Daniel Stange de Acatl
Posted June 25, 2026
With change comes power, with power comes responsibility.
So, to whom is this responsibility focused? This is perhaps the origin of that freedom of choice concept. Because you decide what or to whom you will take on the responsibility. In many situations this focus might change in respect to the issues and those particulars involved. At a person’s core, through values and morals that their experiences have developed, there becomes a center for the focus of that responsibility. Or the lack of it.
When there is no sense of responsibility, we generally find a person without power or a person with only selfish intent. Which is worse depends on the situation. I do tend to at least attempt to keep the subject of these commentary articles to a very open and general audience. Knowing that the readership is typically local Chicana and Hispano identifying. It narrows my topics only slightly, but has an influence on the editing and word selections. That is an example of when the choice to take that responsibility is exercised with some humility.
Keep your heart open but discern the choice of who or what you take responsibility for.
This week, I do want to bring into focus the Summer Solstice which happened to fall upon Father’s Day in America. It was always fitting to me that these would be natural to coincide because the sun is recognized as a father and we experience the longest day of the year on the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. So, this topic of power and how responsibility is determined can also play a large part in the celebrations or recognition of that father figure that we all have so many different experiences with.
Due to our social and religious backgrounds, we have a great deal of people that also associate the Father with God the creator of all life. Oddly, we never place blame on God for His lack of responsibility in shaping our global society because we can excuse the devil’s influence and we are told that nobody is perfect. Maybe this exchange is why so much social expectation for men and especially fathers is burdened with those responsibilities. To be the bread winner, to be the spiritual example, to enforce discipline or judgement, and especially to support Mother. Happy wife happy life is how the saying goes.
Social conditions and accepted behaviors have certainly been going through some changes; sometimes because the women have been forced to take on the responsibility of the father. Particularly in communities of color where the higher incarceration of men is a considerable factor. But often social changes have an influence of experimentation. We tried letting the leaders of the manosphere take charge and now we are on the brink of a third world war. Well, perhaps it was their corporate donors and influencers that led us to this specific conundrum?
In either case, the soft guidance of responsible women has continued to step into power and replace some of the conflict. We should recognize that the male energy is powered by conflict and so these social struggles will continue to expand, as long as we elect selfish men to debate our collective governance. We could also focus on how the education of our youth is also playing into the debate. There was a saying that behind every successful man is a strong woman because it was the woman who tempered the male power. Now there is more woman power that continues to expose the need for balance.
Fathers, like myself have been working to uplift the responsibility that women can connect to their power. Really it is not our place to uplift them, but rather to stop keeping them down that will assist the process. The spaces that we occupy today are increasingly enlightened to the balance of feminine power. It was stronger in the days of America’s founding because native cultures are matriarchal. But even their stories relate to the woman healing the man to put an end to the conflicts.
Healing does not come through forcing one person’s opinion onto another. There is often a need to cut out the infections and this can be painful and require some of the male influence that women today have grown accustomed to. When we speak truth to power it can be harsh and uncomfortable. But remember how we apply the medicine with a soft bandage and maybe say “sana sana colita de rana” or give it a kiss to help the wound to cure. Laughter is the best medicine in my experience.
Certainly, this Summer Solstice has shed a great deal of light onto the families in the north. We appreciate the lessons of Our Father, to forgive those who trespass against us. My own father Dennis would often advise me to learn from his mistakes, and this has helped me with my wife and children. Sun Dance ceremonies are beginning to conduct across the many nations. They help the people remember the responsibilities that we choose to embrace. Keep your heart open but discern the choice of who or what you take responsibility for.
Danny Stange de Acatl is a Denver Native and Cultural activist that serves his community on various levels.
