The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Really?

I have always said that the teachers of Seccion XXII have some/many legitimate issues, but their strategies and tactics,,,, well, they sure know how to upset people, which does not garner them support.  Yesterday, they blocked access to the official gueleguezta by closing off all access including roads and even the stairs up from Crespo.  There are videos of people being turned away by lines of men blocking the way in and a few of people just forcing themselves through the lines.  It was ugly. 

I just don't get it.  These two weeks are some of the most important of the year and they just hurt not only themselves, their goals and the tourists who stayed away in droves, but hundreds/thousands of businesses, some of which have thrown in the towel and closed.  Oaxaca is one of the poorest states in Mexico and these lost dollars/pesos are sorely needed.  Oh, and the governor and the police have pretty much been hiding, doing nothing, although there were security forces allowing folks to access the auditorium and the morning performance went ahead.

From the LAHT
Striking teachers in the southern state of Oaxaca demanding the repeal of Mexico’s controversial 2013 education overhaul attempted on Monday to disrupt the traditional Guelaguetza festival.

From 7:30 a.m., members of Section 22 of the militant CNTE teachers union took over urban transport vehicles and blocked traffic at the three entrances to Cerro del Fortin hill, the highest point in Oaxaca city, the state capital.

The roadblocks forced visitors to go up to the Guelaguetza Auditorium by a stairway, strongly guarded by security forces, and along the streets, despite all the teachers demonstrating there.

The CNTE announced a boycott of the festival’s closure to demand the immediate release of its leaders and the cancelling of the arrest orders issued against members of the union.

It also demanded the resignation of federal Education Secretary Aurelio Nuño and of Oaxaca Gov. Gabino Cue, as well as the departure from the state of federal security forces.

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