Much has been said recently about the search for a common narrative in America. Some have noted that since 9/11, this country has struggled to find a shared expression of aspirations and vision, and that our public dialogue, our very use of language, has become ever more divisive – or, by turns, just plain uninspiring. Our politicians seem unable to find the words to rally us to common purpose. Our Google searches, thanks to algorithms that track every keyword we’ve ever used, give us results that confirm opinions we are already predisposed to hold. And despite the technologies that keep us plugged into a vast array of communication channels and make us reachable by an unprecedented number of strangers, we are in some ways more separated from one another than ever.
It was with these thoughts in mind that I attended the Washington Office on Latin America’s Human Rights Gala here in Washington earlier this week. Much of what was said during the event, held in the magnificent Organization of American States headquarters near the White House, reminded me of the singular power we each, as individuals, still hold in our hands: the power to tell stories, and to craft a new narrative for change through those stories. For two of the honorees, the Ambulante Documentary Film Festival and the renowned Mexican film star Gael García Bernal, storytelling is nothing short of life-saving. Their work on documentaries about the plight of Mexican migrants making the agonizing and dangerous journey to the United States is critical to creating the basis for a new narrative – and for action – on human rights, immigration policy, and our basic responsibilities, as people sharing the same planet, toward each other.
I was particularly moved by something Mr. García Bernal said in his acceptance remarks: “Borders are not where we think they are. They are in our fears.” He predicted a time when physical barriers, like the fence between the United States and Mexico, would fall away, saying that these are obstacles we can overcome when we embrace our common humanity. Can we really, most of us, imagine such a time? What would it take for our public policies to be grounded in the reality that a migrant worker in Mexico and an investment banker in New York City are motivated by the same basic human desires and rights: to live in dignity and peace? WOLA founder Joe Eldridge, who introduced Mr. García Bernal at the gala, put it this way: “Compassion and justice are companions, not choices.”
International educators, I have always believed, are the custodians of some of the world’s most compelling stories, of young people transformed, bridges built, friendships found, and a world ever so slightly altered toward peace each step of the way. It is those stories that help us make the case for policies that move us in the right direction as a country and as a global community.
Add Your View: What stories inspire you? Do you have an international education story to share? Add your views and stories in the comments, and read more stories from those touched by international education on Connecting Our World.
At my institution we have a significant population of undocumented students. While we do offer them in-state tuition, it is so difficult to simultaneously encourage them to reach their educational goals and dutifully inform them of their inadequate employment opportunities upon completion. It is great to see positive work in place on this front, but we are a country very clearly divided on this issue. I hope that the Dream Act can gain momentum and I love hearing about other positive movements in this direction.
Thank you for your comment, Denise. The situation of undocumented students is one that is particularly in need of stories that bring to light the true consequences of current policies and the realities of living life in fear of deportation from the only country you know as home. Last year at the NAFSA conference, we held a special screening of the documentary film “Papers,” which tells the stories of a group of talented, passionate young people who want to get an education but are trapped by their undocumented status. Compelling stories like these make it much harder, I believe, for policy makers and the public to stick to the same old talking points about “illegals” and force us to ask ourselves a more important question: What kind of country do we want? We need to keep telling the stories, and we need to keep pushing the legislation forward.
Hi Ursula,
Our I am a board member of our Diversity Club on campus and we are hosting Papers as one of our first activities this year. I am very excited about this. Not only am I excited to see the film, I am hopeful that it will open more people’s eyes to this basis human rights issue!
Ugh, please excuse my grammar errors above, it’s been a long day!
Thanks for this post, Ursula! I was at the WOLA event, too, and it was truly inspiring.
I’ve been thinking lately about how we have to make ourselves vulnerable in order to build relationships and community. Even in our comparatively comfortable lives, we need help sometimes, and we often have a hard time admitting it. But when we do, people come to our aid, and everyone (both the helpers and the help-ees) are better for it.
That’s why story-telling is so powerful, I believe. And that’s also why Mr. García Bernal and Ambulante are so good at telling stories. They don’t hide behind pride, and they’re not afraid to make themselves vulnerable by being honest about their feelings.
(I posted about this too: http://www.grandjunctiondesign.com/blog/thank_you_gael)
Thank you very much for this post! I have just visited the american – mexican border and was amazed by the huge fence they have built. Maybe some borders are not only in our heads but physically as well.
Yes Theo, that’s true, of course. I think what Mr. Garcia Bernal was trying to say is that in many ways the borders we build between ourselves and others in our thinking and our attitudes are a greater barrier to peace and justice than the ones that are physical. We see this today with the immigration debate in the United States – the misperceptions and misunderstanding around the issues create nonphysical but very real barriers that hamper us in moving toward fair and effective solutions.
As a california resident, I am constantly in discussions with co-workers about the Dream Act. There are so many strong feelings about this legislation. But I agree with the authos and some of the comments, that if we do not settle the immigration issues in this coutry, educating these young people may simply be in vain if they will be unemployable. For me, I have never had the opportunity to travel abroad and it has been one of my biggest dissapointments. I am raising a severely disabled child and leavng her, simply is not an option. However, I love that I can be involved in international education issues by supporting good legislation. Finding these international blogs, for me, has really encouragd me that even though I amy never be able to seek education out of this country, there is still a lot I can do to promote international education right where I am.
Jen Millar, RNC, MSN
One way we can make changes in our world is beginning with children in elementary school. I am a kindergarten teacher in a very ethnically diverse school. The children that come to me are very open minded and willing to accept others. They find commonalities among their favorite colors, tv shows and book characters. However, they can be easily influenced to speak and think what they hear at home and on tv. We can begin by shaping their hearts to see “human” when they see others and hopefully they will grow into independent, globally accepting adults who want to create a global community.