Stop Motion Video from Mexico

My very talented and creative amigo, Danny, just sent me this video which he created:

Freedom in America: From an Immigrant

I just received another stellar comment on the Dr. Anne Wortham video. Here is the comment in full:

I am a latin woman who left her communist/totalitarian country when I was a girl and went to live in another country. In that country I lived with all the restrictions that a foreigner confronts when you are a legal resident. Even to work I had to ask for permission and was restricted to work in certain companies only.

That country is Mexico.

Now this (USA) is a unique country, I always looked up to this country because I knew that here you could succeed if you wanted to. Believe me! it was a wonderful change, from night and day, when I moved here.

I am an american citizen and love this country, it is hard to see how people don't understand that if the government controls your life "there is no freedom". I saw this in Mexico, the media could not criticize the government or there would be repercussions, and believe me, there were!

Freedom is what allows you to be successful, there are no limits to your aspirations, it's up to you to get where you want to get. Oh! but when the government interferes in your life, there is no motivation to do anything, what for? There is no reward coming your way, you almost work for the government, since they will take a big chunk of your efforts to throw them away in any of their unuseful/wasteful programs.

Those who think that socialism is a good idea, I tell you, it's not!!! Once they start, they never end...I wonder why there are so many that are so self-defeated and so many that are naive???
The beautiful thing about life is to do your own thing and get rewarded for it. When you feel accomplished you are more giving, happier and inspired to do more. A system that restricts your freedoms and obstructs your success has a terrible and negative effect in the economy of a country and on the lives of its individuals.

Have you ever seen americans trying to flee this country in search of a better life? NO!!! But you see the rest of the world trying to come here in search of the "American Dream"...why so many want to take this away???

I urge you to think about it!!!

Diana

Wonderful, Quirky Cancun

This article is a most enjoyable read!

Mac vs. PC . . . . . . . Mex vs. BC

Here are a series of short videos of Mexican-Americans poking a little fun at themselves. They're parodies of the infamous "Mac vs. PC" ads that Apple frequently run on TV.

Danny's Time in Vancouver is Over

It has been fantastic to have my young Mexican friend visit for the past month. But all good things must come to an end. It's quite a crazy story how we ended up with this particular car. Trust me, it wasn't my first choice! But Danny is thrilled so we're going to live a little. This is the kind of car you can pass just about everything ... except the gas stations!

Danny Arrives!

I first met this fine young man in November 1996, when he was just 7 years old. I was working down in Mexico City and his mom, Laura, was my Spanish teacher.

Danny's now 17 and just graduated from high school, with exceptionally superb marks! He's visiting me for a month and Day One of his trip commenced in Seattle. Joining him was Winston, the 9 year old greyhound of our hosts.

Spanglish

I had long wanted to see this movie and finally did so last night. It was absolutely delightful. I wasn't actually aware of the precise story beforehand and was perhaps even more surprised and charmed by it as a result. My great interest in Latin culture undoubtedly has a lot to do with the year I spent in Mexico City in 1996-97 and my subsequent relationship with a beautiful Mexican woman and her young son in the years following. The story of Spanglish is completely different than mine but hit many personal chords nonetheless.

In a nutshell, the movie is about a beautiful Mexican woman (played by Spanish actress Paz Vega) who moves to Los Angeles from Mexico when her daughter is quite young. Eventually she accepts a job as the housekeeper for a wealthy white family. On the surface the movie is about the clash of cultures but it's really more the clash between a down-to-earth, balanced, hard-working poor woman and a nutty, self-absorbed, and shallow wealthy woman. On a broader level it illustrates why so many in the West are desperately unhappy and lost in their lives.

It reminded me of why I felt so comfortable living in the Latin culture and why I can never go back to getting involved with the neurotic junior sisters of the antagonist; women that, sadly, I meet too often here in Vancouver.