Mexicans ruining this country

Once again I have to see it in person. It is so easy to blame Mexicans for all sorts of problems...but as with all of life there is another side. The human one.
A man just stepped out from behind the barn and asked for some water. He was small and wirey, probably in his early thirties although you might guess much older. The border patrol is swarming all over the place about 3 miles below, vehicles, even the plane is flying around...the man asked for some water and the direction to the next town. I pointed and said about 15 miles, gave him some water, a bag of burritos and an orange. Bet he hasn't eaten in a few days and all the water around here for probably 10 miles is stock ponds (yum). He had a jacket but it froze last night and the night before and will again tonight. He was limping as he headed off.

He said he was from Chihuahua City. I'm planning to be in that area just for a stupid fun trip in April. I bought cheap apples yesterday at the store. I could have given him a shower and a ride. I didn't do it. I feel like crap.

I really hate this stuff.

even though the hijackers weren't Mexican. :shrug:

They had travel visas, and some came from CANADA! Yet you only hear about the Mexican border.

and call it "national security".

repeated 12 million times. That's why we're in the mess we're in.

Id ask you to elaborate, but I dont think Id enjoy it.

:rofl:

Unfortunately, I think that's gonna fly over someone's head.

:hi:

Please. Elaborate.

And what mess would that exactly be?

I am sure you're not one of the individuals who has anything against brown skin, so, you must be referring to the economic mess.

With respect to the economic mess I'd rather stick to the cause of "the mess we're in" than accuse the symptom of the cause.

Please allow me to give a few key words that should point you in the right direction as to the cause of "the mess we're in" with respect to south of the border. Greed, NAFTA, Ignorance, Exploitation, Displacement, Corporate Farm Government Subsidies.

Maybe after understanding how those few key words apply to the cause you'll have a correct understanding to what you refer to as "the mess we're in" instead of blaming the symptom.

I may steal this for my stock quick-answer supply!

:thumbsup:

Especially since grammar is probably my weakest trait.

:hi:

...Arizona, (not far from Nogales) I would often pick up border runners.....

So, I have empathy? In any case, sometimes they would even have pounds

of Mexican Rag-Weed.......which they were happy to dole out for a quick

ride. Free Enterprise? Yes Sir.

Always remember that they have stomachs that get empty and children that get sick.

You can't respond to those people without addressing those issues first.

Hope you don't mind if I use it.

I can't remember where, but the original quote was: "These are people with stomachs that get empty and children who get sick. If we do not address those two issues first, we are not the great country we pretend to be.


By all means, spread the word.

when kindness is illegal. If you had given him that ride and hit one of those roadblocks you'd have been in a shitload of trouble.

Our so-called immigration policy is anti-human.

From his book Nasty Bits. On his No Reservations show about Mexico he had some very strong views on immigration which I have to agree with. The current immigration debate is in a word racist. No other way around it.

:P

You gotta wonder, once they dismantle the working class, who is going to cook their food, mow their lawns, fix their cars, build their houses, paint their fences.

MAn I hope you are someplace warm, it's freezing up here in Montana. 2 shows up here then off to Oregon.

It ain't Biff you look for when you need something done. It's Manuel, Consuella or Jorge.

I just got home from LA but I'm not unpacking the shorts. I'm off to Belize Sunday for fishin', sun, sand and Jerry Jeff music.

Bundle up brother! :)

Portland Metro area DU'ers meet-up every month... We'd love to buy you a local Microbrew. :hi:

..."Who's the backbone of the American restaurant business? Whose sudden departure could shut down nearly every good restaurant, nightclub, and banquet facility in every major city in the country?"

Poor people, that's who. The lower end of the working class. In my neck of the woods, those roles were mostly filled by African-Americans and others with little access to avenues of empowerment.

"What is the heart of the matter? The answer to this simple question: When was the last time you saw an American dishwasher? And if you saw one, would you hire him? If you're like me, probably not."

I've seen plenty of American dishwashers, had them work for me when I was a chef. There are lots of Americans who will bust their humps and exercise a tremendous work ethic as long as they are treated with respect and compensated fairly. And Bourdain's answer to that makes him a bigot.

Will those jobs become scarce for Americans on the harder end of the socio-economic scale? Will they be forced to work for less and less as pools of imported cheaper labor drive the pay downward?

I can't answer those questions conclusively but the history of this nation would seem to indicate the future's not rosy in that regard.

Our illegal immigration into Iraq has ruined the whole country, worse than any other immigration, ever.

And we have people here who are against Mexicans but support the Iraqi immigration. WTF?

you will do better next time too

acts of gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, tolerance and love ALWAYS get you more jewels on your crown in heaven (my most favorite sermon my grandfather, a Methodist minister and a PhD in Theology, ever gave...I remember it well, even though the first time I heard it I was about 9 or 10....he eventually made it into a story he told children)

Next time...leave a cooler with bottled water, behind the barn for when you are not there :)

blow up a BP refinery or Dow Chemical in Texas.

And that's all I have to say about that.

:shrug: :wtf:

You did the right thing, but offering a ride and a shower would have been over the top. Just because he was in a desperate condition, doesn't mean he is a nice guy. And that goes for anyone, regardless of where they're from.

Do be careful about offering rides, though. That can get you in big trouble if you're caught.

for showing kindness and compassion for someone in need. z

speak up for the voiceless.

:hug:

This world needs more people with vision like yours.

:yourock:

all who made them. Yesterday I was kind of "wracked with guilt" as it were. I knew I could have done better by that man and I felt horribly guilty for being too weak to do it.

I should have driven him to the town he was headed to, it would have been safe. I have done a little driving of stranded travelers before but so far haven't been caught. (I often operate on "the principle of first offense" heh heh) I'm not sure why I didn't. I know if I had been stranded in Mexico I would have been given any food available, a bed, a ride either from the rescuer or some cousin and would have been treated as a respected guest. I think knowing the contrast of how one is treated in the two cultures (not talking legalities here, just the human contact) is what is the most painful. It was cold last night.

------------------------------

I don't think most of the migrants through here are smugglers although I do find a lot of empty backpacks. Only once found a blanket that had a real distinctive aroma. :smoke:

Last fall I got my kitchen and bathroom SCRUBBED and some trees trimmed for letting a small group stay the afternoon and make a couple phone calls. (that was embarrassing - my house can get disgusting and every house I have ever been in in Mexico was spotless):blush:

I don't "live" in a world of fear, and I have never had anything bad happen. I suppose that could change at any time, but until it does I believe most people are good and that sometimes when we worry or have fear about things, they come true.

People should blame nafta and not the poor souls trying to survive as best they can.

I would have done about the same thing, whether the person was a US citizen
or not.

He was hungry and you gave him food. This is the true message of both the Buddha and Jesus.

Unfortunately, inviting strangers into one's home these days can be unsafe.

did not turn him away or ignore him. That water and food was appreciated by him, I am sure.