home

Having now been here for a week, I have to say, home is a glorious thing. Being home, knowing where home is are truly priceless gifts. That's really all I've got in the way of "deep," meaningful contributions to today. It's good to be where your roots live.

Let's keep praying and struggling for a world that can truly be home for all of Creation in this year to come.

Do you hear what I hear?

Minnesotans are not supposed to admit to disfavor when it comes to A Prairie Home Companion.

One aspect of my Masters inheritance, however, is that I can almost always find some part of a PHC show that annoys me. (Even if that is simply the fact that Garrison Keillor ALWAYS feels the need to "sing" a harmony along with his musical guests.) But at this last Saturday's show, there was a number that was a parody of "Do you hear what I hear?" In the verse between the Shepherd Boy and the Mighty King, their response was snarky and the king's answer to the boy's question of "do you know what I know?" was all about how dumb the little boy was, because he was poor and uneducated.

I know. Simmer down, Masters. Unbundle your undies. I'm not going to unpack that response necessarily. (And I can admit that it wouldn't irritate me nearly as much if it weren't on the show of a pompous, self-important jerk. But I digress.) I'm going to step away from the negative and say (hopefully briefly) why I really like that song, tired as it is.

It is, admittedly, a completely sentimental, syrupy song in a lot of ways. But that third verse gets me every time:

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, "Do you know what I know?

In your palace warm mighty king, do you know what I know?

A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold,

Let us bring Him silver and gold, let us bring Him silver and gold."

The little boy is bold enough to ask the king, of all people, "Do you know what I know?" and then he goes on to tell him, implying that, no, the king in his palace warm does not know. This verse of this song is not THE epitome of my faith. But when I'm about to celebrate the coming of God into our world in the form of a newborn soon-to-be-refugee baby, I damn well better like the idea of a little child having a thing or two to tell a king - and having the spirit and the nerve to make that known!

The Magnificat it is not. The king is still the only one in the song to address others with a command ("Listen to what I say!") rather than a question. He is not a mighty one completely humbled, as Mary's song envisions. But he is a ruler who takes at least this one cue from a child. When was the last time that happened? (And I don't mean rulers acting "like children.") It's not earth-shaking, but it's hell of a thing. It makes me smile every time I imagine that little child asking, "Do you know what I know?" I know I don't, but I want to.

My soul cries out

Today in church we read the Magnificat, Mary's song of joy and hope that the world might be turned upside-down by the wild thing that God was to do through her.

Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

My favorite rendition of this song begins, "My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great!"


But my soul is crying out today in sorrow, too. This blog has marked too many massacre anniversaries. Today is one of those. Thirty years ago today, the US-supported Atlacatl Battalion (the same one that carried out the massacre at Copapayo two years later) entered the area of El Mozote and proceeded to kill more than 750 people. (The Catholic church's human rights presence in El Salvador calculated that number at more than 900.) Tim Muth, of Tim's El Salvador Blog, has been doing a wonderful series this week in the lead-up to the anniversary. I encourage you to go check out all of the entries - each one looks at a different aspect of the massacre. Today, his entry is simply the names and ages of those killed. I want to copy them here as well, because each one - down to the 3-day-old - was a person created in God's image. They deserve to be remembered and respected in this way. So with thanks to Tim, here are the names of our bothers and sisters who were killed thirty years ago:

EL MOZOTE

1. DOMINGO CLAROS, 29, wood cutter
2. CRISTINO AMAYA CLAROS, 9, son of Domingo Claros
3. MARIA DOLORES AMAYA CLAROS, 5, daughter of Domingo Claros
4. MARTA LILIAN CLAROS, 3, daughter of Domingo Claros
5. MARIA ISABEL AMAYA CLAROS, 8 months, daughter of Domingo Claros
6. ISIDRA CLAROS, 60, aunt of Domingo Claros
7. BONIFACIA RODRIGUEZ OR ANASTACIA ARGUETA, 65
8. LEONISIA RODRIGUEZ OR DIONISIA RODRIGUEZ, 27, seamstress daughter of Bonifacia Rodriguez
9. VILMA RODRIGUEZ, 2, daughter of Dionisia Rodriguez and Manuel Alvarenda
10. MARTINA RODRIGUEZ, 35, daughter of Bonifacia Rodriguez and sister of Dionisia and Vilma Rodriguez
11. RUPERTO CHICAS, 40, farmer, hushand of Martina Rodriguez
12. MIRNA CHICAS, 10, daughter of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
13. Child, 6, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
14. CHILD, 4, daughter of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
15. CHILD, 3, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
16. CHILD, 1, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
17. CONCEPCION MARQUEZ, 75
18. JULIA CLAROS, 30, daughter of Concepcion Marquez
19. ALBERTA CLAROS, 18, daughter of Julia Claros
20. CHILD, 1, daughter of Alberta Claros
21. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 11, daughter of Julia Claros
22. CHILD, 7, daughter of Julia Claros
23. ANTOLINA CLAROS, 28
24. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 16, daughter of Antolina Claros
25. Claudio Del Cid, 20, carpenter, companion of Francisca Claros
26. CHILD, 6 months old, daughter of Francisca Claros and Claudio Del Cid
27. MARIA DEL CID, 60, mother of Claudio Del Cid
28. GIRL, 15, daughter of Antolina Claros
29. CHILD, 11, daughter of Antolina Claros
30. OSCAR CLAROS, 7, son of Antolina Claros
31. JESUS CLAROS, 5, daughter of Antolina Claros
32. LEONISIA CLAROS, 25, daughter of Concepcion Marquez and sister of Antolina Claros
33. FABIAN LUNA, 20, day laborer, companion of Leonisia Claros
34. CHILD, 5, daughter of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
35. LUCIO CLAROS, 2 1/2, son of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
36. CHILD, 7 months old, daughter of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
37. Emilia CLAROS, 35, daughter of Concepcion Marquez and sister of Antolina and Francisca Claros
38. MELESIO ARGUETA ALVARENGA, 40, day laborer, husband of Emilia Claros
39. PRISCILIO CLAROS, 7, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
40. GIRL, 18, daughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
41. CHILD, 10 months old, daughter of victim #40 and granddaughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
42. ISABEL ARGUETA, 6, daughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
43. CHILD, 4, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
44. CHILD, 2, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
45. COSME ARGUETA, 45, sister of Melesio Argueta
46. ISRAEL MARQUEZ, 80, merchant
47. PAUIA MARQUEZ, 60, wife of Israel Marquez
48. ELVIRA MARQUEZ Chicas, 34, pregnant at time of death, niece of Israel Marquez
49. SONIA MAKQuEz OR SONIA CHICAS, 5, daughter of Elvira Marquez and Leonardo Marquez Del Cid (victim #51)
50. GIRL, 19, daughter of Israel Marquez
51. LEONARDO MARQUEZ DEL CID, 40, farmer, father of Sonia Marquez (victim #49)
52. BALBINO MARQUEZ DEL CID, 60, farmer, father of Leonardo Marquez
53. FRANCISCA DEL CID, 55, wife of Balbino Marquez
54. ORBELINA MARQUEZ, 45, seamstress, companion of Leonardo Marquez Del Cid
55. BRUNO CLAROS, 50, farmer
56. HORTENSA ROMERO MARQUEZ, 39, wife of Bruno Claros
57. MATILDE PEREIRA, 70, farmer, father of Brullo Claros
58. RODOLFO CLAROS, 15, brother of Bruno Claros
59. CHILD, 5, ward of Bruno Claros
60. BOY, 18, son of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
61. GIRL, 16, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
62. EVA ROMERO, 11, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
63. IRMA ROMERO, 9, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
64. BRUNO CLAROS, 7, son of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
65. HIPOLITA CLAROS, 13, daughter of Domingo Claros (victim #I)
66. MARIA CONCEPCION ROMERO, 44, mother of Hipolita Claros
67. MELESIO Diaz, 65, butcher
68. NORBERTA MARQUEZ, 40, companion of Melesio Diaz
69. MARTIR DIAZ, 14, daughter of Melesio Diaz
70. MOISES CLAROS, 75, day laborer
71. MAN, 90, father of Moises Claros
72. EUGENIA CLAROS, 27, maguey spinner, daughter of Moises Claros
73. DAVID CLAROS, 10, son of Eugenia Claros and grandson of Moises Claros
74. CHILD, 6, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
75. CHILD, 8, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
76. CHILD, 3, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
77. CHILD, 2, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
78. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
79. BENJAMIN ANTONIO CLAROS, 45, son of Moises Claros
80. ANASTACIA MARQUEZ, 40, pregnant at time of death, companion of Benjamin Antonio Claros
81. MATIAS MARQUEZ, 75, carpenter, father of Anastacia Marquez
82. MARIA ARGUETA, 30, companion of Matias Marquez
83. DOLORES MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Matias Marquez
84. LUCIO MARQUEZ, 45, day laborer, companion of Dolores Marquez
85. CHILD, 7, son of Dolores Marquez and Lucio Marquez
86. CHILD, 5, son of Dolores Marquez and Lucio Marquez
87. DOMINGA MARQUEZ, 70, mother of Lucio Marquez
88. CHILD, 5, daughter of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
89. CHILD, 6, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
90. CHILD, 9, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
91. CHILD, 11, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
92. FRANCISCO Claros, 80, day laborer, cousin of Moises Claros (victim #70)
93. ROGELIA DIAZ, 76, wife of Francisco Claros
94. BOY, 16, paralyzed, grandson of Francisco Claros
95. PAULINA MARQUEZ CLAROS or PAULINA CLAROS or PAULINA DIAZ, 60
96. TELESFORO MARQUEZ, 35, deaf and mute, son of Paulina Marquez
97. LORENZO CLAROS OR LORENZO DIAZ, 25, son of Paulina Marquez and brother of Telesforo Marquez
98. EUGENIO VIGIL, 60, farmer
99. AGUSTINA VIGIL, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Eugenio Vigil
100. CHILD, 7, daugllter of Agustina Vigil
101. MARCELINA VIGIL, 22, daughter of Eugenio Vigil
102. DIONISIO MARQUEZ, 20, day laborer, husband of Marcelina Vigil
103. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, 70, day laborer, father of Dionisio Marquez
104. CHILD, 5, son of Dionisio Marquez
105. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Dionisio Marquez
106. MARFA ANSELMA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Miguel Marquez
107. ARIURO GIDIO Chicas, 39, day laborer, companion of Anselma Marquez
108. LUCIA MARQUEZ, 14, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
109. DORA MARQUEZ, 11, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
110. CHILD, 7, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
111. CHILD, 5, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
112. CHILD, 1, son of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
113. GIRL, 18, daughter of Miguel Marquez (victim #103)
114. CHILD, 2 days old, grandson of Miguel Marquez
115. MARTO VIGIL, 75, farmer, brother of Eugenio Vigil (victim #98)
116. PAULA DIAZ, 75, wife of Marto Vigil
117. DOMINGA DIAZ, 30, ward of Marto Vigil
118. CHILD, 5, daughter of Dominga Diaz
1l9. MAGDALENA DIAZ, 60, sister of Paula Diaz
120. GIRL, 19, daughter of Magdalena Diaz
121. GIRL, 16, daughter of Magdalena Diaz
122. CESARIO MArQuEz, 70, farmer
123. CLEMENTINA PEREIRA or CLEMENTINA ARGUETA, 60, wife of Cesario
Marquez
124. GIRL, 15, daughter of Cesario Marquez
125. GIRL, 14, daughter of Cesario Marquez
126. CHILD, 1 l, son of Cesario Marquez
127. HILDA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Cesario Marquez
128. CHILD, 6, daughter of Hiilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
129. CHILD, 4, son of llilda Mar4uez and Felipe Argueta
130. Child, 3, son of Hilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
131. CHILD, 1, daughter of Hilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
132. FILOMENA CLAROS, 50, daughter of Concepcion Marquez (victim #17)
133. CHILD, 11, son of Filomena Claros
134. BOY, 18, day laborer, son of Filomena Claros
135. GIRL, 14, daughter of Filomena Claros
136. CHILD, 7, son of Filomena Claros
137. CHILD, 5, son of Filomena Claros
138. ASCENCI6N MARQUEZ, 39, day laborer, brother of Concepcion Marquez (victim #17)
139. SUSANA CLAROS, 48
140. EUGENIA CLAROS, 30, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Susana Claros and companion of Ascencion Marquez
141. JESUS CLAROS, 10, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
142. ROSITa CLAROS, 5, daughter of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia
Claros
143. CHILD, 7, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
144. CHILD, 3, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
145. CHILD, 2, daughter of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
146. ANDREA DEL CID, 60
147. VICENTA DEL CID, 80, sister of Andrea Del Cid
148. ROSA DEL CID, 20, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Andrea Del Cid
149. EMELY DEL CID, 4, son of Rosa Del Cid
150. MAURICIO DEL CID, 9 months, son of Rosa Del Cid
151. ANGELA DEL CID, 5, daughter of Rosa Del Cid
152. LEONCIO DIAZ, 105, a butcher in his youth
153. LEONCIA MArQuEz, 100, companion of Leoncio Diaz
154. GILBERTO SORTO, 25, farmer
155. FELICITA VIGIL, 20, wife of Gilberto Sorto
156. ANACLETA SORT0, 65, mother of Gilberto Sorto
157. CHILD, 5, son of Gilberto Sorto and Felicita Vigil
158. CHILD, 3, son of Gilberto Sorto and Felicita Vigil
159. MARTINA ARGUETA, 35
160. CHILD, 12, daughter of Martina Argueta
161. CHILD, 9, son of Martina Argueta
162. CHILD, 7, son of Martina Argueta
163. CHILD, 2, daughter of Martina Argueta
164. ONOFRE ARGUETA, 19
165. CHILD, 11, daughter of Onofre Argueta
166. CHILD, 9, son of Onofre Argueta
167. CHILD, 7, son of Onofre Argueta
168. CHILD, 5, daughter of Onofre Argueta
169. CHILD, 3, son of Onofre Argueta
170. GERTRUDIS GUEVARA, 80, day laborer
171. MARCELINA MARQUEZ, 25, companion of Gertrudis Guevara
172. TOMAS MARQUEZ, 5, son of Gertrudis Guevara and Marcelina Marquez
173. CHILD, 3 months old, daughter of Gertrudis Guevara and Marcelina Marquez
174. SEGUNDO CHICAS, 25, day laborer
175. SATURNINA ROMERO, 25, companion of Segundo Chicas
176. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
177. CHILD, 10, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
178. CHILD, 7, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
179. CHILD, 5, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
180. FACUNDO CIIICAS, 25, brother of Segundo Chicas
181. MELDA MARQUEZ CHICAS, 25, wife of Facundo Chicas
182. CHILD, 12, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
183. CHILD, 10, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
184. CHILD, 9, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
185. CHILD, 7, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
186. CHILD, 2, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
187. ANSELMA DE MARQUEZ, 80
188. CHON MARQUEZ, 22, mentally retarded son of Anselma de Marquez
189. DOROTEO N., 60, day laborer
190. FERNANDO GUEVARA, 60, farmer
191. FLORINDA DEL CID DE GUEVARA, 58, an amputee (one leg), wife of Fernando Guevara and sister of Francisca Del Cid (victim #53)
192. MARIA ROMERO, 45, merchant, a widow
193. LUCAS GUEVARA, 35, day laborer
194. ANDRES GUEVARA, 50, day laborer, father of Lucas Guevara
195. RUFINA ROMERO, 35, companion of Lucas Guevara
196. TELMA ROMERO, 12, daughter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
197. ROSITA ROMERO, lo, daughter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
198. CANDELARIA ROMERO, 6, daugllter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
199. JOAQUIN ROMERO, 7, son of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
200. JOSE ROMERO, 6 months, son of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
201. BENITO ROMERO, 3o, day laborer, son of Maria Romero (victim #192)
202. FLORENTINA DEL CID, 25, companion of Benito Romero
203. LUCIA DEL CID, 10, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
204. CAMILO DEL CID, 7, son of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
20f. ROSITA DEL CID, 4, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
206. CHILD, 1, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
207. EDUARDO DIAZ OR EDUARDO CLAROS, 30, day laborer
208. CARMEN CLAROS, 18, companion of Eduardo Claros
209. JUBENCIO DIAZ, 10, son of Eduardo Diaz
210. CLICERIO DIAZ, 3, son of Eduardo Diaz
211. JOSE DIAZ, 5, son of Eduardo Diaz
212. DECIDERIO Diaz OR DECIDERIO CLAROS, 50, farmer, father of Eduardo Diaz
213. MARIA MARQUEZ OR MARIA GUEVARA, 40, companion of Deciderio Diaz
214. SANTOS MARQUEZ OR SANTOS GUEVARA, 20, daughter of Maria Marquez
215. ELADIO ClAROS, 25, day laborer, son of Deciderio Diaz and companion of Santos Marquez
216. DORIS CLAROS, 16, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
217. Child,13, son of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
218. Child, 11, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
219. CHILD, 8, son of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
220. Child, 5, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
221. VIRGINIA CLAROS, 16, sister of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
222. OLAYO ClAROS, 15, day laborer, brother of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
223. MARTINA CLAROS, 15, pregnant at time of death, companion of Olayo Claros
224. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 18, sister of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
225. IGNACIO GUEVARA, 60, farmer
226. PETO DIAZ, 50, farmer
227. ANDREA MARQUEZ, 45, companion of Peto Diaz
228. VICTORIANA DIAZ MARQUEZ, 30, daughter of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
229. LOCADIO DIAZ MARQUEZ, 18, son of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
230. UGENIA DIAZ MARQUEZ, 14, daughter Of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
231. CHILD, 4, son of Victoriana Diaz Marquez
232. CHILD, 1, son of Victoriana Diaz Marquez
233. SALOME MARQUEZ, 25, day laborer
234. MARTA MARQUEZ VIGil, 50
235. MARGARITA MARQUEZ CLAROS, 25, daughter of Marta Marquez
236. LIRIA MARQUEZ, 7, daughter of Margarita Marquez
237. DINORA MARQUEZ, 6, daughter of Margarita Marquez
238. AMPARO MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Margarita Marquez
239. ROSITA MARQUEZ, 2, daughter of Margarita Marquez
240. MIRIAM MARQUEZ, 1, daughter of Margarita Marquez
241. CLEOTILDE MARQUEZ, 60, sister of Marta Marquez
242. COSME DIAZ, 80, day laborer
243. JOSE MARCOS DIAZ, 34, merchant
244. ROSA PEREIRA, 22, wife of Jose Marcos Diaz
245. IRMA YANET DIAZ, 4, daughter of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
246. LORENA PEREIRA, 3, daughter of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
247. AMiLCAR PEREIRA, 2 months, son of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
248. MAURA PEREIRA, 10, student, goddaughter of Jose Marcos Diaz
249. ALEXANDRO DIAZ, 60, merchant, father of Jose Marcos Diaz
250. MARIA MARQUEZ, 50, companion of Alejandro Diaz
251. RAMoN MARQUEZ DIAZ, 18, merchant, son of Alejandro Diaz
252. SANTOS MARQUEZ, 40, farmer
253. AGUSTINA GARCIA, 35, companion of Santos Marquez
254. RENE MARQUEZ, 11, student, son of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
255. EDI MARQUEZ, 5, daughter of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
256. CHILD, 2, daughter of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
257. FELIX DEL CID, 19, day laborer
258. ESTANISLAO CHICAS, 75, blind man
259. ANGELICA MARQUEZ, 45, seamstress, wife of Estanislao Chicas
260. CARLOS CHICAS, 25, blind, son of Estanislao Chicas and Angelica Marquez
261. NARCISA MARQUEZ, 20, companion of Carlos Chicas
262. CHILD, 5, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
263. CHILD, 3, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
264. CHILD, 2, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
265. ANTONIO CHICAS, 15, student, brother of Carlos Chicas and son of Estanislao Chicas
266. HUMBERTO CHICAS, 13, son of Estanislao Chicas and Angelica Marquez
267. ESTANISLAO GUEVARA, 30, day laborer
268. FELIPA DIAZ, 25, companion of Estanislao Guevara
269. CHILD, 8, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
270. CHILD, 7, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
271. CHILD, 6, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
272. NATIVIDAD ARGUETA, 80
273. MARTINA DIAZ, 65, maguey spinner, wife of Natividad Argueta
274. DANIEL ROMERO, 48, farmer
275. FLORENTINA PEREIRA, 42, wife of Daniel Romero
276. ANA MARIA ROMERO, 16, daughter of Daniel Romero and Florentina Pereira
277. JESUS SALvADoR ROMERO, 13, son of Daniel Romero and Florentina Pereira
278. ELMER NicoLAs MARQUEZ, 2, ward of Daniel Romero
279. LEONCIO DIAZ, 60, merchant
280. EDILFONZA DIAZ, 68, wife of Leoncio Diaz
281. JOSE MARIA MARQUEZ, 60, day laborer
282. DONATILA PEREIRA, 45, seamstress, companion of Jose Maria
Marquez
283. SofiA MARQuez, 25, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
284. OSCAR MARQUEZ, 19 son of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
285. CHILD, 7, son of Sofia Marquez
286. CHILD, 3, son of Sofia Marquez
287. CHILD, 2, son of Sofia Marquez
288. EVENOR MARQUEZ, 17, day laborer, son of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
289. MARIA FREDY MARQUEZ, 14, student, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
290. CHILD, 3, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
291. CAYETANo ARGUETA, 60, day laborer
292. MARIA ANGELA GUEVARA, 50, companion of Cayetano Argueta
293. CHILD, 12, student, son of Cayetano Argueta and Maria Angela Guevara
294. CHILD, 10, student, son of Cayetano Argueta and Maria Angela Guevara
295. FLORENCIO ARGUETA DEL CID, 62, day laborer
296. MARIA Valentina ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 30, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
297. AGUSTINA ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 22, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
298. MARIA MARTIR ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 23, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
299. JUAN FRANCISCO ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 10, son of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
300. LUCIO MARQUEZ, 24, day laborer, husband of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez (victim #296)
301. EEVARISTO MARQUEZARGUETA, 8, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
302. ANTONIO MARQUEZARGUETA, 5, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
303. CRISTINO MARQUEZARGUETA, 2, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
304. CELESTINO MARQUEZARGUETA, 1, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
305. TIMOTEO ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 30, day laborer, husband of Agustina Argueta Marquez (victim #297)

306. SANTOS ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 9, student, son of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
307. JESUS ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 6, son of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
308. ISABEL ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
309. SANTOS CLAROS, 30, day laborer, companion of Maria Martir Argueta Marquez (victim #298)
310. ARMANDO ARGUETA CLAROS, 8 months, son of Maria Martir Argueta Marquez and Santos Claros
311. ANTONIO MARQUEZ, 35, day laborer
312. EDUVINA MARQUEZ, 25, sister of Antonio Marquez
313. MONICA DIAZ, 80, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
314. LORENZO CLAROS, 7, grandson of Monica Diaz
315. ROFELIA ORELLANA, 70, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
316. EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, 70, day laborer, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
317. SARA N., 75, companion of Eduardo Hernandez, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
318. LUCITA CHICAS, 35, niece of Israel Marquez (victim #46)
319. EFRIAN RAMOS OR EFRIAN MARQUEZ, 40, merchant, husband of Lucita Chicas
320. CHILD, 2, son of Efrain Ramos
321. Child, 4, son of Efrain Ramos
322. CHILD, 12, son of Efrain Ramos
323. ANTONIA GUEVARA, 35
324. CHILD, 5, son of Antonia Guevara
325. CHILD, lo, student, niece of Antonia Guevara
326. CHILD, 8, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
327. CHILD, 6, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
328. CHILD, 3, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
329. FLORINDA Diaz, 60
330. Neftali MARQUEZ, 40, day laborer, companion of Florinda Diaz
331. CHILD, 7, ward of Florinda Diaz and Neftali Marquez
332. PERFECTO DIAZ, 64, bricklayer
333. ANDREA MARQUEZ, 40, wife of Perfecto Diaz
334. EUGENIA Diaz MARQUEZ, 20, daughter of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
335. CHILD, 3, daughter of Eugenia Diaz Marquez
336. MACARIO DIAZ MARQUEZ, 15, day laborer, son of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
337. VICTORINA Diaz MARQUEZ, 16, daughter of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
338. CHILD, 3, daughter of Victorina Diaz Marquez and Francisco Argueta
339. CHILD, 2, daughter of Victorina Diaz Marquez and Francisco Argueta
34o. JOSE RAUL DIAZ, 14, day laborer, nephew of Perfecto Diaz
341. JOSE CAYERANO ARGUETA, 40, musician
342. MARIA GUEVARA, 30, companion of Jose Cayetano Argueta
343. SALOME ARGUETA, 18, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
344. JOSE ARGUETA, 14, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
345. Child, 12, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
346. LORENZO ARGUETA, 40, day laborer
347. WOMAN, 18, wife of Jose Argueta
348. SALVADOR MARQUEZ, 65, day laborer
349. MEDARDA DIAZ, 60, wife of Salvador Marquez
350. CRISTINA MARQUEZ, 25, daughter of Salvador Marquez and Medarda Diaz
351. BARTOLOME MARQUEZOR Salome Marquez, 40 son of Salvador Marquez and Medarda Diaz
352. RUFINO MARQUEZ, day laborer, son of Bartolome Marquez
353. CLEMENTINA MARQUEZOR PASITA Diaz, 26, wife of Rufino Marquez
354. WALTER MARQUEZ, 3, son of Rufillo Marquez and Clementina Marquez
355. EDITH MARQUEZ, 12, daughter of Rufino Marquez and Clementina Marquez
356. GLORIA MARQUEZ, 10, daughter of Rufino Marquez and Clementina Marquez
357. NORBERTA DIAZ, 60, wife of Eugenio Vigil
358. JOSE MARIA MARQUEZ, l0, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
359. MARIO MARQUEZ, 6, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
360. MAXIMINO MARQUEZ, 4, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
361. VILMA YANET MARQUEZ, 1, daughter of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
362. MARIA SANTOS PEREIRA ARGUETA, 25
363. MIRIAM RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 9, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
364. DOLORES RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 7, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
365. LILiAN ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 6, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
366. NILSON RODRIGUEZ OR HERNAN RODRIGUEZ , 4, son of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
367. EVELIO RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 3, son Of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
368. CHILD, 10 months old, son of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
369. ISABEL ARGUETA, 65, widow
370. MARGARITA REYNA MARQUEZ, 55
LA JOYA

371. MARIA ROMERO MARTINEZ, 25
372. MARIBEL ROMERO, 5, daughter of Maria Romero Martinez
373. LUPITA ROMERO, 3, daughter of Maria Romero Martinez
374. ARNOLDO ROMERO, 6 months old, son of Maria Romero Martinez
375. MARIA HERIBERTA MARTfNEZ, 30, 9 months pregnant at time of death
376. ANASTACIO CHICAS ROMERO, age unknown, day laborer, companion of Maria Heriberta Martinez
377. DORE CHICAS MARTINEZ, 7, son of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
378. NUNCIACIoN CHICAS MARTINEZ, 3, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
379. Justiniano CHICAS MARTINEZ, 8, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
380. PEDRO CHICAS MARTINEZ, 12, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
381. MARINO CHICAS MARTINEZ, 14, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
382. DAVID CHICAS MARTINEZ, 1, son of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
383. FELIPA MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Maria Heriberta Martinez
384. VICENTA TORRES, 30
385. DORA TORRES MARTINEZ, 3, daughter of Vicenta Torres
386. CHILD, several months old, daughter of Vicenta Torres
387. CHILD, several months old, daughter of Vicenta Torres
388. VICTORINA CHICAS, 35, maguey spinner
389. LUCRECIA CHICAS, 5, daughter of Victorina Chicas
390. PETRONA CHICAS OR PETRONILA CHICAS, 40
391. CATALINA CHICAS, 8, daughter of Petrona Chicas
392. JUSTINA GUEVARA or JUSTINIANA GUEVARA, 50, maguey spinner
393. JACINTA GUEVARA or JACINTA Diaz, 25, maguey spinner, daughter of Justina Guevara
394. MARIA GUEVARA OR MARIA Diaz, 5, daughter of Jacinta Diaz and granddaughter of Justina Guevara
395. ROQUE GUEVARA OR ROQUE Diaz, 4, son of Jacinta Diaz and grandson of Justina Guevara
396. AMBROSIO GUEVARA, 1, son of Jacinta Diaz and grandson of Justina Guevara
397. JOSEFINA GUEVARA or JOSEFINA HERNANDEZ, 50
398. HILARIA HERNANDEZ, 45, sister of Josefina Hernandez
399. LORENZO VIGIL, 40, day laborer
400. AMINTA VIGIL ARGUETA, 19, daughter of Lorenzo Vigil
401. PEDRITO VIGIL ARGUETA, 10, son of Lorenzo Vigil
402. JOSE WILFREDO VIGIL, 2, son of Aminta Vigil Argueta and grandson of Lorenzo Vigil
403. CHILD, 3, son of Aminta Vigil Argueta and grandson of Lorenzo Vigil
404. MATEA VIGIL, 60, aunt of Lorenzo Vigil
405. CONCEPCION VIGIL, 40, day laborer and maguey spinner, son of Matea Vigil
406. EUGENIA MARTINEZ, 25, companion of Concepcion Vigil
407. LEONARDA MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Eugenia Martinez
408. MARIA MARTINEZ, 6, daughter of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
409. FEDERICO MARTINEZ, 4, son of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
410. CHILD, 6 months old, daughter of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
411. MARIA ARGUETA, 30, sister of Eugenia Martinez
412. CHILD, age unknown, son of Maria Argueta
413. CHILD, age unknown, son of Maria Argueta
414. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Maria Argueta
415. AQUILINO DIAZ OR AQUILINO SAENZ, 35, day laborer
416. FRANCISCA CHAVARRiA, 40, companion of Aquilino Diaz
417. SANTOS CHAVARRiA, 9, son of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
418. JOSE CHAVARRiA, 8, son of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
419. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
420. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
421. ESTANISLAO DIAZ, 65, farmer, father of Aquilino Diaz
422. TOMASA MARTINEZ, 70, wife of Estanislao Diaz and mother of Aquilino Diaz
423. DOMINGA CHAVARRiA, 20
424. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
425. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
426. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
427. SEBASTIANA RAMOS, 35
428. PETRONA CHAVARRiA, 50, aunt of Francisca Chavarria (victim #416)
429. TOMASA CHAVARRiA, age unknown, mother of Francisca Chavarria (victim #416)
430. SANTOS CHAVARRiA, 55, brother of Tomasa Chavarria, maguey spinner
431. FAUSTINA CHAVARRiA LUNA, 15, daughter of Santos Chavarria
432. EUSTAQUIA ChavarriaLUNA, 1l, daughter of Santos Chavarria
433. SANTOS ChavarriaLUNA, 5, daughter of Santos Chavarria
434. CHILD, 1, daughter of Santos Chavarria
435. REGINO Chavarria, 65, brother of Santos Chavarria
436. Otilia Hernandez, 30, daugllter of Regino Chavarria
437. JOSE ROSARIO PeREZ, 20, day laborer and maguey spinner, companion of Otilia Hernandez
438. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia Hernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
439. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia llernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
440. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia l-lernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
441. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia Hernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
442. MARCIAL PEREZ, 15, maguey spinner, hrother of Jose Rosario Perez
443. AGAPITO LUNA, 23, farmer
444. INES MARTINEZ, 45, day laborer
445. MARGARITA MARTINEZ OR MARGARITA ROMERO, 40, wife of Ines Martinez
446. CRISIINA MARTINEZ, 23, daughter of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
447. CRISTINITA MARTINEZ, 9 months old, daughter of Cristina Martinez
448. CHILD, 6, son of Cristina Martinez
449. FACUNDA ROMERO, 25, daughter of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
450. MARTA ROMERO, 10, daughter of Facunda Romero
451. CHILD, 8, son of Facunda Romero
452. CHILD, 6, son of Facunda Romero
453. MAN, 22, day laborer, son of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
454. BOY, 19, day laborer, son of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
455. JACINTO SANCHEZ, 80, day laborer
456. AMELIA SANCHEZ, 95, sister of Jacinto Sanchez
457. DOMINGA SANCHEZ, 30, daughter of Jacinto Sanchez
458. MELA SANCHEZ OR ANGELICA SANCHEZ, 14, daughter of Dominga Sanchez
459. JUANCITO SANCHEZ, 10, student, son of Dominga Sanchez
460. SANTOS SANCHEZ OR SANTOS ARGUETA DE SANCHEZ, 35, wife of Jose Sanchez
461. FIGENIA SANCHEZ, 13, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
462. IRMA SANCHEZ, 6, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
463. MARIANA SANCHEZ, 4, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
464. ESPENTACION SANCHEZ OR PETIO SANCHEZ, 2, son of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
465. JACINTO SANCHEZ, 3, son of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
466. CONCEPCION SANCHEZ, 3 days old, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
467. REYNELDA LOPEZ OR REYNELDA ELIZABETH LoPEZ, 32
468. ARNOLDO LOPEZ, 10, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
469. EDGAR MARIN LOPEZ, 8, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
470. JOAQUIN LOPEZ, 6, daughter of Keynelda Lopez
471. HERIBERTO LOPEZ, 4, daughter of lteyllelda Lopez
472. JOSE DORE LOPEZ, 2, daughter of Keynelda Lopez
473. JOSE CLEOFAS LOPEZ, 8 months old, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
474. FRANCISCA GoMEZ OR FRANCISCA SANCHEZ, 75, wife of Ismael Lopez
475. PRISCILA Lopez, 22, daughter of Ismael Lopez
476. CHILD, 7 months old, daughter of Priscila Lopez
477. MARIA INES MARTINEZ, 34
478. JESUS MARTINEZ, 8, son of Maria Ines Martinez
479. TEODORO MARTINEZ, 5, son of Maria Ines Martinez
480. MAXIMA MARTINEZ, 50, daughter of Maria Ines Martinez
481. CHILD, 4, son of Maria Ines Martinez
482. GREGORIA MARTINEZ, 24, cousin of Maria Ines Martinez
483. BERNARDA MARTINEZ OR CECILIA MARTINEZ, 12, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
484. ESTHER MARTINEZ, 9, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
485. CHILD, 5, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
486. CHILD, 3, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
487. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
488. TEODORA RAMIREZ, 45
489. TRANSITO RAMIREZ, 22
490. RODOLFO RAMIREZ, 8, son of Transito Ramirez
491. FLORITA RAMIREZ, 3, daughter of Transito Ramirez
492. CECILIA RAMIREZ, 85, aunt of Transito Ramirez
493. ALEJANDRA ROMERO, 75
494. CRISTINA GUEVARA, 25
495. CHILD, 3 months old, son of Cristina Guevara
496. SILVERIA MEJIA ROMERO, 25, maguey spinner
497. JESUS MEJIA CHICAS, 10, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
498. MARIA MARTA MEJIA CHICAS, 8, daughter of Silveria Mejia Romero
499. JUANITA MEJIA CHICAS, 6, daughter of Silveria Mejia Romero
500. JOSe LUCAS MEJIA CHICAS, 3 son of Silveria Mejia Romero
501. CHILD, 2, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
502. CHILD, 3 months old, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
503. MARIA MARCOS REYES, 20
504. JOSE FRANCISCO REYES LUNA, 5, son of Maria Marcos Reyes
505. MARIA NELY REYES LUNA, 3, daughter of Maria Marcos Reyes
506. EVARISTO REYES LUNA, 6 months old, son of Maria Marcos Reyes
507. PRESENTACION MARQUEZ, 41, day laborer
508. MARIA MARTIR MARQUEZ, 38, wife of Presentacion Marquez
509. GIRL, 14, daughter of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
510. CHILD, 11, daughter of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
511. CHILD, 9, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
512. CHILD, 7, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
513. CHILD, 4, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
514. VICENTA MARQUEZ, 80, widow
515. ENEMESIO RODRiGUEZ OR ENEMESIO GUEVARA, 38, day laborer
516. DONATILA CHICAS or DOMITILA ORELLANA, 30, pregnant at time of death, companion of Enemesio Rodriguez
517. CHILD, 7, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
518. CHILD, 5, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
519. CHILD, 1, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
520. CATARINO RODRIGUEZ or CATARINO GUEVARA, 70, day laborer, father of Enemesio Rodriguez
521. NARCISA MARQUEZ, 68, wife of Catarino Rodriguez
522. MAXIMO RODRIGUEZ, 40, day laborer, son of Catarino Rodriguez and Narcisa Marquez
523. LEONARDA MARQUEZ, 40, wife of Maximo Rodriguez
524. ELENA RODRiGUEZ, 16, daughter of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
525. HERMINIO RODRIGUEZ, 14, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
526. CAMARO RODRiGUEZ, 12, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
527. CHILD, 6, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
528. CHILD, 4, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
529. FELIX RODRiGUEZ, 30, daughter of Catarino Rodriguez and Narcisa Marquez
530. CHILD, 10, daughter of Felix Rodriguez
531. CHILD, 8, son of Felix Rodriguez
532. CHILD, 6, daughter of Felix Rodriguez
533. CHILD, 4, son of Felix Rodriguez
534. PEDRO ARGUETA, 40, day laborer
535. PEDRO ARGUETA, 35, day laborer, brother of Pedro Argueta
536. JULIA DEl CId, 18, pregnant at time of death
537. HUMBERTO Chicas, 19, day laborer, companion of Julia Del Cid
538. CHILD, 2, son of Julia Del Cid and Humberto Chicas
539. VICENTE MARQUEZ, 60, day laborer
540. SERVANDA MAsQuEz, 28, daughter of Vicente Marquez
541. SERGIO MARQUEZ or SERSIDO MARQUEZ, 25, day laborer, son of Vicente Marquez
542. CHILD, 7, son of Servanda Marquez
543. CHILD, 3, son of Servanda Marquez
544. MONCIIO MARQUEZ, 15, day laborer, husband of Mercedes Pereira, who was killed in Los Toriles
545. TERESA ARGUETA or TERESA RodriGUEZ, 22
546. PEDRO CHICAS, 27, farmer, husband of Teresa Argueta
547. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
548. Child, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
549. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
550. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
551. CHILD, 4, daughter of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
552. CARLOS CLAROS, 25, day laborer
553. LUCAS CHICAS, 20, companion of Carlos Claros
554. RUMALDO MARQUEZ, 30, day laborer
555. MELIDA CHICAS, 24, wife of Rumaldo Marquez
556. CHILD, 8 days old, son of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
557. CHILD, 2, son of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
558. CHILD, 1 l, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
559. CHILD, 8, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
560. CHILD, 6, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas


LOS TORILES

561. NARCISO ARGUETA, 80, farmer, father of Felipe Argueta (killed in El Mozote)
562. ABILIO VIGIl, 43, farmer
563. SATURNINA ARGUETA, 45, companion of Abilio Vigil
564. ESTANISLAO ALVARENGA OR ESTANISI.AO ARGUETA, 60, father of Abilio Vigil
565. JUSTINIANA N., 50, companion of Estanislao Alvarenga
566. SEFERINA VIGII. OR SEFERINA ARGUETA, 15, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
567. FRANCISCO ARGUETA, 13, son of Abilio Vigil and Saturnilla Argueta
568. MARIA ANTONIA ARGUETA, 11, daugilter of Abilio Vigil and Saturilina Argueta
569. MERCEDES ARGuEtA, 9, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
570. MARIA SANTOS ARGUETA, 7, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
571. CHILD, 5, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
572. CHILD, 3, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
573. CHILD, 1, daughtcr of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
574. MANUEL ALVARENGA OR MANUEI. SAN10S PEREIRA ARGUETA, 30, day laborer, companion of Adonisia Rodriguez (killed in ElMozote)
575. FLORENTINA PEREIRA, 70, mother of Manuel Santos Argueta
576. PETRONA MARQUEZ, 39
577. HERMINIO MARQUEZ, 41, day laborer, companion of Petrona Marquez
578. MARIA ZOILA MARQUEZ, 17, day laborer, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
579. MARIA CARMEN MARQUEZ, 15, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
580. JOSE SANTOS MARQUEZ, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
581. MARIA JUANA MARQUEZ, 8, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
582. JUAN MARQUEZ, 5, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
583. NICOLASA MARQUEZ, 17 months old, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
584. CHILD, 8 days old, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
585. CRESCENCIO ARGUETA, 80, day laborer, stepfather of Orbelina Marquez (victim #54, killed in El Mozote)
586. GIRL, 14, daughter of Crescencio Argueta
587. CHILD, 12, daughter of Gescencio Argueta
588. CHILD, 8, son of Crescencio Argueta
589. NATALIA GUEVARA, 45
590. ROSA CANDIDA PEREIRA, 14, daughter of Natalia Guevara
591. JOSE MARIO PEREIRA, 10, son of Natalia Guevaril
592. SIMEONA VIGIL, 90, mother-in-law of Natalia Guevara
593. BERTOLDINO PERIERA, 70, farmer, son of Simeona Vigil
594. MARIA MARQUEZ, 65, wife of Bertoldino Pereira
595. INES PEREIRA MARQUEZ, 18, day laborer, son or Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Mstirquez
596. CARMEN MARQUEZ, 17, compallioll of Illes Pereira M'lrquez
597. Jose IGNACIO PEREIRA, 25, farmer, son of Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Marquez
598. MERCEDES PEREIRA, 16, daughter of Bertoldillo Pereira and Maria Marquez
599. JESUS PEREIRA, 13, son of Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Marquez
600. JUAN ANGEL PEREIRA, 55, day laborer, son of Simeona Vigil
601. Marto ROMERO, 10, granddaughter of Simeon Vigil
602. MARTO Vigil, 25, day laborer
603. GUILLERMA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, wife of Marto Vigil
604. JOSE VIGIL, 8, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
605. MARIA VIGIL, 7, daughter of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
606. ANGEL VIGIL MARQUEZ, 6, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
607. CHILD, 4, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
608. CHILD, 2, daughter of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
609. LUIS VIGIL, 50, day laborer, uncle of Marto Vigil
610. JOSE VIGIL, 30, farmer, cousin of Marto Vigil
611. BERNARDA MARQUEZ, 25, wife of Jose Vigil
612. CHILD, 7, son of Jose Vigil and Bernarda Marquez
613. CHILD, 5, son of Jose Vigil and Bemarda Marquez
614. CHILD, 1, son of Jose Vigil and Bemarda Marquez
615. AGUSTINA MARQUEZ, 46, mother of Bernarda Marquez
616. JOSE DANILO MARQUEZ, 35, farmer
617. MARTA CHICAS, 30, wife of Danilo Marquez
618. JOSE MARQUEZ, 10, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
619. CHILD, 8, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
620. CHILD, 12, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
621. CHILD, 5, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
622. CHILD, 1, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
JOCOTE ARMIRILLO

623. CELESTINA VIGIL, 50, killed in El Mozote with her children, mother of Florentina Del Cid
624. FLORENTINA DEL CID VIGIL, 30, pregnant at time of death
625. CAMILO DEL CID, 12, son of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
626. JAZMiN DEL CID, 8, son of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
627. CHILD, 3, daughter of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
628. GENOVEVA DIAZ, 60
629. MODESTA N., 40
630. CHILD, 2 months old, son of Modesta N.
631. CHILD, 9, daughter of Modesta N.
632. CIIILD, 6, daughter of Modesta N.
633. LORENZA MARQUEZ, 40
634. BENEDICTO MARQUEZ, 9, son of Lorenza Marquez
635. MODESTO MARQUEZ, 6, son of Lorenza Marquez
636. MARIA BERNAI.DA MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Lorenza Marquez
637. MARIA ARGUETA, 35
638. SANTOS HERNANDEZ, 12, student, son of Maria Argueta
639. CHILD, 10 months old, son of Maria Argueta


CERRO PANDO

640. SATURNINA DIAZ, 22
641. EUSEBIA DIAZ, 10, daughter of Saturnina Diaz
642. ESTELA DIAZ, 2, niece of Saturnina Diaz
643. CHILD, 20 days old, daughter of Saturnina Diaz
644. ANTOLIN DIAZ, 22, maguey spinner
645. TOMASA ARGUETA, 20, companion of Antolin Diaz
646. CHILD, 3, son of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
647. CHILD, 2, son of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
648. CHILD, 15 days old, daughter of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
649. JUAN CHICAS, 29, maguey spinner
650. CIRIACA ARGUETA, 30, companion of Juan Chicas
651. LUCIANO CHICOS ARGUETA, 15, maguey spinner, son of Juan Chicas
652. GERVASIO CHICAS ARGUETA, 12, maguey spinner, son of Juan Chicas
653. TRANSITO CHICAS ARGUEtA, 9, son of Juan Chicas
654. NICOLASA CHICAS ARGUETA, 6, daughter of Juan Chicas
655. DIONISIO ARGUETA OR LEONISIO ArgUETA, 32, maguey spinner
656. FELIX PORTILLO or FELIX DIAZ, 29, companion of Dionisio
Argueta
657. CHILD, 10, daughter of Dionisio Argueta and Felix Portillo
658. CHILD, 7, daughter of Dionisio Argueta and Felix Portillo
659. REGINO ARGUETA, 40, maguey spinner, hrother of Dionisio
Argueta
660. MARTIR PORTILLO, 35, wife of Regino Argueta
661. MATILDE ARGUETA PORTILLO, 16, day laborer, son of Regino Argueta and Martir Portillo
662. FILIBERTA CHICAS, 16, companion of Matilde Argueta
663. GERARDO ARGUETA, 29, maguey spinner
664. JUANA ARGUETA, 24, companion of Gerardo Argueta
665. CHILD, 9, daughter of Gerardo Argueta and Juana Argueta
666. MIGUEL ARGUETA, 25, maguey spinner
667. DOMINGA ARGUETA, 22, companion of Miguel Argueta
668. CHILD, 5, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
669. CHILD, 3, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
670. CHILD, 2, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
671. CATARINO ARGUETA, 65, maguey spinner, fatiler of Ciriaca Argueta (victim #650)
672. FRANCISCA ARGUETA, 70, wife of Catarino Argueta
673. TIMOTEO ARGUeTA, 28, artisan, son of Catarino Argueta and Francisca Argueta
674. ROMANA PEREIRA, 28, companion of Timoteo Argueta
675. GIRL, 1s, daughter of Timoteo Argueta and Romana Pereira
676. CHILD, 8, son of Timoteo Argueta and Komana Pereira
677. CHILD, 5, son of Timoteo Argueta and Romana Pereira
678. JORGEN ARGUETA, 80, mother of Dionisio Argueta (victim #655)
679. GENARO ARGUETA, 82, farmer, companion of Jorgen Argueta
680. EDILFONZO ARGUETA, 51, farmer, son of Jorgen Argueta and
Genaro Argueta
681. LOLA MARTINEZ, 20
682. CHILD, 8, daughter of Lola Martinez
683. LUCIO ARGUETA, 24, day laborer, son of Catarino Argueta (victim #671) and Francisca Argueta (victim #672)
684. WOMAN, 22, companion of Lucio Argueta
685. CHILD, 3, son of Lucio Argueta
686. CHILD, 2, son of Lucio Argueta
687. JUSTO MARTINEZ, 45, locksmith
688. ANGELA ARGUETA, 33, wife of Justo Martinez
689. TOMAS MARTINEZ ARGUETA, 20, son of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
690. DIONISIA MARTINEZ, 18, companion of Tomas Martinez Argueta
691. Child, 2 months old, son of Tomas Martinez Argueta and Dionisia
Martinez
692. ESTEBAN MARTINEZ ARGUETA, 16, son of Justo Martillez and Angela Argueta
693. BOY, 14, son of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
694. CHILD, 12, daughter of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
695. CHILD, 9, daughter of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
696. MAXIMO ARGUETA, 30, maguey spinner, son of Catarino Argueta (victim #671)
697. HERIBERTA RAMOS, 28, companion of Maximo Argueta
698. BoY, 15, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
699. Boy, 13, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
700. CHILD, 10, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
701. CHILD, 8, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
702. MATEO LoPEZ, 55, maguey spinner
703. AGUSTINA MARTINEZ, 30, wife of Mateo Lopez
704. GIRl, 15, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
705. CHILD, 12, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
706. CHILD, 9, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
707. CHILD, 6, son of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
708. VITOR MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Agustina Martinez
709. JESUS LUNA, 78, day laborer, companion of Vitor Martinez
710. CATARINO MARTINEZ, 26, maguey spinner, son of Vitor Martinez
711. FERMINA CHICAS, 24, companion of Catarino Martinez
712. CHILD, 10, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
713. CHILD, 7, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
714. CHILD, 5, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
715. MARTiN MARTINEZ, 32, maguey spinner, brother of Catarino Martinez
716. FERMINA ARGUETA, 29, companion of Martin Martinez
717. CHILD, 10, daughter of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
718. CHILD, 7, daughter of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
719. CHILD, 5, son of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
720. PABLO CHICAS, 28, maguey spinner
721. DIONISIA ARGUETA OR LEONISIA MEjiA, 24, companion of Pablo Chicas
722. GIRL, 13, daughter of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
723. ANDRES CHICAS ARGUETA, 11, son of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
724. CHILD, 9, daughter of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
725. CHILD, 6, son of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
726. NASARIA ARGUETA, 70, mother of Diollisia Argueta
727. RAFAEL ARGUETA MEJiA, 27, maguey spiniler, son of Nasaria Argueta
728. LEONCIA ARGUETA, 24, companion of Rafael Argueta Mejia
729. CHILD, 5, son of Rafael Argueta Mejia and Leoncia Argueta
73o CHILD, 2, daughter of Rafael Argueta Mejia and Leoncia Argueta
731. TIBURCIO MEJIA, 35, day laborer, son of Nasaria Argueta
732. ELOISA PORTILLO or ARCADIA PORTILLO, 30, companion of Tiburcio Mejia
733. MARIA MEJIA, 29, daughter of Nasaria Argueta
734. ANDRES FLORES, 48, day laborer, companion of Maria Mejia
735. COLASTICO MEJIA, 40, maguey spinner, cousin of Maria Mejia
736. BRUNA ARGUETA, 42, companion of Colastico Mejia and daughter of Jorgen Argueta (victim #678) and Genaro Argueta (victim #679)
737. GIRL, 15, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
738. CHILD, 12, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
739. CHILD, 9, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
740. SINFOROSO PEREIRA, 30, day laborer
741. EUGENIA DIAZ, 28, companion of Sinforoso Pereira
742. CHILD, 8, son of Sinforoso Pereira and Eugenia Diaz
743. MARIA RAMOS, 75, widow
744. PATRICIA ARGUETA, 75, artisan
745. MIGUEL ARGUETA, 58, farmer
746. EDILFONZA ARGUETA, 48, companion of Edilfonzo Argueta (victim #680)
747. AURELIA RAMIREZ, 70
748. SUSANA RAMIREZ, 32, daughter of Aurelia Ramirez
749. ENEMESIA LUNA, 75, widow

751. CONCEPCION PORTILLO, 35, bricklayer
752. DOMINGA PORTILLO, 28, seamstress, wife of Concepcion Portillo


JOATECA


753. MAXIMO PEREZ, 28, catechist
754. BENEDICTO PEREZ, 10, son of Maximo Perez
755. ESTANISLASA PEREZ, 8, daughter of Maximo Perez
756. ROMULO PEREZ, 4, son of Maximo Perez
757 AGUSTINA PEREZ, 23
758. CHILD, 3 days old, daughter of Agustina Perez
759. CRESCENCIA PEREZ, 18, sister of Maximo Perez
760. CARLOS ORTIZ, 48, day laborer
761. TERESO DE JESUS LUNA, 14, day laborer, deaf and mute
762. NATIVIDAD LUNA, 18, cousin of Tereso de Jesus Luna
763. OCTAVIANA LUNA, 8 months old, daughter of Natividad Luna
764. JULIA N., 12
765. WOMAN, 50
766. GIRL, 15, daughter of victim #765
767. GIRL, 13, daughter of victim #765


[Señor, ten piedad. Cristo, ten piedad. Señor, ten piedad.]

Waiting and hoping and...

In Spanish, to wait, to hope, and to expect are all bundled up in the same verb: esperar. In the church year, waiting, hoping, and expectation are bundled up in one season: Advent. I found a lovely Advent calendar online. I won't describe it - you have to go check it out.

This Thursday (December 1) is World AIDS Day. It's been thirty years since AIDS first reared its head on this planet and it hasn't taken a break or even slowed down since. The primary project of my job here in Detroit is building an HIV prevention program through the congregation I work in. Tomorrow night we will hold the Detroit World AIDS Day Commemoration at a local seminary.

One thing I've learned and run into a lot is the idea that my generation is desensitized to the real catastrophe that is HIV. We have never known a world without it; the first effective antiretroviral cocktails came out when we were in grade school. It's not a death sentence anymore. And in a lot of ways, that has lowered the stigma - in some arenas. And yet the stigma is still SO strong in other arenas that people are afraid even to talk about getting tested, much less enter into further conversation.

I got tested a couple weeks ago. It seemed like a thing I ought to do, given that a part of my job is stressing the importance of testing. It took fifteen minutes and a prick that I didn't even feel - and it was free! (The sheet with my result - negative - hung on the fridge for several days. :) And the great leaps that have been made in the realm of testing and prevention are a huge deal. You used to have to wait weeks, worrying, as your blood was shipped every which way. Now, not so. And yet all the testing and prevention resources in the world aren't worth a lot if your church or your school or anyone has you too afraid to accept them.

Bridging that gap is so important and the church absolutely MUST take a role in that process. Not only in getting resources to people, but in calling out the pharmaceutical companies that ensure that there is an ever-newer recipe for Viagra, but puts an honest-to-God HIV vaccine as a lower priority. We need to start (and keep) being prophetic on this. (And that means we have to talk about...sex, friends. In church. But Lutherans are awkward from square one, so this shouldn't be that big a deal.)

In some ways we know what it is we are hoping and waiting for and in some ways we don't yet. That image keeps forming in us, together.

Entretanto, esperamos.

Never again - All the time - November

November seems to be the time for recommitting ourselves to building a creative end to violence.

Last year around this time, we were celebrating Dia de los Difuntos and remembering the massacres at Copapayo and the Central American University. This year, as has happened every year since the 1989 killing of the six Jesuits and two of their colleagues, there was a major demonstration at the School of the Americas at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where the UCA assassins were trained.

Closer to home - far closer to home - more commemorations. November 20 is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is an annual day to remember and celebrate the lives of those trans sisters and brothers who have been killed. At a worship service on Friday night, we lit 270 candles to remember the trans people who have been killed throughout the world in the last year. (And those are only the deaths that are known - many murders of trans people go unreported due to fear or police involvement.) One of the angels we remembered was Shelly Moore, who was killed in Detroit last month. This was a brutal act that my mind and soul are still working to comprehend. I avoided posting any articles to facebook for several days because I couldn't find the right words to accompany them. Then I realized, there are no words. But while there is a time and place for powerful silence, this is not one of them.

Shelly's mother was one of the speakers at the commemoration on Friday. We had read through a third of the names, lit a third of the candles, at the point at which she got up to speak. And the first thing she said at the lectern was, "God is good - all the time," to which the congregation replied, "and all the time, God is good." Forget everything else she said - every other powerful word Ms. Nelson spoke about her daughter and her pain. That she could find that profession in the midst of her grief amazes me.

How can a woman who is sitting in the depths of hell be so bold as to proclaim the goodness of God? Last November at the community mass at the Suchitoto cemetery, on the Day of the Beloved Departed, Padre Carlos talked about Mary. Too many of the people gathered remembering their loved ones were there to honor people who had been killed at the hands of the government. Padre Carlos reminded them that Mary and Joseph understood that grief profoundly. In this case, too, I find myself again seeing Mary is a mother who lost her child because she pushed boundaries and frightened people by speaking truth. A mother who can say "God is good - all the time" in the midst of anguish. I find myself without adequate words again, this time from awe.

But I do have "nunca mas" - "never again." How do I bring together "never again" and "all the time, God is good"?

Words

For some reason, adult illiteracy hits me so much harder when I'm in the US than when I was in El Salvador. I don't like what that says about my assumptions. But something like 40% of adult Detroiters read at less than a 9th-grade level. Ariana has run into this often when she's out helping folks apply for Bridge Cards. Our systems are so set up for people who read - not only read, but understand fairly complex legal and financial terminology that sometimes gives her (and me, when I look at it) trouble.

My last day in El Sitio, I sat with María as she was practicing her writing assignment - writing the numbers 0-20,000 by fives (!) and my thought was, "Rock on! You delivered two babies in a refugee camp while raising the four you already had, while your husband fought with the guerrilla, and now you're in your late 50s and learning to read and write. Amazing." And now I'm doing data entry on some ELCA member surveys and several of them so far have been written by folks who seem to have struggled pretty greatly with reading and filling out the survey. And it has me psychologically clothes-lined.

Cars and Confessions

(or, Two Wheels, Four Wheels, Red Wheels, Kor's Wheels)

I have a confession to make. Early in our time here, a new friend was giving us a quick tour of different places in town and mentioned that she made it until mid-October taking the bus to work and then it became just too much of a headache - it was proving to be a huge cost emotionally as well as time-wise, so she asked her parents to drive her car to Detroit from California. Here is the confession part: While she was telling us this, I was having some judge-y thoughts. I, the city girl who has navigated life thus far without relying on my own car, would certainly do better. I don't get stressed by the bus but rather find it relaxing and quite a good time, meeting neighbors and having good conversation.

If we've been in any communication in the last couple weeks, you're probably already laughing at me. My dad will arrive in town later tonight driving none other than my new car, bought from a dear friend in Minneapolis. So this is me, eating my judgmental thoughts, eating my words, and feeling both excitement for the mobility and wider access this will afford me and a deep sense of loss and confusion.

I love riding the bus. My rainy day commute often includes some great conversations with people at the bus stop, at the station, and between the stop and work/home. I've seen and greeted neighbors outside of the neighborhood that I met at our bus stop, which is a big deal for a person newly arrived. But my rainy day commute also takes almost four times as long as my dry day commute by bike. Or sometimes it takes 1.5 times as long. There's just no telling. (Once it took 2 hours to get home, and home and work are only four miles away from one another.)

One thing I'm learning is just how well I'm used to things running and working out for me. From buses to how much national organizations/church bodies actually care about my town, I have lived in some places that were clearly pretty top-priority and now I am in a place that is decidedly not a priority for anyone outside of here. In El Salvador, the buses ran all the time, because everybody had to use them; in the Twin Cities, it's easy to assume that the whole ELCA has its business together. It's a lot harder to see privilege than it is to see its opposite, especially when you live surrounded by privilege. It's easy to assume that the way things work for you are the way they work for everyone. These are all things I knew theoretically before, but coming face to face with their reality on a daily basis is demoralizing. And I've only been at this seven weeks. After an especially long, soggy trip to work one day, I was talking with a volunteer* and I mentioned the hassle of busing here. He said that he liked it, since it made him get out and walk around more. My response (which thankfully stayed inside my head) was, "NO! That just doesn't pan out if you have to get your ass to work every day!" Or drop of your kids at daycare. Or get groceries, or go to the bank, or any of the many, many daily activities that don't go on within walking distance of your home. (Which, when you don't live in downtown or Southwest, is a whole lot of things. And I will also admit that I often wish I lived in Southwest - it is the Seward/Longfellow/Corcoran of Detroit, for sure.) It is really frustrating, though when I'm looking for humor in it, I think in terms of "I fought the buses and the buses won."

None of this is to say that I am not excited to have the vastly mobility of a car. Now I'll be able to join the choir at the Y, which will be good for my soul; I will have a lot more possibilities as far as church-looking goes. Plus I get to see my dad! It's just hard to get around the fact that this one more thing that I can do, while a lot of other folks don't have that option. Maybe I should focus less on getting 'around' it and just live in it. I want to write a set of commitments for myself as a car owner. I'll put them here if I get them into any polished state. In the meantime...happy trails? (I'll keep working on my sign-off.)

*In this guy's defense, he's young, here working as a farm volunteer, living next to the church, and an incredibly hard worker. So his current situation is perfect for taking time to walk around and take in the city, which is a thing I love to do, too, and don't begrudge him for a moment. The comment just caught me at the wrong time.

I am Troy Davis // I killed Troy Davis

I got this email from ColorOfChange.org this morning, but can't find it on their website to link it. Pay special attention, please, to the middle section. It is damn difficult (especially as white folks) to think about the truth in those words. But really deconstructing racism can't happen fully until we acknowledge the depth of the disease. We have to actively put ourselves on the path. So if you're ashamed - I am, too. If we get stuck there, though, we not much use. Let's go together; let's stand rather than folding up our bags.


Dear Korla,


At 11:08 pm Wednesday, the state of Georgia killed Troy Davis. Just before he was executed, Troy maintained his innocence, urged people to dig deeper into the case to find the truth, and said "For those about to take my life, may God have mercy on your souls, may God bless your souls." It's a tragic day for Troy, for his family, and for equality, fairness, and justice.

It's hard to know what to say at a time like this. In this moment, and in the days and weeks before Troy's execution, we've felt all kinds of things — anger, sadness, inspiration, hope and hopelessness. This is a time to mourn and remember Troy, to contemplate the profound loss we're facing, to send love and support to Troy's family and friends. It's incredibly important to take the time to spiritually and emotionally care for Troy's family and the amazing community that has arisen to support Troy — and it feels hard to muster the energy to do much more than that.

But before he died, Troy told us that this was about more than him — and he called on those of us who have fought against his execution to continue fighting for justice, even if we weren't successful in saving his life. Now is also an important moment to take stock of what's brought us to this point — the criminal justice system that allowed this to happen, and the movement we've built to fight for Troy and others facing injustice and oppression at the hands of that system.


Race, the criminal justice system, and the death penalty

At every stage of the criminal justice system, Black people and other minorities face inequality and discrimination. We all know about people who've been treated unfairly by police or by the courts. When the entire system treats Black people unequally, it means that the death penalty is applied unequally too. Troy Davis' case underscores the way in which this systemic inequality can lead to a tragic miscarriage of justice.

In most cases, people who've been treated unfairly or wrongly convicted have some chance to correct the injustice. People who have been mistreated by the police can sue them. People who are wrongly serving time can be granted new trials, can be released from prison, and are sometimes entitled to compensation. As we all know, the safeguards that can correct abuse by the criminal justice system often fail, and rampant inequality persists. Usually, people can at least keep trying.

But there's no way to correct a death sentence. If Troy Davis were serving a sentence of life in prison without parole, he could continue to press the legal system to grant him a fair trial — but because the death penalty exists, he will not have that opportunity.

Troy Davis' case has sparked a national conversation about the death penalty. In the past, much of the debate around the death penalty has focused on the morality of killing people as a legal punishment — a very important question that brings out a lot of strong opinions. But even if we completely leave aside the question whether or not it can ever be right for the government to punish a murderer by killing them, there's an entirely different debate to be had — whether or not we can have the death penalty and actually avoid the possibility of killing innocent people. In a criminal justice system that routinely misidentifies Black suspects and disproportionately punishes Black people, Black folks are more likely to be wrongfully executed.

There's plenty of evidence to suggest that the death penalty has been used to kill innocent people many times. Since 1973, more than 130 people have been released from death row because of evidence that they were wrongly convicted. Troy Davis is one of many people who were executed despite serious questions about their guilt, and he's called on his supporters to continue working to end the death penalty.

A group of NAACP organizers went to visit Troy in prison yesterday, and NAACP's Robert Rooks said this about the visit:

For someone that was facing death the very next day, he was just full of life and wanted to spend time talking to the younger staff, the interns, giving them direction and hope and asking them to hold onto God. And he challenged them. He challenged them by saying, "You have a choice. You can either fold up your bags after tomorrow and go home, or you can stand and continue this fight." He said it doesn’t—it didn’t begin with Troy Davis, and this won’t end if he is executed today. He just asked us all just to continue to fight to end the death penalty, if in fact he’s executed.

A powerful movement

For years, ColorOfChange members have been an important part of a growing movement to stop Troy Davis' execution. Hundreds of phone calls from ColorOfChange members to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole helped delay Davis' execution twice. Over the past year, there's been a huge outpouring of support for Davis from ColorOfChange members — more than 100,000 of us have signed petitions, and we raised more than $30,000 to run radio ads in Georgia calling for justice for Troy.

And we've been part of an even bigger movement — NAACP, Amnesty International, National Action Network, Change.org, and others have all been a major part of the fight for Troy Davis, and there are now over close to a million petition signatures overall. Prominent people from all across the political spectrum have spoken out: members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Desmond Tutu, former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, former FBI Director William Sessions, former Georgia Republican congressman Bob Barr, and former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Norman Fletcher.

This movement couldn't stop Davis' execution — but it's a movement that won't die with Troy Davis. There's no better way to honor Troy's memory than to keep fighting for justice.


Thanks and Peace,

-- Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team

September 21st, 2011


Last night as I watched Amy Goodman reporting from Jackson, GA, one question that kept rising in my thoughts was, "But we're better than this, aren't we?" And I think we are - or at least we can be. Mr. Davis himself has been so clear throughout this process that, whatever happened to him, a couple of things would be true. First, on a person note, that execution could not kill his spirit (he said something to the effect of "they can take my life, but they cannot take my spirit, I gave it to God a long time ago"); and second, that the struggle abolition would not and could not die with him.

There are so many somber moments in which we have to rededicate ourselves to walking the path of justice-making and kingdom-building. And there are some big. damn. obstacles in the road. But I just got another email, this one from the NAACP, and the subject line is "Stand tall, Korla." Hope is hard to come by all alone. I want to commit myself not only to that vague idea of working for justice, but to being a hopeful presence for others when they don't have that energy, and to welcoming that word of hope from other people when I don't have it.


For those reading this from afar, know that I love you and I'm finding many, many rays of hope within my days here. (Many of those take the form of either poultry or the sweet, rambunctious children that come to preschool in the church where I work.) Peace until we talk again, hopefully on the path of freedom.

Nine elevens past - and the future

This morning I woke up to the sound of President Obama's voice reading Psalm 46 at the 9/11 memorial in New York. I must admit to being somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of lead-up coverage in the last several weeks, especially since my memories are so vague surrounding the actual day. I've not quite known what to do with the impending anniversary. This is in part because I know that, before September 11th was 9/11/01, it was 9/11/73 in Chile, the date on which the US overthrew Salvador Allende, who was properly elected by Chileans. Their September 11 and its bloody aftermath were every bit as horrifying as ours was.



Knowing this, and having lived through the not-altogether-becoming US response to 9/11/01, Psalmd 46 still seemed right, comforting. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God" - that is an easy idea for a Minneapolitan to identify with. I wanted to look over the whole psalm again this evening, and out of my bible fell a note card that I picked up some years ago at St. Martin's Table. It is a prayer card from Pax Christi that holds a prayer by Sister Diana Ortiz, an Ursuline nun who was held and tortured by US and Guatemalan agents in Guatemala during the civil war there. Today is election day in Guatemala and it looks rather likely that the winner will be an ex-general intricately involved in the tortures and massacres that went on throughout the 1980s and beyond. ("Guatemala's 'iron fist' party leads the polls") In light of this coincidence of three 11 de Septiembre, I want to share the prayer:

Jesus, Our Tortured Brother Today

Jesus, our Tortured Brother,
In this world, so many are
forced to walk your path today --
the suffering and pain, the
humiliation, sense of betrayal and
abandonment,
for those with power, the
Romans of today, continue to
condemn others to modern crosses.

You said that what was done to the least of these was done to you and so each day,
You are tortured anew.

Jesus, our Guardian of the Wounded and Tortured,
Bid us to look into the secret prisons -- the unmarked
graves -- the hearts and minds of the torture survivors,
Bid us to wipe the tears of the families of those whose
decapitated bodies were cast into the open sea,
Bid us to embrace the open wounds of the tortured.

Jesus, Guiding Spirit,
Teach us to be in solidarity with those who hand from
these crosses,
Call out to those who torture, "Know the evil you have
done and repent."
Call out to the rest of us, "What meaning does love have
if you allow torture to continue unopposed?"

In the name of the tortured of the world, give us the
strength, give use the courage, give use the will to bring this
horror to an end, in the name of love, justice, and the God of
us all. Amen.

Nineteen years before 9/11/73 (in July, not September), the US did the same thing in Guatemala that we later did in Chile - we toppled a democratically-elected president because his policies were not convenient for US companies. We created the first banana republic at the behest of the United Fruit Company. And almost 60 years later, Guatemala is still suffering the consequences, as is all of Latin America, to an extent, since Guate and Chile were far from the only places this happened. It is easy, clear to see the ways in which Guatemala is still reaping the deadly harvest sown there, but it isn't always as obvious how our own souls are impacted in the States. We continue to topple and to torture, believing it to be a method of extracting information, when in reality, torture is a means of control of a given population.

"God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns." A lot of the coops that you can visit in Guatemala use the words amanecer or esperanza in their names. If we want those two thoughts - "dawn" and "hope" - to be so compatible and correlated, we must - we must - learn to call to ourselves toward change as easily as we call on others. We must ask ourselves, What meaning does love have?

This isn't a "9/11 post", or at least I don't want it to be. But it seems like if there is anything we can learn from ANY of these 9/11s, much less the three of them put together, it is that peace - in all its forms - is indeed the most important goal to strive for. For me today, that peace took the form of making sauerkraut and jalapeño hot sauce with some cabbage and peppers we were generously given this past week. Then Melissa (a housemate) and I went to a queer-themed open mic at Spirit of Hope over which, at the very end of the evening, a rainbow formed from the last rays of sun above the horizon.

It seems fairly simple, and not very revolutionary, to posit that there will continue to be 9/11s of varying scales as long as _______ something. The problem is, that something is hard to identify. So while we try to figure out what it might be, let's not spend nearly as much time on that as we do on creating love. The more we do that, the less important (perhaps) it will be that we identify specifically what it is we used to spend all our time trying to hate.

From drowned rat to high and dry

I am sincerely hopeful that I've cashed in my bad bus karma for a good long while to come, all in a day's commute. This morning it rained steadily, not a downpour, but strong enough to soak. My bus stop has no shelter or trees nearby, so it was pretty much me and my coffee mug standing there waiting on the bus to come, which it did - 5 minutes late. Those five minutes made the difference between catching and missing my intended transfer at Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Missing the 21 bus was no big deal, because the 29 also runs by my work from the station. Fine - I hopped that but and arrived on time, soggy, but on time and in decent spirits.

Fast forward to the end of the day. I had calculated yesterday that if I leave work at 4:57, I can be home by 5:30, whereas leaving at 5:10 has me home after 6pm and waiting quite some time for my transfer in between. So I headed out at 5 'til 5, caught my bus (again, a few minutes later than scheduled, but in Minneapolis I frequent the 2, so I'm no stranger to wonky bus punctuality), and got to the station at 5:10 for my 5:15 bus home. 5:20 rolls around and still no bus. 5:40 comes (the departure time for the next bus) and still nothing. 6pm (the next departure time) and nothing - and all the while every other bus is rolling in and out like nothing has happened. By this time there are about 40 of us waiting for the #31.

At 6:20 (70 minutes later and 40 pages further in the book I'm reading), I hopped a bus that runs down a parallel street about a mile and a half south of our house. I took that bus to our cross street and walked up to the house.

The walk was good for me in several ways. I was able to settle my frustration a bit, just being in the cool air, seeing the few fallen leaves and the handful of people who were outside along the way. At the same time, I stayed frustrated at the fact that there were still 40 Eastsiders still waiting for their bus. I have no idea what happened to cause the (at least) triple no-show, but the other folks I was waiting with didn't seem too surprised. And there are any number of reasons why someone would have chosen to keep waiting rather than take the bus I took - having small kids, lots to carry, not being comfortable walking through the area between Jefferson and home, mobility issues.

So I'm frustrated, puzzled, unsurprised by this. A small part of me is glad that I was able to re-craft my plan on the spot, but that's a tiny victory (and mostly proves I can read the marquee on the front of the bus). And as goofy as it sounds, when I got home I was exhausted, just from that experience of waiting and not knowing when the bus would come. I had left work with grand plans of cooking up some of the beautiful produce we were given yesterday. But by the time I arrived at the house, I was beat. I warmed up leftover soup and sat down to President Obama's speech.

Like I said in reference to the 2 bus in Minneapolis - I am no stranger to waiting for buses, even in the bitter cold. But this has me thinking. What are the justice implications of 40 people from the poorest parts of Detroit just getting left at the bus station during afternoon rush hour? If any had to pick up kids from day care, they're looking at extra fees. If any had to meet with a parole officer, they could be looking at jail time. And shoot, if there were any others simply looking forward to cooking and relaxing for the evening, they lost that chance.


It's late and I'm tired, so I'll leave it there, except to say, on an entirely unrelated note: I have decided that the Rosa Parks Transit Center is probably the most aptly-named tribute to any person that I'm aware of. It's the polar opposite of naming an airport after Ronald Reagan. A transit station named after Rosa Parks. Hmm... I want to be the person who thought of that.

Labor Day

The Spirit of God is so often likened to the wind and on this, the coolest day that I've felt in almost 18 months, with a lively breeze that invited me out to the back porch for an hour or so, I do indeed feel as though I've been kissed by the Spirit. It is Labor Day in the US and a day of rest at Spirit of Hope. So it has been a morning of slow, paced cleaning, reading, music, and coffee drinking. Like I said, the wind called me outside and spent the last hour reading under a blanket out back. I'm closing in on 100 pages left in Kathleen Norris' The Cloister Walk and I very much recommend it. It is simple and beautiful, full of poetry and the wisdom of people who lived ages ago but still rings so true I can almost feel the reverb in my feet.


It's Labor Day, and in an hour or so, President Obama will be speaking in here in Detroit about jobs, I would imagine. And workers. I have such difficulty knowing how to feel about his time as president. I can pretty easily convince myself from one way to the other in a matter of moments, which gets exhausting sometimes! Maybe I ought to let myself live in the frustration - or better described, the discomfort - of not being sure. Leave the door open. Leaving the door open does not preclude living with expectations, however.


It's Labor Day, meaning that this weekend is the Detroit International Jazz Festival. And international though it may be, I still get to see some hometown talent, since the Steeles are in town performing this afternoon as part of the festival. I'm excited to go downtown to see them - and equally excited that the outing will require a scarf!


Things continue well on the work front. My supervisor is great. We have a new turkey - a ladyfriend for Uncle Bob, whom we are calling Auntie Roberta. (Yes, those are my dad's name and my mom's middle name. No further comment, except to say I had nothing to do with the names. :) Casa Yusef Shakur continues to cook good food, listen to excellent music, see interesting speakers and fun movies, and get to know the D. Tomorrow my supervisor is giving me a walking tour of the neighborhood surrounding the church, after which I can start going out and having conversations with folks about what they need in the way of HIV services and how Spirit of Hope and play a part in meeting those needs. I'm really looking forward to that.

Beginnings - Chickens and Chaos

It's my third day of work here at Spirit of Hope and this morning I did chicken chores almost entirely by myself. My first couple days have been a bit hectic and scattered because my supervisor is out of town. So I've been sort-of belonging to several different people and projects over these first days. That in itself is not so different from how my work will be for the year - a variety of different projects that all get a bit of my time; the difference is that the person who has the best sense of the grand plan isn't here to explain it to us. BUT that has left me with a lot of time to get to know the people, animals, and space I'll be working with over the next year. For example, I've started out each day with chicken chores (which also cover four ducks and a turkey named Uncle Bob) and some good conversation with the folks who come to AA at the church each morning. This morning we had nine chicken eggs and a duck egg; yesterday we watched Uncle Bob put one of the aggressive, abusive roosters in his place. This morning I was invited to an impromptu five-minute dance party in the side lot of the church building. It's a good way to start the day.

Things are also going well on the home front. We're slowly but surely settling into something of a routine of cooking, keeping track of what food to buy on the weekend, getting to know neighbors, figuring out how to establish good time and space boundaries with the kids on our block. I've also been looking at different churches to visit. I'm mixed on the idea of worshiping where I work - which is too bad, because Spirit of Hope looks like a great place! But there are a few congregations closer to our neighborhood, as well as a couple others that look interesting over this way. (For context - I live on the east side of town and work in a neighborhood just northwest of downtown. Detroit is situated on the Huron River, which separates the US side from Windsor, Ontario. The city is oriented more-or-less lengthwise, east-to-west, like St. Paul, not north-to-south, like Minneapolis.)

I ride my bike four miles to work each morning, which is really convenient because Mack Ave (which we live just one block south of) becomes Martin Luther King Blvd, which is the street the church sits on. So after I take my left out onto Mack, I don't have to even switch lanes until I'm at the church. I realized yesterday that this is the farthest I've ever lived from where I worked - by about double. It's funny how localized one's life can be.

On Monday, before starting work on Tuesday, we took tours of Spirit of Hope and Gleaners, Inc., which is where Ariana works. Gleaners is a HUGE food clearning house for the five-county metro area. They work with a lot of major food processors as well as local farmers to get large-scale deals on food donations, which they then turn around and offer to local food shelves and kitchens, passing on the deals that the smaller operations might not be able to get because of scale. They also run a whole gamut of cooking classes geared toward getting folks acquainted with exactly what one can do with some of the food that comes in. Then they also run a program called Kids Helping Kids, where school-age children come and pack backpacks with a weekend worth of food for kids who face food insecurity at home. All in all, pretty exciting work. They also do something similar to a CSA, but which you can order monthly, which provides a box full of produce each month for $17. We're definitely going to subscribe to that program as a house. One of Ariana's other projects will be to plan local events for Food Day, a day similar to Eath Day, dedicated to growing awareness and commitment around issues of food justice, from the Farm Bill to Urban Ag to justice for food service and farmworkers.

I'm also getting acquainted with the various levels of services provided around HIV education and prevention in the area. It seems that the current school board president is really involved with the education and testing end, so I will hopefully be able to talk with her today or tomorrow.

Think of yourself and say

Think of Others
by Mahmoud Darwish

As you prepare your breakfast – think of others.
Don’t forget to feed the pigeons.
As you conduct your wars – think of others.
Don’t forget those who want peace.
As you pay your water bill – think of others.
Think of those who only have clouds to drink from.
As you go home, your own home – think of others – don’t forget those who live in tents.
As you sleep and count the planets, think of others – there are people who have no place to sleep.
As you liberate yourself with metaphors think of others – those who have lost their right to speak.
And as you think of distant others – think of yourself and say “I wish I were a candle in the darkness.”

This is a busy week, with packing and preparations for moving once again. A week from today I'll hop on a MegaBus with a one-way ticket to Detroit. Lutheran Volunteer Corps orientation is in the Twin Cities this year, so I have an extra week in town, but it'll be pretty full.

I gave a presentation at my mom's church last night, preceded by making up four pounds of beans and almost 40 tortillas. It was stressful in a couple moments (like when my metal comal didn't cook the tortillas evenly and ended up burning several of them). But now this morning I've woken up with a familiar feeling in my fingertips from all the flipping and accidentally touching the griddle and clothes smelling like corn masa. These simple, pleasant sensations, along with the fact that I can justify wearing a sweater on this wonderfully cool August (August!) morning, means that I've been able to find moments of calm in the midst of the whirlwind of moving again.

Mahmoud Darwish's poem is fairly new to me, but it has been a helpful reminder not to let the mundane, daily elements of my life become too routine without acknowledging that there is something extraordinary in them. And that many things that should be a given in a human life are not for many, many people. Sometimes I'm tempted by the sexiness of thinking of myself and wondering how I can be a huge, burning fire - all on my own. But poetry and religious traditions the world over wouldn't have wisdom on the importance of even a single candle against the darkness if there wasn't something to it.

Que te vaya bien

I am emotionally at sea. I found out yesterday morning that one of my former students left for the US. I had seen her in school on Monday afternoon, but didn't know she was leaving - didn't get to say goodbye.

She is a pillar in her community, a young woman of such strength and commitment that she inspires me every day. And her children - three of them - are some of the most wonderful, loving kids I know. Now they live with an aunt they hardly know in a different community, where I won't see them. I want so badly to visit them, to let them know that, in the midst of so much upheaval in their lives this week, there are constants, and one of those is that I love them.

There are so many worries swimming around in my head and heart that I don't even know where to begin. For one thing, dear heaven the journey is dangerous - often deadly. We are heading into the hottest part of the year, where dehydration claims probably (and this is just my guess) dozens of migrants' lives each day. On top of this, Central Americans face an especially long and arduous path, as Mexico is not known for being terribly welcoming of the people passing through. (And I say this, of course, not as any word against Mexico - it's simply the truth that things are especially dangerous for Central Americans migrating north.) There are more borders to cross, more unfamiliar territory, more opportunities to be attacked.

Traveling as a woman makes this exponentially more dangerous. She is traveling with a male relative, which I think played into the timing of her going, but still women are targeted infinitely more than men for sexually based attacks.

Then there is the question of her children. She has three kids between three and ten years old. They are all three wonderful, but her oldest is particularly special to me. We've gone on walks a couple of times and he taught me about all of the types of birds that are native in the area - with particular attention to how good a mama the torrogoz is. Púchica. The community they live in is not far away - it's actually between Suchi and El Barío on the bus line. But I'm not sure if my visiting them is appropriate. I have to figure that out, because this is killing me.

Just as the story of my teacher's sister and nephew was, this is one story of thousands. About 750 Salvadorans (Salvadorans alone) leave the country each DAY for the US. They are women and men with families and roots, just like the ones I described having myself a couple posts back. They have kids, lives, passions, and dreams. We have to ask ourselves WHY, what could possibly compel someone to leave those they love and undertake a journey and then a life of such danger? And you know what? All I can say is that I hate, I hate, I HATE the policies and trade agreements and big-bank-greed-based economic crises and gang violence that make leaving not only an option but a necessity.

At this moment, that hate is not quite all, but almost all that I have. I am wearing that hate, trying not to act out of it, but mostly I am filled with it. I think my love for her and her kids is what is keeping this from enveloping me more fully. And the love of my compañeros here. And the fact that I still have 50 other students that I love and need to teach well. So - surprise of surprises - I find that love is the only thing that can face off against and overcome hate.

Because she is one of the countless humans who will leave their homes this week to risk their lives in this way and for this end, please, please take a moment today, and tomorrow, and the next day to hold up their safety and well being - and that of their loved ones whom they leave at home or the loved ones who await their arrival. And in this situation in which no news is decidedly good news, pray for no news.

Memorial Days

The reality about Salvadoran history is that it is impossible to recognize every massacre. There are just too many. If you then add assassinations of one, two, or three people, it is astounding. Oftentimes, these murders-not-massacres were of faith leaders, lay or clergy, who were responsible for bringing the Good News of liberation, a God who is LOVE, and Jesus as brother and worker to their brothers and sisters.

One such leader was Padre Rutilio Grande. Padre Tilo was a Jesuit priest who studied just about everywhere in the world (or at least throughout the Americas and Europe). In the early 1970s he came to Aguilares, a town just west of Suchitoto, to serve as the priest. His solidarity with poor people and his rejection of government oppression made him a persona non grata for the Salvadoran government. On March 12, 1977, he was assassinated along with Manuel Solorzano (72 years old) and Nelson Rutilio Lemus (16 years old).

His life and his death were both hugely influential in the conversion of the newly-appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero, from a safe, conservative choice for the institutional church to a clear, consistent voice for nonviolence and human dignity. Grande and Romero were friends and colleagues in life and Grande's murder became a turning point for Romero.

Guillermo Cuellar, a musician who worked alongside Romero as a youth leader, used words from one of Grande's homilies for the entrance hymn of the Misa Salvadoreña:

Vamos todos al banquete, a la mesa de la creación
Cada cual con su taburete tiene un puesto y una misión

Wonderfully translated by Bill Dexheimer Pharris and Bret Hesla (don't we have gems in the Twin Cities!) the refrain says:

Let us go now to the banquet, to the feast of the universe
The table's set and the place is waiting,
Come everyone with your gifts to share