Proud homophobe and policy advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Daniel Avila, wrote a column for The Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, arguing that Satan causes homosexuality. Avila attributes homosexuality to the devil because he, a lawyer, can't find a biological reason for it and it would be "awkward" to attribute it to God. Avila's faulty logic is so extreme that even other Catholics have come out against him.
Fortunately, our views have evolved, and most of us no longer cling to the antiquated views of the 1600s. Due to the outrage generated by the column, The Pilot offered an apology to its readers, and Daniel Avila offered his resignation, which the USCCB accepted.
I'm sending Daniel Avila a chanclaso, and I hear that he lives in DC, so I might be able to give it to him in person.
What's her excuse?
Laura Pierce, president of the College Republicans at the University of Texas at Austin (my alma mater), found herself in agua caliente when she tweeted, "Y'all as tempting as it may be, don't shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we've EVER had! #2012." Was this a stupid joke?
When I was at UT, the College Republicans were some of the most intolerant students I've ever met. It was then that I realized that they were the reasons so many people have such contempt for the state I love so much. It's usually the older generation that has intolerant views, but to be in your teens and early 20s and already be against gays, Latinos and reproductive rights. Dios mio!
I'm giving Lauren Pierce a chanclaso for being an idiot and no, it's not a joke.
Aplausos
Un gran aplauso to Calle 13, the big winners at the Latin Grammys 2011. The duo won a whopping 9 Grammys including Album of the Year for "Entren Los Que Quieran" and Record of Year for "Latinoamérica." Calle 13 has won a total of 19 Latin Grammys over their illustrious careers. Orale!
El Chanclaso
For many Latinos, a chancla is more than summer footwear. The flip flops on our mothers' feet were also impromptu and easily accessed weapons. Back talk, ignoring orders or fighting with your siblings could, without warning, result in a chancla on the rear end or, if distance was a factor, flying at you.
Now we're all grown up. But some people still deserve chanclasos. And we're going to let them have it here in our weekly column, El Chanclaso. Every Friday, Sergio, our resident chancludo, will turn a critical eye on political shenanigans, and current issues and events with his chancla firmly in hand. Depending on the severity of the misbehavior, being on the wrong end of the chancla could get you one or two chanclasos. Sergio will also give aplausos to those who make us proud.You've been warned. Now, behave!
Read more Chanclasos here.
Sergio Lopez hails from the great city of San Antonio and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He thanks his mother for judiciously using her chancla to set him straight.
Know of someone who deserves a chanclaso or an aplauso? Send in your suggestions to news@votolatino.org.