Yesterday I lost it during brunch with three of my friends. One of them (friend X) asked if I had received his email in which he asks friends to sign a petition urging Bush to close and fortify our border with Mexico. (a la Schwarznegger) I reacted from a deep primal place that was completely uncontrollable -- I was totally taken off guard by my reaction. I glared at him, close to his eyes, and said "when you tell me that you have befriended, touched and looked into the eyes of a desperate, violence-torn immigrant, I'll listen to you. Otherwise, I don't wanna hear it. I will not to listen to this hate talk." I stood up from the table and was going to walk away in a fury. I controlled myself, sat down and asked to change the conversation. He was quiet, then was about to continue his explanation of why securing our US borders is good for "them" but then agreed to stop talking about the topic.
I think that angry outbursts are not helpful. I remember another friend, Lynn Schofield-Clark, telling me about the importance of patience and sharing of ideas in a way that can open up new understanding. I failed at that miserably. I am still trying to figure it out.
It is just so terribly sad, really "triste," that economic US policies and political alliances between North and South elites are the substratum for horrible economic misery. The scandal cries out to God. And yet, because it is complex, people can see only "them" and "us" in simplistic terms.
I long for more patience.
Adán
