Though we tremble before uncertain futures may we meet illness, death and adversity with strength may we dance in the face of our fears.

The struggle is inner: Chicano, indio, American Indian, mojado, mexicano, immigrant Latino, Anglo in power, working class Anglo, Black, Asian--our psyches resemble the bordertowns and are populated by the same people. The struggle has always been inner, and is played out in outer terrains. Awareness of our situation must come before inner changes, which in turn come before changes in society. Nothing happens in the "real" world unless it first happens in the images in our heads.

Though we tremble before uncertain futures may we meet illness, death and adversity with strength may we dance in the face of our fears.

Books saved my sanity, knowledge opened the locked places in me and taught me first how to survive and then how to soar.

But I'm more scared of not writing.

Do work that matters. Vale la pena

What we say and what we do ultimately comes back to us so let us own our responsibility, place it in our hands, and carry it with dignity and strength.