Take Heart! Dream Act's Failure Ignites Increased Public Awareness and Support.

I barely slept last night to catch the live action of bastards in the Senate throw up their ignorance all over the floor (also in hopes of seeing it pass although I knew better).

Friends, where were you day before the vote? Were you not living your life as usual, having adjusted to limits and burdens imposed on you by your foes? So the government failed us today but your life hasn't changed. Do not despair for too long. There is time to weep and time to wipe the tears and get back up. For a day or two more, you may weep.

Congratulations. You've experienced your first advocacy, and you did well. Perhaps you personally did not appear on TV or shared your compelling story with the mainstream media, but as a collective body we achieved far more publicity and support for our cause over the last 2-months than the last 10 years combined.

Whether you like it or not, you are now drafted into this war. Your very existence is the proof that you are a self-selected advocate for the act. Don't look around you - It's you who will advocate. You have no neutral ground to stand on. You have no choice but to participate.

But you will also win. One step back and two steps forward. Today was a one step back, but we already walked two steps forward the day before. We will walk two steps forward tomorrow.

Some of you blamed God for the apparent injustice done unto you and others the GOP and the DEM. If you expected God to lift the burdens for you by the flick of his majestic fingers, you are in for a big surprise. If you placed your hope and faith in these men of government...

You've seen the anti-immigrants carefully craft lies about you and you've heard the GOP senators lend their voices to shamelessly demoralize your spirit on the floor. You've witnessed the president make vows to help you on his victory day only to be never heard from again. You've seen the DEM leaders entice you to support them only to half-heartedly whisper your cause when it was too late. You now know: This is politics, where the purest of hearts leave disillusioned.

Some of you will move on from this site and the fight altogether. Many of you will take heart and continue this journey. For those of you leaving, where will you go? This is your land and you have a rightful place in it. Stay and fight for it.

I don't know why God doesn't deliver his justice swiftly, or at the pace we desire. But I do know that I am currently in charge of my actions and reactions. God is more interested in shaping your character and the way you respond to injustice than the injustice itself. I cannot pass the DA on my own volition, but I have control over how I will react - and I will react with dignity, grace and firm humility. Take this moment to look around you. Have you treated your own neighbor fairly? Do you harbor judgment on those whom you consider inferior? No man is innocent. This is the secret lesson to all your life's troubles.

I'm here to fight. I have many privileges not afforded to you. I have a social security number, 245i approval, not a EWI, a driver's license, a college degree from one of the top universities, a full scholarship to a graduate school, and a loving family and community. I can get a job and have my employer sponsor me for a greencard. I am young and healthy. I can also go to grad school and marry if I meet the right person. Yet, if I can get all of you a legal status by making myself a sacrifice, I would gladly do it. I can move on but I am here to fight with you and for you. And you will realize that as you fight for yourself and for others, God will send allies your way. He will show up and He is never late.

So stay. Fight the good fight. In the next few days we will hear from advocate leaders and friends. Dream Act has become a controversial bill, although it used to be considered a common sense bill. That's how capriciously public perceptions change on social issues. Bills like this require either a grassroots movement or heavy cash. The latter we don't have but the former we do.

Have a good rest this Sunday. Keep your faith and hope. Come back to this site to gather information and go visit your local DA coalition. I'm not a blind optimist and neither are you. But you know we will soon pass the Dream Act.