BIENVENIDA Y FELIZ NAVIDAD!

I HOPE YOU GOT THE JOSE FELICIANO YOU REALLY WANTED.

IT IS INTERESTING HAVING THE NAME JOSE FELICIANO. PEOPLE OFTEN ASK:

1. DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A BLIND SINGER BY THAT NAME?

2. ARE YOU NAMED AFTER THE BLIND SINGER? AND MY FAVORITE:

3. ARE YOU THE BLIND SINGER?

I AM HONORED TO BE A SPEAKER ON OHIO HISPANIC LEGISLATIVE DAY, SPONSORED BY THE OHIO COMMISSION ON HISPANIC LATINO AFFAIRS (OCHLA).

BEFORE I BEGIN, YOU’LL INDULGE ME THE TRADITIONAL ATTEMPT AT HUMOR BY A SPEAKER. SOME OF YOU KNOW THE OLD JOKE ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS RESPOND TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT—FOR INSTANCE, AN ELEPHANT.

___________________________________________________________Remarks by Jose C. Feliciano on the occasion of the Ohio Hispanic Legislative Day, December 3, 2014 Sponsored by Ohio Commission on Hispanic Latino Affairs at the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215.

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SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE SHOWN AN ELEPHANT AND ASKED TO WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THE FRENCHMAN WRITES A POEM CALLED “THE LOVE LIFE OF THE ELEPHANT.”

THE GERMAN WRITES A PAPER TITLED “A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE METAPHYSICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE ELEPHANT.”

THE MIDWESTERN AMERICAN WRITES A REPORT ON “PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ELEPHANT TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT.”

THE PUERTO RICAN, OF COURSE, WRITES AN ARTICLE TITLED “THE ELEPHANT AND THE PUERTO RICO STATUS QUESTION.”

LET ME BEGIN BY TELLING YOU A BIT ABOUT ME.

I WAS BORN IN YAUCO PUERTO RICO 64 YEARS AGO. MY MOTHER IS DOÑA CIELO FELICIANO, WHO HAD A 4TH GRADE EDUCATION AND IS FROM EL BARRIO RANCHERAS IN YAUCO. MY FATHER, SANTIAGO FELICIANO, IS FROM EL BARRIO DUEY IN YAUCO. YO SOY UN JIBARO TERMINADO!

MY FATHER WORKED AT WHITE MOTOR CORPORATION IN CLEVELAND, OHIO FOR THIRTY YEARS. I HAD TWO BROTHERS: ROBERTO (NOW

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DECEASED) AND SANTIAGO, JR. I HAVE A SISTER NAMED LIBERTAD. WE GREW UP AT 3604 WHITMAN ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE OF CLEVELAND WHERE I LIVED FOR 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE. THAT IS IN ST. PATRICK’S PARISH ON THE NEAR WEST SIDE OF CLEVELAND.

I DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH UNTIL I WAS SIX YEARS OLD. I WAS THE FIRST MEMBER OF MY FAMILY TO ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE. I HAVE A YOUNGER BROTHER WHO IS A LAWYER AND A SISTER WHO IS A TEACHER. I CAME TO THE UNITED STATES SIXTY-TWO (62) YEARS AGO.

IN MANY RESPECTS THAT IS THE STORY OF HISPANICS IN NORTHEAST, OHIO.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC “HISPANICS IN OHIO: AN EMERGING ENGINE.” TO ME, THERE ARE TWO (2) ENGINES: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC.

THIS TOPIC NECESSARILY MAKES ME THINK OF WHERE WE ARE ON OUR PATH, AND WHAT ARE THE ISSUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL INVOLVED.

LET ME BEGIN BY TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HISPANICS.

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DEMOGRAPHICS IS DESTINY. IN THE CITY OF CLEVELAND.

AS OF 2010, THE HISPANIC POPULATION WAS OVER 40,000 RESIDENTS, MAKING UP MORE THAN 10% OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, AND IT IS ONE OF THE FEW GROWTH AREAS IN THE CITY. SEE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics of Cleveland.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, THE STATE OF OHIO IN 2011 HAD OVER 364,018 HISPANICS OR APPROXIMATELY 3.1% OF THE POPULATION, REPRESENTING A RAPIDLY GROWING SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION ON A STATE-WIDE BASIS.

NATIONALLY, YOU AWARE TO BE SURE THAT HISPANICS MAKE UP THE LARGEST MINORITY GROUP IN AMERICA. 53 MILLION OR APPROXIMATELY 17% OF THE U.S. POPULATION IN 2012 AND GROWING.

THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY HAS GROWN AND PROSPERED HERE IN AMERICA. WE ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE GROWING HISPANIC INFLUENCE.

NATIONALLY WE NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE APPOINTMENT OF A PUERTO RICAN JUSTICE TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT -

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SONIA SOTOMAYOR – OR AS SHE LIKES TO BE KNOWN – SONIA FROM THE BRONX.

HISPANICS ARE THE BALANCE OF POWER NATIONALLY, IN CLEVELAND, AND SHORTLY IN THE STATE OF OHIO. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT AND WILL NOT GET ELECTED WITHOUT THE HISPANIC VOTE.

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN IN 2012 SAID HE WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT IF HE HAD GOTTEN THE SAME NUMBER OF HISPANIC VOTERS AS PRESIDENT BUSH. BUSH RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 42%. McCAIN APPROXIMATELY 25%.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WON REELECTION IN LARGE PART TO THE NEAR-RECORD LEVELS OF SUPPORT FROM HISPANICS (75%).

ANYONE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC LIFE NEEDS TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION WITH THEMSELVES ABOUT HISPANICS.

IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS, JUDGE JOSE VILLANUEVA WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO AND WAS ELECTED IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY, THE FIRST HISPANIC JUDGE ELECTED COUNTY-WIDE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE. HE HAS BEEN REELECTED THREE (3) TIMES - AN HISTORIC AND SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

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HENRY GUZMAN, DIRECTOR OF SAFETY FOR OHIO, UNDER GOVERNOR STRICKLAND, SERVED AS THE FIRST HISPANIC CABINET OFFICER IN THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE, WHERE HE WAS IN CHARGE OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND HOMELAND SECURITY AMONG OTHER DUTIES.

ADRIAN MALDONADO WAS A CABINET OFFICER FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY, AND WAS A COUNCILMAN IN BEREA, OHIO – A NON-HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

VICTOR RUIZ SITS ON THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, AND WILL BECOME ITS FIRST HISPANIC CHAIRMAN NEXT YEAR.

BERNIE MARINO SITS ON THE CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

MAUREEN DEE SITS ON THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN GENERAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

LEO SERRANO SITS ON THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN CLEVELAND.

STEPHANE MORALES SITS ON THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THIS IS JUST A SENSE OF OUR PROGRESS IN THE CLEVELAND AREA.

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ALL OF YOU IN COLUMBUS KNOW ONE OF LORAIN’S FAVORITE SONS, REPRESENTATIVE DAN RAMOS, AND REPRESENTATIVE RICK PERALES FROM BEAVER CREEK.

A GOOD FRIEND IS THE PRESIDENT OF LORAIN CITY COUNCIL -- JOEL ARRENDANDO.

CHIP, IN LORAIN – LEAD BY TIM CARRION AND PERHAPS THE NEXT MAYOR – IS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING CIVIC LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STATE, PROVIDING AN ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AND HELPING TO SET LORAIN’S CIVIC AND POLITICAL AGENDA.

LORAIN IS ALSO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP BY THEIR WONDERFUL CHIEF OF POLICE—CEL RIVERA.

TO BE SURE, THE COMMISSION ON HISPANICS/LATINO AFFAIRS OF OHIO HAS PROVIDED OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP STATE-WIDE.

WE HAVE MADE ENORMOUS PROGRESS NATIONALLY AS WELL. THERE ARE 28 HISPANICS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THERE ARE THREE (3) HISPANICS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE: MARCO RUBIO FROM

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FLORIDA; ROBERTO MENENDEZ FROM NEW JERSEY; AND TED CRUZ FROM TEXAS.

THERE CURRENTLY ARE TWO (2) ONE HISPANIC CABINET OFFICERS IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION—SECRETARY OF LABOR TOM PEREZ AND SECRETARY OF HUB, JULIAN CASTRO.

THERE WERE THREE (3) HISPANIC CABINET OFFICERS, HOWEVER, IN PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FIRST CABINET:

1. HILDA SOLIS WAS THE SECRETARY OF LABOR;

2. FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA, JANET NAPALATANO, WAS SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY; AND

3. FORMER SENATOR KEN SALAZAR WAS SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

LOCALLY, WE HAVE ALSO MADE ENORMOUS STRIDES WITH OUR CIVIC AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, TOO. LET ME BEGIN FIRST WITH THE HISPANIC ROUNDTABLE WHICH I AM HONORED TO CHAIR.

THE HISPANIC ROUNDTABLE IS A CIVIC ORGANIZATION OF HISPANIC LEADERS WHOSE VISION IS TO ACT AS A CATALYST TO EMPOWER

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AND OBTAIN PARITY FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, OUR MISSION IS TO ACT AS A CATALYST TO EMPOWER THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO BECOME FULL PARTNERS IN THE ECONOMIC, EDUCATION, POLITICAL, CIVIC, AND SOCIAL LIFE OF GREATER CLEVELAND.

ONE OF OUR PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES IS TO SPONSOR A COMMUNITY-WIDE CONVENTION, WHICH WE CALL THE CONVENCION, WHERE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING EVERY HISPANIC ORGANIZATION IN THE AREA, IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP SET OUR AGENDA.

AMONG THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ROUNDTABLE IS TO SPONSOR A COMMUNITY CONVENTION, THE LAST OF WHICH WAS HELD OCTOBER 19, 2013 AT ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SOME 3,000 PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE, AS REPORTED BY THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. LET ME REPEAT THAT, 3,000 PEOPLE.

CONVENCION HISPANIA 2013 SPONSORED A JOB FAIR, COLLEGE FAIR, CAREER FAIR, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WORKSHOPS, AND AN IMMIGRATION DEBATE, IN ADDITION TO PASSING COMMUNITY RESOLUTIONS AND HEARING THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS OF THE THEN MAYOR OF SAN

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ANTONIO AND NOW SECRETARY OF HUD, JULIAN CASTRO.

RECENTLY, WE TOOK THE LEAD ON REDISTRICTING IN CLEVELAND AND IMPLEMENTING THE BILINGUAL BALLOT IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

ONE OF OUR PRIDE AND JOYS IS THE ESPERANZA SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH AWARDS 100 SCHOLARSHIPS EVERY YEAR. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT MOTIVATES COUNTLESS OTHERS TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.

THE HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ITS CHAIRMAN, LOU ACOSTA, HAS A VIBRANT MEMBERSHIP.

THE HISPANIC CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF GUSTAVO HOYAS HAS ONLY RECENTLY COME INTO EXISTENCE AND IS MAKING ENORMOUS PROGRESS.

NSHMBA, THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF HISPANIC MBA’S (NSHMBA) HAS NEARLY 100 YOUNG LATINOS WHO HAVE MBA’S AND WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ESPECIALLY IN OUR LARGE PUBLIC COMPANIES.

A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN CALLED LATINAS, WHICH WAS STARTED BY LORRAINE VEGA AND MIRIAM LUGO - AND NOW

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HEADED BY DIANE CENTENO GOMEZ - PROVIDES MENTORING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LATINA WOMEN AND HELPS THEM DEVELOP THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES.

I AM HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS A YOUNG LATINOS ORGANIZATION –Y.L.N. - PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND I AM PROUD AND DELIGHTED TO TELL YOU THAT IT WAS ONE OF YOUR OUTSTANDING COMMISSIONERS, J2, JOSÉ C. FELICIANO, JR. THAT PUT IT ON THE MAP. THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO ESTABLISH A HISPANIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE IN NORTHEAST OHIO.

IN SHORT, WE HAVE MADE ENORMOUS PROGRESS ON THE CIVIC AND SOCIAL SIDE.

HISPANIC PURCHASING POWER, HOWEVER, IS SIGNIFICANT. IN 2012, OHIO IT TOTALED $8.2 BILLION, ACCORDING TO THE SELIG CENTER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH. NATIONWIDE, NEILSON PROJECTS HISPANIC PURCHASING POWER IN THE UNITED STATES AT A STAGGERING $1.5 TRILLION BY 2015, MAKING HISPANICS IN AMERICA ONE OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE NOW AT A WATERSHED MOMENT: WE HAVE ACHIEVED MUCH, AND HAVE THE CHANCE TO ACHIEVE MORE. WE ARE NOW PART OF THE MAINSTREAM CULTURE IN MANY AREAS AND CAN

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NOW USE OUR POSITION AND PROMINENCE TO BE UNIQUE, SPECIAL, AND DISTINCTLY HISPANIC

LET US RECOGNIZE, TODAY, THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL DUTY TO OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY. IT IS A DEEP AND PROFOUND OBLIGATION THAT I SENSE—I HOPE THAT YOU DO TOO. LET ME SUGGEST THE BEST WAY, IN MY MIND, TO LOVINGLY DISCHARGE THAT DUTY IS TO SPEAK UP FOR HER.

EDMUND BURKE, THE ANGLO-IRISH PHILOSOPHER, ONCE SAID, “THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.” IN OTHER WORDS, EVIL WINS WHEN WE ARE SILENT.

I WANT TO WARN YOU ABOUT THE DANGERS AND PERNICIOUSNESS OF SILENCE. I AM ASHAMED—BUT I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF SILENCE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THINGS ABOUT HISPANICS, AND I HAVE NOT SPOKEN UP. HOPING - PRETENDING - THAT I DID NOT HEAR WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD - OR WORSE - HOPING THAT IT WOULD JUST GO AWAY.

TODAY, PERHAPS WORSE IS WHEN HISPANICS ARE NOT INCLUDED WHEN THEY SHOULD BE.

I REGRET EVERY ONE OF THOSE INCIDENCES IN MY LIFE. EVERY ONE.

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THERE ARE – AND WILL BE INCIDENCES IN ALL OUR LIVES WHEN WE NEED TO STAND AND SPEAK.

JUSTICE POTTER STEWART ONCE SAID – DESCRIBING OBSCENITY – “YOU’LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT.” SOMETHING SIMILAR WILL HAPPEN TO YOU REGARDING LENDING YOUR VOICE. “YOU WILL NOW IT WHEN YOU FEE IT.” WE WERE ALL BORN WITH AN INHERIT SENSE OF JUSTICE.

ALL HISPANICS HAVE A DUTY. THAT IS THE DUTY TO STAND UP. THAT IS THE DUTY TO SPEAK UP. EVEN WHEN YOU ARE SCARED. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE ALONE.

I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO STAND UP SOMETIMES ALONE, AND SPEAK UP FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY. I NEVER REGRETTED IT. I HAVE ALWAYS REGRETTED MY SILENCE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE IT. SOMETIMES, “LOS AMERICANOS” MAY NOT LIKE IT. THEY MAY SUGGEST YOU ARE BEING TOO SENSITIVE OR OVERREACTING.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU, ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS WE ARE GIVEN IS OUR VOICE, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST FREEDOMS WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES IS THE RIGHT TO USE IT.

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MANY OF OUR FATHERS CAME HERE TO A NEW LAND, WHERE THERE WAS A NEW LANGUAGE, NEW CUSTOMS, MANY WITHOUT A FORMAL EDUCATION, AND MANY TO FACE DISCRIMINATION.

THEY ALL ENDURED AND THEY TOOK CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES. THEY CLOTHED US, FED US, EDUCATED US, AND REARED US THE BEST THEY COULD. THEY WORKED HARD TO GIVE US THE LIVES WE HAVE, AND TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY WISHED THEY HAD AND WANTED FOR US.

WE OWE THEM A DUTY TO SPEAK UP FOR THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NO LONGER BE WITH US.

YOU WILL INDULGE ME THIS DIGRESSION INTO THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE. THE PEW INSTITUTE REPORTS THAT 71% OF AMERICANS WANT A LEGAL STATUS FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. THAT IS 82% OF DEMOCRATS AND 57% OF REPUBLICANS. LAST WEEK A WALL STREET JOURNAL AND NBC POLL CONCLUDED MOST AMERICANS SUPPORTED A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS (2013) STUDIED THE ISSUE IN THE 12 MID-WEST STATES, INCLUDING OHIO, AND CONCLUDED THAT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WAS NEEDED FOR THE ECONOMY AND FOR

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DEMOGRAPHIC REASONS. OHIO NEEDS PEOPLE AT THE TOP, MIDDLE, AND BOTTOM OF THE LADDER.

TO ME, IT’S SIMPLE. I DO NOT THINK GOD LIKES THE WAY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE BEING TREATED.

LET ME QUOTE A HEADLINE AFTER PRESIDENT OBAMA’S RE-ELECTION: “THE HISPANIC GIANT IS AWARE, CRANKING, AND TAKING NAMES.”

TAKE HEED.

I FEEL CONSTRAINED TO SHARE MY VIEWS ABOUT FREEDOM.

FREEDOM HAS TWO (2) MAIN PILLARS: OPPORTUNITY AND EQUALITY. THEY ARE AT THE CORE OF FREEDOM.

AMERICA IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND I PRIZE MY CITIZENSHIP AND THANK GOD ALMIGHTY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN AMERICA.

SHE HAS PROVIDED MY FAMILY AND ME COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHICH I AM EXTRAORDINARILY GRATEFUL. I COULD JUST AS EASILY BE LIVING IN THE HILLS OF PUERTO RICO, WHERE I WAS BORN IN YAUCO, BUT FOR THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY AFFORDED ME HERE.

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BUT AMERICA HAS YET TO FULFIL HER PROMISE OF EQUALITY, IN ITS ENTIRETY, TO THE WHOLE OF AMERICA. I WORK EVERY DAY, OUT OF RESPECT AND LOVE, TO HELP HER ACHIEVE THAT PROMISE.

LET US ALL TODAY RENEW AND RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO SECURING THE BLESSINGS OF FREEDOM FOR ALL.

LET ME SUM UP—LET US HAVE HEARTS LIKE THE GREAT AND BELOVED KING OF ISRAEL, DAVID, WHO HAD A WARRIOR’S HEART FOR THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL, BUT A SERVANT’S HEART FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

LET US HAVE SERVANTS HEARTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY—OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE AND WORK. BUT LET US HAVE WARRIORS’ HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO DENY FREEDOM.

I KNOW THAT OUR HISPANIC CULTURE HAS YOUR HEART. I KNOW HOW MUCH OUR CULTURE MEANS TO YOU. TODAY, I ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOICES AND YOUR STRENGTH.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE POLICIES THE HISPANIC ROUNDTABLE—AND I—ADVOCATE ARE SUMMED UP IN THE OLD ADAGE:

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GIVE SOMEONE A FISH, AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, AND YOU FEED HIM FOR A LIFETIME.

WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO, HOWEVER, PARTICULARLY RELATING TO EDUCATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT. IN CLEVELAND, AND MOST METROPOLITAN AREAS, THE DROP OUT RATE IS FAR TOO HIGH. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SPOTLIGHT THIS ISSUE AND MARSHALL THE LIMITED RESOURCES.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TRAGICALLY IS HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION AS WELL.

WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. HOWEVER, WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO ACHIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY FOR ALL AND HELP AMERICA CONTINUE TO BE THE BEACON OF FREEDOM FOR THIS ENTIRE WORLD.

TO BE SURE THE WHOLE OF AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREATER THAN THE SUM OF HER PARTS.

HOW DO HISPANICS DO OUR PART? WELL, YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLE, “DO MORE WITH LESS.” QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS – DO MORE – ESPECIALLY IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL OF SELF-HELP AND HOPE.

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TO BE SURE, IT IS LIKE SISYPHUS PUSHING THE ROCK UP FROM HADES, BUT WE WILL GET THERE AND ENJOY THE FULL BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY.

HERE IS A THOUGHT FOR YOU. THERE IS A HISPANIC PRESIDENT ALIVE TODAY. YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS.

NOW TO THE TWO (2) MOST WELCOME WORDS IN ANY SPEECH, “IN CLOSING.”

THE ROUNDTABLE TAKES IT MOTTO OF LEADERSHIP SERIOUSLY AND I COMMEND IT TO YOU.

“IF NOT YOU, THEN WHO; IF NOT NOW, THEN WHEN.”

FOR IN THE WORDS OF THE EVANGELIST LUKE:“TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS

REQUIRED.”

MUCH IS REQUIRED OF ALL HERE.

FINALLY, “HELP THE LAST AND THE LEAST.”

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MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.

QUE DIOS TE BENDIGAN.

© 2014 José C. Feliciano, Sr.

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