4 years ago

Four years ago the show continued and it got bigger...it got serious. The above creation was brilliant and it brought character to the entire show. This flier made everyone think, "Sheeesh I wonder what is it going to be next year?" And sure enough year after year the flier got more "interesting". What else was memorable about this stroll show? How about the DORA stroll by Chi Upsilon Sigma? It was also the introduction of Lambda Tau Omega to Temple University; today, they're on Temple's campus :). So what can this year's stroll show bring? If it's anything like last year's then it's bound to be great!

The American World

The image above pictures the American World. The world we choose not to think about but in reality it's the truth. The first time I saw the above image I laughed, but then I thought, "This is a shame." Is this the world we (Americans) created? Are we stereotyping our own planet? Granted every continent is different and the U.S. is a mix of almost every other continent. I'm honestly afraid of what's going to happen in the years to come. The more powerful the human gets the more devastating our future can get. Maybe I just watch too many movies but sometimes you have to think back and wonder, "What if we took the wrong direction towards the advancement of the human race?"

5 years ago

Five years ago Gamma Phi Sigma started one of the greatest traditions on the East Coast...the annual stroll show at Temple University. And it was all because one brother attended a SILK stroll show in NYC. First, he wanted to perform at the annual event in NYC, but also wanted to recreate it in Philly. And sure enough I helped him with the show and we were actually the only two brothers to perform that evening! Should out to the ROBOT and RUN IT stroll :).

Shout out to all past participants. Fun fact: Chi Upsilon Sigma has been the only organization to consistently perform for the past six years. We thank you for all the support these past years and are looking forward to this year's performance. And I just realized the first time we hosted this event, we started at 9 p.m. Talk about a late night event.

Latinos have no leader

Think about it. Do we have one leader en la comunidad fighting for what we believe in? The answer is no. The question was asked last May in an Associated Press article and no one knew how to answer. "That’s not easy for some Hispanics, let alone other Americans. Even as the Arizona immigration debate has highlighted concerns of the nation’s more than 30 million Latino citizens, it has revealed a lack of name-brand recognition for those dedicated to serving America’s largest minority group," the article stated.

The Pew Research Center recently asked the question, "Who is the most important Latino leader in the country today" and 64% said, "We do not know." Although some people did respond with names, the percentages were not high. "The most frequently named individual was Sonia Sotomayor, appointed last year to the U.S. Supreme Court. Some 7% of respondents said she is the most important Latino leader in the country. U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) of Chicago is next at 5%. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa draws 3%, and Jorge Ramos, an anchor on Noticiero Univision, the national evening news program on the Spanish-language television network Univision, drew 2%."

Why is this happening? To be honest it's a sub-culture problem. Latinos can't get over the fact that we represent other countries. I said it in the AP article mentioned above, "“When you’re in Colombia, you’re a Colombian. When you’re in Puerto Rico, you’re a Puerto Rican. When you’re in the U.S., you’re a Latino or Hispanic." And it's true. We can't come to recognize our own selves as Latinos, we seem to have a problem looking after "our own" before anyone else. So what can we do? A: Get over ourselves.

One Week Away - 6th Annual Stroll Show

Once again my frat Gamma Phi Sigma "Hermanos Unidos" Fraternity, Inc. is hosting one of the BEST events on the East Coast. On Friday, November 19, 2010 the 6th Annual Stroll Show is going down. Confirmed organizations include Lambda Theta Alpha, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Omega Psi Phi (A FIRST!), Lambda Sigma Upsilon and special performances by Chi Iota Pi. But this show has grown into just strolling and winning a competition, it is now a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The entry is $5 but remember it's for a great cause.

p.s. Next week I'll be looking back at our previous shows and how this event came to being.

6th Annual Stroll Show

11/19/10

Temple University - Mitten Hall Great Court

1913 N. Broad Street, Phila., PA

That Really Doesn't Grind My Gears...BeingLatino

As much oppression there is going on in the world, I can't quite be as happy to be Latino today. It has nothing to do with the increase of Latinos in the U.S., but it really has to do with our opportunity. Sure we complain a lot about life and how it's difficult to get through things, but in the end, it really all works out. Besides, life isn't meant to be easy. And to make things even better, I'm a part of BeingLatino on Facebook and the blog...it's great to connect with people with similar interests. Sure there are some quarrels every now and then, but these 40k+ people on here all have positive things to say. Go us!

That Really Grinds My Gears...Corruption

Okay so we all know la policia are supposed to protect and serve the people, but sometimes I think it's horrible there are countless corrupt officers out there in the city. Don't get me wrong, I know plenty of wonderful cops. However, for the past few weeks I've been seeing negative stories on Latino cops in Philly. As if we don't need this negative attention already. It's also horrible to think the media (and others) will give the story a "racial" twist; they aren't just cops, they are Latino cops. Must be continue this behavior? Let's move forward, not backwards.

Cuba is not happy

Assassinate Castro and you move on to the next level. Yep, that seems to be the premise of everyone's favorite new video game "Call of Duty: Black Ops". Sure it's just a video game, but did they really have to use the real Fidel Castro? I thought video games usually add characters which resemble us in real life, maybe its a hint.

I can completely understand why CUBA would be mad but you have to think, it's a video game. Video games are meant to be fun and time wasters; not "live my life according to the game". However, according to a Fox News article, "Scenes like that and others drew harsh criticism Wednesday from Cuba, which said the new video game was violent, glorified the assassination -- and will turn American children into sociopaths." Sociopaths though? First off, if you don't want your kids playing these games, don't buy it for them. Second, if a video game influences your life then I suggest you rethink your life.