365 Reasons I Love Costa Rica
Reason #320: The Pathology of Empathy
I have been observing with concerned curiosity, or what one might call “empathy,” the plight of a young lady from Colombia who is desperately trying to bring her two young children into the country. They have been denied visas by the consulate of Costa Rica, an all to common occurrence of Colombians seeking a better life elsewhere. I believe this is a vestige of the Colombia of Pablo Escobar, which still exists to some extent today, but not at all like before. Nevertheless a Colombian passport is a ticket to nothing but trouble. Juxtapose this with the incredible privilege of being “American.” A U.S. passport is a “free-pass” to go anywhere one cares to experience, for whatever reason one cares to experience it. When I consider the travails of this mother and compare it with the attitude reflected in the Arizona immigration law, I have to say that it makes me a bit uncomfortable in my own skin. You cannot paint with such a broad brush and assume that all illegals are entering the country in order to wreak havoc. Some are just seeking a better life. Some are trying to be reunited with loved ones. Some may have their lives threatened and are seeking asylum. Put yourself in their shoes. What would you do? It is easy to sit back with your U.S. passport, your ticket to freely come and go into and out of their country, and pass judgement on all those “wetbacks” who are destroying your “American” way of life. But what if the shoe were on the other foot? How would you feel then? These days we make fun of the word empathy, as if it is a trait that makes us weak and vulnerable. But in my opinion it is the one thing the world needs a lot more of. Maybe then we can understand our “enemies.” Maybe then we can make them our friends. Maybe then we can create a peaceful world. Maybe then we can have peace in our own hearts. And no I am not advocating “open borders,” but only open minds and hearts. The Arizona immigration law reflects anything but and, what, 60%+ of the U.S. supports it…could that really be true?
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From my understanding , the Arizona Law does not seek to do any of the things you proclaimed in your blog. They simply want to protect their citizens and the immigrants that are here already. There is a serious problem with drug and human smugglers who are entering through those porous borders and endangering anyone who gets in their way citizen, legal or illegal. I teach kids here in MBSC whose parents are without papers and I know the stress and anxiety that they feel because of their status. I do not nor does anyone in our school treat them any differently. We just try hard to teach them English and give them the skills they need to survive in this country. I love those kids as much as any USA kid I teach and most of the people I know feel the same. Don’t paint us with a broad brush just because we want immigration reform that protects and provides for all. What we have had so far just ain’t working. I applaud Arizona for bringing the world’s attention to this serious problem that our federal gov’t has continued to ignore.
Who exactly is “us.” Even though the “majority” supports this law, I would guess that almost 100% of the “minority” and LEGAL immigrant (especially Latino immigrant) population is dead-set against it. Why? Because it is a “license to profile…racially.” And that is exactly how it will be used and anyone who says no is being naive. It opens up a Pandora’s box of potential abuse. Now I hear there are 17 other states considering a similar law. This will be an absolute desaster and bring about a whole new round of racial tension in the U.S. ala the 1960′s. This whole idea of “us” versus “them” is exactly the attidude I am referring to that is reflected in this law and in the comment above. It is a recipe for disharmony and will not serve to protect anyone.