As a child, I wasn’t exposed to the culture of my Cree Indian ancestry or any American Indian culture for that matter. Anything I learned was through my own research as an adult.
Charest Family on the Web Posts
A few weeks ago I had another of my letters to the Local Newspaper “The Potomac News” published. This letter expressed my lack of sympathy towards one of our most out-spoken racists complaining about being listed in the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a “nativist.”
My letter received a direct letter to the editor rebuttal only two days later. My follow-up was never published by “The Potomac News,” so I’m publishing it here.
I’ve written recently about the issues of immigration here and the attitudes of far too many residents in Prince William County. The attitude can be summed up in the statement “There’re against it.” At least, they’re against Hispanic immigrants who have the temerity to actually expect to be treated as human beings in exchange for doing a large portion of the manual labor around these parts.
Last night, I was privileged to be among a large group of Hispanic people who respected me, just having a good time celebrating their achievements.
Yesterday I found an Indian Arrowhead in my backyard not far from my bedroom window. It may be hundreds to thousands of years old. Being of Cree Indian ancestry makes me appreciate this artifact even more. I gave it a place of honor on my dresser so it can be seen first thing every morning; a reminder of the Indian elders who once inhabited this land.
Like my late paternal grandmother, I love unusual names and gardening. I never met Grandma Florence as she died in 1933, twenty-five years before my birth.
I’d like to extend a big welcome to our newest guest writer and long-time family friend, writing as Alyce Clover!
Move over Dr. Phil! There’s nothing more therapeutic than mindless yardwork on a beautiful spring day.
The exercise from raking leaves, pulling weeds and disposing of the skeletons of last year’s annuals, causes a natural high. The revitalizing visual satisfaction comes after the cleanup when crocus, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and narcissi are revealed. For a moment, all is as it should be.
My final reward is a cup of herb tea with honey on the front porch; feeling content all my hard work got my mind off the world’s troubles, even if only for an hour.
Today we bring you all the news fit to print, and then even more…
So while I’ve actually posted a few stories this month, there was still a lot happening. On the last day of the last month of winter, here’s everything else that’s been happening in the Charest household, Virginia edition.
Consider yourself warned if you decide to click through and read more…
Yo Hablo Espanol
“Everyone who comes to America should learn to speak English.” If I only had a nickel for every time I heard this idealistic statement. This statement might work in a perfect world, but our world is far from perfect.
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immigration Second Language Spanish