Category: Identity

  • Exhortations to a Young Mother

    Exhortations to a Young Mother

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    Leo
    in

    This week, inspiration felt elusive, but a conversation with my niece reminded me of life’s pressing questions. As a young mother, she worries about raising a child in a chaotic world. Our talk touched on resilience, curiosity, and the importance of modeling kindness. I shared that challenges—like eating an elephant—are best faced one bite at…

  • Becoming a Regular Writer: My Journey

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    by

    Leo
    in ,

    In this age where billionaires buy politics and systemic injustice thrives unchecked, the return of trump to the presidency serves as a reminder of the battles ahead. As a proud Chicano and union leader, I stand firmly in the camp of “the enemy from within,” challenging those who exploit racism and prejudice to amass power…

  • Three Miles

    Three Miles

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    Leo
    in

    A couple of years ago I ran into a gentleman in the business section of Vroman’s.  He was looking for a copy of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. We started a discussion about economics and inequality. A few minutes into the conversation he asked me if…

  • Jane Austen Conquers the World

    Jane Austen Conquers the World

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    Leo
    in

    (This is a paper I wrote for a comparative literature class a little over seven years ago. I am posting it on my blog as an attempt to attract my mother as a reader of this blog. I have been telling her for years I would bring her a copy of this particular piece of writing…

  • Justice as a passion

    Justice as a passion

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    by

    Leo
    in

    I had a conversation with a cousin of mine, a little over a year ago. We were discussing politics, as we often have over the years. Though we don’t actively disagree, we don’t necessarily agree either. What was notable about this particular conversation was that his acknowledgement that I have “a passion for politics.” This…

  • An Introduction to Maya

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    Leo
    in

    Maya is a big deal for me. I discovered maya years ago when I was taking a comparative religion class. Maya is a Hindu concept that loosely translates as “illusion.” However, as is true with many religious concepts, there is far more to maya than mere illusion. I will now attempt to make the case…

  • The Road to Chicano Identity

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    Leo
    in

    I was very young when I first heard the word Chicano. I asked my mother what the word meant and she explained it as a term for militants. Apparently this explanation was sufficient because I didn’t question it even though I was far too young to understand what a militant is. It did not come until…