Advice

It's been a while since I last posted. And more so, since I last posted in english. So here goes another try...

I was reading back on a note I sent some months back to a young loved one. I re-read it, contrary to my style, and it moved me once more. I want to share it with all of you, and I hope you like it too. I've edited very little putting in brackets [] the changes I've inserted.

"[...] School can be quite a burden sometimes. But it only seems like a burden. When you look back on it, you'll see that it wasn't all that much. Nonetheless, it is always good not to underestimate the work required. It's always best to stay abreast of things, to do [your] homework, and to study at the right time, and not leave it until it is too late (like, say, the day before the test). I know how that is, since I used to leave everything to the last minute; I never did have any real trouble, but my grades could have been much better, and my stress level much lower had I done differently (i.e., study on time, do my homework).

"Again, do as much as you can in High School. Participate. Join clubs, meet as [many] people as you can. High School can be so much fun; or it can be a heavy burden. Actually, it depends on how you want to take it. I took it as a burden, so I didn't enjoy it all that much. But, that was my choice (though, at the time, I didn't feel like it was a choice; now I know that it was). Your teachers can help you so much. [...] of course, your attitude will make all the difference. Think about it.

"I do hope [your uncle] is OK, and do write to him as much as you can. There is something that is most important that you learn: Family is Everything. There isn't anything more important, after one's self, than your family. And when family is sick or in need, then that's when being family counts more. It is the same of friendship (though family [comes] before friendship). Some people turn their backs on those [who] are in trouble: they feel bad when a sickness strikes a family member, especially if it is a long suffering one. Also, when people go to jail, sometimes the family doesn't want anything to do with them, as if they had some sort of contagious illness. Don't turn your back on them. Support them even more. But support them positively, bringing them hope. God willing, they will learn from their mistakes, and when given the chance, they will act upon those learnings. Try to make a difference, do it with all your heart.

"Having said [this], please [..] understand that people make their own choices, and that they are responsible for them (even if they don't want to take responsability). As I said before, sometimes the choices we make, don't seem to be choices [at all]: [sometimes] there seems to be only one way, and we follow it. But there is always more than one way. We [could] see that if we [allowed] ourselves to step back and take a look around. In other words, if we take a breather we can see much better, and think with more clarity. But our minds seem to be full of clatter and noise, as if [...] a stormy sea. And this tempestous roar within our mind drowns out everything else. Thus, [it seems that] we are faced with very limited options [...] Remember, though, there are always more choices than seem available; step back, breathe a little."

Do this with all your heart!

Impacto Memín

Ahora que la NASA lanzó su misión kamikaze al asteroide resulta que una astróloga rusa los quiere demandar, que por que según esto le echaron a perder todas sus predicciones. Yo no sé ustedes, pero aparte de ser entretenidos los horóscopos, y de ser generalidades que le pueden aplicar a casi cualquier persona, independientemente de su signo, no tiene ningún otro valor; es lo que creo. Pero hay gente que, o se quiere pasar de listo, o bien está sospechosamente en el borde de la locura. Yo creo que en el caso de esta señora rusa, se quiere pasar de lista. Digamos que fuera una cosa seria, ¿cómo podría demostrar que cambiaron sus predicciones? Es decir, diría "Yo predije que pasaría esto y esto otro y no sucedió", y esa es su prueba. De hecho, desde un punto de vista de ingenio, su argumento sería irrevocable. Pues está más de risa que otra cosa.

Por otro lado, de risa está el asunto este de las estampillas de Memín Pingüín. Qué dicen los compañeros afroamericanos que les resulta insultante. Pero en México es un ícono cultural. Entonces, yo digo que -respetuosamente- les enviemos cartas a estos señores explicándoles cómo a nosotros también nos podría resultar ofensivos los estereotipos como por ejemplo, Speedy González, o el paisano durmiéndo a la sombra del cáctus. Pero eso es inocente, y Memín Pengüín, no. En todo caso, que derrumben el Álamo en San Antonio que nos resulta un recordatorio doloroso del robo y vejación del que fue objeto nuestro país. O que traten con respeto a nuestros compatriotas que aportan a la economía de ese gran país, y a cambio reciben vituperios, insultos, y linchamientos políticos (el colmo, que un dizque político inmigrante, malparlante ánglico, y todavía se ponga en contra de la inmigración, ¡en California, lugar de inmigrantes por excelencia!).

Si que es interesante y divertido el mundo en el que vivimos.