I wish to congratulate all the students and teachers from both sides
of the international border for contributing to an exceptionally
successful Youth Town Meeting. As a facilitator for the workshops
on Indigenous Rights, I was inspired by the students' energy, their
insightful responses to difficult questions, and their dynamic dialogue
during the sessions. The students' views confirmed my belief that
today's youth are capable of understanding the difficult issues
facing their world.
I
am particularly happy that my workshops provided a safe space for
students to share their personal stories of discrimination and alienation,
which helped them to better understand the plight of the indigenous
people. A highlight in one of the workshops was the statement by
one of the students that it is of great value for society and our
history to preserve the traditions and cultures of the indigenous
people.
Afterwards, it was moving to hear students express pride in their
indigenous roots and their ancestors, and to recognize the need
to promote diversity, tolerance, and sensitivity towards those who
are different from us. Being of a different skin color, practicing
a different religion, or speaking a different language, are positive
things in any society which we must value and respect.
I commend all the students who participated at the conference and
who have a desire to learn more about the priorities of the indigenous
people in the Americas. Although many states have amended their
Constitutions to recognize the indigenous justice systems to resolve
conflict in their own communities, native people all over the world
are still subject of blatant discrimination, extermination, and
persecution. This is particularly true in the case of Chile, were
the Mapuche are being prosecuted as terrorists simply for demanding
their basic human rights.
I am confident that students will become more passionate about the
protection of human rights in general. As has been often stated,
I too believe the solution to the world's problems is in the hands
of the youth of today. I trust that the conference motivated the
students to become more involved, more dedicated, and to participate
in finding solutions to society's problems, whether in their own
communities or globally. They certainly demonstrated the capacity
to do so.
Lilia Velasquez
La Flama de la Justicia
"I'm Brown and I'm Proud"
This is an e-mail that a participant
of this workshop send to la Flama:
Dear Mrs. Velazquez,
My
name is Gricelda Gaytan and I'm an 18 year old senior at San Diego
High School who attended the youth conference January the 26th,
the conference made me realise how much we need to be involved in
our world and our community. Before the conference I had no idea
what I wanted to do with my life and this opened my mind, I really
liked that we had a Hispanic woman as a speaker since it was my
first time there, I had considered being an immigration lawyer before
but now I feel that this is what I want to do I really look up to
you because you are involved in our community. I would love to job
shadow you or if posible be an intern at your office to have an
idea of what the career is about. Thank you for you time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Gricelda Gaytan
