s h ort Ceviche
from the previous page
ented circuits: Two brains on fire. It seemed as if their eyes had been chained together, suspended in time, immovable, like a photo. They could not blink; it was impossible. In that imperceptible moment, just as when a dream begins, they found themselves in a kitchen preparing Ceviche. The therapist was cleaning the shrimp while he squeezed the limes. Between each pause, their eyes connected, they kissed and hugged passionately. He held her tightly almost wanting to squeeze her, and she sighed. Then they returned to the preparation of the Ceviche until the marinating shrimp were drowned in lime juice. She then whispered in his ear from behind: “Chop the vegies in little squares”, taking his hands, guiding him. He did it carefully while she caressed his entire body, seducing him. After a while, they went back to their love making with short, loud kisses. Meanwhile, music was heard and, like robots, they started dancing in harmony, weaving together with their arms, their bodies, and their eyes. She was wearing a turquoise skirt with tiny printed white margaritas. “I love your skirt,” he said. “I wore it just for you,” she replied. They submerged into an endless kiss, closing their eyes as their minds were lost into the abyss. For the first time in his life, he allowed himself be taken by a current of passion. At that moment he thought: “My life has a purpose.” Suddenly, a blackout interrupted the session: like waking up from a dream that no one wants to end. Reality brought them back to their routines. The screens went to black, lifeless and the two beings had no idea what had just happened. Time had passed, the hour had ended. In an act of resignation, he got up from his chair and walked out into the street. He received a text message asking to evaluate the therapist. Without hesitating, he pressed: “Excellent!” With each step, all he could do was to keep thinking of the turquoise skirt and that magical, unforgettable experience. She, on the other hand, remained smiling, sipping her first morning coffee. Ceviche
viene de la vuelta
perceptible, como cuando comienza un sueño, se encontraron en una cocina preparando ceviche. Ella desvenaba los camarones mientras él exprimía los limones. En cada pausa, sus ojos se conectaban, se besaban y abrazaban con pasión. Él la estrechaba fuerte como si quisiera exprimirla, ella suspiraba. Luego volvían a su tarea para repetir la operación hasta que los camarones quedaron hundidos marinándose 24 Joaquín OCTOBER 2020
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en el jugo de limón. Ella le susurraba en el oído por detrás: “Pica la verdura en cuadros pequeñitos”. Le agarraba las manos para guiarlo. Él lo hacía cuidadoso mientras ella le recorría el cuerpo, seduciéndolo. Después de un rato, volvían a su romance plantándose besos cortos, tronados. Mientras tanto, la música sonaba y, como autómatas, comenzaron a bailar en armonía, entrelazados con sus brazos, sus cuerpos y sus ojos. Ella vestía una falda de olanes turquesa estampada con diminutas margaritas blancas. –Me encanta tu falda–, dijo él. –Me la puse sólo para ti–, respondió ella. Se hundieron en un beso sin fin, cerraron los ojos y sus mentes se perdieron en el vacío. Por primera vez en su vida, él se dejó llevar por esa corriente de pasión. Justo en ese momento pensaba: Mi vida tiene sentido. Manuel Camacho De pronto, un apagón San Joaquin interrumpió la sesión: Delta College como despertar de un Stockton, CA hermoso sueño que nadie desea que termine. La realidad los devolvió a su rutina. Las pantallas estaban negras, sin vida. Los dos seres no entendieron lo que acababa de suceder. El tiempo había pasado, la hora terminó. En un acto de resignación, él se incorporó de la silla y salió a la calle. Recibió un texto pidiendo calificar a la terapeuta. Sin dudar, oprimió: ¡Excelente! En cada paso, fue pensando en la falda turquesa como un recuerdo maravilloso, inolvidable. Ella, en cambio, se quedó sonriendo, sorbiendo el primer café de la mañana. The Choice in the 2020 Election continued from page 4
a burgeoning meritocracy into handmaidens of financialization of the economy and blasted inequality back across the landscape. They document the corrupt partnership of predatory capitalism and white supremacy that cost minorities eighty percent or more of their economic assets during the Great Recession, compared to a third or less among whites, and today dictates a death rate from the Coronavirus, not to mention the selective brutality of unaccountable police, that is two to four items as high among minorities as it is among whites.2 Prior to the pandemic, the displays of Trump’s narcissism driven revelations of self-centeredness, human insensitivity, and treacherous flirtation with foreign demagogues were more skillfully disguised. The pandemic has, however, revealed the collapse
of the economy, his deadly incompetence in managing the disease, and the indifference to racism and the abuse of black and brown Americans. The failure to even announce a plan for the next four years suggests disinterest in re-election but actually reflects disdain for the tasks of governance, and contrasts with the continued lust for power reflected by Trump’s willingness to undermine the election process and incite his followers to violence. On the other hand, the promise of the election of Joe Biden as president and Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress is quite obvious. Biden has a long record of bipartisan cooperation in legislation, success in managing global health crises and healthcare delivery, true compassion for underprivileged and working Americans, defense of our national interests and has laid out a detailed plan of action for his government. The historical record is also clear about the potential for the nation in landslide elections in which the vote for the president is sustained by majorities in both houses of Congress to empower our governments at moments of national crisis to become true turning points3. Such crucial opportunities have ushered in key periods of societal reform and revitalization in American development. The 1820 election launched the Era of Good Feelings needed for the democratization of our politics and the industrialization of our economy after the disastrous War of 1812. The triumph of the young Republican Party and Abraham Lincoln in 1864 confirmed the Civil War effort, enabled the amendment of the Constitution and laid the foundation for the post war recovery and national reunification. In 1904, the tidal wave of support for Teddy’s Republicans provided the first safeguards for consumer, environmental and worker protection, injected fairness into the economic system, and validated America’s emergence as a global leader. In the 1932 and 1964 elections, the country provided similar resounding endorsements for Democratic leadership that led us of out of Depression, won a world war, created a new global order, destroyed Jim Crow, and showed the world the potential of open societies to spread freedom and human progress.4 The choice for 2020 could not be more consequential: either the tribal loyalists of the Republican Party will achieve continued, deepening inequality, more human tragedy, and destructive polarization of society with Trump and his toady partisans at the helm or a vast citizen coalition of Democrats, independents and former Republicans will empower Joe Biden and the Democrats to restore America’s pioneering pathway to a
