The authors, Leslie Marmon Silko's "The Border Patrol State," Eula Biss's "Letter to Mexico" and Kimi Eisele's "The Space in Between" and John Washington’s "The New Colossus: Exploring the Idea of Border” built their narrations based on the first-hand treatment received in Mexico. Each is passionate about making a change in society. Sadly, they realize the confinement society has placed upon them cannot be lifted easily. Each start questioning how they can implement a change on the Mexican border, which leaves a few choices. However, telling their story seems the only viable and reliable way of ensuring the world understands the horrors experienced in the country. Furthermore, through their stories, the norm behind human rights arises with the international organization having their validity questioned. While not much may result from having the story written, the effect it has on the population makes people question the validity of the ongoing wars between Mexico and America and how the situation came to be. Furthermore, analysts begin questioning the essence of the two sides conflicting when better solutions already exist.
Horror in The Treatment
John Washington description of terror in the camps is well illustrated by the frustration in his voice. He asserts, “migrants are dumped, dumped without shoelaces, dumped with bleeding and untreated feet” as an illustration of how far the human being has fallen from treating others as people, and instead, people are no less than animals. Through the volunteer work in Nogales, he witnessed different treatments that put people on scales that were lower than that of animals. A good illustration of this is in Leslie Marmon Silko's "The Border Patrol State" where the writer narrates her experience with the dog. The wording and composure used in the narration is an illustration of one pitying the human society. According to her account, the dog had better manners when compared to the men surrounding and commanding her to sniff the car (Biss, 2007; Barnett & Thorson, 1999; Ruszkiewicz, Anderson & Friend, 2006; Mead, 2017). The harassment dished upon the dog leaves one to wonder who the animal is between the two. Furthermore, the fact that the happenings of that day are an everyday occurrence illustrates the suspicion and inhumane way the patrolmen treat people.
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Telling the Story as A Medium to Stop the Horror
Washington’s exact words concerning the need to tell his story is present in the quote, “no matter how many blisters I tried, however many new socks I trade for old fungal socks, no matter how many stories of abuse or terrible detention center conditions I listen to, or report to the consulate, the migrants will keep coming”. As such, the process is an ongoing circle that will never end. Hence, asserting to making a difference as an individual on the Frontline is an overstatement of one’s abilities. The same idea appears in Eula Biss's "Letter to Mexico" where the intent is to ensure the world learns of the ensuing condition surrounding the Mexican people. Furthermore, Leslie Marmon Silko's "The Border Patrol State" is a tale that outlines the struggles that Mexican people face in their daily lives. The passion and idea portrayed in the author’s writings hinges upon the need to do right regardless of the uncertainty and failure of the administrations to guarantee the safety of all those involved (Biss, 2007; Barnett & Thorson, 1999; Ruszkiewicz, Anderson & Friend, 2006; Mead, 2017). They all present a call for one to do good about historical injustices that are ongoing in the country.
Frontiers of Ideological Works
All the three authors ascribe to the concept of ideological wars being at the forefront that leads to mistreatment of other people at the expense of others. Notably, the past notion of states recognized empires as sovereign systems that endeavored to protect everyone in their midst. However, the birth period led to a different definition of what a nation is. Preferably, as described by John Torpey, the dynastic period marked the end of countries being easy going. Instead, a crustacean ideology was created that distinguished between the societies in the line of one’s abilities and constraints. Hence, it was a matter of “us” and “them.” The past presented physical barriers in the form of humanmade walls, the globalization, and ascription to capitalism, which has led the society into believing and ascribing to the notion of self-created walls that limit the human interaction with each other.
The notion echoes loudly in Eula Biss's when she asserts to hating her people. Although drunk at the time, her composure led her to hate the treatment of those around her as outsiders. Although she presents the idea of one understanding her world for the first time, the apparent hatred is something most human beings can relate to. Each one has a responsibility of ensuring they stay ahead of the competition. However, in doing so, many utilize strategies and scenarios that demean others while still holding onto the notion of their superiority to other ethnic groups.
The same idea echoes in Leslie’s work where the border patrolmen treat the travelers, not as humans, but inferior beings that can face the same treatment as dogs. In her account, the patrolmen forced the dog into sniffing and looking for nonexistent incriminating factors, and they overly seemed irritated when they could not get the expected results. As told, the expression on the dog’s face was that of the embarrassment of being associated with the patrolmen, a fit that is present when the dog refuses to incriminate the author’s group (Barnett & Thorson, 1999). The patrolmen instead turn to the dog for failing to recognize or miraculously current immigrants in the car.
On the other hand, Kimi Eisele's work presents a notion of missing trust among the very people they live with. She introduced the idea in the socialization process when she asked the children to state what America stood for and where it was. The response given by the children presents the reality that children will always promote the idea of segregation. Both the Mexican and American society do little to teach the children what it is like to live in the different worlds. Instead, the children are confined to lessons of their nations alone. As presented in all of the present arguments, it is apparent the conflict in society will go on and with the children learning the negativity of the neighboring nation alone, the probability that they will endorse the same practice that promotes violence is high.
Treaties that Never Came to Be
According to Washington, border control is closely linked to violence. This is especially true when one looks at the numerous conventions in the world, for example, the Westphalia treaty in 1648 responsible for introducing the idea of sovereignty, and the agreement of Velasco in 1836, which witnessed the signing away of Texas by Santa, something that was done with a gun in his hand. Another peace treaty occurred between India and Pakistan, and it never came to be. Most of the agreements are only applicable as long as they are beneficial to the nations of the involved parties. Leslie Marmon Silko’s concurs with the notion raised by Washington in her analysis of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that was signed in 1848. According to the treaty, the Tohono OÓdom (Papago) were free to move across the Mexican border into the US, regardless of whether one had documents or not (Barnett & Thorson, 1999). A Canadian treaty also grants the same scenario between the US and Canada. One can easily recognize the changing relationship where the Canadian border patrol is far more accommodating when compared to the Mexican border.
Brutal Policing Systems
John Washington recounts a moment in a back-canyon in Anza-Borrego desert where he came across two border patrols whose conduct demeaned the immigrants. In his words John Washington asserts “… two horseback Border Patrol agents who kept referring to the herding and the prodding of a group of immigrants” as if they were cattle being led to the slaughter. The dumping process is in its literal meaning an assertion of how cruel the treatment can be for the involved parties. The same issue is present in Leslie Marmon Silko's "The Border Patrol State” where the author recounts the procedure that follows a diversion of one’s car from Interstate Highway into the existing checkpoint. Entry into the position leaves one in the control of the border patrol officers, and they do not need any shred of evidence or probable cause to subject a vehicle’s occupants to illegal searches (Barnett & Thorson, 1999). In cases where one dared to ask for a warrant for the illegal search, it often led to options that would be too dire to comply with hence the officers often got away with everything.
Traditionally, the police have been responsible for maintaining law and order. However, judging from the relationship between the border patrol and the treatment of the immigrants, one is left to wonder how far society is willing to go to soil the reputation that once regarded the police system as the pride of the society. By all accounts, the police are the worst possible scenario an immigrant could come across, which also limits incidences or reporting of illegal activities. As such, the patrol officers have created an environment that is devoid of standard legal systems, and instead, they are the law unto themselves (Barnett & Thorson, 1999). Whatever happens to the immigrants is not applicable in a court of law.
Devaluation of American Justice
Life without papers is harsh for the involved individuals. The four authors present an environment that is not favorable to the immigrants, which raise the question, what is it like for one to lack papers in the strip between the Americana and Mexican borders? The accounts brought forth by John Washington includes incidences in the courtrooms. According to the reports, the Tuscan courthouse promotes devaluation of American justice. Furthermore, the environment in such a court illustrates the slacking of the international human rights due to the odor emerging from the courtroom. The immigrants have no chance of showering or freshening up before appearing in court. Regardless of the length the proceedings would take, they have not exposed to any form of clean environment, a fit that led to Washington likening the situation to past slave auctions. One would assume that with the advent of civilization development coupled with globalization, people would be more appreciative of each other. However, the treatment at the border tells a different story.
The same case echoes in Leslie Marmon Silko's "The Border Patrol State." Her recounting on the behavior of the police leaves one to question the essence of the American justice system. According to her recounting, she starts by asserting the impossibility of one to travel on the American-Mexico border without being scrutinized by the border patrols. The author recounts being detained along with other people despite showing valid papers concerning their citizenship. While white people were let through without questioning, those that were traveling with brown people as companions were stopped on suspicion that they were working with the Sanctuary Movement. White males having long hairs were susceptible to getting stopped too on the account that they possessed the possibility of helping immigrants avoid the border patrols (Barnett & Thorson, 1999). With such prejudice in place, does the legal justice system even work in the region is the question that arises from the author’s work.
Two Different Worlds
All the four authors in their works present the view of life being different in two worlds. The main reason immigrants struggle to move to the United States is to have a good experience, which is absent in their own country. For John Washington, the immigrant’s reasons for crossing the border includes surviving, giving their spouses and family members a chance to be better off in life or primarily to provide for their families (Mead, 2017). To the immigrants, staying in Mexico would result in all of them dying poor hence they would rather risk the harsh desert condition instead of living in poverty. Society has assigned roles to everyone in the society; parents are responsible for providing for their families. Hence, most people go through all the trouble to be ideal individuals in the community. A core reason thus lies in the resources where Mexicans view America to be a paradise that could help them get out of their financial problems.
The arguments presented in every author's work are a reflection of the different worlds created by society. To Leslie Marmon Silko, the immigrants have to deal with the horror of police treatment because Mexico presents lesser opportunities compared to the United States of America. On the other hand, Eula Blish coupled with Kimi Eisele’s works only promote the idea of the economic differences that exist between America and Mexico. All hold a common accord, whereby, the United States is a first world country that holds the possibility of having their dreams realized. Hence, the risk taken to get to the nation is justified (Biss, 2007; Barnett & Thorson, 1999; Ruszkiewicz, Anderson & Friend, 2006).
Existing Walls and The Definition of a Border
John Washington’s work highlights the concept of the world becoming a capitalistic system that does not recognize the value of human beings. Instead, depending on who is in power, the oppressed remain under oppression. According to the author, long before the establishment of wires and walls, a fictional wall already existed that divided people on the grounds of their color. The Mexicans are discriminated against regardless of whether they have their papers or not while the whites who dare support the Mexicans become automatic suspects. The same case is presented in the Eula Biss's letter when she starts explaining the reason for her hate. The society has already drawn boundaries that limit other people into entering the personal spaces, which have also created an aura of uncertainty and delusion of different people being enemies. All of the four authors account for the silence of the society, aspects that led them all to write about the ongoing horrors in the Mexican culture. In the meantime, those who deem themselves righteous are silent (Biss, 2007; Barnett & Thorson, 1999; Ruszkiewicz, Anderson & Friend, 2006; Mead, 2017). The good are silent, reluctant to take action, and the international human rights are slacking in their jobs. Hence, the authors pen down their grievances with the intention of letting the world know how hard the Mexicans have to try to get to the United States.
Collaboration of Different Departments
Washington view of the United States gives the impression of a nation dedicated to keeping out outsiders. By observing the treatment of the immigrants, the authors present a similar idea that echoes, “outsiders should not come into our nation.” As a result, there is a collaboration between different systems and models that highlight different departments in the United States working together to prevent the movement of immigrants into the nation. The process is facilitated by the patrol department, harmonized by the courtroom and prosecutors before reaching the masses who are supportive of retaining their country to themselves. The four authors capture the role played by different departments, and the impact each has on the involved immigrants (Biss, 2007; Barnett & Thorson, 1999; Ruszkiewicz, Anderson & Friend, 2006; Mead, 2017). With all departments and society against their wellbeing, how can the immigrants even propose to get justice?
Conclusion
John Washington’s work is a tale of horror, pain, and the pursuit of happiness that could have the potential of ending one’s life. The other authors; Leslie Marmon Silko, Eula Biss, and Kimi Eisele, present a concurring view of what Washington talks about. Each narrates personal experiences that denote the differential treatment accorded to all people entering into Mexico and the implication of such activities to the whole society. Ironically, children do not receive the education necessary to effect reforms. Rather, they learn and promote the idea of segregation where depending on where the child is, either the American or the Mexican is evil. With such themes clouding the minds of the young ones, it is impossible to presume society will change in the future.
References
Barnett, L. K., & Thorson, J. L. (1999). Leslie Marmon Silko: A collection of critical essays . Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Biss, E. (2007). Letter to Mexico. Gulf Coast .
Mead, W. R. (2017). Washington’s Farewell: The Founding Father’s Warning to Future Generations. Foreign Affairs , 96 (3), 161.
Ruszkiewicz, J. J., Anderson, D., & Friend, C. (2006). Beyond words: Reading and writing in a visual age . New York: Pearson/Longman.
