A journey. Slow yet fulfilling.

This is just a random thought that I believe everyone on this site should read. Sometimes I have problems with self-righteousness and every once and a while, I feel it necessary to purge myself of any illusions that I may have about myself to clear my mind and reevaluate the situation. So, I humble myself. Over the past couple of years I have met new and interesting people and have loved every minute...ok, maybe not every minute. There have been some pretty uncomfortable moments. I will say that, being raised in a white majority town, such as Attica, has its drawbacks. Racism, Closed-mindedness, bigoted views and an ignorance never surpassed by common sense. There was one brown student in our school, save one, I was the competing minority. I was a half blooded Mexican, with no accent and no sense of self. Always wanting to be something more, or at least different, but never be myself. I was indifferent to things at first. I had no real idea of what to think of people outside my town. Then came college, not really an immersion, community college nearby, I got to interact with people who I would have never met in Attica. (Sad fact, this was the first time I was to ever hear of Martin Luther King Jr.) No mention of him during high school and his holiday was dismissed as an outsider holiday. But after meeting, greeting and reading some much needed lit, curiosity sprouted...and then it never stopped. I pushed myself to reach out and experience everything and anything that I could. A new college brought with it a new adventure. I met Keith while in Tri-C. A complete immersion in culture, not downtown Cleveland, but still pretty close. I loved it Tri-C had language groups, international students, so many different conversations in so many different languages...I felt at home. However, when Keith and I became friends, I truly got it. I met his family and to me they became family. I sat at their table, I ate with them, laughed with them, talked with them and celebrated with them. I talk to some people and they consider themselves "color blind". I however am not. To say one is color blind is to say they are just like everyone else. Which nowdays is very true, however, such a statement suggests that you do not recognize the hardships that their families have suffered through the years. Respect. To learn about the atrocities that befell elder generations and then think of someone who I consider family and think about them in that situation would, on occasion, bring me to tears. I could not help but think of what I wouldn't do to ensure their safety. I have met many people and many people have come and gone. Some stay and I am better with them in my life. I am a better person. To those people I thank you. I love you more than you know and I look forward to our next adventure. I am a fairly simple person, but constantly learning. I look forward to the films that people will submit here. It is a way to see a life through someone else's eyes. This site is important, let this be the window to a world with few windows. Let this cultivate curiosity and an understanding so more people will step out of their small worlds and broaden their horizons. If you are curious about what I am writing and want to ask me questions feel free. I welcome open conversation.

~Peace~

Allan