que mucha mierda

Well said, Angela. I also loke Rosie perez, and this film is just awesome. I have the original cut DVD-somewhere from Germany-i think. It also includes the soundtrack. The U.S. DVD is cut.

I don't care WHAT you do or don't choose to associate yourself with- If you've chosen Christianity as your path in life then more power to you. But that doesn't somehow erase the historic ties between the African Traditional Religions and your own bloodline! Like it or not, your ancestors not only practiced these religions but managed to KEEP THEM ALIVE under the guise of Catholicism for HUNDREDS of years. Don't YOU dare label my faith as 'brujeria' when you clearly don't have ANY firsthand knowledge of the religion in the first place. Keep your obvious self loathing to yourself and stick to the topic at hand, rather than adding insult to injury by further legitimizing the half truths and LIES that the media has so long portrayed about Santeria.

I think it's SHAMEFUL for an afro latina 'in this day and age' to be willing to make fun of and belittle the ancient customs of her own ancestors just because it doesn't fit into the 'white man's idea' of normality. Gosh, I guess in your case it turned out to be a 'good thing' that your ancestors were dragged to the Caribbean in chains and stripped of their cultural and religious traditions! Just think, if that had never happened, you'd know nothing of the white man's savior and would be just as "lost" as your average Santeria practioner.

And secondly, our relgion isn't "underground" because we are 'ashamed' of any of our 'blasephemous' beliefs. It has become part of our TRADITION to keep our beliefs quiet to avoid being OSTRACIZED by those who can't fathom anything other than traditional western beliefs.

Baba mi Ogun modupue

as being indicative of what is standard or accepted in our way of life. Those 'Christian' zealots who stand outside of abortion clinics and pump holes into physicians certainly aren't indicative of what the majority Christians believe in, are they?

Baba mi Ogun modupue

There is some confusion within the film itself over what religion is being practised in the film. Despite Romeo refering to Perdita as his 'Santeria High Priestess' in the film the actual rites seemed to me more similar to Palo Mayombe which is a separate religion that pratices black magic. Through further reading I discovered other similar religions that such as Abaqua and Brujeria, this latter one uses elements of Aztec religious rites, especially human sacrifice which would tie in with Romeo's discussion with Duane in the film when he descibes how he will die.

And Barry Giffords book (that I'm re-reading at the moment) that the film is based on refers to both Santeria and Palo Mayombe, so who knows which religion is actually being portayed in the book and the film!