My story as an undocumented student

I was motivated to share this as others have done coming out with their story of being undocumented in this country and what that entails. Specifically the article in the New York Times by Jose Antonia Vargas, You can find his story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/magazine/my-life-as-an-undocumented-immigrant.html

The picture on the right is one that I took at the immigration march in Washington DC.

Below is something I wrote and read to the Education Committee in Lincoln Nebraska a little more than a year ago with an introduction directed at my sister who read my speech at Saint Mary's Latino Cultural Night 2009.


Hey,
So I am currently involved with the Mexican American Commission in
Nebraska. Nebraska currently provides in state tuition for
undocumented immigrants. LB 1001 was proposed that would eliminate
that provision and there was a hearing on February 1st. We were well
prepared and spoke before the senate from all aspects education, law,
personal, faith based and the likes. I testified and below is my
testimony. It was a great hearing and I think the senators really
understood our message. One of the main proponents of LB 1001 is a guy
named Kris Kobach. He has been named by very prominent organizations
as a white supremacist and one of the senators asked him about it
which he denied of coarse. Well anyhow below is my article. Hope you
are doing great. (Continuing the fight for equality everywhere!)
[update: this law did not pass and undocumented students in Nebraska are still in school :)]
_____
Dear Education Committee,
My name is Maria Hernandez, and I am in opposition to LB 1001.

Let me begin by saying that Undocumented students are not criminals
who chose to break the law and enter this country. They were brought
here by their parents, as many people have been doing for centuries in
search of the American Dream, many at an early age, before they can
even recall. They are more American than anything else. They speak
English, wear American brands, watch American shows, date other
Americans, play sports, and have American Dreams. Most of them have no
memory of their birth country and consider it as foreign as anyone
else. These students aim to pursue their education and better American
society as a whole. They have no plans of using their degrees (if they
are in fact allowed to attain one) in another country. They see The
United States of America and Nebraska as their home. Yes, they may
have ties to their native country through customs, language and
parents, but in essence what we are dealing with here is with American
students who see themselves participating fully in American society.
Proponents of LB 1001 aim to exclude these students from the great
higher education of Nebraska, but what this bill would do, would be to
exclude Americans from attaining an education. If we deny one segment
of our population an education, we are denying our advancement as a
whole from moving forward, we being Nebraskans.

You may ask how I may claim such statements;
I too, was an undocumented student.
I too, was brought here at an early age by my parents,
I too had the same dreams that my peers had,
to attend prom,
to participate in homecoming
and yes, to attend college.

Like most of you,
I was brought up reciting the pledge of allegiance,
watching the super bowl,
understanding the value of the bill of rights and our constitution.

I sat in class listening to stories of past immigrants who were able
to achieve success against adversity. Those past immigrants are now at
the forefront in all fields including science, education, and law.
What I wanted at the time was to be a part of that process, in this
country of immigrants that I am not a mere visitor to, but that I call
home. Being undocumented at the time, I thought that my dreams of
college would have to be deferred. Luckily for me, I was able to
legalize my status one week before my college applications were due.
Furthermore, I was very lucky to legalize my status, but that is
unusual. For the vast majority, there currently is no way to apply and
so I am here to speak on their behalf.
In 2008 I received my Bachelors Degree and will begin a Masters
program this fall. I plan on being a teacher to blind students and
thus pave a path for other Americans to succeed. With the education
that I have received, I plan to help my community and the country that
has provided me with this opportunity. What this bill would do, would
be to deny this right to other students.

In conclusion, I see The United States of America as my home, like
most undocumented students who, like wise, were raised here and want
to attain the American Dream. I understand that those that favor LB
1001 also want what is best for Nebraskans, but the denial of
education to any group, is the denial of education and advancement to
the whole.
Sincerely,
Maria Concepcion Hernandez

Grilling, swimming and Chillng

So life is Ruston is going well. This past weekend we decided to have a pool party at our place “CG’s Apt”. I must say it was a great idea! We could not invite that many people as we have a limited number of pool guests, but we still had a great time. We were the only group grilling at the pool and we sure showed off our skills! Ivan was our executive chef and made some amazing grilled chicken, steaks, sausage… and I am sure I am forgetting other food items. It was a good chance to just hang out and relax! At first there were many people at the pool and I think it was a positive thing for them to see so many competent blind people out and about having a great time. Some of us decided to get into the pool while others decided to sit and chat. We met a handsome young man who it turns out is blind himself but does not use a cane. We nicknamed him O+ as he is everyone’s type! It was interesting though to see him there. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own success having gone through training that we forget it does not have the same effect on all people. Whatever his reasons, at least he was out doing his things. And hopefully he felt encouraged by us. So for now pool parties are just the beginning of our summers!

Theocracy or cultural understandings?

So a couple of us went out to eat on a Sunday in Ruston. Nothing was open being that it was a Sunday and most people were in church. Even though it was a bit annoying, we sucked it up. We were apposed to eating at a chain restaurant, but we decided to do it anyways because nothing else was open. We decided to go to chili's. I have gone there many times before, in and out of Louisiana, so most days I know exactly what to expect. Our waiter came to our table and we decided to order beer. We had been walking and it just seemed like the right drink to go along with our chips, dip and food. To our surprise Chili's does not serve beer on Sundays. Not only that, but no one can sell it, and even in grocery stores, you have to wait til Monday. I must say we were disappointed. Why could we not drink beer with our meal? So it turns out that "No Beer Sundays" is the Law! In the whole parish (that is that they call counties here) it is illegal to sell beer on Sundays. Other than the fact that there is a drive thru liquor store and you can order beer there any other day of the week, no one can sell alcohol on the day of the Lord.

Being the people we are, we started talking how we are in the South and that is just the way that things are. Most people here (or many) are Christian and that is the culture. We agreed that even though it was odd, we have to respect cultural differences and what that entails. The culture here is no beer on Sunday, so we will be tolerant and let it go. And then I started thinking... is that culture or is that theocracy? The definition of theocracy is "a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities" (dictionary.com). In this case, that is exactly what is happening with beer. Due to the fact that the people who make the laws in Louisiana are Christian and have Christian constituents, they have deemed it necessary to make Sunday a 'holy day' and thus no one can drink. Even those who are not Christian or who are Christian and want to drink, everyone has to wait until Monday. I wonder if anyone has ever contested this law, or if they have just moved away not wanting to deal with it. I am still a bit torn on this issue, but I think that what we first thought was a cultural difference may well be one group of people putting their beliefs on others, and that is not separation of church and state!

Crawfish and New Food

So being in the great state of Louisiana I finally had some Crawfish! What is Crawfish? Well, it is like a shrimp, lobster, that lives in the mud. Don't be fooled though, it is quite tasty. I had a while 3 pounds of it and I must say that it was really good. It had a tasty spice on it that made me wish I had some lime to add to it, but that is just my Mexican side coming out. Crawfish is served by the pound. You have to break off the tail and throw the rest of it away. You eat if with your fingers, pair it with a beer and you just can't ask for more. They give you large buckets that you can throw your leftovers in. It is quite a liberating experience.

So eating Crawfish made me wonder, how quick are we to judge other people's choice of foods, and specifically other ethnic foods? People become grossed out and don't even try something new because they think that if it does not come pre-packaged and with high fructose syrup, that it is somehow not edible. I am sure people in Louisiana who may Love Crawfish would be quick to say other people eat gross food, yet other people think Crawfish is disgusting. I think that it might have to do with the way we explain things. Whenever I have to tell my non-Hispanic friends about some Mexican dishes, even I stop to think and clarify. It sounds so much better in Spanish. For example pansita is so good, but what is it? Stomach. So you see, when it is translated and explained it just sounds weird. For example crawfish, for a Louisianer(I think that may be a term not sure) Crawfish is Crawfish, but once you explain exactly what it is, even they stop to ponder about it.

So my one thought is.. try something new, even if you think you may not like it. If not, you are denying yourself the opportunity to discover new things, and you may be disrespecting people who are appalled by your lack of understanding. And to my Louisiana friends I say, keep on having your Crawfish Boils and invite me over!

Pros and Cons of Blind Driver Challenge

So this past week has been a busy busy one. First I went to Daytona to watch the Blind Driver Challenge where a blind person drove a car by himself for the first time before the Rolex 20. The National Federation of the Blind spend a lot of money (about $5 million) on this project. I think it was a very successful event, but there are some questions to ponder.

First of all, could the money that was spent on this project be used to improve the overall lives of blind Americans? For example the money could have been used on education or employment. I can't help but think that this project is like what happened when we first sent a person to the moon. It was a great accomplishment, but many people were upset because they believed that we should be tackling issues here at home. There were many people who were unemployed and living in poverty. Many people who could not afford health insurance, and yet there was a man on the moon. How could we own such a contradiction? There was poetry and music written on the topic. How could we be sending a man to the moon, and yet overlook all of the injustices happening here at home?

Proponents of the Blind Driver Challenge are aware of the implications that this event brought about. They are also aware of the criticism spoken and unspoken of many blind individuals who do not agree with this event. However, they have come up with counter-arguments. They claim that we should move forward; that the technology being developed to get a blind person to drive will be transferable to other aspects. They claim that this initiative will gain technology for all blind people, and even for sighted people. They claim that they are not pushing away from economic and educational issues, but will continue to work towards them.

As I think about this issue, there are two roads that can be taken. One is what has been to continue with this project that the NFB has started where they have used more than $5 million dollars. For blind people, there is a 70% unemployment rate, 90% illiteracy rate and many of those people are living on social security and not contributing to society. That money could be put into expanding educational opportunities and work related training for the blind. It could also be used to educate the public about issues related to blindness.

Or we could not do the Blind Driver Challenge all together. If that were to be the case, money could be used to help advance the plight of the blind. However, by not doing this initiative are we really any better off? What would have happened if we would have decided not to go to the moon? Would we be any better off than we are today? Would we have put that money to better use? Would our understanding of what we are capable of doing as mankind be obscured? What did we gain by going to the moon?

While I do see the point that The Blind Driver Challenge uses a lot of money, shouldn't we always be pushing ourselves to our limits? What I don't agree with, is the notion that as blind people we should hold on to the idea of driving, that should not be the motive for the Blind Driver Challenge. What that instills in us is the idea that we are not equal at this point, and will never be until we are able to drive. Driving does not equal success nor does it equal equality. What the Blind Driver Challenge should do is to permit us to stretch ourselves to the brink of our imagination. We should be working on technology to further our achievement, but not with the false idea that driving is what makes us whole. The reason I support the Blind Driver Challenge is not because I want to drive, because it will probably be too expensive in my lifetime and I am not going to wait around. But rather, because moving forward is what we should always be doing as humans to advance technology and our understanding of the universe and our potential.

your thoughts?

Why I am Coming Out!

Yes, I am coming out! I am coming out about being a blind, independent woman! I am coming out as someone who is not scared or embarrassed of her blindness, but rather who is proud of the identity that being blind brings along with it.
There is a huge connection between coming out campaigns of the LGBT community and the blindness community. Both communities are struggling for equality in terms of housing, legal rights and social acceptance. Both parties are looked down upon and seen an inferior.
There is research done that 60% of Americans fear blindness over death! This is due to the lack of understanding about what blindness really is. However, it does not have to be a handicap. With the proper skills and training, a blind person can do anything that they want. I personally know blind lawyers, dancers, artists, parents and people whom I truly admire. The LGBT community is also hindered by misperceptions that often lead to acts of violence. Yet both communities are often strugglling for the same things.
One aspect of coming out is about self-acceptance. If you cannot accept your identity, you may find it hard to accept others. I often find that the people who look the most down upon the blind are those who have not yet come out themselves about being blind. Which I think can also be attributed to the gay community.
However coming out is also about the larger community. When the LGBT community was trying to gain acceptance, they urged the closeted community to come out. They wanted the world to see that people who associated themselves with LGBT were everywhere; they were your teachers, your friends and your family. I would say that the same is true about the blind. There are so many closeted blind. They may have some partial vision and they live trying to convince everyone around them that they are in fact not blind and thus normal. I heard a quote when speaking about these people that states, "you can either choose to be a clumsy sighted person, or a respectable dignified blind person," and the choice is yours. I know what it was like to like in the closet. Until a couple of years ago I lived without the proper skills to live as a blind person. If you were to see me, you might not notice, but I sure did. I never went someplace by myself, I was constantly in fear of being in a situation where I could not see something or where I would be left alone. I would say that more people equals more power. When the LGBT community was able to convince others to come out, they were able to pass legislation and become a bit more accepted, even though their fight is far from over. The same is true of the blind community. Through organizations like the National Federation of the Blind, the blind were able to collectivly come together and are doing great things to continue the achievement of the blind. However, the more people come out (this can be in the form of allies) the more power that these groups can have.
Coming out is not only for personal achievement, but also as in the LGBT community, to help those who need to come out themselves. This was made very clear to me a couple of days ago. I was sitting in my dining room table working on Braille when I got a call. It was from my dear friend from college. She knew me when I was not yet out and I have shared my experience of accepting blindness with her. She told me how she knew a young girl (well about 18 years old) whom had just gone legally blind. She was totally desperate, depressed and thought that her life was over. This happens to many people who believe that they will never be able to accomplish what they had set out to do in their lives. Yet my friend was able to offer her hope. She told her my story and how I am still in school getting a masters and moving on with my life. The mother was very moved and in tears. We are going to connect and I know that she can still continue to do whatever it is that she dreamed of. That made me think, what if I had not come out? This connectin might have not been made and this teenager would continue to be lost. So I thank the blind role models that I have had, for making the hard decision to come out and thus lead by example.
So I urge all of you to come out! It may not be about blindness or about LGBT issues, but it may just be about being you! Or you can be an ally, everyone needs your support even if you do not share the same conditions. Coming out is not just about your self-acceptance, but about changing other peoples lives who may find themselves in desperate situations thinking that they are all alone, when in fact they are not. I have been very impressed with the "It gets better" campaign, so I say, if you are blind, it gets better, but you have to make the first step to come out!

So It is the New year and things are back to normal. I loved being back at home, which only makes it harder to get back to school work. My luggage was lost, but luckily I got it delivered today. About three hours after it was delivered, I received a call form the airline apologizing for not being able to find my luggage. Really? I already got it! Well anyhow the quarter is going great. Except for the fact that I just bought a book for my class that was $150! It turns out I don't even need the book! So I tried to return it and they won't take it back. I was so willing to use my blindness to get that money back! I know bad, but hey. so a question to you, have you used your blindness, or gender or nationality to get something you otherwise would not? We all do at times, but we need to be aware of what the consequences might be!

So on another note: For all of you non Louisiana folk, take a look at these products found at your local Louisiana Walmart. the first.. the image on the right "Slap Ya Mama" Cajun seasoning.

Because if its slap ya mama good then it must be amazing! I mean I don't think this item would ever sell in California without a lawsuit.

contestant #2 " Getcha Sum" Also a Cajun seasoning. Its actually good, so go and getcha sum!

Contestant #3: its actually cute. Its "Tiger Dust." That is the mascot to Louisiana State University!

Cajun seasons is delicious by the way, but the names could use some editing!