About halfway through my trip, I’d made my way from Paris to Normandy. One of the sites that we stopped off at was Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/no.php). Just over 50 years prior to my visit, this place was the site of one of the most pivotal battles during World War II-the Normandy invasion, which opened up Europe and contributed to Allied victory. Even more so, it was the site where a tremendous number of our young soldiers gave their lives for our freedom.

Now imagine a 17 year old visiting this site and being among its sea of immaculately laid out tombstones, its blanket of green grass and feeling a soothing salty breeze. It truly was something to admire. What hit me more than the beauty that I experienced was what our tour guide told us. She told us that many of our soldiers were right around my age. Now for a carefree teenager to hear that the people buried just under his feet were not much older than him brings him closer to reality than almost nothing else.

Since that summer day that seems like it was just yesterday, I remember our veterans. No matter what my views are on how just a war or “conflict” might be, I recognize just how much they give up for us. I even make it a point of just saying thank you. A few years ago when I was in a customer service job, I had a veteran at my counter on either Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day. When I saw that he was a veteran, I did the simple thing of saying thank you. He told me, “Nobody’s ever said that to me.” So when you come across a veteran, remember to tell them thank you.

Author: Jose A. Rodríguez

An interesting thing happened during the time that I spent out there. First of all, we were there eight hours on both days. Being around all of the food smells and seeing the Mexican flags anywhere and everywhere almost gave me a transfusion of my Mexican culture. Though I go fairly often into Southwest Detroit, it’s not the same thing. I smelled the meat cooking for the tacos, which brought back memories from both sides of the border. I drank perhaps the biggest horchata (rice milk). Of course, I saw tons of images of Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa and even Che Guevara (ignoring the fact that he’s actually an Argentine figure and not Mexican). So, for all these sights and smells, we had our share and with some to spare! Everything, especially the food, was something warm and welcoming. The easiest way to explain my feelings is to say that they wrapped around me like a blanket. I felt like I was home.

The downside of the weekend is when I had to change hats. Let me tell you what I mean. Throughout the weekend, I really stretched my language skills. With one person, I might be speaking English and then turn around and speak to another in Spanish. Though my English is slightly better, I was able to effectively communicate in both. However, the flipping between languages tired me out!

Let me share with you a quote from the movie Selena. When Selena told her father, Abraham, how she wanted to go Mexico to get some press, he expressed his reluctance. He told her, We’ve gotta be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans-both at the same time. It’s exhausting!”

Do you ever feel exhausted at switching hats? I didn’t really realize this until I was driving home one of the days. The only way that I could describe it is that where I live seems like a whole world removed from the immersion that I experienced in Southwest Detroit. Even though Cinco de Mayo felt like home, I couldn’t help but wonder which is my real world.

I’d be interested to hear if you have ever had a similar experience. Have you ever felt that sometimes you have to wear your “Latino” hat and other times your “American” one?

First of all, he has some really great ideas. I know that many Republican leaning people are accusing Obama of wanting “big government” and of trying to give everybody a handout. I don’t agree with this. I don’t remember these same people saying anything when President Bush ran us back into a deficit after having achieved a surplus. It’s no surprise that we are passing through some of the worst times in our country’s history. I look back to the Great Depression when one of the things that screwed us up was lack of confidence. We cannot afford to make the same mistake again. Although we are living in a cynical age, I do feel that Obama, if we get behind him, can be a figure to unite us and keep our heads together. If we lose that positive direction, then we will repeat many of the same mistakes of the Great Depression. Let us not forget the words of George Santayana, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Perhaps the biggest thing that people look at is the fact that he is “black,” “African-American” or a “man of color.” The fact of the matter is that Obama is American. People, I think because so many can identify with him, are willing to use him as their symbol, their spokesperson. However, Obama is like many Americans that I know in that his background is one that brings together different countries. I don’t think that I know anybody that is “100%” anything. So if he is supposed to represent the America that elected him, then why shouldn’t he be like them? While Obama might not “look” like America, it runs through his veins.

Lastly, I think that we need to remember that just because he was elected that there are still people that are prejudiced or even downright racist. During these politically correct times, such people keep their opinions hidden because it wouldn’t look good to express them. It’s also remotely possible that such people voted for him not out of the goodness of their hearts, but out of self-interest. Does this mean that they still don’t hold these convictions? The way that any individual votes or the fact that a multi-cultural man was elected does not mean that these people don’t hold these opinions.

So while big, progressive ideas, image and existing prejudice all play into what it means for Obama to be, we are still left with a loaded, complicated question that cannot be successfully resolved in this piece. Just as with finding something about him that represents you, finding one particular explanation is entirely inadequate. What does Obama’s election mean? It all depends.

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez (jarodriguez@miestilomag.com)

First of all, he has some really great ideas. I know that many Republican leaning people are accusing Obama of wanting “big government” and of trying to give everybody a handout. I don’t agree with this. I don’t remember these same people saying anything when President Bush ran us back into a deficit after having achieved a surplus. It’s no surprise that we are passing through some of the worst times in our country’s history. I look back to the Great Depression when one of the things that screwed us up was lack of confidence. We cannot afford to make the same mistake again. Although we are living in a cynical age, I do feel that Obama, if we get behind him, can be a figure to unite us and keep our heads together. If we lose that positive direction, then we will repeat many of the same mistakes of the Great Depression. Let us not forget the words of George Santayana, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Perhaps the biggest thing that people look at is the fact that he is “black,” “African-American” or a “man of color.” The fact of the matter is that Obama is American. People, I think because so many can identify with him, are willing to use him as their symbol, their spokesperson. However, Obama is like many Americans that I know in that his background is one that brings together different countries. I don’t think that I know anybody that is “100%” anything. So if he is supposed to represent the America that elected him, then why shouldn’t he be like them? While Obama might not “look” like America, it runs through his veins.

Lastly, I think that we need to remember that just because he was elected that there are still people that are prejudiced or even downright racist. During these politically correct times, such people keep their opinions hidden because it wouldn’t look good to express them. It’s also remotely possible that such people voted for him not out of the goodness of their hearts, but out of self-interest. Does this mean that they still don’t hold these convictions? The way that any individual votes or the fact that a multi-cultural man was elected does not mean that these people don’t hold these opinions.

So while big, progressive ideas, image and existing prejudice all play into what it means for Obama to be, we are still left with a loaded, complicated question that cannot be successfully resolved in this piece. Just as with finding something about him that represents you, finding one particular explanation is entirely inadequate. What does Obama’s election mean? It all depends.

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez (jarodriguez@miestilomag.com)

Having just spoken about prejudice, this is an important concern for Mi Estilo.  As we look at Latinos, they encompass all sorts of backgrounds and shades.  I look at me and my family.  I look like the “stereotypical” Mexican: black hair, brown eyes and have brown skin.  Nonetheless, I have family—aunts and cousins—that have lighter features.  Who looks “more Mexican?” Admittedly, this is something that not just mainstream American society thinks about but we, Latinos, buy into as well.  Each Latino is unique and not with some formula that can be duplicated.

There is also the issue of language.  The Spanish that I speak is probably a bit outdated, as I learned it from my parents and they’ve lived here for over 30 years.  Up until I started studying it at the university, my vocabulary was limited.  My grammar and writing were horrible.  My r’s became harder to roll.  However as my studies progressed, so did my ability to read, write and speak Spanish.  Nonetheless, as I began to speak it with other Latinos, I felt less and less insecure because my Spanish was still a bit rough around the edges.

The realization came to me last night as I was reading a chapter of Mario Bosquez’ The Chalupa Rules: A Latino Guide to Gringolandia.  In Chalupa Rule 6 (Swim In Your Culture), he talked about being proud of whatever Spanish that you might speak.  Whether it’s Tex-Mex, Mexican or Guatemalan Spanish, any is valid because it is your expression. Your Spanish is the summary of your family’s cultural history.  I realized that my Spanish is as good and as valid as anybody else’s.

Language is one of the elements of culture and identity.  It’s also something that for many Latinos is fluid and constantly changing.  As immigrant Latinos continue to live in the United States, they will find that more English words start sneaking into their daily conversation.  The home culture mixes with the American one and becomes some strange combination that somehow works.  The thing to remember whether you’re an immigrant or a generational latino is that your culture is a unique expression of who you are and from where you came.  This is something to hold up as a source of pride.  Your culture is part of your style—tu estilo.  Live it.  Own it.  It is yours.

Author: Jose A. Rodriguez