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The future of Israelites and the Palestinians

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David Conde, Senior Consultant for International Programs

On a per capita basis, the HAMAS attack on Israel is even more catastrophic than our 9/11. The 1300 dead and 3400 wounded is a record that can only be surpassed by World War II Jewish deaths.

The Israeli response to the HAMAS attack is just beginning even though there are already some 2400 Palestinians killed and 8700 wounded in the conflict. Like America’s hunt for Bin Laden after 9/11, Israel is bent on entering Gaza and rooting out and degrading HAMAS to such an extent that the terrorist organization will ceased to be a viable vehicle for future violence and bloodshed.

While there is no doubt that the Israeli armed forces are capable of accomplishing their goals in Gaza, there are lingering questions about the unpreparedness of the Israelis for the attack in the first place. Among the most important questions that may have led to that unpreparedness (aside from Netanyahu’s trial for corruption and his effort to diminish the power of the country’s Supreme Court) are the ones that have to do with the autocratic tendencies of the Prime Minister’s regime, the unilateral taking of land from the West Bank Palestinians and creating an internal national political backlash that divided the country.

Notwithstanding the cause of Israel’s unpreparedness for the HAMAS attack, there is an even greater question that needs to be answered. What is the Israeli government going to do after it pacifies Gaza again?

In Exodus, the movie (1960), the protagonist played by Paul Newman offers his Arab friend an invitation to build a country together after independence. If that were the case today, the Palestinian community would outnumber the Jews as they represent 52 percent of the region.

Failing a two-state solution, Israel’s democracy is facing a dilemma. It either helps build a Palestinian nation or absorbs the Palestinians and become a minority in their own country.

Anything else is problematic because what is now being practiced is apartheid. That political condition is incompatible with a democratic nation.

As for the Palestinians, the formula for dominance in the region is unsustainable. Since independence in 1948, the tendency has been to try to rally the Arab states to attack the very existence of Israel rather than seek to coexist through the establishment of sovereign states with borders.

The issue of freedom, human, and civil rights has been achieved in the past by more peaceful means with great success. Mahatma Gandhi was able to gain independence for India and what are now the nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh exercising a policy of nonviolence.

Our own civil rights movements in the United States have yielded excellent results over time. Martin Luther King and his generation, for example, were able to achieve relevance for the Black community following Gandhi’s formula.

Mexican American organizations after World War II and the Chicano Movement later were able to bring back visibility and hope to an oppressed community that had lost everything. Also, with great perseverance, the Latinos stands at the edge of becoming the face of a renewed America.

As for the United States, we must meet a growing challenge in Asia and the Pacific and cannot afford to linger for long in age-old struggles in places like the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The advancement of liberty and democracy has to be shared with others across the world.

For the Palestinian people, the bloody HAMAS brand of behavior cannot be allowed to stand. At the same time, Israel has to rethink its very function as a democracy.

The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.

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DIA announces consolidated rental car facility site location

Denver International Airport (DEN) has announced the site location for the consolidated rental car facility (ConRAC). The rental car companies at DEN have outgrown their current leasehold spaces and need more room to meet Vision 100 and Operation 2045 growth projections to serve 120+ million passengers in the future.

DEN has five rental car brand families on-site (Avis, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz and Sixt), and several others operate off-site. The existing sites have not had significant improvement since DEN opened. The current rental car program uses 12,760 parking spaces. With the influx of passengers, DEN will need 16,130 parking spaces, a 26 percent increase.

Currently at DEN, a customer must take an individual car rental company shuttle to a surface parking lot, where customers are exposed to the elements. A ConRAC provides a one-stop shop for all car rental companies that is covered and more easily accessible for the customers. Additionally, because the facility will have multiple levels, DEN won’t need as much land to accommodate the demand.

DEN evaluated three different sites and has determined the current employee lot located along 78th Avenue, north of Peña Boulevard and east of Jackson Gap, provides DEN with the most benefits for future growth. That lot will be relocated to a nearby location. A major benefit of this location is the potential to extend an Automated People Mover (APM) along 78th Avenue to serve additional public or employee parking, additional transportation modes, as well as commercial development as the current sites are redeveloped.

“Having a ConRAC will provide much-needed room for growth, a better customer experience and a more sustainable program, especially if coupled with a people-moving solution to eliminate rental car shuttles,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “Introducing the ConRAC concept to DEN is a better operational system for managing industry changes.”

Photo courtesy: Denver International Airport

DEN has been working with the rental car industry to update the rental car master plan as the airport is the only airport in the top ten busiest airports in the nation that does not have a consolidated facility for its rental car program. The ConRAC also benefits DEN by eventually releasing the 160-acre “rental car row” along 78th Avenue and the West portion of the Worldport building for other DEN uses.

The updated Rental Car Master Plan addresses the need to provide a convenient car rental solution that will support the airport’s projected Vision 100 passenger levels, reduce DEN’s carbon footprint, and stabilize a significant program contributing to airport non-aeronautical rents and revenues.

Funding for the ConRAC project is supported through user fees paid by customers who rent cars at DEN. In February 2023, DEN increased the Customer Facility Fee (CFC), a fee paid by rental car users and travelers who arrive at the airport. The rate is currently $6 per car per day, the mid-point of the fee charged at large U.S. airports.

DEN is assessing the most effective financing and delivery methods for the project and is working to finalize cost estimates. An industry forum will be held in early 2024 with additional information. This will follow with a Request for Proposals (RFP) or similar process in late 2024.

Our Government

White House

Statement from President Joe Biden on Hate Crime Statistics: “The FBI released their annual statistics on hate crimes. Antisemitic hate crimes rose 25 percent from 2021 to 2022, and Antisemitism accounted for over half of all reported religion-based hate crimes. Anti-LGBTQI+ hate crimes rose 16 percent, and Muslim Americans and African Americans continue to be over- represented among victims. The data is a reminder that hate never goes away, it only hides. Any hate crime is a stain on the soul of America.”

Colorado Governor

Colorado Governor Jared Polis released a statement following a train derailment near Pueblo, Colorado: “I am saddened that a life was lost in this train derailment and send my condolences to his family and loved ones. I have been briefed by CDOT and yesterday I spoke directly to Secretary Buttigieg and BNSF, the operator of the train. Our immediate priority is safely getting the highway open both ways. CDOT Director Shoshana Lew and federal officials are on the ground in Pueblo and I am receiving updates directly from the team onsite and plan to receive an onsite briefing this week once our state debris-clearing work has begun. We cannot begin our work to reopen the highway until the National Transportation Safety Board clears us to proceed and I urged Secretary Buttigieg to allow us to conduct debris removal as soon as possible.”

Denver Mayor

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and Denver Arts & Venues announced today the Dynamic Downtown Denver Grant Program, providing the region with $350,000 in grant funding to enliven downtown neighborhoods. Grant amounts will range from $500 up to $25,000 and will fund events and activations that celebrate the vibrancy, history, arts and culture, and future of our city, powered by the diverse communities that are Denver. “Our goal with the Dynamic Downtown Denver Grant Program is to help activate a vibrant city center and help people remember why they fell in love with downtown in the first place,” said Mayor Mike Johnston.

A Week In Review

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Africa

Dam spills cause thousands to flee

Thousands of people were forced to flee their homes because of major dam spills in Ghana. Homes and farms were destroyed and essential services like water and electricity has been cut off in some areas. Flooding took place in the southeast area of Ghana, and seven injuries have been reported by officials.

Peacekeepers accused of sexual abuse in DR Congo

Peacekeepers from the UN were suspended because of reports of sexual exploitation and abuse. The peacekeepers were working in the Democratic Republic of Congo on behalf of the UN peacekeeping mission in the region. The mission has faced previous accusations of sexual abuse in the past and has more than 14,000 troops in the eastern portion of the country.

Asia

Earthquake strikes Afghanistan again

Afghanistan has been struck by three earthquakes in recent days. The most recent quakes took place over the weekend, affecting several villages. At least 1,000 people have been killed from the tremors, and more than 90 percent of those who were killed were women and children. Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes because it is near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

New report sheds light on North Korean defectors

A new report from South Korea says China has forcibly repatriated a large number of North Koreans. Most of the defectors are women and could face prison, sexual violence, and in some cases, death, if sent back to North Korea. Reports in China read that hundreds of North Koreans were put in trucks and sent from their detention centers to North Korea last week.

Europe

France raises security level

Officials in France put the country on its highest state of counter-terrorism alert. The move was made by France’s prime minister after a knifeman fatally stabbed a teacher and seriously wounded two others. The knifeman shouted “Allahu Akbar,” meaning “God is greatest,” during the attack at a school in northern France. The “attack emergency” level can trigger extra security deployments and public warnings.

Russia Olympic Committee suspended

The International Olympic Committee suspended the Russian Olympic Committee “until further notice.” The Russian Olympic Committee recently recognized regional organizations from four Ukrainian territories illegally annex by Russia since it invaded Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee said the move by the Russia committee was a breach of the Olympic Charter.

Latin America

Hurricane hits Mexico

Hurricane Lidia hit Mexico’s Pacific coast. It was a Category 4 Storm and brought wind speeds of up to 140 mph. In the Mexican state of Nayarit, a man was killed when a tree fell on the van he was driving. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that 6,000 members of the armed forces be deployed to help residents. Every year, hurricanes hit Mexico, and the country’s official hurricane season runs from May to November.

Inmates free hostage prison guards in Paraguay

Inmates at Paraguay’s largest prison have freed several prison guards that they were holding hostage. In total, 22 prison guards were freed after being held hostage for more than 15 hours. They were attacked during a riot that was allegedly sparked by a prison gang called Rotela Clan. The prisoners were previously calling for the country’s justice minister to resign but it is unclear what motivated them to free the prison guards.

North America

Officer found guilty in Elijah McClain death

Randy Roedema, a Colorado officer, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in the death of Elijah McClain. Roedema, along with another officer, were accused of using excessive force and ignoring McClain repeatedly saying, “I can’t breathe.” McClain, who was Black, died when police pinned him down before a medic injected him with ketamine.

Student admits to threatening Congressman

Allan Poller, a 24-year-old college student, has pleaded guilty to threatening to kill Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz. Poller threatened Gaetz in a voicemail saying “If you keep on coming for the gays, we’re gonna strike back… We will kill you if that’s what it takes.” In recent years, lawmakers have faced a rise in harassment and threats.

The unprecedented removal of Speaker of the House

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While Congress may paint itself as a sanctum of camaraderie and tradition, the change of the seasons has seen it abandon the former and radically alter the latter. In the process, it has revealed a festering underbelly of interparty rage.

A gaggle of House Republicans recently lashed out at its leader, unceremoniously dumping him in real time before a national cable audience. But that, if you can believe it, was the ‘kinder, gentler’ part. Choosing a successor to recently deposed Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy holds the potential to become downright ugly.

For the first time in history, a speaker was ousted when eight House colleagues, led by always camera-ready Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, ignited the process. The group could not abide an earlier vote to avoid a government shutdown, a shutdown averted with the help of Democrats.

Wall Street columnist and former presidential speech writer Peggy Noonan compared the move to oust McCarthy to a poorly acted Hollywood comedy. “It’s as if Julius Caesar was stabbed to death at the Forum by the Marx Brothers.”

McCarthy’s firing seemed almost preordained. He was, after all, operating on the thinnest of margins. He was elected Speaker last January only after making a lot of promises to his caucus—one, a poison pill. After a record fifteen votes by his caucus, he was seated.

McCarthy’s poison pill promise was an agreement to pare the number of caucus members needed to begin the process of removing the Speaker—a motion to vacate—to a single vote. Previously five had been required.

“It’s the Republicans eating their own,” said former Colorado Democratic Congressman Ed Perlmutter. The five-term Democratic Congressman said the Republican chaos has not surprised him. Two previous Republican Speakers, Perlmutter said, could never do enough to appease the far right of the party. “If you don’t adhere to their super rightwing principles, you’re gonna have a tough time.”

The September 30th vote on a 45-day continuing resolution to keep the government open passed the House 335-91. The Senate signed off on it a few hours later. But Congress will again be wrestling with the same situation when the continuing resolution expires November 17th.

In order to keep government operating, Democrats had to swallow especially hard on the Republican omission to the CR that would have provided continuing aid to Ukraine. “While we support this measure to end this immediate crisis, we continue our call for additional funding to support Ukraine,” said New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster. Democrats say they’ll look for other ways to keep U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Two names have surfaced to replace McCarthy in the Speaker’s chair, Ohio’s Jim Jordan and Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise. Both come with baggage that may stand in their way of winning the top spot.

Jordan, perhaps the House’s most ardent Trump acolyte—he communicated frequently with Trump on January 6th—ignited the current impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Democrats have rained criticism on the hearings calling them nothing more than a ‘no evidence’ show. Jordan has also been linked to an Ohio State University sexual abuse scandal in which a number of former wrestlers say Jordan, a former coach, knew about it yet did nothing.

Scalise has his own issues. He once bragged that he was “David Duke without the baggage.” Duke once held the rank of Grand Dragon in the KKK. Scalise, who now walks with cane as a result of being shot while preparing to play in a congressional softball game, was also recently diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. He says the disease was caught early and expects a full recovery.

“I was friendly with Jordan and the same with Scalise,” said Perlmutter. “We’ve always been cordial.” But, he said, both may have trouble getting the votes for confirmation. “It’s going to be a 3,4,5 vote difference,” he predicted. In the end, neither may land the job and a dark horse may end up in the Speaker’s chair.

A temporary speaker, North Carolina’s Patrick Henry, will hold the spot until McCarthy’s replacement is named. Interestingly, one of McHenry’s first acts as Speaker Pro-Temp was to evict Nancy Pelosi from her office. McCarthy is thought to have instigated the move and is expected to take residency in the soon-to-be vacant space.

As the congressional soap opera continues, Gaetz, who railed against McCarthy, yet used his camera time to fundraise, may once again play a crucial role. The Florida congressman says he could support either man but, as is the case in these matters, support also means pocketing a few promises. Or pay a price similar to the one McCarthy recently paid.

“Matt is—how do you describe him—a very smart guy… loves to say extreme and outrageous things,” Perlmutter admits. A “direct character who likes to say inflammatory things,” is another descriptive Perlmutter uses to describe his former colleague.

Both Jordan and Scalise need to be prepared for one of Gaetz or the House extreme right members’ attacks if they don’t get what they want from either man. For proof, Perlmutter. said, just ask one of McCarthy’s predecessors, John Boehner. “Boehner quit because he couldn’t take it.”

The historic dumping of the Speaker does not reflect well in polling. One recent poll gauging Congress’ approval with the public showed single-digit approval. Continued internecine squabbling could inch it even closer to the bottom.

This trend may continue with one candidate for the top House job, Scalise, once very publicly comparing himself to a former Klan leader, the other, Jordan, a vital cog in the January 6th insurrection. A vote for the Speaker’s job is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th.

Jessika Aerni via her insurance agency provides financial information to the community

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Hispanic Heritage Series (Part V of V)

Her husband passed away without life insurance, and nobody had ever spoken to Aerni about the importance of the subject. At the time, she was working doing retail consulting and real estate when she got a call about a job in the insurance field.

The person calling her was persistent and spoke with her about the insurance industry before she eventually gave it a try.

Photo courtesy: Jessika Aerni

“When I met him, my first thought was why did nobody talk to me about insurance and protecting ourselves,” said Aerni. “I got into the life insurance part of the business, and I did really well there, mostly within my community. But I became interested in owning my business.”

Today, Aerni operates her own State Farm Insurance Agency and offers services in both English and Spanish. She specializes in a variety of services and offerings including financial planning, IRAs, life insurance, car insurance, and much more. Aerni’s favorite part of her job is educating the community about finances, how to supplement retirement, budgeting, and anything with financials.

“I enjoy most of the financial stuff because it’s just not part of our culture… I love the educational part I provide,” she said.

Aerni grew up in Mexico until she was 10 and a half years old and moved to Houston. Her father was the oldest of 18 children and came to the United States for work and to help financially provide for his family. A graduate of Galena Park High School in Houston, Aerni has lived in Colorado for the past 25 years.

Outside of her business, Aerni has served on several boards including Mi Casa Resource Center, a nonprofit focused on advancing the economic prosperity of the Latino community, and Arrupe Jesuit High School in Denver. She also serves as a mentor to young women through the Latinas First Foundation, an organization that provides a network and support for Latinas to reach their highest potential.

Reflecting on Hispanic Heritage Month, Aerni said the meaning of it means a little of the same to all of us, but a little different to others as well.

“It’s something for me that gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling and a proud feeling to know that even Hispanics who are third or fourth generation, who may not speak Spanish or many not have experienced what I have coming from Mexico, are proud (of who they are). It’s a time to help others and to put the light on people that are the leaders in our community and that are leading by example by serving others.”

You can reach Jessika Aerni’s insurance agency by calling 303-377-5433.

Broncos fall to Hackett and the New York Jets

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“Yesterday, it was really the tale of two halves. Collectively, we did a lot of things well in the first half. We didn’t score like we had hoped, then the second half comes out, we struggle offensively, defensively we give up the big run, and all of a sudden, we’re in one of these close games. Putting four quarters together is obviously one of the things I made a note of this morning,” said Coach Sean Payton about the Bronco’s loss on Sunday in Denver.

The Broncos hosted the Jets on Sunday, which brought back Denver’s ex head coach Nathanial Hackett who serves the role of New York’s offensive coordinator. Coach Sean Payton had some choice words in an interview about Hackett’s short time as Denver’s head coach calling it the worst coaching job in NFL history and the Jets injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers defended his coach and friend.

Going into Sunday’s game it was apparent that Hackett and the Jets took Coach Payton’s words personal because after a an ineffective first half of football, the Jets came out in the second half and out scored the Broncos 23 – 8, beating the Broncos 31 – 21.

The Broncos are on the road this weekend in Kansas City to face the defending NFL Champs and the division-leading Chiefs who have only lost one game, their home opener to the Detroit Lions. The Chiefs beat the Vikings on Sunday.

In other sports the kick off the preseason this week in Phoenix before heading to Chicago to face the Bulls on Thursday. The Nuggets will kick off the regular season at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m.

The Colorado Avalanche will kick off their regular season this week against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas before heading to San Jose on Saturday to face the Sharks. The Avs have the second best odds to bring home the cup with the Hurricanes listed as cup favorites according to Caesars Sportsbook.

The Avs are still without team captain Gabriel Landeskog who is recovering from his third knee surgery in 15 months. Landeskog missed the entire season last year but the team is hopeful for his return sometime right before the start of the 2024 playoffs.

On Tuesday the Avs acquired Carolina Hurricanes defenseman, Caleb Jones and claimed Arizona Coyotes goaltender Ivan Prosvetov off of waivers. Prosvetov has played 13 NHL games over the last few seasons since his debut in 2020.

The CU Buffs avoided a loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils over the weekend after the Sun Devils led CU 17 – 14 heading into the fourth quarter. The Sanders led Buffs were able to put 13 on the board in the fourth to avoid their third loss of the season. The Buffs are at home this Friday to host the Stanford Cardinals. Stanford is coming off a 42-6 loss to the Oregon Ducks over the weekend.

Flora Archuleta, the Valley’s long-time immigration lifeline

Writer Emma Lazurus’ words at the base of the Statue of Liberty, for a long time, were meaningful and emblematic of a nation. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” were the then sentiments of a nation of immigrants. But times change.

An explosion of anti-immigrant Americans now believe they were words for another time. Immigrants, they now believe, especially those crossing our southern border, don’t belong here and need to return to their countries. They blame immigrants for crime, disease, and as ex-president Trump recently said, for ‘poisoning out nation’s blood.’

Photo courtesy: Flora Archuleta Linkedin

But despite the chorus of anti-immigrants, the United States still remains a beacon of hope and sanctuary for a better life. That’s where people like Alamosa’s Flora Archuleta come in.

For more than twenty years, Archuleta has been key in smoothing the path for new arrivals coming to stay in the San Luis Valley or others passing through to other places.

Archuleta is the Executive Director of the San Luis Valley Migrant Resource Center. It’s a place where new arrivals or others who’ve been in the country for years come to when they need help for everything from green card issues to clarifying DACA questions. It’s quick, easy and, perhaps most critical, affordable.

“We do not charge what an attorney might charge,” said Archuleta in a recent phone call. “Some attorneys might charge up to $2,500 (for services). I charge $200. It all depends on the service.”

Some clients come in needing help when dealing with an immediate immigration issue. Others, like a woman Archuleta recently helped, had her purse stolen. It contained her green card, the proof an immigrant is required to have for remaining in the country. A normal fee for replacing a green card would probably have been well beyond the woman’ means.

Other times, people will come to her office because they’ve become victims of domestic violence and need a place to stay, or they’ve become crime victims and are afraid not having the right documents to show immigration officials will result in deportation. Not having the right paperwork can change a life.

Archuleta said that unlike a lot of American cities experiencing a sudden influx of immigrants, Alamosa and the Valley don’t have an immigrant rush. “We don’t have many new arrivals,” she said. “The reason many of them come here is they’re going somewhere else.” They’re also coming to see Archuleta, she said, because “the (Alamosa) ICE office recently closed.” The next closest government office for immigration issues is located in Florence, a three-hour drive from Alamosa.

Archuleta, the Valley’s long-time immigration lifeline, said her office helps “around 2,000” individuals each year. “Some would not be able to survive without us.” In those cases, her office provides food, money for utilities and vouchers for temporary shelter. Utilities can mean the difference between life and death in the Valley where wintertime temperatures can drop to 30 or more degrees below zero.

The immigration advocate said the Valley is also coming up on one of the times each year for immigrants needing a hand. “In December, the holidays, we see a lot more crime victims.”

Because, as Archuleta says, the immigrant population in and around Alamosa is mainly static, she has clients who, when they first met her, now have children coming to the center. They come for everything from applying for college to getting help with school. “We do educational outreach,” said Archuleta. “We also do ESL (English as a Second Language) for adults.” Her office also provides “an after-school tutoring program.”

The people the San Luis Valley Migrant Resource Center helps, said Archuleta, are an essential population in the Valley. Her center not only helps those coming through on their way to other places, but it provides stability for others working in the potato warehouses and other agricultural operations that dot the Valley. “These places would not be able to survive…they rely on them.” Local employers, she said, “know they are dependable and that’s why a lot of them look for them.”

For more information on the San Luis Valley Migrant Resource Center, visit its website at The San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center (slvirc.org) or call 719.587.3225.

Abraham’s children are at war again

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David Conde, Senior Consultant for International Programs

Abraham’s children are at it again. The hatred between Palestinian Arabs and Jews caused by the intractable problem of living in the same land has again boiled over to the point that makes the Holy Land a killing zone.

Abraham is the father of three great religions as the Jewish, Arab and Christian traditions identify him as the progenitor of the one-God formula that unified their belief systems. Abraham is also the progenitor of a family descendance that is characterized as a duality embodied in his two sons Ishmael (the ancestor of the Arabs) and Isaac (the ancestor of the Jews).

This duality has behaved very much like the breaking up of humanity’s original “wholeness” into two pieces that stand as the basis for building all civilizations. The paradox that we use to achieve perspective and order comes from that original unity that broke apart and in time became opposites.

The same kind of situation overtook Abraham’s children. In this case however, there is an added ingredient that has been the source of contention throughout the 4,000 years since Abraham made his appearance. Scripture says that Abraham and Sarah his wife were not able to have children and so they chose for Abraham to have a child with Hagar, their Egyptian slave.

Abraham’s child with Hagar was Ishmael. Ishmael was in fact the first son and in line to have for the exclusive rights and privileges to be awarded to the first born. But then, Sarah finally got pregnant and had Isaac, an event that created complications in the household.

The Bible says that God got involved and elected Isaac as the father of his chosen people. As a result, Hagar and their son were banished to the desert and took with them God’s promise that Ishmael would also be the father of a great nation.

That decision however, broke the unity of Abraham’s family into 2 parts and caused estrangement to the point that the 2 cultures cannot see themselves living together in the same space. On top of that, in 1948, World War II allies helped to establish the State of Israel in Palestine as a Jewish homeland.

Over the years, lot of work has been done to bring the two sides together under a variety of formulas designed to bring peace and prosperity to the region. However, establishing order in that troubled area has been an elusive goal as both sides want the same territory for their own.

The attack on Israel by Hamas and others on one of the Jewish holy weekends, repeats the cycle of violence. That has been a reoccurring theme for 75 years. For Israel, going to war appears to be the only option because much consideration has to be given to geography, size of its national territory and the intentions of other potential enemies in the region.

As in the past, the United States is obliged to support the defense of Israel in this critical moment. That should not mean that we look the other way when it comes to the plight of the Palestinian people. But like with Ukraine, maximum effort needs to be made to support the existence of Israel as well as seek to rescue the hostages that appear to include Americans.

It is ironic that the “land of milk and honey” is an unforgiving killing field. One can say that the grievances that created it go a long way back. Abraham’s children are at war again. That is not a solution.

The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.

Aurora Campus unveils new Unidos mural

Mural along Denver’s 5280 Trail

On Tuesday, the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) unveiled Unidos, a 30’ x 120’ multicultural mural on the Auraria Campus, located at the intersection of Larimer St. and 11th St. The mural is displayed on the east side of the PE Building along the 5280 Trail, which spans from Colfax to Auraria Parkway and links neighborhoods and connects people by reimagining underutilized streets into the essential Downtown experience, uniting urban life with Colorado’s outdoor culture.

The expansive bicentennial mural, Unidos, created by Mexican artist Spaik, is being installed at the heart of the Auraria Campus and commemorates the 200th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States. The installation also coincides with the 130th year of the establishment of the General Consulate of Mexico in Denver. This project will promote the engagement of Auraria’s student communities, mainly -but not limited to- those who are Mexican or of Mexican origin, into arts and Mexican culture and to experience and reflect their duality and “mestizaje” in its making process. This project serves as an additional reminder of the rich history of the Mexican American families that lived, worked, operated businesses, and worshiped on this land before displacement.

“We are thrilled to unveil this vibrant and beautiful mural on our campus,” said Colleen Walker, Chief Executive Officer of the Auraria Higher Education Center. “It is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the student experience and creating a campus environment that fosters creativity, learning, and inclusivity. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the artist and partners who are bringing this concept to life on the Auraria Campus.”

Photo courtesy: Auraria Higher Education Center

“To bring such an impactful representation of Mexican and Mexican American culture to Auraria Campus is tremendous,” said David Gilberto Olguín, Director of Cultural and Community Engagement of the Auraria Higher Education Center. “The mural is a vibrant and exciting addition to our beautiful campus.”

The mural was a collaborative effort between AHEC and The Consulate General of Mexico. Unidos is included in a series of murals dedicated to the community to reconcile Auraria’s history. The series will continue its partnership with History Colorado’s community driven Displaced Aurarian and Indigenous murals.
Source: Aurora Higher Education Center