The title of Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz's memoir is an appropriate way to describe the ongoing instability taking place in Mexico during the recent years. With the latest result being 20 inmates slain in a Juarez prison, and the death count over all being 7,000, the danger is more evident than ever. According to the Los Angeles Times, rival gangs brought about this result, but should innocent family members pay the price as well?
We have all known immigrants to flee Mexico due to economic hardships or breaking away from tyrant leader. In this case, family members are asking for asylum in the U.S. due to family members being murdered for linking back to these "narcos." They do this at their own risk because once they ask for it, they must either go into seclusion or get thrown in jail. Should this be? Sure, they are not fighting against Fidel's communist grip through the Olympics but they're in danger.
Once CNN brings up the question whether or not this whole ordeal is just a distraction from our economic hardships, then we know these helpless people are in trouble. As if we have not been slapped in the face with the headlines "recession," "bailout," and "layoffs" enough...This is world news! Our neighbors are in trouble and, though not the most legal thing in the world, we should pay attention and help in any way.
*Photo: Taken by Victor Calzada for El Paso Times
Journalist Emilio Gutierrez Soto with attorney has been threatened
by drug cartels and was thrown in jail in El Paso.
"I was prepared to stay in jail as long as it took, since I'm a dead man
in Mexico," he said according to the L.A. Times.
