The stories that aren't told

For the last few weeks I have focused on the stories of people who have come to the United States, who have fought for citizenship and who have found great differences and great freedoms in the U.S.

But what I have not talked about is the journey and the stories of those who are forgotten and remain nameless. People who risk their lives to cross the border and wonder through the desert in hopes of a life in America.

Somewhere between politics, walls and fear we forget the stories of those journeys. It becomes so much easier to look at the "issues" and "politics" and forget the human side.

"Immigrants are in the shadows for the most part we don't hear their stories…our own fears have effectively dehumanized undocumented immigrants…they are reduced to criminal aliens," said Valerie James, an artist featured in La Celebracion y El Sufrimiento art exhibit at the Union Gallery at the University of Arizona.

At the opening night of the exhibit, James spoke about her artwork. She has created an altar made from objects that were left behind in the desert. These objects and the exhibit as a whole tell a story far more intriguing and more important than any "border issue."

Living in Tucson, we are so close to what has become a national debate. Nevertheless it is easy to look away. And most of the time we do. But this is all happening in our backyards. And the exhibit reminds us of that by bringing the humanity into "border issues." To celebrate the opening and Hispanic Heritage Month, students created a mock fence on the mall.

Backpacks, baby bottles, shoes and family photographs bring a sense of reality and, for me, an eerie feeling of betrayal.

Seeing the exhibit is a reminder of why we tell stories and write down history because as James said, "when you deny someone's story, you deny their reality."

I wish I could include pictures of the artwork, but photographs are not allowed in the gallery. Then again, perhaps no photograph could do it justice.

Union Gallery
La Celebración y El Sufrimiento
Sept. 15- Oct. 10, 2008
The University of Arizona