This I Believe

I believe in the power of unity

I am a Mexican-American or a Chicana. I am the light brown eyes that mix and transform themselves into brownish gleam as they get near the blue warm ocean waters of Puerto Escondido. I am the tan pale skin color that clashes with the culture shock of two different worlds, one my Mexican another American. I am the dark black hair that never seems to grow.

I believe in equal rights, the phrase “Si se puede” which means, “It can be done”. I believe in people that make a difference in society with the power of words and actions like Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Che Guevara and Ghandi. I believe that our values are what make us whole, they create our identities. Values are what make us unique. Values create a sense of right and wrong.

I had never realized how important my values were until a few days ago. On Saturday, the 25th of March 2006, half a million Latinos inspired me. The marched in a peaceful protest in the streets of Los Angeles against what they deeply believed was wrong and unjust. I heard “Si se puede” in the voices of almost half a million people. I realized this was not only for the Mexicans but also for many Latin Americans and many undocumented immigrants from other parts of the world. The impact of this unprecedented event captured my attention as well as the attention of their students. It brought out a passion I had never seen in me before; a part of me that had been dormant for a long time. It gave me the courage to stand up for my beliefs to do something about it for those like our parents who can’t fight against the federal law because they are not citizens and can’t vote.

The power of unity that I witnesses throughout this weekend illustrated our strength as a whole rather that as individuals. We are striving for something better for our people and are willing to fight against injustices to those who are undocumented. I believe that standing up for our values is what makes our unity grow powerful, making a difference in our community. I believe that our values make us have the courage to stand up for our beliefs. “Si se puede.”