a reasonable question

"How will we look back on this time in American history?" asks the Border Film Project flip book. It's a good question, I think, and one that has the power to shift our perspective ever so slightly, if we ask it. This project is worth checking out - the idea is powerful but simple.

WHO WE ARE

We are three friends - a Rhodes Scholar, filmmaker, and a Wall Street analyst - who spent three months on the U.S. Mexico border filming and distributing hundreds of disposable cameras to two groups on different sides of the line: undocumented migrants crossing the desert and Minutemen volunteers trying to stop them.

WHY WE DID IT

To simplify the complexities of immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border, and to show the realities on the ground. To date, we have received more than 1,500 photographs and more continue to arrive everyday. The pictures speak for themselves. They capture the humanity present on both sides of the border. They tell stories that no news piece or policy debate or academic study could convey. They are non-partisan and inclusive.

On a less weighty topic, we played some ball today, two games we had to wait an hour to get in on, games against Colombians, games that left us bloody but not beaten. Ok, technically bloody AND beaten, but not defeated, not emotionally anyway. And we talked waaay better trash than any of the little kids standing around watching - that's gotta count for something.

In the spirit of March Madness, here's our bracket:

Round One:
The Fulbright Panters (cause we pant a lot...) v. Colombian all male team from the Pacific coast that no one has even beaten, ever.
Guess who won? It's not a trick question.

Round Two:
The Fulbright Panters v. Team with a couple of short guys, one good rebounder/shot blocker, and a girl who told me, "be careful who you mess with, queenie"
This one was a little closer, but again...

We did not represent American athletes well, not at all. On the positive side, we sped up the whole process of waiting to play, which was truly beginning to be a drag for the other teams on the sidelines. And we felt completely justified ordering beers with lunch afterwards. Today was a national holiday, so I'm telling myself all the best players were out today. Yeah, that's what it was. Funny, no one I've asked has any clue what holiday it is. Must be the equivalent of Colombian flag day.

I know someone who had better luck with his brackets though...he's out to prove you don't have to know sports to pick a good team. I'm hoping this turns out to have some practical life application.