all around us, part of us

i woke up this morning & thought about the impact that today's national boycott/dia sin inmigrantes will have on today's routine.

i need to buy a bus pass, but the place i usually go to specializes in money transfers to central america. guess i'll drive to work today. the guy who runs the downtown parking lot is turkish. i want to get my car washed, but the place i usually go to is staffed mostly by newly arrived brown-skinned obreros.

i need to go to the grocery store, but the co-op is closed for international workers' day, so i'll have to drop by the corner store. the three closest stores are owned by a moroccan guy, a lebanese guy, & two palestinian brothers.

three of my work colleagues immigrated to the states from st. lucia, peru, & india. over half of my students are immigrants or the child of immigrants, just like ray (cuban dad & irish mom), who will participate in today's demonstrations.

i usually think about diversity in terms of race. but today's boycott makes me realize how interconnected i am with people who have come here seeking better opportunities. amazing. should be a very interesting day.

(photo by associated press)