Great Dreams, Limited Means

When you're sitting in your comfortable, heated office or home, it can be tempting to think that the people who are crossing national borders "illegally" are doing so through some fault of their own. Maybe they just want an "easier" life or a "free lunch"? Maybe they are impatient for the good life, or too willing to ignore proper procedures?

Not so, says Diego Joaquin Catalan, who came to the United States from Mexico at the age of eight. I could tell you how he walked across the desert for two days, but it would be better if you invested 12 minutes watched Diego tell his own story. (I'll wait.)

Tonight, at a special screening in Park City hosted by FIReFilms, Diego told a handful of us a bit more about his experiences.

He said that people think illegal immigrants have a choice, but that's often not the case. The alternative for his family was starvation. Even after his family paid the equivalent of about $10,000 to be guided across the border, they faced the prospect of being kidnapped and extorted for more money by the very people they had already paid. They also risked assault and rape.

No one, he says, does that just to live the easy life in America. People mainly do that when the alternative is death.

Diego's Dream, directed by Peter C. Davidson, is the product of a program at the University of Utah called Humanities in Focus. It's taught by professors Jeff Metcalf and Craig Wirth.

I stole today's headline from Professor Metcalf, who uses the phrase "great dreams, limited means" to describe the plight of so many people whose lives and circumstances are all too easy to ignore. His program helps people in such have their voices be heard, via short documentary films.

It's not that there are certain groups of people with lesser dreams or talent than you or I. It's not that these people lack potential or energy or grit.

It's simply that they have limited means. Close to zero means, in many cases.

Here's the good news: your means are likely more robust. You have the ability to advocate on behalf of people with great dreams but limited means.

As Diego told us tonight, "So many of the world's problems could be solved by human compassion and kindness."

You and I don't have to solve the Syrian refugee problem or resolve the challenges of how to handle immigration into our countries. We simply have to show human compassion and help one person at a time. You can start today by spreading Diego's story, and in the process perhaps softening a few hearts that sorely need to be softened.

Are you in?

Bruce Kasanoff is a ghostwriter for thought leaders. He is the author of NEVER TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU DO.