One could argue that history repeats itself: the human spirit is the constant. Each day is full
of energy. How we chose to use it depends on us. Stories throughout history contain similar
themes to each other but it's the characters and details of each setting that give our lives
color. My response to describing the day in which I was born come from a sad but hopeful
one. That was the tone of the day. I'll start by saying that life is cyclical; we are in a
continuous feedback loop. The key elements of that loop are what drive the passengers of
the journey through life to react. Huge impacts are experienced by the domino effect of
our reactions. New lives began and many lives ended that day, like every other day.
of energy. How we chose to use it depends on us. Stories throughout history contain similar
themes to each other but it's the characters and details of each setting that give our lives
color. My response to describing the day in which I was born come from a sad but hopeful
one. That was the tone of the day. I'll start by saying that life is cyclical; we are in a
continuous feedback loop. The key elements of that loop are what drive the passengers of
the journey through life to react. Huge impacts are experienced by the domino effect of
our reactions. New lives began and many lives ended that day, like every other day.
I was born September 22, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. The color of the day is left for you to
decide once you download my visual description of the time. The supreme entity of life was
and still is God, based on the unique self-conceptualized version in one's own mind. The
President of the United States of America was Lyndon B. Johnson. The President was born
and raised in Texas. San Antonio being a Texas town, had quite a sense of pride for having
a Texan in the Oval office.
President Johnson's leadership pushed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Congress
adopted the most comprehensive civil rights legislation in the United States history. It
(1) guaranteed all Americans the right to vote; (2) prohibited discrimination in public
accommodations based on race, color, religion, or natural origin; (3) outlawed
job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion sex, or national origin; and (4) gave
the federal government broad authority in enforcement. The civil rights movement leading
up to this act was "one of the most publicized events in United Stated history." Affirmative
action is one of the most effective tools for redressing the injustices caused by our nation's
historic discrimination against people of color and women, and for leveling what
had long been an uneven playing field.
adopted the most comprehensive civil rights legislation in the United States history. It
(1) guaranteed all Americans the right to vote; (2) prohibited discrimination in public
accommodations based on race, color, religion, or natural origin; (3) outlawed
job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion sex, or national origin; and (4) gave
the federal government broad authority in enforcement. The civil rights movement leading
up to this act was "one of the most publicized events in United Stated history." Affirmative
action is one of the most effective tools for redressing the injustices caused by our nation's
historic discrimination against people of color and women, and for leveling what
had long been an uneven playing field.
Listen to a sound clip of several meetings the President spoke in a compilation put together by KERA news
In this sound bite and article you will hear of many of President Johnson's successes while
in office. You will also hear a tone of sadness and stress in some remarks due to
the Vietnam War escalating in the Asia.
in office. You will also hear a tone of sadness and stress in some remarks due to
the Vietnam War escalating in the Asia.
The Vietnam War was still upon us. My grandparents, aunts and uncles watched the news
daily,worried sick at the possibility of losing three of our family members fighting in that war.
The headlines in the news were still filled sorrowful tales and no word of cessation in sight.
The repercussions of society’s reactive nature to the deaths and atrocities of the war
seemed to be influencing political decision-making. Freedom of speech rallies were
constructed for the voice of change to be heard with passion and focus.We learned later
that indeed society placed stress on the President. The political unrest of the country
weighed heavy on his shoulders. My family only hoped and prayed or the best.
daily,worried sick at the possibility of losing three of our family members fighting in that war.
The headlines in the news were still filled sorrowful tales and no word of cessation in sight.
The repercussions of society’s reactive nature to the deaths and atrocities of the war
seemed to be influencing political decision-making. Freedom of speech rallies were
constructed for the voice of change to be heard with passion and focus.We learned later
that indeed society placed stress on the President. The political unrest of the country
weighed heavy on his shoulders. My family only hoped and prayed or the best.
170,000 Hispanics served in Vietnam. 3,070 died there, three of who were
my uncles, two from my mother's side and one from my father's side. They not only
mourned for them, they were saddened by all lives lost from this war. I wondered how my
family could have possibly been able to feel the joy of a birth with so many people dying in
such a time. We all must remember that so many have suffered to provide us with the
freedoms we have today. I ask that when you read this you stop here for a moment of
silence to reflect on it then continue.
My mother said she remembered that on the day of my birth it was hot and dry when I pulled
up the weather statistics on that day I found that it was as she resported.
I was her first child and her labor was long and difficult. She remembered the nurses being
comforting and gentle and my father pacing and nervous, Her parents and
siblings remained home waiting for the news to come. I was born at 4:45 pm that day; the
only redheaded child in the hospital.
comforting and gentle and my father pacing and nervous, Her parents and
siblings remained home waiting for the news to come. I was born at 4:45 pm that day; the
only redheaded child in the hospital.
Red haired children were scarcely seen in San Antonio, a city with primary
latino population. My momcommented that all the hospital staff came down to the maternity
ward to see me that evening. The news travelled quickly to my relatives and soon a
fiesta ensued around the maternity ward. On December 7, 1996, at 10:36 a.m., I gave birth
to a redheaded baby boy.
latino population. My momcommented that all the hospital staff came down to the maternity
ward to see me that evening. The news travelled quickly to my relatives and soon a
fiesta ensued around the maternity ward. On December 7, 1996, at 10:36 a.m., I gave birth
to a redheaded baby boy.
The cycle of life continues. We have since lived through more of war’s tragedies
in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have come full circle to the theme of change as we have seen
in the Obama campaign. The barrriers lifted on discrimination and freedom of speech in
1964 have allowed for the rise of influential leaders of all race and gender to
achieve success in many fruitful ways. One could argue that history repeats itself. The
human spirit is constant. Fifty years ago, on September 22, 1964, what color would you
have painted that day?
in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have come full circle to the theme of change as we have seen
in the Obama campaign. The barrriers lifted on discrimination and freedom of speech in
1964 have allowed for the rise of influential leaders of all race and gender to
achieve success in many fruitful ways. One could argue that history repeats itself. The
human spirit is constant. Fifty years ago, on September 22, 1964, what color would you
have painted that day?
