Gettin' It Together in 2010!

So much to do. First thing on my list: get a job. In this economic recession, a pretty tough thing to ask for but absolutely doable. My friends say to me, hey, you're a lawyer, you got mad experience and you know a lot of people so you should have a job like yesterday. Um, yeah, I thought so too. I think that is what my creditors think too. jajajajaja (laughing in spanish)! Jacqui is right, I will have to start to take on some cases. G-O-D, please no! I didn't become a lawyer to take on cases. The thing I most detest in the world. Don't get me wrong, I am actually good at it, pretty damn good. However, litigation has never been my passion. But everyone thinks that because you are a lawyer that is what you do litigate. Go to court, take others to court, take everybody to court. You are out of order, no, you are out of order -type of drama! Nah, not for me.

I studied law to learn about it, to read about it, to understand the foundations upon which this country was founded. I studied law to have an extra tool in my tool box to organize for social justice. For my belief in people and humanity. I studied law so that I could be like Martin Luther King, Jr., Ghandi, Mother Teresa and other great thinkers, activists and writers. I wanted to be legit so that no one could say that I wasn't a profesional. I went to law school because that is what I wanted to do when I was in 3rd grade. It was my life's dream to study the law, to be a lawyer. La licensiada....o Doctora if you will .

Everyone should go to law school! It is an experience that is excruciating painful, it resets and refigures your mind -hopefully not your body, heart and soul but it does its' damage. Becoming a lawyer sharpens you, make you more agile, creative but it can also distort you into this power hungry monster that will do anything to get to the top.

Enough about what I don't want to do, now more about what I do want to do. I want to save the world. I want to let the world know what I think and feel about the world around me. Hence this blog. I am excited that I am venturing into new territory of expression. To look at ways how I can impact the framework, the mode of thinking, the end result. My new thing: documentary filmmaking. It still blows my mind at how I can but words and images together to say to the world -we need just and humane immigration reform, no more prisons, no more denying people their just due. To say the things everyone is thinking but will never say, to make and take the space that is ours. Yeah, that is what I wanna do. With my law degree and my fierceness, my integrity, my authenticity, my dopeness.....oh I feel so poetic!

I will make my comeback, strong to the political realm on my terms -no one elses. Independence is the one thing I will not negotiate away for the pleasure of another. I will continue to fight for what I feel is justice and right. My next career move will bring me the satisfaction and challenge that I need to make an impact, to be a social change agent. I have no fear. God has given me all the tools I need, all the people I need -the strength, courage and faith to breakthrough to this new place in life. My job will come and I will know like I have known before that this is it. It will bring me inspiration, happiness and $$$. Let go and let God! One love.

The First Seven Days of 2010: Immigrant Rights Movement Takes It Up a Notch

In the First Seven Days of 2010 the immigrant rights movement has taking up a notch, hard-core. 4 Miami Youth have begun a walk from their hometown to Washington, D.C. in the name of comprehensive immigration reform. Several New York Community leaders of the New York New Sanctuary Movement have participated in civl disobedience action against the deportation of long-time activists Jean Montrevil. Rebel Diaz also organize to fight Victor Toro's -founder of La Pena del Bronx- deportation. This is only the beginning of 2010. Yeah, Obama had his year. Immigrants have waiting long enough. This year is our year for justice! Dejarnos vivir con nuestro sosiego! Dios mio...ya basta, esta bueno, ya estamos hartos. No mas!!!!

Patiently immigrant have waited all year long just be hit and clobbered upside the head with increased enforcement, the expansion of the 287 (g) program. Here we are 10 years into the new century and still the powers that be have not done the right thing. No more excuses. Here we are -re-energized, re-invigorated to take back our lives, our families, our futures.

Check out following: Aarti Shahani's article on Jean Montrevil deportation and the movement http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=54cd394426c8dc61636188aa28517a77; New York Times Editorial on Immigration Website on the Miami 4 Trail of Dreams http://trailofdreams.net/Home.html; (pictures from Rebel Diaz Facebook Page)

Thirty-Five...Treinta y cinco...35...End of the Road?

35. Single. In transition. Don't know what is next. On Saturday, January 2nd I turned 35. I really can't believe. In my heart and mind, I am still 16 just with much more experience, knowledge and independence. Ha! This birthday, like all of my past birthdays, people wish me health, happiness and success. Also on the list, a man. A man that will sow his seed and give me children, that's if there is still time. Now the topic of choice is how time is running out. That as I get older, my eggs will dry up and what then. My mother talks to me about adopting -something that I have always considered doing, at the age of 35.

In third grade, which is when I made most of my major life decisions such as living on my own before marriage, never ending up with a dude that is dumber than me, becoming a lawyer (then a scientist, then a lawyer again) and adopting a child -an older child, someone no one wanted. Yeah, those are some major decisions to make at the age of 9.

So here I am. 35. What do I have to show for it? Some would say that I have accomplished so much. Yes, that is partially true. I have accomplished all that I have ever wanted professionally. I have a great relationship with my family and friends. But there is this major part that still remains to be fulfilled -having my own loving, whole, dysfunctional, functional family. A husband to call my own, children to care for and the whole kit and caboodle that comes with it -extended family, friends, weddings, baptisms, school recitals, spankings, crying, laughing all that. Yup, I want this for my life. But what if....what if that life is not meant for me. What if I am not the marrying kind, the having children kind. What if I am always going to be that crazy cousin -la americana, la gringa who just never seemed to have a stable relationship.

I guess I shouldn't think about those things to much. Yes, I am 35! Gorgeous, Single, Living! I am lucky to have tons of love, care and soul in my life. I have much of my life to live and my job right now is to live it to the fullest. To live with intention and an open heart. All that will be, will be.

Since my first day on earth in 1975, I have embarked on a terrific journey. This moment in time right now of my life I am living according to my rules with faith in the great spirit of the universe. What is to come is far greater, nothing I have ever imagined than what I have lived thus far. This brings me excitement, a bit of anxiety but must of all wonder and amazement at the many turns life can take you through. On this highway, there are no limits.... Es ahora que me estoy poniendo buena!

Feliz 2010!!!

2010!!! The beginning of a new decade / or the end of the old one -no se- but this is definitley the start of a new time. This year is the year of the incredible, the fantastic, the beautiful! I know it deep down in my bones that it will be great. I know I have said it before but I know it for this year.

My resolutions for 2010: 1) meet up with my Facebook friends that I hardly see or never see, 2) LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, 3) stop drinking soda (or at least drastically reduce my intake), 4) continue the fight for fair and humane immigration reform, and 5) taking risks. I desire for my life to be filled with friendship, love, compassion, adventure, passion. My life has been filled with so much of these things and more. I want to continue growing in these areas and live a life without regret. I want my life to be round and full -whole!

Taking the time...slowing down..moving so fast you miss all the great stuff and sometime create some really crazy energy. 2010 and beyond.....I am here, present in the moment. READY!

My Sister, La Ciguapa

I love my sister! She is one of the most awesome people in my world. A true testament to evolution, change and growth. She was born in 1979, when snow storm where still snow storms, when the family would come together every Sunday to eat, gather and be merry -oh and of course talk about Trujillo and Balaguer, and disco was waning away. My parent and I were sitting in the living room one day, my sister still in utero, talking about the arrival of my sister and what her name should be.

I was four years old, living the life that all dream of -having your parents all to yourself, no sharing! In my little leader way, I told my parents that the baby's name was Melissa, just like a girl in my class (or rather daycare). Just so cute, my parent negotiated with me and agreed on naming my sister Lisa. Lisa means "God's promise" according to thinkbabynames.com. It is a pretty, simple name. Just Lisa.

We were in for a big surprise with Lisa. My sister didn't stop crying for I think like 25 years! From day one, she just cried, cried and cried. It wouldn't stop. Any little reason and the tears and screaming would commence. No one really knew what to do with her but just let her cry. When I was about 10 and took hold of my poetic-side(hahaha), every time she would cry I would chant "cry, cry until you die." Oh boy, that would make her cry even more and of course as a mean big sister I would just laugh at aggravating the situation. Yeah, it still makes my laugh.

As a teenager, she just became weirder and weirder. Lisa liked Green Day and wearing strange colorful socks up to her knees. She studied witch craft and apparently was able to put some relationships on cold-ice with her magic. Also called La Ciguapa by my Tio Frank, my sister very much had a magical side to her. In Dominican folklore, la ciguapa is known to entice men with her beauty and her long black hair. The one odd thing about la ciguapa were that her feet were backwards. (For more info on the Ciguapa check out http://www.ciguapa.blogsopt.com/; www.jmmercado/mipais/cultura/mitos/ciguapa.htlm). Lisa's hair was always out of control, long, big and full of dust bunnies from hidding under the bed!

Being a middle child -but always getting tons of attention, most of the time negative attention-in her teen's and early 20's was full of angst, and melancholy. Alleged at one point she ran after my brother with a knife -she was just really pissed off. Great article on middle children: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14335112/. The stories of her madness are endless from throwing potted plants to one of my mother's customers in the hair salon to marrying her 1st baby daddy because of a pregnancy.

After having two children with two different fathers, and find a man (currently her husband) who has provided her with love, stability and structure, she has got it all! Now a wife and mother of three of the most beautiful children in the entire universe, a small business owner (http://www.rollitandblowit.com/), she really has got it all. Her magic is full on. She has this ability to bring together all of her worlds -all the grandparents, fathers, uncles, aunts, friends -to celebrate her children even in her own house. These gatherings are always full of love, togetherness and no bochinche...which is truly a feat in itself.

Everyone loves my sister! Lisa is sweet, giving and in her madness tender. My sister has helped me to become the woman that I am today. I love my sister! (Picture: www.deybicastro.com/2008/10/la-ciguapa.html)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow: Copenhagen, Climate Change and the Politics to Save Our World

When I was a little girl I remember the big nevadas of the 1980's. It would snow non-stop, snow to your knees. You wanted to be careful not to go near the yellow snow -since you know what was underneath...yuck! You could do some proper snow sledding in Van Cortlandt park. It was so cold, your fingers and toes could break off. When you had no heat and hot water in the apartment, it was a death wish. You could go for days wearing leggings, leg warmers boots and two pair of pants just trying not to freeze your ass off.

Now, it snows a day or two, all I need is a pair of thick pantyhose under my pants and a hat. No more of those freakin' bleeding, cold NYC nights. It's still gets cold don't get me wrong but no like the in the Raving 80's. The last couple of days the media has been showered with the discussions at Copenhagen, Cllimate Change, China and CRAP!!! The ice caps are melting, rivers are rising, islands could disappear, the ozone layer (which no one really talks about anymore is most probably growing still), forests are disappearing, urban sprawl has diminshed free breathing land, wars for limited resources, carbon prints -dios mio, the list goes on.

Where do we start? The Debate: Definitely start with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at http://unfccc.int/2860.php. On Climate Change and its' impact on Latin America read this from the Brookings Institute http://unfccc.int/2860.php. Read Rinku Sen's article in the Huffington Post http://www.racewire.org/archives/2009/12/originally_published_on_the_huffington.html where she discusses how environmental justice issues impacts communities of color in the United States and the Global South. Update on New York and Climate Change read http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09bloomberg.html. And of course the Dominican Republic and Copenhagen see http://www.diariodigital.com.do/articulo,48265,html.

How can I prevent the rise of rivers, stop the ice caps from melting. Some things I do: I ride the train -even though the MTA loves to increase the fares every other day, carpool with my friends when i can catch a ride, turn off my lights, print less, eat at home, and recycle cans, bottles and newspapers. There is so much more for me to do to reduce my carbon print while the world tries to become right again. Til' then I will enjoy the snow as it comes down and lands on my nose, cojerlo suave. The answer is in slowing down...

CIR ASAP: International Migrants Day

A couple of days ago, Rep. Luis Guiterrez and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus joined by several allies, presented its' proposal for comprehensive immigration reform entitled Comprehensive Immigration Reform As Soon As Possible (no that's not the real name but I appreciate the pun). On these serious matters we always need a bit of humor. I was very excited to see that our very own Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano included the Child Citizen Protection Act language within the provisions of CIR which if it survives will be a much needed alivio for our community here in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. This means 2010 will be a year fraught with love and hate. Immigrants will continue on their message of love -family, compassion and forgiveness. Hate groups will on their message of hate, division and fear.

So is there a middle ground? Is there a negotiating point where both parties will walk away feeling like they won the battle? Is there a place of rest between these two tensions? As in the practice of yoga while you are pulling yourself in all different directions, you are to mindfully surrender to the pose and find that space, that silence where you can breathe. Does that space to breathe exists within the immigration debate?

As I am writing this, I don't think so. Both groups are extremely charged and are fighting for their lives as they see it. One side wants to have it all both here and there while sharing in the American Dream. The other just wants it all to themselves and no one else. Screaming at the top of their lungs, this incessant war of the future look of America makes it very hard to really listen to what is at the core of this debate -freedom of (r)evolution.

Yesterday, I was watching Parang Khanna on TED -my new favorite site: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/parag_khanna_maps_the_future_of_countries.html Here he discusses how the borders of the world are constantly changing because of the way people move to live and word. There was no discussion on the United States and its' relationship with Mexico and the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. However, while he was discussing the relationship between Russia and China I could not stop thinking about how much this situation was so much like the United States / Mexico and the Lousiana Purchase. Also known as the Reconquista -America's biggest fear.

An article in the New York Times discusses how the white population in American will be the minority in 2050 -scary for those KKK folks and white supremacists groups. It is like the end of the world for them -well it is as they know it. There tactics have turned violent as the world has seen with the killings of Marcelo Lucero and countless others throught the United States. Janet Napolitano with the okay of President Obama has instituted more repressive and oppressive measures such as the 287 (g) program. Massive amounts of immigrants have left areas of the South because life has become unbearable. Some going back home, others moving to different parts of the country like New York. But this doesn't even factor into the reality of the changing demographics. This will not stop the rise of Latinos, Asians and Blacks. So what is the answer?

I think the answer is that the United States can no longer resist the idea of change, and (r)evolution. As suggested by Khanna, the United States must surrender to this real fact of the changing borders in a non-violent way which is comprehensive immigration reform. Further criminalization of immigrants can not be part of this package. The continued and increased deportation of undocumented and legal permanent residents is not the answer. This just creates more despair, anger and rage in immigrat communities. I hope that as the debate moves forward, that the negotiators of CIR do not sell out -legalization in exchange for more deportation. This can not be our negotiating point. Do so is unjust, inhumane and plain wrong.

In conjunction with this, the United States will have to reconsider its' foreign policies in Latin America and the Caribbean to create sustainable and livable countries so that people won't have to leave their homeland. Most importantly, all this work must occur with a human rights lens to ensure that the right of people are preserved.

As our country is pulling itself in two directions, I wish President Obama and all of our leadership to surrender in the tension and listen to the quiet at the core -there they will find the answer for the future of America and the immigrants of the world. There they will find the balance which we need to ensure a just and humane comprehensive immigration reform.

(Picture: Dying to Live: A Story of U.S. Immigration in the Age of Global Apartheid by Joseph Nevins and Mizue Aizeki)