La Vida Magazine | Fall 2012 by La Vida Penn

COVER STORY | Defining Faith Within the Latino Community

La Vida Estamos

(des)Unidos

A State of (dis)Union

Photography by: Madeline Miller

PAID SUPPLEMENT OF THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | Wednesday, December 5th, 2012

INSIDE LA VIDA Letter from the Editor ................................................................................................................... 2 Featuring Madeline Miller .............................................................................................................. 3 We Are in the Land Down Under ................................................................................................... 4 Editor-in-Chief Acquisitions Editor Business Manager Design Editor External Affairs Cipactli Liaison

KARELI LIZARRAGA AIDA VEGA MONICA CASTILLO ADAN JUAREZ YESSENIA GUTIERREZ ANGEL CONTRERA

Staff Editors:

CAROLINA ANGEL TIFFANY GOMEZ SHEILA QUINTANA Special thanks to:

AMY HERNANDEZ TURCIOS ANGEL CONTRERA ANDRES SEPULVEDA CATALINA RAMOS DIANA ESTRADA ALAMO LEAH UMFREY LUCERO BATISTA JAMES SADLER JESUS PEREZ JONATHAN PAZ MARIA SILFA OSCAR A. CULLEN SIMONE STERN SOPHIA BERNIER TANIA CHAIREZ LA CASA LATINA THE LATINO COALITION STUDENT ACTIVITIES COUNCIL THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN WE ASKED OUR STAFFERS: WHAT WOULD YOU LEAVE IN YOUR WILL? KARELI: Hopefully by then I will

Our Strength, Their Desire .............................................................................................................. 5 Stone Brick Wings ............................................................................................................................ 5 Latinos in the Elections ................................................................................................................... 6 The Growing Importance of the Latino Vote ................................................................................. 6 Dear Mom ......................................................................................................................................... 7 The Sudden Change ......................................................................................................................... 7 Defining Faith Within the Latino Community ............................................................................... 8 Scientia Naturalis Remapped (II) .................................................................................................. 10 Scientia Naturalis (III) ................................................................................................................... 11 The Invisible Hand .......................................................................................................................... 11 Antiracism in the Age of Transnationalism .................................................................................. 12 The Identity Puzzle ......................................................................................................................... 12 Oye Mi Canto ................................................................................................................................... 13 A State of Affairs ............................................................................................................................. 14 Dear Annette .................................................................................................................................... 15 Impromptu ........................................................................................................................................ 16 I Am ................................................................................................................................................... 16

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ESTAMOS (des)UNIDOS A STATE OF (dis)UNION

I found myself reading an article entitled, “How to Know If You Are a Latina in the United States.” Its author tried, and failed, to describe the experience as she delivered a list of blatant stereotypes that did nothing but turn rituals and traditions into caricatures. As if every Latino thinks, acts, or even looks alike and can be neatly categorized under this umbrella term. The moment we leave the United States and enter any Latin American country, we stop being identified through this political label created in the 1960s and we are asked, “¿Eres dominicano? ¿Colombiana?” For my mom, it was not until she came to the United States that she realized she was, somehow, no longer a Mexican; now she was just another “Latina”. Every ten years, the United States Census attempts to encapsulate our divergent experiences. Its greatest level of “accuracy” forces us to check the “Other” box, because every other option fails to reflect the amalgamation of our black, indigenous, and European heritages.

have lived a life full of adventure and travel, so a box with maps of my favorite places.

AIDA: A blank journal, symbolic of our individual ability to write our own destiny.

ADAN: My first paycheck stub to remind them that hard work pays off.

YESSI: My library. My books are the only possession that means anything to me.

My best friend’s experiences growing up in Harlem had little in common with my own childhood in the Southwest, but somehow, we are told that we are the same. This semester’s theme, “Estamos (des)Unidos :A State of (dis)Union” attempts to challenge the notion of homogeneity and cohesion of Latinos, both in the United States and on campus. Within our pages, you will find that no two Latinos are the same. Aida Vega’s piece surrounding Latinos of different faiths reflects the broad spectrum of thought and spirituality that exists within our community. Ari Cohen, whose Argentinean family practices Judaism has been able to incorporate aspects of her faith and Latinidad seamlessly, while Anny Tavarez Nuñez, a Dominican-American and Muslim convert reveals in her poem,“The Sudden Change”some of the difficulties

that her faith has caused in her relationships. We pride ourselves in remaining a tight-knit community, but it is often through conflict and a ceaseless push and pull that we are able to truly progress. Jose Romero and Paola Pinedo’s essay, “Anti-racism in a Time of Transnationalism” places a powerful critique on the nuclear family and the violence and subjugation of female and queer subjects that is often swept under the rug. Dr. Rachel Ellis Neyra’s evocatively painful poetry conveys the brutal violence that led to the death of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero. It is only by acknowledging the injustices within our community that we can begin solving these issues. Examples of cohesion and unity have always been ever present within our community. In this past election, the Latino vote enabled us to create tangible, lasting change within and beyond our borders. As Casey Anderson explains in her essay, “The Growing Importance of the Latin Vote,” Latinos demonstrated their political clout as they voted against several laws that failed to benefit our community. Growing up in a largely Mexican community in California, I erred in believing that being a“real Latina” meant coming from a working-class background, speaking Spanish, and facing a never-ending struggle; it wasn’t until I came to Penn that I realized that our individual histories cannot and should not be confined to any little box.

KARELI LIZARRAGA is currently a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science. Contact her at lavidaupenn@gmail.com.

featuring

MADELINE MILLER BY KARELI LIZARRAGA

Throughout this issue of La Vida Magazine, you will find beautiful portraits taken by Madeline Miller. Her photographs were able to capture the diversity that exists under the label of being called a “Latino/a”. Madeline’s interest in photography began in high school; today she continues to pursue her passion for photography through courses in the Visual Arts Department as well as being the current Photography Editor for Penn Appetit. She is currently a senior majoring in Communications in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. The compilation of portraits taken by Madeline visually captures our theme,“Estamos (des)Unidos: A State of (dis)Union”. Our model’s varying skin tones, hair textures, and eye color reveal the complexity of not only personal histories but that of our community as a whole. There is no one way a person can “look” or experience being a Latino/a. La Vida Magazine would like to personally thank Madeline for her work as well as each and every one of the models that became our muses for this issue. For more information about Madeline Miller and her photography, please email her at millerm126@gmail.com.

We Are in the Land Down Under BY TIFFANY GOMEZ

We might not be aware of it, but around the world, many people consider being American a privilege. I know that as Americans we tend to live in a perennial state of cynicism about our country and the people that govern it. However, globally, many people believe that, as President Obama puts it, “the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth.” Some may believe that we are not the greatest but we are certainly influential. Spending a semester in Australia has taught me the weight that the American label carries across borders. As a Communications major studying abroad, I was hoping to gain a different perspective about the media concepts I had already learned about at Penn but I essentially repeated a semester, receiving more detailed accounts of what had already been covered in my introductory classes. Other students would often turn to me during class discussions about the effectiveness of certain marketing tactics in the United States and how Australian brands might be able to reel in coveted American consumers. My television class revolved purely around shows from the United States and I was able to contribute my own insight into every discussion. That is, until the ninth week of class, when we reached the topic of “National Identity & Australian TV.” Needless to say, I was silent for fifty minutes that Friday morning. Leaving class that day was almost embarrassing. For eight weeks, I had listened to 18 other Australian students discuss on and on about the ways the identity of my country, which nobody in my class had even been to, was constructed through television and what certain shows portrayed about my culture and politics. And there I was, unable to speak on behalf of their country, which I had been living in for over two months. I came to the conclusion that, while we may be a younger country in comparison to other nations, our high level of international influence has turned us into role models for nations worldwide. However, we have failed to reciprocate and have and turned our perspective inwards. When was the last time you saw real time full coverage of the presidential elections in France, Spain or Germany on popular broadcast television? I never have. Do you know where the Prime Minister of Australia stands in terms of foreign policy, gay marriage, and the economy? I don’t.

On the other hand, ask anyone in my television class about American issues and they could tell you a thing or two about President Obama’s policies. Before my semester in Australia, I knew close to nothing about the country I was going to be living in for the next five months. I did not actively seek out information about Australia and lacked an interest about informing myself about other nations. My time abroad showed me that the indifference I had to the world around me was not a shared sentiment worldwide, especially in Australia. During the U.S. presidential election, I probably received the same amount of coverage as anyone back home. Out of the ten basic channels my television transmits, four were covering election results in real time. On Election Day, I was watching the results of the presidential race with my British friend who looked so worried that I couldn’t help but laugh. In response, she said, “You don’t understand. Whatever you guys do affects us back home and many other countries around the world. We follow your lead.” She put into words what my time in Australia had already taught me. The culture and politics of the United States and its influence over other cultures can be seen worldwide. While we may not have willingly accepted this role, it is a great power and responsibility that has been granted to us and we should attempt to honor it to the best of our ability. This means not only informing our citizens about our own nation and the decisions our leaders are making to ensure a brighter future, but also becoming more aware about the world. While we may have to actively search for information about the nations that we are influencing, it is a start towards creating better relationships worldwide and becoming better citizens of the world beyond our own borders. After all, there is nothing worse than an unavailable role model. Follow Tiffany on Twitter @tiffanyyy9

Photograph by Tiffany Gomez

OUR STRENGTH, THEIR DESIRE BY CAROLINA ANGEL During my semester in Argentina, I waited for some sort of cultural shock that never arrived. It ended up being that for a daughter of two Latin-Americans, `another Latin-American country wasn’t that culturally different. However, as an American, the cultural context of the political system in Argentina was the most difficult thing for me to understand; the surprise was unexpected and left me feeling very much confused.

Photographs by Carolina Angel

They look up to America here. I’ve heard it explained different ways from different perspectives, and not all of them coincide with one another. I think the best way to explain it is by remembering the profound influence that French writers had on our Founding Fathers, our constitution, and our Declaration of Independence. Argentineans seem to admire the fact that we have kept our democracy intact for over 200 years. 200 years of elections and peaceful transfers of power, 200 years with a strong constitution. In my political communications course, I learned that Argentina looks up to our political system for these accomplishments. I think to myself, “Why

“

They look up to America here. I’ve heard it explained different ways from different perspectives...”

shouldn’t they, when their own country, as recently as 1983, was under a military dictatorship and, for most of its history, has seen power be transferred by way of coup d’état. Other differences between American and Argentinean politics become apparent instantly. There are not just two political parties, but rather many. They are divided up into Socialists, Communists, Radicals and Peronist (deriving from the ideals of President Perón) and then those parties have their own subdivisions As an American in Argentina, it is difficult for me to understand then how their current president wants to change their constitution just so that she might be able to run for a third term in office, and how, having recently changed the voting age to 16, this seems a likely possibility. I don’t know if this is a good or bad thing for the people of, but I guess it depends on who you are. I don’t think it is possible to truly understand their politics without including their cultural context as background. I can’t help but wonder: if President Cristina Fernández de

Kirchner can convince Congress and the people to change the constitution this time, what is to stop her from doing it again? I don’t believe that the American people would ever vote to allow this today. The two-

term limit, an unwritten rule since our first president, George Washington, established the precedent, has only ever broken by FDR, and soon after was directly written into our constitution as the 22nd amendment. After our presidential election this November, I read plenty of status updates and news articles shining light on how some people were truly disappointed with America’s choice. I believe that this is inevitable; the losing side will always be disappointed. However, some people take it too far. Many of us have forgotten how amazing it is to be an American, how remarkable it is to have such the strong democracy that we do. The Argentine people haven’t forgotten how good we are at keeping our country going strong for 200 years and they also haven’t forgotten what a military dictatorship feels like. I’m not saying we are perfect, but I am grateful for a country that has had peaceful transfers of power, that has always held democratic elections even during the Civil War, and that continues to be a leader of democracy despite our own periods of turbulence and disagreement. Follow Carolina on Twitter @TheCaroAngel

STONE BRICK WINGS BY ALEXIS RODRIGUEZ

I never knew that stone bricks could be used as wings that they would build the foundation for an endless flight through the night. That their solidarity could outlast an angel’s journey. Sometimes I wonder why my wings never carried me through Calvary’s streets. Why I couldn’t use the down feathers to wipe my tears on nights I couldn’t sleep. Why they couldn’t warm the icicles dangling from my heart, nights they would cease to assuage my lover’s growing heartache. Stone bricks chiseled from minerals of perfection are now my wings. They have never bled a rosy red. Never tainted my clothing an unbearable blemish. Every stone brick knowing its place among a legion of invincibility. The weight too heavy for flight but fit for a wing’s destination.

Photograph by Gionni Ponce

Latinos in the Elections BY KARLA RIVERA Romney spray tanned while Obama attempted to speak in Spanish ¡¿Qué?! It’s election year. immigration. jobs. economy. The sleeping giant awoke 10% of the electorate We shall not be ignored Can we DREAM again?

The Growing Importance of the Latino Vote BY CASEY ANDERSON

As minority groups continue to grow, they are also becoming more effective at making their voices heard in the United States. This phenomenon was very apparent during the 2012 presidential election where 28% of the electorate identified as nonwhite. This is indicative of the changing demographics that have been driven by immigration, an aging white population, and increased Hispanic immigrant fertility rates. Increasingly, candidates must appeal to the Hispanic vote at every level of government. Hispanics played a central role in ensuring President Obama’s second term in states such as Colorado (75% Democrat), Nevada (70% Democrat) and Florida (60% Democrat). Nationally 71% of Hispanics voted Democrat while only 27% voted for Republican candidate Mitt Romney. Hispanics represented 10% of national voters in this year’s election. This number is projected to grow exponentially in the next twenty years. By 2050, Hispanics could make up 29% of the electorate, a sizable portion of the voting bloc that will undoubtedly wield political power. Currently, Latinos represent 17% of the total U.S. population (with a population of 50.5 million in 2010), and 15% of Hispanics are of voting age.

The changing demographics of the United States have many implications for the formulation of domestic and foreign policy of our country. Latinos will comprise a larger portion of the electorate and will ensure that politicians cater to their interests in order to secure majority victories. Domestically, there will be a greater emphasis placed on domestic policy areas including immigration, education, and civil rights while foreign policy will modify to engage more Latin American nations. Demographic changes will have many ramifications beyond those that are immediately apparent and this list is meant to highlight only those

policy areas that are of most importance to Latino voters. Hispanic voters will likely vote for politicians that represent their interests and concerns, thus propelling legislation. The record number of Hispanic politicians elected to office in 2012 (31 total, 28 House, 3 Senate), in conjunction with the increased influence of the Hispanic’s in large metropolitan areas already indicates a shift. This ensures that future politicians hoping to make gains in states with a large amount of electoral votes (often due to large metropolitan areas) will have to become concerned with Latino interests. Hispanics make up 44.5% of the population in Los Angeles, 23.9% in New York City and 65.7% in Miami. Changes are evident even in traditionally conservative states, such as Texas, where Ted Cruz became the first Hispanic to win a seat in the Senate Seat, and Arizona, which is projected to become a purple state in the next election. The Republican Party’s current policies are mostly incompatible with the interests of Hispanic voters; highly controversial laws such as Arizona’s SB1070, proposed by Republican politicians have caused many Latino voters to move away from the party. Future actions of Republican leaders will need to be amended in order to adapt to the country’s changing demographics. White non-Hispanic voters (currently 63% of the population) are expected to constitute approximately half of the United States population by 2050. If the Republican Party doesn’t adjust soon, it may find itself relying upon an increasingly aging and homogenous base that is unsustainable in such a highly diverse country. * Hispanic/Latino is used interchangeably in this article and is defined as a person who self-identifies as being Hispanic. Works Cited http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/11/07/a-milestone-en-route-to-a-majority-minority-nation/ http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-04.pdf http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/11/07/latino-voters-in-the-2012-election/#fn-16829-1

Photograph by Madeline Miller

Photographs by Gionni Ponce

dear mom

THE SUDDEN CHANGE BY ANNY TAVAREZ

BY YESSENIA GUTIERREZ

So you say... “I don’t understand”

Hi Mom,

But have you ever approached me with a question Or have you even bothered to try and figure it out?

I will pretend that I am addressing this to you, but I know that you won’t see it because a) you don’t read English and b) I don’t want you to. As close as we may have become since I came to college, I still haven’t been able to tell you that I am currently agnostic; I say currently because it varies. Some days, I feel like trying Buddhism, some days I shun all religion, and others, I dive into Christianity, delve back into Catholicism.

Do not let Ignorance place a barrier between You and Knowledge Don’t fear or avoid what you don’t understand

Some days I am sure there is some greater force in this world but some days I just can’t think about it.

Proclaim, ask questions, and learn

I really wish I could tell you, but let’s face it, Mom, you have brought this upon yourself. The last time I tried telling you that I didn’t agree with religion you got defensive and all you could ask me was, “But, you still believe in God right?”

What may seem like a sudden change to you May have been a lifetime of experience for me

You told me straight to my face that you would rather I be ravaged by addiction than be a non-believer. Maybe you didn’t mean it, maybe you have changed your mind. Maybe you don’t even remember saying it. It doesn’t matter. I have promised myself that I will never say this to my kids. I will listen to them, trust that they have thought about their decisions and respect them. I do not want my opinions to silence a part of who they are. I love you mom, but let’s talk about telenovelas instead. Sincerely, Your Daughter

After all... Only those who really know me And those not afraid to ask Can Embrace and Admire What you call: “The Sudden Change” Because in ISLAM I have found my faith. So if you are confused and don’t understand Then take initiative, and be open to learning And with that same knowledge You may understand... My Sudden Change.

Defining Faith Within BY AIDA VEGA

Photograph by Madeline Miller

I cannot count the number of times I have had a new friend, acquaintance, or stranger look at me a bit sideways when they find out that I am Hispanic. Typical responses include:

1. “Really?” 2. “You look White. Greek or Italian, maybe.”

Or, my personal favorite:

3. “No you’re not!”

I always wonder what image of “Hispanic” exists in these peoples’ minds that I somehow don’t seem to fit their mold. Is it because I am not tan and have wavy hair instead of tight ringlets? Why is this the usual image of a Hispanic person that comes to their mind? Why does anybody think that we should, or even could all look the same? I often find myself having to“prove”that I am actually a Latina (why would I make that up?) by complying with the usual “Say something in Spanish!” which by now I should refuse, but sometimes just find easier.

I wish I had time to sit with all of these people and explain to them that there is no single picture perfect image of a Puerto Rican, a Mexican, a Honduran, a Colombian,; that we look different because we are different, and that being Hispanic, or any other ethnicity, really, isn’t about how we look as much as it is about what we feel.

“

...being Hispanic, or any other ethnicity, really, isn’t about how we look as much as it is about what we feel. “

Recently, though, I found myself a little taken aback when I learned that one of my Cuban friends is Atheist. A couple of seconds later, I snapped out of it and realized that I wasn’t so much shocked as I was proud. I was proud of her uninhibited self-expression, fearlessness, and commitment to be honest with and about herself. Most days I am positive that there is a religion that reflects my most inner beliefs better than Catholicism ever could yet I admit that I am scared to go out there and find it… but why? Fear.

Fear of disappointing my family, and by family, I mean my grandmother. Abueli is 80 years old and probably the most devout Catholic woman I know. If she ever even thought that the idea of exploring other “options” crosses my mind from time to time, it would break her heart. I decided to deal with this internal conflict the best way I know how: by talking to people. Hearing about other peoples’ experiences and reactions to the issue of religion and spirituality that I am facing always helps me gain a new perspective and, in most cases, propels me to take action for myself. The following profiles reflect the various paths that Latinos of different religions have been able to embark.

AIDA VEGA is currently a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Health & Societies.

the Latino Community Photographs by Anny Tavarez

Anny Tavarez Twenty-nine years old and gorgeous, Anny was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, NY. She studied psychology at SUNY Oswego and obtained her master’s degree in childhood education. When she was in her early twenties, Anny realized that something just didn’t feel right. Having grown up in an Evangelist family, she began the search for her truth and found it in Islam. She tells us that Islam helped her contextualize a lot of her own beliefs and that the journey that led her to Islam was sparked by her refusal to just believe whatever she was told. Anny encourages us to do the same, to ask questions, to find our truth, whatever that might be. Since converting, Anny feels more at peace with herself because she has found a place where she belongs and a firm ground on which to connect with her husband. Islam has greatened her sense of trust. Anny doesn’t think that being Latina has affected her religion at all; she says that God gave her the sense she needed to find the truth and she considers this the greatest blessing. When asked about converting, Anny admits that at first, her loved ones considered it a drastic change (see page 7) and would not allow her to wear her veil inside the house. With time, however, her parents have not only accepted her new faith but now read the Qur’an on their own and have even been able to draw some connections between Christianity and Islam.

Photograph by Madeline Miller

A Dominican junior at Penn majoring in French and Anthropology, Lucero’s face lights up when she is asked about her work as a tutor with Puentes Hacia el Futuro. As a child, Lucero was baptized and raised as a Catholic and attended a Catholic school, but in middle school, her nuclear family converted to Protestantism. Lucero says that she was too young to know about the different branches of Christianity, but that she prayed at night and owned pictures of Jesus. As she became older, she became more aware of religion’s role in her life. She believes that at their core, many religions overlap but what really separates them are different practices that are unique to the individual. Lucero and her immediate family feel the tension from the rest of their family members because of their personal decision to convert. Her aunts are fervent Catholics and enjoy preaching to other people, so when someone in the family dies and joint decisions about the necessary arrangements must be made, their diverging religions tend to cause conflict. Lucero thinks that religion is a crucial part of her life because it influences how she looks at the world and the types of relationships that she develops with people. She has made a conscious effort to not be quick to judge others because she tries to live by her faith to the best of her ability. Lucero sees her identities as a Latina and a Pentecostal as two equally important aspects of herself that coexist peacefully within her heart.

Ariela Cohen Ariela, or Ari Cohen is a Jewish Argentinean at Penn majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Her goal is to use her undergraduate education as a stepping-stone into her future. She wants to go to business school and pursue public finance so that she can work on social impact projects and consulting. Originally from San Francisco, Ari finds that the biggest difference between the two coasts is the level of civic engagement. Ari feels that east coasters are more civically engaged and in tune to what is happening both nationally and internationally and feels an “air on campus of people wanting to get to know other types of people.”

So… what about her husband?

Aquiles Nuñez Nuñez grew up in Manhattan, and says that while it was difficult growing up without a lot of money, he “never lacked food and love.” As he got older, he found himself “in search of something” to fill an inexplicable void that he felt inside. He set out to find his truth during his sophomore year while he was pledging a fraternity. During this spiritual voyage, Aquiles met his future wife, Anny. He believes that their joint interest in Islam led to their marriage because “God is the best of planners.” Initially, his family struggled to accept his new faith. His greatest shock came when he went to visit family in the Dominican Republic; they told him that “those people were different from [him]” and insisted on putting pork in his rice. Aquiles’ mother was his greatest source of comfort during his conversion. Being a very open-minded person, she noticed that her son had become more attentive, involved in his schoolwork, and an overall “better person.” After a discussion, they both found peace with each other. Now, Aquiles’ brother is even looking into Islam and he remarks that a lot of his friends have been inspired by him and have ended up converting as well. Despite having found his truth in Islam, Aquiles’ transition into some rituals has not been perfectly smooth. He notes that in the beginning, he had to make a conscious effort to incorporate the five daily prayers into his life and admits that doing so was a bit of a challenge, albeit a beautiful challenge. He remarks that he is, first and foremost, a worshipper of God, and then he is a Latino.

Lucero Batista

Ari sees her involvement in the Friars Senior Society as the epitome of the diversity that exists on our campus. Her membership in the society has exposed her to a wide range of people with extremely varying interests that she might not have been exposed to otherwise. Growing up, Ari says, it was “hard to take as strengths [her] different identities.” Her parents are Argentineans and “huge Zionists” who feel an especially strong connection to Israel because they lived in Hebrew University and witnessed the formation of Israel while it was still a very young nation. One of Ari’s favorite traditions is Shabbat dinner. For her, this weekly tradition “is not even a religious thing… it’s really more about the family.”When asked what has had the greatest impact in making her who she is today, Ari answers, “The confluence of everything… there is no one part of my identity that I identify with more or that I prioritize more than any other. The beauty of it within me and within campus is the ability to pull from different parts.” Like me, Ari often faces confused stares when people find out that she is Argentinean. Once, a friend heard her speaking to her mother on the phone in Spanish and said,“Wait, I thought you were Jewish?” Ari gracefully answered that she is both. The bulk of Ari’s experiences with her identity, however, have been positive. She feels so comfortable here that she does not even see religion, or any other part of herself, as the defining factor of who she is. Everybody is different. Sharing a Hispanic heritage doesn’t mean that we have to have anything else in common. For some, religion is a focal point around which every other aspect of their life unfolds. For others, things are a bit more balanced. As for me? I’m still figuring it out, and that’s okay too. I know what I believe in, but I don’t feel the urge to classify it all under any overarching label. I believe that tiny moments that might go unnoticed for others encapsulate my deepest convictions. My truths lie in things as simple as an old couple holding hands in the grocery store, the kind smile of a bus driver, the comfort I feel whenever I hug my mom, and the beauty of a sunset. For me these are ultimate sources of love and faith. These are momentous. Photograph by Ariela Cohen

Scientia naturalis: Aequator re-mapped (II) Torn from his waist Marcelo Lucero’s belt became

A wild Phosphorescent force Translated Lumen as Lucero with falling Stars That filled The night.

A Milky Way

Whip lashed at the circling mob of Beaner Jumpers.

Rifling off years and injuries as it slapped the air Like a crazed third-world Jeopardy contestant Peeling back time And the chronic rough rides Military base

Suddenly it was like 1984, 1898, 1848, 1534

strategized ritual market disasters

after military invasion

desplazamientos

Panama as maritime real estate

They called him, Spic. He replied, No, Morgenstern. As for you: ruphay, ruphay, Then died.

military base after

coups d’etat

Guantánamo as capital of underdevelopment

Juárez as cemetery Chiquita Banana Bretton Woods Tricky Dick The Treaty of Operation Wetback Bootstrap never happened.

What is, Never happened? But it did all happen.

Falling stars Unsettled ancient dust That lifted up Like a priest’s hands From a just Deceased body Vexing the exact separation Of here and sky. Ñuñu warani. The dead are not Dispirited. Cross Your heart, but Don’t hope to die.

He stood momentarily Unmoored In the Patchogue Train stop parking lot. As the seven pressed, Said, Try and get past us, He remembered a refrain Learned from a Puerto Rican neighbor: Ameríca, Ameríca, God shed His grace On thee. He thought, There but For the grace of God Go I, Then cried, Sweet Graces, There are three. Flexing his knuckles in his belt, Said to the seven, Compassus.

Singing to Aglaia, I am from the Center of the World!, he cracked

His belt with the skilled hands of a vaquero,

BY DR. RACHEL ELLIS NEYRA

A baptismal conflagration Swallowed up the crime scene And was explained as an oil fire. From the fire, the recovered belt Had been branded On both sides: Vía láctea on one, And a map on the other On which the Equator, As we know it, Had collapsed And in the vacuum force Of migrant plate tectonics New York made landfall Neighboring Quito Mexico bubbled out beneath The Southern Cone making A new south-by-south Alliance inevitable – Making the south global. The Caribbean was still The Caribbean, only The sickle-shaped Arc was even more Fiercely pronounced.

Swung it low,

Leather licking the spilled oil that caked the lot, Swung it high,

catching fire,

Flaming like the inspiration Lit over the Apostles’ heads Releasing sounds like Speaking in tongues: Sikwa! ¡Chasquido!

Re-mapped, El norte was not The center of the world But the center of the world. Mutatis mutandis. * X marks the spot where Jeffrey Conroy stabbed Lucero to death. “Got stabbed by me,” Conroy wrote On the attack map Sketched for police.

It rose dropping ashes as it streaked, meteored an X

Into the night sky. It cast Lumen

In the bronzing ether.

The belt was inadmissible As evidence that The world had shifted Beneath their feet. Photograph by Gionni Ponce

Scientia naturalis (III)

THE INVISIBLE HAND BY JONATHAN PAZ

BY DR. RACHEL ELLIS NEYRA

* Falling stars Unsettled an ancient dust That lifted up Like a priest’s arms From a just Deceased form Vexing the exact separation Of here and sky, cry and spirit. Our father who art in heaven. Hallowed natural science: Circulus aequator diei et noctis Inked the cartographer In medieval Latin after Etching the last line To coincide with The place named, Ecuador: Ecuador terrestre Ecuador galáctico Ñuñu warani The dead are not Dispirited. Latinos are not Latins. Cross your heart, but Don’t hope to die. When you sing, Ashes to ashes, Remember you are of quyllqaquyllur. Morning star to guide, Evening star to alight, Lucero is the first star, day or night. Marcelo Lucero is dead, and There is no making equal. We’ll pray instead, Recite by heart As we move through the dark All things not being equal: Between them And us, there is no we. Cross my heart: We all fall down. Between New York And Ecuador, A long line bends The meaning of being, Leans toward longing. Seaming the bulging waistline Of the globe, Upright lines wind, and wind, Draw latitudes, Carve the pieces of the pie, Pocket posies, Mark the desire For the heavens To align otherwise, To remove a finger From the earth’s eye. *

I am angry. I am numb. Sometimes I cannot even describe this feeling. It is that moment when you walk down the street, and because it is nighttime, you look a little bit darker. It is the moment when, fast-forward a few seconds, you are handcuffed and leaning on the side of a police car. It is seeing your brother handcuffed too, petrified and confused. All of this happened in a matter of two minutes, yet somehow this cop can see through your soul and, automatically, you know that you are fucked. You are guilty before proven human. You are at his mercy. This fall break I was reminded that racism is not just an abstract term. I was reminded of how invisible and unimportant this term, this reality, has become. For many, racism is no longer “relevant” in national dialogue – especially in relation to the state of minorities today. I respectfully disagree with this silence. Malcolm X once said, “I don’t see any ‘American Dream.’ I see an American nightmare.” I am convinced that this nightmare has become significantly worse. Racism has become more flagrant in this nation and it has taken on a new form. Racism no longer exists in riots and demonstrations. It exists quietly within institutions, through revolving doors, in the shameless media, and through its absence in daily discourse. It is more dangerous now because have become complacent and we have stopped actively rejecting its perverting existence. We have failed if we truly believe that we live in a society void of racism. As appealing as the idea may seem, America is not colorblind. America is not even close. Perhaps the best example of this is America’s public school system. Today, public schools are even more segregated than they were in the late 1960s. In terms of academic performance, Latinos and Blacks consistently rank in the lowest percentiles. These minorities have the poorest scores, are more likely to drop out of high school and thus are less likely to pursue higher education. In large part, this is a product of two simple realities: schools with high populations of Latino and Black students tend to be a) inhabited by the poor and b) egregiously underfunded in comparison to their white counterparts. America’s beacon of opportunity, its education system, has tremendously failed. This is why we need to resist what I like to call the new “invisible hand.”The education system is one of today’s many institutional failures. We have yet to mention

the number of Black inmates in California, those who are currently rotting away in Arizona prisons, or the conditions of some Native American reservations. We must resist these de facto circumstances that subjugate our friends and family, regardless of whether we, personally, are or are not a minority. If you believe in equality, this is your struggle. This is our struggle. To break these perpetual chains of inequality, our public and private lives need to reflect this change. In our private lives, we need to foster interracial relationships, proactively break cultural divides, and promote tolerance and understanding. In our public lives, the fight is much more demanding. Whether in academia, the business world, or government, our work needs to promote the advancement of all, not just a select few. Our privilege, knowledge and skills need to serve a higher purpose beyond the acquisition of wealth, fame, or power. Why am I angry? We know that it is worth fighting for yet somewhere along the line, we have forgotten that we have an obligation to future generations. But have we done enough? I don’t think so. Equality, justice, and love cannot continue to be empty words. If you believe one day, diversity will be celebrated rather than rejected. If you believe that one day we will sit at “a table of Brotherhood”, as Martin Luther King Jr. prophesized our work begins now, because one thing is certain: this problem will not fix itself.

Photograph by Madeline Miller

Antiracism in a Time of Transnationalism BY PAOLA PINEDO and JOSE ROMERO

Colonial histories can get messy. Often, both the subjects of its violence and how that violence is understood and resisted are defined depending on what is most valued in the present. Subject to various legacies of colonialism that have not yet evaporated, the Chicano nationalist movement of the 1970s organized itself around what Rosalind Morris refers to as the “fantasy of return.” This fantasy was formulated as a regaining of “traditional” culture through the “rightful” reassertion of man’s place as the head of his family. For the historic first National Conference of Chicana Movement Activists which took place in Houston, Texas in 1971, the fantasy of return stood as a testament to the brutal and normativizing effects of Chicano/a nationalism on women and queer subjects. Despite its successful outline of priorities for Chicanas, including reproductive rights and sexual agency, the conference is remembered more for the divisive walkout that was staged by a number of fellow Chicanos on its last day. Feminist critiques generated at the conference were trivialized and perceived as disrespectful of the Chicano deaths that were occurring in Vietnam at the time (Hong). As a result, Chicana and Chicano queers continued to serve as the mules upon which the rest of the movement would progress. However, instead of allowing themselves to become the compensation for the lost Chicanos during the war, Chicana feminists mobilized their experiences of abjection to craft an alternative political imaginary that took more seriously the injuries attendant to racialization to critique heteronormative and racialized forms of power. The authors of this essay seek to reignite the spirit of such critiques with the hope that the work of these Chicana feminists will be brought to the forefront of contemporary anti-racism discourse. In the pursuit of solidarity, we focus primarily on our

similarities and fail to acknowledge and celebrate our differences. These differences become almost taboo and are viewed as something shameful. Such a result is dangerous when a lack of discussion perpetuates blatant ignorance and indifference. Race is an unstable social construction with varied economic and affective repertoires attached to its experience. Instead of using a static concept of race as a unifier, we need to use our experiences of race, the discrimination that follows, and all of the subsequent implications as a tool to relate to other minorities. This will require an attunement to our differences as opposed to an attempt to flatten these out.

Even as we critique the limitations of certain paradigms such as Chicano nationalism, we strive to retain the insights these paradigms have yielded in the past, specifically the worthwhile political project of conceiving of Chicana/o studies within a transnational framework. In order to fully understand Chicana/o history, we require this framework to see what violence we are critiquing and/or inadvertently perpetuating. Ostensibly, this essay is not meant to be a sweeping analysis of antiracist work because that would belittle the progress that such movements have achieved. We offer this essay as an invitation for

discourse acknowledging that we cannot depend on any singular, reified, dimension of empire’s attendant legacies to critique the racist power of capitalism. In this effort, we should seek out the potential for new forms of solidarity and comparison by joining struggles such as the settler-colonialism of the Israeli state, the Zapatista movement in Mexico, the global Occupy Wall Street movements, the various uprisings in the Middle East, various indigenous movements in South America and globally, to name a few. At its core, this project is critiquing the universalization of race and strives to understand race beyond the reactive dialects and representational strategies that have, by and large, determined the forms of anti-racist interventions. Although we are writing from the perspective of Chicana feminism and queer activism, we contend that the relevance of our examples hold important contributions to antiracist work more broadly. In the words of Amit S. Rai, “Antiracism must become something else, experimenting with duration, sensation, resonance, and affect” (Rai 2012). This is an experiment in feeling and in memory, which does not ignore the past, but continuously mutates alongside and beyond it. All of this raises potentially unsettling questions about what it means to simultaneously understand and not understanding something as a result of the varied experiences of power and oppression. Thus, the authors of this essay understand this publication’s theme, “Estamos (Des)Unidos: A State of (Dis)Union,” as both a sign of empire’s power to categorically differentiate people while at the same time viewing it as a potential source for a radical political praxis united around difference rather than homogeneity. References: Rai, Amit S. 2012. Race Racing: Four Thesis on Race and Intensity. WSQ: Women’s Studies Quarterly 40:1&2.

THE IDENTITY PUZZLE BY KARLA RIVERA

Dora La Exploradora is dead. Waking up to Barney and Big Bird Spanish and English, English and Spanish Has now been replaced by Spanglish I like your accent they said ¿Mamá, Do I have an accent? Then, the Census came I’m not Black, White, or “Some Other Race” The stress of checking a box made my palms sweat Now I go back to my island I’m now a gringa my family says Stuck in the middle Divergent Identities Converging morality Dora La Exploradora is dead.

“Perceptions of Beauty” by Allie Zuckerman

OYE MI CANTO:

BY ADAN JUAREZ

Exploring Cultural Dissonance in the Ivy League In the fall of 2011, Diana Estrada Alamo, Fabi Larancuent, and I discovered that a new window of opportunity was opening for the Penn community. We would have the privilege of hosting the Latino Ivy League Conference. But why was this pertinent to our university? Had we not hosted it before? Let’s look at the history. The Latino Ivy League Conference began at Penn in 2005 through the efforts of Naomi Adaniya W’06 and Veronica Polanco-Moreno C’07, who wished to build a strong network amongst all of the Ivy League Institutions. At that time, the conference provided all delegations with a variety of resources on how to apply for jobs, graduate schools, and other post bachelor’s programs. As they walked away from the first conference, the momentum to keep this intercollegiate cooperation surged. When the conference returned in 2006, again taking place at Penn, even more delegates were eager to interact with one another. Henceforth, it was decided that the conference would become an annual event to be held every fall semester and hosted by a different school each year. Each Ivy would be allowed to bring a delegation of ten students with two co-heads leading each one. Forward to 2012: As we prepared to host the seventh annual Latino Ivy League Conference, we saw its transformation into a forum where we unite to discuss pertinent issues in our community. This year, we decided to take it one step further with our theme, “Oye Mi Canto: Exploring Cultural Dissonance in the Ivy League.” We recognized that music is more than the beats and rhythms to which we sway our bodies. It plays a prominent role in our economy, has served to unify and empower those who were once enslaved, provides a viable medium of self-expression, and serves to catalyze political movements. Through this theme, we also hoped to further scholarly discourse, professional network and community resource expansion, and the fostering of friendships. More broadly, we wanted to address an issue that is rampant across the Latino Ivy League community: the newfound complacency amongst, historically, one of the most unstoppable and determined minority groups. This problem was unfortunately evident even at Penn while planning the conference. Throughout the planning process, the Penn delegation faced multiple incidents of disunion amongst the Latino community. The lack of students wanting to participate in the LILC did not reflect a group that prides itself on its cohesion and involvement. Ironically, the most blatant example of this was evident in the absence of the Latino Coalition. We cannot believe that not one single person could make an appearance at any of the events over the three-day period. Their lack of responsibility to the community was an embarrassment to the Co-Heads and it makes us question the truth behind Latino unity. Perhaps this is a sign that our community is in need of a serious wake up call. Is it not true that every Latino has something they wish to advocate? His or her own canto, if you will. We would, however, like to extend our thanks to La Casa ment. In addition, we would like to thank the individuals grateful and were glad to have you throughout the event.

Latina for their endless support and kind words of encouragewho volunteered to host so many delegates. We are eternally

The weekend was packed with discussions, workshops, and our theme. Almost immediately, the delegates came together tions. As we transitioned into the workshops, it dawned on us problems.

speakers to bring into fruition the unity that we envisioned for to define the struggles that each face at their respective instituthat, despite the distances that separate us, we face similar

Many prominent individuals led the workshop, such as Michael Reyes, a Chicano spoken word artist from Chicago. Reyes engaged delegates using his poetry to demonstrate the empowerment that comes from creative self-expression. Penn’s very own Glenn Holtzman led a workshop entitled “Queer Music for Queer People?” in which he analyzed the behavioral patterns associated with musical performances and how they impact the way that global society judges the Latino community. Grupo Quisqueyano, the Dominican cultural group at Penn, led a workshop on the history of Bachata music and its popular growth in the U.S. relative to the Dominican Republic and how it plays a role in defining socio-economic status. The conference was brought to a close with the banquet that brought together not only the delegates, but the Penn community at large to feast as one and hear from actor Tony Plana. As the conference came to a close on especially hard after spending a with one another. However, it is with ward as schools bid to continue the off from Pablo Batista, all delegates puses to implement the plans that communities transcend barriers and

Sunday morning, our goodbyes were weekend building new friendships great confidence that we move fortradition for 2013. With a final send returned to their respective camwe developed together; we saw our converge.

The conference was a complete not be any prouder with the fruits with yet another group of strong the community and move forward to Nuestro Canto was heard and the We were able to surpass unforgettable conference.

success and Diana, Fabi, and I could of our efforts. We have provided Penn Latinos eager to take leadership in implement change. In the end, notes resonate throughout the Ivies. hurdles and create a successful and

Photograph by Madeline Miller

A STATE OF AFFAIRS:

Lessons as LC Chair

BY ANGEL CONTRERA

Photograph by Madeline Miller

the beginning of each year, establish how you want information to be disseminated amongst groups. For example, do people prefer to wait until GBMs for their updates, or would they rather receive brief emails from their respective LC representatives? By taking the time to mutually define and agree upon what transparency means, it will be easier to hold each other accountable.

Continuity – I have realized that every year, the

LC picks up certain projects and ignores others. Of course, as a large organization focused on a multitude of issues and initiatives, it can be easy to devote all of our energy to a single project. However, we have to think long term. As our community continues to grow, we must ensure that any current hindrances to Latino students, staff, and faculty are addressed. For example, two years, ago the LC began an initiative called “Pushing for 15% by 2015,” with the goal of increasing the number of self-identified Latino undergraduates accepted to Penn to 15% of the student body. However, following the initial meeting, the idea has not garnered much attention within the Latino Coalition. I suggest that members of the Coalition collaborate to ensure that large-scale initiatives such as this are widely prompted and continued within the community. Furthermore, realize that with such ideas, it is crucial to think of what steps can be taken Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of acting as the Chair of the Latino Coalition (LC), the umbrella organization that advocates for the advancement of the Latino community at Penn. As I reflect on my experience in the Latino community, I want to call to action the future leaders of the Latino Coalition. This includes not only those of the new executive board, but also the members of the boards of all the constituent groups.

each year to ensure that within a couple of years, our goals are achieved.

“

At its core, the Latino community at Penn is about family and I have been lucky enough to be rewarded with exactly that.”

Unity - Sometimes, it is easier to play the blame

game, holding everybody responsible without thinking about what we, individually, could have done. I ask that you take the time to consider how you can constructively help each other succeed. This should not be taken as an opportunity to criticize or denigrate those around you. However, if you have concerns about their abilities to manage or lead your group, communicate these and discuss ways to improve and move forward. Always keep in mind that whatever we want to achieve is to enhance our community, not just particular individuals. In my two years as the LC chair, I learned that it was the voices of those who took the time to express their concerns and suggestions, not the critical and disrespectful opinions of some that truly resulted in tangible change. At its core, the Latino community at Penn is about family and I have been lucky enough to be rewarded with exactly that. From the unbelievable support of La Casa Latina to the amazing individuals that lead our many groups, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn about the collective experiences that make up our presence. I hope that together, the future leaders can give to everyone this same sense of family that has helped me realize the strength and vitality of Penn’s Latino community.

And so, I ask three things of all of you:

Transparency

– No one at this University has all of the answers. However, we must vow to remain open and honest with one another, communicating whatever challenges we may face. Constantly ask yourselves if we are truly making progress and moving in the right direction. While it is easy to become complacent and overlook the amazing opportunities afforded to us, we must continue motivating each other for the advancement of our community. One of the best ways to do this is to, at

Photograph by Angel Contrera

ANGEL CONTRERA is a senior in Wharton concentrating in management and majoring in History in the College of Arts and Sciences

Deart Annette, Over the past two and a half years of our relationship, we have gone through so much. Just like any other couple, we have had fights, you have ignored my calls, and in retaliation, I have ignored your texts. We have even cried for each other. Despite these things, the biggest obstacle we have faced is not related to these things, typical of most relationships. It was not because that girl commented on my Facebook or that guy texted you; it has been an institutional and political obstacle that affects many immigrants to this day. It has been my undocumented status. I remember the first day I met you our freshman year of high school.You were a brilliant, green-eyed Polish girl. I immediately knew that you were kind, nurturing, involved, and beautiful. Eventually, we grew to become the other’s closest friend. And, for the next four years, I was unfortunately ‘friend-zoned’. As much as I wanted to be with you, I knew that you did not feel the same way. One of our many nights, I wanted to reveal my deepest secret to you, one that I had never shared with anyone before. Because we lived in a conservative town, I was scared that you would share the beliefs of our neighbors and would no longer be my friend. I remember sitting in your car. You were about to drop me off at home. I said, “I have something to tell you Annette.” “What is it?” As I stared at the steering wheel, my heart began to beat uncontrollably, my hands to sweat profusely. My lips were quivering and as much as I wanted to tell you, I could not find my words. Then, I looked at you. My heart melted. Weirdly, I felt safe and comfortable at the same time. I looked directly into your eyes and I told you something that I never before would have considered telling anyone - especially a middleclass white girl. “I am illegal.” Instead of rejection and backlash, you offered me understanding and love. Reflecting on my life now, I would not be the same empowered person if you had reacted differently that night. The first person you come out to as undocumented leaves a lasting impression. Regardless of how other people felt, your love and understanding made me feel like my legal status was not the obstacle that it would later become. That night, for the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin. It was all because of you. I remember one afternoon, a few months after we became official, I drove to your house to take you to work. As I got to your house, I saw those dreaded cop lights behind me. I was being pulled over. Scared out of my mind, I realized that being arrested could lead to my deportation. If that happened, I would never get to see you again. As the cop pulled me over, he asked for my license. Knowing that I did not have one, he arrested me. Right there, in front of your house. The biggest pain was not being taken to jail or slapped with that $1,000 dollar fine. It was seeing you cry for the first time. As I sat in the back of the police car, I felt like the world had ended. I felt that I would lose you.. What girl would want to deal with having an illegal boyfriend? You would never want a guy like me. It would be too difficult and too much.. It would not be worth it. Luckily, I was wrong. Since that day, you always drive when we are together. For the next two years, we both went to the same university. Instead of making me take public transportation, you drove me every single day. You would wait hours after your classes ended just to take me home. I am amazed that I have found you. No other person would devote so much of their own time to making my life easier. Our different legal statuses have made things so much more difficult. Being with me forced you to enter and understand the world of immigrant rights. You have seen the ugly truths of our corrupt political system. You have been exposed to the plights of undocumented youth and to the need for reform. More so, as a U.S. citizen, you have felt the burden of having to care for and worry about dating an undocumented immigrant. As funny as this sounds, you “wear the pants” in our relationship. You drive us everywhere and you worry about me every single day. I cannot imagine how you feel every time I fly back home or get behind the wheel. The emotional strain of dating me is immense. Still, you have stood by me through all of this and for that, I am eternally grateful. Annette, I love you so much. I love you for doing so much for me. I love you for being compassionate about my situation and for taking the time to understand my struggles. I am lucky to have found a person who has been by my side even when walking out on me would have been so much easier. My undocumented status would be so much harder if I didn’t have such a beautiful person supporting me. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done. In the face of burden and adversity, you have helped and supported me more than any other person. What more could I ask of anyone? Throughout my life, I have had many blessings. I did well in high school, despite facing this barrier. I have a loving family who supports me. I have a community of people who have backed me up in my greatest time of need. Now, I am attending one of the best universities in the world. But the biggest and most privileged blessing that I have in my life is you. You are what keeps me going. I am doing this for you. For us. I will always love you Annette.

Sincerely, your best friend and boyfriend, Emmanuel

Art by Nicole Bobbins

Photograph by Alexander Page

I Am BY GIONNI PONCE

I fell in love with a boy who is everything I could dream Funny, compassionate, hardworking, intelligent, loving, considerate We swirled together in a whirlwind of kisses, clothes, love, and time He was my best friend Nothing could stop us Then he held my hand in the moonlight of the Walk and whispered the words that fell like leaves on a still pond At first, I raced to sickness, disease, death His gravity was terrifying Thank God he lives But he lives worried, pained, shaded I am Undocumented. Now the leaves make waves. He trembled and I squeezed trying to reassure against something I didn’t understand We wandered for hours with questions and answers His past, present, and future We crawled into bed I turned, curled, and broke. His apologies caressed me We had already pledged to each other shared our inner thoughts but I had been unknowing Dreamless. My guilt mingled with my anger in selfishness and horror Angry that I didn’t know Angry that he had deceived Angry that I didn’t understand Numbers. The country. Mexicans. Denial. The government. Papers. Walls. His parents. Me. Acceptance. The process. Identity. Applications. Our friends. Racism. Society. Him. American. Legitimized. The future. Politics. Like fingertips across a desert we learn each other We swirl together in moments, feelings, meals, words I am Undocumented. The struggle is mine too

Impromptu BY ALEXIS RODRIGUEZ I saw the parallels between your smile and the sunshine, the light I mistook for glimpses of a tomorrow that never came, and still a part of me wishes that the you I had envisioned would break through But you seem to be in a self-constructed cocoon So it is safe to assume that you don’t want the whole of this At the end of the day, you are caught up in a mess of a friend constituted of artifice Adrift we float, you still holding on to the little semblance of love we ever had, while I, engrossed with the visions of inevitability prophesized night and day… Looking forward to loneliness