I hope everyone had the chance to catch Soledad Obrien’s report on “Latinos in America”.   The second part of the premiere series airs tonight on CNN. (9pm-11pm ET)

The program offers great insight of what it is to be an American of Latino origin in this country “Latino in America” illustrates the communication struggle that both Latinos and non-Latinos experience in communities across the US.

I was pleased to view the frustration of non-Latino subjects wanting to get to learn more about their neighbors, but afraid to approach them due to unsubstantiated profiling and stereotypes brought on by lack of communication and fear.

Although language is the primary barrier, Obrien’s report digs deeper into the cultural differences in and outside the Latino community.  Some folks conclude one does not have to speak Spanish to retain one’s culture (2nd, 3rd generation Latinos).  Others think that Spanish is the only thing that highlights our cultural identity. Many believe we should make English the official language as it provides a common ground for communication in this country.  What do you think?

E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).  It allows employers to electronically verify immigration status of newly hired employees.

E-Verify is free and voluntary and is the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers.  It is said to be 99.6% accurate. 

Business groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce and immigration advocacy agencies argue that the system has many errors.  If enforced today, E-verify would have a negative impact on thousands of workers and would derail the business sector. The Federal Government has opted to side with such arguments. 

We have many immigration issues in this country, but it all boils down to figuring out a sensible way to update the status of those who are already here.  We must identify and adjust status of undocumented workers who have made their lives in the U.S. and contribute to its economic engine.  

Many businesses, especially those engaged in construction, agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality depend on immigrant labor to sustain themselves and to meet the demands of today’s market.  The status of these workers has not been addressed fairly.  Shouldn’t we fix the broken immigration system before enforcing a program like e-verify?  E-verify would only apply to new hires. What happens to an undocumented employee who is laid off and forced back to the job market?   

A comprehensive immigration reform that would give enough time and clarity for both, workers and businesses, must be in place before we could even think about instituting an enforceable system that would protect us from illegal immigration practices and the challenges that come with it.

According to the Pew Hispanic Organization, one in every five Americans will claim Latin America as their country of origin by 2050.  Geographic proximity, technology, political, social and economic ties between Latin America and the United States are factors that fuel the Hispanic/ Latino migration pattern and Hispanic/ Latino language and  cultural retention.

It’s no news that current political and economic conditions in the US have intensified fear, anxiety and confusion in the Latino/ Hispanic community.  These folks are business owners, professionals, construction workers, nannies, gardeners, cooks, actors, artists and many others who contribute a great deal to the economic and sociological well being of our country.  Unfortunately, like many of us, Hispanic/ Latinos find themselves entangled in a complex and confusing legal system.  Cultural and Language barriers makes it even more of a hassle.

Finding a Bilingual Attorney and/or Law Firm with Spanish speaking support is a real challenge these days.  Every day, thousands of Hispanics and Latinos don’t know where to go and wind up in situations where they find no real understanding or compassion.  Where can one find a bilingual law firm?

An innovative online directory and resource publication will launch on July 1^st, 2009.   myLatinoLawyer.com is focused on signing up experienced and committed Attorneys from various disciplines that have a genuine interest in providing quality legal representation and superior customer service to the Hispanic and Latino community.   The network is actively seeking new members who are either fully bilingual or have Spanish speaking support. 

myLatinoLawyer.com started signing up members in the DC metro area in 2008.  Based on input from the public and the legal establishment its founder decided to go national.  The new online directory provides information, as well as guidance.  myLatinoLawyer.com also features a  24/7/365 answering service for those who call outside regular business hours.

President Obama made history in choosing Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic Justice on the Supreme Court.  The selection is quite consistent with Obama’s forward thinking decision making process, which is focused on promoting an equitable stance and securing a prosperous future for all Americans, Latinos included.   After all, one in four Americans will claim Latin America as their country of origin by 2050.   

There is no doubt that Sotomayor’s extraordinary life experience and professional background will add another dimension to the Supreme Court.  Sotomayor knows what is like to be a minority in this country. 

Sonia Sotomayor also carries the added responsibility of upholding a flawless image, as she would not only serve as Supreme Court Justice, but also as model for many others to follow.  She can not afford to let the Latino Community down.  I am sure Sotomayor got a real taste of what it is like to be highly scrutinized these days.  She must choose her words cautiously.  

It is my belief that Sotomayor’s statement “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life” was honest.  I do not think this makes her a racist.  But however we may put it, the statement can easily be misconstrued and can also offend many people – regardless of our background.  Latino and non-Latino bring much to the table. 

Given the uproar in government, media and civic circles, should Sotomayor make a statement to the American public?  Perhaps she should talk to the public.  A statement may put a lid on the issue and keep the sharks at bay.  Some may argue that a public statement would validate suspicions.  Regardless, reaching out to the public may not be a bad idea at this stage of the game.

I am delighted to learn that U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein re-introduced legislation known as the “Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Securities Act” to address the nation’s ongoing agricultural labor shortage. The bill would reform act H-2A visa system to provide farmers a legal path to bring in guest workers, identify undocumented workers and legalize status to those working in the US for 2 years or more. Are we getting closer to immigration reform?

Presently, the H-2A temporary agricultural visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign nationals to enter into the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.  Offering a legal path for farmers to fill unwanted jobs in the agricultural sector, and allowing status to those who have proven themselves as useful contributors of the economic engine, not only makes perfect business sense, but it is the right thing to do.

If you are an avid supporter of this initiative, please go to http://action.matt.org/immigration_solutions/ and sign the petition.

Muchas gracias y que Dios lo bendiga a todos.

No doubt that the world is becoming smaller and smaller and that political and socio-economic dynamics have changed dramatically. We live in a world economy.

Thanks to the steady advancement of transportation and telecommunications, people in need for a change are easily motivated to migrate to other countries. The USA continues to be a prime destination. This is good news. Too bad we have not been able to manage immigration effectively.

There are more than 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country.  How should we deal with this reality? We certainly should proceed with the notion that the economic and social interests of the US and the international community are better served by effectively managing immigration rather than erecting substantial blockades to the movement of people across the globe – such movement will never cease to exist.  What do you think?

President Obama has lifted some travel restrictions to Cuba as well as allowing Telecommunications companies to set shop on the island. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/world/americas/14cuba.html?_r=1&hp.

President Obama appears to continue reaching out to unfriendly waters as a means to repair trust and credit in the international community.  This seems to make much sense as we are all increasingly interdependent.  Cuba is no exception.   Although possessing one of the highest literacy rates, high life expectancy and good quality healthcare, Cuba lacks behind in terms of economic prosperity and civil rights.  The current administration’s move, no matter what the motive, is good for both countries – differences and interests aside

I was sitting at a panel the other day to discuss Hispanic/ Latino Identity in the United States.  This topic has become a very controversial issue, as many folks find themselves entangled in cultural, ethnic and racial bias.  This is especially prevalent among Hispanic/ Latino immigrants.  In fact, little did I know that the term “Latino” if used in front of the wrong folks can be very offensive?  The same holds true for the term “Hispanic”.

Latino migration to the United States started gradually since the U.S. became a country.  There was already a significant Latino presence in the Southwest as most territories of the region were annexed to the US as a result of the Mexican-American and the Spanish-American wars.  Individuals in the Southwest, including descendants of what was Mexico in the 19^th century, retained strong cultural traits of their ancestors (Spanish and Native American)    

 

Political and economic upheaval in Latin American encouraged the beginning of the mass 20^th century Hispanic migration.  During the 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s Puerto-Ricans, Cubans and Dominicans migrated in large numbers to the eastern seaboard of the US, particularly to the states of New York and New Jersey to the North and Florida to the South.  As a result, the term “Hispanic” was introduced in the 1970 census as a means to classify a group of people who by such time shared one common characteristic: The Spanish Language  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latino.  Language (and to an extent culture) were the only outward physical characteristics the US establishment could pinpoint in the 1970’s.

 

By the 1980’s a wave a South and Central American people migrated to the US. Unlike their southwestern counterparts, their culture was quite eclectic, especially those migrating from the Caribbean region and the interior regions of Central and South America. Today, we have a growing percentage of Latinos who embrace their Native American, African, Asian and/or non-Spanish European traits of their physical and psychological make-up as well as the new adopted country: The USA.  

 

In my opinion, the pluralized term “Latino” encompasses culture, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity and language. The term “Hispanic” only refers to Spanish influence and language embedded in our culture and excludes all other characteristics. Therefore, if we had to choose between the two terms, the word “Latino” appears to be the best when used in the United States.  I imagine that the average person is very well aware that, like him/her, we are not purely derived from the folks who colonized our countries.  Our job would be so easy if the Latino community was as homogenous as the term “Hispanic” suggests.

 

Personally, I wish there was a better term assigned for the Hispanic/ Latino population segment. However, I still think Latino is the most appropriate term.  It includes language (Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian), culture, and racial, ethnic and religious make up of all members of Latin America countries living in the US – including Brazil.  Moreover, the term is uttered in Spanish which affirms cultural identity.

The following is a letter written by Jon Garrido, CEO and Owner of Hispanic News. I thought I’d share with you.

Comments welcome!

Hugo J. Lembert

===========================================
Re: American Hispanics require Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now!

Dear Mr. President;

The Hispanic Electorate

On November 4, 2008, Hispanics overwhelmingly voted for you for President of the United States giving you 67 percent of the Hispanic vote to McCain’s 31 percent.

Hispanics gave you victories in Nevada (5), Colorado (9), New Mexico (5), and California (55) for a total of 74 electoral votes.

The 2008 Hispanic vote of 67% not only enabled you to carry 4 pivotal states but additional states with sufficiently large Hispanic populations in state exit polls showed support for your candidacy. These states include: Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, New Jersey, and Texas.

In 2012, the probability you will carry Arizona is high and will give you a total of 84 votes in the 5 state New West region.

In 2008, McCain carried Arizona (10) as the favorite son receiving 1,012,878 votes (54%) and giving you 851,589 votes (45%).

Had McCain not been a favorite son, it is probable you would have picked up Arizona considering the polls leading up to November 4 indicated you were becoming competitive with McCain.

In Texas, McCain received 4,467,748 votes (55.5%) and you received 3,521,164 votes (43.8%). In 2012, Texas will be added to the New West region adding its 34 electoral votes to the 84 providing for a total of 118 electoral votes in the New West region which will then have 44% of the total electoral votes cast in the United States.

For Republicans searching to find a way out of the political wilderness, the 2008 election provides some clear guideposts — and a flashing yellow sign about the road they’re on.

Even in a year when total voter turnout increased dramatically, Hispanics managed to boost their share of the vote from 8 percent to 9 percent, giving you a lopsided margin of 68 percent to 31 percent, the most for a Democrat since 1996. The numbers represented a sharp drop off in Hispanic support for Republicans since the Bush-Cheney high water mark of 40 percent just 4 years ago.

What’s received less attention is the impact Hispanics had on down-ticket races. Hispanics supported Democrats in races for the Senate and House by even slightly higher margins than they gave you. The Pew Hispanic Center, using exit polls published by CNN, has estimated Hispanics’ share of the vote increased most significantly in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico, where they helped elect two new Democratic senators and four new Democrats to the House. All four states were carried by Bush in 2004.

Hispanic voting patterns could change the political landscape well into the next decade and beyond. Increasing numbers of Hispanic voters could play a critical role in the 2010 Senate races in Colorado and Florida, where they comprised 13 percent and 14 percent of the vote in 2008 and gave you 61 percent and 57 percent of their votes, respectively. Arizona, Colorado and Nevada will also be likely battlegrounds for the 2010 governors’ races, which will be critical in setting district lines for congressional and legislative races for the next decade.

Hispanics — entrepreneurial, family-oriented, strongly anti-abortion and supportive of traditional marriage — are a natural constituency for the GOP. Nevertheless, the extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric of many in the so-called Republican “base” has created a huge obstacle to the party’s appeals. For Hispanics, the Republican brand is more than tarnished — it is toxic. Republicans have cut off their noses to spite their faces.

National Review Online contributor Heather MacDonald writes of “the growing underclass culture among second- and third-generation Hispanic Americans.” Peter Brimelow, of the anti-immigration Web site vdare.com, recently told Michael Ruhl of the University of New Mexico’s Talk Radio News Service “the issue in the immigration debate is not racism or xenophobia, it’s treason.”

I myself am a 5th generation American Hispanic serving in the U.S. Army during Vietnam returning to become college educated before heading up economic development for two city governments and now running for the Phoenix City Council. Having someone indict me with “treason” is un-American.

While such talk may be red meat to elements within the Republican party, it’s impossible to overstate its impact on Hispanic voters — tax-paying, patriotic, law-abiding citizens, many of whose families have contributed to our country for generations and each belonging to the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the country.

Two months into your term, your administration so far includes a massive economic stimulus, overhauling the energy grid, health care reform, restructuring education and outlawing secret ballot union elections. Yet while nearly every Democratic constituency has skin in the president’s game, both the White House and congressional Democrats stand silent on solving the immigration problem. For too long, Democrats have been able to talk a good game to Hispanics about normalizing the status of 20 million undocumented workers, knowing hard-right Republicans will screech out in opposition. Only one major union, the Service Employees International Union, dared support comprehensive reform in 2007; the rest could remain blissfully silent, knowing Republicans would kill the bill and loudly take credit for it, alienating Hispanics in the process.

Congressional Democrats and the union bosses they answer to followed Sun Tsu’s advice one should never interrupt an adversary who is destroying himself. Republicans have nothing to lose and much to gain by calling the Democrats’ bluff. Americans know our immigration system is broken, wrenching families apart, hurting thousands of law-abiding businesses and leading to the exploitation of millions of workers. Few believe in mass deportations, and most realize it isn’t about open borders or amnesty.

The U.S. Constitution

Another urgent concern is cities and states continue to attempt to approve ordinances and laws depriving the undocumented rights granted in the U.S. Constitution with the most recent being a controversial proposed ordinance in Fremont, Nebraska. This week, the county clerk certified enough petition signatures had been collected to put the ordinance on the ballot via special election but the city has asked a court to rule the ordinance is unconstitutional and can’t go before voters.

ICE

ICE raids across the USA have wreck havoc on Hispanic families primarily American Hispanic children born in the United States.

Hispanics arrested by ICE are held in ICE Detention Centers where U.S. Constitutional rights of detained Hispanics are violated. The Amnesty International report just released reveals the human rights violations associated with the dramatic increase in the use of detention as an immigration enforcement mechanism.

The number of people in detention has increased exponentially in the last 10 years to about 300,000 annually.

On any given day in 2008, there were more than 30,000 people in custody.

Confined in prison facilities, detainees are held under civil immigration laws, under which they are neither accused nor convicted of a crime. Conditions are often deplorable and detainees are routinely denied due process.

With no right to counsel, they are often subject to mandatory detention without the right to judicial review, and face challenges in their use of habeas corpus.

Therefore, U.S. Constitutional rights of detained Hispanics must be restored immediately regardless of the status of immigration reform.

Delay in ICE Raids May Signal Policy Change

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has delayed a series of proposed immigration raids and other enforcement actions at U.S. workplaces in recent weeks, asking agents in her department to apply more scrutiny to the selection and investigation of targets as well as the timing of raids, federal officials said.

A senior department official said the delays signal a pending change in whom agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement choose to prosecute — increasing the focus on businesses and executives instead of ordinary workers.

“ICE is now scrutinizing these cases more thoroughly to ensure targets are being taken down when they should be taken down, and the employer is being targeted and the surveillance and the investigation is being done how it should be done,” said the official, discussing Napolitano’s views about sensitive law enforcement matters on the condition of anonymity.

“There will be a change in policy, but in the interim, you’ve got to scrutinize the cases coming up,” the senior DHS official said, noting Napolitano’s expectations as a former federal prosecutor and state attorney general.

Another DHS official said Napolitano plans to release protocols this week to ensure more consistent work-site investigations and less “haphazard” decision-making.

Napolitano’s moves have led some to question your commitment to work-site raids, which were a signature of Bush administration efforts to combat illegal immigration. Napolitano has highlighted other priorities, such as combating Mexican drug cartels and catching dangerous criminals who are illegal immigrants.

Napolitano’s moves foreshadow the difficult political decisions your administration faces as it decides whether to continue mass arrests of illegal immigrant workers in sweeps of meatpackers, construction firms, defense contractors and other employers.

Critics say workplace and neighborhood sweeps are harsh and indiscriminate, and they accuse the government of racial profiling, violating due process rights and committing other humanitarian abuses.

The raids have enraged Hispanic community and religious leaders, immigrant advocates and civil liberties groups important to the Democratic base, who have stepped up pressure on you to stop them.

At a rally last week in Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, head of the archdiocese of your home city, called on the government “to end immigration raids and the separation of families” and support an overhaul of immigration law. “Reform would be a clear sign this administration is truly about change,” George said.

Also last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus made similar calls as the caucus met formally with you for the first time.

“Raids that break up families in that way, just kick in the door in the middle of the night, taking a father, a parent away, that’s just not the American way. It must stop,” Pelosi added at a Capitol Hill conference on border issues sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

But you also face pressure from conservative lawmakers and many centrist Democrats, who say workplace enforcement is needed to reduce the supply of jobs that attract illegal immigrants, and that any retreat in defending American jobs in a recession could ignite a populist backlash.

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which seeks to reduce immigration, said your aides are trying to manage the issue until an economic turnaround permits an attempt to overhaul immigration laws.

“I think their calculus is, how do they keep Hispanic groups happy enough without angering the broader public so much they sabotage health care and their other priorities?” Krikorian said.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group, said to the contrary, groups such as his support your focus on going after bad employers and criminal illegal immigrants first — or as he put it, prioritizing “drug smugglers, not window washers.”

Violence caused by the Mexican drug cartels

Another urgent concern is caused by Mexican drug cartels which have a severe adverse impact on the undocumented and their Hispanic American families.

The scale and spread of violence caused by the Mexican drug cartels make it more important than ever we not only secure the border but learn the identities and backgrounds of the 20 million undocumented workers living throughout our country. Nobody wants blanket amnesty.

Rather, it is about cracking down on border security and drug smuggling that exploit and do harm to all living in the United States including American Hispanics and undocumented Hispanics. Border security and bringing an end to drug smuggling must be combined with a total overhaul of America’s immigration laws. Providing a path to citizenship for those who can establish their identities, pass a background check and pay their back taxes is the best way to concentrate our efforts on those who are here for crime, not jobs — and reduce the pervasive atmosphere of prejudice and suspicion that now surrounds every job applicant with an accent or, in some cases, just an Hispanic surname like — Garrido.

It will be a difficult and an uphill road with lots of sharp curves, but for those that oppose immigration reform now, there’s no alternative. The path they’re on leads right over a cliff.

Your turn to deliver on campaign promises

American Hispanics delivered in 2008 and now it is your turn to deliver on campaign promises.

There is an urgency for American Hispanics and to date, this urgency has not been considered by your administration.

In fact, your appointment of Janet Napolitano is a slap in the face at the Hispanic community.

Never the less, Hispanic News endorsed your candidacy and continues to believe you may become one of America’s greatest Presidents but not without the support of American Hispanics who require Comprehensive Immigration Reform become an urgent priority of your Administration.

Our urgency needs to become your urgency.

The movement of increased Hispanic American voting can significantly increase in 2010 and future elections but only if Hispanics become a priority!

American Hispanics require Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now not next year!

― Jon Garrido
CEO and Owner
Hispanic News

Welcome readers,

My name is Hugo J. Lembert, an American Latino citizen from New York City, currently residing in Reston, Virginia, USA

My goal is to develop a platform to facilitate the exchange of ideas and share our experiences from an American Latino perspective. This blog blends the dynamics of two worlds, because today’s American Latino is much involved and interested in mainstream America while still retaining cultural traits of the motherland (s).  Like our non American-Latino brothers and sisters, we come from many different cultural, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds. The Spanish language and its cultural influence (not necessarily trait) is what binds us together – not to mention the historical, sociological and political ties between our beloved US and Latin America.

The United States has slid behind in education, healthcare and economic growth to dangerous levels when compared to other developed countries. All three of these core elements intertwine. The Hispanic and Latino communities segments have been hit the hardest.According to a study conducted by UNICEF, The US lags behind 17 countries including South Korea, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Hungary, Netherlands and Finland. Another prominent study, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, shows a steady decline in the performance of American students from grades 4 to 12 in comparison to their peers in other countries.

Business leaders and policy makers agree that we must execute bold and innovative initiatives to educate our students. Course load completion is viewed as being the biggest challenge. Failure to address this issue promptly will result in irreparable societal damages, as today’s students replace over 78 million baby boomers.

Secondly, “Healthcare Reform” is absolutely necessary. According to current statistics, more than 1/3 of the US population will be over 65 by 2030. The demand for medical health care will increase dramatically over the next few decades. The needs of tomorrow will command a highly educated and skilled workforce. A HS diploma will not cut it.

Thirdly, economic policies in this country have not been working in favor of its own economic engine – the middle class – for decades. The cost of healthcare, drop in personal wealth and inability to cope with personal emergencies are the main challenges facing the middle class today.

It is just a matter of time that an “irreversible” societal condition could prevail in our country, if we do not take swift action now. Put simply, we will continue to…

1- Loose completive ground in the global economy
2- Outsource Talent
3- Higher Poverty (and consequently crime) rate
4- Poor Health Conditions
5- Irreversible Climate Changes.

American Latinos are positioned to bring forth meaningful contributions to our society.  According to the Hispanic Pew Institute in Washington, D.C., Hispanics will represent 24% of the total US Hispanic population by the year 2050. As American Latinos, we have the distinct advantage of serving as bicultural agents capable of bridging the gap between the newly arrived majority and the established, integrate and continue to make meaningful cultural and economic contributions to our beloved country without loosing our identity. 

Our country is facing unprecedented challenges these days. There is a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety. The irresponsible, far-fetching, unrealistic, idealistic, illogical and moronic behavioral pattern of our leaders and that of a vast majority of US inhabitants has finally caught up. The process we are undergoing today is absolutely necessary, if we are to restore the social and moral code of our beloved country – THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.Regardless of all the bad economic news things look bright.  The current administration has remained calm and confident as it is quickly responding by taking bold and unprecedented steps to remedy the mess it inherited from years of mismanagement and incompetence and decades of greed in both, Wall Street and Main Street.

Unfortunately, many innocent responsible bystanders will pay the price – but then – who said that there is no price tag for justice? We have now entered a new era of responsibility and accountability. No one said it was going to be easy, no one said it was going to be perfect. But one thing for sure – we agreed that it will take hard work from all of us – not just our leaders.

Meaningful legislation is passing at record speed. Mishandling that took years to dig up from our private and public sector officers are surfacing within days of these folks being appointed.  Some argue that all this legislation is passing too fast and not much thought has been giving. Bottom line is that we have known for years what was wrong in this country! To those, I say: Guess what? Congress is working for a change. No room for non-sense! The public has had it. Ditto. End of story. Let’s hope that we all stay the course and work on adjusting our expectations and behavioral patterns.

Another issue I wish to bring to light is immigration. There are more than 12 million undocumented folks in our country, many of whom paying taxes and contributing to our social security system. These folks are business owners, professionals, construction workers, nannies, gardeners, cooks and the like. Despite their contributions, they still have an image problem as the media continues to stereo-type Latinos – especially Latino blue collar workers. We need more success stories and images from this sector.

Immigration reform is not only socially responsible, but it makes perfect business sense. Imagine all these folks coming into the market with no fear. It appears as though that our country is shifting toward calmer and favorable waters. Let’s pray for our future and ensure that we do our part.