Date of Award

2011-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts

Department

Creative Writing

Advisor(s)

Daniel Chacón

Abstract

Inspired by entertaining, opinionated voices with debatable, controversial messages I wrote "Sacramento." EVA RIVERA, a 32 year old Honduran poet is captured and incarcerated by the "Maduros Guerrilla" due to her controversial political activism through a network called "Las Hijas Del Maiz." After being held captive, tortured and raped, she miraculously escapes. She manages to return home, gather her belongings and cross the border, all the way to New York via Canada. FATHER MARTIN RODRIGUEZ, a 35 year old Chilean Catholic Priest has disgraced his faith by keeping a promise he made his brother on his death bed: he will facilitate same-sex marriages; given the fact his siblings are gay. His sister DIANA RODRIGUEZ, a 33 year old Broadway dancer, his best friend ERIC `CANVAS' JIMENEZ, a 33 year old painter and JOE WILSON, his brother's 24 year old widow, have vowed to rescue undocumented immigrants from the Canada border. They would save them from human trafficking and hide them in Father Martin's church, St. Francis Cathedral, until their loved ones will come and pick them up.

One day, they go on their underground mission to rescue three siblings and suddenly, Eva Rivera arrives. The fourth passenger is foreign to them. They do not know what to do. So, they bring Eva over to their hide out. Father Martin hears from a controversial civil lawyer and activist: MAGDA ROSADO, a 35 year old Mexican Muslim Civil lawyer and women's rights advocate.

The two dilemmas get tangled with the re-examination of all these mavericks working with rage against the system. The machinery doesn't provide with all the answers to their issues; for one problem to disappear successfully, a sacrifice must be done. Father Martin Rodríguez and Magda Rosado understand that faith and values at times do not see eye-to-eye with the reality of the powerless and disenfranchised. The biggest blow is that Father Martin receives an excommunication warning. Magda Rosado can't help him as she has little knowledge of Canon Law. She is, however, compelled to help this family. In the midst of this process, Father Martin re-discovers his human side; he understands that, after all, he's a man. He falls in love with Magda, sentiment that she reciprocates. As they spend time together, Diana becomes anxious for Eva so she asks her roommate and Broadway performer GABRIEL CAMPOS, to marry Eva. The issue is that both of them are not attracted to their opposite gender, making the marriage more fraudulent that it already is. Diana and Eva become extremely attached and very much in love.

SAM FRANCO, a 34 year old ex-military Canon Lawyer; very conservative Cuban and Magda tangled in this civil rights lawsuit. He is determined to "save her" as he truly believes Islam will send her to hell. Then he discovers she's the one helping Father Martin, to his dismay. So, he becomes the whistleblower. He turns in Father Martin to his dioceses archbishop.

In the end, the real effort is to save Eva from returning to Honduras where she will more than likely be murdered. Father Martin Rodriguez feels he has no other choice but to resign from his Catholic faith, help Eva stay, and love Magda freely. As a result he is ordained as an Episcopalian priest in his native Chile. How does he do it? He loves his sister Diana so much, that he marries her with Eva.

Sacramento is an invitation for all our Latino/ Hispanic community in the US to unite and love in peace without boundaries. It is written to be a universal story with Latino/ Hispanic main characters. It's a political artist's platform. It is meant to be an art manifesto by casting a dancer, a poet, a painter and a liberal arts crusader. Eva's poetry gives a sense of activism in prose that is apparent throughout the script: "Nómada, valiente y sacrificada como los desaparecidos/ Sin nombre ni apellido, sin género, degenerada." Her lines cry out for a lost identity; she wants freedom without compromise, but not at any cost. Diana's dance style portrays a need for movement and even combat. It also becomes the cathartic coping mechanism for Father Martin, Diana and Eva. Canvas paintings depict a longing for his Puerto Rican heritage that he highly respects. "Franco, when we refuse swift and just action for anyone, we all become weak links, even if they're in a position of power."--Magda. This quote summarizes the entire purpose. We should debunk the myths and stereotypes of our own identity, but the only way we can educate others is if we burst the bubble and learn from others. A community is as strong as their weakest link.

It is time we shed a limelight to other realities of our Latino/ Hispanic community. It's time to educate our brothers and sisters in diversity about the loving, family oriented, human aspect of our spirit. It is time we tell others we are more than a particular identity; we are part of a whole. We are all citizens of the world and our love is universal.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

132 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Marlena Fitzpatrick

Download

Share

COinS