Better understanding

In the idyllic state of Montana, we too often live in a bubble. Our homogenized populace can often lull us into a state of ignorant bliss. We forget that there are other cultures and races in this amazing melting pot called America. At the end of our three-part series on migrant workers in the Flathead, we hope that our readers come away with a better understanding of these individuals, their culture, and the nature of their work.

The migrant workers arrive in Finley Point in mid-July typically, and stay for about two weeks. Then they are gone. Their brief stay in our area is a blessing. It jars us from our comfortable isolation. It creates an opportunity for us to learn about diversity. Too few of us take advantage of this opportunity. Instead we ignore the migrants' presence and go about our day-to-day existence. We don't ask questions like "Who are these people?" Where do they come from?" "What are their lives like?" "What are their stories?" Well, your local newspaper asked for you. We hope our readers have learned a little from our series on the workers. We hope it perpetuates tolerance.

Fear drives human beings to hate one another. We fear what we choose not to understand. That lack of understanding is a result of laziness. It is not easy to examine other parts of the world where suffering is prominent. Mexico is such a place. For the citizens struggling to survive, America seems like heaven on earth. That's why they pay vast amounts of money to be smuggled into this country. That's why they work from dawn in our agricultural fields. They want a better life, and most work hard for it.

We live in troubled times. In our little corner of Montana it is hard sometimes to imagine a world where people have nothing. Awareness is the first step toward unity. We are all members of the human race. Migrants, Caucasians, Asians, Indians, African Americans, men, women, adults, children-we all must live together. We must make this world better through understanding.