The Strawberry Chapter 33

The Strawberry Chapter 33

by Katherine Aguilar

This chapter of Strawberry discusses standing for something—believing strongly in your values even when others disagree. It forms part of your foundation.

Taking a Stand

When we were growing up, we were taught to have a strong faith in Jesus and to follow what the Bible said. One of the many scriptures listed in the bible was that the only Person who could take a life was God—one of the many protests I attended throughout my lifetime. There were two that really stand out. The first one was when I was standing for being Prolife. I was fourteen, and a friend of the family who had known us since I was in diapers asked if I wanted to go and stand in front of an abortion clinic and hold a sign. I thought to myself at the time of the asking. Sure is a good start to making a stand. The day of the protest, we went to a clinic in an area of Dallas. The family friend gave me a sign, and I was ready to stand in front of the abortion clinic. The sign said, “God loves all life”. I was that, and I was ready to share the message. The family friend said, “We are going into the clinic.” I said, “Sure.” I didn’t think anything of it, for it was my first real protest. What a surprise for me. Because I think that less than ten minutes later, Swat comes in with in full swat uniform with helmet and shields, “Screaming! This is the Police! We are going to arrest you if you do not leave!!” My was reply was “I am just protesting! I am not doing anything wrong.” He said “ You are in the premisses!” I was a bit confused because I looked a the family friend. Giving her the look, like I can not believe you did this to me! I just came to protest! Not to get arrested. I told the Officer, I am leaving! I was fuming. Not at the officer but at the family friend. Who had told me it was all right to protest in the building? Since I had never been on a true protest.

Time passed till I spoke to the family friend and til I went on my next protest. I didn’t go to my next protest. Til I was older at the time, I made sure I was better educated on the dos and don’ts of protesting. I still believed in the cause of being Prolife. I want to be respectful also. From the age of fourteen til now. I have been Prolife. I believe every life should have an opportunity to flourish and grow, given that it has had a chance to grow. It is sad that lives do not even get a chance to make a difference in this world.

The other protest that stood out to me was the one I was not really going to participate in. I did believe the cause. It was protesting a vaccine that was being given to teens, which would cause them more harm than good, causing more confusion in males and females. My mother one day said, “ I am going to drive to Austin and go Protest”. It had been a while since she had actually gotten motivated to drive a long distance to protest. My brother had called. Saying, “Kathy, you should go with her, she may get arrested.” I believed in the cause. I just didn’t feel like going to the protest. Still, I decided to go and join her. We drove to Austin. Mother and I. It had been years since I had been to Austin. So it was my mother and I.

We entered the rotunda, which had only a few people sitting. Some were silently protesting the vaccine, while a few others held an opposing protest. I asked my mother, "Where are all the other supporters of this cause? Why is it just you and me?" It turned out the group sitting silently was protesting something else, and the others were protesting yet another issue. No one was really protesting the vaccine. I couldn't believe it—I was in almost the same situation as when I was fourteen, except now I was in my late twenties. My mother held her sign with the scripture, "Could a mother forget her child?"

I can honestly say I was not prepared. I just happened to have a t-shirt that looked like a First Aid shirt for people in trouble. Which, if a person took the time to look at it. It was written at the bottom that God was the First Aider.

So here, my mother and I were the only two protestors. Mother with her sign and me. With my shirt. I walked around the rotunda saying the Hail Mary Out Loud. That was it. It was all I did. Mother walked around, also with her sign. I am not sure when it happened. The people who were on the extreme opposite cause started making hateful comments to me. My only reply was the Hail Mary. The more I set it, the angrier they got. They were getting so angry. One started telling me. “ I will give me I will give you twenty dollars to say another prayer!” My reply was the Hail Mary. That was the only prayer I said out loud. I don’t know how much time has passed. But before you know it. The rotunda was packed. It was as if reinforcement arrived. Neither of us called them. The Texas State Representatives were to vote on the vaccine. The rotunda was filled. It was so packed with people joining the protest. Someone gave me a crucifix to hold. It wasn't mine. All the while continuing to say the Hail Mary. I gave it to another person, and not long after, it came back to me. Finally, all I remember someone saying was “It was my crucifix.” So I kept it. I raised it above my head and said the Hail Mary. While this was all going on outside in the rotunda, they were voting and debating. One side thought it would be an easy vote. The people said they would give me twenty dollars if I stopped saying the Hail Mary. By the time I was going around again after hours of saying it was they themselves. Started “Saying the Hail Mary!” They caught themselves. They had heard me say it so many times. It was ingrained in their mines. My arms were getting tired of holding the cross. Two ladies came and helped support my arms, and it was a true battle stance. I heard a shofar. Yes, a shofar. The Jewish Horn. There are priests, rabbis, and nuns. I don’t even recall when everyone showed up. I just know all I know was that I was saying the Hail Mary, and I was not stopping. I even felt as if my voice had changed from a Texas accent to an Irish accent. I felt as if I had armor on me. Now I was a warrior. It seemed surreal. When my arms would grow tired. We were losing the vote. The ladies would help me hold my arms up. We were winning. The shofar horn is sounded three times. Then all of a sudden the dome shook. I thought to myself. The Dome is caving in on us. We are all going to die. It was a thunder shake. Then all of a sudden, silence. Someone came out of the chambers saying the bill failed. There was an uproar of cheers. I honestly still had a thought of the dome shaking in my mind. I recalled we had arrived there in the morning. It was late in the evening when we left. My shirt was drenched in perspiration. I was tired, and my mother was excited. What was interesting was that my voice had returned from the Irish accent to my Texas accent, and I still had it after saying the Hail Mary out loud for at least 8 or 9 hours. The next morning. I see there is a picture of me in the paper holding the crucifix, praying the Hail Mary. That picture is national.

What a memory to share.

There is a song titled “You need to Stand for something or you will fall for anything”

The trinket of standing for something is one item. I have kept it in my trinket box. I also believe my siblings have it in their blood. They, too, have passed it on to their children. If you read this chapter and got sideswiped by my political stance. Then you may have missed the trinket. People can have different politics and still stand for something. It is a part of respecting differences.