And in this corner! (CONLAMIC vs. NALEO)

So many causes turn into whose name gets published most instead of what’s best for the causes our so-called “leaders” are advocating for. I’m sure “1 million” church-going people are going to boycott the census, if a “Hispanic clergy group” (CONLAMIC) doesn’t get its way — or that it is “political suicide,” if such a boycott is called according to Latinos in government (NALEO).

The immigration conflict has turned into religion vs. government (Latino-style), the same old story as the poor and oppressed throughout our Americas and beyond get more poor and oppressed by the minute.  Neither side (see article below) is doing a bit of good for La Raza, if it doesn’t quit pretending it has all or the best answer(s) pertaining to the immigration of Indigenas up, down and across our Americas.

The best any individual or organization can do on behalf of these desperate workers and their familias is work together with other caring individuals and organizations, to ensure the Obama Administration does right by us all.  In contrast, fighting each other (divide and conquer) is exactly what our adversaries want to see us doing, as they continue to bash immigrants and all La Raza every chance they get.

For us who truly care about the poor within and outside the U.S., it’s not about becoming “Latino heavies” pretending to speak for all the 650 million Latinos of our Americas — or for the over 45 million Latinos in the U.S. — it’s about struggling together for real justice for the hardworking “immigrants” whose only “crime” is trying to keep their loved ones alive during these very hard times, here and moreso in their impoverished and oppressed homelands.

All U.S. citizens and others “legally” here should help these poor people, as best we can because it is the right thing to do, and because we are normally in a better position than them to do so within the system of laws, rules and regulations that govern the United States, and its territories and possessions.

Immigrants desperately need our help, and we should not hesitate to give it, pure and simple. The best way to help them is by working together, and that includes CONLAMIC and NALEO now dividing our common cause for no good reason whatsoever.

Come together, CONLAMIC and NALEO, i.e., stop your petty bickering! This is not the type of religious or political leadership La Raza or immigrants need.

Please rise up above this ludicrous religion vs. government division by working together toward a UNITED STAND in the best interests of all immigrants in the U.S., so the Obama Administration can respond accordingly.

ruben botello”

• 6 Months from Census, Coalition to Announce Details of Campaign to Count All Latinos in 2010 – Labor Leaders, Elected Officials, Latino Groups, Spanish Language Media and Faith-Based Organizations Join Forces to Ensure Census Achieves Accurate Count of Second-Largest U.S. Population Group
• New York City Latino Voter Forums Reveal Poor Quality Candidate Outreach
• 1st National Online Chicana and Chicano Conference, Aug. 29
• State Farm Invests in American Dream for Latino Families
• Top Obama Administration Officials to Engage Latino Leaders on Critical Policy Issues in Los Angeles This Week – NALEO Conference June 25-27
• Latino Elected Officials to Meet As Community Shifts Focus From Ballot Box to Public Policy – The NALEO 26th Annual Conference will take place in Los Angeles, California from June 25-27, 2009.
• In a high-stakes battle that could affect California’s share of federal funding and political representation, immigration activists are vowing to combat efforts by a national Latino clergy group to persuade 1 million illegal immigrants to boycott the U.S. Census. – National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders
• Casi uno de cada dos nuevos estadounidenses en 2008 es hispano
• An analysis of OIS data by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund reveals that nearly one out of two (44%) of the nation’s 1,046,539 new U.S. citizens was Latino
• Latinos Pursuing Dream of U.S. Citizenship Help Set Naturalization Record in 2008 – Dramatic increase in Latino naturalized citizens reflects success of ya es hora campaign
• NALEO 26th Annual Conference – new site is live – June 25-27, 2009 in Hollywood, California
• NUEVO PLAN DE AZTLAN: ROADMAP TO PEACE AND JUSTICE THROUGHOUT OUR AMERICAS
• Latino Inaugural Gala 2009 info and tickets
• New Post-Election Survey Provides In-Depth Analysis of Latino Vote – NALEO
• New Mexico’s State Auditor Hector Balderas was appointed to the board of directors for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials during a meeting in Washington, D.C.
• NALEO Congratulates U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra on Election to Vice-Chair of House Democratic Caucus – Yahoo! News
• Latino Vote a New Force in Shaping the Election 2008 Political Map
• Latino Voters Turning Out Strong in Spite of Facing Challenges With the Registration Process
• Unprecedented Latino Voter Turnout Plays Critical Role in Early Outcome of the Presidential Election – MarketWatch
• New Survey Shows Significant Numbers of Latino Voters Still Persuadable in Battleground States