Wednesday, October 17, 2007
"Crossing Arizona" Extra Credit Opportunity
Next Tuesday, Oct. 23rd there will be two events focused on the issue of immigration, which clearly has race and ethnic relations overtones. I will give you 3pts extra credit for attending either the 11-12noon panel discussion in Leonard Auditorium featuring the director of "Crossing Arizona," among others, or attending the evening showing (7PM), also in Leonard, of the documentary "Crossing Arizona." To earn these points you need to attend either event and write-up a paragraph or two on the significance of what you learned for our course. Instead of turning a hard copy in to me, simply post your comments on this blog post.
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I found that this documentary was very informative in helping me get a better understanding of all sides of the debate of the migration of Hispanics into Arizona. One interviewee in the beginning of the movie stated that we created this problem ourselves, which is the same view that many Americans in the past. One interesting fact mentioned in the movie was that on average one million Hispanics migrate into Arizona every year and only about one-third of them are caught. Before I watched the movie, I did not make the connection that our ancestors before us migrated here looking for jobs just like the people who are currently migrating into the United States. Once they get into the United States, we are obligated to provide them food, water and Medicare which in turn encourages more of Hispanics to migrate so they can live a better life. One man openly admitted that he did not want to live in a non-American neighborhood. I found this to be very interesting that he just came out and said it like nothing was wrong with his logic of thinking. There was one very ironic part when there was the republican anti-immigration conference and the helpers that worked there were Hispanic. I believe that President Bush has the attitude of “if we ignore the problem it will go away” since the local newspaper had to write numerous letters and make numerous calls to get the attention that deserve. One would think that since he is from Texas, he would be very knowledgeable and would be willing to try to stop the problem. However, in the movie, we get the impression that the problem is under control when it obviously is not. The movie allowed me to get a better understanding of both sides of the debate.
"Crossing Arizona" was a documentary about the illegal immigrants who cross over into the United States from Mexico. I've never personally had any experience with illegal immigrants, so this video was a new experience for me. I had no idea that that large of a number of people were trying to come over to the United States. It's such a large risk to take, there's a possibility you may die, to try to find a better life in America. One of the men seen in the video didn't have too many other options. His wife needed surgery and he had children that he had to provide for. He was willing to risk his life to make his family's life better.
One of the four strategies for overcoming prejudice, that we discussed in class, was empathy. By watching "Crossing Arizona" I realized how hard of a life most of the immigrants have. I was able to see life in their shoes. There are a lot of people in the U.S. that are completely against illegal immigrants and go to great measures to try to stop the immigration. They hold a prejudice against these immigrants. I agree that illegal immigration is wrong, but I also think that we should try to help so that the death rate will decrease.
Most of the time the immigrants cross the border into the U.S. looking for work because they have no other way to make good money where they are from. Because of the amount of deaths that have occurred, I feel sorry for the men, women, and children that risk their life to survive in this world.
One aspect of the film that really caught my attention was the realization that American identity still has racial implications. To now proclaim and consider the nation as having come so far in opening opportunities for minority groups does not seem to take the Hispanic experience into account. The organization that was so concerned with preserving the “American identity” seemed to have a narrow view of exactly who was “worthy” of citizenship and what skin colour is or is not protected by the same rights. One comment in particular stayed with me long after the showing. “They’re cheapening our citizenship.” Comments like this, the derogatory comments of the woman responding to the young woman going door to door to promote voting, and the instances mentioned of how the media preys on fear show how immigrants have been almost dehumanized. Many people in the film were sp quick to not only ignorantly generalize the Hispanic groups as associated with crime, drugs, and other negative qualities but also blame them from pre-existing problems.
This disconnect from the human aspect of immigration is also associated with a significant hypocrisy in the view towards the immigrant status in society. This fear and prejudice may be the justification for some in labeling the issue as an “invasion,” but many people gloss over the fact that the work done by immigrants is of a sort many other Americans feel “above.” We often let fear and an acceptance of common biases and media myths to allow us to almost ignore the suffering that many immigrants have undergone and deny them prospects so available in the pronounced country of prosperity, freedom, and opportunity.
I really enjoyed watching the documentary "Crossing Arizona." It did a very good job discussing the economic, political, and humane problems caused by illegal immigrants. However it also showed the benefits and positive results of illegals coming into the country. Although it showed both sides of the debate over illegal immigrants, I feel that it tended to focus more on the reason why these people risk their lives to come to the U.S., and showed a lot of sympathy for them.
i understand why people living near the border and on ranches have a problem with illegals coming in a disrupting their properties and animals, but as for those who were coming from foreign states, I did not understand how they were directly affected. I also disagreed with the way the border patrol handeled and discussed the issue. some of them were very disrespectful and at time racist. I'm not sayin I agree with illegal immigration, but I feel sympathetic towards the people who attempt to cross for their families. I understand why they do it, and I could hinestly say I would do the same to prevent my family from starving and living in poverty.
I went to the panel discussion and I found it to be very interesting. The first speaker talked about her time in Germany learning about the cultural differences between the Turkish immigrants and the native Germans. She said that the Turkish Germans struggled with an identity crisis because they felt like they were German because they grew up there, but that they were categorized as Turkish because of their appearance and, or their parents. The Turkish Germans have a choice to either become a German citizen or a Turkish by their 21 birthday where they have to make a choice. Most of them end up choosing to be Turkish because they feel like they just don't fit in with the native Germans, or maybe the native Germans reject them for being Turkish. I feel like that is how it is sometimes in America, people from other countries feel like they are truly an American, but they might not be seen as American. Society judges and people feel isolated, like they have to choose one or the other. They can't be Mexican-American, or Asian-American or whatever combination. People come to this country to pursue a better life, potentially full of opportunity. If we open our boarders and make it easier not harder, people won't see the need to pick up and move everthing just to come here. People can come to America and work and then go back home to their country without any problem. We are making things worse, no better by having a huge barrier between America and the the rest of the world.
The documentary gave a realistic aspect of what many Americans thought on the issue of migration across the Arizona line. The documentary helped show the racism still alive in America today. During the movie, a woman was going around to get signatures for a petition; she stopped at one house where a woman shut the door in her face once she realized she wasn't from America. The video showed thatf the prejudice exists even for those who have not crossed illegally. It highlighted the negative views that many Americans have on immigrants.
The specific look at the migration of Mexicans into America is a huge issue that we are dealing with. The video, in a way, gave a reason why they do cross illegally. A couple stated that they crossed knowing they may be sent back, but they didn't care because they were scared for their life in their own country; they knew America would be a better place for their soon to be born child to be raised. Although I do not agree with illegal immigration, I think we have to realize that many people do it for a better life and conditions in other countries are completely awful compared to that of America. They see it as an opportunity for a free life. After all, America is based on freedom...right?
The documentary was eye opening in many aspects. We got to see both sides of the debate; for migration and those against. It made me aware of the issue but didn't propose any resolutions to the problem which i liked because this was made as a mechanism to make our government and people see the severity of the issue. Americans with resentment to people coming from Mexico comes from patriotism and personal rights to have everything that the government can provide for them as citizens. One thing that caught my attention was one of the professors questions about how over history we have had several flows of immigration and why did they subside, what could have caused them to stop coming. Once a group would come over, the majority would work and stay but some would go back. The reasons they left their country were for war, poor food supply, no jobs, civil wars and so on. These are the same reasons Mexicans are crossing over and in the video there was a man who needed money for his wife's surgery and only felt that if he didn't make it, it would be like letting his children and wife down. Once things subsided or reformed in these countries that specific flow of immigrants would be reduced therefore making it less obvious because the numbers weren't as large. The problem now is that America has become established and is heavily populated. Back then those immigrants were more welcome because we simply had the room and money to incorporate them into our society. Now, the debate for Americans would be that the benefits given to American citizens are put in jeopardy because of the vast majority of Mexicans crossing the border illegally each year. The video showed activists who were against the deaths across the border, put water jugs in different areas to aid those in risk of dieing from thirst. The problem is that the National guard is not doing a good job of keeping the border security tight. If they don't want deaths and more people coming then the only solution to that would be to enforce the border control. This caused the minuteman project to come up and make the government aware that their job was not getting done. No one crossing the border should have to die, making either America or Mexico responsible for the deaths. Also i was shocked to find out that a black market was benefiting from an issue like this. The guides paid to get the immigrants across are asking for a lot of money and the job is successfully done. There wouldn't be a black market of guides if the task wasn't as easy for them to do. Yet, another issue involving the border control. This documentary let me relate to this in my own way being a first generation American by letting me see the American view on the issue and then the immigrants view, one of which i new more of.
During Monday's panel discussion of the immigration debate, I found it interesting that one of our very own Wofford students discuss the Turkish immigrant situation in Germany. Apparently in Germany many Turkish immigrants went to look for work. After their work program was complete and it was time for them to retire they had no where to go. They stayed in Germany and many had their families come as well. Now that their children are growing up with duel citizenship and not a very educated grasp of the german language many are confused with the situation. The children have the right to choose which citizenship they wish to keep at the age of 21. Many make their decision based on their heritage or one in particular will most likely choose his Turkish citizenship just because of his future with their soccer team. This is a big decision that the children are making. The immigrants seem to be stuck in a transition between two countries and two very different lives.
I have always heard about the growing immigration problem in the united states, but i did not really know many details about the problem. I found that "crossing arizona" helped me understand why it is not just a political problem, but also a moral dilemma. I Really enjoyed watching the documentary because it showed both sides of the problem and not just a one sided biased view. After watching the documentary i really had to think hard about which side of the problem i was on. I feel like there is no good answer to this problem, but i would say that i feel for the immegrents because all they are doing is trying to find a better life. I think it was terrible when they showed how people would break open the water containers so that they mexicans would de in the desert. My favorite part of the documentary was when they showed a man talking about how every illegal mexican should be thrown out of this country, and then one of the bus boys was a mexican. You could tell he was hurt by the statements. All my life i would probably say that i was against illegal aliens in the country but after seeing the faces of the people who were just trying to make it, i could not say that anymore.
i've always been aware of the major political debates surrounding our country's border control policies, however, this documentary really gave me a better view of both sides of the issue. "crossing arizona" did a fair job of giving the groups on both sides of the border to explain their views and opinions. living on one side, its often easy to feel a bias or make a judgement too soon. i knew how dangerous, mentally and physically, crossing the US/Mexico border was but i was shocked by the documentary's imagery and facts of exactly how many people die trying to find a better life each year. what was even more disturbing though, was listening to some of the legal united state citizens' (white people) opinions on the mexican race. in the small arizona towns the documentary focused on and with the minutemen group, the racist and harsh comments such as 'i don't care if [a mexican] is in the hospital, ill drag him out with the iv still in his arm' and etc. its shocking that so many of the people "crossing arizona" interviewed didnt at all seem phased or badly about their comments, they just came right out and said "i only like white people, i hate mexicans" and other similiar statments. this issue needs not only to be resolved from a political standpoint, but also a moral one. how can we as americans today deny others a better life for themselves and their children just because of their race and finicial status?
"Crossing Arizona" was a documentary that struck me as very informative. My personal estimations were not near the actual amount of illegal immigrants coming into the US. My experience with illegal immigrants is limited but I never imagined that the numbers were so large. The quest for the immigrants to come to the United States is incredible. They risk so much to come to this great nation of ours. There are many good and bad things that come out of this illegal immigration. One thing that I liked about this film was that they showed both sides of the debate.
"Crossing Arizona" was a documentary that struck me as very informative. My personal estimations were not near the actual amount of illegal immigrants coming into the US. My experience with illegal immigrants is limited but I never imagined that the numbers were so large. The quest for the immigrants to come to the United States is incredible. They risk so much to come to this great nation of ours. There are many good and bad things that come out of this illegal immigration. One thing that I liked about this film was that they showed both sides of the debate.
Malik, Your comment is a bit overdue and pretty weak. It does not include anything very specific about the documentary. But I'll give you 2 points.
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