DISQUS

joel · 1 year ago

While we were brought together as one Body, the boundaries–both physical and social–that divide us were exposed for what they are. Amen. For we are One Body in Christ's Body, whether we choose to see it or not. It is only sin that blinds us to the truth all around us. Prayers to "become One" in Christ are a symptom of that sin; to acknowledge it, with acts such as the Mass you describe at the border, we see it, and must choose! God bless you. There are no walls to the Kingdom of God!

mountainguy · 1 year ago

As a latino (more exactly colombian) I feel very touched by your article. May God still bless you.

Ps: I remember someday my fahter told me "it is not that the mexicans are ilegally trespassing the border; they have been there before "gringos" expanded to the southwest".

J Evans · 1 year ago

Mountainguy, your father is right and it is unfortunate that the powers and many San Diegans do not take this into consideration. Thanks for your kind words, both of you.

Paz,

J

Yedeed · 1 year ago

Greetings.

As a Chicano with a complex identity and unique experience related to the issue, I appreciate the action, meditation, honesty, and repentance. But foremost as a son of God this article really resonates with me

There is much I can say about this issue.

I agree this is just another issue where so many "Constantinian Christians" go along with the powers that be and don't see our mandate to be concerned for the treatment of the immigrant.

I would also add that in the discussion of "illegal immigration" we must always remember, like a brother mentioned in response that the U.S. first "illegally immigrated" into Mexico. With their strong armed tactics they eventually "won" the rights to the land just like earlier American Imperial expansion pushing out and massacring native populations.

I've heard people say "well, before it was Mexico the Spaniards colonized the land as well." Of course, the unjust officials in the Mexican government and prior to that New Spain had their fare share in the hand of oppression as well. The point must be maid though that the majority of Mexicans are mestizo meaning they have a good portion of Indigenous heritage.

Even the nationality title Mexican comes from the name of the indigenous (Nahuatl) word for Aztec that is Mexica. The point is most Mexicans have a good amount of indigenous heritage and if anyone has a write to inhabit the land it is the indigenous who have been here thousands of years prior to any european.

Also a majority of the illegal immigrants are coming from poor villages in Mexico whose population is primarily indigenous. You don't see rich or well connected Mexicans immigrating illegally. Latin America's history and political structure and economic hierarchy to this day tends to put the more indigenous on the bottom strata of society and the more Spanish at the top. The reality is that racism is just as real (albeit different) in Latin America as it is in the U.S.

Latin America has a genocidal record on treatment of indigenous populations as well. A point I am making t is that the American/Mexican border situation also brings up the issues of indigenous rights as well. In addition, migration from we would call central Mexico to the American S.W. and vice versa has been going on for thousands of years. The American S.W was considered the ancestral homeland of the Mexica!!

I finds some interesting parallels between this issue and the Israeli Palestinian situation....although there is too much for me to say about that for this response.

I think Americans especially sincere Christians need to be critical of American history and our "Right" to the "homeland".......and the very construction of the U.S
The reality is that the expansion of the U.S. borders from sea to shining sea was built upon the backs of slaves, the blood of the indigenous and Mexican with outright racist doctrines.

This is not a "victimization" mentality but is plain historical fact that must be wrestled with and referenced in the current political situation. I know immigration is a complex discussion and there are many issues associated with it such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other criminal activity including those of vigilantes.

At the very least we need to see the humanity in those who cross illegally and understand the economic forces that pull them up here....of course just vrs. unjust economics is another important strata within the discussion, but if we are to call ourselves disciples of Christ we better see beyond man made borders that separate and lesson our solidarity with brothers and sisters in Messiah and the least of these.

It is interesting how people will go to Mexico for a "missions trip" but don't see the opportunity to "reach" the Mexican community here in the u.s.

With this issue of borders ultimately this is Our Heavenly Father's world and the entire earth belongs to Him!

BDRhodes · 1 year ago

Your line -- "It is interesting how people will go to Mexico for a "missions trip" but don't see the opportunity to "reach" the Mexican community here in the u.s." -- pierces into a very scary, very dark, very discomforting part of the American evangelical heart. What is our true motivation for house-building trips to Mexico? A way to cleanse our conscience? Are we just baptizing a group vacation in the name of the Lord? I've wanted to not believe my own cynicism about this. But the simple fact that churches can send their teenagers for a week to Mexico, but not even SEE the plight of the Latinos suffering from bigotry, gov't persecution, illegally low wages, abusive labor demands, and the temptations of gang culture?

May God open the eyes of the American church to see these things, and may he change our hearts as we see such pains, and may he cause us to act in humble love to "speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves." (Proverbs 31:8)

Yedeed · 1 year ago

Amen.