011121: Vanikapila 3.21

EOT:

Aloha Ahi Ahi UFOhana,

I hope you’ve all been able to keep your sanity through all the unbelievable going ons outside of Vendola Cafe (there by the port just outside San Rafael). I’m going to break one of my rules about “No Politics” at the UFOhana because I really have to say something about this past week’s horrific event.

I find it very disheartening to see that the prejudice and bigotry I experienced as an immigrant child in the 1960’s is still alive and actually thriving in many parts of this wonderful country we call the United States of America. Having experienced a similar situation with my own family during the Marcos Dynasty, I was deeply saddened and angered as I witnessed all the hate and destruction of the symbols what we all held to be sacred by Americans being desecrated by “Americans.” Have we become our own worst enemy? Have we actually achieved what the terrorists of 911 failed to achieve, to actually storm and deface the Capitol?

For a very brief moment I actually pondered retiring back to the Philippines and then it struck me, wait a minute, don’t they already have a “Donald” of their own? In fact, maybe he was a role model for ours? Never mind, I’m staying.

After having spent 60 years living in and traveling to various parts of this Country as a “naturalized” immigrant/citizen and witnessing the events of the past week, I realize now that we will always have bigotry, prejudice, hate and inequality in this world. That time alone is not enough to rid our Country of these vices. It’s really the good people of the Country, those that will not allow those vices to become a standard of life in the United States, that keep the dogs of war and hate at bay. It’s those good people who are parenting their children on how to become responsible, caring, human beings and good Citizens, that will break this cycle of insanity.

Having witnessed the insurrection, I’ve learned that Democracy is a very fragile thing, that everyone has a responsibility to uphold it and protect it, yes, even the President.

I feel the true greatness of a country should be measured by how its people endeavor to improve and keep their high standards and ideals. That they strive to breakdown the ancient ways of cultural stereotypes, social supremacy and xenophobia. We should never stop working to respect the tapestry of cultures that have made America what it was in the past, a nation respected by the world, whose strength is in its diversity and belief in the democratic system. More than ever, it is every American’s responsibility to heal our country and earn back the World’s respect. To show everyone that Our Democracy works.

In light of recent events and having lived and experienced the loss of family and my ancestor’s lands under Marco’s rule, I can honestly say, that America’s still a much better place to live. It’s just a little broken, we all just have to work a lot harder to fix the broken parts. We dropped our guard with this last President, allowed hate, greed, bigotry and fake news to rule us. We must make changes to ensure that it never happens again.

To paraphrase Chauncey Gardner from the movie Being There, “we are in the Winter of our (Country’s) Garden. We need to cut back the weeds, trim off the dead branches from the trees. As long as the roots are good the trees will come back in the Spring in full bloom and we will reap the fruits of our labor.”

Along those lines, I also like to think that if you don’t water a weed you won’t encourage it to grow, save the water for the rest of our garden. Also, as my beloved Nohea has told me from time to time, “. . . and don’t pick up snakes!”

‘Nuff said . . . we now return to our regular programming . . .

Looking at the image below and it struck me. We have a Wonderful “Garden” of Friends right here!

So last week we launched K’ULU FM 88.7. Mahalo to those that tuned us in on their car radios! Click below to view the online album. Don’t forget to view the video of the White Car Ukulele Players.

It’s the White Car Ukulele Players!

I had mentioned last week about an article I read about “rebooting” your brain during COVID. About how they mentioned that playing an instrument was one way to do that. Below is TedED from Lynnette about that. We all seem to be on something good here!

Below this Saturday’s Live Stream Link. Mahalo to the Studio Musicians that help out last week!

Don’t forget you can catch us in the UFOHQ Parking Lot at 88.7 on your FM Dial! Btw, I’m told that modern cars do not allow you keep the radio on indefinitely. If you have a nice Boom Box (is there still such a thing?) you may want to bring that along. If the weather’s good, consider parking your car and maybe setting up your BB and chair in the abandoned basketball court next door? I’m just saying . . .

Once again, I want to send a Mahalo Nui Loa to all the PIKOhana Donors that made our donation of 20 Ukuleles to Lynnette’s Teaching Colleagues possible. Couldn’t have done it with out you!

The UKES have Landed!

Btw, we’re currently working on a donation for a group of Marshallese Islanders land locked in Spokane. So if you have any unused Ukuleles you’d like to donate (we’ll take $$$ donations as well) please send them my way.

On behalf of PIKOhana, Me ke Aloha Pumehana Kakou.

UKEKU

little by little,
good will begin trickling down,
becoming rivers.

Time for ho’o ponopono (to make things right).

Aloha A Hui Hou Kakou,

-=Sql+Nohea+Jake=-

meowwwrrrrr . . . don’t like snakes . . . I’ll save you Mommy . . .

:EOT

8 Replies to “011121: Vanikapila 3.21”

  1. Well said, del, the issues immigrants of all kinds have to face are many and unrelenting.
    All I can say is that here on Kaua’i we seem to have a somewhat kinder and gentler culture (and no snakes!)
    I know things will get better, so hang in there. Best to you and nohea.
    Mimi 🏝🙏

    1. Yes, I remember that culture well. I grew up in Hawai’i and would love to be able to retire there someday…. Aloha and Mahalo, Del

  2. Wow! That was quite a post. This past year has been an awakening ( hopefully ) for us white privilege folks in many ways. It certainly opened my eyes to somethings I was unaware of. I grew up in the Chicago area, one of the most racial cities in the country. It still is.
    I go back there a few times a year and still hear racial slurs. We were fortunate in that our folks never espoused that in our home. My sister showed me the deed to our house. My folks bought it in 1947. It states in can only be sold to Caucasians. We may think here in Marin and the surrounding area that we don’t see or experience much racial prejudice but it’s there for sure.

    Let’s hope that what we saw last week doesn’t rear it’s ugly head again but I’m not overly optimistic. Can only send good thoughts out to the universe. What you’ve put together with UFOhana ceratainly helps with that.

    Mahalo for that beautifully written piece

    1. Mahalo Don. Thanks for sharing that insight. Let’s all keep hoping . . . and strumming . . . Aloha.

  3. Well said, Del. When I arrived here in 1960 America was the ultimate dream for people all around the world and we have to try our best to make it much better and fix a lot of broken pieces.
    Thank You
    Renate

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