Tensions between Mexico and Central American countries have been high for a long time. Corruption within  Mexico is rampant. That is not news.  Mexico continually treats Central Americans as criminals because MEXICO DOES NOT WANT CENTRAL AMERICANS TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES AND TAKE A JOB THAT OTHERWISE WOULD GO TO MEXICANS !!   IF YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT, YOU DO NOT KNOW ENOUGH.  SO WHAT IS MY SOURCE?  CENTRAL AMERICANS, MEXICANS AND THE NEWS.  I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY  PEOPLE FROM EL SALVADOR AND NICARAGUA AND GUATAMALA.  THEY ARE VERY NICE PEOPLE.  I WORKED WITH A MAN FROM ACAHUTLA, EL SALVADOR. HIS NAME WAS ERAZMO SIGUENZA.  HE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND  CUT OFF A THUMB. I KNOW BECAUSE I HAD JUST REPAIRED THE SAW.  I ALSO HAD TO DIG THROUGH THE SAW DUST TO FIND HIS THUMB AND GET HIM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I WAS THE FOREMAN. THE THUMB COULD NOT BE RE-ATTACHED. THE THUMB WAS ACTUALLY PINCHED OFF BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF WOOD AND TOO BADLY DAMAGED. ERAZMO DID GET A WORKMANS COMPENSATION CHECK FOR HIS LOSS OF THE THUMB. NOT ALOT OF MONEY MAYBE FOR YOU AND ME BUT IT WAS ALOT TO HIM.  HE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO GO BACK TO EL SALVADOR AND PUT UP A LITTLE ROADSIDE STAND AND SOLD SNACKS AND CURIOS.  THE LOCAL GANG WANTED PROTECTION MONEY AND ERAZMO WOULD NOT PAY.  SO THE GANG BURNED DOWN  HIS STAND AND EVERYTHING IT IT .  THAT WAS DONE BY EL SALVADORANS TO A EL SALVADORAN .  CENTRAL AMERICANS HAVE TO RUN THE GAUNTLET THROUGH MEXICO JUST TO EVEN GET TO OUR SOUTHERN BORDER !!   I HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED A LOT OF THE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE AS CITIZENS. MANY OF US BORN AND RAISED IN THE USA  DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE LIVING IN A COUNTRY WHERE MANY OF THOSE RIGHTS DO NOT EXIST.  ALSO,  BEING WHITE IN AMERICA CAN CLOUD OUR VIEW OF THE INEQUALITIES THAT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS OF COLOR EXPERIENCE IN THEIR LIVES.  IT IS ONE THING TO HAVE IT ON  PAPER IN THE CONSTITUTION AND IN LAWS BUT ANOTHER THING WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYDAY LIFE.

     WE MAY GO THROUGH TIMES OF DESPERATION BUT SOME PEOPLE “ONLY” KNOW DESPERATION.  DID YOU KNOW MEXICO HAS FENCES AND WALLS AT THEIR SOUTHERN BORDER? MEXICO TRIES TO  KEEP CENTRAL AMERICANS FROM “SNEAKING” THROUGH MEXICO TO STEAL WHAT SOME MEXICANS CONSIDER “MEXICAN” JOBS IN THE USA?         WHY ISN’T ANYONE TALKING ABOUT THE STRICT MEXICAN IMMIGRATION POLICIES ??  WE NEED TO ADDRESS ALL THE ISSUES.  WE NEED TO PUT ALL OUR CARDS ON THE TABLE FACE UP BEFORE WE CAN COME UP WITH A SHORT TERM “FIX” THAT MAY RESULT IN A LONG TERM FIX.

SINCE WHEN DOES AMERICA TURN IT’S BACK ON NEIGHBORS THAT ARE DESPERATE AND POOR AND HUNGRY AND ASKING FOR HELP ??  IF WE WANT TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES OF AN ISSUE….

         WE HAVE TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!                                                                                                                        THANKSGIVING IS THIS MONTH. IT IS A WONDERFUL  HOLIDAY. MAYBE INSTEAD OF STICKING GUNS IN THE FACES OF THESE PEOPLE WHEN THEY REACH THE USA BORDER, AMERICA COULD GIVE THEM A TURKEY SANDWICH AND SOME CRANBERRY SAUCE AND SOME MASHED POTATOES AND SOME CLEAN WATER TO DRINK. MAYBE SOME TURKEY PAPUSAS OR TURKEY BURITOS ? MAYBE EVEN A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP IN SOME OLD ARMY TENTS AND PROTECTED BY OUR MILITARY IN A SUPPORTIVE WAY INSTEAD OF A THREATENING WAY UNTIL SOMEBODY CAN COME UP WITH A BRAINSTORM IDEA/SOLUTION.  I’M RACKING MY BRAIN DOWN HERE AND STRIKING OUT !  SOMEBODY OUT THERE HAS A WIN – WIN IDEA OR A WIN/WIN SOLUTION !!

      WHO ARE YOU ?                   WHERE ARE YOU ?

                     WHO ARE WE GOING TO BE ???

marc