The United States

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Reflection: Political Fear
Cumulative Factors?
6th Mass Extinction

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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     So I heard the President was in town, and thought to offer a comment about his presidential address, as well as his latest visit to Texas. While I have taken a side step, especially as to responding to his presidential address, this was not because of his lack of care, but simply because I have written and researched a lot about the topic. Continuing to provide reasoning and rationale, simply felt like I was going around in circles. But it is always important to continue conversation, even if it does seem repetitive. As you delve into your thoughts, you never really know what you'll find. This is how I felt as I was reading about American history, pertaining to alliances with Mexico and France. The findings were interesting as they showed how a nations priorities change, with the relations forged with other nations.

     Previously, history revealed that the U.S. needed Mexico to reduce, eliminate and expel the powers of Napoleon III. With the assistance of Mexico the U.S.A. was able to regain power, and form business and trading relations with Mexico. Examples include, the flourishing cotton industry that was thriving in Texas, as well as the purchase of weapons and bonds that occurred as far north as New York. The U.S.A. elites found opportunity with investing in  Mexico, and so did Mexico - who at the time was very vulnerable, and benefited from the trading relations. We see remnants of this history, where there are U.S.A land owners along the U.S.A and Mexico border. Who do not want to sell thier land, where there are no proposals for building a wall. Now I don't write these thoughts to stir up anger, or to bring brutal histories to surface, that are associated with the U.S.A relationship with France, but it is really to make a point, and add another layer to the complexity of building a wall. 

   This history reveals the deep interdependency between the U.S. and Mexico. However, today we can think about this history and current relations as a type of usury. That Mexico was indeed used. Within the contexts of political policy, immigrations and the topic of the wall. We can also think of the issue of the wall as inflated. An issue that is getting bigger and bigger, because there is more focus on the problem. We can of course think of the immigration crisis as manufactured, as well as a social construction. But we have to remember that much of what is happening was also taking place during the Obama administration. Child custodies, child separations, and migrant deaths, did not just start happening because President Trump became president. But of course issues have revealed themselves much more overtly, because of the macro politics, and media attention along with the immigration policy of "zero tolerance". Of course the crisis' are created, but there is also the problem of drugs, crime, and gangs. Whilst of course this is a problem that is prevalent within America, and actually other nations as well, such as Canada. America could indeed benefit to look at how improved technologies, at border checkpoints could enhance customs and border patrol. But the President's view has also shifted to also include a humanitarian lens. We could also question this stance, especially because of the firing of tear gas at migrants. Humanitarian responses are going to be much more successful with working with Mexico, and officials from both sides of the southern border. Whilst history has revealed an interdependency between Mexico and America, today we see how ruptures have been caused to this relationship.  

   A Note of Hope
   Whilst corporations have often been criticized from scholars or academia, today we can actually commend business organizations such as the FIFA World Cup, who is trying to unite the nations of USA, Mexico and Canada, with the 2026 World Cup. These efforts are an example of trying to create unity. But quite often we also see and experience fractures at the level of the individuals. Where there is fierce opposition, that harms the creation of unity individually and communally. Once again as I have stated that the creation of the wall is much more political than it seems so, it also exemplifies how Mexico has been used historically and to the present day. As for the President who wants to weld relations with the Northern border, but really the welding should occur both North and South, from macro and micro efforts.

​My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

​Further Reading:
Hart, J, M. (2002). Empire and Revolution: The Americans in Mexico since the Civil War. CA : University of California Press, Print.

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on January 11th, 2018.
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