One thing I shy away from is a public discussion of my political views. Goodness knows I have plenty, but this is one arena I do not feel the need to address on a public forum. With that said, I like the last paragraph of this author's piece on her life as an undocumented immigrant and am posting it here because regardless of the subject matter, it's always lovely to read words that pull me in:
"Joan Didion once explained that someone with a plane schedule in their drawer lives according to a slightly different calendar than everyone else. Will these next seven months be the last I spend in the United States? It is November and I have already lost the ability to think in the future tense, as if my heart had anesthetized my mind in preparation for the possible disappointments of the next several months. I sleep without setting any alarm clocks. I speak faster in hopes that I might get more English words in. I kiss slower to feel more, here, longer. I’m at a road that bifurcates into continents and I am terrified because I know I might once again have to live with a decision that is not mine to make. It would hurt to be forced to leave, but it hurts to stay the way I’m staying now. I belong to this place but I also want it to belong to me."
Regardless of where one chooses to stand along the turbulent spectrum of this important issue, the soft parts of me cannot, will not, believe that any person who reads the above words could remain untouched and impervious to this specific individual's plight. This is one reason why I love words: they evoke compassion, empathy, and enable complete strangers to feel for one another, like an invisible bridge that is built on emotions, humanity - aspects that are more powerful and unifying than we may give them credit for.
Regardless of where one chooses to stand along the turbulent spectrum of this important issue, the soft parts of me cannot, will not, believe that any person who reads the above words could remain untouched and impervious to this specific individual's plight. This is one reason why I love words: they evoke compassion, empathy, and enable complete strangers to feel for one another, like an invisible bridge that is built on emotions, humanity - aspects that are more powerful and unifying than we may give them credit for.
"I belong to this place but I also want it to belong to me." that gave me chills. she articulates the feeling so precisely. another inspirational, heartwrenching story of an undocumented law student: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=464186867610.
ReplyDeleteand i totally agree where the power of words are concerned. i miss the friendships and connection we all had on xanga -- but it feels different on there now. i'm really glad we met, and continue to keep in touch, bebs! i am in love with your writing and i hope you'll think about writing something in the future. i'll be one of the first in line/online to cop a copy!