to reductions in programs. The Republicans seeks to move welfare recipients off the welfare rolls. The Democratic seek to introduce significant tax reforms including new taxes on high-income earners to fund government domestic programs. The Green Party seeks universal guaranteed income.

Libertarians seek private charitable giving.

Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. Dissent is also democratic. Sadly, there remains wide gaps between those who do vote which undermines representative democracy. Voting counts and elected officials know who votes. Before you decide your vote doesn’t matter in this election, consider this question: do any of these presidential candidates speaks the truth or speaks to the issues that matter to you?

Walter Mullin, PhD (wmullin@springfieldcollege.edu) is a Professor at the School of Social Work at Springfield College. Miguel Arce MSW (marce@springfieldcollege.edu) is an Associate Professor at the School of Social work at Springfield College.

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Libros / Books

El Sol Latino October 2016

Cinco esquinas por MARIO VARGAS LLOSA • (Penguin/Random House Grupo Editorial, Alfaguara) 2016. 300 páginas.

En 1990, cuando el Perú se vio amenazado por los ataques del Sendero Luminoso por un lado y por la MRTA (Movimiento Revolucionario de Tupac Amaru) por otro, Mario Vargas Llosa, autor conocido por sus obras literarias La ciudad y los perros, La Casa Verde, y Conversación en la catedral, se declaró candidato del partido FREDEMO (Frente democrático) para la presidencia del Perú. Perdió las elecciones frente Alberto Fujimori, quien en aquellos tiempos era relativamente desconocido.

Y ahora, en 2016, parece que Vargas Llosa saca su venganza con su última novela Cinco Esquinas que no sólo incluye referencias a los constantes ataques del Sendero Luminoso y los de la MRTA, sino también refiere a acciones de corrupción por parte del entonces Presidente Fujimori y del “Doctor” Vladimiro Montesinos, consejero principal del presidente y el que mandaba detrás del supuesto jefe, Julio Salazar, del SIN (Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional).

Estos dos, Fujimori y Montesinos, ahora se encuentran en la prisión por múltiples ofensas por haberse aprovechado de sus posiciones de poder para enriquecerse y prescindirse de seguir las leyes del país.

En Cinco Esquinas, Vargas Llosa muestra como era vivir en aquella época de los años noventa para los de la clase rica y para los pobres. Las parejas, Marisa con su esposo el hombre de negocios Enrique (Quique), y Chabela y su esposo abogado Luciano, parecen representar la clase alta que por miedo a ser secuestrados por los revolucionarios siempre andan en carro con sus choferes aun por pocas distancias. Los costos de proveer seguridad para sí mismos siguen subiendo. Es difícil saber en quien se puede confiar.

Hay corrupción a todos los niveles. El señor Urriola, jefe de seguridad de la mina de Huancavelica, al informarle al dueño Enrique de un robo de explosivos, comenta que, “Los guardias civiles ganan miserias y ahora, con el terrorismo, tienen la coartada perfecta para saquearnos y echar la culpa a Sendero y al MRTA.” Buscan alivio de las presiones entregándose a los placeres sexuales y recurriendo a vacaciones en Miami, Florida. Marisa y Chabela descubren los placeres de la sexualidad entre sí e después incluyen a Quique en sus amores. Vargas Llosa describe sus encuentros sexuales en gran detalle.

Luego está Rolando Garro, periodista del semanario Destapes que goza de explotar con fotos e historias las aventuras amorosas de personas conocidas de la alta sociedad. Describe, “Todo ese mundo de sombras, de adulterios, de monosexualismo, de lesbianismo, de sadomasoquismo, de animalismo pedofilia, de corrupción y latrocinios, que anidaba en los sótanos de la sociedad. El Perú entero podría satisfacer su curiosidad morbosa, su apetito chismográfico....saber que los famosos, los respetables, las celebridades, los decentes, están hechos también del mismo barro mugriento que los demás.” Pero no se critica a los ricos con impunidad. Garro perdió “la vida, de qué manera atroz, por ejercer el periodismo de investigación y sacar a la luz pública las inmundicias que podían permitirse los ricos de este país sin leyes y sin moral.”

La narración sigue con Juan Peineta, un recitador profesional de las grandes obras de la poesía. A sus 79 años, “Ahí estaba, resistiendo la avalancha del tiempo.... algo de sordera, mala vista, sexo muerto, caminar lento e inseguro, algún catarro o gripe en los inviernos--, nada de cuidado desde el punto de vista físico, aunque sí del mental: su memoria estaba cada día peor.”

También figura de forma prominente El Doctor, “jefe del Servicio de Inteligencia del régimen: maquiavélico asesor del presidente” Fujimori.

La trama de la novela trata de cómo se relacionan estos protagonistas principales. Vargas Llosa se aprovecha para hablar francamente de las verdades políticas de aquella época. Hablando de El Doctor, dice que éste “había sido el brazo derecho de Fujimori, y, como jefe del Servicio de Inteligencia, el presunto autor de las peores fechorías, tráficos, robos y crímenes políticos que se venían cometiendo en el Perú desde hacia casi diez años. Se decía que la fortuna que él y Fujimori tenían en el extranjero era vertiginosa.” El personaje Garro dice que en cuanto a su programa de televisión, “Me lo cerraron por decir la verdad, algo que no se aguanta mucho en el Perú de hoy y de siempre.”

La novela está repleta de preguntas: algunas son retóricas pidiéndole al lector que piense sobre la situación política del país bajo Fujimori y El Doctor. Pero muchas, muchísimas son para indicar los pensamientos interiores de los varios personajes. La técnica se pone algo pesada según esta lectora.

Tal vez Vargas Llosa vio en esta novela una manera de descubrir los horribles ataques contra la libertad y la humanidad que sufrieron los peruanos durante aquella época. Y no solo éstos, sino también muestra el nivel de perversa decadencia moral que se encontraba en todos los niveles de la sociedad. A veces parece que el autor se desvía de su tema para enfocarse en los encuentros sexuales con lujo de detalles. O tal vez lo hiciera para que el lector se dé bastante cuenta de lo superficialidad de sus personajes. O tal vez los personajes, dados los peligros de aquellos tiempos, recurran a tales placeres para olvidarse, al menos momentáneamente, de los peligros de aquella época caótica. De todos modos, no está bien claro el por qué de estas escenas sexuales tan alargadas.

Hay muy poco que nos atrae a los personajes con la única excepción de Juan Peineta, y él es un pobre enfermo cruelmente manejado por los que tienen poder, el poder que les trae el dinero.

La trama se desarrolla mayormente por medio de anécdotas, conversaciones, y un montón de preguntas. Por estas razones, la novela nos predica y por interesante que nos plantee la trama y por valiosa que presente la historia peruana de aquella época, no llega a ser gran obra de ficción. Del autor premiado con el prestigioso Nobel, esperaba más.

Reseña de Cathleen C. Robinson, profesora jubilada del español y de la historia de la América Latina.

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Veanos@www.issuu.com/elsollatino Veanos@www.issuu.com/elsollatino

Salud / Health

El Sol Latino October 2016

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Mes de la Concientización sobre el Cáncer de Seno “Menos es más” fue el tema de una sesión educativa en el Simposio sobre Cáncer de Seno de San Antonio celebrado en diciembre del año pasado, que se concentró en estrategias para minimizar o reducir gradualmente las terapias para el cáncer de seno. La Dra. Grace Makari-Judson, presidente de Baystate Health Breast Network, asistió al simposio. “Cuando hablamos sobre reducción gradual del tratamiento del cáncer, nos referimos a intentar alcanzar el mismo objetivo de librarnos del cáncer, pero usando tratamientos con menor cantidad de efectos secundarios que se seleccionan cuidadosamente para cada persona.

Esto significa limitar la cirugía, omitir o limitar la radiación y omitir la quimioterapia siempre que sea posible,” afirmó.

Hasta hace poco, la práctica estándar era la extirpación de los ganglios linfáticos axilares (un procedimiento quirúrgico para quitar los ganglios linfáticos ubicados debajo del brazo) para cualquier mujer que presentara cáncer en sus ganglios centinela. ¿De qué forma ha cambiado esa práctica: omitir la extirpación axilar completa en favor de la radiación?

R: Durante las últimas dos décadas, los médicos han permitido la biopsia de ganglios linfáticos centinela (SLNB, por sus siglas en inglés) para evitar extirpaciones innecesarias de ganglios linfáticos en las mujeres con cáncer de seno que no se ha propagado a los ganglios linfáticos. La biopsia le permite al cirujano identificar y extirpar solo los primeros pocos ganglios linfáticos (generalmente tres o menos) que las células cancerosas podrían invadir como su primer punto de salida desde el seno. Estos son los ganglios linfáticos axilares (los que se encuentran debajo del brazo) y si no se identifica cáncer en esos ganglios, existe una excelente probabilidad de que no se encuentre cáncer en ningún otro ganglio debajo del brazo. La extirpación de ganglios adicionales (10 o más en una extirpación axilar estándar) lleva a un aumento del riesgo de sufrir inflamación permanente del brazo conocida como linfedema.

La lógica de realizar extirpaciones axilares para una mujer que presenta cáncer en sus ganglios centinela era que otras formas de tratamiento oncológico, como la radiación, la quimioterapia y la terapia hormonal, no son tan eficaces como la cirugía para destruir cada una de las células cancerosas presentes en un ganglio linfático. No obstante, en los últimos cinco años, el estándar de atención ha cambiado. Dos grandes ensayos (llamados el ensayo AMAROS en Europa y el ensayo ACOSOG Z-11 en los Estados Unidos) realizaron comparaciones directas para mujeres con cáncer de seno de estado temprano y ganglios centinela positivos. Los estudios asignaron al azar a estas mujeres a someterse o no a extirpaciones axilares completas. Todas las pacientes inscritas fueron sometidas a radiación, y la amplia mayoría recibieron alguna forma de terapia sistémica, como quimioterapia, terapia hormonal o ambas. Si bien a un tercio de las mujeres que recibieron cirugía adicional se les encontró más cáncer en los ganglios linfáticos, no hubo una diferencia significativa en los índices de recurrencia, ya sea debajo del brazo o en otras partes del cuerpo, entre las mujeres que recibieron más cirugía con respecto a las que no la recibieron.

Como resultado, el estándar de atención ahora es omitir la extirpación axilar en las mujeres (aquellas que no se han sometido a quimioterapia antes de la cirugía) con cáncer de seno de estado temprano y entre 1 y 2 ganglios centinela positivos.

¿Hay casos aún en los que son necesarias las extirpaciones axilares?

R: Las mujeres con cáncer de seno más avanzado, aquellas con ganglios linfáticos cancerosos que se sienten grandes al tacto, y aquellas que requieren una mastectomía, por lo general aún requieren una extirpación axilar de los ganglios positivos. No obstante, el estándar continúa cambiando. En Baystate Medical Center, estamos participando en dos grandes ensayos nacionales que están estudiando si la cirugía y la radiación aún son necesarias para las mujeres con ganglios linfáticos cancerosos, inflamados al tacto, que se normalizan después de la quimioterapia antes de la cirugía. La esperanza de estos ensayos es demostrar que aún más pacientes no requerirán una extirpación completa de los ganglios linfáticos debajo del brazo, y algunas hasta podrían no necesitar radiación en esa zona. ¿Qué han aprendido los médicos sobre los ciclos más cortos de radiación para el cáncer de seno? ¿Son seguros y eficaces y para quiénes son adecuados?

R: Durante varias décadas en los Estados Unidos la radiación estándar del seno se ha realizado tradicionalmente durante un lapso de 5 a 6 semanas, mientras que en Gran Bretaña y Canadá el estándar ha sido un ciclo de 3 a 4 semanas. Los resultados recientes de ensayos a largo plazo de estos dos países han demostrado que un ciclo más corto de radiación, usando menos tratamientos a una dosis más alta pero la misma dosis total, es igual de eficaz y menos tóxico para algunas mujeres seleccionadas de manera apropiada, aquellas con cáncer de seno de estado temprano que no afecta a los ganglios linfáticos, que no se han sometido a una mastectomía ni se les ha administrado quimioterapia. No se recomienda para mujeres menores de 50 años. ¿Existen casos en los podría ser adecuado omitir la radiación para mujeres con cáncer de seno?

R: Dos ensayos publicados recientemente han indicado muy poco beneficio de la radiación del seno en pacientes mayores de 70 años con cáncer de seno de estado temprano que no tienen afectados los ganglios linfáticos y que califican y están recibiendo activamente terapia hormonal. Para estas mujeres, agregar radiación a la cirugía y la terapia hormonal les da un 4% de beneficio para el control local a los cinco años. Esto aumenta a un beneficio del 8% a los 10 años. No existe un beneficio demostrado para la supervivencia general. Para muchas mujeres, este beneficio bajo no es suficiente como para justificar los efectos secundarios potenciales de la radiación. No obstante, esta es una decisión muy personal que debería tomarse únicamente después de analizar las opciones con un oncólogo de radiación. ¿Cuándo se puede omitir realmente la quimioterapia como tratamiento?

R: Las pruebas moleculares ahora ayudan a los oncólogos a identificar a las personas con cánceres de seno de estado temprano que necesitan realmente quimioterapia y qué personas tienen un pronóstico excelente con terapia hormonal sola. Estudios recientes han validado estas pruebas y demostrado que las mujeres con puntuación baja obtienen muy buenos resultados con la terapia hormonal sola. Gracias a las pruebas moleculares, los médicos ahora están prescribiendo quimioterapia entre un 20 y un 30% menos si lo comparamos con lo que se prescribía hace 10 años.

Fuente: Baystate Medical Center

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