A Beautiful Word

Freedom
The right to choose as we may
Everyday we awake and
We can make a choice
Raise our voice
Enjoy being viceroy
Of our destiny
The right to be free to
Make our own decisions
May they be popular
Or toil in derision
And with that power, with that strength
Virulence and endurance for the Higher
In the 21st Century we are given a choice
Do we punish a person for having been born
Born in a homewhere the choice to be poor is not a choice at all

To be undocumented in the United States
Means being a farm worker, a hard worker, a busser, a tailor, a server, a waiter
a newsreporter, a businessowner,
a mother, a father, a son, and a daughter
Being undocumented in the United States simply means to be conceived
in another country
We have free will everyday
But the event
That most affects our daily life's I
Was not even alive 
to say I object!

Freedom is a beautiful word
But vocabulary won't end the struggle  nuestra gente is in
Fighting, surviving, trying to make it to the next day
Where was freedom when I was born?
Why was I not given the same opportunity 300 millions others received?
Deceived was I, to think we are free...
The act that most affects me I was a prisoner,
Yet to spring to life,
Feel on my skin the sunshine
Instead now I carry the plight of my people
Tattoed on my spirit

Do you dig it?
Do you understand where I'm coming from?
Do you feel me?

Punish a man for his crime
That is a simple rule to abide by
Now let's be real
Let's get real
To be undocumented in the United States
Without the proper paperwork to pass,
Is as much of a crime as this skin tone of mine
Did I choose to be born?
Did I choose to be born here?
There is no Justice here?
There is no Justice there?
And there is no Justice anywhere?

I was born free
Born to a bronze nation
History tells us of a proud people with twin ancestors
And great empires
Combining to form una gente
I stand before you a son: firme y presente
I am proud to call myself:
Chicano!
Mejicano!
Americano!

I am the land my people work
I am this land on which I stand
I am the land to which I was born for
Some rich and some poor
But all wealthy in culture and pride
And no one will deny
My people, our people

Free will died before I was born
I resurrected Freedom at my birth
And in one confident, powerful step
Took the first of many towards justice

Freedom is a beautiful word
Let the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr be the shining light
The torch on the scorched path of freedom
Let the life of Cesar Chavez be an example to our people
That we have suffered, are the suffering, and will continue to suffer
Let the love of our mothers and fathers move us towards peace
Let us realize we are human beings
No different than our brothers and sisters
Freedom is a beautiful word
Let us then make freedom ... a beautiful act

by Jesus "Chuy" Guzman