“Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed — let it be that great strong land of love
where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme, that any man be crushed by one above” — Langston Hughes
The last time I gave any thought to Guatemala was probably in fifth grade geography. It is the first country in Central America, sometimes called “Southern Mexico.” When I visited there in March, I had little to go on. My friend who spends much of each winter soaking up the sun encouraged me saying it was beautiful, inexpensive and perfect weather. All these I found to be true. I also found it a place to love for its people, their simple way of life, and indomitable spirit in the face of much hardship.
Landing in the capital on a balmy night instantly made me forget the snow and cold back home, though I returned to find the aftermath of our last big storm two weeks later. I was shuttled to a hotel in Antigua, once the capital of Spanish occupation, and still a city with cobblestone streets and charm.
The next morning on my walk to exchange money, I saw tourists and residents seemingly enjoying a pleasant existence. A private driver then took me to San Marcos fours away, but light years from the hustle and bustle. I spent 10 days in a cottage on the premises of a woman from the U.S. who has developed over the years, a fabulous property overlooking Lake Atitlan — formed from an ancient volcano and ringed by several more. Heavenly.
The ride there was revealing. We passed through numerous little villages on dusty roads which had residences ranging from adequate to horrible — wood and metal dwellings offering nothing but bare necessities. But this is what it’s like throughout the “third world” — teeming humanity managing to somehow make a go of it against impossible odds. Yet there were tons of vehicles, mostly trucks and scooters.
Projecting this worldwide, it’s hard to believe there is so much petroleum which can be transported to so many users. That this is accomplished explains the continued reliance on fossil fuels and the ungodly profits made. These carcasses will litter the Earth one day when failure to pursue other methods takes its toll. And in each village I saw Coca Cola signs of course, the perfect example of corporate consumerism. “Things go better with Coke,” even poverty.
The abject poverty I witnessed repeatedly in Guatemala, as I had in India, is nothing new, however the scope of it has greatly increased in recent times and threatens to reduce much of the world’s population to transient hordes seeking relief from starvation and oppression. Global warming is exacerbating the problem exponentially, and though there are potential solutions, those most able to effect such change will not do so. It all boils down to the refusal of the powerfully rich to share their wealth with those they view as “other”— as unworthy of their assistance — such as with Rep. Ryan whose plan for replacing Obamacare would have left those in most need without it.
Viewing the masses only as markets for the goods and services they provide allows them to justify their greed.
As fascists before them, Trump and his kind create false enemies to be hated and feared — Mexicans and Muslims in his case — who are blamed unfairly and divert the downtrodden from recognizing and rising up against their real oppressors.
In addition to the moral case against such behavior, the economic cost is persuasive. The government spends more on immigration enforcement than on all other federal law enforcement combined (FBI, DEA, etc.) This is blank-check steroidal thinking and Trump wants more, including billions for his fabled border wall. The truth, should he want to hear it is that it’s for nothing. Illegal immigration has trailed off greatly and more Mexicans are returning, not arriving.
As for the claim that these illegal immigrants take from the rest of us, just the opposite is true. Expelling all of those here would cost $500 billion and reduce the gross domestic product by $1 trillion, according to some estimates. They have produced a net benefit of $50 billion since 1990, by paying taxes either on income or in sales and on property, and by not collecting from Social Security, food stamps and other benefit programs. So evicting these 11 million or driving them underground will not make our economy healthier nor make our society stronger or better, but deprive us of their contributions.
I found warmth, kindness and generosity everywhere I went in Guatemala and this is the natural way of things — recognition that we are interconnected and reliant on each other. This leads to respect and love for our fellow humans. But until the one percent makes an attempt to mingle with the rest of us, come down from their high-rise castles and country clubs and hopefully find common ground, they will remain cut off from what’s needed to make this essential leap. And it will remain up to us to remain vigilant, protest when appropriate, and be prepared to take further steps when necessary.
If we do what we must do, then I have no doubt that this country will reclaim its promise, and out of this long political darkness a brighter day will come.
“Hope in the face of difficulty, hope in the face of uncertainty, the audacity of hope.” — Barack Obama
David Fersh lives in Charlemont.