And to Barbra Armijo I would say that the racial tensions between Hispanos and African Americans is real to some degree or another. I will also say that racial tensions between Hispanos and whites is real also, very real. Probably more so than against African Americans. You have to look at that end too.

And to Sancho Panza I would say that I can trace some of my ancestors to Spain and some to Mexico and some to Zuni Pueblo and some to Tesuque Pueblo and I consider myself an Hispano, Chicano, Mexican American, Sapnish, Mestizo, and American all rolled up into one. Don't get too, too technical with the terms.

“(”Chicano” is a term that refers to individuals of Mexican American descent — and to those who trace their lineage to Spain — who used it to describe themselves during the 1960s and 1970s and is still used by some.)” I'm not sure where this definition was culled from but every Chicano I have know acknowledges mestizaje as the basis of their chicanismo and the fact that they are the decendents of the mixed ethnicity that was born from the spanish conquest as the source for being Chicano. Tracing “their lineage to Spain” has little to do this and was never a source of pride. Tracing heritage back to indigenous roots was a source of pride.

“Add to that the fact that there is a large number of Hispanic veterans in the state” with a total state population of 1,969,915 (as estimated in 2007) there is not a lot of anything in New Mexico that can significantly impact the outcome of this election unless all 2 million people vote the same.

I enjoy reading the information from this website, but objectivity is important. Although this is usually carefully considered in most reporting this is a hot topic so additional care should be taken to not sensationalize it further. Keep up the good work.

As an activist during the 60s and 70s, I saw many examples of Chicano-Black collaboration that had not existed before in New Mexico. For example, at the University of New Mexico, the chicano, black and native-american student groups banded togehter to fight for the creation of ethnic studies centers. The university administration tried to divide us by offering only chicanos an ethnic studies program, but we all held togehter and succeeded in forcing the uniuversity to create all three ethnic centers at the same time. I predict that chicanos over 60 will strongly support Obama because he most clearly represents and articulates the dreams and hopes we have for this country. Ancedotal recollections by my colleague Juan Jose aside, older chicanos are supportting Obama and November's election results will show that, I believe.

As to Cde Baca, let's call what he said by its real name: bigotry. My generation of chicanos struggled to eliminate bigotry in all its forms, and we'll continue to do that at the polls in November.