A Shout-Out for My Latinos!!

OK I'm getting up on the podium so watch out!! LOL First, let's chat about friendship. Me and my co-writer have been friends for about 5 years or so. She probably knows the exact year but I only remember the day. Her hubby and my then boyfriend decided that we should plan a summer outing--against our wills. Neither of us was exactly jumping to meet the other. You see at the time, our significant others' choice of friends was extremely lacking and us being the extreme snobs, did not want to mingle with what we thought was crap!
Anyway we did meet and I think I may have given her a once over before letting her into my car but lo and behold--a friendship was born. And we fight just like the boys do except that we also know each other very well. Sometimes we give each other space and other times, especially me (ha ha) we are all up in each other's face wanting to know why we did such a stupid thing. Anyhow through it all, we have learned to know that the other is not perfect but we love each other in spite of and sometimes even because of the imperfections! Who knew?! LOL
OK so one of what I consider her imperfections (lol) is that she is not a very proud Latina. This of course, has to do with our growing up. I grew up with lots of Puerto Rican pride and I knew of all things Hispanic. I learned very early on that I was not Spanish!!! That's right folks!! Spanish are people of Spanish descent aka born in or from family in Spain. I learned to love the music and the people and the fiestas patronales. I went to Puerto Rico every single summer and many Christmas vacations. So Latin pride was part of growing up for me. My co-writer had a bit of a different upbringing. Don't get me wrong. She likes her roots. She just doesn't love them. LOL And trut be told, she actually cracks me up because she as some peculiar sayings for a Latina--the latest one? "Stop joshing me." she tells me. I nearly snorted my Sprite out my nose! And she's married to a VERY proud Puerto Rican man. I imagine she cracks him up too!
LOL
So my co-writer made a comment in a prior blog about Latinos in power. And I agree with part of her comment except that I don't think abuse of power is a condition that is limited to Latinos/Hispanics. Power is power and most people that attain it, don't know how to handle it. Most are changed by this power. Many lose the power and perhaps it is this fear of losing the power they worked so hard to attain, that makes some minority populations and really people in general, seem to want to hold on to it a little tighter. And sometimes, they come down on fellow Latinos/Hispanics. The problem is that we take it personally. Yea it would be nice if we got cut a break every so often but well, I don't hold it against them. I don't like misuse of power in any ethnic group but I am very proud of my fellow Latinos when they achieve something of substance.
My aunt made a funny yet true comment the other day. I don't normally agree with her so this is Good! LOL
We were talking about the fact that one of our family members is locked away in the "big house" and we needed a favor but no one would do it. I'm not going to get into details. There would have been no breaking of laws and the favor was something that is not out of the ordinary. But no one would do it. And yea, no one we asked was Latino. I'm not saying that was the reason why it wasn't done but I'm trying to set up what my aunt said.
She says "You see the problem is that too many of our youth dedicated themselves to drugs and becoming the law-breakers instead of becoming the cops, the lawyers and the judges."
I have to admit that there is a sour Truth to that. I have known so many intelligent young men AND women throw their lives away. But that is exactly the reason why I don't mind when my Latinos reach some level of power--oh yea I may personally dislike some of these individuals but it's all about the greater good. Eventually we'll get it right.