calle 13

my mom had told me saturday about the recent changes in arizona concerning their immigration stance, which i reflected on in disgust and then moved forward in my weekend, intending to return to the thought today.

but sunday night, the unfortunate actions in my country took center stage during what was supposed to be a time reserved for me dancing like a dork and screaming lyrics i half-understand in spanish.

residente, the incredibly handsome and charismatic singer of calle 13, turned around to reveal on the giant video screens his political stance on the issue:

"luz verde para invadir arizona."

and that was not the end of it.

throughout the night, between songs, he returned to the subject, rousing the crowd with his rant against the blatant stupidity of u.s. lawmakers. a boy who had been attempting to get my attention throughout the show tried to make robin and i feel better by letting us know that he thought what residente was saying was "too strong", but both of us gringas knew better. everything residente said was completely valid, and the angry cries of the crowd around us were perfectly understood, even in my broken spanish.

living in the united states, it is difficult to take the time to reflect on some of the internal changes of our nation and how nations truly affect each other. i think it is easy for people, especially young people, particularly myself, to become engrained into that fantasy that nothing happens outside of our country, our state, our city. but to be in the very middle of that crowd, to realize the vitriol that we can inspire by the careless actions and words of our lawmakers, i was jolted back into the reality that someone, sooner rather than later, needs to enact a change in the way that our nation relates. in the way that our nation takes for granted and can be abusive. i am hoping that it will be my generation, but i would be so pleased if it were even sooner.

in any case, the show was amazing, and i danced and sang like a total half-mexican dork. but i took the time to think, and i feel that is what matters.