IF WE ALL KNOW THAT RIGHTS MEAN RESPONSABILITIES, DOES IT MEAN IT’S THE OTHER WAY AROUND TOO?

I didn’t want to begin by stating a thesis everyone expects to hear again, I think it is a waste of time because everybody knows it, but then again it has to be repeated time after time until it finally finds someone who will stop and listen.

Immigrants do, in fact, contribute to the economy of this country. They contribute by paying taxes (in the form of sales tax to income). They contribute by trying to learn as fast as possible in any way that might help them to assimilate and become part of a working society so they can work shoulder to shoulder with their neighbor and they contribute by helping in the development of businesses and agriculture which can be translated into profits for American business. Immigrants give to the state they are living in and of course, being human beings, yes they receive benefits that most of the time, as human beings they simply need and deserve.

I am well aware of the responsibilities each country has, and I am not saying undocumented immigrants in America should have the rights that any American citizen -for being an American citizen -should have, yet - as such human beings –they should still be given at least the recognition that they have rights, some rights and one of them is to be considered with some due respect and as a contributor who is meaningful to the growth of this nation. In the case of this great city of Atlanta, was it not the American citizens and developers who invited the Latino immigrants in mass to work in Atlanta to meet the deadlines for development for the 1996 Olympics?

Recently I had the chance to share with the Jewish community the inauguration of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. I, while watching the film, “Jews and Baseball-An American Love Story”, was able to hear within the script of the documentary many phrases that, unfortunately, I still hear today with my people. The same happened to me when I-on a Saturday evening- was watching Amistad.

Since young I have admired and defended the idea of the American Dream and the people who came to this country searching for a better everything. Most of them found it, and while finding it they were able to build a nation that is still a pride to each of its citizens. I never thought that I will be living here or that I will witness so much pain and sometimes so many injustices as I see each day in my position.

Regarding immigration, I see the point of some of the detractors of undocumented immigrants or at least, trying to be fair and wise, I try to understand it. But seeing what we see each day, I cannot stop from raising my voice trying to reach the soul of the common American man, who doesn't have any political agenda and wants to hear all the facts so that he can issue an opinion that is coming from himself; an opinion that will reflect what an American citizen is. And if, in order to knock the latch I have to reach too high or bend low, I will indeed knock it if that means somebody will open the door.

How come the simple and basic rights of immigrant parents are being dismissed due to their ignorance, their poverty, or their being different? Why in a country where the value of family is still the sacred core of its foundation?

Each day there are hospitals that deny a person who is dying of kidney failure, for example, the chance to avoid a horrible death and now, they are talking about denying education to children as it was denied long ago to those that too were different.

On the other hand, each day I receive calls from many American institutions and individuals who are trying to find a way to be able to extend their hands and help people in need.

I choose to believe that the latter is the voice of this country, because that is how this country is recognized and has been remembered for. Justice, Fairness, Humanity

We are not all responsible for the social problems that derive from illegal immigration and, indeed, the responsibilities of any progressive country are to provide education, health while it should strive to provide a healthy economic environment and conditions for its nationals. However, at the same time, the countries that have to deal with illegal immigration must not refuse to address it, rather solve it in a comprehensive and humane manner.

So, although I know it has been said before I raise here my voice and

humbly remind you that “To remove all the illegal immigrants from the state can mean that Georgia would lose $21.3 billion in economic activity, which would cost the state an additional 132,460 jobs, according to study done for Americans for Immigration Reform, a Houston-based, business-sponsored group that supports changes to current immigration law."

This stated, wouldn't we all agree that having complaining with duties such as paying taxes could mean the right to be considered a person who evidently is willing to contribute to the progress of this country?

Maybe the path this nation seems to be taking might be changed, but, are we sure that is what we want, and economically speaking, would we be able to face it?

-Beatriz Illescas Putzeys

Oda a la Musica

Para aquel que cree amarme,
que suena con tenerme,
que piensa que todo se puede
y a quien le falta tanto por vivir y entender!

Siempre estas cerca y como a los arboles me meces
y me llevas a lugares donde pueda descansar
Siempre siempre estas cerca
suave y conmovedora , fiel y tranquila
lista para transportarme a un lugar seguro,
donde pueda sonar sin que me diga nadie que no puedo
sin que me diga nadie que es muy tarde!
Y cuando el viento arrecia no abandonas,
ni cuando el sol se esconde,
ni cuando el frio duele...
Y como la primavera me invades suavecito
y como el verano me llevas a sentirme segura
y como el otono rojizo pareces poesia
y como el invierno oscuro, envuelves y prometes
que no todo es eterno
Tu canto suave o fuerte me toma y me dobla y me hace sentirme viva
me hace querer la vida, me obliga a quererme viva
y tu melodia me llena de espernza y me cuenta que un dia
sere eterea y eterna, sere suave y digna
y en secreto susrra en mi oido que como tu me quedare alli musitada
en la sonrisa esbozada de aquellos a quien amo

B Illescas

To Lawrence, the constant presence (Extract from The Simple True)

I cannot live like this but I don't have any other option than to keep on hoping to get a little something from you. A call, a letter, an encounter here in this world that now seems too big for us.
I askwhy this happened and why it happened this way, and I try to grab the good of it: my being alive, my feelings, my hopes, my joy and sadness; your existence somewhere, your thinking about me, your wanting me, your wanting to be good for me.
But still I need you, still I need your eyes watching me, devouring me with questions you don't ask, still I need the hope of seeing you, still I need to have your caring and the promises you never ever though
And now that I don't have that, today I simply feel I cannot live
We are like those who need love as they need the air they breath, yet although it might be denied to us, as we would have liked it, it still is a vague phantom that walks nearby,- impossible to grab, impossible to dream of, impossible to hope that one night it will hold you-.
I wonder if I'm choosing this as it is now instead of what I could have, but I cannot lie to my heart, and I cannot act as if we both- my heart and me-were two different things and can walk two different paths. I need to feel I love you even if I cannot. it seems I love you even if I should not. I need to feel it, and accept it, and embrace it even if I cannot have you. I need to understand that that is me, and that as long as I need you I should not fight you, or try to forget you or try to replace you. There is no one else but you
But also, I understand that if I want to live, I need to learn to let it go as it was once in my heart, because you will never be mine and I will never be yours as I once dreamed I would be
Yet, knowing me, I rather be half alive with the though of you than half dead without you as I surely would be if I didn't have the hope of finding you again and be in your arms once more

Jo Sanders

Il Postino / Tonight I can Write The Saddesst Lines

For my Inmortal beloved

No More Poetry (extract from "The Simple True")

When I think about you I think about your eyes and the way they look when you look at me
When I think about you I think about the corner of your lips and how they curved and play with me while Im trying to kiss you
When I think about you I indulge myself and let my mind get lost in the scope of possibilities that your touch unfolds for me
I think about your hands running softly thorough my valleys discovering rivers and mountain and gaps and cliffs
I think about the tone of your voice and how your words sometimes are turned into a symphony of colors in my heart
I think about the words you have said and how they scape from my memory like butterflies chased by the light
I think and think about the dreams I do not dare to speak of or even recognized as true to me
I think about you sleeping and I feeling your warmness close to me
and then I think about reality and about your world and about the things you don't say and the things I dont ask
and then the wondering and the questioning that take my innocence away begin to stalk my peace again
and I get sad, and I know thats the price I chose to pay
But then fast enough I think about the taste of your mouth and about the things that daringly I have said and did while you were watching
and I smile and rejoice for being alive and for your presence in my life
Then I get serious and think about the way you contained yourself when thinking twice what you are about to say.
and I understand you are doing your best and Im thankful for having you as my friend too
When I think of you I slowly think about your body next to mine dancing the ancient dance of love and how that would be
And yes, when I think about you I think about what you might be thinking about me which I dare not to ask

Jo Sanders