1. After viewing the interview with Charles Bowden I also had the same question about whether or not illegal immigrants from Mexico could be considered refugees in the US. The 1981 Refugee Act states that one may attain refugee status if "unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion". Unfortunately, severe economic hardship is not on this list but to be considered could be persecution based on membership in a particular social group - drug cartels. How far can these limitations of refugee status be stretched? Are Mexicans aware of this possibility and have any lobbied and applied to be refugees? This didn't come up as a way to help Mexico in Bowden's interview. Is there a way that NAFTA could be reformed in order to better accomodate for economies like that in Mexico and could this happen anytime soon? Knowledge and the spread of true information seems to be a possible way to lobby for helping the Mexican population - how do you think the spread of more accurate information would affect the American people from San Diego all the way to Maine?
2. Is art an effective means of spreading more accurate information in America regarding the truths about the hardships of living in Mexico today? Are some artforms more or less effective than others? I found the movie Sin Nombre to be affective in showing the hardship both of crossing and the life that each character was trying to escape, yet I was not as affected by my reading of De Camino al Ahorita. Is theatre an effective way to educate and promote the aid of Mexico by international forces? Perhaps film is a better means because of the better reality that can be portrayed. What other roles can artistic pieces play in educating Americans and finding help for the Mexican people?
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