I love the weirdnesses in life -- and there are certainly plenty of them to think about. Here's the next edition of Things I Don't Understand: the ones that make you say, "Well, duhhh... of course."
Join me, won't you?
(There are so many, I'm running Part II later this week.)
I am struggling to explain -- or at least reason out -- the complicated issues connected with Mexico's borders right now.
I can honestly say that I hadn't concentrated on the human price paid at the Mexican border -- Until we came here, to McNeal, Arizona.
But I should have paid more attention.
You must consider the personal element, when you talk about the border issue -- not just numbers, groups or generalizations. (And definitely not just politics, although that is certainly playing into the current response.)
THIS HUMAN PRICE AFFECTS PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
It piles up, and not just for people who are trying to enter the U.S. legally.
They may have been traveling for months to get there...and arrive with little besides the clothes on their backs. Who will feed and house them while they're waiting -- what do they do, if they get deported, instead?
They may send their children in alone, whether 'accidentally' or deliberately. (Yes, I know some of the reasons -- including the hope that once the kids are in, the parents can join them.) But how can the kids be protected, when this is done? (The two little girls recently tossed over the border wall may have been thrown over by their coyote handlers...but their parents paid for the trip, and sent them alone. Two more kids hoisted over the wall had their mother's name and phone number written on their arms. They were 5 and 6. This is unfathomable to me.)
Obviously, these immigrants are hoping to enter.* One-third have been denied and sent back, according to the Biden administration. But the others get to stay in a strange limbo until their situation is examined. That's difficult, too. And of course, they need to be housed, fed and taken care of during that waiting period.
*One of my Gentle Readers has pointed out, not so gently, that if they're doing it the legal way, they're not "illegals" -- and he's right, even if the phrase "illegal immigrants" is being used repeatedly in news reports. (I don't think I said this phrase for the legal entrants... but I apologize if I slipped and used it.) For those sneaking across the border, though, I beg to differ.
Overcrowding is evident, when photos are allowed. (Notice I said 'when.') The anguish, tiredness and frustration on the immigrants' faces is evident, as well.
But the price is also being paid by Americans who already live here.
People in the border states are taking on a much heavier burden than other states, trying to care for the influx of immigrants. Do you honestly think that Kansas has as much interest in this situation, as Texas? Or Arizona? Or New Mexico?
The Border Patrol has had their hands full. We heard what the local situation is like, from a local guard. According to him, they're exhausted, just trying to keep up with the regular work -- and detaining those who sneak in and around the standard entry points. The guard said that out of the people they've caught doing the latter, 4 out of 5 have been armed. And they're not exactly happy to go back to Mexico -- he had one man, who was driving, make a very credible attempt to run him over.
It does no good to start preaching about gun control, in this situation, and expect that to solve the problem. The people 'packing' are not from the U.S. They don't have to follow the gun laws we already have in place. (Colorado has some of the more stringent gun laws in the country, in spite of the Boulder shootings.)
And this is from Douglas, AZ/Agua Prieta, Mexico, by the way: one of the calmer border entry points. (We're currently living about 20 miles from Douglas -- but Mexico is ten miles closer to the church we've been attending. Many of the people who attend live even closer than that...easily within a few hours' walking distance.) Douglas doesn't have nearly as many people trying to enter as, say, San Ysidro/Tijuana, where government officials were forced to close the border for several hours to try and straighten things out.
Our older friends, who live out in the desert only a few miles away from the border, are honestly frightened. They've already had potentially scary situations, and are facing the reality that this will probably just get worse.
I feel concerned for them, too. The chance of murder, assault and theft are not an easy thing to prepare for -- and criminals have crossed illegally. (We know this, because some have been caught doing it.) But the people crossing over this way honestly need help. What else can our friends do, but help them? If you're living in Colorado, you don't have to deal with that fear -- or run that risk -- every time you answer a knock on the door late at night. If you're from Missouri or Nebraska, Iowa or Illinois, you generally don't have to come up with a hot supper and fresh clothes for a group of hungry, exhausted people on the spur of the moment...and what will you do, after that?
Yet if these people need help, they also cannot be turned away... no matter how frightened or uncertain you are about taking them in, or helping them. It would not be right.
Yes, the U.S. has to come up with the extra funds somehow to cover these increased expenses with legal immigrants trying to cross over. This is fact -- and has been for a long, long time, no matter how many people are making the attempt.
Yes, they also have to keep the illegal crossings in check somehow -- or at least regulate it. There's even some talk about continuing to finish the Wall to help with this -- which I find interesting, considering the brouhaha about it during Trump's administration. And of course, that will cost extra, too. Yet another price that Americans have to pay, in a time when the U.S. deficit is wildly out of control.
It's not the "immigrant" issue, either. Nearly every person in the U.S. didn't have ancestors that started here. (With the exception of friend Tommy, who enjoys saying that his ancestors were watching from the bank when the Pilgrims -- including William Brewster, his wife's relation-- showed up. How his Pueblo ancestors got that far east, I'm not sure.) The Brick's and my families all emigrated to the U.S., from various directions and times. Anyone who pegs us -- or anyone else struggling with these issues -- as racist simply does not understand that. It has nothing to do with skin color or DNA.
Our country has always welcomed people wanting to live here; that's not the issue. The problem is how to welcome and care for them, if they arrive in increasingly-large numbers. If they come, will they also become American citizens, if they're staying?
What a mess. A human, worrisome one. I'm hoping Vice President Harris actually visits one of the busier border crossings. She needs to see it with her own eyes, instead of engaging in 'meetings.' UPDATE: Two country's presidents have now accused President Biden's words of jumpstarting this crisis. VP Harris now says she'll go to both Mexico and Guatemala to meet with the presidents. (To persuade them otherwise, no doubt.) Not head to the border -- no, she's staying away from there. Guatemala first, she thinks. Well, I guess that's something, at least.
I wish the Biden administration had a magic solution for all this -- but they don't. And are they really trying to find one?
Nobody has a solution. So far, at least. Me included.
Just a few days to go, and we're outa here.
The Brick has been installing our new toilet -- a definite upgrade from the old one. I've been working on some difficult appraisal reports. (Interesting, but complicated.) And we've both been reading more on where we're headed next: one intriguing possibility for where the Lost Adams Diggings are located. More on this in a future post.
I re-sewed the central section of the sampler class quilt, using the ironing board in the laundry building...it was driving me crazy. Guess you can take the girl out of quilting (or quilting area) -- but you can't take the quilt out of the girl. I hope to finish these blocks and continue to teach the class long-distance to my students in McNeal. They're doing a wonderful job, so far.
Upward and onward. UPDATE: (If you're really interested) Probably staying in Arizona for a while longer, but wandering a bit. THEN on to New Mexico.
One dead 12-foot alligator...and the amazing contents of his stomach, including a dog tag of an animal that disappeared 24 years ago.
Every Mr. Darcy -- ranked. If you don't understand this, you're not a big Pride & Prejudice fan. Colin Firth IS great, but I'm also partial to Mr. Darcy in Pride & Prejudice and Zombies.
Good for the co-founder of BLM! Just in the last few years alone, she's suddenly become prosperous enough to buy FOUR multi-million dollar homes. (No doubt she will be sharing her quarters, socialist-style, with the rest of her BLM members. But what will she do about the many white neighbors in all the neighborhoods? Demand they leave, unless they renounce their Caucasian backgrounds??)
Ten weird British cakes. (I'll try making a couple. Thanks, Listverse.)
A horrible racist situation -- oops, it was really a prank, says Joel Salad. Sure...
Nine looks from one skirt. Which you can make yourself.
She's got a really nice kimono how-to, as well.
How influencers make themselves look skinnier and fatter -- in all the right places.
The family of the two little girls dropped over the Mexican wall speaks out. And their story doesn't seem quiiiiite right. (The parents, that is.)
A new treasure hunt starts up. Can you find it?
A volcano erupts on St. Vincent! Oh, and P.S. You won't be getting on the cruise ships evacuating people, unless you've had the vaccine.
Prince Philip died this past week. He was 99 and in poor health with heart problems. Our sympathies to Her Highness. In spite of occasional teasing, I really do respect and admire her. She has shown great courage these past few years, especially.
A beautiful set of popup cards for less...including one for Mother's Day.
A big shirt -- converted into a puffed-sleeve dress. Whoa.
Which famous Hollywood acts live far below their means? Quora takes this question on.
So is nature affecting how you respond to finances...or nurture? Financial Samurai weighs in.
An albino white deer spotted at a Colorado campground.
Shaq pays for a guy's engagement ring -- out of the blue.
Morgan Stanley just happened to sell FIVE BILLION DOLLARS' worth of Archegos stock -- the night before that company went bust. No doubt this was all just a coincidence.
New York, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey account for 43% of the new cases of Covid last week. But they only contain 22% of the population! What's up with that...
Celebrity sleep schedules. The level of stuff out there on the internet is amazing...
The last of a 6-part series on embroidering (beautifully) strawberries and their blossoms. Including an intriguing how-to link for the fishbone stitch! (Thank you, Mary Corbet of Needlenthread)
Homemade 'Krispy Kremes.' Yum.
Stuffing balls. Double yum.
This is a weird one -- I'm not sure I believe it, but here goes. A groom finds out that his newly-married bride is actually his mom's daughter, given up at birth decades ago. Lest you start freaking out, the groom was adopted. Shades, though, of the REAL 19th century case where a woman discovers that her much-younger husband was actually the son she gave up for adoption. Ewwww.
Just because you're a celebrity's spouse doesn't mean you're included in their will. Just sayin.'
Focaccia breadsticks with garlic/herb oil. Oh my.
The pastor who drove the cops out of his church on Easter morning shares his story. Btw, he was within his legal rights to do so.
Ever heard of the "Nitty Gritty?" (Nope, me neither. But the Really Good Dancer is Bob Banas.)
Some chefs think they've figured out Kentucky Fried Chicken's secret mix of herbs and spices.
A four-year-old autistic child is found alive in the backcountry, thanks in part to her puppy.
The intuitive diet -- eat anything you want. Really??
More funny tweets-from twits. I don't know if I can stand much more of this laughter, Ranker!
One of the best dance sequences ever -- from White Nights. Music's a little goofy, but Baryshnikov and Hines are amazing.
A 'secret' sugar cookie recipe you'll want to try. A classic from yours truly's holiday food blog,
A gay couple adopts a baby that one of the men found abandoned on a subway 20 years ago...that baby is now a college student, and doing well. Hooray for two devoted dads!
Some very funny Tumblr posts. I laughed out loud at some of these.
Ice-dyed dresses! The how-tos.
Have a great week.
...doesn't mean you shouldn't be paying attention to the burgeoning illegal immigrant problem.
Nancy Pelosi's recent remarks suggested "we're on a good path at the border under President Joe Biden..." She then proceeded to blame the current congestion on Trump's administration. Surprise, surprise.
The statistics are sobering. In March alone, a record 18,890 unaccompanied minors crossed the border. (These are Newsweek's numbers, Gentle Readers. Not Fox News.) These are U.S. Customs and Border Protection numbers, which they began publishing in 2009. Previous records were in June 2014 (10,620) and May 2019 (11,494). March's numbers are close to double the children gathered in February -- and more than five times from March 202.
Yow.
This figure doesn't even count the adults crossing over. According to Newsweek, CPB had 168,195 "encounters with migrants" in March; 52,904 of these were with families. Roughly 33% of the people were expelled, and the others were allowed to stay and pursue asylum. Another data source says that figure is wrong -- as in underestimated. More than 172,000 illegal immigrants were logged in March along -- a 71% JUMP from February alone.
These figures, by the way, are the highest in NEARLY 15 YEARS.
Yep, Mrs. Pelosi, the government is certainly handling this problem well. It becomes even more problematic when you consider three items:
*First, government laws specify that people should be held for processing no longer than 72 hours. This is not happening all the time -- too many people to process this quickly.
*Second, President Biden and co. seem blissfully uncaring -- of just plain clueless. Of course, Biden's widely-publicized "open door" policy has suddenly reversed itself. Vice President Harris is supposed to have been taxed with dealing with the flood of people. The only problem: she hasn't bothered to visit any border towns herself, explaining that she's busy with meetings elsewhere in the country. And those will solve the issues.
I'm sure President Biden also thought he was being funny when he said they were all coming because they wanted to meet him -- and "I'm a nice guy." Now he's stated, "I can say quite clearly, don't cover over... don't leave your city, or town, or community," No doubt everyone approaching the border will follow instructions, turn right around and go home.
*And finally, these figures don't include those who manage to slip by Border Patrol officers into the country. No one's counting them. And because there are definite gaps in the wall -- and rivers like the Rio Grande -- it's quite possible to make it unseen.
At first, photos and/or visits by officials were denied. (They were finally allowed, but at least one GOP senator who visited was told to get rid of his photos.) Even before he left office, a serious attempt was made to accuse Trump's administration of "cages for kids" -- until it was pointed out that Obama's administration had put these in place. (Even the photos used to 'prove it' were taken during Obama's time. Now those areas are packed with juveniles, who need food, clothes, blankets, vaccinations, teachers, etc. Do American children get those same privileges?
As the Brick enjoys saying, "Not bloody likely."
There is a further wrinkle to this story -- one that I'm not sure we would have even considered in Colorado. But it's of critical importance to our friends here in the McNeal area...only 20 miles from Douglas, AZ, and the 'Wall,' and Agua Prieta, just south of it.
Where do the illegals that manage to cross over from Mexico go next?
It's straight desert from there. I know -- because we've been driving in it for nearly two months. Hot, dry sagebrush, dust rising with every step. No water.
And people who live near the border, especially those near popular crossing areas, are having to deal repeatedly with these groups -- who are often hot, exhausted and desperate.
Sometimes they've been out in the heat, trying to make their way. Sometimes they've been dropped off on the road by coyote smugglers, who figure their job is now done.
So where do they go for help? To one of the ranches they're straggling by. According to Texas ranchers, the crime rate is worst they've seen in a long time. (Desperation will do that to you.)
During our time in McNeal, we have gotten to know some very nice older people. Many are widows who have lived on their places for decades. Now their partner is gone, they're alone.
Out in the country.
Within just a few miles of the Mexican border.
See where I'm going on this? They've already had decades of experience with illegals occasionally stopping to beg for water or food. And they've taken them in, fed them, put them up -- and often called the Border Patrol to pick them up.
But what if that group of Mexicans doesn't want to inform the Border Patrol? What's to stop them from making sure the very nice lady who just fed them... doesn't call?
So far, these people have not been hurt. But they -- and their families -- are more than a little concerned that with the increasing surge of illegal migrants (some of them on the terrorist list), they'll be in serious trouble. Yet they cannot let these people die from exposure and lack of food and water, either.
The possibility of danger is very real, not only to our new friends -- but the people who care about them.
If President Biden's home was out in the desert, a few miles from Mexico, with illegal immigrants wandering by regularly...would he invite everybody in?
How about Vice President Harris? Would she be just as eager -- or at least, would she show more concern than she has recently? UPDATE: Now, according to the White House Press Secretary, Harris isn't 'the' person to be involved with immigration issues -- she's just the 'point' person for dealing with the countries involved. Not the people.
Mrs. Pelosi, maybe?
Yep, I thought so.
I'll let you know when copies are available. Be sure to let me know what you think about the cover!
