A day in America

Most of us cannot remember what we had for lunch yesterday because of our busy schedules. Last Tuesday, March 4th, is a day I will never forget. I can recall that happened. In some ways, it doesn’t feel real. It feels like a dream. On this main blog, I usually don’t discuss my anecdotes; I usually save those for my paid newsletter so people can laugh. I save this place for professional topics. For this week, I have to mix them both. I was given the honor and the absolute privilege to attend the State of the Union by President Donald Trump. I was invited as a guest of New Jersey Senator Andy Kim. I spoke on the potential cuts to the Medicaid program and the damage it would cause to the disability community across the nation.

I’ve found the subjects of civics, government, and politics fascinating. Most children want to be astronauts or play football. Maybe my disability had something to do with it, but neither one of those held any interest for me. I’ve always been a bit of an intellectual, a nerd. I love the art of conversation. I love peaceful discord. I love the Democratic Republic known as the United States of America. I love that I live in a country so great that people from all walks of life have to come together to serve the greater good from time to time. True, you cannot make everyone happy. That’s democracy.

Walking through the halls of Congress, you can truly see a snapshot of America. You will see every ethnicity, every religion, and every point of view. Not only from the elected officials, but their staff as well. The truth is no country can survive for over 200 years if we are all forced to think and feel the same way. What has kept and will keep the great experiment thriving is that it is built on the backs of its people. We concede something to receive protection and liberty.

One of my favorite moments of the day was when I sat down for dinner with Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat, and Senator Kevin Connor of North Dakota, a Republican. We engaged in many interesting and thought-provoking conversations, with Ted Cruz sitting just over my left shoulder.

Luke 14:12-13 NIV Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 

Our discussions centered around disability, a topic that I am passionate about. I love my disability; it took me a long time to understand what it truly offers me. Disability is the great equalizer and represents the intersectionality of humanity. We are all affected by disability in some way. It is not a partisan issue; rather, it is a natural part of the human experience.

My experiences with disability have broadened my perspective, allowing me to see every side of every possible discussion. It has shaped me into a moderate. I once thought I could only advocate for disability awareness, but my disability has equipped me to engage with various aspects of life. Not every issue is inherently political, but every issue has a connection to disability.

Let me provide an example. I am an American immigrant, as I was born in Puerto Rico, which is a territory of the United States. Due to my disability, my family moved to New Jersey after I was born. People often worried that since I left Puerto Rico at such a young age, I would not be able to speak Spanish. However, at the age of 37, I gave an interview to a Telemundo affiliate entirely in Spanish, during which I once again discussed the issue of the proposed Medicaid changes.

I’m not sure if I will ever work for a campaign or serve as a political advisor in Washington, D.C. However, I am grateful to have experienced the American Dream. I believe that my disability has allowed me to be a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Thank you, Senator Andy Kim, and your wonderful staff for being so accommodating. I appreciate your time, and may God bless America!