I have been living in the beautiful paradise known as Puerto Rico for the past 8 years. I have been living completetly barefoot for the last three years. Here you can read why I decided to live barefoot.
I have been on a mission across the beaches and rivers for the last 5 years and would walk around with signs to raise awareness to how we treat this beautiful world with garbage. I decided to be the guardian of the beaches and rivers as I think we should all be of this beautiful world.
On February 2019, I was beaten with a gun over my head and shot at my face. All for briefly recording a family leaving their garbage at this beautiful beach. A beach that I have defended for the last 3 years. The bullet fortunately just grazed by my cheekbone. Click here to read more about being shot in the head
The man who shot me was arrested and now is out on a 3,000 dollar bond. He is awaiting trial. This trial was supposed to be on that same month. But no one told me the trial date, so they pushed the trial yet another month.
When I made my statement to the district attorney, I was barefoot. I clearly told them that I live a barefoot life. I don’t wear shoes.
The day of the trial comes a month later and I make my way to the courtroom. The judge would not allow me inside because of my bare feet. They told me to go get some shoes and come back. If I did not come back they will issue a warrant for my arrest for contempt of court.
Not only was I shot in the face, but I was also threatened with jail time and a fine. Also allowing the man who shot me to walk free for deciding to live by my principles of being barefoot.
I did not ask to be shot in the face. I am the victim that has to testify and face the man who shot me. Why should I be the one who is treated as a criminal. Should I not be comfortable testifying the way I am, not with something that I find uncomfortable to my feet.
I own no shoes and there was no way for me to get shoes out of the blue. Furthermore I refuse to use them let alone buy shoes as I live a minimal simplistic lifestyle. It is the way I live. I am not a man who lives in the streets and that is unkempt. No one will notice my feet and nor should anyone care. My feet doesn’t stink nor does it create a problem for anyone.
I am sure my feet will be of no concern in a courtroom. I won’t be on a handstand with my bare feet up in the air. It makes no difference if I step on the prestigious floors of the courtroom with my bare feet or with shoes.
In conclusion
I ask the question, if there were people who are indigenous native to the land, like a Taino, which were the natives to this land once ago. If they did not wear shoes would you still ask for them to go find some shoes. All because now you are entering the magical kingdom known as civilization. Not many people will understand my way of life. But I see myself and everyone as indigenous to the earth. I don’t believe in the concepts of race, countries and flags. Here I write more on that.
Furthermore, what if I was a Muslim and wanted to go inside wearing a head dress or a robe. Would I not be allowed in for living that way?
Now I am sure they are just following their outdated set of rules. But I believe an exception can be made in these types of circumstances. Feet should not be seen as a taboo.
I say FREE THE FEET! Just like how we should free our minds. I live with my own individuality as we choose to live in the conformity of how society says how we should be. Telling me to put shoes on when I live this way is asking me to strip away my individuality so that I could fit in with the rest of civilization.
This case was pushed back another month to April due . So the question remains, should I wear shoes for the trial? Quite frankly, I am growing tired of the justice system here. Two months and the man is still free, so that begs the question of how long will this case be. So then the question becomes should I even continue with this case. Which I will write a post about.
Over to you? Do you think I should wear shoes for the case even if it makes me uncomfortable?