Border Lights
Emilio was 12 years old when he died--too young to cross the great divide which separates this life from the next, which separates Mexico from the United States.
On the day he died, the sound of gunfire had been heard on Monument Road. Was it target practice? And the target? A can, a rabbit, a little boy?
The hopes of a better life, of family reunion (“Tragic Family Reunion After Border Slaying,” May 22) ended on the hillside that mild spring afternoon.
They say that Emilio’s mother has little anger, hoping only that no other mother will have to go through this experience. To that we say Amen.
Quite a difference from the attitude of those who park their vehicles down the road a ways, and shine their headlights toward Tijuana in anger and frustration at those, like Emilio, who cross the border without documents.
Documents don’t seem very important when one is hungry or unemployed, or is a 12-year-old boy wanting to be reunited with his mother.
The darker side of our public image is far too prominent along the border these days.
Time for the fair, reasonable, and more humane amongst us to retake command of this issue.
THE REV. JOHN F. BLETHEN
Director of Social Services Villa Nueva Apartments
San Ysidro
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