February 19, 2013
Education
Ruidoso Free Press
By Corey Bard
Salman Rushdie, yes, the author of “Satanic Verses” who was forced into hiding when his life was threatened, has written several novels which capture the theme of his longing and nostalgia for an older, safer, more peaceful India. I am not sure when that utopian India was supposed to have existed, but his 2005 novel, “Shalimar the Clown” is set in Kashmir to the north and uses his same theme of a time that was more tranquil than modern day India. “Their village, Pachigam, subscribes to the informal doctrine “Kashmiriyat, Kashmiriness, the belief that at the heart of Kashmiri culture there was a common bond that transcended all other differences. We are all brothers and sisters here,” Shalimar’s father, Abdullah, the leader of a Felliniesque band of traveling players, proclaims. “There is no Hindu-Muslim issue.” It is in part two of the book the reader is sent around the world to Kashmir. Part one of “Shalimar the Clown” introduces us to the principal characters living in Los Angeles and all the trappings stereotypical of life in southern California. The book opens with the title character committing a murder. The reader is forced
to read through a lot of imagery and description contrasting the culture of Kashmir with the materialism of Los Angeles. Part two takes us back to Kashmir and how the central character Shalimar met his lover, Boonyi and how their families accepted a Muslim and a Hindu to share a life. Rushdie suggests Independent India, Pakistan and Bangladesh created when the British relinquished control of the subcontinent, has not solved religious differences and has created nationalistic border problems that may never be resolved. “If Rushdie cannot make you see and smell and feel the loveliness of life in Kashmir, he does, finally, make a commanding story of its loss. It is a place where the frontiers between the words “Hindu” and “Muslim” had “grown smudged and blurred,” but it will be dragged into the sectarian brutality of the 20th century all the same. Boonyi, on a restless caprice, leaves Shalimar for Max, and her young husband is transformed from “the sweetest, gentlest and most open of any human being in Pachigam to a ruthless assassin.” Events: Third Thursday Music with Lu Ann Ellison Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. Free admission and free refreshments served Book talk: Local author Richard Wood discusses “Deep Canyon Creek,” Saturday, Feb. 23 at 11 a.m.
Folk for the arts
Photo courtesy of Milu Abel
Carrizozo schools held a fundraiser for the Carrizozo Elementary Arts program, and the New Mexico School Boards Association Incentive Fund, on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Open to the whole community, the family-friendly folk dance was aimed to raise money for the arts while showing off what Carrizozo’s elementary students have learned from Dena Odell in art class. Food and refreshments were available for purchase, and a small entry fee made contributions to the causes. With an outcome of content tummies and more money into the local arts, Carrizozo is one of the many towns looking to enhance the lives of youth members while involving the whole community to participate. Pictured is Dena Odell, as she sings and dances with Kindergarten through 4th grade students, raising money for the local arts.
Lincoln County students and residents view ‘Lincoln’ in Lincoln on Lincoln’s birthday By Sue Hutchison Reporter suehutch@valornet.com Lincoln was chosen out of a pool of more than 40 U.S. towns to view the movie “Lincoln,” directed by Steven Spielberg. Two time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis stars, along with Sally Fields, with the movie’s plot centering around the last few months of Lincoln’s presidency. The film was shown Feb. 12 at the Old Lincoln Church free of charge with snacks and beverages available for patrons. With limited seating, reservations were required. “I think it’s very cool we were selected,” said Michelle Caskey, Lincoln County assets and public information officer. “Participant Media contacted me and after we talked we were chosen to be one of eight U.S. locations to view the movie,” she explained. “Stand Tall, live like Lincoln” is Participant’s social action campaign revolving around the movie. “They asked me to tell them about our community and what types of people live here. They were impressed with our type of living and agreed we should be one of the eight.” Caskey took reservations from community members for a 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. showing and says she enjoyed chatting with citizens on the phone. Added was a 9:30 a.m. showing for Hondo school children. “He wanted to abolish slavery, and he didn’t want his son going into war,” said Hondo student Paulina Ceniceros, eighth –grader about what she knew of Lincoln before she viewed the movie. Ceniceros’ academic life began at kindergarten in Hondo schools and has continued through the eighth grade. Saying viewing the movie gave her more information she continued. “I really didn’t know how he processed laws through.” More than 60 students joined Ceniceros from her school, along with several teachers and sponsors. Ceniceros said she believes slavery still exists in the U.S. but she says not necessarily with blacks. “Like with different races like Hispanics and whites,” but was unfamiliar with the phrase human trafficking. “Every human is equal because they have the same life situations, at least most of them. I think being a human starts when you’re born.” Although not wishing to be a politician herself after she completes school she said she was glad Lincoln was a president who solved problems. “I know people didn’t like him but he still worked through it,” she explained. Danette McNulty, Hondo Language Arts educator, attended along with her students. “This was the second time I watched it,
Tech formalizes computer science agreement with ENMU-Ruidoso SOCORRO — Officials from Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso and New Mexico Tech signed a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 1 that paves the way for computer science students to make a smooth transition. Eastern New Mexico UniversityRuidoso has a growing and well-regarded program in cyber security. In fact, the Ruidoso school is the only community college in the state to boast a INFOSECcertified program in computer science. Dr. Clayton Alred, President of the Ruidoso college, and Dr. Peter Gerity, Vice President at New Mexico Tech, met with other administrators and professors to sign the agreement and discuss potential projects. Stephen Miller, who leads the ENMU-Ruidoso computer science program, will work with Tech professors Dr. Lorie Liebrock and Dr. Subhasish Mazumdar to push the programs forward. Chad Smith, Vice President of Student Learning at ENMU-Ruidoso, said “We hope to become a very large funnel of students to New Mexico Tech. We think
this will grow exponentially – and that’ll be a good thing for both institutions.” The articulation agreement includes courses in humanities, social sciences, math, communications and laboratory sciences – in addition to core classes in computer science and information technology. The agreement also includes six network security courses offered at the Ruidoso campus that will now be available via distance education to Tech students. Liebrock said both parties envision developing a pipeline that starts with highschool level instruction at Ruidoso High School, continues at ENMU-Ruidoso and then to New Mexico Tech. “This agreement allows us to support each other and support students,” she said. Courtesy photo
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Sue Hutchison/Ruidoso Free Press
Paulina Ceniceros, Hondo 8th grader, at Lincoln movie Feb. 12.
and the kids watching it are different ages but I think they’re interested in this era and I think they were surprised with how much back-room-dealings they had to do to get this thing to happen, and that’s kind of one of the things we were trying to explain to them.” McNulty said they’ve been studying Lincoln and his presidency to prepare them for the field trip to view the film. “We had to teach how a bill becomes a law. Our eighth graders didn’t understand that,” she explained. The movie’s theme centers around the last few weeks before the 13th Amendment was passed by congress, during Lincoln’s presidency. Lobbying is a large part of the film’s content, showing the process of securing votes for the amendment. Participant Media plans to deliver the film mid-March to 15 Lincoln High Schools across the country in underserved communities, along with new audio-visual equipment including portable screens, Blu-ray and DVD players, projectors and speakers. Disney’s educational curricula will be distributed as well, according to Participant’s website. The media group focuses on documentary and non-documentary feature films about issues which challenge society. Although technical difficulties plagued each showing in Lincoln, Caskey says she feels the event was a success. “I wish everyone could have seen the movie without interruption, but the community seemed to really enjoy getting together and watching,” she said. “I think the venue (Old Lincoln Church) provided a community feel which was different from viewing it in a theater.” Wayne and Julie Wilkinson, Ruidoso residents attended the 1 p.m. showing. “We read about it in the paper. I think it’s great, we’re right here in the middle of history in Lincoln,” said Wayne as he waited for the movie to begin. Caskey had arranged for civic leaders to moderate a forum after the afternoon showings. Because of DVD issues, viewers did not seem to want to stay for the panel discussion. “I’m glad civic leaders were willing to participate, however,” she explained. “I think viewing Lincoln has reawakened people’s interest in history. We all agree we know the basic story from history lessons in school but there is a lot of political nuance that we were either never taught or didn’t make much sense to us back then,” said Caskey after the day’s viewing. “I can see that for those who attended Lincoln that conversation about (him) and his legacy will continue over coffee and in grocery stores as happened for me yesterday, where as I bumped into folks who had come to see the film, we kept launching into really interesting discussions as we stood in the parking lot.” Sue Hutchison/ Ruidoso Free Press
Benne Long, N.M. State monument ranger, speaks with Ray Dean before the 1 p.m. showing.
Carrizozo school board set, bond passes By Milu Abel For the Ruidoso Free Press Carrizozo schools held the regular school board-elections Feb. 5, running for the third and fourth school board member positions along with a possible tax raise for public school capital improvements. Running unopposed, J. Antoinette Rossi was elected into the third position for the school’s board membership. With a total of 216 votes, Waliace Matthew Ferguson, was elected for the fourth position of the school’s board membership. With just
a five-vote difference, Chris R. Ventura, was also running for the fourth position in the school’s board membership, lacking the extra six votes. Capital improvements reached a total of 292 votes for, with a total of 112 votes against. The state will be able to “impose a property tax of $2 per each $1,000 of net value of the property allocated to the District under the Property Tax Code” for the property tax years of 2013-18, according to the ballot of the Carrizozo Municipal School District No. 7.