I recently watched the The Trial of the Chicago 7 and the T.V. show Stateless with my girlfriend. The credits rolled after Chicago 7, and my girlfriend looked over and asked “Have we done enough”. A similar feeling occurred after Stateless. A desire to help, but lacking the recourses and know how to accomplish anything. We agreed that the most likely scenario was a similar series coming out about US immigration, but not real change occurring.
2020 is a crazy year, because rolled into a pandemic has been mass social protests over racial inequality in the US. It felt like a perfect storm of misery. Disruption to people’s normal lives on an unprecedented level, and yet mass sickness and mass unrest has done little to really change the status quo. Of course, we have Joe Biden as president now, which is preferable to Trump, but I doubt he will accomplish meaningful change.
Both shows covered topics that have been on the forefront of public zeitgeist this year. Watching the Chicago 7 felt like weird deja vu. How in 2020 was I watching a movie about a leftist movement against police that occurred 60 years earlier. They were protesting the same issues that have people out on the streets today. Sure, some progress has been made, but I refuse to believe that progress can only happen at a glacial place.
Stateless covered detention facilities in Australia, and the treatment of migrants seeking shelter in their country. It is a known issue that most countries face, and I understand that there is no silver bullet to immigration, but human dignity and a fair process is something to strive for. We hear stories on a daily basis about the horrors that occur at US facilities, and yet I doubt much is actually being done about it. The kids in cages now can rest assured that their kids will be safe, because that is how long it will take for any progress to occur.
The slowness of progress is so infuriating. I know countries are capable of change, and many of the policies that will fix these issues would end up benefiting all facets of society in the long run. But what is the best way to speed it up? Is it through media like these works, bringing awareness and understanding. Is it through mass protests, and like the men in the Chicago 7, should I be willing to end up in front of a court to see the change I want occur. Or do we have to rely on someone with power and money actually trying to make change for all. Its frustrating, wanting to help, but not knowing how.