One

These are a few of my notes on the status of immigration in our country.

For true progression to occur in the world we live in today we must first obtain--indefinitely-- respect and compassion for one another's differences. Whether our differences are culture, gender, race, or sexual orientation. Respect for one another's unique identities requires just that and a bit of understanding. This does not mean we have to like it, or even want it in our communities although we should embrace it because we undeniably have strength in diversity. But the reality is that immigration is upon all of us whether we're ready or not and it's not going any where any time soon.

Fear is the single greatest enemy in this country and is the sole reason for many of the "hush-hush" history chapters in the U.S. i.e. trail of tears of 1835. Have we forgotten about the 20,000 Native Americans that passed away during this brutal and inhuman eviction. When a government entity can instill fear in a nation of people that is when that people can forget about their past barbaric discrepancies. In 1835 Georgia only became inhabited with Americans after the native Cherokee Indians were forced out and joined the trail of tears to Oklahoma.

So the question remains can we ever truly get back to one? Meaning one race. After all aren't we all human? Isn't that the race we all belong to no matter what cultural, sexual, or gender background we come from we are all human and given any situation we would all most likely react the same way. If your family was starving would you not do whatever it took to feed them? Even if that meant you didn't eat for a day or two. That is exactly what millions of Latinos do each and every day of their lives. Yet most Westerners if put in the same situation would secure their child's welfare long before their owns. In the end despite the mountains of differences that lie on the surface between Americans & Latinos we always come back to one.

Culture

Just a few notes from one of my latest essays on Mexican Culture.

To be impeccable with your word means that you will not have back door friendships, or spread poison with your tongue. Instead you shall be a person that carries with them a great deal of integrity & principle. I feel that in today's society my fellow humans have forgotten this due to an array of things like: the rapid advancement of technology, power & greed, and a faulty memory. If all you have to do is "click here" & its done then how can we truly see the world behind that computer. Power & Greed has followed human beings since the beginning of time & sadly it doesn't appear to be releasing its kung-fu grip from us any time soon. I believe that in order for us to be freed from this evil we must open our minds and hearts to the possibility of tolerance, knowledge, and love. Memory is a tricky one because its not that we don't know its that we just don't care and if we do care we still do nothing. I don't know which is worse; not wanting to know, or knowing and not doing.

My family has always preached EDUCATION! EDUCATION! And more EDUCATION! My father always said that if I ever wanted to further myself and discover truth then I must get educated. In my culture (Mexican) this is well understood, but rarely acted upon. My people still believe that a farmer can be just as wealthy & prosperous as anyone else. This could be true if we dealt away with power & greed. How can a simple farmer, or migrant worker compete against a crooked elitist? We value family and hardwork, and this to us is enough. But can it truly be enough with imperialism always poking its evil head out? I will take my values and principles and mix them with knowledge, so that I can go back to my village and pass it on.

13 Jan 06

How can our generation (20-25) progress today's minds, heroes, and influential figures around the globe if the majority is consumed in escapism, and hyperconsuming? i.e. dubs, hoes, big cribs, and meaningless bar conversations. I do believe that we all need to escape from time to time, but to indulge in it is to become ignorant to current events that will shape all of our futures. Not being proactive in foreign policy and world events has long been a part of American youth in this country, and we must put a decisive end to it now!

This revolution that I speak of is one of intelligence, not guerilla warfare (that should be our last resort). Meaning that it is up to youth to read books and articles on: controversial topics (human rights, revolution), history of American Hegemony, imperialism, socialism/communism, and great figures such as Che, Zapata, Wallace, & Byrid Rustin (MLK, Jr.'s right hand man-who no one knew about because he was gay.) When we all do this it gives us a global perspective, expands our personal lives, takes away the blinders that we tend to wear and gives us an extremely powerful voice!