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| From A Cabaret on War: Yo, la loca by Julissa Reynoso April 2003 WAR?? "So why are we talking about going to war?" I get this all the time from folks. Why— are-we-talking-about— War? Let me tell you— I ran into my girl Soledad on 190th not too long ago and she asked me what I was up to. I told her— you know, I’m working, doing my thing, and trying to stop the war. She says to me— "What war?" I said to her— Mira amiga, in case you haven’t noticed, we are under siege and our community and its apathy is ill-equipped to deal with these Patriot Games, Mind Games, and the War Games of an unelected President and his unelected Vice President. For some of us born under dictators and other violent, cultish phenomena, this new post 9/11 system resonates with the familiarity of danger. Of course, she said to me— what she always says— Julissa, tu estas loca. Loquissima. You see, Soledad is a Doctor. And she reads the Times and the New Yorker (sometimes). And she lives on 190th. And she’s been there during the war on poverty; the war on AIDS; the war on drugs. So, you’d think she’d at least see things for what they are… War is war— systematic oppression done on to others; and it takes the shape of violence— military, economic, political, cultural and domestic violence. What has given Soledad the ability to look at me and call me crazy? Apathy? Is that what this is? Has the All-American Apathy Movement also captured my community? How can Soledad ignore the fact that soon our neighborhood kids are going to be shipped off to fight some war— a war their role models don’t even seem to have time… to acknowledge. Yo! For those of us who claim to fight assimilation, we should beware. It’s as if we are American enough to assimilate into mainstream apathy, but not American enough to make our voices known and take responsibility for U.S. action abroad. You see my existence in this country is a product of "the American Empire building." Why? My country’s attempts at democracy and some form of economic justice were derailed by U.S.-backed coups that put my people under dictatorships. I know what war means and so does Soledad. So, I— a subject of the American Empire— came knocking at its door. And they inside its walls were shocked, and behaved as if they were doing me and mine a favor? Stunned to this day as if they just can’t figure out where folks like me are coming from— why are folks like me populating the crown’s inner-cities and ghettos? Yo— Does America remember what it did to my country’s self-determination? So I am a part of you America. I will not become your house negro. Or more appropriately your house mulatta. I will not stand by and participate in your colonialism. I feel that by not objecting, I am conspiring in the destruction of people, Americans, my people in the Bronx… my people in this vast land; and my people in Iraq. I am a patriot. I choose to be a true American— I will voice my opinions. I will learn your language beautifully and devour the knowledge that you offer. I will do my part to teach you, America, the values and culture of consciousness. And through you America, the multilingual voices of your empire will be heard. Beware, my America, I might be your future President. Julissa Reynoso was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in the Bronx, NYC. She holds degrees from Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, and Columbia University School of Law. She has been active in struggles for economic rights and racial equality and is a member of New Yorkers Say No To War. Julissa currently resides in Washington Heights, NYC. |
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The Rail invites you to a reading with Jason Flores-Williams and Brian Carreira, along with musical guest Steve Strunsky of the Lonesome Prairie Dogs. Thurs., Sept. 22, 8:30 p.m. Vox Pop--Flatbush, Brooklyn www.voxpop.net |
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OFF THE RAIL FALL 2005 at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library - Grand Army Plaza |
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The Independent Press Association-NY recently honored The Brooklyn Rail with the following awards: |