While I was in Korea, I came across a story that stopped me in my tracks--one of those moments when…read morethe weight of someone else's experience hits close to home. Ricardo, a waiter at Cazuela's Mexican Cantina in Reynoldsburg, had finished serving a table, expecting the usual--a tip, a simple acknowledgment of his hard work. Instead, he received a hateful message scrawled on the receipt, the kind that cuts deeper than words should.
Ricardo works at Cazuela's only on Sundays, a second job to help make ends meet. So today, in between my OCIA responsibilities, I decided to stop by--to meet him, to shake his hand, and to remind him that there are far more good people in this world than the ones who spew hate.
As we talked, I saw a man who carries himself with quiet dignity, someone who simply wants to work hard and provide for his family. I shared with him that I, too, know what it feels like to be told to "go back to your country," even though, like him, I am an American. I told him about my childhood, standing in front of my family's Crestview Market, hearing the ugly chants from passing cars--some driven by kids I went to school with.
But today wasn't just about reliving painful memories; it was about something greater--the power of community, of kindness that drowns out cruelty. When I arrived at Cazuela's, I wasn't alone. Others had also come to show their support, to stand with Ricardo. He told me the outpouring of kindness had been overwhelming, and I was relieved to hear it.
Before I left, I handed him my WARM card and told him if he ever needed help, he could call me. Because no one should feel alone in moments like these.
And, by the way, if you ever stop by Cazuela's, their enchiladas and Mexican rice are fantastic. The chips and salsa? Fresh and addictive. And my server, Isabel--attentive, kind, and everything a great waitress should be.
Some people choose to spread hate. But today, I saw so many more people choosing love. And thats what matters.
