I'm Baaaaccccckkkkkkk

After two months away from the Diversity Coalition, blogging, and volunteering I've come to some conclusions and a few questions.

1. While attending to my business due to new employees this past two months I have had some revelations.

This past four years due to some health problems and realizing there's more to life then work, I've had a lot of time to volunteer while being able to get away from work at will and spending 7 hours at most on the job. I have had energy, time for ideas and working with people to help others. All of a sudden I've had to work 10 and 11 hours plus per day and unable to leave to do what I love best, to help make this city and state more welcoming and help our new friends have a better life.

I have often thought as to why more people especially immigrants don't volunteer more, if at all, or at least help themselves make a better life for themselves. I think I have come to a little realization why this happens.

As the weeks progressed and no end in sight and being too tired to volunteer and exercise I felt empathy for people that this is their life. Plus, many have to commute an extra hour or two for their jobs. Not only do they work long hours, low pay, but many are being taken advantage of, threatened, scared of being deported, families being taken away and broken up, having to learn English while waiting their turn for ESL teachers, sometimes months at a time, but expected to learn the day they arrive into town.

I can only imagine what their circumstances are, why they chose to come here in the first place, to leave their home, to leave family and friends. I can only imagine what it is to feel the pressure of constantly being watched, wonder if the next knock on the door could be INS agents, living in substandard housing and being threatened that if they don't like it they will be turned into law enforcement.

Today a teacher came in frustrated because she can't get minorities to come in and help, or even talk about their children. She sees also that until minorities can live in peace, be accepted, and welcomed this will not change for a generation. Until minorities can trust us there will be little change.

2. Two weeks ago we attended a funeral service for a 62 year old friend who died unexpectedly, one of many this past 5 years. This reminds me how short life is and how we can't go through life bitter towards our new immigrant friends and each other. In the scheme of things most of us have only 40 to 60 years after childhood to live a happy and productive life and shouldn't waste it on hate towards our fellow human beings. Instead let's enjoy the food, customs, friendships and the stories of each other and our cultures. There is such beauty in the eyes of our new friends, and it's wonderful to see how families get together and dress up for all occasions like we use to do 30 years ago. That's one custom among many that I hope they won't lose.

3. I wish to thank Bob, Hashi and Lisvell for all they've done the past two months with the Garden project and the emergency food project as a member of the Channel One Food Bank. Thanks to all who have worked on the International Market coming in September led by Vicky Carrillo. Music, dancers, and great food are being planned as well as a few surprises.

Thank you for supporting the Diversity Coalition by coming to the meetings, donating money and time, donating plants and space for the Community Garden, and especially welcoming our newcomers with understanding, friendship, and a smile. By the way the gardens are doing great, people meeting, talking and sharing with each other on how to grow the vegetables that are growing to share among others.

Thanks to the organizations that has given us grants and help and BlueCross/BlueShield Foundation for making all this possible and their workshops to help, guide and listen. This helps us to create a healthier community for tomorrow.

I am very thankful for the wisdom that comes from the trials and tribulations of life when things don't exactly go how you have planned or want. I believe everything happens for a reason and I have been very blessed this past 7 years to work with wonderful people and organizations. I have met many interesting people, learned much about different cultures, and saw many sides to many stories.

I don't know what the answers are to all the Immigration issues but I do know we can't treat Immigrants or any minority like they are second class. They are warm human beings with a heart, with families, wants, needs, rights, hungry, sick, rich, poor, abused, doctors, lawyers, field workers, and all want what we want, to get through this short life happy and with dignity, to leave this world a little better place.

Let's do the simple things like smiling, talking, and helping each other to be a gentler place. Let's make some good news instead of what you see on TV every day. Turn off the bad news, reach out and touch somebody’s hand and maybe a hug wouldn't be bad once in awhile.

Have a gentle day, Milo