Free Speech and The Man From Guerrero
I met a man at the comedor in Nogales, Sonora, a few weeks ago—a student from Guerrero, Mexico, the state where 43 missing students at a teacher’s college are presumed dead. The young man was gaunt, malnourished, exhausted, and he knew no one in the United States. He was preparing himself for the journey northward, fleeing for his life. He was traveling alone. When I asked him why he was on the run, he looked at me with fear in his eyes.
“I saw things,” was his answer.
I pressed him for more information. He just shook his head and stared into the room of bustling activity as the Samaritans were clearing the breakfast tables. He looked like he was afraid to speak. My young acquaintance needed a shower, clean jeans, and some decent shoes. I told him about the dangers of crossing our desert—the extreme cold temperatures, the federal agents that would be hunting for him, the fear and loathing that so many Americans have toward migrants heading north. He spoke very little English, but somehow we connected. He asked for a clean pair of socks.
I asked him what kind of work he did in Guerrero. He told me he was a college student studying to be an engineer, but could do construction work. I told him, “Cuidado.” Be careful. The desert is a dangerous place. He replied, “It will be better than Guerrero.”
He crossed himself several times, picked up a packet of soap and a toothbrush, and was out the door.
And I have to confess that this kind of experience with a migrant both moves me and terrifies me. As much as I love Mexico, I cannot ignore the fact that hundreds of thousands of people in Mexico and Central America do not trust the police, their government, or the renegade lawlessness of the drug cartels. In fact, many believe that they are one and the same. This young college student believes that he may lose his life if he reports the things he saw in Guerrero.
I think about him each day, and whisper little half-prayers to the winds and to God. He is closer to my idea of a decent human being than most of the members of Congress.
He prefers taking his chances in the Sonoran desert. Free speech has a price in Mexico.
I’ve been thinking a lot about free speech and its implications since the recent massacre of journalists and cartoonists in the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris. I had never heard of Charlie Hebdo or seen any of the cartoons before this incident. To be honest, I was repulsed and shocked by some of the drawings; most of them I simply didn’t understand. Finding the caricatures crude and puzzling, I decided that the humor was a cultural anomaly–a French thing–and France was diving into areas that some Americans would label as hateful, racist and anti-religious. Charlie Hebdo reminded me of Mad Magazine, the radical rag of my youth.
Free speech in a democratic society is often messy and provocative. Frequently things get dirty and uncomfortable. We try to organize our complex world, but the best we can do is sketch out a crude map of life from our own particular vantage point. Cartoons, if they are good, often distill this complexity into a few simple drawings, a few words, that deliver deeper truths.
I applaud satire and artists who push the envelope and make me think. They peel away the comfortable layers of my civilized world, often exposing the very things that hold my life together. In a perfect world, artists should be able to create freely and not be restrained by social mores. They should give you a punch in the gut. I would like to say that I defend the right of free speech and the expression of all ideas, no matter how uncomfortable. But this is probably not altogether true. I draw the line at child pornography, incitement to violence, libelous statements, and probably a few other things I haven’t thought of.
As much as I crave order and simplicity and truth, the politics of free speech are murky.
This is not a perfect world. If a cartoon or article is provocative and offensive to some, it is impossible to predict what will happen. This is the unfortunate state of the world today. Artists and journalists were martyred in Paris for their expression of free speech. They took a risk and they died.
No one should die for a cartoon. No one should die for writing a book. Violence toward another human should not be part of the equation.
But it is.
I honor and respect the artists’ right to express whatever they choose, even if I find the art odious and offensive. Artists and writers must make a choice; there may be freedom of speech, but unfortunately, there may also be consequences. We take our chances.
So here is my truth: The world has always been embroiled in some destructive crisis somewhere. What keeps it from caving in is our desire not to die, and the miracle of being alive in the midst of it all. In fact, it is a miracle we keep things going at all. We muddle through, in spite of the massacres, the graft, and the economic disparity.
So if you need to pick a side in this debate about immigration, or Islamic extremism, or free speech, or Republicans and Democrats, pick the side of respect and connection. And if you can’t respect those on the other side, at least try to listen and see them as a human being, and not an abstract idea. Let robust dialogue and a free exchange of ideas be loud and fierce, no matter how repugnant. Keep your mind open to the views you hate to hear. Try and understand people you least relate to. Let the cartoons open your mind; feel free to close the page on some.
It is never easy, but it is better than murder.
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My book, A Land of Hard Edges, is now available in most bookstores in southern Arizona, your local library, or Amazon.com. I will be doing presentations and book signings at the following venues:
Feb. 5, 2015, the Tumacacori Mission, Tumacacori, Arizona, 12:30-2 PM
Feb. 13, 2015, Green Valley League of Women Voters, La Posada at Park Center, Green Valley, AZ., Madera Room, 12 noon.
Feb. 21, 2015, Lutheran Church of the Foothills, 5102 N. Craycroft Rd., Tucson, AZ., 10 AM
March 8, 2015, Global Arts Gallery, Patagonia, AZ., 12-5 PM. Open house with refreshments, book reading and signing at 2 PM.
March 15, 2015, Tucson Festival of Books, University of Arizona campus, Modern Languages Building, Room 350, 1-2 PM
March 19, 2015, Democratic Club, Sedona, AZ. Breakfast meeting.
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Please direct comments and thoughts to the “Comments” section of this blog. Peg Bowden can be reached at: pegbowden1942@gmail.com
If you wish to receive regular postings to this blog, register in the Announcement List space in the right-hand column, and you are automatically on the email blog list.
The Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans is a non-profit organization; the mission is to prevent deaths in the desert. Information and contributions can be directed to: www.gvsamaritans.org
Kino Border Initiative directs the activities of the comedor in Nogales, Mexico. The mission is to help create a just, humane immigration policy between the United States and Mexico. Their website is: www.kinoborderinitiative.org
The Border Community Alliance is an exciting new organization in southern Arizona focusing on the economic, cultural and humanitarian needs of the Arizona borderlands. BCA is now a 501 3(c) nonprofit entity. The website is: www.bordercommunityalliance.com
Peg, How frightening for this young man ! And a testament to the fact that the work of KBI and Samaritans does save lives. Where could he go to be safe ? I worked for a time in the late 90’s in a mountain village right up the hill from the scene of that tragedy. I worry about the young people growing up there now. All that we do are bandaids. But there is no giving up.
Barb Lemmon said this on January 20, 2015 at 5:16 pm
So well thought out and well written, Peg. As always, your blog is honest and thought provoking. Abrazos, Blyth
Blyth Carpenter said this on January 20, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Thank you, thank you, dear Peg! I have just read this blog, and I am touched to learn from you of so much I did not know. Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your brother. You and he have contributed much to making this a better world.
Faye Hutchings said this on January 20, 2015 at 8:34 pm
Great blog! You did well friend. Thank you.
Diane Brooks said this on January 21, 2015 at 9:36 am
Peg this is just beautiful, despite it being a discouraging reality of life in Mexico and I guess the world in general. Your ability to grasp meaning and reflect is inspiring, not to mention your gift for writing.
Wendy Neander said this on January 21, 2015 at 10:07 am
Hi Peg,
I met you in Tacoma through Genene Kluck. Thank you for continuing your work and expressing your thoughtful reflections. Since we met I have read your excellent book and encouraged others to do so. Keep up the good work. I’m glad to see your speaking schedule in the Tucson, GV area – especially that you will be at the Tuscon Festival of Books.
You go girl! We’re with you and proud of your determination and ability to articulate.
Carol Ballard said this on January 21, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Hi Peg
I met you in Tacoma when you came to the detention center roundtable. I bought your book and I have read it all. It is a wonderful book. I was really really impressed. Congratulations. Your spirit really shines through as well as those of all the people you write about.
I think I am already on your announcement list for your blog, since I got this notice. I liked what you said on the post, but couldn’t figure out how to make a comment.
I am going to try to link your blog to mine if I can.
Currently I am organizing exhibitions about Migration like this one
http://socialwork.uw.edu/node/4337
The website for the whole portfolio is http://www.migrationnow.com and you can see all the prints there and also download them if you want. There is no copyright on them.
All the best
Susan
Susan Platt said this on January 21, 2015 at 5:07 pm
I just read your most recent blog, and when I came to the end of it, hungry for more, I read the previous entry about your brother. What a tribute! I am in tears. I am sorry that I never knew him… You are a wonderful writer!
Dorothy Chao said this on January 22, 2015 at 8:31 am
The story of the young man from Guererro is chilling. Perhaps he is one who somehow got away. We will never know.
I agree so much with your thoughts on freedoms of speech. I surely believe in it. I think I draw my line a bit differently, though, as I include lies and exaggerations, especially those done with the intent to cause divisiveness, hate, or fear.
And as you said, there is perhaps more that I haven’t thought of.
Thanks again for another thoughtful, beautifully written piece.
Emilie Vardaman said this on January 23, 2015 at 5:03 am
Hi, Meg,
What a moving story. Thanks for sharing it and helping to humanize the plight of the undocumented.
Jana said this on March 31, 2015 at 11:45 am
Thanks, Peg, for all you do and share with us.
Cornelia Bayley said this on April 15, 2015 at 12:22 pm