These political ads designed to sucker every stupid brown person in range also tell the listener (in Spanish) how much the Republicans respect the "Latino soldier." I immediately think of the post I just wrote, in which I lay out how some of my Mexican ancestors and relatives gave years and years of their lives for the American Military machine. And all I can do here is quote Leguizamo, who said that a Latino voting for Republicans is like a roach voting for Raid®. I'm sure a black voter can come up with an appropriate conversion, if they like. This one stands for me.

Finally, on the White Condescension and Complete Ignorance tip: I don't know about you. I've spent a few years in Brooklyn and NYC. I've partied with peeps from Washington Heights, and shot authentic gangsta rap videos on the roofs of projects in the Bronx. I've hung out in Harlem, and I've had girlfriends in different shades of brown. I was having city kids tell me my haircut was "dope" back in the days GOPers thought that was drug talk (they prolly still do). But I have never, never ever heard a brother start throwin' down high school French as part of his rap on "snuffin' his own seed!" Wow. Maybe I've been to the wrong barrios, the wrong after-hours parties, the wrong voting districts. Damn.

THE GOVERNMENT can steal your shit, they can smoke your shit, they can burn your shit. What makes people think they have any rights when it comes to the will o' tha po-po? That's what Nezua wants to know. I think it's too much time imagining it was You and Them against all the rest of the world. But ask anyone who has seen them in action from street-level. Aside from your Uncle Jimmy the Well-Loved Neighborhood Cop (because I know you'll point him out as an exception), they're pretty much bullies and punks across the board. But until you run across their attitude, you imagine that the laws on the books, or better yet "common sense," protects you.

So what, the judge lets off Sherrif Payne for burning up a man's crop of legal plants, even though field tests showed the crop was NOT marijuana. The judge says, "yeah, cool, la chota got it right" because "qualified immunity shielded Payne from liability" and 'his conduct was 'objectively reasonable." Yeah, true. Right? Given that the average law enforcer can be expected to ignore standard procedure and scientific tests. That's reasonable. Let's hope the appeal is met with sane thinking and standards. $225,000 in damage? If I were that farmer, I would be rippin' shit UP.

*Listen, while we're on it, friends: my first degree is in Substance Abuse Counseling. I've worked in the field (no, not in a field of fragrant plants, you jokers) and none of my coworkers or classmates would have disagreed that the very legal drug Alcohol is just about the heaviest drug that exists and certainly the heaviest in terms of what is used commonly and has such drastic stats behind acute and chronic use. It is not reasonable to spend the time and money we do chasing pot-smokers. I know you know this, and it really does deserve its own post, but I'll just say this: 67% (last I checked) of violent deaths involve alcohol. Almost half a million people die each year behind tobacco. The emotionally stunted, and spiritually bankrupt nation kneejerks to SSRIs when they feelin' down, and Ritalin is turning your kids into junkies. (I know, I've seen them at parties with their 'scripts!)

Marijuana? Recent studies prove it does not "destroy brain cells" but promotes neurogenesis. Recent studies show that THC (the main ingredient in pot) inhibits cancer cell growth, and we know that the symptoms associated with cancer are eased [pdf] by the intake of THC. Recent studies show that THC decreases the occurrence of "neuronal cell death" associated with Alzheimers. Marijuana inhibits tumor growth. And I'll let you math whizkids do the thinking on taxes, legal uses of hemp, and other benefits to the economy, were reason to bring Marijuana into the mainstream above ground. So yeah. You're being ruled by sensible people. Take their dicta as seriously as you feel you should in the glaring light of their hypocrisy. (It's twice as bright as a flaming field of hibiscus cannabinus!)

THE TLATELOLCO MASSACRE REMAINS A SHAME AND A SECRET of the Mexican government. The horror of student demonstrators shot down in 1968 by the Mexican Government in a blatant display of fascism still has not seen an honest accounting, and I can only imagine what this will mean as the divide between those who trust in the government (Especially the PRI) and those who do not grows wider. With Archivos Abiertos Kate Doyle has begun an effort to get the record straight, and started a blog to boot. If you have memories or family involvement, you may be able to help. In Ms. Doyle's words, "Together, we can construct an accurate history of the events of Tlatelolco-a history based on facts as well as the painful memories that linger."

And there it is! Our newest series. Just look at 'er claw at the restraints. I think she'll do all right here. I think she'll do just fine.