How To Be Serious

       Look, I know that this blog is usually devoted to funny stories and “humor,” as it were, but I would like take a moment to show you all another side of myself.  While I enjoy spending five minutes every ten days writing ridiculous stories for this blog, I am also a very socially conscious member of society who does what he can to improve the plight of those in this world who are less fortunate.  Laughs are one thing, but sometimes it’s good to remember why we are all really here: to help one another achieve our dreams.

       Those who know me personally are aware of my passion for helping the Latino community (I know, I just can’t shut up about it! LOL!).  While I myself am not of Latino heritage, I have long identified with the Latin culture and the struggles of its people.  I think all of this probably began on a trip to the Texas/Mexico border in 1994.  I was a young teenager at the time, but I still remember vividly the pain and sorrow I felt when observing the poverty of many who live in that area of our country.  Further research would show that these meager conditions stretch further across each border, upward into the United States and down into the heart of Mexico.  After witnessing these horrible conditions first hand, I knew I could no longer remain idle while the suffering of a great people went ignored.

       I joined several different charitable organizations throughout the years, from Habitat For Humanity to AmeriCorps to the US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership, but I was repeatedly disillusioned with all of the red tape and bureaucracy of each organization.  Under their rules, I was only allowed to help specifically who they told me to.  But I wanted to help everyone!  How?  I prayed to Jesus, and he finally gave me an answer: “Follow your heart.  Find a way to spread your message of pride to as many people as possible.”

       I’ll admit, this wasn’t much of an answer.  I kind of wanted to say, “Duh, Jesus!  Think you could give me a little help with how I can do that?”  Well, Jesus must have been listening, because the very next day, an idea came to me that could only have been placed there by the shining light of Our Lord in Heaven.  I now knew what I had to do.

       It’s no secret that I consider my greatest talent to be writing.  But how could I best use that talent to spread the word about the culture, struggles, and proud tradition of the Latino community?  Well, the answer was obvious to me, and I set out on a long, difficult quest of tireless research.

       Friends, I have kept all of this quiet for years.  I wanted no one to know of my plans until they had fully come to fruition.  Well, I am happy to announce that my great struggle has ended, and soon you will all be able to see the end result.  After a lot of soul searching, I came to the conclusion that the best way to spread my message through writing was to draft a screenplay and then sell it to a major movie studio.  My intention was to craft an honest, heartwrenching story that would outline in detail the history of these noble people and their ongoing battle for equality and justice in North America.  This would be a film that every person with even a smidgen of Latino blood flowing through their veins would see as a validation of their everyday lives, something that they could all stand up behind together and have pride in the accomplishments, endurance, and power of their people, past and present. 

       I am happy to reveal that this screenplay was purchased by a major movie studio (Disney) a few years ago, and they have finally turned my vision into reality.  They have just sent me the trailer to review, but I am unable to make myself watch it, for fear that I may burst into tears of joy and never recover from the beauty of this heartfelt and powerful message.  My only hope is that they left my screenplay untouched, and the message of pride and passion in the Latino community was effectively conveyed.  So, readers, I leave it to you to judge.  Let me know if the message comes through as I intended it.