ORLANDO LATINO™ NEWS YOU CAN USE ABOUT ORLANDOS LATINO COMMUNITY 3.25.2014 Parade Is Over But Controversy Lives On And the band played on. María T. Padilla Editor Orlandos Puerto Rican Parade and Festival was held Sunday but some folks have not let it go. In fact, the dispute over the parade, organized by Cuban promoter René Plasencia which outraged some Puerto Rican groups, has reached fever pitch as activists and local Spanish-language radio hosts engage in a war of words and threats. Now, some members of the Puerto Rican community are pushing for listeners of local radion station WPRD-1440 AM to file complaints to the Federal Communications Commission and station owners against show host William Díaz because they disagree with his opinions on the parade. Here is an easy-to-fill-out online form to instantly file your COMPLAINT against Mr. William Diaz and WPRD 1440 AM Radio at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website, wrote Eddie Nieves, a member of activist group Frente Unido 436, on his Facebook page. Difference of Opinion According to the FCC, the complaint has to be of an obscene, profane or indecent nature. This may be difficult to prove, given that there was nothing obscene, profane or indecent about Díazs comments. It is a difference of a opinion between Díaz and others that is protected by the First Amendment Right of Free Speech, which envisioned just this sort of thing. Nieves is trying to launch his own Internet TV show. Should other Hispanics boycott his program? So goes the downward spiral. Some members of the Puerto Rican community ought to pause and reflect on their actions. First, the fight was against Cubans. Now the fight is with Venezuelans, since Díaz is a native of that country. Tomorrow it will be –take your pick– Colombians? Dominicans? Ecuadorians? Peruvians? Panamanians? Costa Ricans? What Its Not About Lets be clear. This is a fight of only a few, not the majority of Puerto Ricans. The fact is, Puerto Ricans are a silent majority in Central Florida, barely voting in sufficient numbers. That needs to change, but for the moment thats the way it is. This fight is not about self determination. Its about who gets to divvy up the proceeds of a Puerto Rican parade. Follow the money. And this fight is not about the highest expression of a culture, as claimed Julio Zayas of Comité Preservación Cultura Puertorriqueña. That accolade belongs to Puerto Rican art, literature, poetry, music and dance to name only a few. Puerto Ricans may be more than 50 percent of the regions Hispanic community but every community needs friends. No community can afford to alienate others. No community can progress on its own in this diverse society. African Americans propelled the 1960s civil rights era, for example, but they also had friends and supporters among nonHispanic whites, Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Hispanic and Hollywood, among others. Clock Is Ticking That a Cuban promoted a Puerto Rican parade is not a crime. However, some Puerto Rican organizations are offended perhaps they should regroup and coordinate a parade through Downtown Orlando in 2015. It wont be easy because most Puerto Rican groups are struggling financially. Fifth Third Bank has placed the headquarters of the Asociación Borinqueña in foreclosure proceedings. (Theres a project for those in search of one, said Luis Ángel Ramos of Boricuas en Deltona, who marched in the parade.) Casa de Puerto Rico is attempting to raise funds. The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, last I heard, doesnt have an executive director. But there are 12 or more months ahead for Puerto Ricans to organize a Puerto Rican parade through Downtown Orlando. And the clock is ticking. Maria T. Padilla at 3:33 PM Share 1 comment: AnonymousMarch 25, 2014 at 3:44 PM Well said Maria. Reply Load more... Links to this post Create a Link › Home View web version About Me Maria T. Padilla Named one of 25 Influential Hispanics in Central Florida in 2014 by Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Award-winning former editor of La Prensa and El Sentinel Spanish-language newspapers in Orlando. I was also senior reporter at the Orlando Sentinel; held various editor positions at The San Juan Star, Puerto Rico, and the Reno Gazette Journal, Nevada. View my complete profile Powered by Blogger orlandolatino.blogspot/2014/03/parade-is-over-but-controversy-lives-on.html?spref=fb&m=1
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 20:47:00 +0000
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