Category Archives: Current Events

Under The Berkeley Skies-Day 41: Look up and Read the Signs.

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

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Hello my dears! I know it’s been a while, but life happens and I needed some time to live it. But here I am: alive, exhausted, excited, and a bit saddened by the recent news. In case you live under a rock or were nowhere near some form of technology today, the great comic Robin Williams passed away today in what seems like a suicide. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around this, it just seems unreal.

Robin Williams

July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014

Any suicide, whether of a famous person or a “normal” person like you and I, is extremely heart wrenching. During my life at CAL, midterms and finals were known as suicide watch. We would get emails from the counselors on campus letting us know of their existence and of their extended hours during these periods. We even had RRR week (Reading, Review, and Recitation), before Finals week. Here’s the Office of the Registrar’s official definition for RRR week: 

“Reading, Review, and Recitation (RRR) Week is the week following the end of formal class instruction and preceding the tart of final exams and is intended for students to have free time to prepare for exams, to work on final papers and projects, and to participate in optional review sessions and meetings with instructors. RRR week is baed on the pedagogical principle that students benefit from the time devoted to synthesizing the course material learned over the course of the semester.”

We the students new this as: time to catch-up on reading, finish assignments, review, review, review. It was a godsend, as it alleviated some of the stress; nonetheless, it was still rough. During RRR week and finals week, I would sometimes only run on 20 mins of sleep a day, or a combined 10 hours of sleep between the two weeks. It was hell, but RRR week helped. However, even with this extra week and extended hours for the counselor’s on campus, there was always a suicide. I don’t recall many during midterms, but in the 2.5 years I was at CAL there was always a suicide during finals. Kids throwing themselves out of dorm windows, overdosing, or finding some other way to alleviate the pain. It was sad. What was worse, is that the mourning of the student was felt by many (he/she was one of us), but only for a short term of time. Unless we directly knew the person, we would discuss it and state how horrible it was, but then go back to our studies.

I know. Horrible. We didn’t mean to be this way, but we too were going through our own level of pressure.

The one thing that always goes through my mind when I hear of a suicide is “Damn. It was that bad? What could be this bad to make her/him believe this was the only way they could alleviate the pain?” Situations like these take me back, to when I too thought that would be the only way to make the pain go away. Yes, I’ve had thoughts and considered it the best and only solution for everyone. I thought about it at early age, was ready to do it, but something pulled me back. I had to go to therapy for a while after that, it helped. As a teen, went through it again, I was tired, I couldn’t handle the pressure of people wanting me to be someone else. The pressure of not being good enough for my sisters (who at the time were my legal guardians), of not fitting in, of just being sad. Again, something pulled me back.

However, this action was followed by another that lead me to the doctor’s visit with alcohol poisoning. I remember gagging because of how horrible the alcohol tasted; however, I knew if I drank enough of it I would forget, or if I’m lucky I might feel good. Nope. Worst feeling ever. Worse sensation ever. Worse pain ever. Most embarrassing and traumatizing experience ever. After this I was taken to therapy again, this time it helped, I was finally diagnosed. Luckily this time around, I didn’t have to get on meds, I just needed to be back with my family in the US.

However, 4-5 years later I was put on medication. Many people around me didn’t know I was on medication, they didn’t know that my doctor kept changing the dosage on me because I couldn’t sleep and nothing was working. The cure this time around, quitting my job. After two years of little to no sleep, the night I turned in my two weeks notice I slept like a baby. I immediately got off of my medications.

After that I realized that working out helped a lot, but I mean a lot. It kept me from going “dark”. That was my “I”m never going on meds” cure-working out. I promised myself I would never take medication ever-again. I was so committed to this promise that even 3 years after this, when I had a very bad health scare and was slowly falling back into depression I fought my doctors on it. I remember they kept saying: “This is a lot for you right now, we just want to make sure you don’t harm yourself” my response through the sobbing “I’m not going to kill myself, that’s the last thing on my mind, I want you to find out what the hell is wrong with me because I want to live.”  I was in the doctor’s office every week, sometimes twice a week, depending on how bad my physical symptoms got and each time they would try to give me those damn pills. Every time, I would fight with them and I would win.

My mother suffers from depression, towards the end of her life my grandmother did too. So, it’s no surprise that I suffer from it too. However, I have learned to be in tune with my body and mind. I can tell when the haze wants to try to roll in, this usually happens when I’m under stress, not exercising and not eating healthy. Thus, I go out for a run and stop eating junk. This usually helps, in those occasions when it doesn’t. I allow myself a “mental health day”, I don’t go to work or school, or anywhere. I just sit at home, relax, and do some soul searching. This usually involves, prayer, meditation, or sometimes a movie that will guarantee to make me cry. Sometimes all I need is a good cry. The next morning after my “mental health day” I typically feel better, refreshed and ready to make the changes necessary as to avoid going through that again.

I’ve had a few little meltdowns, but nothing that would ever make me want to hurt dance partymyself again, or nothing that couldn’t be handled by a run, chocolate, or a good old dance party with a friend (think Meredith and Christina). Yes, real people do that, it helps honey!

I know some people close to me, are finding out about this for the very first time. Others might think I’m completely nuts for posting something like this, but why? We all go through it in some shape or form. We need to stop making it so taboo, when we lift the negative connotation from it I strongly believe more people will be getting help. As it is, I read an article where it states that more people are seeking help, some use life coach’s, wellness coaches, psychologist, or even spiritual guidance through a practitioner. Whatever helps right? But this increase is stil a lot lower than the extremely high number of suicides per year, approximately 30,000 a year.

However, I think with Robin Williams, the case was different. He was a comedian, so everyone expected him to be happy, everyone expected him  to be “on” if you must. I’m no professional, but as someone that has battled with depression, I believe this is what made it harder for him to try to seek help. How is it that the one that makes us happy, is unhappy? No way. That is just not possible; unfortunately, it happens a lot.  When people tend to be the happy one, the strong one, the dependable one, it’s a lot harder to ask for help. We have titles to live up to, we can’t show signs of weakness.

This my friends is when I say to you: you need to learn to read those signs of weakness. All over social media, everyone is posting how sad they are about Williams’ death, how depression sucks, and how “hey if you feel sad, down, or alone, call me I’m here for you!” Ummmmm, I’m no Einstein but I think you might be missing the point. I know that the good intention is there and these folks might actually mean it; however, it’s not that simple. When someone is feeling depressed, alone or sad, they don’t always feel comfortable reaching out. In some cases they might not even know how, in others they just don’t see the point. This is were we, the friends, the support system, need to start paying attention. You might need to be the one to approach that person, its a tough situation and uncomfortable for both parties, but so damn worth it.

A real conversation always contains an invitation. You are inviting another person to reveal himself or herself to you, to tell you who they are or what they want.” – David Whyte

So; although, I believe all of you out there posting “hey if you’re depressed text me, wall postcall me, or IM me” are sweethearts, I think you might be a bit gullible. We need to start looking up from our smartphones every once in a while to make sure those around us are okay. Stop texting, emailing, or posting on your friend’s wall, instead call or visit them, hang out with them.

Awww, the good old days when we use to have real direct conversations with people versus text conversations (btw, lol, smh, and whatever other shenanigan is out there), through our phone or computer screen. Real Convesations

Oh and start saying “I love you” more often, you have no idea how much clout those three little words carry. Don’t just assume people know you care, tell them you do. I for one say this to my friends and family members every chance I get, this way if I die tomorrow there will be no doubt in their hearts that they were loved by me.

Show more gratitude to one another, praise one another, uplift, care for one another and the simplest of them all: smile to one another.

Love you! 

PS: Dear reader, please note that I’m in no way watering down the terrible illness that is depression. Not only am I well aware that what works for me may not work for someone else, I’m also aware that what works for me today may not work for me tomorrow.

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Under the Berkeley Skies-Day 39: Brazil you suck!

06 Friday Jun 2014

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Hello lovelies,

I know, I know I skipped a day. I have a very good reason: my iphone died! No, I don’t post via my phone (hmm, I should try though), I was just pissed off. I’m the type of person that gets extremely frustrated when things don’t do what they are suppose to. I’m sure we all do, but I take it to the next level: I stop what I’m doing, research what the problem or error online, try it out, “still doesn’t work!”, get pissed, look at device, yell extremely colorful words at it, share my frustration on Facebook, look at it again, try to figure it out again, “still nothing? I’m done!”, toss it to the other side of the room. Wallow in my anger and frustration, until I angrily fall asleep. At this point I’m of no use to anyone, I’m the bitchiest person in the planet. I know I have some anger issues, I have to work on that. Another entry for my to do list.

Luckily for me and the rest of the world, we are back on track. My phone is working and everything is A-okay! However, now let me tell you what happened to me at the Apple store…maybe not. I was going to quickly tell you how the A-hole guy that was helping me totally left me waiting for him for 30 minutes and then walked out of the store. I know, Apple will be receiving a very angry letter from me, this is bullshit.

snapMy bad. I guess I did go there. Shit, since, I’m here let me tell you this: it was the 4th Street Apple Store in Berkeley. Boom. What?

Moving along to better things, what I really wanted to share with you was the following story:  I was sitting at the Apple store (the one in 4th Street, just in case you forgot which one), waiting for the A-hole “guy” to come back and check on my phone as he said he was going to. In the same little table as me a ‘genius’ was working with an older gentleman. I was already starting to get annoyed because I couldn’t find my “guy” anywhere on the floor. All of a sudden I realize the gentleman is speaking to me, I look his way and this happened:

Mr.: Excuse me can I ask you a personal question?
Me: Oh, sure (I brace myself)
Mr.: How does it feel to be so beautiful? 
Me: (I’m blushing and smiling) Oh, thank you. 
Mr.: No really, you are just gorgeous. 
Me: Thank you, thank you very much! loved it
Ego is beaming at this point, I must say I walked out of there with some extra sassiness. 
 

I’m not really sure how to make this transition, but here we go, off to Brazil.

brazil-14Why Brazil?

Easy, have you not seen all the crap that is going on down there? It’s just awful and extremely heartbreaking. With less than 6 days away things are extremely chaotic in that country. I’ve been seeing posts on my social media with pictures of kids and women crying, police beating up protestors, police dragging protestors leaving a blood trail behind. Videos have also hit the internet that depict the sounds and the heinous acts that the government is committing against its poor.

Let’s not kid ourselves, this is definitely against the poor. The government is forcing people off their lands to build f’n parking lots! Parking lots!? It’s just unbelievable, the government is insane thinking that investors are going to see this and think “Brazil? Oh yea they have their shit together let’s invest there!” In case you didn’t know this is why they are hosting the World Cup. The economy in the past 3-4 years has been affected drastically, their stock market is tanking, inflation has caused prices to soar. As if this was not enough, in 2013; which was when the protest actually started, the government decided to increase public transportation cost in Sāo Paulo. I should mention, that this came after a high tax increase.

The numbers speak for themselves:
Brazil has invested $11.3 billion in Cup-related infrastructure improvements, a third of which went into building or overhauling stadiums in a dozen host cities. It has been estimated that Brazil will spend $18 billion to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. 

As per Anthony Boadle’s article “World Cup leaves Brazil costly stadiums, poor public transport”:

Four arenas were built in cities that have only third-tier football teams and small chance of recovering the investment: Manaus, Natal, Cuiaba and the capital Brasilia, where the magnificent National Stadium cost 1.6 billion reais, more than double the original price tag. City auditors say Brazil’s most costly stadium still needs 300 million reais to finish the exteriors after the World Cup.

Insane right? If you’re disgusted by this can you imagine how the people of Brazil feel? These ridiculous costs are what ignited more than a million citizens across Brazil to take the streets. Brazilians protested political corruption, economic injustice, poor health care, meager schools, crappy mass transit, and a decaying infrastructure, and with every right, the insane costs to host the Wold Cup.

I mean seriously these billions could be spend on the citizens, on their REAL needs. It just does not make sense, it’s Beijing all over again.

People are getting killed, beaten, families are forced off their lands, and as per one recent article I came across orphaned street children are “disappearing” to make the streets look more aesthetically appealing to the tourists. Are you f’n kidding me?

Please
tell
me
what
about
this
is
okay
with
you?

You know what really gets my panties in a bunch; don’t get me wrong this just all pisses me off, but wait until I tell you this: The President, Dilma Vana Rousseff, was a socialist and was a member of a Marxist urban group that fought against the military dictatorship in the 1970’s. She was captured, jailed, and tortured in 1970-1972. I’ll give you a moment to pick your mouth up from the floor.

This same woman, who helped fund the Democratic Labour Party (PDT) in Rio Grande do Sul, is the very same one who is okay with all of this chaos. She’s okay with the violence and the cruelty that her voters (I’m assuming most of the considered middle to lower class voted her into office), are receiving at the hands of her government.

12 monkeys

This is my: “what type of democracy are you talking about lady?” look

She continues to defend this decision, in her eyes this stuff happens all the time “it’s part of democracy” what the hell? What type of Democracy is she serving?

Hmm, are you starting to get scared? Not sure if you should travel to Brazil, don’t be sweatheart, she’s got your back: “We fully guarantee people’s security,” she said. It’s apparent that it is her people’s security and livelihood that she does not care a flying ‘puck’ about.

WebWhat am I doing? I’m officially boycotting the World Cup! I look forward to the World Cup every four years, it is really the only soccer I ever watch. But with all of this tomfoolery you really think that my conscious will allow me to watch this? What type of humanitarian would I be? What type of human being would I be? Which is why it is so hard for me to understand that people are still traveling to Brazil, worst yet that the players are still going. In all honesty, they should boycott the cup. I mean, seriously people what about this are you confused about? This government is violating every single human right you can think of and it’s all for SOCCER! Give me an F’n break!

Thus, I say this from the bottom of my heart:

Brazil you suck, because of your insane need to hide the reality of your country to tourist and possible investors I will not be enjoying the World Cup this time around.

All I can say is that I hope that the 2018 cup doesn’t come with so much unrest because then I’ll just have to start watching Cricket matches. Update: Just realized these will be held in Russia! Cricket it is! 

See these sponsors, I will be boycotting them too.

See these sponsors? I will be boycotting them too.

Again, Brazil you really suck. I mean you suck big time!  I was looking forward to some soccer but now I look forward to hearing about the populace stampeding your streets demanding respect, healthcare, education, and a livelihood.

With this being said, I feel the need to explain something, I do support protest. As long as they are peaceful, I do not support violent protest, this means: I do not support the harming of any persons or property. I believe these acts take away from the message you are truly trying to get across. As the great Pele said in an interview in Mexico City:

Some of this money could have been invested in schools, in hospitals,” he said. “Brazil needs it. That’s clear. On that point, I agree (with the protests). But I lament what protesters are doing, which is breaking and burning everything. It’s money that we will have to spend again.

Want to  know something that’s extremely interesting? Mexico withdrew its bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups due to financial reasons. Couldn’t Brazil have done the same? The government should have had a ‘coming to Jesus talk’ and faced the facts: they don’t have what it takes to do something of this caliber. Apparently, that’s too much to ask for-obviously!

In short, today we learned that the Brazilian government and that ‘guy’ from the Apple Store suck-big time!

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Under The Berkeley Skies-Day 5: We’ve lost a great one.

06 Friday Dec 2013

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Madiba “Nelson” Mandela.  July 18, 1918 – December 5, 2013

Mandela with quote

Hello lovelies, today I greet you with a heavy heart. For today, December 5th 2013 the world has lost one of its biggest and greatest leaders Madiba “Nelson” Mandela.

Perhaps one of the most widely recognized individuals associated with love and forgiveness in governance is Nelson Mandela, who played a pivotal role in combatting apartheid in South Africa. As the first South African president elected through a fully representative democratic election, Mandela galvanized his country to pursue a path of forgiveness and reconciliation, enabling many to move past the numerous atrocities that occurred during the reign of apartheid. Having been subjected to a total of 27 years in prison, much of which he served on Robben Island, Mandela was uniquely positioned to exemplify the act of love and forgiveness for his fellow compatriots.
 
I’m sure your Facebook and television is flooding with posts or commentary about Mandela; thus, I will not do the same. I am going to post, but it will be brief-at least for today.

I admired Mandela for so many reasons, as an activist myself he is one of the greats we aspire to mirror. However, the biggest and probably the main reason why I admire and respect this man so much is because of his capability for forgiveness.

He forgave a country and it’s people even after he was unjustly imprisoned for 27 years.   He was arrested in his 20‘s and was not freed until he was in his 70‘s. How many of us could say we would do the same? He came out without any need of vengeance, to the contrary, his desire to serve humanity had increased. I find this amazing because forgiveness is something that I find so difficult, especially forgiving ourselves.

I truly believe that forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do as a Human, but yet he made it seem so easy. I will forever admire this quality and I believe it is this very quality that allowed him to be the Great Human that he was.

Mandela will forever be a force in this world, he will forever be remembered, and many of us will continue to work hard on that shared vision of Equality for all humanity.

My heart goes out to the people of South Africa and to his family.

 Here’s a short clip with his history:

Unrelated Mandela News: 

Follow up from day 4: No ghosts needles felt this time, I think I’m becoming a pro at acupuncture. I still had a headache today, but not as bad. I have another acupuncture session on Sunday, so I’m sure I’ll get better soon.

Juice was good, not too keen on the powder though. It was so…powdery (sorry English Professors!), but I can deal with it. I think I just need to get use to it.

Seven years….

06 Friday Apr 2012

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“Ladies and Gentlemen please get ready for landing…” that’s all that I hear from the flight attendant as we were getting ready to fly into Fort Worth, Texas airport. As I looked out the window I started to take a survey of the land, I looked out as far as I could. As I did this I couldn’t help but think to myself how big and open the country “appeared” to be from the sky. As I continued to survey the Fort Worth territory and as we got closer to the airport, reality hit me and the caution message posted on all car mirrors flashed before my eyes: “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” the emphasis here is on the word “appear”.  As I continued to look out the window I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful and peaceful it all seemed from my view. The pastures look gorgeous and calm showered in different colors of green. The blue of the lakes and rivers blissfully echo the stillness and serenity of the clear blue skies above. From up here even the city seems to be in harmony, but the truth is that once you get closer, the pastures and especially the city only remain friendly for a few.  In reality it embraces those that meet the right qualifications: class, gender, race, and ethnicity. These last two are the most crucial, especially in the last couple of years when it seems that our government representatives have all taken a sip from the “ I HATE ANYONE THAT’S NOT LIKE ME” Kool-Aid.

As I look out and see that we are getting closer and closer to the landing strip, I realize that many will never have the opportunity to witness what I just did up in the skies. Many will never understand  or relate to the Utopia-like feeling I got believing (even for a mili-second) that the country is vast, friendly and ours for the taking.  See, to many the country and their vision of it is rather small or rather yet limited. Limited by their circumstance, to be more specific, by their legal status. Some might only be willing or allowed to venture out to a nearby city; this alone might already be a great risk, especially with the current anti-immigration climate that seems to be ruthlessly hitting this country.

I know very well how this feels, as a child I grew up with those close to me facing this fear; unfortunately, now that I am older things haven’t changed much. Maybe there’s different characters (individuals) that are being affected but the plot remains the same. The villain-FEAR also remained the same, but unlike the characters in the narrative this villain has grown in repertoire. More individuals have been added to play or induce FEAR such as: police officers through the Secure Communities program, deans and university staff (just ask any DREAMER), and if you happen to be in Alabama any city, public school, doctor, nurse, gas, water, and electricity company employee.

The reasons for migration are varied and complex. Some people move to improve their economic situation, reunite with families, or obtain an education. Others leave their countries to escape violence, poverty, or discrimination.*

As we land I can’t help thinking of the loved one I will soon be embracing, a loved one who I haven’t seen in seven years because the system we live in has boxed them in to a small area which they consider their safe haven. The same system that knows that they are hard working individuals, but yet does not refrain from criminalizing them.  The same system that most likely had something (or a lot to do) with the reason why you had to venture out to another country to survive or provide a living for your family back home. The same system that eats and benefits from the fruits of your hard labor, but yet requires you to keep your head down and maintain your invisibility in this country.

Seven long years, how time flies. The last time I saw the children they could sit on mylap, now they ask me about the University I attend and I wonder if they will ever get to sit inside of one. I can’t help but cringe at the mere thought that their “American Dream” might end after their high school graduation. I can’t help but wish that “legal” status was transferable, I can’t but feel guilty for being born on this “supposed” land of opportunity.

Am I grateful?

Yes, but the guilt of knowing that I have access to certain benefits simply because I was born on the right side of the border is heartbreaking and unshakable. I think of all the children and young adults in our schools, excelling and proving that they have the skills to be a benefit to society. The willingness to prove to their host country how grateful and appreciative they are for being on American soil, by going out and acquiring a career…if you would only give them a chance.  Instead, you deny them the opportunity and only give them access to the jobs “we” citizens are not willing to take.

This in itself is ironic. It’s ironic because we are currently undergoing a shortage of doctors and nurses in the U.S. However, instead of helping propel the children of our country towards these careers to fill in these gaps, we go out to other nations like Africa, Thailand, Philippines, etc. and poach their professionals leaving those countries without the proper staff to take care of their own people.

As the population of the developed countries are aging and coming to require ever more medical attention, they are sucking away local health talent from developing countries. Already, one out of five practicing physicians  in the U.S. is foreign-trained, and a study recently published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that if current trends continue, by 2020 the U.S. could face a shortage of up to 800,000 nurses and 200,000 doctors.**

Oh, but wait…I believe Uncle Sam is trying to remind me of something…ah, yes! If you join the military you are eligible for citizenship. So, put down that book and University brochure, pick up a weapon and make sure you remember to pick up your citizenship diploma before going out to training camp. You might not make it back alive, but at least you’ll die knowing you’re a citizen.

DISCLAIMER: By no means am I anti-military, I respect our service men and women, but I am against this being used as a tool to entice undocumented youth to enlist. Especially when the due process for residency and citizenship is run in such a way that one cannot help but think that its main purpose is to make things as difficult as possible for the applicant.

…Pentagon officials expect that the lure of accelerated citizenship will be powerful. Under a statute invoked in 2002 by the Bush administration, immigrants who serve in the military can apply to become citizens on the first day of active service, and they can take the oath in as little as six months…For foreigners who come to work or study in the United States on temporary visas, the path to citizenship is uncertain and at best agonizingly long, often lasting more than a decade. The military also waives naturalization fees, which are at least $675.

To enlist, temporary immigrants will have to prove that they have lived in the United States for two years and have not been out of the country for longer than 90 days during that time. They will have to pass an English test….Language experts will have to serve four years of active duty, and health care professionals will serve three years of active duty or six years in the Reserves. If the immigrants do not complete their service honorably, they could lose their citizenship.***

Seven years, in which all we have done as a family is hope and pray for the government to address this issue and pass a legislation that will benefit or at least make the current process clearer or flexible for those we know and love. See, many think that we want to play the system. But you are so wrong. We want to do the right thing, we respect your procedures and laws, if we could we would even file our taxes. But you see, we can’t. Because the way you have set things up for us and the role you have assigned us forces us to remain invisible.

As I wait for my connection to the East Coast, I observe as travelers move to and fro eager to reach their destinations. I know they are because we share the same expression, for I waited seven years to see you. I know, I know…far too long. Trust me I wanted to come sooner but I couldn’t, financially I couldn’t. Shame, the reasons that keep us apart. 

Throughout these years I wondered, if I would ever see them again. I wondered what we as a family would do if we ever got the call, the call that most families with undocumented members dread and that some don’t even get until after the fact. What would we do? What could we do?

I sigh, and I try not to think about it. I try to concentrate on our time together. At the same time I can’t help feeling angry, but this emotion is overshadowed by the urgency of the need to change this system.

A promise.

Yes, a promise!

A promise that I will do something to change this awful system that breaks families apart, that brings about fear, hatred, and distrust. I promise not only for those I know but for everyone that finds themselves in what seems like a helpless and hopeless situation. I promise because as a first generation American I know what it is like to see those you love struggle. Lose not only their dignity but their voice as well, because of the fear that the “gringo” might call the migra on them. I promise, because I’ve witnessed injustices take place simply because “the freaken wetback doesn’t speak English, they don’t know!” They don’t know they are being screwed, disrespected, criminalized, taken advantage of…but I did. I knew. I just couldn’t say anything then, but I can now.

Thus, I promise to do something, say something, stand up against injustices geared towards the undocumented in our country. Why? Because I believe in a civil society, we are all linked, we are all from the same human race. Lastly, now this is pretty simple folks:

 BECAUSE I WANT TO!

I can’t and won’t wait for other’s to make time to solve this issue. It affects my present; therefore, I will and must act.

How? Not sure. But I will figure it out, trying is a lot better than sitting on the sidelines and shaking my head at how unfair the world is.

I guess this is a start. Amnesty International rally, Colorado state Capital.

  • *Amnesty International “In hostile terrain: Human Rights violations in Immigration enforcement in the US Southwest” Publication 2012
  • **Garrett, Laurie “The Challenge of Global Health” Foreign Affairs. Jan/Feb. 2007
  • ***Preston, Julia “U.S. Military Will Offer Path to Citizenship” NY York Times 2/14/09

Occupy CAL, Nov. 9-Part II

15 Tuesday Nov 2011

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I’m honestly glad that I called my mother last Wednesday to let her know what was really going on at Sproul. The morning after she called and was frustrated with the coverage that the media was showing regarding the previous nights events, before I could get a word in she yelled out:

Pero no dicen porque estaban alli, no dicen porque los estudiantes estan arriesgando su seguridad!

Which translates to: “they are not stating why the students were there, they are not saying why the students are risking their safety/security” Needless to say that by “they” she is talking about the media. It’s also sad to know that some of my other friends were clueless as to why we were there too, they thought we were just part of the Occupy movement. I had to explain that we were there in solidarity to the movement but we were also there to let the UC administration know that an 81% tuition hike is an outrage.

Some of my more ‘realistic’ friends stated that the increase is going to happen no matter what, I simply said that might be the case but at least we are making it known that the students will no longer remain silent to their indiscretions and their apprehensive behavior towards the student. Administration and the government need to understand that they are not only hurting the current students, but also the future leaders of this Nation. We must remember that:

Education is a right, not a privilege

As promised more pics and clips from that day.

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Occupy CAL, Nov. 9-Part I

10 Thursday Nov 2011

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Unless you have been living under a rock you are unaware that the world has been OCCUPIED. 

What started in Wall Street has reached such cities as: Portland, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and 92 countries around the globe. People are tired, excuse me the 99% are tired of watching as the 1% sits back and relaxes as if nothing is happening.  But things are happening, people are no longer staying quiet, action is the order of the day. As Anonymous states in this ‘news clip’

This is now bigger than you or me, it is about US the collective 99%, that will no longer stand for the corruption, greed, and inequality that is rampant among our governing forces…

In solidarity to the Occupy movement and in protest to the recent 81% tuition hikes, the 99% at UC Berkeley joined the cause to make our voices heard. Overall things were peaceful in the beginning, but then things just got ugly. Here’s a clip of the first UCPD officer bringing down our tent.

But we shall not be moved….

I must say that it was amazing how people were so courteous and peaceful, everyone looked out for one another. This was demonstrated over and over again, even under such duress as we saw the police walking towards us in riot gear. The fellow I was chained (arm in arm) next to made sure that I had a good grip around his arm and kept reassuring me that we could do this “we are strong.” Maybe he could sense that I was getting a little scared or was saying it to ease his shaking, I just held on a little tighter and said “yes we can!”  He and my friend/photographer on the left side of me were what kept me strong and rid me of fear, which would be no use to me because at that very moment I was standing face to face with a Sheriff in riot gear. I looked at him and he looked at me, I knew one wrong move would mean his baton coming towards me. I knew that at that moment I had stopped talking about it and I was now in it, I was officially the 99%.

I should mention that before we got arm in arm, and had received notice that the Alameda County Sheriffs were on the other side of the building getting their riot gear ready, the organizers had made sure to announce the National Lawyers Guild telephone number, and had told us to write it somewhere on our body just in case we were arrested. The Public Education Coalition also passed out flyers in which it told us our rights: “A guide to dealing with police, arrest, and the disciplinary process,” which consisted of what to do when dealing with police, what we should do if we got arrested, and how we can help our friends that got arrested. Medics were present, there was a collection for food, and as the night progressed boxes of pizza and bags of candy were making their way through the crowd. I must say it was really the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen. Sorry FOX News, yet again you are wrong…we are not a bunch of dirty hippies, but are a united front demanding change.

Berkeley students, I am a San Francisco City College student and I come here in solidarity because I know that what you are doing today will allow me to someday attend UC Berkeley

[more pics and clips will be posted shortly, please stay tuned.]

Community Speak Out-Secure Communities

20 Thursday Oct 2011

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Life through the Secure Communities lens

What is “Secure Communities” or S-Comm (as we prefer to call it)?

I believe NNIRR (National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) best summarizes it: “This program uses the information-sharing capability between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to quickly identify anyone who is not a U. S. citizen who has been arrested and booked, whether or not the are convicted if the alleged crime, are checked against FBI and immigration records. If fingerprints match DHS records, ICE sends a “hold” or “detainer” request to the local law enforcement agency asking them to detain the person for up to 48 hours until ICE agents can determine the immigration status of the person and initiate deportation proceedings against them. 

Undocumented and Unafraid!

It’s pretty ironic that ICE decided to use the name “Secure Communities” isn’t it?

"Undocumented and Unafraid!" Shirts worn by the undocumented students at the Stop S-Comm rally in Chicago.

But we the people are the only ones that can bring about change. This can be done by raising our voices and letting city and government officials know that we will not stand for this. We are all affected in one way or another, so we must all share the burden of doing the right and just thing.

If you are in the area of Berkeley, join me at the Community Forum and Speak out @ Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalist on Monday, October 24, 2011 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm (refreshments from 6:30 to 7 pm). This event is being hosted by the Coalition for a Safe Berkeley*, to unveil proposed city legislation to protect civil and human rights in the face of increasing federal surveillance, repression, deportations and racial profiling.

The Speak-Out will feature testimony from Berkeley residents (and others) about their personal experiences with these abuses of civil and human rights.  The following human rights leaders will provide background information:

  •  Veena Dubal, Lead Attorney, Asian Law Caucus:  Political and religious surveillance
  •  Shahid Buttar, Executive Director, Bill of Rights Defense Committee:  campaigns around the country to restore civil rights
  •  Cinthya Munoz, Immigrant Rights Organizer with Causa Justa::Just Cause:  “Secure Communities Program”
  •  Mansour Id-Deen, Vice President, Berkeley NAACP:  Racial Profiling

This panel will speak to the power of municipal civil rights restoration ordinances to restrain local police collaboration with repressive federal agencies.

*Members of the Coalition for a Safe Berkeley include:  American Civil Liberties Union Northern California (Berkeley/North East Bay Chapter), Asian Law Caucus, Berkeley City Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Council on American Islamic Relations, FMLN Berkeley, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Berkeley), National Lawyers Guild (Bay Area Chapter), National Network on Immigrant and Refugee Rights (partial list)