So grateful

In my new training class, I have become friends with three very pretty Hispanic girls. Yesterday we were driving to a blood drive and we got into a deep conversation about immigration and illegal aliens. One of the Hispanic girls, Myra, was born in Durango, Mexico. Her parents worked very hard so they could move here to America legally, but she knew of many who had gotten here illegally. I was very interested and asked her all sorts of question about how Hispanic people get here illegally. She said that many people will risk their lives to get here to America and it is very dangerous. Many of them pay a lot of money to have people help them get across the border. When they get to America successfully, the same people who help them get here demand even more money, usually thousands of dollars. The illegal aliens have no way to pay, and if they don't pay, they end up being killed.

But why? I asked, why do so many people, a lot of whom are young mothers with children, or families, risk their lives to be here in America. She explained that in Mexico, a good job would pay only $50 dollars a week and the cost of living is the same as it is in America. Myra also said there is organized crime, the "Mexican Mafia". They have pretty much taken over most of the more rural areas of Mexico and most of Durango, the state in Mexico where her family is from. They will force people in cars over to the side of the road and steal their cars. She told us several heinous crimes happening all the time there. Too horrible to write down. The police are scared of the Mafia, and let them run wild. No one goes out at night. After 11:00 P.M. the police have told everyone they are on their own. They will not respond, or help, or go out after 11 at night because it has gotten so bad. Most of Myra's extended family still lives in Durango but her family rarely goes to see them because it is too dangerous.

After this conversation, I just can't stop thinking about how good we have it here. I complain over the most ridiculous things and I really have no reason to complain at all. We are so blessed to live in America and I love my country.