The Latino Community of America appears to be thriving and riding the wave. The illegal Latinos are being used to do work no one wants to do and surely not at the price that the illegals have to accept. The lines at the boarders are manageable, but the desire to come to America by so many still runs high. I find it interesting that the underlying discrimination that runs so deep in this country has not been exposed and dealt with sufficiently. The National organization of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) is busy trying to expose the discrimination but can be distracted by this global view & distain for factions that are not even 100% Latino. Specifically, the LGBTQ community which has extended to LGBTQQIP2SAA. This near exhaustive acronym represents (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, Two-Spirited and Asexual). This group is definitely being decimated against, but in no way is this group “Latino Only”. In my view we, as Latinos, are all being diluted and distracted from the mission of our local Lulac chapter. That goal is to support Latino Organizations and individuals which are being discriminated against in our community. The obvious is the discrimination being waged on Latinos by our own culture. While the National LULAC organization is and should be concerned with the inhuman treatment of citizens in Central America, Mexico and the most improvised countries like Bolivia we cannot afford to bring America Latinos to our knees for the sake of anyone but our own success. For our local LULAC councils the same holds true. With very limited resources it is essential we provide help where it is needed the most. That is to provide Basic Physiological Needs and when possible, safety and security of our neighbors.

Maslow (1943) initially stated that individuals must satisfy lower-Level deficit needs before progressing to meet higher level growth needs. Here lately the Air Quality has been at dangerous levels for many. Whether the California Fires or the Canandian Fires. Smoke has been a real threat. Food is costing more than ever before. Water is getting scarce and water levels of fresh water are shrinking and yet the ocean waters, not currently usable for human consumption, are rising to dangerous levels. The oceans are eroding our coastlines and creating dangerous weather due to climate change. The list goes on and the priorities to go without basic needs change from one family to another. But lack of, air, food, water, shelter, clothing, warmth, sleep, physical health are game changers and while we need to help feed the world there are those in our local communities that are lacking in basic phycological needs. The one free and available need is sex. The result of that act exacerbates the problem. The very poor have no means to afford contraception and in the heat of passion the last thing anyone thinks about is abstinence.

Each culture whether, white, black, brown, asian or indian each have wars among themselves and while one culture may get a leg up it is never enough to just let the elite few, of the culture, win while the greater number suffer. The native-born American Latinos have gotten a leg up for many honorable reasons. The biggest is the recognition of their hard work, allegiance and the value they bring to the workplace. Their ability to use other Latinos that are illegal or uneducated is a big reason currently. America born Latinos are able to communicate with them enough to see a ray of light. “Let them eat cake”. However, to provide only one bowl of Beans and Rice a day for these folks is inexcusable and unforgivable from a country as rich as ours. There is a tremendous effort going on to educate our culture and other efforts to lift folks out of poverty but if each one of those recipients cannot say that every one of their basic physiological needs are met than the job is far from done. Take time to talk to friends and neighbors. Get to know them well enough to see past their pride and realize the lack of resources in their life. Many are fine and happy where they are, Hallelujah. Those that are not happy need to be given the opportunity to catch up.