By Ru Apt

Jesús Clemente grew up in Mexico City. He remembers a household maintained by his mother, who barely left the house or had contact with people outside of the family except when visitors came. He describes his father, who was an alcoholic, as “candil de la calle y oscuridad de su casa” (oil lamp of the street and darkness in his house). Though it was challenging to grow up in a house of many children with an alcoholic father, he says he cannot judge in this circumstance, because his father, after all, was one of the two people who gave him life. His father was very involved in positive political action, and always served those in need on the streets of DF. This positive attitude has served him well in many aspects of his life, through many hard times. Perhaps because of his father, Jesús remains critical of those who are involved in politics, claiming that they can become corrupted or get involved in the viscous cycle of alcoholism. However, his nonjudgmental attitude prevails – perhaps because of his own experiences with alcoholism.

Jesús got involved with alcohol at a young age. While his alcoholism is far in the past, it is clear as he reflects that it was an influential period of his life. His habits kept him from finishing school and led him to leave home, because he didn’t want to set a bad example for his siblings. The only way to get beyond the cycle of alcoholism, Jesús says, is by exercising your own willpower. Jesús has taken the critical steps to transform his lifestyle, and now engages in social service, at his church and at Huerta del Valle community garden, and is an active member in his community. He often does this work without recognition or thanks; he does it for the gratification it brings him and the people he meets.

Unfortunately, Jesús is currently passing through a difficult time. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his wife left him, taking their two daughters to a neighboring city. Though he rarely sees his family, and is currently houseless and unemployed, Jesús remains positive and clear-minded. According to him, though not all experiences are pleasant, they are all life experiences, and therefore are inherently valuable.

Jesús has worked many jobs over his life. The best company he worked for was Avon, back in México. He remembers it fondly as having a dining hall, a stimulus for education, and giving work to disabled people. It has been hard for Jesús to find good work in the US. He blames himself for not looking for more options or learning the language, both of which he believes would have given him more opportunity for finding good work in this country. Since his diagnosis, Jesús has faced widespread rejection from jobs, due, he thinks, to the perceptible trembling in one of his hands. Though employers don’t say it outright, they reject him, he says.

With regards to the future, Jesús comments on the uncertainty of employment, stating that the rise of technology is and will continue to displace many people. Similarly, he criticizes our culture’s attachment to material goods. Everything that you “own” now belonged to someone before you and will belong to someone after you, so there is no reason to feel attached to them. Jesús expresses disbelief at the amount of selfishness, violence, and injustice that results from this unnecessary materialist attachment. Personally, he finds meaning in his community and family, and contributing to the greater good. These, combined with his positive outlook no matter what life brings him, are things that no one can take away from him.