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A FOURTH OF JULY SALUTE TO LADY LIBERTYJL remember a poem about Liberty and part o f the poem saidgive me your poorest and huddled masses and I ask theAmerican government to stop intervening in CentralAmerica. North American people should know that thereare a lot o f people from Central America who would like tolive peacefully in their own towns and countries, butcannot right now.P h o e n ix P h o to b y K a th ry n K irkleafleted a high school and a lot of people began to say I was a guerilla.%u201dIn 1980, the National University was taken over by the government, at that time a military junta. %u201cThe University had recognized the FDR as the representative of the democratic center in El Salvador,%u201d Jose said. %u201cThe director of the University was killed by the national police.%u201dAt the same time, Julia became alarmed by the possibility that Jose could be arrested for his political beliefs and work. She encouraged him to get his passport before the government tried to prevent him from doing so.In 1981, he left El Salvador and after a brief stay in Mexico, waded his way across the Rio Grande River on the Texas border. After convincing a friend in New York to help him find a job, Jose began working as a dishwasher before becoming a Mexican chef. The cooking job was followed by two more dishwashing positions, followed by selling hotdogs at Nathan%u2019s.Julia, along with another 15-year-old son Julio, arrived in the United States two years later to tend to some medical problems. Julio, who has become an active member of the Jehovah%u2019s Witness Church, did not want to be interviewed.After her arrival, Jose arrranged for his . mother to work at Nathan%u2019s as well. During the three years that she worked there, Julia married the manager of the restaurant and obtained permanent residency in the United States.While his mother still speaks little English, Jose has been more successful at mastering the language and eventually was offered a secretarial job at Brooklyn%u2019s Church of the Transfiguration.Their life in America is quite differentContinued From Preceding Pagewe learn that there are more than 10,000 Central Americans here struggling for rights and trying to survive.%u201dAs an illegal alien seeking political asylum in the United States, Jose finds himself participating in a domestic political battle between those who support the current government in civil-war tom El Salvador and those who believe the government should negotiate with a left-wing opposition and bring an end to the fighting. Jose, who has lived in this country for five years, believes that President Ronald Reagan%u2019s support of the current government led by Jose Napolean Duarte, has prolonged an unnecessary battle.His determination to have himself declared a political refugee by the U.S. government has disrupted much of his life. Entering the National University in 1978, Jose said he began building a political conscience while wandering through poor neighborhoods on his way to work as a lifeguard at the local beaches.%u201cI began to see the condition of poor people in the country,%u201d he said, %u201cand I saw what was their reality.%u201dJOINS REVOLUTIONARY GROUPThe following year, he became friends with members of a political movement called the Popular Revolutionary Block (BPR), one of five organizations that form the Democratic Revolutionary Front (FDR). In El Salvador, two political movements opposing the current government exist. Subversive activities are directed under the Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN) while the FDR coordinates the political and social unrest.%u201cThey were simple, regular people,%u201d said Jose, referring to the BPR. %u201cI met them and became close and started to sympathize with them. There were no formal meetings, we talked about music and sports.%u201d But, as the government began to sanction violent actions against some of his friends, he began to %u201cspeak out.%u201d%u201cI started to spread leaflets and I painted the university walls,%u201d he said. %u201cI also Jose Luis Rosa, and his mother, Julia. (Phoenix/Kirk Photo)b a t i k b y y ia n a /%u2605 Liberty Tees Available %u2605Whimsical %u2022 Unique __Hand -designed clothing ^ for the entire family ^ niR o t32.4 A tla n tic A ve nue %u2022 596 -t>dA9With Hope For Peace And Liberty For All The World%u2019s ChildrenBROOKLYN FRIENDS SCHOOL (EST. 1867) 375 Pearl Street %u2022 Brooklyn, New York 11201(718) 852-1029Treasure Each M om ent O f LibertyW IL L IA M B M A Y C O M P A N Y O F B R O O K L Y N , IN C%u25a1 livin g ttw first rlvst Into I he S tatu s of Liberty, Paris, 1M 1(Library ol Congress)163 MONTAGUE ST , BSOOKIYN, N Y 113S H IR L E Y JU E R G F .N S E N *75-12*9 %u2022 2*4 *027CongratulationsTo The Statue o f LibertyGuiding new Americansinto our harbor for 100 years.STAUBITZ MARKETServing Brownstone Brooklyn since 1917 222 Court Street %u2022 MA4-0014Congratulations to everyone who came to this country looking for LibertyGOLD PALACE JEWELRYFIN E JE W EL R Y & IM P O R T E D G IFTS118 Court St. 624-2922A Bouquet o f G ood W bhes To Am erica%u2019sGreatest Lady fromBrooklyn's Most Fabulous Florist, Greenhouse & Garden Cenlerf f f I f k %u00ab M 7 1M onsl ,s GA Vnhv.%u201es, Ci.iMt-n C f %u2019V 'Flatbush & 4th Ave. %u2022 BrooklynGreenhouse Garden C enter Flow er Shop718-636-0020 718-237-1500Page 20, THE PH OENIX, July 3,1986