September 27, 2006

Because they dared....



the last few months i've found myself increasingly molestada (bothered for my folks who don't speak espanol) by what i see going on around me. or rather the lack of focus and attention on issues/problems/dilemnas that our society is facing. from substandard education to the war in iraq, take your pick and i'm probably gonna have an opinion to share. as a schizo-puerto rock who loves a land i've only seen thrice in my life, my latest obsession deals with the political status of my patria (country).

this weekend i attended several events commemorating el grito de lares, the start of the puerto rican nationalist movement (on sept. 23rd, 1868 in the town of lares, puerto rico,  hundreds of boricuas rose/rebelled against the spanish crown. the uprising was not "successful" in traditional terms but marked the beginning of the struggle) and the anniversary of the death of filiberto ojeda dias (a machetero leader) who was killed last year by the fbi. the first was an art exhibit, "not enough space" which featured the creations of the two reminaing puerto rican political prisoners oscar lopez rivera and carlos alberto torres (presente!). these two men have served 25 and 26 years respectively for their involvement with the FALN (fuerzas armadas de liberacion nacional). i was baffled, moved, overwhelmed and every other emotion you can think of, to witness their work as well as memorabilia of their lives. i can't think of anyone who's ever been that commmitted to anything. ever.

what makes it worse? neither had ever committed a crime before being arrested but both are serving 88 year (absurdly) long sentances to forward a cause that is considered a "natural right" by our constitution.

admittedly i do not condone, support or believe in violence. i don't think it's ever an answer. and i am aware of the  events that have been attributed to the organization (e.g. the wells fargo bank robbery, bombings, etc. during the early 80s.) what i do believe in is the ideals for which they stand: self- determination, choice, agency.

the second event i went to was a rally @ the united nations to bring attention to the island's colonial status. while it was great to be there and hear all of the speakers who came out to support, i was disappointed to see 1-so few people in attendance. with the amount of advertising, i had hoped to see a larger group. and 2-that there were many familiar faces. perhaps it's because i've been attending cultural events for so many years, perhaps it's because i'm a social butterfly and i know alot of folks, but i'm always eager to see the unfamiliar, the face i don't know, the person who is new, the hope that other people are awakening and caring.

now let's not get it twisted. i'm aware and appreciative of the benefits i have of being born in the united states (i own the privileges that i have), that my frame of reference for life has been created by being raised in this country, but it's precisely for that reason it aggravates me to see what's been happening around me for so long. i'm not interested in standing on a soapbox and mobilizing the masses (although that sure would be nice! =)). all i want is for one second out of your day, people stop and think about freedom. this intangible element...it's something that sounds so simple but is actually so expensive, so unreachable. ask yourself how and why we have it and how and why others don't. this isn't to say that the island or its people are literally shackled or imprisoned (though some of us are) or working on a plantation (though some of us are). but what happens to the psyche of a nation when another nation becomes a patriarchy and determines its fate?



my only other request (so i lied...there's more than one thing i want) with this is that folks take a moment to get educated. don't believe the hype...things are not as they appear and the rumbling beneath the surface (the shutdown of the pr govt a few months ago, the fbi raids on nationalist's homes, etc.) that's all just a sypmtom of a greater issue. ponle atencion...



some handy resources for ya...

El Grito de Lares:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grito_de_Lares

National Boricua Human Rights Network: http://www.prcc-chgo.org/NBHRN_site/home.html

Los Macheteros: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/epb-macheteros.htm

Filiberto Ojeda Dias:http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051024/jimenez

FALN: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/faln.htm

September 7, 2006

Tropic of Capricorn

Scarred by memory
fingers feel for scabs
instinctively
so as not to forget
the pain
to retrace/recall
the fall
and instead
remember how to walk
instead of collide

Holding patterns
emerge as a way to protect
and inflict spite
because fear screams louder than actions
believing you are the same
as before
I speak and act to shield
from expected slams and stabs
You insist and thrash
against insecurities to show
you are different too

But the stitch along
the line of trust throbs
when I least expect
the scar of memory announces itself
and I’m fumbling to
find the fault line
once again