Controversy Around The World.

        In this essay i will be expressing my opinion about the controversy of the building of the Islamic mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, how and what issues have surfaced a national debate, the controversy in Florida regarding the burning of the Quran, also the relativity of these stories and how they compare the views of immigration in this country. I'll be explaining how they all tie together but also how they differ.

          First i am going to discuss the current debate of the building of the Islamic worship place or mosque, that is said to be built near Ground Zero in New York City. I believe that the buzz of the Islamic mosque that is said to be built two blocks from Ground Zero where the Twin Towers stood before 9/11 is an being made up to be a big deal and a big mess. The Islamic mosque has not officially been approved to be built in that actual spot yet, its still an idea that's up in the air. i understand that the building of said mosque could be interpreted as a disrespectful gesture or even act as a threat to many. In my opinion i believe many interpret the building as a disrespectful gesture or threat because of the fatal and unfortunate event on 9/11. i believe the building is neither a disrespectful gesture or threat because of the following reasons; the Islamic mosque is said to be built two blocks away from Ground Zero, the Islamic community do not want the building of the mosque to be seen as a threat solely as a representation of their amendment and right, not all Islamic or Muslim people are "terrorist", and how are we ever going to "forgive but never forget" if we are not willing to be open up to see and share common grounds with a different or foreign community? I believe that as its said on the statue of liberty and in our own bill of rights any one and everyone is welcome to have their own freedoms and rights.

        The second idea i am going to openly talk about is about the issue of the burning of the Quran in Florida by a small christian church. First i would like to make the point that this issue has made a huge impact on the lives of everyone around the world. it has become a world wide epidemic that has successfully turned the religious beliefs and ways upside down. The issue of the burning of the Quran in Florida has raised a huge concern of disrespect in religion and has singled out many peoples of the world. in my personal opinion i believe the the actual burning of the Quran is a horrible idea, i could only see bad coming from it. If the burning of the Quran would happen i believe the troops that are still in stationed in the battlefields will be put in great danger, wars will be on the rise and the world as we know it will lose its some what stability that it has today. I believe the church has decided to attempt this act because of the up coming issue of the building of the Islamic mosque that is said to be built two blocks from Ground Zero. Is till don't fully understand how 50 plus people can cause such a ruckus in the world today. i hope the church decides not to burn the many copies of the Qurans and learn to understand and view the other side of their issue. I hope the church would understand that you can't fix fire with fire and they have to "grow up."

      Now i am going to discuss and express my feelings of the current views of immigration in the country today. A lot of immigration issues are brought up on a daily basis. From immigrants not being considered equal to others to the false accusations of the reason why immigrants want to be apart of the united states. Before i began to discuss my views on this topic i would like to included that i am a huge supporter of freedom and i believe strongly in allowing any human being the right to be apart of the u.s. Some may say that allowing Mexican immigrants to move into the u.s causes a threat to the population. Coming from a family of many immigrant of Mexico immigration has played a huge part in my life. My father, Grandfather, Uncles and Aunts have all been through the process of becoming American citizens. My family, luckily have been very successful in life. Point be made, I'm not saying all Mexican immigrants come to the u.x to do good but many do. The people of the u.s who don't personally know a majority of immigrants are made to believe that every one who crosses the border is trouble but in reality that's not always the truth. Some cartel members who do cross the border with drugs, weapons, prostitutes, and other contraband make up a small percentage of immigrants coming from Mexico. The u,s is seen as an opportunity to have a better life and who are we to take that away from another person? I believe that as time goes on and as the immigration laws get more and more ridiculous thee more it will seem that the world is changing back to the whites vs. blacks faze but instead of whites vs. blacks it will soon be Mexicans vs. everybody else. Mexican people seem to be the only targeted immigrants that are being treated so unfairly. i believe that people seem to forget that immigrants coming out of all parts of the world bring violence, drugs, and other contraband. It seems to be that as time goes on the education and in site of other cultures, races, and ethnicity is being forgotten due to the bias and racism we have today. I believe that the immigration laws should be reviewed and changed to be more fairly.

     

      All of the these stories are tied together by the unfairness and controversial impact its made on the world today. The views of each of these topics are similar in the ways the outcast people are treated and how the world must change if any progress is wanted to be made. i believe that the world is already in a bunch of trouble instead of fixing problems were actually creating more. we, as a country, need to be open to all and start fixing and owning up to our flaws before anything else is done.

Outlook on "I Dream A World" By Langston Hughes

"I Dream A World"
I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn.
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind--
Of such I dream, my world!

The poem "i dream a world" by Langston Hughes makes me believe that hes in a time period were inequality is a strong influence of life. it makes me wonder what special freedoms i have in my life today and it makes me appreciate all that has been given to me. The poem gives me the idea that something can only be  changed if someone tries to change it. Also that nothing comes easy you have to work for what you want and never give up.

        The poem "I Dream A World" by Langston Hughes, makes me remember a time in my past where i was being verbally and mentally harassed by students for supporting and standing by my aunt for being homosexual. Can remember in 7th grade a group of students would make fun of and talk badly about lesbians a gay men. Coming from a open minded family i never saw a difference in people. I have always valued the person for who they were and never really cared about the little details of their personal lifestyle. so when those students would speak about homosexual people in a harm full way i would get highly offended. My aunt who i am very closed to is a homosexual and i have always believed that even though she liked women she was the same as everyone else. i took and took as much harassment as i possibly could and then i was so fed up with them when finally i stood up for myself. i confronted the group of students and spoke my mind. I expressed to them that even though people have different likes they have a lot of similarity's. I also made the point that as they made fun of people they were actually making themselves look ignorant and were actually making a fool of themselves. I took the approach of trying to change the outlook of a couple of peoples views to hopefully change the way others looked at other people. In attempt of that i hope that my little act of trying to change something would hopefully, in the long run, would appreciate and value individual lives. I still have much to learn about individual beliefs and about other lifestyles that differ from mine.

   

      With that being said, I believe anything can be changed if someone is willing to have the courage to make a change. Its all about not giving the other person the power to take your courage from you. Its about standing up for your self and for your beliefs and for supporting another person. Also for not only supporting that person who is attempting to change something but to look up to them and take a lead as they did. No body in this world is the same but i think that's what makes the world so beautiful. The different cultures, colors, lifestyles, likes, dislikes, sexuality, and values are what color our world today. i believe if people would just stop look around and take a breath to appreciate the true meaning of life, life would be way more easier to be apart of.

Show and Tell: "My Lowrider Dream"

      Show and tell days were my favorite when i was in elementary school. They were they days i could show everyone a special item that no one else had, something that i treasured deeply.

     My lowrider bike is something I'd chose to "show and tell" about. It has a lot of work, spirit, love, tears, and stories put in to it. See my dad, Luis Villegas, has been a lowrider fanatic ever since his childhood. Living in the heart of downtown El Paso Texas and in the "Barrio" part of Juarez, Chihuahua he used to sit out side of his childhood home and watch the beautiful unique cars go by. He'd dream about one day owning his own lowrider to treasure. Something magnificent he could be proud of and have pride in. That one special thing that would influence the better part of his life. My uncle, Salvador Sandoval, Started my fathers dream. He help my dad put together a lowrider car, his own unique and special lowrider dream.

    

      My dad from then on has continued, the what you would call, "The Lowrider Lifestyle." He showed me how beautiful lowriders can actually be. The real meaning of being apart of the lowrider lifestyle. He showed me that owning a lowrider and being part of that kind of life style isn't about gangs, violence, or drugs. Its about the pride in having an amazing hobby. Its about enjoying life, having fun with friends, seeing the different designs and styles of cars and bikes. Its not about how many members you have or about representing a something ridiculous, its about showing off your "treasures" having pride in your creations and showing the world your natural ability of design.

      

       My lowrider dream started when i was only five years old. My dad had a lowrider car and was already apart of a car club named No Limit Car and Bike club. He was apart of No Limit for about two years until he moved on and created his own club, Suenos Unidos Car and Bike Club, in 2001. As soon as my dad became president of Suenos Unidos he started on my dream, my treasure, my lowrider bike, Lil Pimpin.

      

       My bike started of as a simple red little lowrider bike. I won many first place prizes for my bike. At the time i was just excited to be holding a trophy taller than i was. I didn't fully understand that my bike had beat over 70 entry's at a time. A couple years passed and i changed my outlook on my bike i wanted a fresh new design something a little more flashy then my first initial project. My bike was then painted a baby sky blue with dark blue accents and a new frame design. I then began to win more and more awards as time went on. I had the bike to beat, the envy of many car clubs. I soon realized that my ideas for my bike were something new ideas that no other clubs really thought about. I got together with my dad and my uncle and we created what is now my 1966 Schwinn lowrider bike. Its a green full custom lowrider bike with gold and silver designs. It has four beautiful murals, on one side it has a mural of Jesus's face and of Praying hands and on the other side it has murals of praying hands and the eagle from the Mexican flag. The murals on my bike have a major significance to my life. The mural of Jesus face and of the praying hands is a representation of my faith and the mural of the eagle from the Mexican flag represents the pride i have in my Mexican heritage. The parts of my bike are all custom made, by either my father or my uncle. It is one-hundred percent original and unique.

    

     To conclude, my lowrider bike is not just a hobby or something that wins awards, its actually so much more than that. Its a representation of a daughter and father bond. Something my family can enjoy while spend time together. It is a heart, a dream, a lifestyle, a project that can never be finished but most importantly its my special unforgettable childhood memory i will always have to treasure.

Haiku

The life given to you is a virtue but to many it’s nothing

When everything is nothing it makes you wonder what you've missed out on.

Let go of your past, appreciate your present, and prepare for your future.