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more inspiration

We are certainly passing through some interesting times to say the least.

I won't step to the virtul pulpit and attempt to give an inspirational message, but if you need that pick me up that the last cup of coffee failed to give ya, check out this sort of inspirational collage of clips from famous productions of the celluloid persuasion.

Posted by Maurel Merette at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

inspiration

The act of breathing life into something, according to some definitions.

Ever wonder how much a few words can inspire? Well, the words "se hace camino al andar" (make the road by walking) originally inscribed by Spanish Poet Antonio Machado have inspired quite a number of things.

There's a community action center in New York, "Make the Road New York/Se hace Camino New York", which in turn inspired a group of musicians called "The Menahan Street Band" to dub their latest musical offering after the center which is located nearby the place where their music was created. (Jay-Z fans should thank MSB for their composition, "Make the road by Walking" which served as the basis for the hit "Roc Boys (and the winner is")

Machado's words also inspired the title of perhaps one of the most lauded books on social and educational change. Written by educators Myles Horton and Paulo Freire, "We Make the Road by Walking" is a work that focuses on the dialogue between these educators from different cardinal points about pedagogy, social criticism and collective struggle. I intend to pick it up sometime soon.

But what is somewhat ironic about all of this inspiration is that the context of those life-giving words is quite the opposite from what most would expect.

The inspiring words are contained within two verses from "Proverbios y cantares XXIX" in Campos de Castilla

Caminante, son tus huellas

el camino y nada más;

Caminante, no hay camino,

se hace camino al andar.

Al andar se hace el camino,

y al volver la vista atrás

se ve la senda que nunca

se ha de volver a pisar.

Caminante no hay camino

sino estelas en la mar

I first heard these words in a song by Joan Manuel Serrat, my mother owned a few of his LPs, and quite honestly, I though it was a somewhat depressing song. The song's lyrics were more focused on the nostalgic effect of traveling and told of how a poet died away from his patria. Here's the song performed by Serrat.

I could put a refran in here on how everythiing one writes can influence the future, but it would be an overstatement. I will say this, you never know when someone will take something you said and turn it into something different. For the worse-hopefully not-or for the better. 

Posted by Maurel Merette at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Es una guerra"

These are the words chosen by Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon to describe the situation just south of us.

Mexico's war on drugs.

The Los Angeles Times reported recently that the death toll in that war so far has been tallied at 6,836. And that is only since April 2007 when Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared war on drug traffickers.

Calderon has scored a few victories, some successful raids on drug-trafficking strongholds have yielded positive results. Capos and bosses are behind bars thanks to the work of the Federal Police, the DEA and other agencies.

But the losses continue to mount as civilians and law enforcement official continue to lose their lives in this war.  

The war has changed other things in Mexico, tourists and even its nationals feel unsafe when travelling to or in Mexico.

A local business owner and friend said that he is very concerned about going back to his hometown over the holidays as drug traffickers and all types of ground pirates pose a threat to him and his family who will travel through some battered sections of the Mexican mainland. Part of his trek will take him through 4 hours of what he described as "nothing but desert" where he will be completely on his own. No 911 or any emergency service available.

Our current financial crisis may have sent some issues like immigration to the back burner of this nation's attention, but I know there are folks out there who feel that US border would be safer if Mexico could get their drug trafficking problems in check. I also know that Calderon and his government have recieved generous help from the Bush administration to aid with this and other ills. But at some point one has to stop and think, is there any other way in which we could stop the fighting?

I'm not calling for extreme measures here, but truly, is Calderon fighting a war he can win? And what exactly would be called a win in this situation?

For those interested in more information, the Los Angeles Times has an interesting webpage with information on this war to our south. It can be viewed here 

I sure hope my friend can make it back from visiting his pueblo.

Posted by Maurel Merette at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)