netflixed "wetback: the undocumented documentary". it's a documentary on the undocumented immigrants from south of the us border, or 'wetbacks' as the derogatory term goes. i thought it would be about mexicans but no sir, it's about central americans who go through much hardship to get to the usa. their biggest obstacle is crossing mexico.

the film focuses on a few people and shows how loose the borders are between the central american countries as they head north to mexico. some of the borders are a simple fence with gaps, much like a fence around a park or school yard. these are very poor people of course and they wouldn't make this journey on foot and the other perilous means of transport (such as hopping on trains, missing the train and becoming disfigured) if their hometown conditions weren't so bleak. as you hear the stories of hardship in crossing through the countries for a better life (such as being robbed of the little money they have), it makes you wonder about all these undocumented people. there is a big human tragedy ocurring here. only a few complete the journey. many are sent back home, perish, or are missing.

what is also amazing are all the various organizations connected to the undocumented migrant. whether these organizations are humanitarian ones to offer sanctuary along the migrant trail, gangs who prey on the migrants, or even official government figures who also prey on the migrants, and vigilantes in america serving their brand of justice by keeping watch on the border and rounding up the undocumented migrants. plus what's interesting is the people behind those organizations, the financial backing, how they got started, and so forth.

i really feel that this film (and others like it) is important for americans to view because we are a land of immigrants. times have changed a lot perhaps in terms of paperwork to immigrate since your immigrant grandfather or his grandfather arrived and your future immigrant son-in-law. but what has not changed is the desire to have a better life for yourself and your family, to chase the american dream. so then for those of us who have been here so long we have forgotten our immigrant roots, does it give us the right to deny the same opportunity to others that our forebearers had? i could go on but i'll just leave it there. next time before you have negative thoughts towards migrants or want to yell 'wetback', please view the film "wetback: the undocumented documentary" just to see life on the other side of the river for a few minutes.