BORDER LIFE

Living on the border with Mexico is a study in contrasts. As you cross into Matamoros, the nearest Mexican town to Brownsville, Texas, your senses are hit with a huge variety of sights, smells and sounds unlike anything you have experienced before. It is a combination of  joie de vivre and sadness. The Mexican spirit is not easily broken, not even by the monstrous cartels who destroy innocent lives with complete indifference. People fill the hot streets with their bustling business, whether it is peddling goods to the evermore scarce tourists or fighting traffic on very narrow avenues. Mexicans want to enjoy life to the fullest while they can; who knows what mañana will bring.

On the U.S. side, a relative order prevails; traffic is much easier to navigate (unless the town elders decide to initiate urban renovations in several key locations at once), and people even let you slide in the line of cars with a graceful gesture. The pace of living in the resaca (lakes) town is rather boring; very few people go out at night (except for teens sneaking out without parental consent) and businesses tend to close early. We go to the mall on week-ends or to the nearby beach on Padre Island. Saturday night is usually reserved for the carne asada (barbecue) with family during the long summer. There are of course some unpleasant indications that we are a border town: Drug trafficking is common as witnessed by the numerous arrests for possession and intent to sell. Occasionally, shots are fired by intoxicated individuals who have a score to settle. But otherwise, one can say that we trade the excitement found in a Mexican border town for a quieter and more peaceful style of living.

The two municipalities, Brownsville and Matamoros, are inextricably joined at the hip (if I may use this metaphor), as sister cities. Many families have members on both sides; several Mexican businesses, especially restaurants, have fled the violence to settle on the U.S. side. Spanish of course is spoken in both locations and most service businesses require bilingual employees. Going or coming to either city is an annoying but necessary process. It can easily take two hours to cross the bridges and be thoroughly checked by ICE personnel. American custom agents have the difficult task of detecting drug traffickers who usually are "mules", that is ordinary people who are paid a few dollars to carry the dope to the U.S. side. Dogs have proven to be invaluable in this process.



Winter Texans, as the "refugees" from the cold are called, return every year not only for the weather, but also for the opportunity to cross into Mexico and get much, much cheaper medical drugs. Mexican dentists and doctors are also favored by the older generation as they have found them to be excellent professionals with very reasonable fees. It is actually quite safe to cross into Matamoros (most of the time anyway) as the Mexican military are a constant presence. There is of course the risk of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but that could happen in any U.S. city as well.

Our daily lives on the border enjoy many attributes of the Mexican culture with few negative factors. If one decides to retire in this area, the Rio Grand Valley or RGV, as many older citizens have done, a very pleasant life may be ensue, far away from the frenetic hustle of large urban areas. Just make sure you bring your anti-solar lotion and start dancing with the Mariachi band.

RIOTS IN THE QUEEN'S REALM

Burning buildings,  flying rocks, chanting youth, store looting, police taunting, and innocent victims crying, this must be the eastern city of Deir al-Zour in Syria, where the hated regime of  President Bashar al-Assad is mass murdering its own population. Oh surprise! We are actually in the middle of London, the epicenter of riots and violence initiated mostly by young disaffected people. Troubles quickly spread to four other English cities and authorities are baffled as to the causes of this popular uprising.

We cannot blame the weather as the temperature in London hovers around a balmy 70 degrees F. We cannot blame the full moon as it isn't due for another week. There have been 10 riots since 1985 in England, mostly due to police brutality, although a few had to do with increases in taxes and university fees. Indeed, college students have been at the core of the fray a few times, but the finger points mainly to disaffected young people who cannot find a decent job. Street protests usually start peacefully but quickly degenerate in violence caused by those who see an opportunity to loot stores for the rich, Armani's in London was sacked, and by those who enjoy violence (as crazy as this may sound).

The main reason for these riots lies at the heart of the (unjust) capitalist system which creates an abyss between the "have" and "have not". Racism and discrimination against immigrants also play a role. Let's remember the terrible violence that occurred in France in October 2005, where unemployed youths, mostly Arab immigrants, caused hundreds of millions of euros in property damage and thousands of wounded among police and rioters. England is also fertile ground for racial discrimination, as are several other European countries.

Let's remember the Watts riot in Los Angeles in August, 1965, caused by a seemingly innocuous and common event: the arrest of a black man for driving under the influence. The summer heat and years of intense discrimination against African-Americans reach the boiling point and the resulting violence was instrumental in setting up profound changes in the police force and in the perception of minorities.

Many modern Republicans, including presidential candidates for 2012, favor a smaller government and a "laissez-faire" attitude toward the financial forces that move the market. They firmly believe that the federal government should not bail out large companies in danger of failing. "Let the economic and financial factors take care of themselves," they argue, and eliminate all government controls and interference. Maybe we should ask GM's and Chrysler"s employees and workers their opinion. These now very successful enterprises are paying back their official bail-out loans and will soon recover their independence. Thousands of people could have lost their jobs had it not been for the government's intervention.

Are we exempt from more riots in the U.S.? Of course not; what is happening in Britain could very well spill into the U.S., especially since the stock market suffered a huge decline, a potential harbinger of a new recession.

The Republican kind of savage capitalism favors the smart, the strong, and the rich (Bush's tax cuts for example), and leaves the others to charities (tax deductible of course) and to the vagaries of the market. Unless we change the system, we may be the victims of urban violence more and more frequently with the corresponding dire consequences.

TEACHINGS

Buddha once said:"As the rain pours into the ill-thatched house, so lust pours into the undisciplined mind."




Let's interpret "lust" as desire, whether for sex, power, wealth, and/or fame, and we suddenly include all members of Congress, the White House and its various agencies, Wall Street, most CEO's, quite a few movie stars, most governors and mayors, and a considerable part of the general population.

Wow! Buddha has explained in a few succinct words what ails our country in particular and the world in general. If the ordinary citizen allows lust to penetrate his/her mind, nothing of consequence for the nation will result. But when politicians reach a decision based on personal "lust" that affects millions, we all suffer. The recent fracas on the debt ceiling illustrates perfectly the teachings of the Eastern Sage.

Buddha also adds:" Let the wise man guard his mind, incomprehensible, subtle, and capricious though it is. Blessed is the guarded mind!"


It is indeed a full-time job to make sure that our mind doesn't fall prey to unwanted emotions, unwanted when they directly impinge on decisions that should be totally unbiased. The bridge to nowhere, the .50 caliber gun, the war in Iraq, the $500 toilet, the absurdly complex tax laws, the lack of term limits, etc.. are a few examples of politicians voting  with their personal desires and not for rational motives.

Now that President Obama's approval rating is starting to look like his predecessor's, and Congress' image is navigating the sewers of public opinion, one can only ask why we don't have a better government. Did we simply vote (those who bothered to do so) for candidates based on their political campaign spending? Or is the reality much worse and much more frightening?

History has shown that in moments of great crisis, a strong leader emerged to save the day; F.D.R during the Great Depression, Churchill in World War II, De Gaulle saving France from political debacle after the war, Washington of course defeating the Brits, Gandhi in India and Nelson Mandela in South Africa, the list is endless. So where is the great leader that America urgently needs? Some of us thought that Obama was that man, ready to transform our country into a wise and prosperous world power. Alas! No such luck.

A great crisis is upon us and we don't have the kind of government that can solve the problem. Our elected leaders bicker like children on the playground and no visionary leader has emerged (yet) to take over the ship and straighten out its course.

Maybe we should email our elected representatives the teachings of Buddha, every day, every hour, until they start applying his wisdom.

The European Immigration Turmoil

Americans, when asked their opinion about European countries such as Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, France, and Italy, usually respond with glowing praise for these "socialist" havens. We love to take a vacation in Paris, Rome, Geneva, Stockholm or Oslo, all the while admiring the Old Continent' s easy way of life: going to work on a bicycle, or on the tramway, sipping espressos in the sidewalk cafe, taking a trip on picturesque canals, or even smoking legal marijuana in a Dutch restaurant. Compared to the daily rush hour grind in the U.S., European lifestyle seems much more relaxed, more enjoyable, in short, a paradise on Earth.

Behind this facade of daily bliss, there is, however, a much darker image. My relatives in Europe tell me of a much changed social interaction, where crime is on the rise, and where racial bigotry has raised its ugly head. Immigration from Eastern Europe and Africa has sparked a tense debate among political parties in all western European countries, and voters are beginning to lean toward those groups who oppose lenient immigration laws. The prohibition of "burkas" (full facial veils) in France sparked violent protests in Paris by French Muslims who feel as second class citizens. The construction of a mosque was forbidden in Geneva, the Protestant Rome, again causing public manifestations by the followers of Allah.

The opposition to more relaxed immigration laws is not just against Muslims, though it is by far the most controversial, it also addresses Eastern Europeans who seek better economic conditions. Some of these immigrants have a criminal past in their native country and continue to exercise their unlawful trade in their new home, thus showing very little gratitude for the opportunity to prosper. In Germany, things became so critical in a southern town that federal authorities had to intervene to avoid bloodshed; immigrants from Turkey actually convinced a school district to accept their native tongue as an official German language. They had such political influence that the town almost became a Turkish enclave. From this incident a new law was born forcing newcomers to learn German within a year or face deportation to their home country.

In France and Switzerland, strict new laws allow the State to deport immigrants (even those who are naturalized citizens) who have been convicted of a felony. In some ways, these laws mirror the tough new posture taken by the U.S. toward legal and illegal immigrants. After many years of liberal and generous views toward those who must flee their country because of economic or political conditions, western powers are tightening the restrictions on immigration, due mainly to poor economies and rising voters' move to the right of the political spectrum. Some of the more vociferous complaints by native Europeans touch on the delicate matter of religion, Islam in particular.

The war in Afghanistan, Al-Qaida's threats toward Westerners, the perception that most Muslims are extremists anxious to become martyrs by killing the "Infidels", all these events since 9/11 have contributed to form the conviction in many Europeans (and Americans) that there is a war between religions worthy of the Crusades of the 11th century. "If you come to my country as an immigrant and you don't like our rules and way of life, go back home," is a phrase uttered constantly by right wing followers in the European Union. There is indeed a grain of truth in that statement, especially with regard to Muslim women who, in the eyes of Westerners, are treated very badly in Arab countries.

The full integration of non-white immigrants in  Europe will take a long time, but I am  convinced that eventually, common sense will prevail as it has in the New World.

EVERYBODY FITS

As a teacher in high school, I have the responsibility to guide my special needs students toward a satisfying and lucrative activity after graduation. Some can aspire to college, but most can do well in vocational schools where they will learn a trade that will allow them to become independent. Sometimes, however, I am faced with a difficult case; the student does not believe that he/she can be transformed into a useful citizen. Their self-esteem has been damaged by years of academic failure and by verbal abuse emitted by uncaring peers.

It is part of my job and my colleagues' in special education to detect these cases and strive to establish a personal bond that will allow us to penetrate the "emotional armor" raised as a first-line defense. We have four years to convert these teens into confident human beings with the help of counselors, other teachers, and the parents. The main tools we use in our effort to win their trust is good humor, frequent one-on-one talks, school material help (sometimes from our personal supplies), effective communication with parents or guardians, coordination with classroom teachers, with school principals, and, above all, with genuine care (not compassion).

A few students have to be placed in special classrooms due to their very low level of academic competency; they read with difficulty, they struggle abnormally with numbers, they fail to capture the essence of second level abstract concepts (thinking about thinking, for example). The practice of separating these students from regular classrooms is waning. Investigations have shown that most can perform well in mainstream education with adequate accommodations and modifications; the experience of learning with their non-disabled peers is a highly beneficial social interaction. Still, a very small minority of students must be handled separately due to their very severe physical and mental problems.

Teachers, unlike doctors, cannot help becoming attached to their students, especially with those who need the most attention. That is especially true of children with special needs. Our greatest reward is certainly not monetary; we feel fulfilled when an ex-student returns to school just to say hello and thank us for our patience and concern. As mentioned above, our (the teachers') main goal in high school is to make every effort to find a satisfying niche for all students once they graduate. Luckily for us, the state has established strict guidelines to lead these teens into the right slot, whether college, vocational school, or work. We sometimes fail, due to extreme circumstances outside our control, and the only consolation is that we did our best.




It is extremely important to work with the community and convince businesses that students with special needs often make the best workers. "Everybody Fits" must be a slogan sponsored by the private sector, not just public education. Compassion is admirable, but these children want recognition, not pity. At their level of skills, they can perform many tasks with success and thus become useful members of society, saving the government millions in welfare help.

Ignored Youth

We see it in the classroom, we see it on the playground, we see it in the street, at the supermarket within a family, on school buses, wherever a group of children gather. There is always a child that seems ignored, as if he/she did not belong. Their facial expression is usually neutral, their eyes downcast and furtive, their body language signals boredom and the physical distance is greater than normal at their age. They are often ridiculed and verbally abused by their peers, if not beaten by stronger boys or girls. Yet, we, as a society, do not pay much attention to these outcasts, unless the teacher or the parent is exceptionally attentive and caring.

The cause may be a mental illness, such autism, or they may have a history of neglect and abuse, especially sexual by a member of the family. When subjected to stress, they may well snap and become aggressive, the only way for them to express pent-up emotion. Once they are adults, it is almost impossible to convert them into good, productive citizens. The only exceptions are due to some unusual talent such as painting, writing, or playing an instrument, an activity which brings them the attention they crave. The use and abuse of drugs is also common as teens and grown-ups. It allows them to escape their unpleasant reality and enter a world of permanent pleasure. I wonder if the British singer Winehouse was one of these children.

 

Social interaction is bred into our genes by evolution; we wouldn't have survived as a race otherwise. It is thus extremely important for teachers and parents to observe these cases very carefully, as there are some interventions available. There is of course no guarantee of success if the emotional damage is of such intensity that no amount of love will restore their faith in human beings. But in most cases, care and love are certainly essential tools to help them become well-balanced adults; we must be quite genuine when dealing with them as they can detect a phony a mile away. It takes a lot of time and patience, a recipe similar to that employed with abused animals. The eventual results will be sufficient reward.

One caveat, however, before we embark on saving these children and teens from emotional failure. Not all of them suffer from emotional distress; some youngsters are naturally withdrawn, unwilling to mingle with the crowd. They prefer to observe and take notes as they are almost always highly intelligent. They may not be their peers' favorite companions in social activities or in team sports, but they seem satisfied with few friends who share their distaste for parties and loud music. One can easily observe them forming small, quiet groups in school halls and their facial expressions are often quite animated. These kids are not in need of intervention.

Withdrawn kids may sometimes attempt suicide, or carry out violent actions. It is our responsibility as a modern society to detect their needs in time and work together to help them achieve a proper self-esteem and the ability and skills that proper human interaction demands.