Column

A JOURNEY HOME: RECONNECTING WITH BORIKÉN

Column /

By Rocco Anastasio I’ve always believed that travel does something more than just take us to a new place. If done with an open heart, it has the power to ground us, recharge us, and even remind us of who we are. My recent trip to Puerto Rico with my family was proof of that. We only spent a week there, but I came back more fulfilled and more energized than I ever could have anticipated. Traveling with my wife and children through the island wasn’t just a vacation, it was a return to something deeply familiar, even spiritual. Puerto Rico, with all its vibrancy and natural wonder, brought up a sense of pride in me. It was rejuvenating not only to my mind and body, but also to my spirit. For me, this was more than a trip; it was a reminder of the roots that continue to shape us, even when we’re far away. One of the highlights of our journey was walking through El Yunque, the island’s famed rainforest. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to step into a place that feels both ancient and alive at the same time. Towering trees covered in moss, waterfalls cutting through the green, and the songs of coquí frogs carried on the wind—it was like stepping into a world that heals you simply by being present in it. I let the cool waters of the falls wash over me, and in that moment, I felt something I hadn’t realized: I was missing clarity. That experience purified me, not just physically, but spiritually. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose, a reminder that sometimes healing comes when we surrender ourselves to nature. We also spent time walking the colorful cobblestone streets of Viejo San Juan. There’s a magic there that photographs never quite capture—the pastel buildings, the ocean breeze slipping through the narrow streets, the mix of history and life unfolding in real time. But what made it most meaningful for me was watching my children take it all in. For them, this wasn’t just sightseeing. It was connection. It was an introduction to a piece of who they are. To see them walk those streets and feel the pulse of their heritage filled me with a kind of fulfillment that’s hard to describe. I knew that this experience was planting seeds of pride in them that would grow for years to come.  Not all of the trip was calm and meditative, though. Driving through the winding, steep hills of Guaynabo was a thrill all on its own. My knuckles were white as we climbed higher, the roads narrow and the drop-offs dramatic. My family’s laughter—half nervous, half exhilarated—filled the car as we made our way to La Marquesa Nature Preserve. There, riding the cable car above the treetops, we marveled at Puerto Rico’s beauty from a new perspective. Suspended between sky and forest, I felt grounded. Nature has a way of humbling us, reminding us that we’re part of something much larger than ourselves. And then, of course, there was the ocean. No trip to Puerto Rico would be complete without immersing yourself in its waters. We spent an afternoon at Luquillo Beach, swimming, soaking up the sun, and letting time slow down. There’s something about saltwater and sand between your toes that recharges you in a way nothing else can. My batteries felt full again. I could feel the stress of everyday life slipping away with each wave that crashed against me. ——  By the end of the week, I realized this trip was never just about relaxation, it was about connection. Connection to land, to culture, to family, and to self. Puerto Rico reminded me that fulfillment doesn’t always come from chasing more; sometimes it comes from returning to what has always been there. As we boarded the plane back home, I carried with me more than just memories. I carried a renewed spirit, a sense of grounding, and a deeper appreciation for the heritage I got to share with my children. Puerto Rico gave us more than just a vacation; it gave us purpose, joy, and energy that I know will carry us forward for months to come. If there’s one lesson I took from this journey, it’s that sometimes the most powerful way to move forward is to pause, to return, and to reconnect with the places that shaped us. For me, that place is Puerto Rico. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology A JOURNEY HOME: RECONNECTING WITH BORIKÉN September 5, 2025/ By Rocco Anastasio I’ve always believed that travel does something more than just take us to a new place. If… Read More EL BUEN AMIGO:A LIFE OF RESISTANCE, ART, ANDLOVE IN THE HEART OF BUFFALO August 5, 2025/ By Rocco Anastasio This past month, I had the honor of sitting down with Mr. Masferrer to film an episode… Read More CONTINUED JOURNEY “BORICUA SOY YO” September 1, 2024/ It’s been a while since I’ve written about my film “Boricua Soy Yo.” However, over the last few weeks, I’ve… Read More Load More End of Content. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology In recognition of Latino Heritage Month September 9, 2025/ Posted by Buffalo Latino VillageAlberto O. CappasLATINO HERITAGE MONTH(Officially known as Hispanic Heritage Month; the writer prefers “Latino”—a topic deserving… Read More COMMUNITY LEADERS RALLY BEHIND “CHRISTIAN PARRA” FOR STATE SENATE September 7, 2025/ By Alberto O. Cappas BUFFALO, NY — With the recent vacancy of Senator “Sean Ryan’s” seat in the

A JOURNEY HOME: RECONNECTING WITH BORIKÉN Read More »

UN MOMENTO 8/25 ONWARD! WAYS TO KEEP LEARNING AND RESISTING FASCISM

Column /

UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ  Victoria Ross  El coraje es el poder de la mente para superar el miedo. / Courage is the power of the mind to overcome fear. – Rev. Dr. Martin King What a challenging, truly scary time we are in! Federal agents are ever more indistinguishable from criminal kidnappers, both visually and behaviorally. The president is breaking the law regularly. His illegal acts far outpace those of his first term; and unfortunately, he doesn’t have people around him that put on the brakes. The targeting and firing of people whose employ was passed in Congressional budgets, the attempts to overturn birthright citizenship, the flagrant violations of the emoluments clause (which prohibits federal employees from accepting funds, gifts, and/or titles from foreign countries without specific Congressional approval) – all are highly illegal and have generated resistance and push-back both in the streets and in the courts. The enabling of Israel’s genocidal activities is also clearly criminal, the war crimes rampant and virtually comprehensive (also likely killing off the hostages). However, the resistance and pushback is alive and well, including in WNY! Thanks for whatever part you’ve already played; whether it’s supporting DEI events at your children’s school; joining us at events or in the streets; or contacting our governmental representatives to lobby them to stand up to the Fascism, Racism, and Warmongering. We do have a more powerful force: PEOPLE POWER!!  Here are a few more ways to push back: · Join local Labor Day parades on Monday, 9/1: 10am-2pm, Warren Spahn Way, Buffalo 14220; or 9am at 65 Niagara Square. Recognizing and defending workers’ rights is the epitome of People Power! · Come Party in the Park on Sat, 9/6, 11am-2pm, at a community resource fair; outdoors at Massachusetts Ave Park & indoors at the Boys & Girls Club, 370 Mass Ave; sponsored by NYS Assemblymember Jon Rivera, who has been one of the most responsive legislators, fighting for human rights. · Attend a WNYPC Power to the People Taskforce training – Medical (CPR and/or Stop the Bleed); or Protest Safety (De-Escalation & Peacekeeper trainings, which prepares one for de-escalation of all kinds, and increases your own and others’ safety at events, even if you aren’t a volunteer event marshal). See Registration QR Codes in an ad in this publication, or go to wnypeace.org · Igniting Hope Conference Weekend – Community Day Friday 9/19; Igniting Hope Saturday 9/20. Go to Buffalo Center for Health Equity to register. · WNYPC’s Latin American Solidarity Committee continues exposing I.C.E. at its Monday 9/29 Coffeehouse 7pm-9pm at Canisius University Science Hall (on Main near Delavan; park on Main or in lot). E.C.E. and the Immigration Courts feature local immigration lawyer Julie Kugel on challenging I.C.E. actions. (And Oct 27, international human rights lawyer Julia Hall will talk about I.C.E. and the “war on terror,” re human rights from Guantanamo Bay to prisons in El Salvador). Check out wnypeace.org for more events, campaigns, and ways to support each other. Millon de gracias! Solidaridad! #sisepuede – #juntos!  Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology UN MOMENTO 8/25 ONWARD! WAYS TO KEEP LEARNING AND RESISTING FASCISM September 5, 2025/ UN MOMENTO JUSTO POR LA PAZ  Victoria Ross  El coraje es el poder de la mente para superar el miedo…. Read More Un Momento 7-25 I.C.E. vs. the Community August 5, 2025/ By Victoria Ross La injusticia en cualquier lugar es una amenaza para lajusticia en todas partes/Injustice anywhere is a threat… Read More FINDING THE WONDERFUL IN THE TERRIBLE – A RECIPE FOR HOPE September 1, 2024/ Lo maravilloso y lo terrible están uno al lado del otro, y están íntimamente conectados. The wonderful and the terrible… Read More Load More End of Content.

UN MOMENTO 8/25 ONWARD! WAYS TO KEEP LEARNING AND RESISTING FASCISM Read More »

POLARIZATION HURTS US ALL

Column /

By Angelica Aquino Unrest of the soul and intellectual polarization is at par with both domestic and international policies agenda setting and implementation. For the past five years, pre and post pandemics, I have observed a social polarization at the level of the soul where microaggressions are weaponized by power structures and individuals to create a chilling effect on dissent and freedom of speech. Now, the water cooler and the coffee machine have been moved to Teams (the communication tracking device). It is a great tool to help create workflows and communicate, but also it lends itself to a platform of power and control. Personal dissatisfaction and the shift to WFH and hybrid models have created a new level of digital surveillance and civic engagement to a tribal level. I have witnessed firsthand the territorial battles of working in a cross functional “holistic environment” with vulnerable populations. One vivid example is the level of professional and personal dissatisfaction of so legal, health and social services providers working together representing disfranchised and vulnerable communities. Some advocates are concerned about social justice issues and how these are used as shields not to build but to divide. The erosion of individual constitutional rights and entitlements by administrative policies and codification of rules and regulations translates into often fragmented holistic cross functional teams with competing legal, medical and social issues in very complex matters from civil law to the cross section of criminal law and procedure. It is very alarming to see the high levels of ‘tribalism” and “classism” by those entrusted to advocate and represent the most vulnerable from unaccompanied minors to elder abuse. Such behaviors are used to attack and demean other team members and ultimately ridiculed. There ought to be more constructive and respectful conversations and common ground where we can build alliances, not resorting to bullying and disrespect. Polarization hurts us all. It is degrading and dehumanizing. This is a call to reflection, stand up and let those who in the name of “jest” mocked others with memes and nicknames. The silver lining of the “remarks in jest” is a true commitment for introspection and boundary definition. An opportunity to be the true agent of change without taking the bait of microaggressions. Communicate, organize and reflect. Our humanity is our common ground, build it up! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books & Poems Business Column Community Community News Education Entertainment español Food & Culture Health Interviews Media Military & Veterans Music Peace People Photography Politics Sports Technology POLARIZATION HURTS US ALL September 5, 2025/ By Angelica Aquino Unrest of the soul and intellectual polarization is at par with both domestic and international policies agenda… Read More FREEDOM OF SPEECH:BEDROСКТО OUR DEMOCRACY August 5, 2025/ By Angelica Aquino One of the greatest rights we have as citizens is our freedom of speech, a true bedrock… Read More WE ARE ALL AMERICANS: RESPECT FOR FREEDOM AND INDIVIDUALITY September 2, 2024/ The current air of contempt and division that reigns in some circles of our American Society is problematic and worrisome…. Read More Load More End of Content.

POLARIZATION HURTS US ALL Read More »

Scroll to Top