2007...The year of resolution.

In the words of Hector Lavoe..."Todo tiene su final...nada dura para siempre"

It is the last day of the year and I am really looking forward to new beginnings. I have been procrastinating over the last few days on how to shape my resolutions this year. First I wanted to really understand what a resolution really is...my previous understanding of resolution can easily be interpreted as "promises to myself I know I will break". So I searched online for a clear and concise definition that I can shape some resolutions that will really help me achieve some goals I have fo the upcoming year.

Here it is...


res·o·lu·tion (rz-lshn)
n.
1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A resolving to do something.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.

Ok...that helps...I basically have to determine course of action and be determined to see it through in order to get my desired goal...got it!

There were more definitions but these really are relevant to me in this moment.

So in shaping my resolutions I have to create both personal resolutions and professional ones in order to really impact what I percieve to be success in my life. Professional resolutions are dealing with my career, and the website...my personal resolutions, of course because like many people I have things that I personally have taken inventory of that I would like to see change...like my health for example...I am healthy now...but if I do not make certain changes...I may not be healthy down the line. In case you did not know I am a pound or two overweight...ok I am lying I am a little more than that. I have actually had some success with shaving off some pounds this year thanks to just eating differently. The reason I did not keep it all off or even make a bigger impact is because I did not exersize consistently.

So do I say my resolution is to lose weight? or do I resolve to eat healthier as I have been and just increase my amount of physical activity. It is all about having smart goals to work off of.

One of the biggest themes for me this year is letting go of the past...this morning I woke up to hear a man on TV say the following "there is a reason why your windshield is so wide and your rear view mirror is so small...it is because what is in your past is not as nearly as important as what is in your future". This is going to be key as I decide how to shape this year...because I have tried many things in order to get to my goals but I have made the mistake of thinking that what I tried was the right approach...I just did not execute it properly. When in Utah this year, I saw LL Cool Jay speak at a professional development event and two things he said really struck me...the first was "If you do not like change...you will like irrelevance less" and the second thing he said...(which I have heard Tony Robbins say before) "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting different results".

So...I am off to shape that determination for the new year and take inventory once more as to what is important


Note: Originally the name of this post was the end of '06 but after reflecting on what I wrote it was appropriate that I rename the post looking towards the future.

75th Anniversary of Fuerza, Integridad y Amistad

As some of you may know...I am a member of the Oldest Latino Fraternity in existence...Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. I pledged at the Theta Chapter in Spring 1997 with Jose "Pensativo" Aviles and Jose " Ambicioso" Ventura at SUNY College at Old Westbury. My pledge name was El Renacido, a name that symbolized the transition I was living at the time...leaving the streets of Brooklyn alone and opting to educate myself at the age of 25 after two kids and a divorce.

Many of my fondest memories and most of my best friends have been blessings that were a result of my pledge to this very distinguished organization. It also provided many of the skills that I would need to do what I do....

So to all the brothers of La Familia Phiota....Feliz Cumpleanos!!!!

Here is some information about Phi Iota Alpha

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Inc. is the Oldest Latino Fraternity in Existence. The history of Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity is the history of all Latino college students and professionals who strive to keep their intellectual heritage alive. Since its inception, when the legendary "Union Hispano Americana" (UHA) was first organized in 1898, the fraternity has upheld its inspirational and unique ideological foundation of Pan-Americanism.The ideology of Pan-Americanism can be summarized as the "unification of all the Latin American nations and all Latin American people." The Fraternity has served as an "Ideological University" through the study and interpretation of Pan-Americanism inspired by the accomplishments of its Five Pillars: Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin, Bernardo O’Higgins, Benito Juarez and Jose Marti. Through the years, this prestigious institution has witnessed a number of operational and structural modifications as a form of survival and adaptation to its time. Through it all, Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity continues to fulfill its distinct goals by uniting its members fraternally in a manner in which, individually and collectively, they will contribute towards the fulfillment of the organization's mission and ideology; fomenting "the scientific study of the social, economical, and political problems of Pan-America;" and serving "as a source of personal growth in which in conjunction with academic preparation, each brother will find an appropriate environment to develop." In short, Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity has always been, and will continue to be, a source of empowerment for Latinos everywhere.

Thoughts of Christmas past

Just thinking about how it used to be....

Happy Holidays!

Enjoy it with your loved ones!

The "other" Howard Beach attack...

This post is dedicated to the memory of Richie Perez, the man I call "El Padre De Mi Conciencia"...he was one of the few people I have ever admired because of the pure content of his character, dedication and integrity. It was Richie who named me "Urban Jibaro" after he heard me perform "True Boricua" at the 1996 Muevete Conference.





On December 20th, 1986, I was walking in the South Ozone Park area of Queens with Rafael "Apache" Gonzalez when we were attacked by a group of white men. We were attacked because we were Latino, that was pretty evident because the racial slurs they used as they tried to kill us. I can still hear them calling us "spics" whenever I relive the moments that could have easily become my last. This attack was labeled by the media as the "other" Howard Beach incident. The word other stood for Latino...and the original Howard Beach Incident happened too close to where we were attacked...almost at the same time and by another group that had the same contempt for anyone who was not one of them. That group actually beat and chased three young men, Michael Griffith, Cedric Sandiford and Timothy Grimes. Michael Griffith was killed when he ran into traffic trying to escape the vicious beating they had already unleashed on them. Michael Griffiths death pushed New York City's racial divide into the limelight, igniting a very passionate, almost one sided dialogue with people of color and local government.

Without reliving the whole attack in detail...I will say that a man driving a livery cab actually came to our aid as Rafael was almost losing consciousness and we were ejected from a local cafe (you know the kind that overweight guys play cards on a small table in front of all day). I can honestly tell you that I do not remember if the man that helped us was white, black, hispanic or asian. What I do know is that if it were not for him...I would not be here tonight reflecting on this night. When the police arrived, I thought to myself...THANK GOD...we are safe...and as soon as that thought entered my mind...I was brought back to reality by the accusing words of an officer questioning me as to why I would be in that part of Queens in the first place. He said that nobody would be bothering me in this neighborhood unless I was up to no good. It was so surreal to me and as I gathered my thoughts, the ambulance arrived providing me an opportunity to get away from the police.

Later that night, while waiting in the emergency room of Jamaica Hospital, the waiting room quickly filled with all of our friends and families. And as I am there explaining what happened to us, a man listening in starts to ask me questions and comparing notes. That man was Cederick Sandiford, one of the victims of the Howard Beach attack. When we started talking about what seemed to be an attack from the same group of men, we were brought back to the sad reality that in a 5 mile radius of Queens, there were actually two groups of men with equally passionate hatred towards people of color. The emergency room quickly filled with homicide detectives and reporters.

In the following days, Rafael was released from the hospital (he suffered a concussion from a baseball bat to the head). I only suffered minor cuts and bruises and was treated and released the night of the attack. We were eventually approached by the Reverend Al Sharpton and the legal team of Alton and Maddox. They had convinced us that we needed an united front as people of color to get justice for what had happened to us that night. Down the road, we met Richie Perez, former Young Lord who actually extended free legal help and the media exposure we needed to get justice in our case, It appeared to us that the legal team representing the Griffith Family had taken center stage and our case was not getting the same attention. We opted to accept the help of Richie Perez and the National Congress Of Puerto Rican Rights.

After countless protests, TV appearances, newspaper articles and court dates, the individuals responsible for what happened to us were acquitted of all charges. We lost because the brother of one of the teens who attacked us has a brother (who looked like a twin) and had an alibi...even though we had identified him and the make and model of his car. His legal team had enough to create reasonable doubt and that bought them the freedom to do this again one day. The Griffith family had more success for their loved one...three of the suspects were convicted of second degree manslaughter and first-degree assault, but were acquitted of the second degree murder charges. A fourth suspect, was acquitted of all charges. The one thing they could not get back, was Michael Griffith.

Although in many ways I wish I could erase the horrible memories of what happened that night, I have to be thankful for having the opportunity to have met Richie Perez and so many other dynamic, progressive people during this time. It was his outlook on life and justice that made me have the voice I have today. It was his example that made me proud to be Boricua and part of a community that will inspire the next generation of self determined leaders.

Richie...te lo he dicho mil veces...Gracias...y seguire pa'lante...siempre pa'lante!

As I am,
George Torres
Urban Jibaro
© All Rights Reserved 2006
Sofrito For Your Soul Media

El Primero...

Testing, Testing....is this thing on?

Bueno...vamos a ver. This is my 3rd attempt to blog outside of my website and My Space. I did some research and most articles I read said to try blogging on Blogger.com and if you are still at it 3 months later...then you can move to a bigger platform like moveable type. I am often very busy with work and my duties at the site but I noticed that the bigger the site gets...the less time I get to sit down and write...y eso no es bueno...es malo.

I like that blogger.com will allow me the flexibility of posting from my favorite phone...the Blackberry Pearl while I am on the move. I do not personally think anybody will ever read this post but if you do...you will know that I am very interested in seeing what can come from this "blogging" phenomenon.

Buen Provecho!