Benito Juarez

In plazas, markets and government buildings throughout Mexico, statues and busts of Benito Juarez are ubiquitous, as are his famous words: "Between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." On Tuesday, the beloved former president was honored in his native state of Oaxaca and throughout Mexico, on what would have been his 200th birthday. It is a national holiday every year -- not unlike Feb. 12, when Abraham Lincoln is remembered in the United States.

When Oaxacan immigrants came to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, they settled in what's now known as Pico-Union and Koreatown. One of the few things they brought with them was a love of basketball that borders on obsession. This is especially true among Zapotec Indians from the Oaxacan mountain range known as the Sierra Juarez in southern Mexico. "Our fever," Otomi Dominguez, a highland Zapotec, calls the sport.

When Oaxacan immigrants came to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, they settled in what's now known as Pico-Union and Koreatown. One of the few things they brought with them was a love of basketball that borders on obsession. This is especially true among Zapotec Indians from the Oaxacan mountain range known as the Sierra Juarez in southern Mexico. "Our fever," Otomi Dominguez, a highland Zapotec, calls the sport.

In plazas, markets and government buildings throughout Mexico, statues and busts of Benito Juarez are ubiquitous, as are his famous words: "Between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace." On Tuesday, the beloved former president was honored in his native state of Oaxaca and throughout Mexico, on what would have been his 200th birthday. It is a national holiday every year -- not unlike Feb. 12, when Abraham Lincoln is remembered in the United States.

While the United States was fighting the Civil War, citizens of the newly established Mexican government were battling the heavily armed forces of the French. Against all odds, Mexico won this battle on May 5, 1862. Though more battles needed to be won before Mexico was truly free, today both Mexicans and Americans remember this important victory by celebrating Cinco de Mayo. To find out more, use the direct links on The Times Launchpoint Web site: http://www.latimes.

Alberto Limon Padilla started with a shabby clapboard store in a working-class neighborhood. He went on to build Tijuana's first shopping mall and today presides over a business empire. Aurora Pelayo came to Tijuana a penniless single mother to work in a factory. Today she is secretary-general of the Baja California Democratic Revolutionary Party. Justina and Rafael Brambila opened a street-side taco stand, La Especial, on Avenida Revolucion when they came from Jalisco in 1948.

About 200 irate fans denied tickets to a dance broke through police lines, invaded the dance hall and started a free-for-all, injuring 35 people, the Excelsior news service reported Monday. Excelsior said the incident occurred Sunday night at the Benito Juarez hall in Guadalajara.

Hundreds of people in northern Mexico were evacuated after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, flooding homes, destroying bridges and dragging dozens of cars downstream. No deaths had been reported. In Benito Juarez, 12 miles east of Monterrey, three people were reported missing and about 600 people were in shelters, Mayor Julio Cantu said.

The government will have to begin planning a new international airport within five years because the present Benito Juarez Airport is too small to handle growing demands on its services, an official warned Tuesday. Jorge de la Madrid, in charge of airport development at the Transport Ministry, said the government is considering expanding the airport in Toluca, 35 miles west of the capital to help ease air traffic pressure.

Crews on Monday began the cleanup of two neighboring schools that suffered fire damage early Saturday in related blazes that officials say were caused by arsonists. Parts of the administration office at South Junior High School were severely damaged by the fire, a spokeswoman said. Damage at Benito Juarez Elementary School, which is around the corner, was confined to one classroom. Anaheim Union High School District Supt. Cynthia F.

While the United States was fighting the Civil War, citizens of the newly established Mexican government were battling the heavily armed forces of the French. Against all odds, Mexico won this battle on May 5, 1862. Though more battles needed to be won before Mexico was truly free, today both Mexicans and Americans remember this important victory by celebrating Cinco de Mayo. To find out more, use the direct links on The Times Launchpoint Web site: http://www.latimes.

Mexican agents arrested a Guatemalan described by U.S. authorities as Central America's most wanted drug smuggler. Otto Herrera, a 39-year-old trucking company boss, did not resist when federal authorities seized him at Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport, Atty. Gen. Rafael Macedo de la Concha said. Mexico made the arrest at the request of U.S. authorities, who had offered a $5-million reward.

Christopher Knight did not mention the cultural influences of Rufino Tamayo's Zapotec roots in "The Modern Ancient" (Calendar, June 25). The Zapotec culture of Oaxaca was as unique and rich with visual expression as the Aztec, Mayan and Toltec cultures mentioned in Knight's essay. Also, one of the reasons Tamayo was so willing to paint a portrait of Benito Juarez was that he, too, was of Zapotec Indian descent. We Zapotecs would appreciate receiving credit where credit is due. LYNDA (MARTINEZ)