Traitors
Racial hatred is about to be eradicated, but … will it be able to claim its last victim?
Gerardo Robledo
Copyright © 2012 by Gerardo Robledo.
Library of Congress Control Number:
2012911888
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-4633-3025-5
Softcover
978-1-4633-3027-9
Ebook
978-1-4633-3026-2
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Contents
DEDICATION
Acknowledgements
Prologue
The First Part
Adapting to A New Life
The Price of Being
An Immigrant
An All-Out-War
In Search of Help
The Painful Goodbyes
Putting the Pieces Together
Traitors
Searching for Change
A Country of Immigrants
Note From The Author
DEDICATION
This is especially dedicated to my wife, Letty Robledo, who participated tirelessly throughout this project and showed patience in the long process of preparing this book, besides being the principal contributor. Thank you, my love.
To my beloved children, Gerardo Jr., Cesar and Santiago, who donated part of their due time to carry out this project.
To my parents, Juan de Dios Robledo and Elba Sanchez, who formed my life with great love and unconditionally accepted my adventure of emigrating and being far away from them. I love you very much.
To my siblings, Rafa, Yola, Cruz, Danny, Rosy, Juan, and Lulu, who, in some way have influenced my life.
This is dedicated with much love to my brother, Daniel Robledo. Bro, rest in peace. Forgive me for not being able to be with you during your last farewell.
To my in-laws, who, day by day, share this tough journey in this great country.
Finally, a very special dedication to those who left in search of a better life… and to those who stayed awaiting their return.
Acknowledgements
For the ideas and great input which they provided me throughout this whole process:
Letty Robledo, Francisco Negrete, and Ms. Maria del Rocio Robledo.
To everyone who helped in the preparation of this book:
Rosaura Flores, Juan Maldonado, Margarita Yáñez, Mundo Tovar, Bryan Guerra, Father Antonio Ponce of Santa Rosa de Lima and Father Carlos Alarcon.
For his ideas for the front and back cover, and photography.
Juan Pablo Gonzalez and his company, JP Max Studio.
For the great editing job:
Punto y Aparte Inc—Ms. Maria Luisa Peña and Ms. Amelie Guerra and Mike Valentino.
To everyone who helped in the translation of this book:
Gerry Alcala, Martha Cordero, Francisco Negrete and Arthur Shirley.
Finally, special thanks to this great country which has given me shelter over the past years and ultimately helped me attain almost all of my dreams. And to my beautiful and beloved Mexico that continues to be there, waiting for our return.
Prologue
Immigration is a worldwide phenomenon that is essential for the development of all countries. This book has been written to expose the true feelings of people who decide to migrate to look for new opportunities. Each person leaves in search of a new adventure without knowing whether there will be a happy ending or if the adventure will simply end in tragedy. But what we do know is that each immigrant has their own story to tell, and although we don’t realize it, our lives will forever be marked—for good or for bad.
The United States of America is the country, which most immigrants look to as their objective. Even though with time, it has become harder to stay and establish a new life there because people are still struggling to attain that goal.
Some even lose their lives in the attempt, while the others who have made it are becoming conscious of the fact that life becomes more and more difficult as time passes by in this great country, since discrimination and racism have become more rampant in the past few years. In the same manner, tougher laws are being passed making us look like delinquents; leaving us open to be treated as if we were murderers or sexual offenders even for an infraction as trivial as a traffic misdemeanor. This causes us to live a life of degradation helpless to do anything. We gradually die knowing that we are losing everything that we have left behind: our families, our parents, siblings, and miserably for some, our children. They may die waiting for our return or in anticipation of that moment when we will finally be able to bring them with us on this adventure that has left a lot of pain—both for those who have come and those who have stayed.
Whether legal or otherwise, we immigrants feel the same sentiment, especially when we are not accepted by the society in which we work and contribute resources to, and ending up being considered second class citizens living beneath the shadows. Ultimately we become strangers here in our own land—here, because we don’t exist in an archive and there, because we have left and are no longer part of our own homeland.
This book is a tool to help us understand the possible outcome of our decision to migrate. It is also a reminder not to forget the people who look forward to our return having in mind that time does not pause waiting for us to come back, but rather it takes its toll on us year after year. This book helps us understand that the person who stays suffers as much as the person who leaves; that when we leave everything behind, we leave in search of what we could not obtain where we were; and that the courage that we have when we decide to migrate is the very same that we need to remain standing in this fight.
Anyone who has emigrated, or has friends or family members who have done it, will find something to relate to in this story and will once again experience that feeling or that moment that started this adventure which will forever stay in their hearts.
This book will uncover the true feelings and suffering that is felt by those who are in search of a better life and will make you feel that suffering that, each day, lives in the hearts of immigrants.
This book shows how love, at the end of much suffering, prevails over the hatred that lives in the hearts of those unable to accept other human beings in their society whose only crime is to be immigrants.
In the same way, this story shows how love is not only able to change our lives, but the course of an entire nation, fighting for the ideals of the people to be heard beyond what is unthinkable, a
nd thus having an impact on the community and the nation.
The First Part
The entire news media waited impatiently for the President of the United States to emerge and sign the long-awaited and necessary law that would legalize nearly twelve million undocumented immigrants who had settled in the country. It was a story that not only captured the attention of the American people, but of the entire world. Ever since the 1986 amnesty granted by former President Ronald Reagan, there had been very few efforts to help immigrants who had come to this great country in search of better opportunities. Reporters had flocked to Washington from all over the world to witness the historic moment now that the House of Representatives and the Senate had finally agreed to approve the landmark immigration reform bill.
While in the state of Arizona a small group of anti-immigrant racists protested the new measure, cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami euphorically celebrated this great victory. It would hopefully bring to an end the racism and discrimination that had been so harmful to a community of good, law-abiding folks whose only “crime” was to live and work in the U.S. without legal documents. This law would also bring harsh punishment for racially motivated hate crimes and other blatant injustices perpetrated against immigrants.
The excitement was even greater because the President would read a letter written by the young Luis Arriaga which had been the catalyst that originated the change. It had succeeded in awakening a nation and in touching the hearts of Americans who understood that it was time to change course in the most powerful country on the planet. This letter had been promulgated at a national level several months earlier and it led people of many cultures to unite with one voice and work together with one mission. Historically, this mission has always led the U.S. into becoming a strong and solid nation, showing the world that America would always fight for the good of humanity.
It all started in Sylmar a little over a year ago in early 2007. Sylmar is a quiet city in southern California that had a very peaceful life after going through an extremely busy time. It had previously been plagued by riots mostly resulting from heavy gang membership spurred by racial conflict between African American and Latino youths, fighting for power in the sale of drugs and territorial control. The tranquility that prevailed one afternoon on Polk Boulevard was shattered by the overwhelming clamor coming from the local school, where they held the final football match between The Spartans and The Tigers. The Tigers were from San Fernando High School in the neighboring town. The teams were bitter rivals and had faced each other on numerous occasions. Players from both sides played with great vigor to bring the coveted trophy to their school.
In the last quarter of the game, quarterback Luis Arriaga made a long pass to a receiver who happened to be open. This led to a win that earned the Spartans their fifth championship. Luis then celebrated the victory with his teammates and other students who packed the field for the award ceremony.
Among the crowd was Zina, Luis’ girlfriend of three years. They had begun their relationship since they started school together.
“You were great in this game, my love,” Zina said. “I knew that finally, after three years, we would win. I’m proud of you and the whole team.”
“Thanks, love,” Luis said. “I hope this time you’ll come to the celebration since you couldn’t come to the training; I know your parents won’t let you. But my time will come and it will be I who will not let them see you.”
“Oh don’t be funny!” she answered. “I have already manipulated them so I can go to tonight’s party. This celebration is something I will not miss out on. My mom, as always, helped me make something up. So I’ll be there!”
Zina was a pretty eighteen-year old girl and an outstanding student. She came from a wealthy family of Korean descent, the daughter of Tamara Lee, a housewife, and Jack Lee—an influential municipal councilor of San Fernando Valley who excelled in community leadership. But he had always opposed his daughter’s relationship with Luis. He preferred Zina to finish school before engaging in a serious romantic relationship.
Meanwhile, Luis was a great student and a great leader in his community recognized for his contributions in various school activities, as well as, for his great compassion and support in many other areas. He helped out in natural disasters such as hurricanes, both at home and abroad, by collecting disaster-relief goods to be sent by the American Red Cross.
The struggle to see his girlfriend was very complicated because Zina lived a little far from school. Although they were not members of the district, her parents had decided to enroll her at Sylmar High School. Despite several years of having a high rate of dropouts and having been a haven for vagrants and gang members, the school, at present during Zina’s time maintained a high level of academic performance. The school was also Magnet for Math and Science, meaning some students who had completed high school in another Magnet School had the opportunity to enroll in any institution with the same characteristics—in accordance to their specialty. Because of this system, many students came from different parts of the Valley. Some even came from outside the city limits of the San Fernando Valley. Zina was no exception. She came from Encino, an upper middle-class city that was in the territorial limits of San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. This would prompt Tamara, Zina’s mother to give her a ride to and from school most of the time, and on other occasions, her father would have the chore.
Everyone went home to get ready for the celebration. Zina enlisted the help of her mother and her best friend, Susan. Susan had gone to Zina’s to ask her parents’ permission to allow her to have a sleepover at her house. Her mother offered to take her that night and pick her up the following day. Her father agreed as he shouldn’t be too strict because her grades in school were good. Although his greatest wish was for her to give priority to her studies, he knew that her social life shouldn’t be neglected.
Luis was full of praise. “I thought you weren’t coming, but I’m happy to see you, love. You look more beautiful than ever. I can just imagine all the difficulties that you must have gone through to be here.” “Anyway, let’s not waste time on things that don’t matter, and let’s just enjoy the party.”
The party was held at the house of Joe Gonzalez, the team’s coach, who assured the school and the parents that the celebration would take place peacefully and with no alcohol or drugs involved. He was also responsible for sending them home safely and early, since in some other parties, which involved students, things had gotten out of control due to lack of supervision.
Norberto Medina, Luis’ best friend, was at the party. Both were members of the Spartans and had joined the team at the same time. Due to their great friendship and dedication, they always made a good tandem in the team. Both spent much of their free time doing some extra practice together and sometimes, with other members of the Spartans. This helped them not only in terms of performance and camaraderie between the players, but also in planning game strategies.
Zina and Luis chatted and enjoyed making the most out of that night. They came up with plans for their future. Both were in their final year and were a few months away from graduating.
The two had decided which course they would be taking. Luis wanted to be a Computer Engineer and Zina wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps thus choosing Political Science.
Zina had been accepted into the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Luis, on the other hand, would not have the opportunity to directly enroll in a University as there was no financial aid available for undocumented students. He had to continue his education at a community college, (Mission College) while resolving his legal status—a process that kept him in limbo since family petition to change the legal status of applicants is a painstakingly slow process.
The couple made long term plans. Very much in love, they would marry after they finished school. The only thing that they needed was for time to pass to be able to realize the
ir dream of being together for life.
“I would like a big family,” Luis said in a joking manner, knowing that she wanted a small one.
“Two is enough,” she said, “a boy and a girl. Well, whatever God wants. The only thing is that if it’s more, I’ll have to stay home,” she intoned letting out a cackle. “Be ready to have two jobs.”
After midnight, Norberto offered to take them home. After dropping off his girlfriend, Ximena, he set out to drop off Zina and Luis at Luis’ house so that he could take Zina to Susan’s house.
It was a full moon that night so, on the way to Susan’s, they decided to park for a while next to Carrizo’s Park, on Hubbard Blvd, and star gaze. As they contemplated the moon, they reminisced the very night they first met and were struck by love at first sight. With emotions still emerging, they chatted for a long while. Finally, under the moonlight, their bodies fused into one and they consummated their love with infinite tenderness. As if serving as a silent witness, the moon shined brighter than ever.
Adapting to A New Life
Luis Arriaga was a nineteen year-old fit athlete and an immigrant from the Mexican state of Jalisco. He migrated to the United States at the age of twelve, when his mother died. He always excelled in school and in life thanks to his strong charisma.
His older brother, Pablo, had migrated to the United States three years before him with the hope of a better life. Although he had worked since he was fifteen, the money was not enough to sustain a family, since they had lost their father some years ago leaving their mother as the sole breadwinner. The situation in the country was not at all promising, and it was almost impossible to support a family of five.
Upon arriving in the United States, Pablo settled with a good family who helped him find work quickly in the city of San Fernando. The family also helped him get into an English school that not only allows him to work and send money home but, also to prepare him for a better future. Pablo soon got used to life in the US. In the factory where he worked making orthopedic parts, he met Norma, a US citizen with whom he married after nearly two years of dating. Life soon paid off for Pablo and in 2000, he became a legal resident of the United States, thereby facilitating his position to further help his family—especially his mother, whose health had deteriorated from carrying such a heavy burden. Even though she received help from Pablo, she still had to keep working. That same year, she became bedridden with a terminal illness and died later that year. She left her younger children, twelve year old Luis and eight year old Maria, under the care of Grandma Andrea.
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