Much to Celebrate!

Hola!

Today there are many things to celebrate in the Ibrahim-Bartley family, in Mexico, and in the U.S.  For the family, we are very happy that both Maya and Kalin have completed their math curriculum for the year!  Both are finishing up odds and ends now, but the heaviest courses are mostly finished.  Whew!  They both did well, but there were many times when we all longed for Berkeley High and Willard and their wonderful teachers!  Congratulations to Laila, too, who was the math teacher for both of them.

Speaking of teachers, today (May 15) was national Day of the Teacher in Mexico.  In the U.S. we give teachers cards and flowers and maybe lunch or a mug.  In Mexico it is a much bigger deal.  I haven't read up on it yet, but the unrest here two years ago which resulted in rioting and very violent police action was in part a response to political action and eventually a 6-month strike by public school teachers.  Each year since then the city has geared up for the day with HUGE squads of police in riot gear, helmets and rifles and bullet-proof vests riding through the streets in open trucks and occupying the zocalo and church squares.  This year the day also coincided with a big election at one of the major universities for its president - also a very big political deal.  I think the teacher day has become symbolic of all labor unrest in the country.  There was lots of graffiti with revolutionary slogans and images.  It was scary,  I must say, as the police presence and the graffiti increased throughout the week.  Our school had us start 90 minutes early today to finish by noon just in case we couldn't get there because of the marches.  Our street was on the march route - 20,000 teachers participated!  I've included a not very good picture of some of them.  The state department warned U.S. citizens not to join in any marches, but I was with those thousands of teachers in spirit.

Finally, we are celebrating the California Supreme Court decision handed down today which says that it is unconstitutional to deny same-sex partners the right to a marriage license and the rights and responsibilities that go with it!  Laila and I are sorry not to be home to join the celebrations!  We know that this is far from the end of the battle, but what a huge step!  Its ironic that Kalin turned in her research paper on the history of the legal battle for marriage equality only last week!  What a hopeful addition this would have been!

I had to add the last picture of K, M and L on the couch studying.  On one side, Laila was helping Maya with her Spanish homework.  On the other she was helping Kalin with her Health Curriculum, labeling the various male and female sex organs in great detail.  Oh the richness of life!