Dear America, Im a first generation son of hard working, educated Filipino (and half Indian) parents who came here and made their way. I grew up in the 80s and bought all your dreams of equality and endless opportunity. My fathers ambition had no limits in the 80s. I saw him get up at 6am every day and dress in the sharpest suits, driving the flyest car, and exceeding all limitations that could possibly put on a minority in America. I was taught honor, honesty, empathy, and unconditional love by my dear mother. I went to good schools and got my As. I went to your universities for free based on academics, not race. I ran ahead of the sheep, ate with the wolves, and walked, worked, and prospered in the shadows of lions. Ive gotten wise to the ways you (and we) sell different things to all of us and use the media to sway our collective emotions, needs, and desires. I see how you protect the elite at the cost of the masses. I see that you and your global marketing department, aka mass media, is getting better and better and fusing with social media to create, fuel, and profit from outrage. I believe that the collective good in all of us can see past profit margins and start to initiate real change. Change in ourselves, change in our communities, change in our dealings with the authorities and government. But we must start within. We must build our own empires. The American dream was once to own a home with two nice cars a dog, and a few kids. That dream was sold out to China and Russia when the Banks decided the American home owner was the new cash cow. The new real American dream should be to get past our own MOMENTARY, HOURLY, and DAILY frustrations that we take out on each other, and band together to create things. First small things, but every day spent in a consistent space creates progress. If you are outraged by the bad news presented daily, MAKE BETTER NEWS. DO BETTER DEEDS and build platforms to show it. Were only dealing with being 8 generations behind, 400 years, and some of us are still just getting here trying to get started and figure things out. What news do we own besides channels that mostly push negative images and storylines? Cant we see that being COMFORTABLE watching other people suffer, lose, and be ridiculed is a worse, more addictive, more evil drug than heroin? Dont we know we have to work twice as hard to get half as much? We should accept this hand, take it, and win. Ive seen too many people do it. My people please remember: IT IS PROFITABLE FOR AMERICA FOR YOU TO LIVE, REACT, AND FACE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EMOTIONAL REACTION. I know that Im here for a reason, and thats to leave a mark on as many minds as possible through the talents I was fortunate to be able to nurture thanks to family, friends and even the exploiters. Ive had hard lessons, wise men whose words I should have heeded. Warm hearts whose home I should have made my own. Millions I probably could have touched. Ive had some victories but I never waste time celebrating when theres more work to be done. I know that now more than ever Im where I need to be, and facing where I need to be going. Imagination + action. I just want to take more people with me. #CANTLOSE #BWAY100
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 17:14:50 +0000
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