Pandora's Other Box

This is a longer entry than usual. I debated (a short debate) whether to break it into two entries or not and the "not" won out. Maybe I just wanted to "get it over with" since it was not easy to put on paper...  One morning, not long ago, started with some news I had been afraid would come at almost any time. As I was getting ready to leave for my first morning class, the phone rang. I saw the name of my sister in law on the screen and, at this early time of the morning, the thought of some negative news immediately came to mind. Her voice was a little shaken when she said  –“Rafo”, “your mom passed away last night”. I saw her last some 34 years ago, when she was given the opportunity to come and visit us ( my sister and I ), after 20 years of not seeing each other. This is the very high price paid by all who leave their homeland searching for a better tomorrow or because, simply, there is no choice. It often means the past is left behind, to be re...

NOTE:  While in the process of doing a compilation of selected blog entries for possible publication, I came across this one which definitely is one of the chosen ones. Came to me from a dear friend almost 2-3 years ago and I thought  it was good enough to republish. Read and think. A couple of days ago, there was an entry was titled.. “Life isn’t Fair” and a dear old friend who actually takes the time to read and comment, sent me these… 1.Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three R’s:           - Respect for self,           - Respect for others and           - Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful        stroke of luck. 5. Learn...

With this electoral “Highway from Hell” we are going through this year, being a Latino becomes relevant… but not always in the right way. Never before in the 54 years I have lived in this country has an election so polarized people. For the right or wrong reasons. I am Hispanic by birth, a naturalized US citizen, this earned after serving in the army during the VN conflict. In other years, I always tried not to get involved in political discussions for, after all, it is very rare that a point of view will be changed. If for no other reason that by changing it you may feel you are giving in to someone who is convincing you that what you espoused was and is wrong to begin with. But, some of my Hispanic friends whose view differ from mine (I am a conservative by life’s teachings and not a supporter of HRC ) are hell-bent on trying to get me to change my mind. In doing so, the basic arguments used are: 1- He’s abusive 2- He’s anti Hispanics 3- Will deport everyone 4- H...