Final Blog

....well we have seem to come to the end of the blogs, as well as the end of the book. I was absolutely amazed at the ending of this book. The unbiased view I had perceived was smashed in the last chapter of this book, when the author clearly showed a pro immigrant view, but I believe this is more of a pro humane view. This does however, come off quite strong.....stay tuned Ill be sure to post by book review on here as well...............

English Class

...I have just read up until Part Four, which is entitled Aftermath. The part I just read went on to describe how the many men fell to their death and the coordinates at which they fell. The book also showed us how the few men who survived were found. I was impressed by the quick response of the Border Patrol and other agencies to call in the Rescue Mission, but still disturbed that it took them that long to find such a large group. Just on a humanitarian aspect, I believe that the border should be more secure so PEOPLE do not die in that hell....

Return Flight

…I have just spent about two hours reading and re-reading certain parts of the book. I read a total of three chapters just now and I am completely disgusted by the level of inhumane treatment of the people trying to cross the border, not only by the self serving and self seeking coyotes, but by the incompetent and arrogant border patrol agents. The book described in gruesome detail the seven stages leading to death in the desert. The desperation these PEOPLE go through is absolutely insane. The coyotes robbed these people and left them in the desert to die. They have no care or respect for the PEOPLE they were killing. The border patrol should have found these people during the several days of their death march. The Wellton 26 was just one example of the US Border Patrol’s incompetence and arrogance. I am ashamed to salute the same flag those ignorant and incompetent ANIMALS wear on their shoulder…

Up in the air

….I am actually 33,000 feet up in the air while I am typing this. My plan is to type this up then post it when I land and have internet access. This week has been one of the most stressful weeks of my life with the end of tax season at my firm, trying to keep my head above water at school, and preparing for vacation. I read another chapter of Devil’s Highway when I first got on the plane. My plan was to read then post this blog, but that did not happen and I caught up on some much needed sleep for the past hour and a half. I read the chapter entitled “In Sonoita” and it was just as interesting as I had expected. One of the main ideas that sticks out to me is the immigrants sheer determination to press on. We are given vivid details of the areas with their cheap motels where they wait for pick up and drop off to the safe houses. The author does seem to repeat himself with his constant descriptions of the desert and the different passage they may take and the ones they do take, but this is because he is trying to show us the severity of what is occurring along the US-Mexican border. I am trying to remove my emotions while reading this book, but I find it strangely difficult. The way these people were treated like animals angers me, but what further angers me is that this behavior is continuing and occurring right now. I feel much more awake now and I am actually going to read some more during my flight. I will write again in an hour our so….

And the stress really kicks in....

...the count down to finals has begun and I am really beginning to feel the true pressure. I am graduating in one month and still have so much to do. The one thing I now find is that when I set aside a specific amount of time for myself I seem to be able to unwind. This weekend that time was once again spent reading Devil's Highway. The book has introduced the Wellton 26 and given us very detailed account of the lives of the coyotes or better yet the "gangsters", which they prefer to be called. They do not view themselves as thugs or gang bangers, but more of Bonnie and Clyde's of the frontera. There is an entire subculture within the coyotes. We see this in the way they act and praise their actions almost like Robin Hood's. We are also able to see the higharchy of the coyote enterprises. There is a great deal of work that goes into pulling this off. Many Americans view the immigrants as ignorant, but the reality is they are intelligent and know just what to say to the Border Patrol when caught. The guias or guides dress the same as the illegals and try to blend in if they are caught. There is an unspoken rule to never give up who the guia is. The guia will respond to the Border Patrol agent with "si señor" or "no señor" and simply be bused back to Mexico to try crossing again. Another thing that amazed me were the amount of agency and people gaurding the border besides the Border Patrol. The zone is militarized in a sense. Well, I hope to read more at the end of this week and I will keep you posted....