What do you do?
Yesterday a couple who are camped in the desert off of Darby Well Road near Ajo, Arizona, about forty miles north of the border with Mexico, faced that question. They hear a knock at the door of their RV. Outside looking in is a thirsty, hungry man who speaks no English. He’s obviously tired and desperate.
Imagine it’s you looking back at him.
Do you see him as a weary traveler who has the courage and initiative to traverse a thousand, maybe two thousand miles seeking a better life for himself and possibly for his family? Or do you figure he’s a criminal about to attack you, possibly quite violently, and steal from you?
Do you give him water and food?
Do you hand him a blanket or a sleeping bag to help him get through these cold night-time temperatures dipping into the 30s? Do you hand him a pack of provisions and wish him Godspeed?
Suppose you provide water, food, and warmth for this man, and then ten, twenty, maybe thirty more people come out of the canyons, caves, hills, and washes looking to you for the same help. What then?
Or would you flick the lock, grab your cell phone, and call Border Patrol?
Do you assist Border Patrol in tackling the overwhelming job set before them?
Or do you subvert the efforts of our own law enforcement officers?
The Sonoran Desert is a popular destination for people wanting to escape the cold during the winter months in an area of scenic beauty.
We don’t come here to deal with hard decisions, the kind of decisions where “you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.” For compassionate people with a respect for the laws of our country, it’s a moral dilemma.
People on both sides of this issue make valid arguments.
If you help the illegal immigrant, you hurt your country and your fellow Americans.
If you don’t aid the illegal immigrant, you leave another human being to face misery and possibly death.
The couple I mention at the start of this post made their decision.
I’m not going to reveal who they are or what decision they made. Although it would make for interesting blog reading, this is the kind of emotional and potentially explosive topic that would set them up for a troll’s verbal attacks. Suffice it for me to say, they’re good people who made the best decision they could. And I still don’t know if their decision is right or wrong.
I do know it’s something for boondockers to ponder.
If you camp out in the desert of the Southwest, one day you may have to make this tough decision while someone waits at your door. Are you ready?
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 