I am not too
sure I remember the exact use of the above saying, but it was meant along the
lines of “just for you” but in a not too nice a manner…
Anyhow,
this is the state of things around here… Just for you, I am sitting here and trying
to fill in, dutifully, a few lines that can go on to that “never land”
cybernetic universe. The one that allows me to reach you in the US, Russia,
India and points in between… all without lifting a finger… well, just to put it
down on the corresponding key and, with one single stroke… send it all on its
way!
This
morning, early in the morning, there was a one-on-one class of ESL. It was with
a very pretty young lady, who wants to improve her pronunciation because in her
professional circles, it is not too cool to have a Hispanic accent. Go figure…
some of the folk who come have such a thick Germanic accent that it is almost
impossible to understand a word they say. But they are "OK"... Yet, this professionally prepared young lady is afraid
because she has a, mind you, light “Spanish” accent. I guess that a European
accent is “kooler” than a Hispanic one, given the current status of affairs
around.
We
see a little bit of everything; we become teachers, advisers, counselors (not
the professional kind, mind you) at times confidants and, all in all, basically
offer a shoulder to cry on for some of these folk. Every one is a story and
each one has a history. Many are of very humble origins and come here, as we
know, to pursue the American Dream. A dream that for too many who were born here, seems to be scuttling away faster than we can run to catch it.
But
for these folk, whatever little they can obtain here, is more than what they
had before and gives them an opportunity to give their children something they could,
perhaps, grow into. In exchange, they often give up family, friends and a life.
A life that to us is perhaps a poor one, but to them was all they had.
Sometimes they come in to class and it is easy to see they are down. I ask:
“Did you talk to your children today?” the answer is usually yes… and they miss
them, and their families, terribly.
At
other times, when they come to class at night, after often working 12-13 hours
nonstop, there is a very tired bunch of questions in the air… “Is this really worth all?” “Am I giving up
my life for something which will be worthwhile for my family?” “Is not seeing
my children for so many years truly worth what I may be able to give them in
return?” I do not have an answer to these questions…
Perhaps I have experienced at one time or another some of the loss and the frustration,
the feeling of impotence of not being able to have a say in your own life… but
never to the extent these folk have lived it. There is an air of resignation at
times which turns into, after we finish a class which I try very hard to turn
into a “motivational” show, a somewhat reborn facade of resiliency and of hope
not completely lost.
There
is little I can say about these immigrants. Yes, there are far too many people
who live, work, raise a family and pay taxes in our country and who do not have
the appropriate papers. Most have taken an unforgiving chance just to get away from an
environment which will kill them and their children. The
travels and dangers they go through in order to make it here, are far beyond
whatever you or I could envision. Every step of the way is hounded by the cold
breath of probable death… Their hope is to get here and make a little something out of
nothing; several do succeed at this. It is a sub-world, a world where hope
mixes with the fear of being found out; where faith is truly tested on a daily
basis and where giving up is, simply, not an option. The alternatives are even less appealing.
I
will not be a judge on this matter. It is far beyond my reach and scope, since
I also was –at one time- an immigrant without papers; I just happened to
benefit from a different epoch and a situation arising from an international altercation, over which
I had no say. These people do not have that cushion; they only have their wits
and their dreams; and they are willing to fight for them.
All
I can ask is that, for those who do their utmost to integrate and offer a
working hand, doing what is right –within their very limited scope- there
should be a light somewhere, a light which may allow them to understand that
they will be helped and received. Should there be an additional price to be paid? As with “time
off for time served” a much too common arrangement for people who have
committed much worse deeds against society, perhaps their years of toil, fear,
limited possibilities and hard work should also serve as “time off for time
served” in any arrangement which could be brought forward.
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
- Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at
6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste
to your address bar.
- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
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