A conscientious civil servant Stan Gotlieb

The Oaxaca State Flag, being paraded on November 20, "Revolution Day". It reads "Respect for the rights of others is Peace". Photography by Diana Ricci Ernesto is a Mexican of average size, about 55 y... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

A dying breed Stan Gotlieb

Musicians outside the Artisan's Market attract shoppers during the Christmas shopping season in Oaxaca (1996). Photography by Diana Ricci He is about five-foot-four, and nut brown. His hair is white, ... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Paradise is a lot like home Stan Gotlieb

Flower sculpture on display at the Radish Festival, December 23, 1966, in the Oaxaca zocalo. Photography by Diana Ricci Living in paradise would be a lot more idyllic (and a lot less interesting) if i... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Interview with the curandera Stan Gotlieb

The Eagle struts during the "Sol y Luna" (Sun and Moon) performance at Monte Alban, in which the tale of the Universe's birth is told. Photography by Diana Ricci "Maria" (not her name) is a curandera... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Rodolfo Morales - Mexican artist (1925 - 2001) Stan Gotlieb and Diana Ricci

Maestro (master, teacher) Rodolfo Morales, one of the most prominent native Oaxacan artists, succumbed to cancer of the pancreas in a Oaxaca City hospital, at 9:30 p.m. on January 30, 2001. Photography by Diana Ricci

A visit to the curandera Stan Gotlieb

Amid the reconstructed pyramids of Monte Alban, a pageant is performed commemorating ancient legends of how the sun and the moon and the Earth were born, and were set free to roam the heavens. Designed... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Sauce for the goose Stan Gotlieb

A detail on the facade of the Governor's Palace at Uxmal, a Mayan ruin in Yucatan province. Photography by Diana Ricci Yesterday, the shoe dropped from the other foot. You may recall that I recently ... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Non-students, then and now Stan Gotlieb

The champion Oaxaca state high school band, playing in the courtyard of the ex-convento de Santo Domingo. Few will go to University. Of those who do, some will be students and some may become "porros".... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Behold, a flock of tourists Stan Gotlieb

A tomb in the panteón (cemetery) of San Felipe del Agua, outside of Oaxaca City, decorated for Day of The Dead. Photography by Diana Ricci It has been a quiet summer season, and the zocalo (town squ... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Dodging rockets in Oaxaca Stan Gotlieb

The author and mate /photographer Diana Ricci, at the entrance to their 100-year-old Apartment building in Oaxaca in 1996. Photography by Diana Ricci Miracles are part of everyday life to the people ... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Columbus Day in America Stan Gotlieb

In Parque La Venta, Villahermosa, Tabasco, rests an artifact from the Olmecs, who flourished some 3,500 years ago. Photography by Diana Ricci Yesterday was Columbus Day in the U.S. of A. There were p... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

The more things change, the more they are the same Stan Gotlieb

The ruins at Yagul, a few miles outside Oaxaca city. Photography by Diana Ricci I read a very interesting newspaper article the other day. It was a wire service feed from Pacific News Service, writte... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Dancing in the streets Stan Gotlieb

A French theater troop presents a "son et lumiere" performance of an ancient indian legend, in the reconstructed ruins of Monte Alban (1995). Photography by Diana Ricci One of Oaxaca's many fine ar... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Music in the streets Stan Gotlieb

The Oaxaca State Band plays a Sunday Concert in the Zocalo. Photography by Diana Ricci The trucks arrive about 11 a.m. Two small flatbed trucks, piled high with folding chairs. Half a dozen workers m... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Borders suck Stan Gotlieb

Sitting in California, Old Mexico, in July 1996, I realize how much of my time is wasted dealing with borders, particularly the one between here and the Old Country (Pictured is a fruit stand on the ro... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Where do they get these ideas? Stan Gotlieb

There's nothing like leaving home to help a person see things a new way. Traveling from my home in Oaxaca to the U.S. in the spring of 1996 provided exactly such an experience (Pictured is a performance artist doing her thing on the plaza in front of the Cathedral.). read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Small world indeed Stan Gotlieb

When I wrote "Getting And Giving Back", in the spring of 1996, I had no idea that I would be meeting Gerardo a few weeks later. (This statue is in the ex-convent in Cuilapan, near Oaxaca.) Photogr... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Getting and giving back Stan Gotlieb

The church in Ocotlan de Morelos, near Oaxaca, that artist Rodolfo Morales had restored as a gift to his community. Photography by Diana Ricci Much of Mexico is poverty-stricken, but only in economic... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

The bye-bye blues Stan Gotlieb

An Easter pageant in Tlacolula, near Oaxaca. Photography by Diana Ricci We're out of here! Our bags are almost packed, except for a few last minute gifts for the kids and the grandkids. Arrangements ... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues Oaxaca, Oaxaca

Day of the Dead: death and decoration in Oaxaca Stan Gotlieb

The panteon (cemetery) in San Felipe del Agua, a suburb of Oaxaca, decorated for Day of the Dead. Photography by Diana Ricci All my life, I have been a coward about death and dying. It's all so unsan... read more

day-of-the-dead indigenous-groups Oaxaca, Oaxaca

The rites of Spring Stan Gotlieb

This is a love song and a lament. Ojala (it should only be), I'll sing it every spring for many years to come. Photography by Diana Ricci Springtime has come to Oaxaca. The jacaranda trees are in ful... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues

Privatization and the national pride Stan Gotlieb

After this was written, the federal agency in charge of the Pemex sales withdrew all offers and returned all bids. This was a dramatic demonstration of how little support neoliberalism has among the pe... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues

Is this where we turn off for Agua Azul? Stan Gotlieb

Travel guide books are good to have, and I have many. Still, they do have their faults. This was written after an intense, 2,000 mile, 2 week trip through the Mexican part of the Ruta Maya. (Pictured a... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues

How the U.S. helps Mexico eradicate the Zapatista resistance Stan Gotlieb

It's not a new story: the U.S. government, and the business interests it represents, lend "counterterrorist" or "countersmuggler" aid to a Latin American government, and the "aid", which happens to loo... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues

Mixed messages from home Stan Gotlieb

Here's a slice from a decades-long sausage of U.S. interference and bumbling diplomacy when it comes to Mexico, written in 1996. "Alas, poor Mexico", the saying goes, "so far from God and so close to t... read more

indigenous-groups perspectives social-issues