Born Day Reflections at 29

As cliché and unoriginal as they are, I enjoy these born day post. It’s typical to reflect at this point in time because it’s one of those life events in which an emphasis is placed on the passage of it, much like new years. Thoughts of what has gone on since this day was last acknowledged flood my mind, body and soul.

If I’m to look back on the year that I am going to be celebrating on July 22, I can look back with no regrets. Getting older was something I never gave thought to back in the day. My concerns were on just trying to make it to the next. But alas, this has been a blessed year. I’ve had the privilege of sharing it with beautiful friends who’ve I’ve shared a laugh, meal and beer with.

It’s through them that not only I’m still here, but flourishing. With DACA kicking in, getting my own apartment, having stability… I can’t complain about anything. I dated here and there, but past lessons have helped me keep clear of unhealthy relationships that I would have other wise found myself involved in. Shit, pondering about it just know… this is the most selfish I’ve been. Ever.

Stability

I had a four-day weekend thanks to the 4th of July holiday. No, I didn’t celebrate America’s birth, but I did take advantage of the free time that was given to me. I spent every single day drunk, waking up in the middle of the afternoon, and kicking it with the homies. Life is good to me right now.

Being dacamented sure is hard. NOT. Me having a good time has nothing to do with my immigration status, ever. More than anything, ever since I did receive my work permit, things have been easier in the sense of administrative changes. Paper work is no longer a huge round around, sure. And I no longer have to carry my passport when going to bars. Shit, DACA hasn’t changed my life.

But stability is something that has dramatically changed my life on levels a legal status in the US never could. Good lord baby Jeezus, 7 lbs 8 ounces, stability has eluded my grasp for as long as I can remember. Whether it was when I lived with my family or when I set out on my own, stability is a rare, almost mythical status that is the foundation in which everything else hinges on.

Growing Movement Pains

Over the years, I’ve met folks in the social justice movement who are complete tools and those who are entirely genuine and altruistic  In the beginning of it all for me, there was a simple notion that lead to me being politically involved, to help others the way I wasn’t. You see, by the time I was in high school, I had no motivation to do anything with the opportunities I had. I chose to focus more on what I couldn't do than what I could do.

My initial motivation for wanting to be part of a social justice movement was to help others with information. To share it with those that wanted and needed it. I lost track of how many workshops I’ve done in which I’ve explained how laws work in California to help undocumented high school and college students pay in-state tuition, where to look for private scholarships, look for resources and connecting with other student groups.

My Owm Meme

For anyone who knows me, ya'll know I love me some meme's. Thus, it was only a matter of time before I made the leap and become a meme myself. I give you, Bad Advice Erick. Of course it's nothing like the real thing. I don't expect it to go viral or anything of the sort, but it's something more for fun than anything. But that shouldn't stop ya'll from using it yourselves. Download the thing and share with me what ya'll come up with. Ya'll can tweet me pics: @ElRandomHero

Mick Foley fights for immigrants

Maybe I haven't said this enough, but I am a freakin' huge wrestling/rastling ever since I was a kid. Part of that is because my dad was a luchador when my family still lived in Mexico City. He went under the stage name, "Chamaco Montezuma" and he was moving forward with his amateur career, that is until two things happened. One: during a match, another guy took him out by way of dislocating his shoulder on a routine move. Second: I was born and with a family to support/being injured, he had to figure something out job wise.  

I've grown up on both Mexican and American wrestling over the years and have never stopped loving it. Fact of the matter is, I've learned to appreciate it as I grow older and crave for it sometimes. At its heart, wrestling is a kind of sports-theater. The elaborate costumes, trash talking and mask are all part of the show and mistic that goes along with this over dramatized soap opera.    

Part of the theatrics used on story lines often mirror those of events happening in mainstream society, and on this occasion, it's immigration reform. This is something that isn't new to the world of wrestling. The WWE currently has an on going story line between two wrestlers, one being against immigration and the other being an immigrant himself. Ironically enough, the Daily Show got on this and they have a hilarious bit with legend Mick Foley. So, if you have a problems with immigrants, you have a problem with Mick Foley son !!     

Superman and his Immigration Status

It’s easy to see how and why Superman can be considered an undocumented immigrant. His origins mirror those of anyone forced to relocate from their home country to another because of outside factors and in Sup’s case, a dying planet. For decades, he’s embodied the spirit of America by upholding truth, justice and the American way, reflecting the origins his original creators had in mind and those placed on him by society throughout the years.

And while the details of who Superman is and how he got to earth have wavered, the fact remains that he is from another planet and he grew up in the United States, just like me. That is, if you consider Mexico another planet. I’ve lived in the US for 21 years as an undocumented immigrant and assimilated to the point of surpassing numerous negative stereotypes and low expectations placed on Latin American immigrants by US culture and society.

Like Superman, my views on society have grown and changed over time to see the inherit connection between all people of the world. Politics, policies and/or wars know no borders when it comes to creating situations in which individuals have no other choice but to migrate for a better life. When parents are faced with the choice between death and a better life, they’ll do whatever is needed to protect their children. Just as Superman’s parents did with him and my parents did with my siblings and me.