BRUCE STORES: THE ISTHMUS, Stories of Mexico’s Past

Book Review: THE ISTHMUS, Stories of México’s Past 1495 to 1995,

by Bruce Stores, iUniverse, New York, 2009, 392 pages.

  Mexican history is as tortured and crooked (in both senses of the word) as an ox cart trail–unexpected turns around every corner, replete with bumps and declivities.  The casual reader of general Mexican history will find it difficult keeping up with the list of Mexico’s principal characters over the centuries, now expanding, then suddenly contracting due to assassinations, exiles, military defeats, and alliances gone awry.  Oaxacan writer Bruce Stores solves that problem by employing a simple technique used for millennia by the local indigenous peoples:  storytelling.  His take on historical fiction paints a human, everyday face on the historian’s cold mask of dates, places, and wars.  Structuring his book around key historical events, he asks–and answers–the questions:  How did that feel?  Who was affected? What happened to the community, the families?

             The focus of this book, as its title implies, is the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the bottom of the “scorpion’s tail” of Mexico’s geography.  At its narrowest point, it’s only approximately 125 miles wide, spanning the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific, making the Isthmus an early, much-courted, often-spurned alternative to the Panama Canal.  The region’s remoteness, heat, and lack of picturesque colonial cities or swank beach resorts have kept tourists far away.   And perhaps because of that, and sociological factors as well, the Isthmus has managed to protect its distinct, largely indigenous, culture.

            Based on his research, Stores explains this culture to us over a 500-year period through the pre-Conquest period with its intertribal warfare to Cortes’ arrival, the battles for independence from Spain, and the French Intervention.  In the modern era, his characters fight political battles from Mexico City’s university protests to struggles with the domination of the long-entrenched Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).  A common thread for all the stories is the importance of land to the Zapotec people.  It defines them.

            “’Land ownership in Oaxaca,’ Gomez told the Judge, ‘has different roots. The system of property rights among the pre-Colombian natives was, without a doubt, antagonistic to the Spaniards’ sense of private property. Yet to the indigenous peoples, their communal property holdings were as natural to them as night and day. Because their land was the provider of their food, they considered it to be divine. Yes. Their land was to them a god. And, just as the air and the wind belong to everyone, they couldn’t come to terms with European notions of private property. ‘”

The Isthmus succeeds in elucidating a little-understood region of Mexico.  And its telling of tales brings us closer the fierce human spirit that has withstood—and shaped—its destiny.

The Isthmus may be ordered at any Barnes & Noble bookstore or on-line at http://www.bn.com or  http://www.amazon.com

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Mexico’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec is home to the Binni za, the indigenous natives of the region. Here is found a semi-matriarchal society, an above average acceptance of sexual diversity, an aversion to outsiders bordering on xenophobia, and a highly festive populous who enjoy a unique brand of fiestas throughout the year. But the most noteworthy aspect of these people is their remarkable history.
A reoccurring theme in this 500-year history of Isthmus natives has been their continuous struggle for local control of their land and its resources. Over the centuries the Binni za waged unusually strong resistance against their would-be Aztec, Spanish, French, and Mexican rulers.
The story climaxes in the latter part of the 20th Century when an upstart, and purely local political party, was able to wrench control from the deeply entrenched Institutional Revolutionary Party. As a result, the Isthmus City of Juchitan, became in 1981, Mexico’s first jurisdiction with a leftist government since the revolution.

Bruce Stores

JAGUAR SPEAKS: Oaxaca’s Online Arts, Fashion & Information Magazine

The Jaguar. Photo by Linda Martin

“The Jaguar at Temple.

The Magazine formally known as Zocalo has returned.

Jaguar Speaks

IS

the Online version of Zocalo Magazine .

Quote of the month goes to Warren Beatty

“Women are like a jar of olives. You can eat one, close it up, or you can eat them all.”

We ‘re looking for new prose and poetry by Blu, Gil Colgate, Linda Martin, Alice Johnson, Rodrigo, Parmer Snider, Mary Ellen Sanger < http://morknme6.wordpress. com / secrets-of-a-wooden-saint-in-a-church-in-Jalcomulco / > and photos and links.

There will be a new “on location” fashion and photo section, such as Donna Ryan’s Webblog, where models and photographers can submit portraits and photos. Clothing is permitted but not required. Quality is the first choice. Color or Black and White, no matter. Check out the page Photograhy, what you can publish for the most current opinion on what is legal to post.

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Monday, January 18 – 2 to 4 pm – $500 pesos the series, $130 pesos per lecture

Be sure an attend Mary Randalls  4 Part Lecture Series: A History of Oaxaca

Oaxaca Lending Library
Pino Suarez 519
Given by Mary Randall. Lectures take place January 18, 21, 25 & 28th.

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Mexican prisoners moved for Mel Gibson film

Relatives protested outside the prison about the transfer

About 300 inmates have been transferred from a Mexican prison to make way for a Mel Gibson film, despite protests from their relatives.

Director of the Ignacio Allende prison, Gerardo Duran, said the inmates would be bussed to at least four other jails.

He added that about 1,200 prisoners remained at the facility in the Gulf coast city of Veracruz.

Families demonstrated outside the jail last month saying the move would make visits difficult and expensive.

Prison officials have not ruled out transferring more detainees to Villa Aldama penitentiary 50km (31 miles) away.

Military officers were deployed to keep relatives away from prisoners during the transfer – which took five hours.

The AFP news agency reported that many of the inmates fought with police last week after learning of the move.

It is not known when filming will begin, nor when the prisoners will be returned to the prison.

In early December, Veracruz governor Fidel Herrera Beltran announced Gibson planned to film several scenes of his upcoming feature in the state, including at Ignacio Allende prison, a location he scouted in April.

Gibson also filmed his 2006 Mayan-language film Apocalypto in Veracruz.

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To keep up on just about everything in Oaxaca, first check Ron Mader’s site at <http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html>. If it isn’t there it probably isn’t happening so tell me and I’ll pass it along to Ron. Thanks, The Jaguar.

To see some of the latest in fashion, direct from London, Gemany and Holland this coming month Jaguar Speaks will feature photos of Shelia Finkler taken by The Jaguar. Check out Shelia Finkler’s Gallery.

Luz has started a page with her photos also. Look for Updates In the February Issue of Jaguar Speaks.

Shelia, recently back from the London.

Be sure at catch up with Cathey and David’s Around the World Trip at <http://web.me.com/davidoax/RTW/Blog/Blog.html> which is rich with information and photos of Maui, Fiji 10/15 / 08, Sydney 12/01/08, 12/15/08 Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, Katmandu 02/21/09, Turkey, Greece and Sicily 03/01/09 By Train and boat, USA 04 / 01/09, France 05/01/09, 05/23/09 Amsterdam Train, and Mexico City 05/30/09.

A direct link to The Nation is now at your fingertips: Cut and past in your Direction Box. <http://www.thenation.com/section/booksandarts>.

Check this new site from Art Daily:  Exhibition Illustrates the Depth and Reach of African Culture in Mexico
Art Daily Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:02 PM PST
Tony Gleaton (b. 1948), “The Marriage of Maurillio and Teresa”, Corrallero, Oaxaca. 1990. Archival silver gelatin print. National Museum of Mexican Art Permanent Collection, Museum Purchase Fund.

To read the local news cut directly to The News , click on http://www.thenews.com.mx/home/tnportada_v.asp . Here it is, without walking to the Zocalo and buying The News. To make searching for current events in Oaxaca, the latest happenings, check out Margie Barclay’s Calendar at http://oaxacacalendar.com/

Speaking of news: TIGER WATCH.  Tiger Woods ‘Gave Elin Nordegren $300m For Christmas’

Jan 03 2010. Posted by Adam

• elin nordegren
• tiger woods

TIGER Woods is fast learning that cheating on your wife is a very expensive past time!

According to a report in British tabloid the News of The World, Elin Nordegren — who’s been married to the golfer for more than two years — told pals how she got revenge on her husband when they asked what Tiger had given her for Christmas.

“Three hundred million dollars, thank you very much!” Elin declared, according to the paper.

Former Swedish model Elin — who recently celebrated her 30th birthday and is currently on holiday in France — has now cut all ties with Tiger after sensational revelations linking him to eighteen different women.

AT&T says it will no longer sponsor top golfer Tiger Woods, who announced earlier this month that he would take an indefinite break from the sport.

The company joins Accenture and Gillette in dropping support for the golfer after he admitted to “infidelity” to his wife.

AT&T says it will no longer sponsor top golfer Tiger Woods, who announced earlier this month that he would take an indefinite break from the sport.

The company joins Accenture and Gillette in dropping support for the golfer after he admitted to “infidelity” to his wife.

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Oaxaca Enjoy many sites as well as “Trip Advisor.” Other helpful sites include:

http://oaxacacity.wordpress.com/women-in-red-photos-by al-Goodin /

http://www.tomzap.com/coaxaca.html . Tomzap is MOST EVERYTHING you’ll ever want to know about getting around Oaxaca, Mexico. Check Tomzap for: <Hotels | Restaurants | Cuisine of Oaxaca | Markets and Shops | Tours | Language Schools | Celebrations | Transportation | Points of Interest | Museums | Nearby Communities | Archaeological Sites | Medical | Real Estate | Miscellaneous>.

http://librosparapueblos.com/ . Style = “font-family: Helvetica,”> <span Books For Peoples is putting libraries into the towns and villages of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. We are a small group of Mexican and non-Mexican volunteers who want to share our love of reading with the children who live around us. With the help of our donors we are Providing a service that has never before been available here in the Poorest State of Mexico: libraries for fun. This Is a very worthy cause. Contact them and get involved.

http://www.economia.oaxaca.gob.mx/granvision/clogistico.php . The Grand Project, how the government will remake the Isthmus into Mexico’s version of the Panama Canal. This is an interactive program so “follow the bouncing ball” type thinking is necessary.

http://www.mexconnect.com,  www.mexconnect.com

www.mexconnect.com/mex/travel/astarkman/alebrijes/index1.html.

http://www.oaxaca-travel.com”.  www.oaxaca-travel.com

http://www.go-oaxaca.com/.  www.go-oaxaca.com

http://www.oaxacalive.com/.  www.oaxacalive.com

http://www.allaboutoaxaca.com/. www.allaboutoaxaca.com http://www.oaxacainfo.com/. www.oaxacainfo.com.

http://www.oaxacaoaxaca.com/. < www.oaxacaoaxaca.com>.

http://www.realoaxaca.com/.  www.realoaxaca.com. : Oaxaca, Mexico: An Expatriate Life (Insightful newsletter, Oaxaca information)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g150801-Oaxaca_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast-Vacations.html”. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g150801-Oaxaca_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf_Coast-Vacations. html>.

http://www.peoplesguide.com/, http://www.peoplesguide.com/. (An excellent web site about Mexico and Oaxaca)

http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html. < http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html>.  (Particularly helpful for ecotouris.

<http://www.oaxaca.travel/guia.php?titulo=img/tit/titg001.jpg&texto=txt/guia/guia.txt>.

<http: / / www.oaxaca.travel/guia.php?titulo=img/tit/titg001.jpg&texto=txt/guia/guia.txt>.

Season’s Of My Heart’s Newsletter. Susana Trillings news-letter: http://www.seasonsofmyheart.com/.
ROBERTA CHRISTI’s Website at http://oaxacaculture.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/las-granadas-bed-breakfast- teotitlan-the-valley /

Linda Martin’s painting at The Granada B & B: http://www.lasgranadasoaxaca.com/paintings_and_rugs.html . Linda Martin lives year round in Oaxaca. She came to Oaxaca from the U.S. to escape the drab, cold winters. ” Arriving in Oaxaca in 1999, I was captivated. Having come from the harsh winters of Michigan, South Dakota, Kansas City, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, I was sick of snow drifts, clogged, parking spaces frozen, and trees that lose their leaves for the long winter months. I had tired of Censoring my schemes for migration. I got out my camera and my paint brushes. “

Dear friends of the iohio : Please click on the link below for updated information about the Seveth International Organ and Early Music Festival, Oaxaca, Mexico. If you are interested in participating in any of the events other than the concerts (For which tickets will be available at the door), please let us know as soon as possible. http://iohio.org/festival2009eng.pdf

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