By Mariela Rebelo
Reader Staff
Spin class has been my favorite way to start the day for the last few years. It’s a great way to do cardio, entertaining enough to reach those Zone 2 goals without getting bored, and it usually gives me that mental clarity that’s conductive to some sort of realization that ranges anywhere from “I forgot to put the laundry in the dryer” to “I think I figured out a way for Sandpoint to have continuous sidewalks.”
The spin room at the gym has been a fun and safe space for me since the first time I tried the class. Two weeks ago, however, the safety aspect of it dissipated, and the fun turned into serious thoughts. I almost made it to the end of the class. That’s the beauty of exercise: it helps us deal with things, sort through thoughts, work things out. I only left once I knew what I was going to do.
I left.
I did exactly what they would prefer me to do. I was just not there anymore.
About 10 minutes into the class, once we were all warmed and hyped up, the instructor started talking about how the next class would be Super Bowl-themed. She went on asking around which team we were cheering for. People showed hands. She then asked how we felt about Bad Bunny. I cheered.
To be completely honest, at that point all I knew about him was that he’s one of the most-streamed artists of all time, Puerto Rican and my 15-year-old niece loves him. So I cheered. I cheered because he’s Latino. I cheered because I’m Latina. I cheered because, just like Bad Bunny, I’m American.
There’s a lot that goes into making up a culture. Elements like food, art, music, customs, language, all play a part. There’s a tacit, crucial element that usually goes undetected.
In the Latin culture, that tacit element is solidarity: fraternity and togetherness that transcend all borders. It’s a natural feeling we’re born into. Neighborhoods function with a deep understanding of reciprocal help and service. Favors aren’t tracked or monetarily compensated. We truly do love our neighbors.
We greet each other with hugs and kisses, whether we know the person or not. We support each other on the global platform. “Us vs. Them” doesn’t take place among Latin Americans. We might disagree on specific topics, but we would never make a fellow Latino feel unsafe over their religion or political views.
That’s why I cheered when my spin instructor asked how we felt about Benito. I cheered for my Latino artist, who now more than ever needs all the support he can get.
Unfortunately, right after asking about Bad Bunny, she asked us if we knew there was an alternative halftime show. And that’s when it all changed. That’s when my safe, fun space turned into fear.
As unbelievable as it sounds, there are still many individuals who support this administration. For them, apparently, blatant corruption, obvious pedophilia, daily treason and crimes against humanity are not sufficient reasons to change their minds. Some of these individuals, at least, have the decency to identify themselves by wearing a ridiculous hat or flying an ugly flag. But some of them walk among the rest of us, undetected, sneakily taking advantage of the numerous things we offer to society while turning around and stabbing us in the back (and shooting themselves in the foot) the minute they have a chance.
Thanks to the question my instructor asked, I now know exactly who in the 8 a.m. spin class doesn’t want me here.
It wasn’t an “alternative halftime” show; it was a racist-coded event, made by and for racist people that cannot fathom the idea of possibly listening to non-English words for up to 12 minutes. It’s for people who are so incredibly averse to any kind of cultural exposure that they actively choose to rot what’s left of their reasoning abilities with the daily self-brainwash exercise of listening to right-wing media. It’s for people who are so incredibly uneducated that they fail to recognize that someone from Puerto Rico is actually an American. Just like I am. Just like they are.
Nationality and citizenship come in many forms. Each country usually has its own rules. In the U.S., for example, one might be born on American soil, like Bad Bunny, and automatically become a citizen. Others might get their citizenship through naturalization, like me, after going through the process of qualifying for temporary residency visas first, submitting an unbelievable amount of paperwork through the course of many years and paying thousands in fees. Some might get it by lying, like Elon Musk or Melania Trump.
What followed after these individuals cheered for a racist event was a feeling of terror. My heart raised beyond the bike’s impact. All I could think about was how I sound Hispanic, how my name’s Hispanic and these people, who hate me and my kind, were just two bikes away from me.
They can call ICE on me and have me kidnapped. Does my husband remember where I keep my naturalization certificate to come rescue me? Is there even an immigration lawyer in Sandpoint? There is plenty of evidence that citizenship and legality are not factors in the violent manhunt that’s going on against Hispanic people. It’s not even about looks any more. What about Renée? What about Alex?
This is not an “Us vs. Them” situation. We are not talking about a difference of opinions.
I texted my instructor asking to go for a walk the next day. We met at City Beach and walked the Sand Creek trail. It was a good talk. She apologized and corroborated what I thought: She didn’t know about the controversy, but then said she was “neutral” about politics.
I was disappointed to hear that. One can argue there’s such a thing as neutrality in politics, although I think it’s a fallacy. As long as we live in a politically structured society, we make and are affected by political choices daily.
However, I wasn’t discussing a political issue — I was discussing a moral issue.
When it comes to morality, we can’t agree to disagree on what’s right and what’s wrong. There has to be a moral common ground for the social contract to work. Hate is wrong. Racism is wrong. It’s imperative we agree on that.
By remaining “neutral” we are enabling the other side. “The other side” isn’t Republicans. This is not a partisan issue. This is a societal issue. “The other side,” in this case, is simply a group of racists.
This isn’t a non-problematic way to keep our opinions to ourselves in the hopes of being liked by everyone; this is enablement disguised as neutrality.
The other side is a side of oppression and hate. They’ve been doing everything in their power to remove our ability to dream. They are painting a picture for a future that, honestly, sucks. They’re stripping us from hope.
It’s not “Us vs. Them.” It’s just us. All of us.
Mariela Rebelo is a Sandpoint resident.
