Speedy Gonzalez

I have been back from the Migrant Trail trip for two days. It is still hard for me to articulate to people exactly what I did there and why. I am getting better though. Reactions range from the ever popular "thats interesting" to genuine concern for the lives of those who cross the border. I have not met any open hostility yet. Probably the circles that I run in, most of the people I know are generally open minded. Or at least not rude enough to tell me off to my face. I think my supervisor thinks Im crazy though. I suppose I would rather have open hostility than a disinterested "thats interesting." At least thats a reaction. I can only credit apathy to my own failure to communicate the reality of the situation. People are dying, and they are dying needlessly. They die because both Mexico and the US refuse to admit that their deaths are a problem. Its the same us vs. them attitude, it is "them" who are suffering and not "us" so it doesnt affect me. They have a darker skin color and speak a different language, their culture is different so they dont matter. More than that most of the money they make they either save or send home, they dont spend it here so they dont matter. All this regardless of the fact that our economy and Mexico's would fall apart if it were not for an exploitable workforce doing a lot of the grunt work...

I cannot change the whole world at once, I cannot change myself at once. I pray that my God keep these things in my heart. Do not let me forget. Let my Path make a difference for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Oh, by the way, the title to this entry: Speedy Gonzalez is one racist cartoon! I just realized this today, a lazy mexican mouse, that much was obvious. But wait for it ... and he can run fast! from who, the Border Patrol? Whoever came up with this cartoon must have been from a border state!