Whis’s post reminded me of a piece i heard on Marketplace. Click here for the 5 part series that examined immigration – exhaustively, considering the war on both sides of the border. Specifically watch or listen to part 5.
Mr. Bowden says “We have re-invented slavery…”
The interviewer asks if it is an exaggeration to say that this is modern day slavery, and Bowden asks “Where do they go to complain on how they are treated…”.
Immigration (illegal)is a complex issue, but this series made it very clear to me how and why it happens and what it would take to really tackle the issue.
The illegal immigrants often suffer in silence. Their tribulations and stories only make it to some media, i doubt the stories and the realities in this series are apparent to Lawmakers in D.C.
You can also read about what the reporter Scott Carrier learnt in the making of this series.
We spoke with people on both sides of the line–minutemen, immigrants, coyotes, home owners. Basically, what we heard were people expounding upon the points Charles Bowden made the year before, and the fear in Bowden’s voice was echoed in the voices of the people who live on and pass through the border.
It’s a war zone, right here in our own country.
this was very informative, i shall be most definately sending it to some people who seem to be unable to see the big picture.
i had a heated debate with a couple of people and i accused them of having the “ugly american syndrome” and i was almost mauled (maybe i should have sugar coated it a little bit) they would go on and on about how crime rates are higher, they can’t find jobs and they are losing their identity as a nation and so on and so forth. then again, it was like they woke up one day and realised that there were undocumented immigrants in the U.S and that they were bad, bad, bad for the country. they didn’t complain as long as they were behind the scenes and shutting the hell up. now everyone’s an expert and patriots are popping all over the place saying all sorts of things.
bowden put it well when he said that ‘there will be no solution for illegal immigration in the united states until you fix the places where it comes from”. that’s the truth and no one wants to hear it.
thanks for the link
You are welcome spicebear
The truth that no one wants to hear…for sure. I was doing a paper years ago, and i remember vaguely that mexico is one of those economies that ‘looks good on paper’ ie, GDP growth and all that, but the type of growth is not the kind that improves the lives of ordinary mexicans.
btw- Go maul them! lol.