What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
-Langston Hughes
When I was a kid we had this saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” But, that is an easy lesson for those who grow up as the majority class, who are not immigrants, or who have never been discriminated against. We may never know exactly what Materazzi said to Zidane, but my guess is that is was something racist or xenophobic. So, what lesson do we have to learn from this? In my mind, there is a very clear lesson. It doesn’t matter how great you are, insults still hurt. The World Cup which celebrates tolerance, multi-culturalism, and internationalism should not dethrown Zizou, but understand that even the greatest of the world’s stars is still subject to cheap, insenstive insults. The world is converging (just look at the make up of the French team), but there is still a long way to go. What is a horrible shame is that today the news media have depicted Zidane as someone who lost his cool under pressure, and yet Materazzi is a national hero. What are we valuing in society? How would you have reacted? Which side of the fence do you want to stand on? This is the sad reality of a politically incorrect Europe that permits racist remarks because it is always the offended that bears the responsibility for not being offended and the offender? Is clever? . . .
Most of my friends have much more interesting lives than I do. Thus, I am taking the initiative of posting some of their stories. For example, soon you will find interviews with el Granuja and Manolo. To begin with, here is Fadi’s Holy Week story of Antigua, Guatamala (written in French):
Cervantès a si bien su pétrir la triste réalité de la prose quotidienne pour la transformer en poésie croustillante et en illusion satisfaisant l’imaginaire: le Quichotte en preux chevalier avec un « Don pour titre », la roturière –injustement assimilée par la psyché collective à une prostituée !!!– en Dulcinée, les moulins en châteaux (en Espagne bien sûr)… sublimation que nous avons de plus en plus du mal à envisager au quotidien surtout quand, dans le monde du développement auquel je pense appartenir, nous avons à attaquer la pauvreté. Continue reading
Filed under Essays, Friends / Family
Si hubiese un premio al compañero con mayor número de apodos en FON, el ganador sería sin duda Mundo Reactivo. No solo se le conoce por Mundo Reacitvo sino también por Mundo, Uranium World, Cantimpalos, Kamikaze (entre otros), y también ahora por el Satelite. A continuación os ofrezco una lista actualizada de los apodos de mis compañeros en FON . . .
Filed under FON
In a previous post about clean water, I introduced my friend Fadi, an environmental health expert. Of all of my friends, Fadi is the one with the most exquisite musical taste. He has introduced me to great music and musicians, one of which is Toufic Farrouk (personally, I recommend Drab Zeen). Toufic is apparently about to launch his new album entitled Tutia. What I did not know was that Fadi had actually done more than amateur playing (he played the flute) and had been in the studio recording with Toufic and Ziad Rabani. In any event, I would like to share this photo from his previous life. There was once a fatalistic article written about Fadi by one of his ex-girlfriends in an English newspaper that I would love to share as well, but it was so ludicrous that I will spare us all. I hope Fadi does not mind me posting this window of lives past.
Filed under Friends / Family, Jazz
On June 9th, I wrote “Jamón: What nobody wants to admit” about the dark side of Spain’s devotion for its beloved cured pig legs. Allow me to clarify: I am not a huge fan of conspiracy theories, but I do believe that Spanish people bare a hidden secret that they conceal from foreigners like me. As a matter of fact, each time that I bring up the subject in the office, everyone gets very uncomfortable and suspiciously defensive. My theory is that at a young age, children are told by their parents the truth under sworn oath (they are probably even forced to sign an NDA) about how there can be such a vast number of pig legs with so very few pigs. Basically, I have arrived at two possibilities: (i) massive, clandestine imports or (ii) genetically engineered pigs that can regenerate their legs after they have been cut off (yes, sounds like a sci-fi horror movie starring aged and washed up actors).
In any event, my brother, very much the conspiracy theorist, has offered another possibility: The Meatrix. My guess is that he would plea to “fight the power”.
Filed under Jamón Conspiracy, Living la vida española
It doesn’t matter whether France wins another game in this World Cup. What matters is that Zinedine Zidane has demostrated once again what he is all about. Where was Ronaldinho? He may be the future, but Zizou is still Zizou. Zizou showed the Brazilians what it’s like to play Samba….during his last tango in Germany. Let’s enjoy what’s left of his final matches. Don’t retire him yet.
And by the way, I am rooting for France. Not because I particuarly like the French, but because I love that the French team is made up of immigrants. Rarely do immigrants triumph in Europe, and this French team (like the one in 1998) is an example of immigrants succeeding and becoming national heros in xenophobic Europe.
Filed under Digressions, Zizou
Grave Error 
