Roots

Just a thought. It takes patience. You plant a tree, it seems to grow an inch or two a year. But, it is growing roots. And in three or four years the tree will suddenly take off and grow from a sapling into a real tree. Even the seeds I plant. I watch the ground sometimes for weeks, then suddenly up pops the little plant. We don't see the roots, but we all need them. And patience. And time to grow.

Immigration and the backyard

Mexican Margaritas and African Aloe
Fred at the waterhole

I live in a garden. It takes some work, but I like the results. I had to decide what it was I wanted to grow and whether the plants I planted would be compatible with each other. (Yes, it is true, some plants do not thrive next to some other plants!) I select my seeds carefully from a wide variety of choices. I use both heritage seeds and hybrids, and I save seed from year to year. When I look out at my garden I see my mammoth Russian sunflowers, my Swiss Chard, my African daisys, my margaritas, and of course my native gourds, tomatoes, peppers and squash. I have yellow cucumbers, and purple zucchini. I have Peruvian potatoes--There is alot of variety and it works pretty well. Oh, and don't forget the Chilean mesquites.
There are another kind of seeds however that take root in my garden univited. These seeds come over the wall or under the gate. They take root, and if I am not vigilant they literally strangle some of my other plants. These are called weeds. I spend a few minutes six days a week pulling weeds and feeding them to Fred. But, I can't use an herbicide because it is too broad in it's effect. The herbicide would kill the weeds, but it would also kill my sunflowers, my chard, lettuce, carrots, squash, tomatoes onions, Italian grapes, Indian corn and so on.
And it would make Fred sick. Me too.

Once again. With immigration aren't we painting with too broad a brush, or spraying with too harsh a chemical? Isn't there a need and a place for the beautiful, the delicious, and the healthy. Can't we nourish the good and eliminate the destructive at the same time.
And can't we admit that there are both?
If we can't recognize this simple truth, the weeds will take over.
I won't let that happen in my garden!

El Universal (Mexico City) 5/22/10

Proposal to combat human trafficking in Mexico
Chiapas – During the XV Regional Conference on Migration held in the southern state of Chiapas, vice-Ministers of North and Central America agreed to combat the traffic and smuggling of migrants. The assembly, consisting of representatives from Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico, agreed to strengthen and normalize policies for the repatriation of undocumented migrants. The representatives from Guatemala and El Salvador demanded that Mexico stop the violence, maltreatment, abuses and murders committed against those without papers who transit across Mexico’s territory to reach the US. They cited in particular the recent assaults by federal police on undocumented Central Americans riding freight trains. There are abundant times the Salvadoran government has sent diplomatic notes expressing displeasure for assaults and abuses committed by Federal Police against migrants. The Mexican response is that they are investigating the complaints.

Immigration

Let's get serious here. We don't want to kick people out of the country. We need to change our whole mind set. We need people, productive people. We need people who want to be a part of this country and who come to work and make a better life. Better life =better country. Right? What we don't want is corruption, drug running, human smuggling, corrupt politicians, violence...
What we need are laws that facilitate legal immigration.
What we also need is for law enforcement to be able to focus on criminals--real criminals, not unauthorized entrants who don't fall into the narco, gang, corrupt, smuggler categories.

Example of the day: I have a neighbor who was born here in Arizona. Her parents were both born here in Arizona. So were her brothers and sisters, and her kids. They are all US citizens.

Her grandparents came to the US from Mexico more than 50 years ago. Her grandmother was 10 years old when she came here with her parents. She is now more than sixty years old. She is illegal.

That's right. The grandparents do not have residency papers. They have lived here all their lives. Why would anyone want to deport them? They have 4th generation family members living here in this country legally. Something is wrong here.

AND they are not unique. I think I will give you another example manana. And the day after that. Immigration law does not make sense.

SB 1070 is not the problem. The entire immigration law at the federal level, and people's perceptions and fears are half the problem. Criminal illegal immigrants are the other half. Who will work on making a system that makes sense instead of working only on reelection?????

Demography is destiny

Thank you to United Families International for an excellent presentation on demographics--really it is kind of scary how completely people want to disbelieve the facts. READ this interesting article below:

http://unitedfamiliesinternational.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/demography-is-destiny/

Pain in the neck

So after canceling Friday's surgery, we get a call this morning saying the fine doctor has decided to operate on the elbow on June 7 and do the neck later. Can anyone explain this?
No, he is NOT smiling. He is gritting his teeth. (See below)!!

Scheduling

Isn't there a better method of scheduling hospital procedures than calling at 8 in the morning to say that the previously scheduled surgery has been postponed for a month, AND that they have decided to operate on the upper spine instead of the elbow? OK. We'll wait and see what happens a month from now. And, I hope they give us a day and time before the morning of. . . .

They're wonderful, they're wonderful

My kids that is! I found a box of tulips outside the door this morning. No card. I called and texted, but no one claimed credit. Finally, I asked the youngest about flowers
"The tulips? They're from all of us."
And I know who you are. Thank you.
Dozens of tulips, gorgeous flowers!
Then, this afternoon the neighbor girl came over with another box. "This was delivered to us, but it's for you" she said.
Calla lilies. from Megan. Beautiful.
And the mirror I got across the line I also consider a mother's day gift from my honey. Sweet!

Hugs

I remember when Iris came from Chile in 1965. We met her at the airport and all very politely shook hands. She told me later that she was devastated, we were so cold and unfriendly. Chileans hug. And that is why I love living on the border. I just came home from church. I got my full quota of hugs this morning. You don't shake hands. You hug, you kiss, men, women, children. Four of our kids and 3 of their novios plus Mike's little sister from Utah were here yesterday. We grilled carne asada and ate and talked, laughed and acted silly. The boys wrestled like puppies. It was good to have family in the house. When it was time for everyone to go home we hugged and kissed each one before they left the house. Mike's sister stood back and watched. You've got to admit, it's not cold or unfriendly.
Abrazos amigos!