| Armando Espinosa is a Cuban American, self-taught artist, living and working in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Way before sept/11, I thought of the world trade center to be in such disproportion to the human scale, so sterile it was hard to comprehend the humanity within those enormous minimalist structures. The attack on the World Trade Center was in such disproportion to the human scale so brutal it is hard to comprehend that so many innocent people were killed in two quick blows. The amount of anger generated by this act is also in grate disproportion to the human scale. At the time, I heard people saying- "it is a wake up call for America". My immediate response to that statement was: "let’s see which side of the bed America gets up from". As I see things develop, I see the noose tightening; not around Osamas neck, but ours. Not to talk about the many other innocent victims of this hole affair. The stare of hate is becoming more prevalent in America. I feel it, when soldiers, Americans in uniform, in a restaurant give me an ugly look, when before sept/11 they would have given me the "what’s up" male bonding, head nod. Or I get asked my age, out loud in a crowded room, by a clerk in an car rental office , how dare him, just to verify my identity, because he is looking for the opportunity of becoming one of America’s heroes, and I fit the profile. Good intended People call me over to ask me the meaning of an Arabian phase, assuming I come from the Arab world; before sept/11 every one wanted to talk "salsa" and Buena Vista Social Club. The loss of civil liberties, racial profiling, censorship, repression , hate sounds so not-democratic so "anti-American", but it is exactly what the flag waving majority is allowing to happen. My exam was one question, and having to write, right on my application the phrase; " When I become a Citizen I will vote". Well now I see that to vote is not enough, that to confront this wave of non-democratic behavior it is important to address the issue of post sept/11 life, from a dissident point of view; dissident in not waving flags, but common sense, in not adhering to the rhetoric of power and opportunity. Dissident in being the nation’s "Checks and Balances". I’m sure every one here have different ideas on what to do and how to do things that can illustrate how we are all casualties of the war; an that is what needs to be done. And in doing so we have to question, refute and condemn any kind of behavior that would diminish our rights and our effectiveness in respectfully choosing our way of life. It is our duty to help America grieve all the innocent victims of September, 11 with respect and a clear vision of the possibilities for change and a better life for all, world wide. |
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