Your papers, please.

I guess it is somewhat normal for those of us living outside our countries to pay close attention as to what is going back at home. Remember that Oaxaca has many areas which can only be classified as Third World. It is possible that were are more analytical or observant because we are on the outside watching or we could just be crazy expats..... of maybe that's just how it is in my house.

So watching the growing xenophobia in the US is alarming. Immigrants, Muslims, foreigners, anchor babies, terrorist babies, scientists, the list keeps growing. Not exactly an Age of Enlightenment. In talking with friends here, both Mexican and expats, there are lots of opinions and plenty of suggestions as to what to do, my favorite being, "Go sit on a cactus."

One opined that when he moved here many years ago, it was the hope that Mexico would follow the US into the First World, that the economy would grow and social programs would help advance the country. Unfortunately, it did not quite work out that way. In fact, just the opposite, the US is lurching towards Third world status. Seems it can't afford education, employment, infrastructure repair, renewable energy, a long list of things the country cannot do. Oh, but it can fight needless and seemingly endless wars, all off the budget. And the rich just keep getting richer.

Meanwhile fear and hatred grow. Let's get rid of the 14th amendment, deport everyone or put them in internment camps - yes, that was a suggestion from one of the new batch of politicians. New troops on the border, Arizona's law, fear and intimidation in action, your tax dollars at work. How we gonna enforce all those new laws, find all these illegals and terrorists among us? One is going to need one's papers at all times.

And this brings me to my point. The last couple of days, I have had to go through military checkpoints. One was only a km from my house, on the road into San Sebastian, a tiny road that often has oxen and burros on it. This was a serious checkpoint with lots of troops with very big guns. They asked for license and car registration and then searched the car thoroughly. It is a scary experience and no matter what, I am cowed into submission, trying to smile and act normal, while undergoing something I think is Orwellian. And yet we put up with it. This is everyday life here. Searches, soldiers, big guns, are an almost constant presence. Mexico is a militarized country and the army is the home for many young and uneducated people.

So something to ponder, as the US becomes more like Mexico. How will you do when this becomes normal in El Norte? Are you ready to go through military checkpoints searched by often masked soldiers? How will you do when asked for your papers and are basically scared shitless?