Brown is the new black ...

In case you didn't know, Latinos are now facing the same kind of discrimination that historically African Americans have been faced with. Apparently membership in the KKK has risen due to a lot of anti-immigration fear & anxiety with the immigrants coming from Mexico rather than other countries.

I also read an article this past week in the New York Times about 7 teenagers in Long Island, NY who went out looking for a "Mexican"to beat up. They found Marcelo Lucero, an legal immigrant from Ecuador who had lived in the US for 16 years. They beat him, stabbed and killed him. It's a horrible reminder of how racism is alive and well in the U.S.

According to government statistics, racism against Mexicans in the US is escalating steeply. The FBI reports that hate crimes against Latinos rose almost 40 percent between 2003 and 2006. And it's getting worse.

All this reminds me about an incident that happened to me about 2 years ago. I was shopping at my local grocery store in Orange County (before our move here to San Diego), and I was wearing an Aztec calendar medalion around my neck. While I'm standing at the checkout stand the latino guy bagging my groceries says to me in spanish, "Are you sure you want to be advertising that you're a Mexican, it's not a good idea". I guess he had the inside scoop about what was to come.

Growing up, my mother put a lot of effort into making me fit in. I suppose she was trying to protect me from the racism she received for being a latino. Her theory was that if I dressed the part and looked the part, maybe people wouldn't find out that I was a Mexican. When I was 12 she took me to get my hair dyed auburn red, I continued doing that until I was 18. The plan was to present myself as a "white" person. So whenever I went to a new school (lots of schools, 2 jr highs and 6 high schools), my mom told me when asked about my ethnicity I should say Greek, Italian or even Jewish, but never say "I'm Mexican". The other thing that she would always say is "make sure you say your name is Padilla like Vanilla". It should have been pronounced "pu-dee-ya", but if I did that then they might figure out I was a Mexican. I'm actually thinking of publishing all the creative tips used to assimilate me, or maybe I'll just call it "100 Ways to Pretend Your Not A Mexican" =)

The good news was that once I became an adult I realized I had the freedom to be myself and I stared to embrace my heritage, no matter what the reaction or consequence might be.

So, back to they story of Marcelo. Like many Latino immigrants, he came here to work hard, even for meager wages, and just wanted to make a living. It's a tradgedy that most American's don't understand what life is like on the other side of the border and that's why there's so little compassion about the issue.

During last weekend's Project Mexico trip, we took several groups of the home-building volunteers over to meet Marisol, my friend that lives in Colonia San Bernardo. I've observed that by spending some time with her and seeing her family and hearing a bit of her story opinions on this whole immigration issue can really be shaped, in a positive way.

So my hope for you, is that you get to know a hispanic, and you get extra points if they are undocumented. I know for a fact that it's an awesome experience to love someone that doesn't fit into your comfort zone.

Mankind Is No Island ...

I thought you might appreciate this. It's beautiful and sad at the same time.

Halloween & Dia de los Muertos ...

Halloween in Golden Hill last night was quite a surprise! This little corner of San Diego sure came to life. I bought 2 jumbo bags of candy and that certainly didn't last long. The streets came alive and it was so fun to see two diverse cultures mixing it up and having so much fun. The girls had a good time, and so did Jon and I. It was a great introduction to the neighborhood.

So after we got home last night, Jon and I started getting our stuff together for a Dia de los Muertos event we are attending this evening. We'll be decorating sugar skulls, walking the streets of Sherman Heights to visit some homes that are decorated for Dia de los Muertos, we'll also be decorating an altar/shrine and enjoying posole with friends. It's good to be celebrating my cultural heritage and traditions with the girls.

These two holidays in particular were taboo while I was growing up. It's good to able to make my own choices and share my values with my own family now. So we took the girls out last night to explore and connect with our new little neighborhood. I feel that Halloween is a PERFECT opportunity to walk around your block, peek into peoples homes and actually talk to your neighbors.

For me, my belief is that above all else we are commanded by God to show love to our neighbors, and not to judge them. And in the immortal words of Forest Gump ... "that's all I have to say about that".

Now for the really good stuff, this is a painting that Jon made for me last night. He hasn't painted anything in over 20 years, so it's good to see him get back into painting, he's got such amazing talent. So, we'll use it for a decoration tonight for the Dia de los Muertos fiesta. But it's certainly coming back home with me, I can't wait to hang it up above my computer table so that I can see it all the time, I just love it!!!

A few of the random things I love ...

I like! by sophiacarolina

Do they look Mexican? ...

We had a great field trip today. The history of Old Town San Diego was explained in a fun and interactive way. The tour guide kept about 20 kids engaged for over 3 hours, that's quite an amazing feat.

While we were there, one of the other home schooling mom's came up to me and asked me if I was Native American Indian because to her I really look like one. I replied "No, I'm a Mexican" and the girls are 50% Mexican ... too which she replied "Well, they don't look Mexican, they are quite diluted, maybe only their eyelashes are Mexican". What the heck??? What an odd thing to say.

Well, at least she didn't ask me if I was their nanny, that happened at a park one day when the girls were small. A lady came up to me and asked me in spanish how much I was paid for taking care of the girls, now that was funny!

Anyway, here's a picture I took today at Old Town, proof positive that the girls are indeed Mexican, they even know that they were standing in front of an "ofrenda" altar to celebrate the upcoming November 1st & 2nd "Dia de los Muertos" holiday. Oh, and they ate pan dulce for breakfast today, they know all about Frida Kahlo art and they can handle eating my dangerously hot chile verde. Can you get any more Mexican than that?

He makes a good point ...

I hope to remember this for the next time the subject comes up.

more about "He makes a good point ...", posted with vodpod

What Would Be On Your Cardboard Banner?

Take a few minutes and watch this inspiring music video ...

"Be The Change You Want To See" by Kat Edmondson

Who do you love?

Jon and I went to a great work convention last week in Las Vegas. The main band for the night was George Thorogood and the Destroyers .... I loved one song in particular "Who Do You Love".

The next day Corey, a friend & co-worker with Jon sent him this graphic that he made in response to the hate he hears coming out of "Christians". He says ...

I created the posters above to try in my small way to fight back at this view of sinners. No one is better than me or less deserving of Christ’s grace. I need to remind myself daily to love everyone no matter what, because Christ loved me, a wicked and filthy sinner.

WOW! What a great reminder of how we all can be so judgemental. Not a one of us is perfect, and who are we to say what sin or choice is worse than another ... so back to the question, Who do you love?

My hope for 2008 ...

Our family watched the vintage classic "A Christmas Carol" this past week. I've seen the movie several times in my life, but this time I saw something new, something huge ... it happens in the middle of the movie when Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Christmas Present with two orphans, Ignorance and Want.

I couldn't find a video clip, but here's the transcript;

"They are Man’s" said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it." cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end."

"Have they no refuge or resource." cried Scrooge.

"Are there no prisons". said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses."

Championing the causes of the poor and oppressed, Charles Dickens personified Ignorance and Want as twins because Ignorance and Want are the twin evils of humanity. And eventually Ignorance will lead to doom.

Which made me think, it's really how WE act and behave towards one another in society that plays a vital role in lives of the poor and the oppressed. When I say we, I mean all of us! The orphan twins symbolized the plight of the poor and the causes of their poverty as well as humanity’s obligation to them. IGNORANCE is the greater evil, I'll speak for myself ... I don't want to be ignorant.

It is Ignorance that says "we aren’t their keepers" or say "someone should go do something about that problem". It is so much easier to bury our heads in the sand because poverty makes us feel so uncomfortable. Well maybe that feeling is good for us. It makes us think, and hopefully change.

I'm not sure what 2008 holds for us as a family, there are some big decisions on the horizon for us. One thing is the possibility of caring for the marginalized in our country and those just across the border. One very inspirational prospect is something called Micro Lending. In case you don't know what it is or who it's founder Muhammad Yunus is, check out the video, he won the Nobel Peace prize for his work and ideas on ending poverty. He's been quite an inspiration and his ideas from his book "Small Change" have been a big part of many conversations Jon and I have had this past year.

So as we end 2007, my hope and wish for you is; to love, give and grow more abundantly in 2008!

Another great Dove video ...

The Future; Here and Now ...

What an amazing video! Here are some college kids telling it like it really is; how they learn, what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kinds of changes they will experience in their lifetime. This was created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University.

Education is going to have a tough time keeping up with the next generation OR will the kids have a tougher time keeping up with education? ... some great food for thought.!

Creativity ...

"We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says.

Money vs. Wealth

I started my day by reading the newspaper. They carried a story, from the assoc. press about Jack Whittaker, the winner of the highest paid PowerBall jackpot in the U.S. The article entitled "Powerball Win: Fantasy or Nightmare?" ends with a quote by Jack ...

"I'm only going to be remembered as the lunatic who won the lottery," he said. "I'm not proud of that. I wanted to be remembered as someone who helped a lot of people."

As I reflected on this today, I thought a lot about my dad. He was a preacher, his churches were mainly in the middle of California; the farming areas and were mostly comprised of migrant workers. He barely made any money, as a matter of fact our family was often paid with crates of fruit or vegetables.

Since he had such a flexible "work" schedule, he often spent the week fishing & gardening; and I spent most of my childhood with him outdoors. We ate fish often, since it was readily available because my father was such an amazing fisherman. He taught me how to tie my first hook and do my own line by the time I was 4, he even taught me how to clean them too. That's me in the picture, I'm 5 and was so proud of all the fish I caught by myself. I really should teach my girls to fish, I really miss it.

So after all this thinking and mulling over the difference between being rich vs. being wealthy, I pulled out my favorite gift from my husband Jon, a poem he wrote for me the year my father passed away, hopefully he won't mind me sharing it with you.

The Wealthiest Man I Ever Knew - by Jon Hall, Christmas 1995

The wealthiest man I ever knew wasn’t a man of many possessions. He didn’t have a fleet of cars, a big house, or attend expensive therapy sessions.

He was a man of simplicity, of gentleness … of servant hood and of thoughtfulness – with a fair share of caring, he had a character like no other … strong, but not overbearing. Of worldly things, he had quite few … that which he had tended to be recycled, used, and not very new.

But of earthly things, this man was beyond rich. The love of his family, and of his God, carried him through life without a hitch. Oh, he had problems, setbacks, and failing health like the rest of us. But the love of one daughter, she is the essence of love – represented in its simplest.

This daughters’ love, showed more than caring. It showed more than admiration, something far more daring. Her love was the essence of unconditional love. Something more than from herself, something more like from above.

This man showed his daughter this love, every chance he would … He showed it through the lessons, he showed it when they were fishing, he showed it whenever he could.

And from his example, she learned something quite valuable. She learned to love in a way that was gentle, but unstoppable. It showed in those hours, many a long hour, that she sat at his bedside, frustrated, but not sour.

For she knew that this man, tired, in pain, and near the end, was going to a place unlike any other … he was going to a place where his body would more than mend.

What made this man so wealthy, was more than money could buy. It’s worth more than anything … more than the world, bigger than the sky. It’s worth more than all the possessions of the world, more than all this earth could offer. His wealth was so staggering, greater than the world coffer.

For this man’s wealth was based on a love. The love of his God, the love of his daughter. An unconditional love, more than this world could eve offer.

And in the day, that she sees her father again, she’ll give him a hug, she’ll share a tear, but she’ll know where he’s been. In the place he is now, in a place we can only imagine, this wealthy man’s there now, in a place called heaven.

Just one last thing to leave you with, it's a little snippet from my favorite Nooma video ...

The Grass Ain't Always Greener ...

About 2 years ago we sold our house and became renters. It was about that time that all the experts started saying "there's no bubble", "get into real estate now" and "just flip that house". I admit, there were plenty of times that I felt a tinge of regret for selling, but it really was for the best.

Ever since we sold, it seemed to me that everywhere I went, all people could talk about was their equity; about what part of the house they were remodeling next, asking for referrals for contractors, who to use for landscaping, deciding which car to purchase and where they were going for their next vacation. I really would dread group gatherings since I no longer owned a piece of the OC real estate pie, nobody likes to listen to you talk about how much your last rent increase was or what kind of pet the landlord will let you keep.

Fast forward to fall '07 ... I find it sad and yes I admit, a bit amusing that the pendulum is swinging, way over to the other side. Now it's not considered polite to talk about real estate anymore. Right up there on the list with colostomy bags, brain cancer and the lastest Herpes outbreak.

And to add insult to injury, A&E ran an entire marathon of "Flip This House" this past weekend? Was that just a bad joke? Or are they just clueless?

All that to say, I do feel sorry for any friends that bought high and have an adjustable loan. And for those of you that paid a normal, reasonable price for your home, longer than 3 years ago and have a great interest rate and a manageable payment, I'm happy for you ... no, really I am.