This is a video to provide perspective. It shows how complex the issue is.
Frank is a minuteman who goes to the border and calls immigration officers when he sees people trying to cross illegally. What is interesting is that he is Cuban. His family was able to come legally because of his dad's work, but had that not been the case he would have either still been in Cuba or in the same position as the family that he goes to stay with in the video. He goes to live with a family of illegal immigrants and is quite opinionated. He says to the cameras, If I could, I would call them in right now.
The video is 50 minutes long, if you have some time I really recommend seeing the entire thing. If you're short on time fast forward to the part when Frank goes to Mexico and finds out the previous living conditions of the family and what motivated them to come to the U.S. illegally. I recommend watching from 9:00 to about 23:00 or so, then 30:00 to 36:00.
This is from the series 30 Days, which is done by Morgan Spurlock (the guy who did Supersize Me). They are amazing episodes that really get you thinking about a variety of issues. There is also an episode that follows an LDS woman as she spends 30 days living with a same sex couple who has adopted several children. They really are remarkable stories that put faces and names to what we sometimes only hear about on the news.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. I think how we approach issues would change drastically if we saw how they affected people. I like how they took someone that was very opinionated and placed him into the life of those he was fighting against. Being able to understand both sides of the issue helps make sure that we really are trying to meet the needs of everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteThe clip was very moving! This clip brought a new understanding to light for me of the reality of why illegal immigrants choose to come here. Also, it was most interesting to watch Frank go through a moral dilemma concerning his hate for illegal immigrants and the love he developed for the individuals over this 30 day experience.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. I like what you said Lauralee, about looking at the importance of remembering how people are affected as we look at issues and that they involve human lives. I also value laws and the importance of following rules. It is a very complex issue. It reminds me of the the situation that is talked about in explaining a human cognitive development theory. I believe the name starts with a K (the theorist). The situation told to children at different ages and depending on their development they can see it in different ways (e.g., bad, okay sometimes). The situation has to do with a man who has a wife who is sick and may die, but cannot afford the medicine that will keep her alive. I'm probably hashing the theory and story, sorry for that, but it illustrates the kind of dilemma that illegal immigration is. At the same time, could you imagine what it would be like if every husband who could not afford his dieing wifes medication chose to steal it? Not good. Again, its a complex issue.
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