The dark side of Enrique's Journey

By Tim Willert

Let's face it, there is much about Enrique's Journey that is inspirational, starting with Enrique's will to survive in the face of life-threatening danger, and the overwhelming desire to find his mother despite numerous setbacks. Then there are the good Samaritans (Olga, Padre Leo, the strangers who run alongside the trains with handouts) who provide food and clothing and shelter and hope to those who are making their journey or have had theirs cut short by injury.

But there is a dark side to Enrique's Journey, one that should be brought to the light, but probably won't. The gangsters, or bandits, who rob and beat Enrique and others like him seeking passage from South America to the United States should be brought to justice, but never will be because law enforcement is just as dirty and unconscionable.

Together, police and immigration officers along with bandits prey on those who can barely defend themselves and have little or nothing to give in the way of money for bribes. They are helpless, and are taken advantage of by vultures who shoot and stab and beat defenseless young boys and rape girls and women because they can and there are no consequences because those who are supposed to be protecting the victims are also taking advantage of them.

Perhaps I'm being a bit idealistic here, but the media has an obligation to report this kind of abuse, regardless if the victims are illegal aliens or not. This is a human rights issue and deserves the media's full attention. Whether or not it would do any good is another story, perhaps it's been done and nobody cares enough to do anything about it because we're talking about immigrants who are in the country illegally (whether Mexico or the U.S.).

Here is a link to a story about this very issue -- immigrants being robbed by bndits. More stories like this fleshed out into a feature story with lots of pictures for, say, a Sunday magazine story, might go a long way in raising awareness.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-166158866.html

Those who prey on defenseless children should be exposed for who they are: criminals. I know, they make the world go 'round, much like cockroaches and gang-bangers in our country. They'll be around as long as they serve a purpose.

What's interesting about Enrique's Journey is that it's a story of good and bad; one is always in direct conflict with the other. You have the spiritual on one side (Olga, Father Leo, good Samaritans), who want the best for their fellow man and are full of love and compassion, and the the non-spiritual (bandits, migra, policia) who don't protect and serve, but violate the dignity and the rights of others, which is non-spiritual and hateful and will be reconciled with consequences, maybe sooner, maybe later.