Zimmerman's mother is a Latina. So what?

When Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, David Berkowitz and Charles Manson were apprehended, did a single pundit suggest it was because they were white? But when Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 students at Virginia Tech, the media sought comments from South Koreans across the United States as if the whole community was on trial.

So it is not surprising that the Latino community is now under the microscope because the mother of George Zimmerman, accused of killing Trayvon Martin, is a Latina.

As long as Zimmerman was perceived to be part of the mainstream, he was an individual to be judged on the basis of his character. But once he was identified as a Latino, he became a representative for an entire ethnic group.

Some have gone so far as to defend Zimmerman by suggesting that being a Latino, he could not be prejudiced. Others are claiming he's just another violent, trigger-happy Hispanic. In either case, the results are the same. Zimmerman is nothing more than a cipher for prejudices.

Is every Non-Hispanic White a racist? Of course not. But why would anyone believe every Latino is not? Both assumptions are equally absurd.

Every time an individual is involved in a violent, high profile crime, the media coverage is the same: If the person is a Non-Hispanic White, their ethnicity is not an issue. But if the perpetrator is a minority, it becomes a whole other conversation. Why? Because "white" is the default setting for individuals in the U.S. media.

These preconceptions are so ingrained in our culture, most people fail to recognize them--even when they are glaringly obvious. Sadly, this case shows we are a long way from overcoming our unconscious prejudices.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Among some fine company

This bit of news certainly made my day.

Pop culture search engine ChaCha.com included me among the “best Hispanic writers in the beginning of the 21st century” alongside Isabel Allende, Paul Coelho and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It’s not every day the author of just two novels sees his name listed with literary legends like these. (Maybe my mom is secretly moonlighting at ChaCha.)

So it seems I'm famous now. Too bad more people don't know that -- especially book buyers. 

Seriously, though. Being included in such fine company is the result of those in the industry who put their trust in my work and the friends who have been so generous in their support. My deepest thanks to all of you.

The original post is here.

About ChaCha.com...

ChaCha gives free, real-time answers to any question both online at ChaCha.com and through mobile phones by either texting "ChaCha" (242-242) or using one of our mobile apps. Through our unique “ask-a-smart-friend” format, ChaCha has become the leading answers service with more than a billion questions answered to date all in a fun, conversational format perfect for those in need of fast, free answers while on-the-go.

The Etch A Sketch Candidate

The lore of politics is rich with sound bytes that, usually for the worse, defined political careers.

Al Gore was tagged with the claim he invented the internet.
Bush The First was derided for saying "Read my lips. No new taxes."
John Kerry never lived down: "I was for it before I was against it."
Alexander Haig became infamous for "I'm in control here."
Dan Quayle was lambasted with the zinger, "You're no Jack Kennedy."

Today, we may have seen a new sound byte added to that canon. It was contributed by Mitt Romney aide Eric Fehrnstrom on CNN after he was asked whether Mr. Romney would move more toward the center in a general election. To which  Fehrnstrom  answered:

"Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It's like an Etch A Sketch. You can shake it up and we start all over again."

And there you have it. Mitt Romney the Etch A Sketch Candidate.

It will be curious to see if it sticks. I'm betting it will.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Behind the scenes on PANCHO LAND: The Plot Outline

A look at one author's use of a plot outline

Some writers start a novel with a piece of dialog or bit of narrative and see where the story takes them. Others, like me, don't really begin to flesh out scenes until they have a complete plot outline. Pictured above is one of the spreadsheet drafts I used to create PANCHO LAND, the third installment of the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy.

To avoid spoilers, I deliberately reduced the font size, making it impossible to read. But even at this magnification, you can see five columns that trace the developments for each major character during the story. The spreadsheet lets me integrate the varying story lines and keep each moving together toward a coherent conclusion.

Once I know how the story will unfold, I choose which character will serve as point-of-view for each scene. Although the series is written in third person, I try to present each scene from the perspective of a single character. This adds drama and suspense since the reader only knows what that character knows.

Inevitably, as I begin to flesh out the scenes, I find reasons to tweak the plot. This is another place where the plot outline is valuable since it reminds me how that change will affect all the other characters. When I make this kind of change, I keep the original version of the plot outline and create a new version. There are times when I've decided to go back to a previous approach and having the older version saves a lot of work.

The plot outline is the backbone for several other devices many writers use to craft novels. I will be sharing more about these in the coming weeks.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

The depths of ignorance

How out of touch are some mainstream Americans with what it means to be a Latino? An example of the depths of that ignorance was on display March 15th when the pep band at Southern Mississippi University chanted "Where's you green card?" as Angel Rodriguez of Kansas State stepped up to the free throw line during an NCAA tournament game.

Rodriguez is from Puerto Rico, and like all Puerto Ricans, he is a U.S. citizen. He has as much need for a green card as any of the native-born students deriding him.

But in their minds, the equation was simple: Latino equals immigrant.

That alone would be ignorant enough. But to taunt Rodriguez by questioning his status reveals the deep-seated sense that every Hispanic is suspect. In small minds like these, Latinos cannot be "real Americans" -- even when they clearly are.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

My publisher's Amazon deal on HOUSE DIVIDED

The price on HOUSE DIVIDED is 60% for a limited time. 

Hey, in case you're interested, my publisher is running a limited time deal on HOUSE DIVIDED paperbacks -- $5.60 (reg. $11.19). That figures to 60% off. If you or someone you know has been wanting to read my second novel, you might want to check this out.

FIND OUT MORE AT THE HOUSE DIVIDED PAGE ON AMAZON.COM

A poll: Is "Pancho Land" offensive?

Pancho Land is the working title for my third novel in the America Libre trilogy. Do you think this title is demeaning or offensive? I hope you'll take a moment and share your opinion. Feel free to leave a comment if you are so inspired. Thank you! ~ Raul

Do you find the novel title "PANCHO LAND" offensive?

Gone writing

With PANCHO LAND, the third installment of the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy due this summer, I will be carving out more time for my fiction work over the next few months. Not to say a breaking story will not prompt an editorial during that time. But I've reached the harvest season for my next novel and will be toiling in that field more intensely.

As the novel progresses, I will be posting elements for your feedback here: some cover designs and perhaps an excerpt or two of the work in progress.

In the meantime, hope you'll check out the blog archive for posts with current relevance.

To the regular readers of this blog I want to say thanks for your interest and support -- and the comments, even when they are dissenting.

So even though I'm not minding the store, leave me a message. I'll reply when I can. As long as we are talking, there is hope.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Joe Arpaio enters Sasquatch territory

"This un-retouched photo of us near his woodland lair shows undeniable evidence of the existence of Sasquatch." --Sheriff Joe Apraio (on the right)

Well, now that Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his anonymous "Cold Case Posse" have given us irrefutable proof that President Obama’s birth certificate is fake, it appears he may have stumbled onto a lucrative new sideline in verifying wingnut myths. (Sheriff Arpaio made it clear this investigation was paid for by private donations.) With that in mind, here are some more headlines we may expect from the good sheriff and his posse in the future:

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio confirms the existence of Sasquatch.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio confirms Apollo Moon missions were fake.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio uncovers Roswell alien bodies.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio proves Mr. Rogers was a Navy SEAL.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio has proof Richard Gere had gerbil in his rectum.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio proves Lady Gaga is a hermaphrodite.

News flash: Sheriff Joe Arpaio proves blue whale sperm makes oceans salty. 

Back to the Obama investigation... Gasp! Who would have imagined that a sheriff accused by the Justice Department of racial profiling, under investigation for abuses of power, and widely chastised (even by other Republicans) for his neglect of sex crimes involving children would have found evidence President Obama is not a real American? This man is clearly an impartial party.

When asked why a local law enforcement official under fire for racial prejudice, abuse of power and negligence was conducting a federal level investigation, Sheriff Arpaio replied, “I’m just doing my job.”

Some things you just can’t make up. 


Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Santorum promises religious favoritism as president

“I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.”

--Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum is taking a huge gamble in an effort to maintain his precarious lead for the GOP presidential nomination over Mitt Romney. He has doubled down on his support from the religious right. “I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute,” Santorum told ABC News. Santorum went on to criticize an icon among many U.S. Catholics, John F. Kennedy. According to the New York Times, Santorum claimed “he had become sickened after reading John F. Kennedy’s 1960 speech calling for the rigid separation of religion and politics.”

How far we’ve come.

In his 1960 campaign, JFK had to convince a predominantly Protestant U.S. electorate that the nation’s first Catholic president would not put his religion ahead of the nation. At the time, many voters were worried Kennedy might show favoritism to Catholics or let Papal edicts sway his decisions. Fellow Catholic Rick Santorum has turned Kennedy’s position on its head, promising that as president he will most certainly show favoritism to his faith. The video that "sickened" Mr. Santorum is included below. 

Of course, today’s voters need not really worry that Santorum will be a handmaiden of the Catholic clergy. Although Santorum’s stand on contraception and a woman’s right to choose mirror the official views of the Catholic Church, Santorum strongly opposes immigration reform which American Catholic bishops have openly supported.

To my knowledge, no one in the media has asked Mr. Santorum to explain this break with his widely self-proclaimed faith. I hope someone with access to Santorum will do this soon.

Interestingly, the most common nativist response to the Catholic Church’s support for the undocumented is that a religious organization should stay out of government policy. You see, in this case, many of Santorum's supporters believe there should be a strong separation between church and state.

Raul Ramos y Sanchez