Sense of Security or Superority?

I have noticed some changes, lately. In my neighborhood it seems few of us have either the time or desire to do yard work. It is hired out. Not really that unusual, many people all over the country do the same. What is different are the people that do the work. Over a year of fear and hate mongering in this country has shown that even those willingly to do our labor cheaply can be replaced. Once rightly proud Mexican-Americans now bow their head, or at least their eyes as they pass by. I feel ashamed.

I grew-up in San Antonio, Texas. I never really thought of it as a unique American city, more a unique Mexican-American city. I thought, as younger person that the people were kind to allow us to share in their culture and life style. Even San Antonio seems to have lost much of that charm, just another dirty sprawling American city, eager to ignore and trample the less fortunate.

It seems tragic how stupid Americans have become since 9/11. Like December 7, 1941, the day will live in infamy. Do we have to as well? FDR told the people of America “all we have to fear is fear is itself” Bush told us to be afraid - very afraid. So we believe that, the way forward is with fear and hatred? I strongly disagree. The way forward is to understand the truth of what happened. We must remember to understand that the people that brought horror to our door are not all of the people of the Middle East. Just a group of malcontents that have been given more of a potence than they deserve. Fear always brings forth the worst of us. With fear come ignorance and hatred. Can anyone think clearly when filled with hate?

Before there was a USA, Mexicans traveled freely across the borderland areas. I can’t help but wonder, if Mexicans were Anglos, would we still be making all this fuss? Funny how that xenophobia crops up, just when we tell ourselves how balanced and accepting our society is, we find new demons. But really the Mexicans, haven’t we enjoyed their help for many years now, working in the fields at horrible wages, cleaning our homes, doing yard work and many other jobs Americans don’t really want to do; yet have to be done.

The question of border safety is a legitimate one. So why are we ignoring the very real threats? Our ports have been the sites for imports of questionable products and illegal goods for some time now. Since 9/11 I doubt that I could count the number of times I have read or seen reports on the quagmire of the lack of security around out ports.

Then there is our infrastructure, places that need a functional security, has that changed since 9/11, not at all. This nation has existed with open borders for all of its history, now it seems that must change. If that is a mandate by the American people, then let us demand that from our government. We don’t need scapegoats and objects of fear to muster some will. We are Americans, let us begin to act like it. This nation is now wanting to call itself a Christian nation, doesn’t that above all else mean compassion?