I’m reading an article about a town of people in the United States. In that town, there is a segment of the citizenry that opposes illegal immigration. One citizen speculates that the more they make it difficult on illegals currently residing in the town, the more likely it is that those people will leave the town.
Depending on your worldview, you may see story’s antagonist as the citizen or the illegal immigrant. My worldview is that both sides are each other’s heroes and each other’s villain. And these dual nature identities attract me.
I am curious about people. I am curious about how worldviews are formed and how that worldview factors into our decision-making about people, places, and things. What is it about a citizen that may cause them to use and think inflammatory things about their neighbor — a citizen born to illegal immigrants? And I have questions about illegal immigrants — what happened that cause them to move? Why did they pick, if they were able to choose, an illegal means to come here? I am not interested in passing judgment, I am interested in the story.
I genuinely believe that people are just trying to do their best and are more often well natured until they’re not. And my experiences tells me that it’s through curiosity that we learn stories that help us understand the nature of others. And it’s my experience that through understanding stories that common ground and contentment can be derived.
Predictably, I find myself at odds with many people when it comes to cultural issues or norms. I get it, I’m different, I don’t fall in line and I ask questions. I’m not welcome in any camp. And it’s that eerie and lonesome feeling of not quite belonging anywhere that gives me a sense of security — that the only real belonging I need to have is with myself.
Inspiration article: For Many People in This Small Town, Deportations Can’t Come Soon Enough by Arian Campo-Flores.