The Nature of Revolution is Organic

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Many people want to change the world, and work hard for revolution.  I believe revolution is natural and comes when it is ready.  The only novel i've ever read in Spanish is Los de Abajo by Mariano Azuela.  Azuela worked as a medical officer for Pancho Villa's Northern Division.  So we can be sure he really knew what revolution is.  In his famous novel Dimitrio neither looks for, nor wants revolution, but it comes for him anyway, and changes him inside and out.

I think of revolution as a great wave that grabs populations when they are not ready.  Although activists work for decades trying to motivate and organize people, no one can predict when revolution will explode.  But how many succeed?  We know what happened in Mexico.  We know what happened when the 13 colonies fought for independence from England.  It wasn't a dance.  A lot of blood was spilled.  Revolution has been with us since the beginning of human history moistening the earth with blood and tears.

If we talk about political issues while we are not in the middle of a war, maybe when it comes we will be able to make more reasonable decisions. 

I've got links to 2 videos (both are in Spanish)
The History of the Dollar and the Federal Reserve as told by Ramon Alburquerque

Why are we poor in Latin America?  by Armando de la Torre

Together, the 2 videos are more than 2 hours, but it's not necessary to listen to either one more than 5 minutes to decide who you think is on the left and who is on the right.

Do you notice anything they are forgetting to mention in their accounts?  Leave your answer:  on which side is each speaker on the political spectrum?

La Naturaleza de la Revolucion es Organica

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Mucha gente quieren cambiar el mundo y trabajan fuerte para la revolucion.  Yo creo que la revolucion es algo natural que viene cuando esta lista.  El unico novela en espanol que he leido es Los de Abajo por Mariano Azuela.  Azuela trabajo como un medico en un campamento de Pancho Villa.  Entonces podemos estar seguros que sabia realmente que es revolucion.  En su novela tan famosa, Dimitrio no busca, ni queire revolucion, pero de todos modos la revolucion viene por el, y lo cambio por dentro y por fuera.

Pienso en revolucion como una gran ola que agarra poblaciones cuando no estan listos.  Aunque activistas trabajan durante decadas intentando a motivar y organizar la gente, nadie puede predecir cuando estallara la revolucion.  Pero cuantos logran?  Sabemos que paso en Mexico.  Sabemos que paso cuando los 13 colonias en Norte America lucho por su independencia de Inglaterra.  No era un baile.  Mucha sangre derramada.  Revolucion ha estado con nosotros desde el principio de la historia humana mojando la tierra con sangre y lagrimas.

Si platicamos de las cosas politicas mientras no estamos en medio de una guerra, a lo mejor cuando viene, podemos tomar decisiones mas razonables.

Tengo enlaces a dos videos: 
La Historia del Dolar y Reserva Federal contado por Ramon Alburquerque

Por que somos pobres en America Latina?  por Armando de la Torre 

En total, los dos videos se duran mas de dos horas, pero no es necesario escuchar a ninguno de ellos mas de 5 minutos para decedir quien crees es de la izquierda y quien de la derecha.  

Notas algo que estan olvidando a mencionar en sus cuentas?  Deja tu respuesta: en que lado es cada orador en el espectro political? 

Survival and Beyond

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I was making phone calls for the Survival and Beyond campaign.  Power Up, my group, is joining with about 160 groups to make 10 demands of the governor and legislators of North Carolina, during this time of Covid 19.  Some of the demands the Governor was already fulfilling when they made them, like suspending evictions.  But many demands were not only to resolve Covid related problems but to change the system in the future.  Like, expanding medicaid.

We turned the demands of the campaign into questions for a telephone survey.  It is a way to start a conversation about how people are getting along during the shut down.  Also to talk about the things people would like to see improve for the future while we are adjusting to this change.  For example, if we say that we should let people out of jail who did not commit violent crimes, or who are old or sick - why should they be in jail in the future?

Or another example, if the state pays for Covid tests, or the time people can't work because of quarantine - why doesn't it pay in the future for other health tests, or lost work due to illness?

I was talking to a retired man.  One question was, "Do you think the government should let old or sick people out of jail to prevent the spread of Covid 19?"  

He said, "No."  

But for the next question, "How important is the health of people in prison to you?"  He said, "Very important."  And he told me that he had worked in detention and the first duty of an officer is to protect inmates, no matter if someone starts a fight, the officer has to protect them.

After completing the survey, I asked him about his career in law enforcement.  We talked for an hour, about his work, taking care of his mother when she had cancer, and then later when she became very old, 90 years old, and she could hardly remember anything, he took care of her.

Earlier, during the survey, when I asked if he thinks that the government should stop detaining immigrants in this time of Covid, he said, "Well, they are working, doing the work many do not want to do.  I think they should not detain them."

I liked talking to him.  When he spoke of his work, he said that he always treated people with respect and that that was almost always what he received in return.  He said that some officers wanted to stir up trouble, but he thought it was better to use common sense.

After almost an hour, I thought, uh oh, I don't want to hang up!  I have a new friend!  But I have to go clean a house (my other job).  And my new friend was saying he almost never leaves the house because he feels lazy and told me about his brother who had been drafted into the Vietnam War.  We talked about the history of Raleigh and where he went to hangout with his friends when he was in high school.  He also mentioned that he wanted to go out with women but he has no money.  That his brother says that he should go to the doctor for one or another health test, but he cannot pay the bill.

And I said I won't go to the doctor.  I'm not afraid to die,  I don't want to spend hours in the office waiting to see a doctor.  I said i stopped visiting all my friends because they always said, "Why don't you go to the doctor?"  And my new friend said to me, "Maybe it's because you don't have any health problems."

I had to say good bye.  I had to go clean a house.  He said he is not interested in being involved with Power Up.  I said, "Save my number and you can call me when you feel like talking."  But it would be a big surprise if he calls me.  And I keep thinking about him, like I think about every person I meet in this job, knocking on doors or making phone calls.

After talking to him, when I was cleaning the house for my customer, I thought, "Maybe it's true that I don't want to go to the doctor or have health insurance, because I don't have health problems."  I wondered what health problems the new friend may have that I will probably never speak to again.  I'm thinking about the pile of bills that man can't pay, and his life stuck in the house, and I remember how he said, "I guess I'm depressed."

Sobreviviencia y Mas Alla

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Estuve haciendo llamadas telefonicas para la campana Sobreviviencia y Mas Alla.  Poder Arriba, mi grupo, esta uniendo con unos 160 grupos para hacer 10 demandas del Gobierno y legisladores de Carolina del Norte, durante este teimpo de Covid 19.  Algunos de las demandas el Gobierno estaba cumpliendo cuando las hicieron, como, suspender los desalojos.  Pero muchas demandas fueron no solo para resolver problemas relacionados a Covid sino para cambiar el sistema en el futuro.  Como, expandir el medicaid.

Convertimos las 10 demandas de la campana en preguntas para una encuesta telefonica.  Es una manera para comenzar una conversacion sobre como se llevan las personas durante el cierre.  Tambien para platicar de las cosas que quisieran ver mejorar por el futuro mientras estamos ajustando a este cambio.  Por ejemplo, si decimos que debemos dejar salir de la carcel a la gente que no hicieron delitos violentes, o que son viejos o enfermos,  - por que deberian estar en la carcel en el futuro?

O otro ejemplo, si el estado paga por pruebas de Covid, o el tiempo que gente no pueden trabajar por la cuarentena - por que no paga en el futuro por otras pruebas de salud, o trabajo perdido por enfermedades?

Hablaba con un hombre jubilado.  Una pregunta fue, "Piensas que el Gobierno debe dejar gente viejo o enfermo salir de la carcel para evitar propagacion de Covid 19?"  Dijo, "No."  Pero por la pregunta siguiente, "Que tan importante es para usted la salud de personas encarcelada?"  Dijo, "Muy importante."  Y me conto que habia trabajado en detencion, y la primera obligacion de un oficial de detencion es proteger a los reclusos, no importa si alguien comienza una pelea, el oficial tiene que protegerlo.  

Despues de cumplir el encuesto, le pregunte de su carera en cumplimiento de la ley.  Platicabamos por una hora, de su trabajo, de cuidando su mama cuando ella tuvo cancer, y despues cuando ella llego a ser muy vieja, 90 anos, y casi no pudo recordar nada, la cuido.

Antes, durante la encuesta, cuando yo pregunte si el piensa que el Gobierno debe dejar de detener inmigrantes en este tiempo de Covid, dijo, "Pues, ellos estan trabajando, haciendo el trabajo que muchos no quieren hacer.  Yo creo que no deben detenerlos." 

Me gustaba platicar con el.  Cuando hablo de su trabajo dijo que siempre trataba a las personas con respeto y que eso era casi siempre lo que recibia a cambio.  Dijo que algunos oficiales quisieron provocar problemas.  Pero penso que era mejor usar el sentido comun.

Despues de casi una hora, yo pense, uh oh, no quiero colgar!  Tengo amigo nuevo!  Pero necesito ir a limpiar una casa (mi otro trabajo).  Y mi amigo nuevo decia que casi no sale de la casa porque tiene mucha flojera y me conto de su hermano que era reclutado en la guerra de Vietnam.  Platicabamos de la historia de Raleigh y donde el fue a colgar con sus amigos cuando estaba en high school. Menciono tambien que quisiera salir con mujeres pero no tiene dinero.  Que su hermano dice que debe ir a doctor para una o otra prueba de salud, pero no puede pagar el bill.

Y yo dije no voy a doctor.  No tengo miedo de morir.  No quiero pasar horas en oficina esperando a ver doctor.  Dije que deje de visitar con todos mis amigos porque ellos siempre me dijeron, "Por que no vas a doctor?"  Y mi amigo nuevo me dijo , "A lo mejor es porque no tienes problemas de salud."

Tuve que colgar.  Tuve que ir a limpiar una casa.  El dijo que no le interesa estar involucrado con Power Up.  Le dije, "Guarda mi numero de telefono y me puedes llamar cuando tienes ganas de platicar."   Pero seria una sorpresa grandota si el me llama.  Y yo sigo pensando en el, como pienso en cada persona que conozco en este trabajo tocando puertas, haciendo llamadas.  

Despues de platicar con el, cuando estaba limpiando la casa por mi cliente, yo pense, "a lo mejor es cierto que no me importa ir a doctores o tener seguranza de salud, por que no tengo problemas de salud."  Me pregunto cuales problemas de salud puede tener el nuevo amigo con el que probablamente nunca volvere a hablar.  Estoy pensando en el monton de billes que ese hombre no puede pagar, y su vida pegada en la casa, y recuerdo como el dijo, "Supongo que estoy deprimida."  

Enjoying the Music

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I took this photo of my neighbors last weekend.  I'm used to hearing the parents' music, but this sounded like hip-hop music of the younger generation and with karaoke.  It continued for a couple of hours, and I looked out the back window to see who was singing.  I thought it was Chris, seated with the microphone.  I sent a text to Claudia and said, "I need a photo of the karaoke session."

I was afraid they would say they didn't want to be in the photo, but look at those smiles!

I was wrong, it was Felix in the chair, and Chris in the hammock.  Claudia showed me how to use the camera on my cell phone and went back to joking around for the photo with her brother and cousin.  When I talked to their mom on the phone that night, she said something about their noise and I said they would be famous someday.  She laughed.

When I took the photo I told them I wanted to document this moment because I am afraid, in 20 years or so, the people in our neighborhood won't be able to live this way.  All of a sudden it looks as though one day soon in Raleigh only a privileged few will be able to live in a house with their own yard and patio for listening to music outside, inviting friends and family for cookouts, for celebrating birthdays with pinatas and dancing.  I'm worried that one day my Mexican friends won't be able to afford the rent that keeps going up in the houses around here.  The developers are about to construct 10 story high rises in our area.  Houses that rented for $600/month 10 years ago now go for $1200/month.  In the news they talk about a soccer stadium planned for land facing the park where the children play and we adults visit.  Someone has big plans and I suspect that they don't include us.

I am buying my house, so they can't run me off.  But it's easy to chase out renters.  For someone with deep pockets it's easy to raze 5 houses to build a 10 story high rise.  It's easy and profitable if you're not the person being run out of your community.

I know that not everyone likes the music from parties and pick-up trucks.  Sometimes it bothers me too, and one Christmas, a little after 10 at night, I went over to those same neighbors, entered the party tent and went straight to the front without hardly saying hello to my friends having dinner with their families.  Of course I was embarrassed to ignore my friends that way, but I thought "They know we are friends and that I love them. Hopefully they will forgive me for not saying hello."  And I said to Juan, the party DJ, "You have to turn the volume down."   Actually, I didn't say it, I had to shout it in his ear, and it felt like I was whispering.

Juan answered me, but I couldn't catch the words.  I turned my head to hear better, and he shouted, "Felix wants it loud."  He was referring to Felix the dad.  I've posted about big Felix in my other blog, and he is a real sweetheart.

I went out to the burn barrel where the men were drinking beer and said to the older Felix, "You have to turn it down.  It's too loud."  Felix talked to Juan and Juan turned it down.  I went back to my house, went to bed, listened to the music and went to sleep feeling very content.  They kept partying, but with the volume lower.  A few days later, when I saw Felix outside, he said thank you.  He meant that I could have called the police, but I asked them like a friend and neighbor.  How many more years can we continue to live this way?  When will we exchange neighbors' music, that we can ask, please, turn it down, for stadiums with rock and roll concerts and sports with traffic and noise day and night?  While we can, we enjoy our community, the parties, the music outside on the weekends, the young ones singing karaoke, the dancing till 3 in the morning.

What do you think of the community where you live?  Of the changes that are coming to our city?  I know there are many people here in Raleigh who want to learn to speak Spanish, and there are also many people who want to learn to speak English.  We can learn better if we take time to talk with each other.

This time of restrictions is an opportunity to communicate over the internet.  I hope people will feel free to tell their stories and share their thoughts here.  Click below where it says something about comments and tell us what you are thinking.

Disfrutando la Musica

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Tome esta foto de mis vecinos el fin de semana pasado.  Estoy acostumbrado a escuchar musica de los parientes, pero esta sonaba como hip -hop musica de los jovenes, y con karaoke.  Esto continuo por como dos horas, y mire por la ventana trasera para ver quien cantaba.  Pense que era Chris sentado con el microfono.  Mande texto a Claudia y dije, "I need a foto of the karaoke session."   

Temia que iban a decir que no quisieron estar en el foto, pero mira a estas sonrisas!

Estuve equivocado.  Era Felix en la silla, y Chris en la hamaca.  Claudia me mostro como usar la camara de mi telefono y regreso a cortorear para el foto con su hermano y su primo.  Cuando hable con su mama esa noche ella dijo algo de su ruida, y yo dije, "Un dia ellos van a ser famosos."  Ella riso. 

Cuando tome el foto les dije que quise documentar este momento porque tengo miedo, en unos 20 anos, que la gente en nuestro vecindario no podran vivir asi.   De repente se parece como un dia pronto en Raleigh solo unos pocos priveligiados pueden vivir en una casa con su propria yarda y patio para escuchar musica afuera, para invitar amigos y familiares a carne asadas, para celebrar cumpleanos con pinatas y bailes.  Estoy preocupando que un dia mis amigos Mexicanos no alcanzaran a pagar la renta que sigue subiendo en las casas alrededor.  Los desarolladores estan a punto de construyir edificios de mas de 10 pisos de altura aqui en nuestra area.  Casas que se rentaban por $600/mes 10 anos atras, ahora van a $1,200/mes.  En las noticias cuentan de un estadio de futbol que estan planeando en los terenos en frente del parque donde los ninos juegan y nosotros parientes se visitan.  Alguien tiene gran planes que yo sospecho no incluye a nosotros.

Yo estoy comprando mi casa.  No me pueden correr.  Pero es facil correr inquilinos.  Por alguien con bolsas profundas es facil tumbar cinco casas rentadas para constuyir un edificio de 10 pisos.  Es facil y provechoso si no eres la persona corrido de su hogar.

Yo se que no todos mis vecinos disfrutan la musica de fiestas y camionetas.  A veces me molesta, y una Navidad, poco despues de las 10 por la noche, fui por la casa de estos mismos vecinos, pase por la carpa de fiesta, y fui directamente al frente casi sin saludar a mis amigos comiendo con sus familiares.  Claro que me senti pena a casi ignorar mis amigos asi, pero pense "Ellos saben que somos amigos, que les quiero mucho, ojala que me disculpan por no saludarlos."  Y dije a Juan, el DJ de la fiesta, "Tendras que bajar volumen."  La verdad, no lo dije, tuve que gritar casi en su oido, y mi senti como estuviera susperando.

Juan me contesto, pero no pude agarar las palabras.  Volvi la cabeza para oir mejor, y el grito, "Felix lo quiere recio."  Estaba refiriendo a Felix el padre.  Hey postado ensayo sobre Felix grande en mi otro blog, y es hombre muy amable.  

Yo pase por el barril del fuego donde los hombres tomaban cerveza y dije a Felix grande, "Tienes que bajar volmun.  Es demasiado recio."  Y Felix hablo a Juan, y Juan bajo volumen.  Yo fui por mi casa, me acoste, escuchaba la musica y dormi muy contenta.  Seguian festivando, pero con volumen bajado.  Unos dias despues, cuando vi Felix afuera me dijo gracias. El quiso decir que yo pude llamar policia, pero les pedi como vecina y amiga.  Cuantos anos mas podemos vivir asi?  Cuando vamos a cambiar la musica de vecinos, que podemos pedir, por favor, baja volumen, por estadios de rock and roll concerts y deportes con traffico y ruida dia y noche?  Mientras que podemos, disfrutamos nuestro comunidad, las fiestas, los fin de semanas con musica afuera, los jovenes cantando karaoke, los bailes hasta 3 en la manana.

Que piensas de la comunidad donde vives?  De los cambios que vienen a nuestro ciudad?  Yo se que hay mucha gente aqui en Raleigh que quiren aprender a hablar espanol y tambien hay mucha gente que quieren aprender a hablar ingles.  Podemos aprender mejor si pasamos tiempo platicando con un y otro.  

Esta tiempo de restricciones es una oportunidad para comunicar a traves de internet.  Espero que sentirse libre a compartir sus cuentos y pensamientos aqui.  Haz click abajo dondo dice algo de comentarios, y diganos que estas pensando.

New Blog for New Job

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First off, I want to apologize because my Spanish is not the best.  Hopefully it will improve little by little.  Please have patience with me.

I'm going to tell about a neighborhood where I met like 4 or 5 families, 4 weeks ago.

I was canvassing - that's knocking on doors - with my work buddy Erwin.  He said it was almost all Latinos living in the area and he could not communicate with them because he doesn't speak Spanish.  Though I don't speak it well, a little bad Spanish is better than no Spanish at all. 

One mother said she cannot permit her children to play outside because of kids who throw mud and pine cones at the outside walls and doors.  She pointed out the lattice marks left by muddy pine cones.  Another family told about broken windows and thieves.  One man said, yes, there have been problems, but the manager talked to them and anyway the trouble makers moved and now things have quieted down, we'll see how things are when spring comes.  But then 2 more families had accounts of problems with violence, shooting bullets and robbing people.

Erwin said, as I wrote notes of the stories shared by the families, "Maybe we could have a meeting out here."  We were sitting at a picnic table under the shade of a pine tree.

"Yes!  Good idea!" I said.

But since then this Covid 19 problem got worse and now people can't get together.  I'm thinking a lot about the stories I heard.  I'm thinking if these neighbors can get together and talk, they can make a plan to resolve these big problems.  In my neighborhood, several years ago, the police brought dozens of bicycles and organized activities for the children.  The city had a big event in the park with various activities, including walking on the Greenway and playing in a sandbox.  Some problems are too big for one person, but with neighbors working together it is possible to find solutions.

I have a lot of hope, which is why I work with Power Up.  It is a multiracial organization.  What's most important to Power Up is supporting people in organizing together to improve their lives.  Power Up is a part of League of Conservation Voters, a national environmental organization.  Many people contribute money to defend our planet, our only home.  Power Up (Poder Arriba) wants to ensure  that every family regardless of race, with money or without money, can live comfortably on this planet.  We begin with our neighbors.