a lady has created a pair of shoes intended to help immigrants who cross the border from mexico to the u.s. see for yourself here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4445342.stm your thoughts?
Yeah, now that's interesting--I got to go back and read it slowly. I am in Indianapolis at a conference right now. Just went went to a seminar on imigration. I'll have to talk to you about that.
To me, the shoes are a clever and thoughtful design with kindness towards fellow human beings in mind. The American price is sadly high, so I'm glad the artist is giving them away. I'm intrigued by the contraversy in which she may find her self with border crossing politics. Immigration is a complicated issue for me. No easy answers. Wonder what would have happened to the Good Samaritan if that road the victim was crossing was a border road.
Curious what your take is on it Rob. For me it is another reminder of the paradox of the dominant american culture. Historically this nation has had an economy that capitalizes on the poor and displaced. Out-sourcing at least does not displace populations. As we saw in Belfast out-sourcing prys on the disadvantaged until it can find another source of labor that is cheaper, than abandons those that it has capitalized on. To my eye the government funds efforts that are superficial or ill-suited to long-term results, but have immediate publicity value. Heck if programs don't work it isn't because the government didn't try, it is just difficult to help those "people". I think this is easy to do because there appears to be little critical thinking and a a-historical worldview. The media time frame is so narrow that it is easy to misrepresent history and distort our recollections of events. I feel sorry for those that die or are subjected to inhumane treatment because they want to provide more for their family or for themselves. I don't know of a historical time when this issue was absent or addressed in a more humane manner. Maybe some generation in the future will figure that out.
Reading about the shoes, it did not seem to me that the shoes were intended to helpful as much as show off what the creator of them knew about the needs and plight of those striving to breach the gap. I just finished conference week and the shoes reminded me again of the journey that some of my students and their families have taken. It puts a lot in perspective.
Yeah, now that's interesting--I got to go back and read it slowly. I am in Indianapolis at a conference right now. Just went went to a seminar on imigration. I'll have to talk to you about that.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the shoes are a clever and thoughtful design with kindness towards fellow human beings in mind. The American price is sadly high, so I'm glad the artist is giving them away. I'm intrigued by the contraversy in which she may find her self with border crossing politics. Immigration is a complicated issue for me. No easy answers. Wonder what would have happened to the Good Samaritan if that road the victim was crossing was a border road.
ReplyDeleteCurious what your take is on it Rob. For me it is another reminder of the paradox of the dominant american culture. Historically this nation has had an economy that capitalizes on the poor and displaced. Out-sourcing at least does not displace populations. As we saw in Belfast out-sourcing prys on the disadvantaged until it can find another source of labor that is cheaper, than abandons those that it has capitalized on. To my eye the government funds efforts that are superficial or ill-suited to long-term results, but have immediate publicity value. Heck if programs don't work it isn't because the government didn't try, it is just difficult to help those "people". I think this is easy to do because there appears to be little critical thinking and a a-historical worldview. The media time frame is so narrow that it is easy to misrepresent history and distort our recollections of events. I feel sorry for those that die or are subjected to inhumane treatment because they want to provide more for their family or for themselves. I don't know of a historical time when this issue was absent or addressed in a more humane manner. Maybe some generation in the future will figure that out.
ReplyDeleteReading about the shoes, it did not seem to me that the shoes were intended to helpful as much as show off what the creator of them knew about the needs and plight of those striving to breach the gap. I just finished conference week and the shoes reminded me again of the journey that some of my students and their families have taken. It puts a lot in perspective.
ReplyDelete