| March
27, 2004
¡Si! Something
must be done! (Part two)
By Ricardo Castañón/HispanicVista.com
When I see names such as Horacio
Gutierrez --Microsoft's Chief European
Lawyer, and Amelia Torres --European
Commission's spokeswoman, my chest
expands with legitimate ethnic pride.
(I'm NOT saying we're better than any
body else, only as good!)
The brains that can get some of our
people to such high places must be
coupled with noble hearts. At the bottom
of the ladder though, our brothers have
to put up with numerous sorts of hurdles
and taking unthinkable risks just to
survive and get their dreams going.
There is talk about some high-level
Hispanic organizations joining together
in some form of an alliance to design and
implement a campaign aimed at correcting
the problem. This is great! Trouble is...
such an approach takes too long! Our kids
are dying at the rate of ONE a day
--statistics say, but in reality it could
be worse!
We need to reach these folks NOW! We
cannot wait 'till Spanish seminars are
set up at conference rooms. How would
undocumented folks learn about time,
place and program' schedules? Even if
they did, they are not likely to attend
for fear of revealing their status and
potential deportation.
I urge those of us in the printing
business, in the paper industry, in the
translation services, in the publishing
fields... to PLEASE pitch in. We need to
design, print, and distribute thousands
over thousands of multi color fliers. We
need to get Spanish worded safety
warnings and instructions to them. We
need to make an effort to reach them out
of their foxholes.
Whether by volunteer workers going to the
field, or by dropping them of from an
airplane, these fliers would be the first
step in a truly effective method to
improve their chances. The bright color
fliers would catch their attention and
make them think twice about the issue.
Maybe even talk among themselves about
it, and that's the goal we attempt to
achieve.
Documented or not, they are human beings
in strange territory. They are easy prey
for all kinds of use and abuse by others.
We have a moral and a traditional
obligation to prevent that from
happening. Most importantly, we need to
let them know they are NOT alone! Their
hopes would be re-lit learning that those
of us already aboard are reaching out for
them.
They are as soft clay now, but they have
an iron heart and a healthy brain. I know
there is another Rosario Marin, another
Andres Bermudez-Viramontes aka the
"Tomato King" among them. Some
of these now humble immigrants will
eventually father and rear to maturity
another Cesar Chavez, another Ricardo
Sanchez, another Edward J. Olmos, another
Hector Elizondo and etceteras. This is
how our Hispanic genes get perpetuated
along with our traditional values.
The time for community reunion is NOW!
Top and bottom constitute our union, our
moral heritage. Let us pull together in a
worthy cause! Let us invest in the future
of our nation within our greater nation!
Let us show every one, but most
importantly to ourselves and our
siblings, what we are made of. Let us put
that fiber to the test. Comfort and
abundance have not softened it, we simply
had not had an occasion to bring it
about. Well... the time has come.
Unbutton your shirt and open up your
heart. Think and act as your conscience
commands. I know we are all connected.
Verdad que... Si?
______________________________________________
Ricardo Castañón
is a bilingual essayist contributing
weekly columns to HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com).
He has authored an anthology of
motivational articles. Book information
is at www.IkarosPress.com
Ricardo is based in El Paso, TX He can be
reached at Rico@IkarosPress.com
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