Dear Rita Mae Brown,
I see news often about this
state or that state passing marriage equality laws. I like that you champion
equality, period. I like that you ask tougher questions than who can marry who,
or is that whom? I really must work on my grammar.
It is important, all of it,
equality, fairness, justice…Who holds power? Why is it theirs to wield? If
there is an imbalance of injustice, how can it be brought to an even keel? What
can we do as individuals and as a nation to reach a better tomorrow?
In Sudden Death I read about
how a tennis player, here on a visa, could be deported because she would be
breaking the law in some states if it were discovered that she was in a
relationship with another woman as she played around the country on her tennis
circuit. I know this was written some years ago. I would like to think
Americans have progressed beyond this, however I am not an expert on the laws
of each state and my skeptical side doubts that we have.
A doctor I know was a “green
card” carrier in his youth. Meaning he was here legally, but still a citizen of
Mexico. He came here as a teen, spoke decent English, but had a thick accent.
He had to work his tail off to make decent grades, learning subjects as he
continued to learn the language. He did well enough to earn scholarships. His
dream to be a doctor was realized several years later.
Once, shortly after
graduating from medical school, he was on staff at a Long Beach hospital. They
lived in southern Los Angeles, not the best of neighborhoods, not the worst
either. Riot activity brought on by racial tension caused an influx of the
injured at the hospital. With a young wife and baby boy at home, he did his job
that day, as in any other day, he worked to heal people. We all fight for the
greater good in our own way. And sometimes our effort, our “fight” for the greater
good, shows itself through healing, rather than violence.
Several years later, well into
a respected career as a physician, this doctor applied for and was granted
American citizenship. It was not an easy choice for him, to make the commitment
to be American, but he had made his life here and that act completed the
process. We are fortunate to have him.
This is just one person, one
path walked. Many, for a variety of reasons, take another path. Some crossing
illegally to work here. I am not saying it is right or wrong. It is dangerous
in many ways. It is heartbreaking that our fences both keep them out and keep
them in once here, cut off from loved ones.
In 2007 fire raged through
San Diego’s backcountry. The fire extinguished eleven lives, seven of them were
undocumented workers. There is a documentary about this on YouTube titled “The
Devils Breath” by Laura Castaneda. If you decide to watch it, have the tissues
handy.
Jennifer Silva Redmond and
Russel Redmond have written the fictionalized film “El Camino Real” based on a
woman caught in those fire. A short film version will be out in 2013, with the
hope that it will garner enough support to produce a full length feature. The
short film was produced by David McClendon and stars Dahlia Waingort as the
young woman. Here is a link to the El Camino Real trailer http://vimeo.com/69492492.
The young woman was crossing
the border to see her father in the last days of his life and help her mother
bury him. She was caught in the fire on her return trip.
I asked Jennifer to sum up
the purpose of the film. "The U.S. is, arguably,
the most powerful country on earth, and this is what our undocumented workers
who live in our country and contribute have to go through, just to come home to
their families...is this as good as we can be?"
My brother stated, on a
whole ‘nother subject, “People are people”…the theory applies here as well.
What is right for one
person, may not be right for another. Who to love, where to live, these are
questions each individual must answer for themselves. Why is it so difficult
for us to support the choices of others?
How can you look at one man
and say his contribution is good because a piece of paper was filed at a
certain agency and look at another man with shame because he does not have the
coveted proper paper? Does a piece of paper make a person good?
There are many angles, laws
and issues involved. Worst of all is that there are no right or wrong answers.
When my boys quarrel, I listen and can hear each boy has a point. There is no
clear right or wrong answer, no right or wrong boy. Yet when I ask each child
if they are acting with goodness in their heart, if their words are kind, if
they would like to be treated or spoken to in the same manner that they are
treating one another, inevitably all concerned see how they could have reacted
better, could have chose better words, better actions.
I know there are financial
considerations, tax considerations, language barriers, etc. I firmly believe
that if we act with goodness in our hearts, if our words are kind, if we treat
others as we would want to be treated, inevitably we will find a better way.
I like that guy who said “Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This quote may not be exact,
as he lived a very long time ago and he was a foreigner who spoke a different
language.
Peace be with you,
Loraine
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