I do not have a gift for languages. Although I have no ability and struggle mightily, I make it a point to read Mexican newspapers, which is how I learned that Escobares, Texas, is the poorest community in the United States.
Household income is less than $15,000.
Mexican journalists liked the story because it’s a myth buster. Many Spanish-speaking people want to get to the United States because they have heard stories that aren’t entirely true. Given the reality, would you really want to go there?
It can be hard to make yourself do something when you are aware that you lack natural ability. But I read the papers, dictionary in hand, because I believe that a second or third language is part of a liberal education. I believe that plodding on can broaden your perspective.
As I thought about the story, I forgot about the news that the White House was claiming that consumer prices are falling. I forgot about the debate over “affordability,” although I’m not sure what that means. Instead, I thought about how a couple of parents with kids would get by on less than $290 a week in a country that talks a lot about equality, justice and opportunity.
No comments:
Post a Comment