VOCES

Sports Bloopers
I was very disappointed that Eduardo Najera of the Denver Nuggets was not listed as one of Hispanic’s “The 50 Best Latino Athletes” [June/July Annual Sport Issue]. Eduardo is a great basketball player who hustles and makes plays happen when he gets playing time. He deserved a spot on that list. I did enjoy the article on Texas. It is a great state and home of the NBA World Champions, though we’re not all Spurs fans. Go Mavericks!
Virginia R. Carrillo
Alpine, Texas

I believe the picture of the boxer next to Miguel Cotto’s mention on page 58 is not Miguel Angel Cotto or Urbano Antillon for that matter. An explanation in your next issue should address this error and include a picture of Mr. Cotto.
Justino Rodriguez
Via E-Mail

Editor’s Note: As you rightly point out, the boxer pictured on page 58 is Juan Manuel Marquez, who is mentioned on page 60. As for the a picture of Cotto, your wish is our command.

I was especially excited when I received your Annual Sports Issue. I quickly turned to the article “The 50 Best Latino Athletes.” Imagine my disappointment upon reading the article to find not a single horse-racing jockey listed. Horse racing has many excellent Hispanic jockeys. How could you not find at least one to include in your article? Let me help. On June 9, 2007 history was made when a filly (Rags to Riches) won the Belmont Stakes for the first time in 102 years. Guess what? Jockey John Velazquez from Puerto Rico guided this filly to her amazing win. Is that not worthy of the best? Many more examples can be easily found. In future sports issues, I hope this terrible oversight is rectified.
Ricquelle Landis
Topeka, Kansas

I’m a long-time reader and a big fan of your publication. I am writing in regards to “The 50 Best Latino Athletes.” The athlete listing was very informative and entertaining to read, but as a hard-core NBA fan, I noticed you missed out on the very talented NBA star forward, Charlie Villanueva of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Dominican Republic National Team. Charlie Villanueva was a member of the NCAA Champion team in 2004, the seventh draft pick for the NBA in 2005, and made the 2005 NBA All-Rookie first team.
Rob Elias Villanueva
VIA E-MAIL

Just read “The 50 Best Latino Athletes” and I’m just a tad confused on what the definition of a Latino is. We all have roots in Spain, I know that, but are Spaniards Latinos? And can you be a Latino without being from a Latin American country? I know an Irish kid wrote the article but this makes for great water cooler talk. Can you also be Hispanic and not be a Spaniard?
Antonio Moreno
Dallas, Texas

Editor’s Note: There are many different interpretations of what a Latino or a Hispanic is. I believe one of the most commonly accepted is that Hispanic is a language affiliation, which includes all countries where Spanish is spoken—that includes Spain and excludes Brazil—while Latino is a geographical reference to those who come from Latin America. As you rightly point out, that would exclude Spain. Both terms also refer to U.S.-born individuals with Latin American or Spanish-speaking heritage. For our sportsmen selection, besides U.S.-born Hispanics, we included Latin American players who play in U.S. leagues, as well as those who compete in global leagues, such as tennis and boxing.

Texans Talk Back
After reading your “Texas: More Than Meets The Eye” spread in the June-July 2007 issue, I have to say that I was more than annoyed to see that Selena dominated almost half of the very little space that was available for the Corpus Christi article. Yes, Selena was an important figure in Tejano culture, but she does not define Corpus Christi. Coming from someone who lives in Corpus, there are more interesting spots to visit besides a commissioned statue or a Selena Museum. For example, the new addition to the Art Museum of South Texas designed by modernist architect Ricardo Legorreta of Mexico City, the Columbus Ship Replicas, Heritage Park, etc.
John Jimenez
Corpus Christi, Texas

Just a few clarifications regarding “Texas: More Than Meets The Eye.” Under No.10 San Elceario is really San Elizario. Under No. 14 Carlsbad Caverns are in New Mexico, not Texas. Other than that, the magazine is much anticipated every month with the wonderful articles [and] pictures pertaining to us Hispanics.
Charlie Gonzalez
El Paso, Texas

In “Texas: More than Meets the Eye,” there’s just one mention of El Paso. Once you leave El Paso and El Paso County, you have left a very diverse city. Its food is the best next to Mexican food. I invite you to visit El Paso, taste the food, see the mountains and desert. You can’t beat the weather: no tornadoes, no earthquakes, no flooding, no snowstorms. So give us a chance and write more about El Paso. Come visit us and stay a while.
Maria M. Regalado
El Paso, Texas

Managing Editor’s Note: You are right, there is more to El Paso than we were able to fit in. I’m a native Texan and have spent time in El Paso. It’s a diverse city, as you say, and the weather, atmosphere, food and mountain backdrop are all you say they are, and in fact, more.

Celebrating the Diaspora
I just finished reading the June-July 2007 issue of your excellent magazine. The article on “The Puerto Rican Diaspora” with story and photos by Frank Espada was beautiful! Keep up the great work on your inspiring magazine!
Gloria E. Colon, Esq.
New York,
New York

A Word from Our Veterans
I am writing in reference to Arturo Treto Garza’s letter [Casualties of War, April 2007]. I am a proud woman veteran and a native of the Rio Grande Valley, born and raised in Edinburg, Texas.
Recently we had one of our many heroes return from Iraq to be laid to rest. SSG Juan Campos was dishonored greatly by the way his body was transported. When he arrived to the valley area, his body was placed in a government van and then transferred to a proper hearse.
If this can happen with the remains of our heroes, imagine what happens with returning veterans around here.
We only have a Veteran’s Medical Clinic and no hospital. As Mr. Garza mentioned, we have to travel 250 miles to San Antonio just to have certain services. We have many veterans who need services not offered at the local clinic.
For example, I suffer from carpal tunnel and post-surgical scarring on the right side of my neck and shoulder, sustained while on active duty. I need physical therapy, yet the clinic here in McAllen has no services of this type. I am a single mother of a wonderful 7-year-old son and have no support system when it comes to [making these] long haul visits. It takes at least a day away from work, and it does not matter whether you have vacation or sick time when you are in need of the medical service.
What about the support to take care of your children while you take the trip? Do you gamble on the fact that your children have to travel with you and hope and pray they can be by your side while these medical services are being done? Then there is the extra expense you might not necessarily be prepared for to rent a hotel room, gas for the car and food for a trip. It is senseless and totally worth fighting for when we, as Rio Grande Valley veterans, ask and pray for a veteran hospital located here for our ease, comfort and use. When we ask for a full service hospital we mean full service.
Enjoying freedom through our brothers and sisters in arms,
Enriqueta Garner, SGT
U.S. Army Veteran
Edinburg, TeXas

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