Tag: David Magallanes

Bilingual commentary — The Branches on the Family Tree

by Community Contributor • April 28, 2023 • Comments Off

I recently decided to construct a family tree—as if I didn’t have enough to do already. At this stage of my life, I might have a subconscious desire to leave something valuable behind for my daughter, my grandsons, and their descendants. It’s also important for me, though, as I seem to have lost track of many of my first cousins (there are over 50 of them). The complex web of their children and grandchildren has become a complete fog for me. But now I want to come to terms with the myriad descendants that originated with my four grandparents, all immigrants from Mexico.

Bilingual commentary — You Call This Customer Service?

by Community Contributor • April 21, 2023 • Comments Off

In my last article, I wrote a semifictional account about my horrendously frustrating experience with a bank “chatbot” on a phone call. What starts off as an artificial, yet hopeful, conversation with a robot too often devolves into a maddening experience. Our blood pressure quickly rises, our fury grows precipitously, and for possibly the first time in our lives we just want to “shoot something,” even if we’ve never picked up a gun in our lives.

Bilingual commentary — The Decline of the Humanities

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2023 • Comments Off

A Fox News article I came across seemed to gleefully announce the virtual demise of the study of the humanities. The “humanities” consists of areas of study such as philosophy, religion, languages, music, the fine and performing arts, history, and cultural studies. This latter category could include disciplines such as Black and Chicano history, or Pacific American, Indigenous, and LGBTQ studies. Many conservatives view these majors as “dangerously woke,” “unnecessary,” or “disadvantageous.” Some on the extreme right of the political spectrum view these fields of study as threats to their ideology.

Bilingual commentary — The Acceptance of Death

by Community Contributor • March 24, 2023 • Comments Off

We live in a natural world that exposes us, along with all other creatures and plant life, to the natural cycles of birth, life, and death. In nature, we see a form of recycling that transmutes death into renewed birth and life, only to die and begin the cycle again, over and over. As one example, we might consider the leaves of the trees that die, fall to the ground, break down, enrich the soil, which in turn gives new life to the trees and other living forms.

Whereas animals appear to accept death on its own terms, we humans struggle with this acceptance of the end of life.

Bilingual commentary — What To Do When Life Has “Stagnated”

by Community Contributor • March 17, 2023 • Comments Off

There may be times when we feel that our lives are “clicking along,” “firing on all eight cylinders,” or simply filled with opportunity and promise.

But then there are those other, inevitable periods during which we may feel that our lives have become stagnant. It is at these times that we find ourselves in circumstances that invite us to take advantage of this stagnation. We are forced to examine our lives and decide what to do to change the situation—if we so desire (we may not feel inclined to do so).

Let’s take a moment to examine the word “stagnant.” It is derived from the Latin word “stagnum,” which, according to Merriam-Webster, refers to “a pool of water without an outlet.” This description might be exactly what our life feels like when we sense a certain stagnation of our vitality. In other words, it might feel as if mosquitoes could breed in our souls. When stagnation enters our lives, it can induce a wide range of sentiments in us: anxiety, anger, hopelessness, boredom, introspection, hope, contentment.

Bilingual commentary — The Creation of a World Language

by Community Contributor • March 10, 2023 • Comments Off

Last week I wrote about the English language as a de facto universal language. No matter where Americans travel, we expect that someone—if not everyone—speaks English.

This might explain why Americans are so stubbornly monolingual: Why learn a new language if the whole world speaks English?

Of course, the whole world does not speak English. When I was visiting France some years ago, most of the people I met spoke very little to no English. I was fortunate to have studied the French language before going.

I recall being in a marketplace in Oaxaca, Mexico, where it seemed that no one was speaking Spanish, let alone English. What I heard the people around me speaking was probably a mix of Mixtec, Zapotec, and other indigenous languages. I noticed a young American couple who stood out like a sore thumb and who appeared to be flustered. In desperation, the man exclaimed, “Does anyone here speak English?

Bilingual commentary — Should English Be the Lingua Franca?

by Community Contributor • March 3, 2023 • Comments Off

I can’t help but notice that many of the world leaders speak English, to one degree or another. Every day, throughout the day, I read and otherwise consume the news. I always want to know what’s going on locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Usually, the news I ingest is written, but I also watch news videos featuring news hosts and interesting personalities.

A few weeks ago, we saw Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in imperfect but easily understood English. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister (again), has likewise spoken before members of Congress. His English is flawless. But this is not surprising once we learn that he was raised in both Israel and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he obtained university degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attended Harvard University.

Bilingual commentary — Who Do You Think You Are?

by Community Contributor • February 24, 2023 • Comments Off

“Who Do You Think You Are, the Queen of Sheba?” We might hear these words directed at a woman who is perceived to be too demanding, too arrogant, too “privileged.” But how many of us know who this “Queen of Sheba” is?

As it turns out, we really don’t know exactly who she was or where she came from. But we have some ideas, thanks to several ancient texts.

Bilingual commentary — Artificial Intelligence and Robots: Advising Our Children

by Community Contributor • February 17, 2023 • Comments Off

I wrote recently about the rising influence of artificial intelligence (AI). This revolutionary advancement is no longer something far off in the distant future. Nor is it a nascent technology that is just now making an appearance. It has been creeping into our lives for decades.

Closely related to the field of AI is the science of robots, which are likewise invading our lives. For example, we are dependent on ATMs, installed at our banks and scattered around our cities. The check-in kiosks at medical offices and airports have replaced myriad jobs.

We order meals from some of our restaurant tables using digital devices. In more technologically advanced restaurants, robots are beginning to deliver those meals to our tables.

Bilingual commentary — Is the Pandemic “Over”?

by Community Contributor • February 10, 2023 • Comments Off

For many people there never was a pandemic. They have carried on with their lives wondering what all the fuss was about. After all, wasn’t COVID-19 simply a hoax foisted on us by the liberals? If those who claimed this had the misfortune of becoming infected with the virus after not being vaccinated, they often demanded that ivermectin be administered to them. After all, that’s what their “research” or a talk show host told them was the appropriate response. Health professionals beg to differ and usually refuse the request for ivermectin.

For those at the other extreme, the pandemic continues in full swing. They continue to social distance, wear masks, avoid crowds, and pretty much isolate themselves as much as possible.

Bilingual commentary — George Santos for President

by Community Contributor • February 3, 2023 • Comments Off

Most of us are aware of the story of George Santos, a Republican U.S. House of Representatives Congressman elected in November 2022. Actually, we think his name is George Santos. He has “embellished” his past so thoroughly, we may not ever know who, exactly, he really is.

“Embellished” is a polite euphemism. Apparently, Mr. Santos has lied profoundly to the American people, particularly to those who elected him based on his stated views and history. The story of his life that he provided was, as it turns out, a complete fabrication.

Bilingual commentary — Will Artificial Intelligence Doom Us?

by Community Contributor • January 20, 2023 • Comments Off

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the quintessential double-edged sword. It has the ability to rescue humanity from some of its most intractable problems. On the other hand, if we are not careful, it could end up subjecting us to its whims, ravaging societies, and, ultimately, destroying us.

Some scientists and social engineers are giddy with the possibilities of AI. They see it as a means toward achieving things such as advances in medicine, more effective education, better tools for fighting climate change, and stronger and more durable materials. Employers are salivating with the potential of AI to help them trim costs—enormously, in some cases.

Bilingual commentary — The Closure of Camarillo State Hospital

by Community Contributor • January 11, 2023 • Comments Off

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes •…

Bilingual commentary — And We Think We Have Problems…

by Community Contributor • January 6, 2023 • Comments Off

When all four of my grandparents escaped the violence in Mexico and arrived in the U.S. in 1923, they couldn’t stop feeling gratitude for the sense of safety that they were experiencing. Despite the prejudice and spiteful attitudes of some of the people around them in Los Angeles, they felt at peace. For them, any societal problems in the city were relatively minor compared to what they had experienced at the hands of the revolutionaries in Mexico.

And yes, of course, we had, and still have, problems in our society. Lots of them.

But sometimes we have to place things in perspective.

Bilingual commentary — Dancing on the Pyramid

by Community Contributor • December 16, 2022 • Comments Off

“Dance like no one is watching,” they tell us. These words are meant to encourage those of us at the next wedding party who might feel a bit inhibited about showing off whatever “dance skills” we may (or may not) possess.

One female Spanish tourist in Mexico thought she would test that motivational phrase last month at a famous archaeological site. She did dance as if no one was watching. The problem was that there were plenty of people watching her from the base of the pyramid at the site. But, unlike at your typical wedding party, the Mexicans who witnessed this sacrilege were quite angry and vitriolic about her “moves.”

Bilingual commentary — Restroom Blues on Our Public Transportation

by Community Contributor • December 9, 2022 • Comments Off

The past few months, I took it upon myself to become “greener.” I wanted to experience and learn about the public transportation system in our Ventura County region. The system we have is quite good. However, of course, it does not afford the innumerable and frequent options available in the massive systems of metropolises such as Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City, or Tokyo.

One of the great deficiencies of our bus system that I discovered is the lamentable lack of restrooms for passengers and for the bus drivers themselves. The transportation authorities seem to think that we don’t need them. Or possibly they think that our bladders are larger than they are. In any case, passengers are left to “make do,” so to speak, with whatever restroom facilities they can find and access.

Bilingual commentary — The Power of Baby Steps in Our Lives

by Community Contributor • December 1, 2022 • Comments Off

Initially, I was going to title this article “Decluttering Our Lives, Part II.” But I changed my mind and decided to use a more intriguing title.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Herculean task of decluttering my life. I came to a point where I felt a need to rid my life of all the unnecessary “things” that no longer contributed anything to my plans or goals at this stage of my life. I promised to share some of my insights into actually accomplishing this. Of course, not everyone will want to declutter their lives the way that I do. But many of us want to do something to alleviate the “mess” that we find ourselves in. We just have to choose our own path that will take us to DeclutterLand.

Bilingual commentary — The Decision To Become a Doctor

by Community Contributor • November 11, 2022 • Comments Off

A considerable number of children of immigrants decide to “do their family proud.” They decide to commit to studying medicine to become a doctor or dentist. Some of them are first-generation college students who become first-generation professionals.

Although their ambition and successes are admirable, the backgrounds of immigrants’ children may not thoroughly prepare them for the financial jolts they will receive along the way as medical professionals. It is entirely possible that no one in their family ever sat down with them and talked about that traditionally taboo topic: money. It is entirely conceivable that no one talked with them about financial planning because the parents and other relatives themselves had little money with which to plan much of anything.

Bilingual commentary — The Power of “La Bamba”

by Community Contributor • October 21, 2022 • Comments Off

Many of us of Latino/Chicano heritage grew up listening to rock ‘n’ roll radio in the late 1950s. We were delighted, along with the rest of the country, when the song “La Bamba” hit the airwaves. The singer with the euphonic, captivating voice was Richard Valenzuela, but the world knew him as Ritchie Valens.

Ritchie, a child of Mexican immigrants, was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. He grew up listening to mariachi and Mexican folk music, along with “jump blues” (a precursor to rock ‘n’ roll) and the rhythm and blues associated with the African American community. He accomplished an enormous feat during his transitory journey through our musical landscape. He blended purely traditional Mexican music with the iconic American rock music whose star was rising just as Ritchie was growing into what appeared to be a promising career.

Bilingual commentary — The Language Police

by Community Contributor • October 13, 2022 • Comments Off

Quebec is the largest province of Canada (a “province” is equivalent to one of our states). The area of this huge territory could swallow up roughly a third of the United States. Quebec, in its earliest incarnation, was a part of New France. This even larger mass of land, claimed by France in the mid-1500s, extended from the cold north, approaching Greenland, down to what eventually became the state of Louisiana. Needless to say, the earliest settlers of Quebec spoke French.

Following a long war, Quebec became a British colony where, of course, the English language was imposed. However, in an effort to discourage the people of Quebec from supporting what would become the American Revolution, the government accommodated the “Québécois” by allowing them to retain their French language. Quebec has been engaged in tussles between English- and French-speaking Canadians ever since.

Bilingual commentary — The Specter of Nuclear War

by Community Contributor • October 7, 2022 • Comments Off

Those of us who were in grade school in the 1950s and early 60s will never forget the “duck and cover” drills we used to have in our classrooms. This was a Civil Defense exercise that put the fear of nuclear war into our little heads. At least once a month, as best I recall, we would hear the sirens wailing at 10 a.m. on a Friday. We knew what to do: kneel and drop, face down, below our desk—that mighty protector of our young lives—and cover our necks and heads with our arms and hands as much as possible.

The Soviet Union became a nuclear power in 1949, and suddenly we had a threatening nuclear rival. The Cold War that followed World War II was replete with the rattles of sabers and ominous words, not too unlike what we are hearing today from the leaders of Russia, the remnant of the Soviet Union.

Bilingual commentary — The World’s Safest Cities

by Community Contributor • September 30, 2022 • Comments Off

I feel fortunate that as I walk around parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, I am generally not too concerned about my personal safety.

Well, maybe just a little. I have to admit that I’ve encountered a fair number of angry people on the streets and – I’ll have to say – a substantial number of individuals with obvious mental health deficiencies.

I won’t delve here into the myriad factors that I believe foster this discontent and madness in our midst. But it makes me yearn for a place that allows me to walk, especially at night, with a sense of confidence in my fellow citizens.

Bilingual commentary — The Flaw in Biden’s “Cancer Moonshot”

by Community Contributor • September 23, 2022 • Comments Off

Laudably, President Joe Biden has reignited the “Cancer Moonshot” that he had previously launched in 2016 when he was vice president. There is now renewed energy, new leadership, and more advanced medical experience, knowledge, and technology. The goal is now more focused: to reduce the death rate from cancer by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.

The initiative was termed a “moonshot” to evoke the historic call by the late President John F. Kennedy to land a man on the moon within a decade. So far in our history, nothing compares with the boldness, wisdom, and foresight of that vow to take the “giant leap for mankind.” Nonetheless, a spirited call to take on the current, daunting epidemic of cancer in the United States and save American lives is certainly a necessary step in the right direction.

Bilingual commentary — The Angry Sun

by Community Contributor • September 16, 2022 • Comments Off

As we know all too well, Californians have been suffering recently with the “heat domes” that seem to enjoy settling, for days at a time, over our region in the Southwest. The resulting inferno bakes us, unmercifully, in a sweltering heat. The suffering we experience forces us to admit that yes, despite those who rant and confuse climate with weather, we are in fact facing a potential collapse of earth’s climate systems.

And yet many of us here in Ventura County live relatively close to the beach. We along the coast, at least, are consistently among the cooler spots in this entire corner of the country—if not the entire country (except for Alaska—usually). We are indeed fortunate when we compare our climate to that of California’s Central Valley, for example.

Still, we suffer, though our suffering is relative. We can’t help but feel that we’ve angered the sun when in fact we’ve angered the earth.

Bilingual commentary — Lessons from the Black Death of the Middle Ages

by Community Contributor • September 1, 2022 • Comments Off

Many Americans who are “done” with the pandemic and its devastation are ready to “move on” and “get back to a normal life.” Would that we could actually do this.

The pandemic may in fact be in the rear-view mirror. The problem is that we just don’t know if it is in retreat as we go on with our lives. We don’t want to think about it anymore. Unfortunately, it may be in that rear-view mirror because it is catching up to us, once again, from behind. This is the kind of thing that happened in the Middle Ages in Europe starting in the 14th century.

The Bubonic Plague, also known as the “Black Death,” caused massive devastation in Western Europe and surrounding regions. We in the modern age, armed with vaccines and highly effective treatments, do not expect to ever face such horrors. Still, we have lost over a million Americans to COVID-19 and continue to lose several hundred American lives each day.

Bilingual commentary — Lessons From Carmen Ramirez

by Community Contributor • August 26, 2022 • Comments Off

The news of Carmen’s demise was stunning, not too unlike when the shocking deaths of President Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Beatles icon John Lennon were announced. Carmen was a politician who was widely admired. She could be trusted, believed, and embraced as a friend.

By now, we all know the sad circumstances of her death. She was doing the kind of thing that so many of us do on a pleasant summer evening. She was walking to a concert that once again was enlivening downtown Oxnard after a pandemic pause. Unanimously elected to be the first Latina chair of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors earlier this year, she likely had plans in her head for improving the lives of county residents as she took that fateful step into the crosswalk.

Bilingual commentary — We Used to Travel—Now We Zoom

by Community Contributor • August 18, 2022 • Comments Off

My three siblings and I grew up in Los Angeles next door to five cousins. But we are not your everyday cousins. We’re “special.” You see, we are “double cousins.” A bit of explanation is in order.

One of my mother’s sisters is their mother, and one of my father’s brothers is their father. To make this simpler, two sisters from the Rivas family married two brothers from the Magallanes family. We cousins all share the same four grandparents.

We cousins all played together and visited with each other daily. We shared our interests and some of our sorrows. Our parents are gone, and we are all now in our “golden years.” All nine of us today are well and thriving, to one degree or another. Having been raised by parents from the same families means that we understand each other like no one else in the whole world understands us.

Bilingual commentary — Sex Education: U.S. vs. Europe

by Community Contributor • August 12, 2022 • Comments Off

Nearly 20 years ago, I was on a pilgrimage. I went to France to trace some of the steps my father had taken during World War II. He went through this war-torn country before entering Germany and then Belgium to deal with the Nazis.

While in Paris, I visited several art museums. I will forever remember a sight that I will never see in an American art museum.

Bilingual commentary — Falling Down

by Community Contributor • August 5, 2022 • Comments Off

“Fall out!” the sergeant screamed at us. I didn’t know what he meant and feared that I was obligated to take that command literally.

It was September of 1967 at a military base near San Antonio, Texas. We were kept up all night to be processed into the military and were given our ill-fitting uniforms. We were “compassionately” granted two hours of sleep and then marched off for a hasty breakfast before a full day of intense training.

Bilingual commentary — Our Aversion to Science

by Community Contributor • July 29, 2022 • Comments Off

Throughout the history of the world, there have been challenges to classical science.

It took a couple of centuries for people to embrace Isaac Newton’s heliocentric model, developed in the 16th century, establishing that the sun – and not the earth – was the center of the universe. That the earth was displaced from the center of the universe clashed with the belief that we were “exceptional.” Galileo had proposed this very idea nearly a century earlier, but he recanted when his life was threatened by the Catholic Church.

Bilingual commentary — Continuation of Attacks on Public Education

by Community Contributor • July 22, 2022 • Comments Off

As our country tilts menacingly toward a theocratic autocracy, the attacks on our public education system are becoming relentless. In some states, there is a determined effort to infiltrate school boards and administrative posts with supporters of an ultra-conservative, right-wing ideology. A traditionally conservative philosophy in our schools’ governance might be something society could tolerate and even negotiate, but this is different.

In certain states (not so much here in California), there is a troubling Christian nationalist facet of this movement that seems to be working to undermine traditional public education. Curricula and books in public schools are being unmercifully scrutinized. Anything that smacks of “wokeness” is discarded and replaced with a “patriotic” form of education. “Wokeness” is a euphemism for “liberal education,” and “patriotism” is a nefarious euphemism for censorship and distortions of history and science that are destined to warp our students’ understanding of the world and their place in it.

Bilingual commentary — When Facts Don’t Matter

by Community Contributor • July 15, 2022 • Comments Off

For the past two and a half years, I have tried every way imaginable to understand how election deniers think. Of course, I’m referring to those who are convinced, or have convinced themselves, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. Why do they so stubbornly refuse to accept Trump’s defeat despite the unambiguous evidence proving that he did indeed lose?

Before we attempt to answer that question, here are several noteworthy facts:

Bilingual commentary — The Erosion of Our Democracy

by Community Contributor • July 8, 2022 • Comments Off

For some time now, I’ve written here about the difficulties faced by young people today in comparison with those faced by the baby boomers. The boomer generation grew up in relatively prosperous times after the Second World War. In retrospect, we may have had contentious issues to deal with, such as the lack of racial equality (once again a burning issue), but our democracy seemed secure. Transitions of power at the highest level of our government always seemed to take place seamlessly.

Bilingual commentary — Who Is a “Heritage Speaker” of Spanish?

by Community Contributor • June 30, 2022 • Comments Off

Among people of Mexican heritage, there exists a wide variety of cultural backgrounds that determine their place in the social order. Some of them arrived in the U.S. as adults – possibly seeking work or other opportunities. Others arrived as children, brought into the country by adults who arrived without the proper documents. Some of these children who qualified for the politically controversial DACA program are now young adults (known as “Dreamers”) living in a maddeningly indeterminate state of limbo. And of course, there is a portion of us of Mexican heritage who have the blessings and privileges of having been born here, enjoying all the benefits of U.S. citizenship. Our parents or more distant ancestors made the trek to “el otro lado” (“the other side”) before we were even born.

Which brings us to the Spanish language. Many Anglos assume that if we have a Spanish surname, then either we speak Spanish or should speak Spanish.

Bilingual commentary — When Mexican American Children Were “Indians”

by Community Contributor • June 24, 2022 • Comments Off

Aliso Elementary School in Carpinteria is a “California Distinguished School,” according to its website. It proudly proclaims itself the “Home of the Lions” and appears to be a school enthusiastically dedicated to “STEAM” – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

I occasionally saunter past the school grounds when I explore Carpinteria on my walking expeditions. Aliso is an unassuming school with nicely maintained lawns, trees, and plants on the premises. Signs on windows and doors of the school tell me that Aliso welcomes students from all strata of society with open arms and is unabashedly determined to give them, from kindergarten through fifth grade, a high-quality education. Aliso’s stated mission is to help students reach their full potential.

However, there is no “History” tab on the website, and that may be just as well. Like many schools in California and throughout the country, Aliso’s early history is a bit “murky.” Nonetheless, that history does not appear to hinder the fine job that this acclaimed school has been doing throughout the latter half of the 20th century and up to the present day.

Bilingual commentary — Our Misdirected Anger

by Community Contributor • June 17, 2022 • Comments Off

On top of the ongoing, seemingly never-ending pandemic, we have several epidemics taking place in our country: opioids, guns, voter apathy…

Over and above these scourges, we now have inflation, soaring gas prices, supply chain disruptions, and political unrest that threatens the foundations of our democracy, which until last year we had taken for granted.

As a result, many of us are angry. We’re angry at Big Pharma, the gun manufacturers, the “liberals” who allegedly want to rip people’s guns out of their hands.

Bilingual commentary — Spanish, Arabic, and Chumash Influences in the Ojai Area

by Community Contributor • June 10, 2022 • Comments Off

Last week I was studying a map, looking for hiking trails in the Ojai area. As my eyes wandered across the map of the region, I randomly noted the various paths, highways, streets, communities, and cities in this part of Ventura County. Something caught my attention: a community labeled as “Ojala,” north of the city of Ojai and near Lake Matilija, just off Highway 33.

Those of us who speak Spanish are very familiar with the language’s most aspirational word: Ojalá. It is a magical word with deep roots in the history of Spain. It sounds very “Arabic” because in fact it is derived from an Arabic expression for hope and longing (inshallah, or ma sha alla), which translates as something along the lines of “God willing,” or “should God will it.”

Bilingual commentary — “Parental Rights” and Public Education

by Community Contributor • May 26, 2022 • Comments Off

Beware the impending chaos in our schools.

As conservative politicians make inroads to our local governments, they will be charged with the political duty of acquiescing to parents who demand “control” over school boards and other educational entities. Ostensibly, parents on the far right of the political spectrum want to ensure that their children are taught only what are deemed to be “American” or “Christian” values. Unfortunately, this is often code for the elimination of lessons and discussions that investigate our troubled racial history. Anything that barely grazes age-appropriate matters of sexuality will also be off the table.

Bilingual commentary — Generational Driving Lessons

by Community Contributor • May 20, 2022 • Comments Off

Several years ago, I invited my eldest grandson, around 10 years old at the time, to take me around the go-kart track at a local Golf ‘n’ Stuff. He greatly enjoyed feeling the power of the vehicle and the control he had over it.

Last week, he took his DMV driving test (he passed). He had been taking driving lessons. Before he took the test, he asked me to let him practice driving around the streets with me so that he could accustom himself to my car with which he would be taking his driving test. We all know how we celebrate young people’s independence and at the same time fear for their safety at these critical moments in their lives. Regardless of our reluctance to allow them such formidable freedom, which carries an enormous amount of responsibility, we must hand over the keys and hope that they are lucky, smart, sensible, and safe on our highways.

Bilingual commentary — Slavery and the Catholic Church

by Community Contributor • May 13, 2022 • Comments Off

Throughout our history, Native and African Americans have been disrespected and despised. That was obvious to our entire country as recently as last March during the confirmation hearings for the nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, an African American woman. During the hearings, several senators disrespectfully and contemptuously grilled her almost as if she were a criminal on trial.

Last week I wrote about the treatment of Native Americans at the California missions. Although it is rarely admitted, we may as well accept that Native Americans were in fact treated as slaves for the sake of the glory, power, and expansion of the Church.

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