cd ybarra
Cynthia is a living contradiction. She writes about trauma, childhood PTSD, recovery and politics. It may not sound like it but she is a lot of fun!
She identifies as Latina/x, and is a life long, card carrying lesbian.
The Fall of Icarus
The mass murders of eight people in Atlanta and 10 in Boulder were only 6 days apart. 144 hours, 8,640 minutes, 518, 400 seconds. How many times have we lived through this? How many more times must we go through this before something is actually done?
The Deadly Power of Words
Words have incredible power, especially when they are repeated and digested as truth. No, you can't shoot or stab someone with words, but they are tools on the continuum of violence.
The Keystone XL
On January 20th, President Biden signed an executive order on "protecting public health and the environment and restoring science to tackle the climate crisis." This executive order essentially halted the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline which would have run from Canada to Nebraska. You can read the executive order here.
Why Do Black Lives Matter?
Black Lives Matter is an anthem, a rallying cry to bring attention to the daily reality that black folks live. BLM does not negate that all lives matter, rather those with black skin are not valued in this culture.
The Corona Virus
As of January 25, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that SARS-coV-2, which causes the disease, COVID-19, has infected 98,794,942 people worldwide. We now have vaccines that can protect us, up to 95%, from contracting the virus, yet the myths and conspiracy theories continue to proliferate.
Chimera
“This shit is bleak, babe," Thea said, shouting into the phone over the music coming through the wall. “When will you be back”?
Dead Deer Head
My grandparents lived in a modest-sized home in Chula Vista, California, which they had bought for about 32,000 dollars in 1950. It is now worth 599,000 dollars and is about seven and a half miles from downtown San Diego and Tijuana. They lived there until they died. My grandfather from Altzheimer's dementia and my grandmother from multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. I know I wouldn't recognize the interior now, but I would recognize the house based on the lemon tree, to the right of the driveway, that still produces fruit.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The last four years have been one hell of a ride. We have all watched, some of us in disbelief, as the President continuously lied until the lies became truth. But he didn’t do it alone. As George Orwell famously said, “A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices”.
