Building relationships instead of walls and advocating for non-violence

When I think of President Trump sending the troops to the border and about his insistence of building a wall and ending the NAFTA treaty with Mexico. I wonder what is it that he wants to achieve for women, men and children who have created and contributed to the United States as a country.

 I wonder if as a leader he is giving the message of being a Global citizen, a compassionate leader, a leader who comes together with the world rather than  a leader that divides.Unfortunatelly, It has been my experience that in America, people tend to separate from each other rather than come together.  Many families move away from their parents and kids to find themselves  absorved in their  daily routines and demands, with little time for enjoyment and friendship, living a very lonely life.

 As a citizen of this country I have noticed that people in the United States, mostly caucasian, are either afraid of building relationships. I have tried and tried in many different ways but it seems that culturally in the United States people rather be alone. I have met many people who live very isolated and lonely and in many instances refusing to get to know new people or becoming friends with their neighbors. I have lived in many different cities and different neighborhoods and although I have met a few very wonderful, all inclusive people, it seems that most Americans are too busy with their own activities, achievements, etc.

 When I hear leaders speaking of building a wall, I wonder how many of us who make the country are in agreement. I wonder if we, the constituents of the USA are entitle to oppose policies that go against our moral? For many of us, Not all in the world is about creating divisions, or having enemies as or going to war with those who do not agree with us. Many of us enjoy humans and togetherness and work towards Peace and Education rather than war and ignorance. Fighting constantly will not solve the greatest problems we have. Have we not learned yet anything through the history of violence, imperialism, land grabbing, colonization, etc?

When do we give up fighting every country including our neighbor countries that have done nothing but welcoming us? How far are our leaders capable of going for power?

As a mom, wife, neighbor, educator, taxpayer in the United Stated, and citizen of the planet, a very humane human; I want my voice to be heard.

Perhaps the President forgets that if the treaty ends, not only will have an impact on Mexico or Canada but the USA.

(According to Agweb  Vermont is the State that benefits the most from this treaty with 80% of its agriculture exporting to Canada and Mexico followed by North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware and Missouri). Also, another business, one most profitable of Nafta has been the car Industry. Autoworkers have made a profit by having factories in Mexico paying workers a fraction that they would have pay here in the USA. The benefit is not only for the Auto industry but also for all the franchise companies name it Wall-mart or Starbucks brought to Mexico, indeed providing jobs, yet profiting from low -wage labor.

In regards Migration there is so much been said. I believe Migration has been the side effect of countries being invaded through history for the purpose of land grabbing or exploitation and acquisition of their resources. President Trump threat to Mexico, reminded me of President Bush threat when he asked the world if they were with him or against him in the war in terrorism that now ½ of American condemn as inexistent.

When I think of Migration, I cannot help it to believe that humans deserve the same freedom and safety to travel when in need as our Grey whales do from Russia to Mexico or our Monarch butterflies from Canada to the USA to Mexico. The Grey Whale I read, chooses to give birth in Laguna de San Ignacio Mexico because the warmth welcoming.

I read that anthropologist Haide Castañeda wrote that " Migration is a necessary response to various forms of violence and adversity". So how can a President deny humans trying to escape adversity the right of Freedom that we protect so much in this country, isn’t every individual human regardless of what side of the border they live?

 I recently read a booklet entitled “International terrorism and the CIA”.

In this booklet the author speaks about how when political situations have been unfavorable to the USA, there have been operations directed by the CIA especially in Latin American country. All of these operations protecting the interest of the monopolies such were the case of Guatemala in 1950 and the United Fruit Company; in this book the author also speaks about Chile and Allende coup in 1973. The author of this booklet refers to all of this operations as crimes committed by the US monopoly due to the extraction of enormous profits in Latin American through ruthless exploitation of natural resources and manpower. If all of it is true, sounds very disheartening.

I still remember a book I read to my son about the Declaration of independence and why the colonies wanted to detached from Great Britain domain. The book spoke about Imperialism and tyranny. 

My question is: Are we in the USA making sure that we don't use tyranny as a way of ruling. The very same behavior we disliked from king George should not be embrace.

Are we using tyranny within our country and in other countries? 

It seems unreasonable to me, to ask anyone to stop the journey of migration, or the journey of seeking refuge, a journey with the purpose of finding security and freedom. Wasn’t that the same very thing the people escaping Europe in the Mayflower pursued?

Rather than threatening the Mexican people with the ending of Nafta, why don’t we support their unique spirit? Mexicans have always been known for being hospitable, friendly, happy, hard-working people who regardless of oppression and poverty have always welcomed tourist who visit or have permanently stayed to live in Mexico. Mexicans do not demand that foreigners speak Spanish only, neither they take back the properties or land that many foreigners have bought illegally.

Trump talks about a wall, protecting the borders.  From whom or what?

Mexicans have never been a threat to the world or at war with the world; Mexicans in the other hand are embracers of others. If not how do you explain that thousands of Americans and Europeans living in Mexico without a Mexican- citizenship or without speaking the language.

 Why in the USA we always use violence as a method of getting away with what we want? Peace, has been written in many ways it cannot be achieved by war or threats.

In a book written by Pema Chodron entitled “Practicing Peace in times of war”. Pema invite us to have the courage to change our heart. She talks about the amazing power of softening our hearts instead of hardening them.

 I would like to suggest to our leaders in the nation to have a change of heart in regards to the world immigration rules and in regards to Mexico. 

It will be the only way that we as a Nation can be great again, softening our hearts, opening our hearts and doors instead of closing our hearts and borders to other members of the human specie who seek for the same freedom that we constantly speak of.  In doing so, we could truly help our nation in cultivating Peace. 

“In the gift of anger” a book written by Gandhi’s grandson, Arun invite us to use our anger wisely to find solutions of truth and love. And in a book entitled “Happiness through Art” I read that violence done to human beings is not only the result of the actions of bad people, but also the inaction of good people.

In the book “Dreams of Freedom” a paragraph written by Aung San Suu kyi  she invites us all to "never let our fears prevent us from doing what we know is right." 

While Trump is talking about building walls, and sending the military to “protect our borders” “The lady” like many call Aung San Suu Kyi, has done something remarkable practicing non-violence in spite of 20 years of house arrest, in spite of assassination intents. In spite of having being elected to lead her country and being denied of that right, Aung San Suu Kyi still invite us to non-violence.

I read that some people are talking about removing her Noble Piece of prize because many blame her for the genocide between Burmese Buddhist and Muslim. The USA talks about ethnic cleansing but we don’t recall the ethnic cleansing of natives and Africans in America or our constant attack towards immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Suu Kyi refuses to violence, she wants independence and the best for her people. She is a leader of non-violence like Mandela and Gandhi. It is hard to believe that in spite of all who perhaps have said enough, none –sense, she still being judge including by the USA, a Nation that struggles accepting that ethnic prejudice exists.

For ”The Lady” who has inspired me to my own nonviolence path and who has inspired me to write today and for anyone who is suffering due to the leaders of country poor foreign relationships with the inhabitants of this planet. I want to say, I am sorry and enough.

Our Constitution words, We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, promote general welfare must mean that we do something to promote dignity for all, isn’t it?. No more walls, no more violence.

                                             ©KarlaGMundo2018