You see it everywhere -- one of the biggest "liberal" arguments for immigration.
"Illegal immigration since 1492."
We've all been there. Or stemmed from people who have been there. We all, in a sense, are daughters and sons of immigrants somewhere in our history because none of us were originally here. We all come from people who sacrificed to be here -- whether it was in time, money, health, history, family... Sacrifices, somewhere, were made.
That is why many say we, as children of immigrants, are here in the U.S. today.
The images are everywhere... from the media to cartoons to merchandise. Everyone seems to be making a statement in some way or another:
Many political cartoonists also have taken the opportunity to poke fun at, what some may say, is hypocritical of our society. Forbidding immigrants, when we ourselves are immigrants here?
There are even t-shirts that can be purchased, at places like Cafepress.com:
Whether you agree or not -- the argument is hard to ignore. After all, it seems to be everywhere.
Maybe even in our own reflections.
All images found through Google images. None were taken or drawn by Kari Shaffer.
They cannot be escaped and most of us make those judgment calls without even realizing we are making them. How many times have you found yourself on a darker street when you were alone, and felt yourself tense up at the sight of a stranger -- particularly one of another race? Maybe it doesn't even have to do with race as much as body type. If someone's dressed a certain way or walking/holding themselves a certain way -- most of us at least tense up a bit. We make a judgment call based on stereotypes at that very moment, with no knowledge of that individual or their background.
Those stereotypes, judgments, come from everywhere around us -- from the media, television, movies, parents, aunts, uncles, friends, advertisements, stories. We wouldn't feel the need to tense up if someone hadn't led us to those emotions in the first place. We are born into this world as trusting individuals, with little cause to hate or second guess anyone.
And as we grow up, we transform into judgmental people who often aren't even aware of their own hatred or misjudgments.
It's almost funny how blind people are to their own views of the world. So many of us claim to be open and understanding of multiple cultures, ethnicities, races, religions... but how many of us truly are as open as we claim to be?
Avenue Q, which won best musical in 2004, is a musical that uses Seaseme Street-esque puppets to hilariously (and often times, offensively) bring to life different issues adults face. Issues such as sex, relationships, careers... even internet porn are addressed in this brutally honest show.
Another issue Avenue Q addresses? You guessed it -- racism.
Photo property of Avenue Q. Taken by Carol Rosegg.
The Avenue Q song, "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" makes everyone who listens to it not only laugh -- but awkwardly aware of their own racism. The song brings more truth to one of the most difficult issues our nation faces than many songs have been capable of doing in recent years.
"Everyone's A Little Bit Racist" is a conversation sung between two characters -- Princeton and Kate Monster, with additional "neighbors" joining in on the song as it progresses. Princeton is an "average, white, fresh-out-of-college graduate" looking for work and living on Avenue Q. Kate Monster is a teacher who also happens to be... you guessed it. A monster.
A clip from the musical's official website..
Here is an exerpt from their conversation, where they even bring up judgements we make on a day-to-day basis on Mexicans in our community:
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Princeton and Kate Monster: Everyone's a little bit racist -- sometimes. Doesn't mean we go around committing hate crimes. Look around and you will find, No one's really color blind. Maybe it's a fact we all should face -- Everyone makes judgments based on race.
Princeton: Now not big judgments, like who to hire or who to buy a newspaper from -
Kate Monster: No!
Princeton: No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican busboys should learn to speak goddamn English!
Kate Monster: Right!
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
How many times have you been in a restaurant or in a drive-thru at your local Viva Burrito or Nico's or countless other places... wishing you service was done in understandable English so you could have confidence that your order was going to come out correctly?
I'm sure many of us would struggle just as much if the situation were reversed. I know I've never been good at learning second languages (and I've tried Spanish and German.) I'm not very proud to say.. after a year of Spanish and two of German... I can say very, very, very little. I can also understand even less when it's spoken to me.
The fact is -- just as the song proves -- EVERYONE'S a little bit racist. Including me. Yet trying to understand why we are that way -- and how we can change it -- all starts with acceptance.
After all, if we don't accept our own faults, we can never even begin to fix them.
"Everyone's a little bit racist -- it's true. But everyone is just about as racist as you! If we all could just admit, that we are racist a little bit, And everyone stopped being so PC! Maybe we could live in harmony!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
To listen to the entire song, which I highly recommend, you can click here.
To purchase the album or for more information on the show, visit their website at www.AvenueQ.com.
To view all of the lyrics, you can visit allmusicals.com, which lists the lyrics to countless productions and numbers... including those sung on Avenue Q.
Another thing I learned during my trip to Mexico -- once we got past the wall and the images and the emotions that come with them -- was that in Nogales, there are two things to do. And both of them involve spending money -- shopping and eating.
Borderbeat's Amanda Hines, cashing in on some Mexican jewelery.
Now, when I go to New York City, I know when I hit Chinatown or Little Italy, I'd better have a lot of cash on me. Because whether I want to or not -- I'm going to end up spending it. Something will catch my eye, someone will call me over and show me all of things I am CONVINCED at that very moment I not only want, but need.
There's something more appealing about buying things in Chinatown (to me) than any other shopping area in America. For whatever reason, you are convinced you need that necklace, that wall decoration and that little trinket -- because no one else back home will have them. And that feeling, that desire, becomes even more powerful once you realize the item you were originally offered for only $20 is now down to $8. Suddenly, you feel like you've been drugged -- you can't pass up that much of a bargain! It wouldn't be the American way!
So you pull out the cash and trade it in for quality, soon-to-be-forgotten crap. Sure, sometimes you find treasures. But a lot of times, at the end of your shopping experience, part of you wonders what you are going to do with all that stuff you've refused to leave behind.
As you travel through Nogales, there are endless vendors to spend your money at.
Shopping in Nogales.
More shopping in Nogales.
Even more shopping, with two girls nestled in the corner selling items.
You could spend all day looking at different vendors.
And even more so than Chinatown or Little Italy, you are bombarded by the vendors in Nogales. As you work your way from vendor to vendor, you can't help but feel -- pressured. So many of the items are similar from block to block, yet each vendor wants you to purchase from them. It becomes more of a game -- who should you buy from? Who can guilt you into spending the most? And who just -- quite frankly -- won't leave you alone?
I can't count the number of free tequila shots I was offered or how many "Mexican boyfriends" this American girl was told she could take home. If there was ever a place that used flirting as a way to get customers, Nogales would be it. We had one middle-aged man in particular, following us from block to block, chatting with us and trying to woo us into purchasing anything he could. Finally, he let us go and we were on our way. As someone who hates when I'm bombarded at the mall by employees at the various cellphone booths, I started to grow weary very quickly of being begged and beckoned into purchasing items.
The one image you can't get past though -- is that of the little kids who walk around with trays, held by straps that are wrapped around their necks. They pretty much sell only three things -- hand woven bracelets, chewing gum and little toys -- mostly tiny, trinket animals with bobbing heads. When you look down into those eyes as they hold their tray towards your face, it's hard to resist.
There are countless other places to spend your money as well. From bakeries (don't get me started on the .50 donuts!) to leather stores to antiques to jewelry to clothing, you could find yourself spending an obscene amount of money in Mexico.
A quinceanera dress in a shop window.
Going to lunch in Nogales, was also a highlight. As we wandered around, we found ourselves in Leos Cafe.
Leos Cafe, where we had lunch.
Inside had a festive feel and within minutes of arriving, the place was packed.
A quinceñera dress in a shop window.
With so much to choose from, it was hard to decide what we wanted.
The menu at Leos Cafe.
Amanda chose coconut shrimp and rice.
Where I chose one of my favorites... tamales.
I can get tacos and burritos anywhere in Tucson -- but finding a good tamale is hard to come by. And my tamale was definitely worth the money.
Between my dish, Amanda's, an extra quesadilla, two bottles of water and two Cokes our total came out to only $15 (or 150 pesos.) Which was a great buy... only to save more money for the vendors.
In the end, I didn't come home with TOO much.
But I did manage to bring back three pairs of shoes ($29), a headband ($1.50), two necklaces ($6), a wall decoration ($8) and a full belly ($10 including tip).... bringing my total up to $54.50.
"Sometimes I lie awake in the dawn with the hate for a generation that’s apathy born."
Note: Turn sound on to hear music with slideshow.
This weekend, Amanda Hines and I drove down to Nogales to spend time on both sides of the border. For the first time ever, I actually stood next to the fence that separates Nogales, Ariz. from Nogales, Sonora. The messages graffitied along the Sonoran-side of the border spoke volumes -- in ways, they became works of art before our eyes.
You know, I've spent a lot of time since our visit yesterday, trying to decide how to best describe the wall and the messages sketched across it.
Sometimes though, your realize your own words simply aren't enough; sometimes you aren't even justified in trying to speak for others.
Maybe sometimes it's even best to let your photos speak for themselves, although nothing is the same as being there.
