I am reading the Isabel Allende book about the history of Haiti, "Island Beneath the Sea", and was struck by the white plantation owners saying that "the black slaves have never accepted their fate". It got me to thinking about the idea of "accepting your fate". Today, the President of the United States nominated a new Secretary of Labor, one Thomas Perez who NEVER accepted his fate. He is the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic (next door to Haiti) and put himself through college collecting garbage and working in a warehouse. The president described him as a tireless advocate for the 'American Dream'. Then, in case we needed a refresher, the president spelled it out...he said, "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, what your last name is; if you are willing to work hard you can get in on the 'American Dream'. It seems like a prerequisite would be...DON'T accept your fate! This is an 11" x 14" oil on stretched canvas of a recent deportee from the United States.
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