It is a fabulous day in Columbia! It hit almost 70 degrees today. I have had the pleasure of reading the book "Crossing Over" by Ruben Martinez, one of the books I received for Christmas. I was so excited to read it. It is a beautifully written and beautifully unbiased description of Mexican immigrants in the United States, in their hometowns in Mexico, and their harrowing border-crossing experience. It is very matter-of-fact and presents many points that make you think, "How ironic." I wish everyone could read it but not many people find it as interesting as I think I do.
There are a few very interesting pasages that I would like to share here:
"In 1994, the rhetoric took the form of concrete, sttel, arc lamps, infrared cameras and goggles, seismic and laser sensors, and even U.S. soldiers with M-16s offering "tactical support" to a greatly expanded border patrol...with a twelve-foot high steel wall that runs inland twleve miles from the coast. At night, it is lit a harsh amber. The glow that falls from the gigantic light towers straddles the line for several hundred yards in each direction, meaning that the gringo (American) light actually falls on Mexican territory--illegal light, as it were, but the Mexican government has never complained about it or about the constant noise pollution from the [US] helicopters on patrol." 197
Interesting point. Irony. If the people from Mexico on the north side of the border are illegal, why isn't the American light pouring on the south side?
The book highlights how Hispanic immigrants are adapting much to the African-American culture and growing up in areas where historically, African-Americans have lived. In this same way, the immigrants are become almost historically the same as many cities where discrimination against African Americans took place. Once, there were different drinking fountains and bathrooms for the two different races. Eventually, as the author notes, hispanic immigrants will be accepted and the racism facing them will go away. Its like the African American discrimination beginning all over again with the influx of immigrants. So maybe, in fifty years, we will come to live peacefully together.
The author is Mexican-American. He writes on pg 218,
"I leap over toone side; I am Mexican!
I leap back to the other side; I am American!
I dance a jig back and forth across the line, laughing at it, damning it, and recognizing the mighty power of the very idea of a
line that cannot, does not exist in nature, but that exists, nevertheless, in political, that is, human terms."
Loretta, one of the caucasian workers on a farm outside St. Louis, who works with many Mexican workers, says,
"'I hate the job situation...I know many Americans won't do this kind of work, not even for the pay I'm getting. But I'm scared that the Mexicans are taking the jobs that Americans might want some day.' 'I'm just afraid that somebody might need that job to support their family, but the person from Mexico needs the job to support their family too, so that's the battle. A lot of people from Mexico don't even have a home...It's hard to be a back-stabber and say no, we don't want you, but yet what are you going to do?'" 283
They say Mexican immigrants are taking American jobs. Then why don't the unemployed Americans go apply for those jobs? If the Mexicans got there first, and the boss hires them, well, they got there first.
The book has a very interesting part about St. Louis as well.
All quotes are from
Crossing Over, Rubén Martínez, New York: 2001, Picador.
