Betrayal & Abandonment

In this blog that concerns betrayal and abandonment, I would first like to address the issue of the crab mentality. I have often heard of and unfortunately have even been the victim of this manner of thinking in the African-American community. I had no idea that this disease also infected others. Far from attempting to create yet another negative stereotype and in no way condoning the havoc that having a crab mentality can wreak on individuals and groups, it is good to know that it is not just a "black thing."

Now, on to the issue at hand. I think the case of Hector Seemann is the worst of the two. It is obviously very stressful for those who are attempting to and in most cases succeeding in making better lives for their families in the US, and in Mexico as well, to make the ultimate decision of returning to their Mexican homes or staying in the US and building upon their new found lives and homes. They have not abandoned their home land as they have continued to poor money into their villages for various projects. I think for the immigrants it is those who stayed in Mexico, for whatever reason, that somehow try to shame them into feeling as though they have abandoned their villages and Mexico. They have worked hard and should be able to enjoy the fruit of their labor without felling guilty about it, whether in Mexico or in the US.

It is far worse to stay in a place that you feel has totally abandoned you and where your dreams have died. This is Hector. He has nothing to hold on to but the bitterness of never having seen his dreams fulfilled. He is stuck where he is with no hopes of ever leaving.This is of course by choice, but when abandonment and bitterness are all you've had to hold on to for so many years, they are assuredly hard to let go of.