My trip to Gracie Mansion yesterday was pretty fun. This Sunday is the annual Puerto Rican Day parade, and it was last night that the mayor formally issued the proclamation recognizing the day. If got to have my picture taken with the mayor; it was very sterile, assembly line fashion, a brief smile and shake of the hand and then you were sent on your way. Chi Chi Rodriguez was there, and will be the parade's Grand Marshall. I've seen way too many of his late night infomercials for those magnetic bracelets he sells.

I'm not sure how much I approve of the concept of national days being officially recognized. I don't attend any parades, not even the annual Greek Independence Day parade. Though community pride and loyalty is valuable, the rhetoric and attitude I felt (and generally feel during such events) is very segregationist. I don't approve of the use of Spanish coming from the mayor's podium, because it's inherently directed to a small audience (though one getting bigger all the time; about 40% of the kids in New York City's public schools are of Mexican or Central or South American descent). I wish people could strike a better balance and remain true to their roots in a way that didn't seem (on its surface anyway) to contradict loyalty to America.

That said I had a nice time and met some very good people. Afterwards my godfather and I went to dinner with a friend of his, a very nice old man who told me stories about his youth and how he worked hard to make it here in America. When I inquired about the Masonic ring on his left pinkie finger, he promised to tell me about the misunderstanding that had developed between the Masons and the Catholic Church and how the rift was healing. He assured me that the Masons aren't the anti-Christians they are rumored to be, and that he finds them to be a good bunch of guys. I've heard so many negative things that I'll be glad to hear another take from one in the organization.

I told him that I belonged to a similar group, an undergraduate debate society. He's heard of us (which surprised me) and had nothing but nice things to say about the group and its strength and influence.