Wetback: The Film
by John Paul Ramirez
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Sacrifice is the language of love.
Imagine loving someone so much you would give up seeing them everyday so that they would not suffer later on in their lives. Imaginase vivir en un mundo donde no existe la esperanza. The people around you are lifeless. People are dying from starvation. Employment is scarce, and the few jobs available are just not enough.
Everyday thousands of parents from all over Central and South America are forced to leave their jobs, families, everything. They travel by foot or by train, or however they can.
A documentary called Wetback explains the story. The term wetback comes from the idea that illegal immigrants had to cross the Rio Grande to get to U. S. territory. Today, this term continues to be derogatory and it is aimed at describing Latino immigrants.
The journey of the sojourners is real. It is the sueño of hope to coming to America. In Wetback, the people of Honduras find others like themselves and join together sharing smiles with every mile they take. Every mile is one taken farther from their home and closer to hope.
The refugees share tears when one of them becomes victim of the journey. Sabias que la gente de Honduras who choose to leave must travel across two countries (Guatemala and Mexico) just to have a chance, not even a guarantee of making it to the U. S.
“Father, we know that crossing Mexico is like crossing a mine field, but you tell me, if I stay in my country and starve to death, what is my choice? I prefer to die in the attempt to the reach the North” “Even though the train was passing by very fast and I was very tired, I decided to run after it… I managed to catch it, but it sucked me under it and ran over my foot. I didn’t feel anything at first. ” A few quotes from the movie.
Wetback provides interesting information about immigrants in the United States. For example, in 2003 undocumented workers in the USA sent home over 30 billion dollars. These remittances are vital for the economy of their home countries. Do you know why the government is not as vividly opposed as other main opponents? Because les conviene not to do anything. Organizations, such as the minute men, do not realize how much of a tremendous investment they are to the United States. They pay taxes on food, gasoline, and real estate. Sometimes even on social security which they will not even benefit from.
The movie ends with a “To all the people that refuse to surrender to a situation they didn’t create. ”
Fall 2007
Number One